What is up with Detroit tonight?

[ZatasGirl40 0]

I'm not worried at all. I don't think any of us expected to sweep the Pens or expect them to go away without a fight. I liked that it actually felt like a playoff game, despite our loss. With that said, I'm just extremely happy that now we can come back to the Joe and win the cup there

[Wing Fanatic 3]

Did it ever occur to you that it's because the opponents have their backs against the wall?

The Penguins picked up the tempo tonight and played well. Kudos to them. Outside of a few really glaring turnovers Detroit didn't play bad. They weren't as assertive and aggressive as they could have been, for sure, but I don't think anyone really though this would be a sw*ep regardless of how the first two games went.

Pittsburgh got a big lift from getting the first goal -- that was glaringly obvious. However, I thought Detroit responded well. Who knows, if Staal's double-minor on Lidstrom gets called not long after Franzen cut it to 2-1, we could be talking about an entirely different game.

Those are the breaks, however. s*** happens -- but absolutely nothing that happened in this game has made me waiver at all about the capabilities of this Red Wings team. Detroit wasn't outplayed tonight, Pittsburgh simply cached in on some horrid Detroit turnovers.

You are absolutely right about the first goal Matt. As soon as they scored, you could see them fire up. Of course, it had to be Crosby to score

[Chris L 0]

biased announcers........ they just jump on the band wagon of whatever team is winning that game...... you guys clearly had all the good air play the first two games... funny how people from different cities hear different things........ it was one heck of a game tonight.... you guys NEVER slow down!!!!!

Doc and Eddie ain't biased, Doc is colorful, and Eddie is quiet most of the game. Now the NBC crew, they sucked. From what I gathered the only guy on the ice was Sidney Crosby. Sid, Sid, Sid, Sid, Jesus-h-Chirst, it was a love fest that was almost pornographic. NBC should be ashamed.

[Wing Fanatic 3]

Doc and Eddie ain't biased, Doc is colorful, and Eddie is quiet most of the game. Now the NBC crew, they sucked. From what I gathered the only guy on the ice was Sidney Crosby. Sid, Sid, Sid, Sid, Jesus-h-Chirst, it was a love fest that was almost pornographic. NBC should be ashamed.

I know, they were seriously showing manlove for Crosby. I wonder how the rest of the team feels knowing that no matter how hard they work, the Pens will only be known for Crosby, Malkin and Fleury.

[MabusIncarnate 5,359]

Not to sit here and whine about calls or officiating, but this game would have more than likely gone our way with the 4 minute double minor for the nasty high stick on Lidstrom... The Penguins were on top of their game and BARELY won it tonight, i'm not concerned. The wings almost won tonight and didn't play well. Expect the normal dominating wings for game 4.

[shanny is the man 0]

s***sburgh............. very cute and original........nice game tonight in front of a sold out arena. you guys still have the lead. it was a hell of a game to watch........

Thanks, I've been calling that city by that name since the late 1970s when as a Cleveland Browns fan I spent several freezing cold Sunday afternoons wathcing the Browns play the Steelers outside in November and December. God I hate everything about that city "I can't even bring myself to calling anything except s***sburgh ever since . I''ve always detested that town and its nauseating, whinny-tailed fans. Anyway, welcome to our board (really!) :goalie1:

[reggiedunlop 0]

Doc and Eddie ain't biased, Doc is colorful, and Eddie is quiet most of the game. Now the NBC crew, they sucked. From what I gathered the only guy on the ice was Sidney Crosby. Sid, Sid, Sid, Sid, Jesus-h-Chirst, it was a love fest that was almost pornographic. NBC should be ashamed.

and the versus guys all talked like the redwings walked on water instead of skating on it......

[Matt 1,049]

and the versus guys all talked like the redwings walked on water instead of skating on it......

Hey Reg, haven't seen you around these parts since last week... Where have you been?

[shanny is the man 0]

and the versus guys all talked like the redwings walked on water instead of skating on it......

So what. The Wings dominated the Pens Game 1 & 2. Now the Pens win one and they're all hard over them. Once again, it doesn't matter what national media says...not one iota.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

and the versus guys all talked like the redwings walked on water instead of skating on it......

Glad to see you didn't commit suicide after all.

