chrisdetroit

Improvements over last year some big some small: Defense Rafalski over Schneider Stauart over Markov Kronwall Forwards Franzen Helm Drake Dats Improved Z Improved Filpulla improved IMO, 3 of our 6 D are huge improvements, Franzen is a huge improvement, Dats, Z and Fil all got better and we added grit in Drake and speed in Helm. Add this all up and we are much better than last year and last year we were arguably one of the top 2-3 teams in the league. Plus we have had a much better playoff schedule. Last year in rounds 1-3 we had to fly to Calgary twice, San Jose twice and Aneheim twice. This year its Nashville twice, Colorado once and Dallas (hopefully) only once. Also we have not played any hard hitting big teams. Everything is in place for #11.

Yeah I heard it coming down the street after the Colorado sweep - the Bandwagon that is. I guess us year round fans have to move over because everybody seems to be jumping on....

I expect that Ron "hounto may" (sp?) Wilson will be fired and Joel Quenville will take his place at San Jose.

We won game 3 5-0.

It's because we have lots of European players. That's why they all love the Ducks - lots of Canadian players. That and the fact that we are consistantly one of the best teams in the league.

There are 12 seies in rounds 1 and 2. Here's how the "experts" did Melrose 6-6 Amber 8-4 Buccigross 8-4 Cohn 5-7 Hradek 9-3 None of them are great. Melrsoe is 6 and 6. Might a well flip a coin rather than listen to him. Incidentlt every one of the 5 ESPN experts picked the Wings and Pens.

See my comments below. You want him in a Wings sweater based on 2 good playoff rounds when just last year he only had 3 points in 7 playoff games. You should do a little research before you make statements like that. Robert Lang had some good playoff years to. You want him back? How bout Cam Ward, or Khabibulin they had 1 great playoff year too...

Brendan Morrow is certainly having a good playoff but let's not get carried away. This is the 7th year he's been in th playoffs all with Dallas and he hasn't done much the other years. Before you proclaim him "built for the playoffs" take a look at what he has done in other years: This year 11 pts in 12 games 2007 3/7 2006 6/5 2004 1/5 2003 8/12 2002 ----- 2001 3/10 2000 6/21 Clearly he has not been great in past playoffs. Just last year he had less than 1/2 point per game. I'm not to worried about him. He's hot right now but he's not what you would call a clutch performer....

Wait a minute..They give Dallas the edge over the WIngs in the category of forwards!? Ribero, Morrow and Madano over Zetterberg Datsyuk and Franzen. They have got to be on crack? I got halfway through the article and realized that they don't have a clue. Yea, I believed it now that you said they picked the Avs in 7. we all know how that worked out. Dallas better forwards?? WTF? just WTF?

Any "rust" from the rest will likely only last part of the first game. Being healthy and not worn out will have an impact for the entire series at least. That said, Dallas is a good team but the are up on SJ because SJ didn't show up for the first few games and Dallas was able to squeak out 2 OT wins. I am not afraid of Dallas. They could easily be down 3-1 or 3-2 if the OT's went their way. SJ will not win the series although it would be great if they pushed it to 7 games.

If the Pens win the conference we are in for an onslaught of Canadian media types (which is the entire Hockey press) bowing down to worship Sydney. God, I'm getting sick to my stomach just thinking about it.

Secondary scoring. Last year the opposition was able to key on the DZH line and Babs was forced to split them up at times. Now he can keep them together and the opposition has to worry about the SFF line. Can you image being the opposition having to put your best D in against a line with 2 Selke finalists (on the same line!) and still have to worry about a line with the highest playoff scorer in the league. Holy s***!

nice........

