I had the foil and the little cage thingy off of the bottle of champagne…

I was so empty, drained, stunned last night. I can’t even imagine what the boys have to do to recover, get up and get ready for game six.

This morning my wife told me: a) It’s just a game; b) nobody died. My wife just doesn’t get it.

Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Gloomy SoCal on 06/03/08 at 11:32 AM ET

I gotta think with how hard most of the team worked - especially Pav, Z, Fil, Cleary, and hell even Sammy - that some of those chances are going to go in.  Definately Credit MAF for a spectactular game. But keep up that intensity and they’re bound to create some bounces.

Thus far its been mostly our vaunted Defensive corps that’ve made the big mistatkes that’ve cost. So I’m going to lay it on them. That has to change. Improvement from them in the attacking zone is also in order. They’re just not finding shooting lanes. This was especially clear in the OT power play, where maybe 1 of 8 point shots found its way to the net?

Game 6 has to be better. I think I can forget about yesterday’s nightmare with a good win.

Posted by Nate A from the Church of Babcock on 06/03/08 at 11:35 AM ET

CaptainDennisPolonich, I have to disagree with your wife. 19 of us died last nite. Today, we’re all zombies.

Posted by Nate A from the Church of Babcock on 06/03/08 at 11:36 AM ET

I don’t believe in Bettman conspiracy theories.  A conspiracy implies forethought and planning, attributes Little Gary seems to lack.

I do believe this Wings team is the better team in this series, maybe the best Wings team I’ve ever seen.  And they will win.

Posted by cephalopod from Chicago, on the poop deck, not over it yet on 06/03/08 at 11:37 AM ET

I feel how Ryan Malone looks today.

I have a ripping headache, I’m nauseous and I’m bone-tired. But I’m glad to know there are others out there feeling exactly the same.

Taking transit into work today, I saw people smiling and laughing, casually nodding along to the music being piped in via their iPod, and I just felt like yelling “DON’T YOU PEOPLE KNOW THE WINGS LOST?? THIS IS NO TIME TO BE HAPPY!”

But like a certain Detroit singer once said: “Turn the page”

Today we commiserate; tomorrow we celebrate.

Now if you’ll excuse me I’m gonna go stare blankly at my computer screen until 5 o’clock.

Posted by Arthur2sheds on 06/03/08 at 11:40 AM ET

Good post, Chief. 

I’m just trying to get the damn tape loop of Talbot to stop playing in my head.  OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH.

Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 06/03/08 at 11:40 AM ET

Well, I guess htat is hockey, one of the few sports you can dominate, but still come up just short.

If any team can recover from that kick in the balls, it is the Wings.

Wings in 6, Wings in 7, just Wings please.

Posted by Rae Carruth's Trunk on 06/03/08 at 11:43 AM ET

We’ll see what happens. I thought they were dominant from the second on, and had a bad break with the high-stick. Certainly, you have to be in control of your stick, so no excuses there. Full credit to Pittsburgh for taking advantage of their big chance.

A lot of things broke down at the end of regulation. Ozzie has to have his skate to the post. As bad as Franzen’s mis-clear was, Ozzie had his worst game of the playoffs. But again, it wasn’t just a matter of that, the Pens executed that play really well. With six skaters Talbot was the guy that was able to wiggle free after his teammates drew the defenders out to the circles and below the goal line, giving Talbot a little space to the side of the net all alone.

Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 06/03/08 at 11:54 AM ET

This morning my friend Suzy told me, “You have to stop putting so much meaning into sporting events!” Because it is her birthday, I refrained from punching her in the face.

Also, I’m repeating something I already said to Bill, but screw it: When I walked into my office earlier, I was grumbling to someone about it being the “worst night ever” (not technically true, I
realize; I think everything involving last year and the Ducks and the fact that that tool Todd Bertuzzi was ever involved with our team
easily top this) and a computer technician smirked at me and said, “You must be a Red Wings fan.” I briefly considered replying, “Yes. Would you like to see my impression of Kronwall?” And then I
remembered that could be construed as SCORING ON OUR OWN NET. Over and over again, I have to learn the lesson that optimism is a very dangerous and sometimes terrible thing.

