Game 4: Red Wings 2 Penguins 1

ANDRES LILJA..........YOU ABSOLUTELY FUCKING SUCK AND YOU ARE SOOOO LUCKY THAT HENRIK ZETTERBERG EXECUTED THE GREATEST 5 ON 3 PENALTY KILL IN STANLEY CUP HISTORY TO BAIL OUT YOUR STUPID FUCKING PENALTY ON CROSBY THAT THE PENGUINS EASILY COULD HAVE TIED THE GAME ON

BABCOCK....PLEEEASE SIT LILJA FOR GAME 5...FOR TOO LONG HAS HE HIDDEN IN THE SHADOWS OF SCRUTINY BEHIND SAMUELSSON'S SHITTY PLAY, BUT #37 ACTUALLY HAS COME TO PLAY IN THE STANLEY CUP FINALS. I HAVEN'T SEEN A GOOD STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF MOMENT BY LILJA AT ALL. HIS ONLY TWO MOMENTS THAT STICK IN MY HEAD ARE TONIGHT AND HIS GIVEAWAY IN OVERTIME THAT COST THE WINGS THE DUCKS SERIES LAST YEAR.

DAMN YOU FOR DOMINATING THIS POST, WHICH SHOULD BE POSITIVE BECAUSE.....


we are one win away from hoisting the cup!!!!

Wings/Hawks @ Wrigley?

That's right folks. There are rumors going around that next season's Winter Classic on New Year's Day 2009 will involve the Red Wings and the Blackhawks @ Wrigley Field instead of the originally planned Yankee Stadium game. Wouldn't that be wonderful......

We'll see how true the rumor is.

Game 3: Penguins 3 Red Wings 2

This post will be much much much shorter than the last one, mainly because I was doing inventory all night and didn't get to see much of the game at all. Well, I suppose that all neutral and anti-wing fans are happy with this one now that it's a series.

First one to win on the road will likely hoist the cup. Let's make it happen gents. By the looks of the box score, the Wings generated as many opportunities as normal but the Pens got some timely goals.

At least Crosby put his money where his mouth is, and at least the Wings put the puck in the net on road ice.

Game 2: Red Wings 3 Penguins 0

I don't know what's more embarrassing if you are a Pittsburgh fan or associated with the Pens in any way; the fact that your team hasn't even scored a goal in this series yet, or the fact that your head coach and supposed best player (Crosby) did nothing but moan and groan at the end of the game during the press conference.

All Michel Therrien , the pens d-bag head coach whose face looks like the result of a walrus fucking a horse, did at the end of the game was complain about officiating and making it seem like it had such a huge impact on the game and called Detroit the best team in the NHL at obstruction.

As for Sidney Crosby, well here's what he said....."I don't think they played much better then us, we just have to make sure we capitalize more."

Now I'm not expecting opponents to say "The Wings are so much better than us" or "We deserve to lose," but it does sound to me like the Penguins are frustrated with and haven't had to deal with the Red Wings' shut down style of play, and it's getting in their heads and frustrating the hell out of them. Therrien needs to stop spending his time focusing on blaming officials and become a head coach. Find a way to get your team to put the puck in the net! Pittsburgh has had a few good chances here and there, but Ozzie either made a huge save or the Penguins choked on the shot.

And Sid, don't go saying that the Wings didn't play much better than the Pens. I'd buy it if the press conference was after the first period of Game 1. Unfortunately, the last five periods your team as gotten worked defensively, you guys have allowed untimely goals mostly to Wings that have done nothing offensively all playoffs long (Samuelsson, Cleary, Filpulla), and you've been outshot 59-29. So save it, savior. You're supposed to be the "savior of the NHL" and you're making excuses in your first defining moment. Embarrassing

Speaking of embarrassing, let's talk about Chris Osgood. He's been absolutely outstanding this playoffs and a front runner for the Conn Smythe if the Wings pull this off, but his embellishing of contact around the goal is kinda getting out of hand. I think we can do without the acting around the goal Ozzie. Just stay in the net and do what you do best. I'm kinda pissed that the end of game scuffle happened around the net because that's gonna get Pittsburgh fired up for Game 3, but the Wings have been up 2-0 in every series and should now know that the toughest period they'll have to face from here on out is the first period of the next game...in Pittsburgh...all the fans wearing white (original idea)....looking to get that first goal. What will define the Wings play on the road is how they respond when the Pens finally put one behind #30. If it happens, that is.......




2 MORE! I'm gonna miss Game 3 :(

Game 1: Red Wings 4 Penguins 0

Somehow, I knew this moment would come. The moment when Mikael Samuelsson makes it happen for the first time in his career and puts all my insults to bed. Well....so be it! Kudos to my lady, who doesn't really follow or care for hockey that much, for checking the box score at home and calling me when she saw that it was #37 that got the first goal. And how about Daniel Cleary, the other Red Wing who hasn't done much offensively this playoff season, for getting the third one!

After the first period, I thought for sure that this game was going to be a 1-0 or 2-1 type battle. But the Wings just blindsided the Pens from then on and put on a hockey clinic.

