swedishconnection

Anyone watching the Sharks series (I live in CA) should have seen a team with no edge and no heart playing a team with nothing to lose. I was watching, with my darling born and bred in MI and I was screaming that they did not make the smart plays. Wings in 5. Tough series, but this is what the Hockey Gods demand- blood sacrafice. Not everthing is a cake walk. Sometimes you have to have your pound of flesh on the dish. Heart, skill, grit, Defense take this series. Wings make up for 2 years ago. The nay-sayers always talk about having to go through the cup-champs to win ultimate glory. This is as close as the wings have. Classy vs. Edge. Skill vs. Edge. Heart vs. Edge. All we have to do is push..... We got em... LETS GO RED WINGS!!!

I was rootin soooo hard for the Sharks. In the words of Ace Ventura Himself : "Its time to exercise the Demons! - This house, is clear! "

Anyone who thinks that not playing the Sharks, the Ducks, or the Flames in last years run was no factor to us hoisting the holy, then you need to dust yourself off- you just took a high hit from Pronger in the corner. Last year, we played our Central nemisis, who we all knew we could beat in a 7 game series. Followed by a disheveled Colorado team that had just enough offence to break Minnie's trap. Third up was the team that tried to copy our puck possestion style, but failed (valliently as they tried). Thanks for taking on the west coast teams for us. Last was a young penguins team that got frustrated and abused in the first 2 games due to shakey leg syndrome. There is no return from an 0-2 deficit in the finals, especially if they are Shutouts. Now lets not misunderstand me. Winning the Cup is the greatest thing in the world. It is the hardest and most physical trial of all of sport. It is not easy to win. In fact, if there is a direct opposite, the Cup is it. The wings worked thier asses off and found ways to compete every night. Rooting for STL last week was something that I was doing with all my heart. I did not want to see the ducks for the first round. I dont want to see them for the 2nd, either. This has nothing to do with poison. I am not taking cyanide- I am rooting for matchups that favor the wings. Vancouver, or Anaheim? I'm sure arguments could be made for both, and have been. However I would much rather face a worldclass netminder with (I dare you to name the bottom 4 defencemen on VAN without a search) a mediocre defense. We can solve at least 1 problem at a time (Luongo). VAN first line can be stopped- it will be a challenge but our 5 skaters on the ice work as a team. Now for ANA- they seem to also have the makings of a worldclass netminder. --- This becomes a wash. Pronger (dirty), Needavacay (highly skilled), Douchaman (gritty), Whitney (offensive), TakaWISonme, (gritty, shutdown), etc. Much favors ANA. ANA first line pretty much is a wash vs. VAN. Second line is still capable of producing- Ebbot, Selanne (our nemisis of a few years ago). Take into account that ANA still plays that style of "Hey, they cant call ALL of the penalties we commit, why not keep going?" In conclusion, I'll take Vancouver. Hey, we have to travel out west anyway, right? Go Wings! (and go SHARKS!!! for the love of god, now- GO SHARKS-- 7 games tho, why not take your time?)

I cant believe this game is not on nationally. Center Ice is only showing ONE game today. ONE! Unless your in the greater Detroit area, your not going to get this game. I live in San Francisco, and the game is only on the NHL network. Im not going to pay the extra 50 bucks a month just for the package that NHL network is a part of. I paid for Center Ice. Why would I not get the game??? I think that Bettman sometimes plays off of the fact that NHL fans will go to such great lengths to watch games. I feel like it has become a badge of honor. "I cant watch the game, so I will go to that bar 4 hours away that I know has bought a Satalite feed..." You know that Basketball or Football fans dont have to go through with this hunt. /vent I just have no way to watch the game. I will be at work too, and no way to record the live internet streams. Anyway--- Go Wings!

This one should really be "Crosby, STAAL(s), and Nash"....