I can’t even bring myself to read the (sweet Christ, more than 1,000?) comments in the liveblog. And, needless to say, I’ll be staying far, far away from Pensblog.

MAN.

Posted by Phoebe from Fort Lauderdale, Fla on 06/03/08 at 12:14 PM ET

And this is where I put my faith in Babcock.

Posted by C3091 on 06/03/08 at 12:15 PM ET

Great post Chief. I’m sure you’re right, the players are likely feeling ten times as worse as us. But you know what? This morning waking up, I didn’t feel the way I normally do after a Wings’ playoff loss. I was a bit tense, I wasn’t nervous, I wasn’t fearful. I was pissed off. I feel like I’ve been kicked in the go-nads while already down. And all it makes me want to do, is get up and win the fight.

The Wings will win the fight, and we’ll do it the same way we did to Bubba Jr., the Dive and Bubba Sr. By going into their turf, and shutting them the hell up.

Posted by Alex in Cambridge, Ontario (Canada EH!) on 06/03/08 at 12:16 PM ET

I just gotta say one thing after last night.

Whatever you do, make sure that box for “Notify me of follow-up comments” is unchecked when you post!

I forgot and left it checked when I posted in the live blog last night and my mail box was so full of notification messages it looked like my old AOL box full of spam!

Seriously?  Over one thousand posts last night?  That was great!

Posted by Squiboda from Port Huron, MI on 06/03/08 at 12:19 PM ET

I briefly considered replying, “Yes. Would you like to see my impression of Kronwall?” And then I remembered that could be construed as SCORING ON OUR OWN NET.

This gave me a laugh.  It was a very pained laugh, but hey, I’ll take what I can get right now.

Posted by Sadie from Ann Arbor, MI on 06/03/08 at 12:25 PM ET

I’m sure this was mentioned somewhere in the 1,059 messages in last night’s LB thread, but I don’t have the patience or the emotional strength to go through them all to find out. So, let me ask this question: What the hell was Hank thinking during the final minute of regulation when he chose not to fire a backhander at their empty net from just over the center line?

I know he was being checked hard, but he had an opening. It was almost like he was trying to avoid an icing call if he missed the net (which, of course, it wouldn’t have been). If he had at least gotten that puck in deep, the odds are we’d all be wearing sh*t-eating grins today.

It was a strange, strange play. And that’s the one that keeps replaying in a frigging brain loop today.

On another note, what a miserable way for Happy to end what was probably his best game of the year. I think the little “here’s how you play sound defense” light clicked on in his head sometime during the Finals. So, no matter the outcome of this series, that and the overall play of Darren “Rocket Man” Helm will pay dividends to the Wings for years to come.

Now, I’m going to try to live a semi-normal life for the next day and a half. It won’t happen...but I’m gonna try.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/03/08 at 12:29 PM ET

Any of the A2Y19 that didn’t realize the Wings were screwed when the SOG were 54-19 are living in denial.

You will all be telling your grandchildren about that game someday.

Hockey fans that missed that game are probably on suicide watch.

Games like that...well...why we are hockey fans.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 06/03/08 at 12:33 PM ET

I’m just trying to get the damn tape loop of Talbot to stop playing in my head.  OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH.

hockeychic, that was looping through my head too last night when I was trying to get to sleep…

Posted by WingInTO from Toronto on 06/03/08 at 12:37 PM ET

I was just sitting at my desk minding my own business. I start hearing this weird noise.
I’m trying to figure out what it is. Then my wakes me up to tell me that I’m snoring really
loud, and lunch ended forty minutes ago.  Thanks Gary..A$$

Posted by jmara85 on 06/03/08 at 12:37 PM ET

iwoCPO

Countdown to 11....
Countdown to 11....

If the Wings were up 3 games to Zero, I could envision a CT11....

If the Wings were blowing out the Pens in Game 4.5, I could envision a CT11....

If the Wings were up by a couple with a minute to go, I could see cut & paste action and envision a CT11....