3 more wins baby!

Game 6: Red Wings 4 Stars 1

Let's analyze my last post

SOMEONE BESIDES A TOP LINER GET SOME BIG GOALS
Dallas drake came up huge, and Draper scores one off his face!

OZZIE, CONTINUE TO PLAY HOT
He was outstanding, especially in the third when the Wings were playing "Cozy Hockey"

HIT THE NET WITH YOUR SHOTS
I don't remember any bug chances that missed the net. In fact, they made sure they threw the puck at the net as much as possible and it led to a few goals

CHELIOS, MAKE SMART LINE CHANGES
He didn't make any bad line changes; then again, he didn't play

SAMUELSSON......nevermind
Outstanding job whiffing on your 2 on 0 breakaway. Your skills are second to none

HIT! HIT! HIT! HIT!
Not bad......

DON'T TAKE STUPID PENALTIES!
They called everything on the Wings, most were deserved except for one of McCarty's three penalties in the third

BE AGGRESSIVE ON THE PENALTY KILL
Great job penalty killing, especially when the game was close. They always seemed to be right there every time Dallas passed the puck

JUST WIN TONIGHT, BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bring on the Pens....I'm pissed we have to wait until Saturday night for this showdown to start

JUST WIN

SOMEONE BESIDES A TOP LINER GET SOME BIG GOALS

OZZIE, CONTINUE TO PLAY HOT

HIT THE NET WITH YOUR SHOTS

CHELIOS, MAKE SMART LINE CHANGES

SAMUELSSON......nevermind

HIT! HIT! HIT! HIT!

DON'T TAKE STUPID PENALTIES!

BE AGGRESSIVE ON THE PENALTY KILL

JUST WIN TONIGHT, BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Game 5: Stars 2 Red Wings 1

What, you expected getting to the finals would be easy?
Some observations from this ulcer-giving afternoon:

- Turco was brilliant and stood on his head to steal this one for the Stars

- Chelios had his worst playoff performance since 2000 when he handed the puck to Avs giving Chris Drury a 2 on 1 OT goal. His bonehead line change hung Lebda out to dry for the game winning 2 on 1 goal

- Someone needs to step up and get a big goal besides #13 and #40. We need a guy who will always get a big goal when the stars aren't producing. Doug Brown, where are you?!

- Stat of the game: The Red Wings missed the net 19 times.

Ouch............

Game 4: Stars 3 Red Wings 1

We'll end this series soon enough.....in Game 6.


Hehehehehe....

Game 3: Red Wings 5 Stars 2

I thought for sure that this was going to be a tough game to win after Dallas came out and owned us for the first five minutes, but then the Wings got a goal, locked down the defense once again and took it from there. I was expecting more after whistle activity carried over from the end of Game 2, but instead it seemed like the Ribiero/Ozzie incident never happened and the players just moved on. I was stunned after Datsyuk's third goal when they said it was his first career hat trick! It didn't dawn on me that he hasn't had one yet.

Game 2: Red Wings 2 Stars 1

Still unbeaten at home! There are two key stats in this game. The first is how dominant the Wings were on the faceoff, and the second is how many times Dallas had great scoring chances, but misfired. No Franzen was a surprise, hopefully that doesn't last, but it's good to know the Wings pulled off a victory without their hottest player. And hats off to Darren Helm, the most pleasant surprise of the season, for getting his first goal! As for the end of the game incident between Osgood and Morrow, I don't think it was that big of a deal on either side. Both guys shouldn't have done what they did, and both guys embellished the hell out of it. I'd hate to see either guy get suspended and have a huge impact on this series.

Stars Get A Win

Well, Dallas did beat Detroit in something today. Highly regarded prospect Fabian Brunnstrom, who the Wings have been courting for a while, decided to sign with the Stars today.

Game 1: Red Wings 4 Stars 1

The Wings looked like the rest paid off, and the Stars still seemed tired from the San Jose series (after all, they did really play seven games worth of hockey). The play of the game was when Ozzie, who had in my opinion his best game of the playoffs, stoned Nick Hagman on a breakaway in the first period when the score was 2-0. That could have easily brought Dallas back into the game.

I definitely forgot to post my picks for the Conference Finals. Been a busy week...

Red Wings in 6
Penguins in 7 (I was going to pick Philly, but I think that Timonen injury is going to give them a huge hole. He's their best defensemen!)

Western Conference Finals

BRING IT ON!

Game 4: Red Wings 8 Glass Joe 2

I still can't believe I'm thinking about the Western Finals right now, but so be it. Dallas needs to close out San Jose so they have as long a layoff as us.

The story of Johan Franzen is amazing. Has anyone ever scored 9 goals in a 4 game sweep series before?

The next round is going to be a great series (I mean it this time!). We put our new rival away in the 1st. We put our media rival away decisively in the 2nd. Now it's time for some skill-hockey to see who is the best in the west.

Yeah.....I know Samuelsson had two goals. I haven't burned the medallion yet (thanks Kirk by the way)