QUINCEY. Not that it was on the same level as Bryz from the Ducks, but still... he's been killing it on LA. ConkBlock isnt going anywhere. Find me another team in the league paying less for goaltending with more team points on the board. We've rotated more 'Tenders than 2 before. On a seperate note, Anyone else think that Ericsson prove Lilja obsolete? Or am I getting ahead of myself?

Big Rig skates like the wind. He's not like Draper in his prime or Lebda now, but he is definetely comparable to B-Raf. Except that the 'Rig is 6 foot 5. Serisouly, I haven't seen a big man skate as smoothly as him since Pronger back in the day. There were a couple situations where the puck got turned overin the neutral zone on our side of the red line and the 'Rig was able to reverse course, and catch up by the top of the circle, reach around the attacking player to poke the puck away at the hash marks and force the player wide. At that point I was sold on his skating ability. I have yet to see a most critical skill for a D-man, which is to move the puck laterally on the blue line. Kronwall does this with grace and speed. I am curious how well Ericsson does.

This reminds me of the Bertuzzi aquisition. Anyone remeber that? He left our organization without batting an eye because he didnt fit in with the (more or less) classy, non dirty, puck possession style. Certain players are designed both physically and mentally for a style of hockey, and Bert's was clearly not for the wings. Backchecking? Who has time for that? Dont get me wrong, Bertuzzi had his upside. Grinding it out in the corners and crashing the crease were his strong suits. But he did not have the dicipline to play consistently on our team. Certain teams have that style that fits those players. Bertuzzi is right at home in my book. Pronger is home where he is at (or Calgary, or Boston, or *Philly*<<--- this is currently being rumored on the Ducks boards). If he (Pronger) came to the wings, he would most certainly complain that we dont play his style. He would be calling for more physicality, blah blah blah. We all know that certain players idea of physicality goes beyond shoulder to shoulder or shoulder to chest or fist to face. Pronger's idea of physicality includes his elbows (please see 2007 WCF, Homer), knees (for further reference, see Stevie-Y, St. Louis, WC Semis), and as noted above in this thread via video, Shoulder to face (Pavel earlier this year). This guy is hated for more reasons than his skill, which is undenyable. In short, F*** NO.

This guy is generating, that is for sure. However, one concern I have about him is the physical game. I am confident it will come with time, but there are many occasions where he doesnt finish the check. I am watching him even when he doesnt have the puck and my hockey sense tells me he will hit the opposing team member just after they release the puck, and he turns back towards the defensive zone. Its good that he is defensively minded, but I would like to see him take on the more physical aspects. I think if we can get Z and Pav (crazy hitting in all games as of recent) to initiate and finish physical parts, we can work with Ville. Overall I think it will come, just wait till the playoffs. I think, looking back, that is when it was sink or swim time with our "EuroTwins." Sometimes a little adversity is what the hockey doc ordered to get him on track to the player I honestly hope he can be. Beyond that, he's already becoming a versatile player. Didnt he kill a penalty tonite too?

Slim. Homer's out. Franzen has had a few waved off too. Beyond that, Dats and Z are pretty good at making the puck stick in the net on thier own with no question marks. I hope we see a great effort, one like against the Wild where it looked like we were toying with the other team. Every pass was on the tape, and the goals were highlight-reel.

Has anyone been watchin Hos from a defensive aspect? He is up there with Pavs. Anyone care to remember 2 years ago when Lang was on the team...? How about Bertuzzi? Well.... this guy wants to win, has amazing hands, and if we all can remember to this past spring he doesnt give up until the last split second in an elimination game for the cup. Give the guy a break. A broken play for the other team due to a backcheck is worth 3 points in my book. Perhaps we should all take a second look. Let Huds and Franz and Sammy score once in a while. It makes us a better team than if Hos and Z and Pav were the only players to score. Much harder to defend against.

are they all together or a different channel section? Mine only has 10 together.