You WON’T hear from me a I KNEW the Pens would win Game 5...I KNOW the Pens will win Game 6...I KNOW the Pens will win Game 7 and that shinny silver thingy.

The Pens are still in a single-game elimination tournament & have to continue playing with desperation.

Don’t get me wrong, the Wings are the better team, no doubt about it.
ARE the Wings going to win the series?, now there is some doubt about it.

Whatever the outcome, I’m damn proud of my team to battle as they have done to this point being down 2-0 and 3-1....

AND.

iwoCPO and some others on here have reaffirmed the position that this franchise & fanbase has the Yankee/Patriot mentality and sense of entitlement that rub Pens’ fans the wrong way:

•seeing a 2008 Stanley Cup Champions screened banner being waived at the Joe after Game 2

•2008 Wings Parade and the guy doesn’t even stay up to see the end of the game?

•Countdown to 11

•who gets the Cup 2nd after Nicky?

So folks, have a piece of Humble Pie on me today, if your able eat yet & keep anything in your stomach.

Posted by dr. turkleton on 06/03/08 at 12:37 PM ET

And this is where I put my faith in Babcock.
Posted by C3091 on 06/03 at 12:15 PM

Babs is lights out, calmly stating “we had 2 chances to clear, one from the end boards and one from the half-boards and didn’t”.

Compare Babs to the whiny little French School Girl, they’re not even in the same category.

Posted by RWBill from the train station climbing on The Hasek.All Aboard on 06/03/08 at 12:38 PM ET

That game damn near crushed my will to live. On the other hand, I’m probably not as mentally tough as a hockey player.

Win it in Game 6, at the Igloo. We know they can be beaten at home.

Osgood did not have a good game, but he wasn’t the only one. Kronwall’s Self-Inflicted Wound made the wrong kind of difference. Hank not potting that goal back into the Pen’s zone at the end, empty-net goal or not, made the wrong kind of difference. Small errors, normally, but the Pens jumped right on them. As my girlfriend would call and say, every time the Pens scored or went on the power play: “Stupid Penguins. It’s like they want to win or something.”

Posted by Matt from Tennessee on 06/03/08 at 12:38 PM ET

But the pain we’ll feel, the pain that’s haunting you today, is nothing compared to that felt by the Wings.  Because no matter what, it’s not your legacy at stake.  It’s not your name that was 34.7 seconds away from being forever etched.

And that is exactly why I never cheer against a team because of their fan base - I want a team to lose for themselves, an idiotic fanbase I want to be wiped out by an ebola epidemic.

I like the fact that they continued to play well in the overtimes.  If it had really demoralized them, they would have lost pretty quickly, I think.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/03/08 at 12:38 PM ET

Get up and dust off. There is a game tomorrow. If the pity party wants sympathy, its between shit & sypahlis in the dictionary. That sort of attitude & line of thinking lends to problems across the board.
The ref’ing was terrible and there were very untimely & costly lapses in judgement.
We have the lead in the series and are in control of our destiny.
Stick to the plan and work for it.
And I’m all for no more lessons learned the hard way.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 06/03/08 at 12:40 PM ET

The thing on Kronwall’s own-goal is he actually shot the puck off goal angled toward the corner, it unfortunately immediately hit a skate whose wearer was totally unaware that he was scoring a goal.

There were so many opportunities down the 3rd period to put the game away when the Pens were totally panicked and the Wings were getting every possession deep that had just one of those gone in we’d never have remembered 55’s own-goal.  Wings had the blade squarely on the neck and Pens were clueless to stop the momentum but it’s for naught if you don’t find the back of the net.

Posted by RWBill from the train station climbing on The Hasek.All Aboard on 06/03/08 at 12:47 PM ET

That “most excruciating kick to the nuts possible” is what you get for being so darn cocky, and I love thinking about knowing how the Talbot and Sykora goals made all you cocky A2Yers feel.  GO PENS!