Have you been listening to Barry Melrose to much? Not as quick? Are you serious? Lack of speed on the blue line? What? Our Blueline is far superior to theirs and that's when Zubov is in game shape which he clearly isn't yet. Brad Richards - how does 1 Brad Richards compare to Zetterburg, Dats and Franzen? I don't see us losing a 7 game series to these guys. They are honestly playing over their heads. They do have some talent and they are definitely making the most of what they got but the depth just isn't there. On paper, the Avs series was close and the Avs were coming off of a very good effort against Minny. The talking heads even were talking about Theodore being a Conn Smyth canidate. Then they ran into the Wings. Now there is no way that we are going to dominate Dallas, but I just can't see them winning

No way Malts plays over Helm with Helm playing like he is. Malts sits until somebody starts playing poorly or gets banged up. Sorry Malts, but the best players play.

How's this scenarion (just a possibility no jinx involved): Wings wins the Prez Wings win the Cup Nick wins the Norris Pavs wins the Lady Byng Pavs wins the Selke Ozzie wins the Conn Smyth Babs wins the Jack Adams WOW. That would be a monster season.

Probably not. The third round can't start until everybody is done with the second. At least one series could go until Monday or Tuesday which means the 3rd round won't likely start until Wednesday or Thursday.

You are way out of line. Cleary has been busting his ass everynight. He never gives up on a play offensively and defensively. I have no problem with his play. He hasn't scored but that will come. Step up his game? What have you been watching?

It doesn't matter. We got the last laugh. How's the groin Peter? Great comeback so that you could get swept by your hated rival....

The Sharks are done just like last year, and the year before, and the year before.... This time though, Ron Wilson will be fired like he should have been last year. WIth the talent that they have had the last 4 years or so, they should have had at least a trip to the finals. Poor coaching, poor leadership, just an overall poor organization. It's a shame beacause they have some very talented players like Nabokov, Thorton, Cheechoo.....

Somebody said this on one of the other forums and it bears repeating: The Avs will have to beat us in 4 of the next 5 games to win the series. The chances of that happening are somewhere around zero unless we completley fall apart and they all suddenly start playing a lot better. So the goal is to finish them off as quickly as possible so that we can rest up for Dallas. San Jose is imploding again this year. After having Calgary down 3-2 last week, they couldn't close them out and Calgary forced a game seven. The Sharks didn't even show up for game 6. Then they go to round 2 and drop the first game at home. No mental toughness. Poor Coaching. No killer instinct. I expect to be playing Dallas in the WC Final.

Speaking of Conn Smyth how bout this gem from the talking heads. Obviously this is before the Avs meltdown 4. We've seen one round. Who's your Conn Smythe front-runner? Burnside: At the start of this round? Jose Theodore. It will be different when the smoke clears at the end of Round 2. Hradek: Jaromir Jagr. He had a great first round. And, if he wins the Conn Smythe, he'll trigger the $8.36 million contract option for the 2008-09 season. In case you're wondering, select members of the hockey media will vote for the Smythe. In other words, the press might have a hand in keeping Jagr in New York next season. Melrose: Colorado's Theodore. He's been the best goalie in the playoffs so far. And, nine out of 10 times, the Conn Smythe should go to the goaltender Yea, cause he was awesome against an inept Minnesota offense. This just goes to show you how wrong the "experts" usually are.

Last years Ducks were a far superior team that this years Avs. The first two games against the Duckies were close hard fought affairs that we split. Game 3 was a 5-0 laugher in our favor in their building and they were going into game 4 without dickhead (oops...Pronger). This year games 1 and 2 were blowouts in which they pulled their starting goalie in both games. In both games the Avs just haven't even shown up. That said, I expect the Avs will steal 1 game in Denver and we will finish them off next weekend 4-1. Keep your finger crossed.

Jackass?? Wait a minute...Mule, jackasss.... Sorry, couldn't resist. I want to see Jose play every game. It really doesn't matter though. If the Avs don't start skating they are done and there is not much that the gaolie can do about that. Ellis was superb against us and we still killed the Preds. I hate to say it but the Avs skaters just aren't playing as well as the Preds and with average at best goaltending they are in trouble.

No. He's still good but certainly not great. Ovechkin is great, Dats is great, Iginla is great. Peter is good.