I just realized the Wings broke their streak of giving up a goal while on the PK. Finally!

Posted by Aphaea from Pennsylvania on 05/28/09 at 12:41 AM ET

Indeed, Aphaea.  Let’s hope Helm’s PK mojo rubs off on everyone else assigned to work the PK.

Posted by SYF from a "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" on 05/27/09 at 11:46 PM ET

Btw, I don’t know if anyone else noticed it, but Helm’s game winner, to me, was eerily similar to Hossa’s called back game tying goal against Anaheim:  puck squeaks between the post and goalie, goes sideways across the goal mouth, and is stuffed in, except this time it counted.  So I guess based on the league’s response to the Hossa non-goal, the ref must have blown tonight’s call by actually allowing the goal?
Thankfully Huet wasn’t wearing a black uniform.

Posted by UMcastaway from Florida on 05/27/09 at 11:48 PM ET

Actually, all that means is, by beating the Pens again this year, by extension, we will have beaten all the previous 4 teams we’ve beaten in the finals to win the Cup AGAIN.  Thanks for pointing out that history is on our side.

Not really, because you already beat us last year.

Alright guys, im heading to sleep.  Was nice jabbing with you tonight.  I’ll be back saturday

Posted by AmusKindu on 05/27/09 at 11:55 PM ET

All of a sudden the league jumps the schedule an entire week when the Wings are at their most injured?  What BS!  Of course, there’s no conspiracy at the NHL, just the execution of a plan.

The fix is in, RWBill, the fix is in.

And it’ll make victory all the more sweet.

FTBS.

Posted by Hippy Dave from Portland by way of Detroit on 05/28/09 at 12:03 AM ET

VooX you’ve made me laugh.

Posted by Hippy Dave from Portland by way of Detroit on 05/28/09 at 12:08 AM ET

why can i not find the postgame presser anywhere?  anyone?

Posted by stayouttamalibu from Tempe, AZ on 05/28/09 at 12:31 AM ET

@ stayouttamalibu -

George has the transcripts up so you can read what was said.  Here:  http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2009/05/red_wingsblackhawks_postgame_5.html

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/28/09 at 12:09 AM ET

I have to say that moving up the finals doesn’t have anything to do with the Wings and their injuries - it has everything to do with the NHL finally realizing, “god we look stupid by sucking up to NBC so much that there could be a nine-day gap before the finals start.  We better change that so we won’t look quite as asinine - to blind people, anyway.”

Pure unadulterated incompetence and ineptitude.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/28/09 at 12:12 AM ET

Umm in order for the fix to be in, the Red Wings have to be in on it as well.  As far as I can tell, they are not.

Posted by TheTaxidermist on 05/28/09 at 12:16 AM ET

How is the fix in? Had the Wings lost tonight, they would play Saturday anyways. I think it benefits both teams that the series starts sooner, momentum is carried over more, players like to stay within a rhythm and I think Pav, Nick and Big Rig will be back by then anyways. I don’t really see how it hurts either team.

Posted by OHWingsFan40 from Oregon/Bowling Green, OH on 05/28/09 at 12:50 AM ET

Go Wings Go, so glad we made it to the finals once more.

Wing fans check out my forum everyone. We’d like to invite you to share your thoughts and opinions on the games and the stanley cup finals.

Thanks.

Posted by Shield4life on 05/28/09 at 01:33 AM ET

How is the fix in? Had the Wings lost tonight, they would play Saturday anyways. I think it benefits both teams that the series starts sooner, momentum is carried over more, players like to stay within a rhythm and I think Pav, Nick and Big Rig will be back by then anyways. I don’t really see how it hurts either team.

First of all - what exactly do you know about Pav and Nick’s injury besides the misinformation being released by the team? Second - no matter what the injuries are, they’ve already kept them out of 2 playoff games?

If the Wings won in game 6 on Saturday, the finals would have started the following Friday, 6 days after the last game. Since they won tonight, the finals are now starting Saturday, 3 days after the last game. I agree they’ll probably play, but you really don’t think the extra 3 days (and assuming they didn’t play game 6, it would actually be 5 days) would benefit a healing Lidstrom and Datsyuk? No matter how you slice it, starting right away hurts our team in this regard.

I hear you about carrying momentum, but that’s one of those intangibles that effects both teams equally. And even though Gonchar would have extra time to heal, the penguins 2 best players are not hurt (but are on fire, momentum we wouldn’t mind seeing broken) while the Red Wings 2 best players are both hurt. It seems totally suspicious to me that the NHL is suddenly rushing them into the finals… and the back to back games just increases the likelihood they will be reinjured.

Posted by perfection from LaLaLand on 05/28/09 at 02:27 AM ET

<object width=“445” height=“364”><param name=“movie” value=“http://www.youtube.com/v/eU4TuAVMZsM&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1”></param></param></param><embed src=“http://www.youtube.com/v/eU4TuAVMZsM&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1” type=“application/x-shockwave-flash” allowscriptaccess=“always” allowfullscreen=“true” width=“445” height=“364”></embed></object>

Now thats elite

Posted by pgoody on 05/28/09 at 02:50 AM ET

There is no conspiracy.  The league is inept, had no plan B for this scenario, and so invented one at the last minute. 

It is pretty stupid though.  What’s wrong with starting on Monday?  NBC didn’t like it?  NBC shouldn’t be allowed to run the league you clowns.

Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 05/28/09 at 06:32 AM ET

Forget Helm’s goal… that single-handed penalty kill was a thing of legends.

I’m pretty sure he made every Hawk on the ice, except for Huet, look foolish, twice, on that shift.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 05/28/09 at 07:08 AM ET

I hurt the feelings of the girls at Pen(i)sblog. IP banned.  And it was only a 6/10 on the sarcasm meter.  I hope the girls grow a thick skin.

They canned you for that, Voox? Must be that time of the month over there…

Just for you-

Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 05/28/09 at 07:22 AM ET

Ah crap…

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h305/mrfluffy02/internet pics/banned.jpg

Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 05/28/09 at 07:24 AM ET

  Actually, all that means is, by beating the Pens again this year, by extension, we will have beaten all the previous 4 teams we’ve beaten in the finals to win the Cup AGAIN.  Thanks for pointing out that history is on our side.

Not really, because you already beat us last year.

apparently this kind of simple logic is lost on fans of the Penguins.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 05/28/09 at 08:04 AM ET

Not really, because you already beat us last year

Uhh, we beat those other teams too, man you can’t even follow your own story…

Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 05/28/09 at 08:38 AM ET

I think both pressers can be seen on TSN.ca . . ...  but watch ‘em before anything else or it might give you a not allowed in another country label.

Posted by bobbo from romeo,mi on 05/28/09 at 09:03 AM ET

It’s funny someone put up the picture of Zetterturd interfering with Crosby on that play last year. Clearly should have been a penalty for interference but everyone called it a great defensive play. Crazy how many people think Zetterturd is good when all he does is obstruct and get away with it.

Posted by Jimmy from Windsor on 05/28/09 at 09:52 AM ET

Tieing up a stick is not interference, it’s called defense.  At least if you’re gonna troll, you might wanna know the rules.

Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 05/28/09 at 11:21 AM ET

Wow!  late to the game last night….. and log in today to find Penguin crap all over the place!  Didn’t take the little wingless bird long to foul up this place.

Posted by Rumbear from Top O da Hasek, sippin rum & catchin some rays on 05/28/09 at 12:18 PM ET