Posted by NHLJeff from Boston, MA on 06/03/08 at 12:51 PM ET

iwoCPO and some others on here have reaffirmed the position that this franchise & fanbase has the Yankee/Patriot mentality and sense of entitlement that rub Pens’ fans the wrong way

Then go cry in the corner, kiddo. If we win, suck on it. If we lose, we’ll take our lumps. I support a franchise to be proud of, and I couldn’t care less if other teams’ fans like it or not.

Posted by Matt from Tennessee on 06/03/08 at 12:54 PM ET

I was just sitting at my desk minding my own business. I start hearing this weird noise.
I’m trying to figure out what it is. Then my wakes me up to tell me that I’m snoring really
loud, and lunch ended forty minutes ago.  Thanks Gary..A$$

jmara85,
What does you falling asleep have to do with Gary Bettman?  I don’t think he controls Marc-Andre Fleury, who made the game last so long.  Please explain.

Posted by NHLJeff from Boston, MA on 06/03/08 at 12:54 PM ET

You know, after Stevie Y. retired I honestly didn’t think I’d be as rabid a Wings fan, and I admittedly held back a bit emotionally the past couple of years (though it did little to soften The Kick). Then this squad skated away with my little winged-wheel heart. Sure, there’s the brilliant skill, the mind-bending efficiency and intelligence. But there’s also been passion and determination and a commitment to the organization and to one another that is--dare I say it?--inspiring.

I can’t call myself confident about Wednesday or, heaven help me, Saturday ... I’ve spent too much time staggering and retching in the Hasek lo these many years for that. But I’m done with all the recriminations about last night. These guys win as a team and they lose as a team. They know what they need to do. If they win, it will be for one another, with us cheering them on.

And with that, I’ll wipe away the tear and try to get some effing work done before I get fired.

Posted by FetalWingsFan from Chicago on 06/03/08 at 12:55 PM ET

i’m not gonna lie, turkleton has a point. except for the yankee/patriots mentality thing. there’s no sense of entitlement...the wings are just consistently good every year. its not like the pens who were terrible for about 10 years so anything they do now is great. when you make the playoffs every year, you start to expect a cup.

as for the wings franchise, they are probably the exact opposite of the yankees. those bastards go out and pay top dollar for superstars year after year. the wings actually go out and SCOUT...what a novel idea that is. Hank, Pavel, Franzen, Lids...all drafted by the wings, with hank and pavel being absolute steals. so great comparison. or it would be if you actually put some thought into sports, beyond standings.

anyway, i’m not worried. wings dominated the majority of that game. this is how a puck possession style works. if you hang on to the puck for that long (like in the ot’s) and you don’t score, eventually it goes the other way. hopefully they (and by they i mean samuelsson) stop trying to snipe corners and maybe just put it on net.

i never realized how many bandwagon fans the pens have until after last nights game when i got about 30 text messages from people who were pleased about the outcome of that game, and who probably couldn’t tell me where crosby is from. jam it down their throats, so i can stop having to hear the bs from these hosers

Posted by Dr. Cox from Dallas on 06/03/08 at 01:04 PM ET

I am angry and numb and really don’t know how to feel after that game.  There should have been no open discussion about how we were going to celebrate.  They players were nervous last night, and the game was lost on the first two goals, not the OT winner.  We lost in the first period.

I can’t get over how angry I am, how gutted I feel.  This team has two more opportunities to win this.  No talk about a celebration.  This team needs to focus and Osgood needs to keep his damn skate on the post.

Posted by TDeters on 06/03/08 at 01:04 PM ET

also, as for the osgood talk, lest you forget he stuffed talbot on the first try. where’s the d help? and he played well. hossa’s goal was SICK. the dude could be a surgeon with those hands. nothing he could do on the second. the third see above. and the fourth, it was a rip. could he have stopped it? yea, probably. but the fact is, that spot is open 90% of the time on goalies today, and sykora just put it where it had to go. samuelsson, take notes, thats how you snipe.

