Flip-check

Pronger could become a feature in car commercials. He wouldn't even need to spokes talk, he'd only have to be the hillside to drive through.

I think it's true that his role is dictated by his playing capacity though. If he were able to do it, they'd put him up there to play hard, score goals, and basically be somewhat like he was pre-injury with Vancouver. He may return to that, he may not next season with us or someone else, but right--even though he can't be that right now, I'm sure it's a little hard.

Basically, like you and harold said. It was important to have him back out there. I actually didn't get to see tonight's game... but this is looking so promising. I'm content with these guys tonight. I mean actually content.

Susan Cagle. If you haven't heard of her, she's over here. Someone passed the word of her onto me yesterday. She doesn't have a supremely unique voice, but I think she's got a good album coming out. She probably can be critiqued for not varying it up enough - a lot of people starting out commit the crime of not breaking away from their own style and really getting a feel for what they're doing. I think she'll get there though.

That is sounding absolutely sexy. Ahem. Well, actually... now that I'm looking closer and closer at the half-way up seats, all of them really are dog positions. They're stuck largely in the corners. A cheap game that's nothing to complain about, I think I saw like one set that was anywhere near the main rink/face off circles.

Lang. Double hat trick. Need I say more?

I wish that powers of prophecy were mine, because right now I'd love to call Lang's supercalalangerastic game tonight before the puck drops. But I'm going to play it safe and call one lazy turnover (at least) and one non-lazy thread through the needle eye to a player of anyone's choice. Preferrably Dats. In the slot.

This is getting some bump love because we need a Lilja like that to come out today. 50+ hits and counting!

They drop prices on the day of (I think it's automated to do it the instant 12am rolls around), and yeah I've been thinking about it too. I seriously ought have bought some the first couple times around... We'll see how far they drop from the $100/per price range though. I didn't watch them last time far in advance to tell the discount.. but I'm hoping for/expecting another $30 range. I'd kill for standing room, but simply being there for that money isn't bad.

One thousand and one ways to say goodbye to a thousand dollars. Or if the Sens aren't as vicious, then only a paltry $800.

Someone needs to fish Rabs out of Chi-town, she's disappeared into the river. We need the girl by game time. Or by we, I mean Dats. Because Hank's blubbering his eyes out in the stall next to him and it's got to stop.

LANG IS LAZY AND SUCKS: The Thread: sidelined for 6 months TOMAS KOPECKY: sidelined for a gazillon WHO WILL BE QUICKER ON THEIR FEET TONIGHT?

On reading this I immediately beelined for your sig area, as if thinking Lilja made it somehow into the Playoff Heroes list... and then I was like aw damn nmnmnm I'm starting to think you and Offsides are older than either of you tell the world. Our secret though Os, no one needs to know.

That's the funniest and saddest crap about it all. Even if you don't know that there will be... you know a make-up call when you see one for sure though, without much of a doubt. They're easy as hell to tell and come more often than they ever should. Mick calls them out fairly often on FSN too. It's such bulls***, they need to talk to these guys and tell them to quit screwing around on the job. Yeah, sure, the occasional make-up once every four or five games I get... but come the f*** on already. This is past the saturation point, past the oversaturation point, it's just flowing right out. /rant over

Right (haha, and I checked Jiri's stats just now - he's 5'9" and 20 lbs lighter than Dats, so ignore that comparison), and Drapes is even an inch smaller than Dats. They're all somewhat similar in terms of height and weight, their differences lay in their individual game (Lebda counts, but he's a Dman, so let's leave him out) Huds doesn't have the same skill set as Calder or Drapes, or the muscle mass of Homer, and Flip's probably more even on his feet out there - though Huds' answer to this is by being evasive in the corners and keeping his wits about him. Rex basically is a skater like Pavel... whatever their actual weight differential is now, that and the skill is what separates them. I know that adding 10 lbs would greatly help Huds, but I seriously don't know if you can pull 5'9" and close to 190 efficiently on a body. edit: eat me, LGW

In them "new fangled hockey sims" they'd say you darn jes' got yo'self some "line chemistry" That's what I've been feeling about Lang though--that he needs somebody else to carry the line for him to shine out there. This isn't a new thought, many people have asserted it already about his past years and how they compare to his god awful play now. That may be the only thing to get him going if he and Dats can get some synergy. The Z and Fronz and Sammy line has potential... I could see that clicking hardcore quickly (seriously, you give Z room and WE ALL KNOW what he can do with it. He's quick with the puck whereas Dats will bide his time, sometimes for good, sometimes for ill). Although Sammy still worries me with his cycling and puck movement. Dano and Bert go together like jelly and jam, but I'm not sure if Flip really grounds those two to be a finisher. Flip impressed the hell out of me earlier in the year with his initiative to take the body first when fighting for the puck (and seriously, these were some heads-up, smart as hell plays, when you think about it), but I'm not sure where the guy's role is lately. -- Other ideas Lang-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Franzen-Zetterberg-Flip Cleary-Sammy-Bertuzzi Lang + Dats are keepers. Z and Franzenstein are without a doubt--Mule's there for space/work ethic/skating ability. I think Terri could definitely contribute with the puck and grinding though on Hank's line, whereas Sammy lacks in some of the puck control. If Kopecky weren't so rusty I'd say just toss him with Z and Johan to see what happens... but that's a no go. And I seriously have no idea what to do with Dano and the other two lines - Bert's invisible out there aside from the stray crushing hit, and Cleary's gotta be the most game-in game-out guy on the last two lines. I haven't seen any of the guys really prove their metal to me, aside from Dom. Malts got a great goal and Sammy had that great SJ game, but none of them are playing stand out hockey.

Sick.

It sucks, but when you're a small guy - and a small guy who isn't named Pavel Datsyuk - it has a hand in your playoff fate. I'd say Huds has got some fine skills out there... and I haven't paid that great attention to the games to dictate whether it's a series that we need a guy like Kopecky's size over Jiri's, but that's the largest mark against him. He even gets thrown around in NHL 2K7, what can I say? Kidding! Rex deserves some ice, but it's not coming yet. I say that Kopecky gets a goal in Game 3 though. Others have mentioned it, I'm calling it hands down here.

I approve wholeheartedly of this summation of Lilja's turnaround. Andreas, you rock my world. *reinstates the Lilly-love av*

I won't be satisfied with anything less than the two at Arrowhead. I want both. And actually, that's a super big fat lie. Right now though, I feel it.

Rabs, you absolutely positive you're not a Sherlocke Holmes in training here, able to deduce and retrace the content of any posting? 'Cos girl, you ain't giving me the vibe of merely a doctor. I'm feelin' something else on you here, and it ain't what'cha thinkin'!

Whatever. This sucks, but I'm not brought down by this one. It's not worth the time. Next game's all that matters, seriously.

Out of all the Wings, my pick for the game is Z. The guy's been powerful on the two or three times he's carried it into the offensive zone by himself--the shots were crap from the perimeter, all he's gotta do is get in though May I be pleasantly surprised with some slot goal by Malts though!

My boy aims to please Just get this over already, Monday can be stinky enough without a Wings loss

Flip'd be the unlikely but fitting hero. It'd be great for him to take this one home tonight