[reggiedunlop 0]

Thanks, I've been calling that city by that name since the late 1970s when as a Cleveland Browns fan I spent several freezing cold Sunday afternoons wathcing the Browns play the Steelers outside in November and December. God I hate everything about that city "I can't even bring myself to calling anything except s***sburgh ever since . I''ve always detested that town and its nauseating, whinny-tailed fans. Anyway, welcome to our board (really!) :goalie1:

yea , you make me feel welcome thanks........ i would be bitter too cheering for the browns and lions my whole football life...:-)

heres to a great game 4.

[Rikadyn 16]

We played like we were lost for a good portion of the game, and to be like that in a contest like this is a death sentence. Nor does it help the shear numbers of people who counted our enemy as dead before the battle is finished. We have tonight, had our noses bloodied by an enemy we underestimated. Next time we must come out and strike them with no mercy, and give them no quarter, We must take control of the fight if we are to win, we cannot expect them to give it to us, WE MUST TAKE IT.

[reggiedunlop 0]

So what. The Wings dominated the Pens Game 1 & 2. Now the Pens win one and they're all hard over them. Once again, it doesn't matter what national media says...not one iota.

that was my original point....... whoever is winning that particular game gets the cudos

[shanny is the man 0]

that was my original point....... whoever is winning that particular game gets the cudos

Right you are Reg.

[BowHuntingFool 0]

We've had a game like this every series. It's just one game. It's not like Pittsburgh dominated us. Without that rough start, Wings win this game.

Next game the Wings know what to expect and can adapt accordingly and not have such a rough, surprise start.

Wings still have this series under control.

I agree, we out shot them 34 - 24. Had 1 off the post. We just didn't get it going early enough! We looked good the 2nd half of the game but just ran out of time!

[wings_fanatic 677]

Call me crazy, but I do not think that Babs cared we lost tonight. I mean, if you watch again, he did not even bother to have Dats and Z and Lids and Rafi on the ice in the last minute+ when he pulled ozzy... I mean that alone shows that babs is not feeling pressure. Wings, for the most part, played a good road game tonight. To tell you the honest truth, I think Babs just wants to win the cup in Detroit cuz I see no other reason why he would put Filpulla, Stuart and Kronwall out there to play in the last minute plus when you have to tie a game; Babs plans to win game 4, and then raise the cup in Detroit after game 5.

Really though, there were a couple things that bothered me tonight.

1) The first powerplay unit is shooting the puck as soon as they enter the zone almost every time. I think that they need to slow down and get set up; once they get set up and create better plays and are able to play back to Lids and Rafi, then they are much better. I am sure Babs will have this fixed for us by game 4.

2)I don't know if it is just me or not, but I feel that our top line for some reason plays much better having Lids and Rafi behind them. I think too many times tonight they did not play with the top line, and thus not as much production was done. Also, it seems that every time Babs splits up our defensive pairings and changes them (Lids and Lils for example) I feel that we tend to lose. So I think Babs will put it all back together like game 1 and 2.

3)Though the Wings played a good offensive game, I thought the one thing that lacked, compared to usual, was the play in the defensive end, by the whole team. I do not think that they were back- checking as hard as usual, and I think once the Penguins got in our zone, the play got a little sloppier than game 1 and 2. Wings just need to slow down and stick to their man, get the puck, and get the plays going faster. Once again, this was a minor issue that Babs will easily fix.

Other than those three things that I noticed, I think the Wings played an exceptionally well game on the road, and I am fully confident that Babs will have those minor problems fixed, and the Wings will dominate game 4... regardless of tonights outcome... GO WINGS

[Ladsud2002 0]

Call me crazy, but I do not think that Babs cared we lost tonight. I mean, if you watch again, he did not even bother to have Dats and Z and Lids and Rafi on the ice in the last minute+

Franzen was playing really well, I would have had him out there myself too. Both our goals came form that line. I think we will rebound next game, Babcock will make the necessary adjustments and we will come out with alot more poise.

[Cern 0]

Given that I was expecting the first two games to be split, I'm not overly concerned about tonight's loss.

Let's be rational here people, it's not like this was a mirror image of the first two games where we simply gave up after the first period. The Wings lost, but they made the Penguins battle hard for the win - ultimately a couple more bounces went their way instead of ours. It's unfortunate, but that's how hockey works. The Wings are more than capable of splitting the pair of games at the Igloo, they just need to get back into their defensive groove again. We also need to get our power play sorted out big time, Gill got a couple of stupid penalties and the Wings absolutely need to punish Pittsburgh for it.

Edited May 29, 2008 by Cern