Posted by Dr. Cox from Dallas on 06/03/08 at 01:17 PM ET

As bad as Franzen’s mis-clear was, Ozzie had his worst game of the playoffs.

what?!

he made brilliant saves throughout the entire game and in the OTs.  the second goal obviously had nothing to do with him.  he let in 2 goals in over 5 periods of hockey.  he also made uncharacteristically excellent plays with the puck behind his own net.  far from his worst game.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/03/08 at 01:20 PM ET

Grr. I’m sorry NHLJEFF. You sure are cranky.
Did you put your maxi pad on sticky side up or something today.

Posted by jmara85 on 06/03/08 at 01:32 PM ET

Umm...great comeback, real mature.  As expected, you didn’t answer the question.  It’s one thing to complain about Gary Bettman when something may or may not be his fault, but it’s another to just use him as a scape goat when he had absolutely nothing to do with it.

Posted by NHLJeff from Boston, MA on 06/03/08 at 01:35 PM ET

Paul, sometimes I wonder if some of our own (A2Y) really know hockey.  Osgood was not the reason the Wings lost.  Neither was Kronwall or Hudler or Hank.  Give the Pens their due.  They fought back, tied the game and won in overtime.  Good teams do that.  And if anyone thinks the Pens are not a very good team then they don’t know hockey.  Dry your tears, sack up (or the female equivalent for you ladies), get pissed off and prepare to sacrifice animals, neighbors, family members et al come Wednesday night.  I BELIEVE IN MY TEAM.

Posted by Mike from La-La Land on 06/03/08 at 01:39 PM ET

copy/pasted are my thoughts i posted somewhere else.

I’m not sure what else to say that hasn’t been said.

The finger will be pointed around until tomorrow night and people will vent to get it out of their system. Up until around 11:30am today I was a zombie, like most people. I was drained, emotionally and physically, we all felt it, we felt the presence of the cup when Bud Lynch said one minute remaining! but I don’t think I was the only one who’s hair on the back of their neck started to creep up when we couldn’t clear.

The Wings dominated from the 3rd until Sykora scored, they buzzed, they controlled the play but it wasn’t enough. Helm made a statement for himself tonight, easily one of the best 3 players on the ice. Zetterberg was a monster, the most noticeable Red Wing out there at almost all times. Pavel was dangling, and was FEELING it after that post, but unfortunately his one goal wasn’t enough. Babcock decided to split the twins up and in the first time that I can remember the Datsyuk line with Filppula and Holmstrom actually worked. They buzzed, Filppula has been a monster all series and Homer crashed and banged and had chances but nothing went in. I thought Holmstrom was done for the night when he took a shift on the 4th line, obviously the hamstring or whatever it is is bothering him still big time.

I thought by the end of the game Kronwall was gassed, how couldn’t he be? Almost two games in a row. I’ve read that people said Stuart had a poor game, I disagree, he was still banging away in the 3rd overtime. I really think the physical punishment that the Wings put on the Penguins last night is going to help them tomorrow.

Osgood played well, well enough to win. I didn’t like the tying goal in the 3rd but whatever, no reason to dwell. The Hudler high stick was unintentional and he in no way should be blamed for the loss unless you want to pigeon hole it, but can you guys imagine if that were Samuelsson who took that penalty? Good lord, it would be a mob mentality to go kill him.

Babcock hit the nail on the head when he basically said the players may have been getting ahead of themselves and which is why they were late to start the first again. I doubt that happens in game 6.

Onto game 6, no worries, the Penguins still have a loooooong hill to climb while the Wings just need to roll on and win one mo(ar)re.

Posted by Heaton on 06/03/08 at 01:49 PM ET

On a positive note...and it’s tough today because I can barely move my fingers I’m so hungover...we came out of that game knowing a few key things.  Granted, this is a little late in the season to be “learning about the team,” but the optimist in me is trying to put the gun back in the drawer...trying to find some light here.

A few oft discussed, but still calming thoughts:

Darren Helm is going to lead a new wave of wings.  I see him as one of those career guys like drapes (anyone tired of that comparison) who keeps getting better.  throw in Abadabadoo and that euro kid in the gold helmet and we’ve already got another huge line of stars in the making.