HELP!!! I have the NHL Center Ice package- and I cannot find the game!!! I live in Cali, and it says that the game will be shown on NHL Channel 11. There is NO CHANNEL 11. Not even in HD. ANYONE KNOW WHERE I CAN FIND THE GAME?? IM DESPERATE!

Friday: NY Islanders @ New Jersey Chicago @ NY Rangers Florida @ Carolina Montreal @ Buffalo Washington @ Atlanta Nashville @ St Louis Columbus @ Dallas Saturday: Montreal @ Toronto Detroit @ Ottawa St Louis @ NY Islanders NY Rangers @ Philadelphia Chicago @ Washington Atlanta @ Florida New Jersey @ Pittsburgh Carolina @ Tampa Bay Dallas @ Nashville Boston @ Minnesota Columbus @ Phoenix Los Angeles @ San Jose Vancouver @ Calgary Sunday: Phoenix @ Anaheim Colorado @ Edmonton San Jose @ Los Angeles

Hey I asked the same question in '06. I just think we need to make a medal or a badge or something that we can put (non-removable) under thier avatar. We have it for Fantasy Hockey... why not "First person to ask about that strange font they have, and are they planning on using this from now on..." ? Edit.... Kelsey.

That happened here. How many people started saying he was a great addition- just what we needed at the deadline when we got him? I was one of them. Whats worse - He was my most hated player in the league prior to coming here. Before he got here he was a thorn in our side- always seemed to score against us in '04 and '06. When we got him I was like "well, if you cant beat 'em..." I was actually excited to have a large, bruising winger. Looking back- wow was I wrong. Crow please, extra cold. No garnishes either.

Hey now- I was born and bred in CHI. Dad Too. And his dad... And I am a HUGE wings fan. Hopefully that answers your original question.

Thats a downgrade - Loose VisnOvskY get VishnEvskI. Am I the only one that sometimes gets these 2 confused?

Fine, forget the Hossa comparison. It is obviously distracting from my point. Schneider was NOT under contract. He finished the one he signed with us. He signed a new one. It just happened to be with a team that he thought he could win with, one that paid him more, and one that just won the cup. Our Assistant coach just left. Where is the pain? Where is the discontent? Where is the snide remarks? The two are equally comparable. The two are near-equal in "staple"-ness. ...Nothing? Waiting...

By being a lame comparison, is that one in which it displeases you simply because they are not with our beloved team anymore? Schneider was at the end of his contract. Tested the waters. Took a higher number. It happens. He did it in a dignified way. Praised the team as he waved goodbye. No harm, no foul. Do I take pleasure in the fact that he didnt win the cup simply because of a choice he made? no. I am still shaking my head at people who feel so angry at Schneider and Shanny. They both were staples. They both left. So did McLellan. See any tears? I dont think so. I wish them well, as they gave us everything while they were here. What more can you ask?

Ill still never understand the schneider hatred here... The dude had one last run at cash before hangin em up. He didnt piss on Yzerman's shoe or anything. If anything if you dislike Schneids you should dislike Hossa for a few of the same reasons. Yeah, yeah... Hossa wasnt there very long but the idea remains the same. Loose the cup to a team, then sign with said team for the next seaon. Apples, I'd like you to meet Apples. If you like the Hossa pick up, then let Schnieder be. He didnt disgrace the team, or say anything bad about us. He just had bigger fish to fry. You going to hang Assistant Coaches for the same reasons too? /Baffled

Kronner shot the puck and it deflected off of the other team's player's skate. Dont compare the two, get an HD tv, and record the games on DVR. That should help remedy these seemingly mindless inaccuracies.

I disagree. I must admit I have only been a fan of hockey since 2003... (what? I moved to Michigan and HockeyLove happened), but I love the idea of wearing your colors at home. Whites away makes sense because (most) everyone has them. Away team sports white for trips, and you defend your color at home. mine 2C.

bernier. Hossa or Lecavalier

"Yeah, but.... ours goes one louder. See- eleven. Everyone else only goes to ten. Ours is one more than that." to quote Spinal Tap...