Hudler is a legit force.  Take away the penalty.  He used to be one of those guys that you hoped might come through.  Now...at the end of the game...you’re somewhat expecting magic to happen with him on the puck.

The twins can center their own lines...and when they do, it’s trouble for the opposition.  I hope we see more of that mixing up next game because I don’t think the Pens can contain that much talent, that spread out, for three periods.

Samuelson has a role on this team.  I would have never said that before, but he does.  I attribute that open netter less to his poor shot and more to a ridiculously athletic play from MAF.  Sammy puts pucks on the net and you need that in the playoffs. 

Now, everyone suck down a couple of Z-bars, take a deep breath, get some sleep.  Wake up tomorrow knowing that the better team...the team that dominated last night...will show up in crunch time.  I’ve no doubt that Uncle Mike will have our boys set for the knockout punch.  Do you?

Posted by disch from bat country on 06/03/08 at 01:53 PM ET

Having watched the Wings since they played in Olympia, I have to say that was one of the most exciting end to end games I can remember.

The ending sucked, but the game was pure hockey madness at it’s best (after the 1st period debacle was over anyway).

The officiating was bad in both directions.  Bad officiating makes it harder for the players to know what will/won’t be called, harder for casual fans to know what is going on, and just basically makes a mockery of the game.  I have no doubt that I would do a worse job than the officials, but I don’t get paid to make those types of calls. 

Anyway - here’s hoping that tomorrow night will be just as exciting, but with a different outcome.

Posted by Gusoline from Washington, DC on 06/03/08 at 01:54 PM ET

So the Wings lost. Get over it! Suck it up and charge forward. I’m sure the mindset with the team is, yesterday is gone forever. So it is with me. We all knew this was going to go six games.  After all, tomorrow is another day.

Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Kate from Pa. on 06/03/08 at 01:57 PM ET

Chief asks: 

Was that the worst?

My reply is no, that was not the worst.  This was not a game 7 loss; that would be the worst.

For reasons known only to the hockey gods themselves, DET has a ridiculously poor tendency to “creep out of the gate” (only known to the hockey gods because if Babs knew the issue, he’d damn sure fix it).

Wings “slow starts” caused pain in both the NSH and DAL series.  Pain but not mortal wounds.

The shot totals pretty much mirror the play of both teams:

PIT 7 7 4 2 8 4 32
DET 8 12 14 13 7 4 58

Once the Wings “got into the game”, they really carried the play.

Plain and simple:  (1) Wings dug another frigging hole, and (2) MAF shoveled enough dirt on it to keep them from getting out.

It remains to be seen how this latest self-mutilation by the Wings plays out.

What will be fascinating will be to see which team has any physical and mental gas left in the tank (recall DAL had nothing in the tank in game 6, they left it all on the ice in game 5).

I truly hope Babs keeps the Circus apart for SCF #6, I thought that really created issues for the PENS.

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Hockey Hades on 06/03/08 at 02:05 PM ET

19 of us died last nite. Today, we’re all zombies.

That’s why I come here. For the 19 of us who understand the highs and the lows, who commiserate and console one another, who celebrate and whoop it up with one another. I don’t give a crap about the trolls who try to hop on the Stress Train. I really don’t. They have their opinions and I’m free to ignore them. Which I do. I’m not sure why they come here, it seems a waste of time to me. We’re not going to change each other’s minds about our teams and the 19 are not usually in any condition for serious, analytical, logical debate anyway. Plus, I don’t know how we’d fit it in with the all the drinking, animal sacrifice and knocking on the faux wood paneling of the Hasek.

My beloved Wings drive me crazy. They always have.  When we’re winning, I stress. When we’re losing, I stress. I’m allowed because I’ve never been a fairweather fan. I’ve loved them since I was a kid and my dad took me and my brother to games at the old big red barn (that’s the Olympia for you trolls). Heck we even saved bricks when they tore it down. My dad’s dad used to take him there when he was a kid and they used to have chicken wire instead of plexiglass around the rink. It was my dad who instilled in me my love for the game and my bizarre mix of superstitions about it.

I played hockey in the winter on the lake with (and against) all the boys in my neighborhood. Playing in my little white figure skates with the toe pick. I wanted to play like Stevie Yzerman. And while other girls idolized pop stars, I was in love with Bob Probert.

I loved my Wings even through the Dead Things years, when they used to give cars away to get people into the Joe. So I’ll take my seat on the Hasek with the 19 and we’ll bitch and moan together about the bad plays and jump up and down together about the good plays. And I’ll be here (or in some version of here) next year and the year after that, no matter what the Wings are doing, because that’s how I roll bitches.

Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from the back of the Hasek car drinking heavily on 06/03/08 at 02:05 PM ET

I truly hope Babs keeps the Circus apart for SCF #6, I thought that really created issues for the PENS.

I think part of that is not only splitting them up, but getting other players like Franzen and Filpulla time with them.

Zetterberg and Datsyuk together are one unstoppable line.  Franzen/Zetterberg, and Datsyuk/Filpulla, are two almost unstoppable lines.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/03/08 at 02:10 PM ET

one thing I noticed after the first period was that the Wings’ passes were on the money.  they didn’t hesitate, gave each other short outlet passes, and made them tape to tape.  it was how they took control.  if they can come out of the gate like that tomorrow, all will be well.  their puck support was superb.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/03/08 at 02:16 PM ET

Jennifer - Amen, sister.  Thanks for your good company last night in the way back of the Hasek.  I think I put my fist through the wood paneling though.  I need to knock with less force I think.

I agree, keep the lines split the way Uncle Mike did in Game 5.  It worked very well.  Almost enough....

Be gone Talbot, be gone!  Anyone know a good exorcist?

Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 06/03/08 at 02:17 PM ET

i’m not gonna lie, turkleton has a point...... Posted by Dr. Cox from Dallas on 06/03 at 01:04 PM

are you THIS Dr. Cox???

-just askin’

Posted by dr. turkleton on 06/03/08 at 02:19 PM ET

Dr. Cox, thanks for replying to the Yankees/Patriots comparison.  I’ve lived on the East Coast for four years now, and I’m getting really sick of hearing this as a Red Wings fan.

God knows I have no idea what Yankees and Patriots fans feel, but I don’t think many Wings fans feel a sense of entitlement.  I’m not even sure what that means; how can a team be *entitled* to a win?  Should we tempt the hockey gods with overconfidence?  No, but you’re going to see displays like the ones you mention from fans of any team that’s up by a game or two in the finals.  It may be stupid, but it’s part of sports.

And I *really* don’t know how you can attribute such an attitude to the franchise.  I don’t even know how to argue that one, because I’m not sure where it’s coming from.  The Wings have had a lot of wins in recent years, but they’ve had their share of painful losses.  They’ve worked their asses off to get where they are, just as the Pens have.  They’re not taking anything for granted.

Posted by Sadie from Ann Arbor, MI on 06/03/08 at 02:19 PM ET

Stop consoling each other…
rewind and play that winning goal in SM.
Ozzie had it stopped, but it was deflected.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 06/03/08 at 02:21 PM ET

OR.....

maybe THIS Dr. Cox [I ALWAYS KNEW he was a closet Pens fan!!!!!!!]

Posted by dr. turkleton on 06/03/08 at 02:22 PM ET

Jennifer, you might get a few proposals out of this. 

Sadly, nobody that reads this thing has a what I’d call “gainful employment” ...and if they had one, it’s seriously on the rocks after today’s performance.

Posted by disch from bat country on 06/03/08 at 02:27 PM ET

NHLJeff -

Asking why Gary is blamed for everything and anything around here only shows that you’re: a) new, or b) not paying attention.

Posted by Primis on 06/03/08 at 02:33 PM ET

why does Gary. Ass. get blamed?  because bullshit rolls downhill.  the Wings are a perennial winner because from top to bottom the organization is full of quality people who are committed to winning and have bought into the program.

recently I first heard of the “point system” they use for refs.  how ridiculous.  it just shows that the NHL couldn’t manage its way out of a paper bag.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/03/08 at 02:44 PM ET