NHL Playoffs 2009 (FINALS!)

[corey]

the wings are usually laser-like with tape to tape passes and have no problems evading defenders in gaining the zone. The fact the refs let almost every interference from both teams go uncalled basically unhinged Detroit's game and without Datsyuk they couldn't really get Plan B going as they did with the Ducks series.

Holy run-on sentence.

hah. it's funny you mention the bad passing.
i think it might have something to do with our glacier-like ice surface here in the burgh...
sorry bout that.. we're building a new one...

[swampduc]

Out of curiosity, have the Wings ever lost a game without it being the refs' fault? 

[Ducatiloo]

Out of curiosity, have the Wings ever lost a game without it being the refs' fault? 

I seem to recall Osgood giving up a soft goal in 2002 that cost us a game

[Dannyboy]

I seem to recall Osgood giving up a soft goal in 2002 that cost us a game

Osgood gave up quite a few softies over the years.  From well outside the blue line softies. 

As for the original question, yes.  They've been beaten by hot goalies quite a few times.  But those are the only 2 reasons they lose.  I mean, really, it's not like any other team in the league has been as good as the Wings have been over the last decade.

[redxblack]

The wings have lost being too fancy or underestimating opponents (the preds almost knocked them out in the first round last year). This year the calls in all of the playoffs have been VERY INCONSISTENT and have cost some teams important games. It is legitimate to blame the refs for some bad calls that make serious game changing situations.



this is the game 3 too many men incident. the linesman is moving out of the way for this guy to get to the bench. LaRue (referee) allegedly told the guy to get off the ice. This isn't a missed call, it's an ignored call. The tying goal came a minute and a half into what should have been a PP for the wings. There's legitimate room to say the refs overtly influenced this specific game.

[vwboomer]

well the wings sure beat themselves last night. They looked like a pee wee team out there!
The good news is it saved me $500 because we were going to go to game 5 if it could have been the clincher.

[redxblack]

I agree. The wings looked gassed. what was that, the 6th game in 8 days? something crazy anyway.

[Dannyboy]

On the plus side, Osgood looked good.  I'd really only fault him on Staal's goal.  I thought he should have had that one.  The first one was similar to Abdelkader's goal in that Malkin was the only person who saw the puck and Osgood almost got that one.  The last 2 were odd-man chances where the defense left him out to dry with no chance in hell.  Another plus is that Datsyuk looks like he should be back for game 5.  That will be a huge help for the Wings. 

I think the next game is gonna be the decider, figuratively, obviously because that will only be win 3 for whichever team.

[redxblack]

Best of 3 with 2 games in Detroit -- it should be a Red Wings advantage.

[Dannyboy]

Babcock says Datsyuk is playing tonight.  With the last change that will help the Wings immensely, even if he isn't 100%.

[redxblack]

It was nice to have Datsyuk back. I love that guy.

[Dannyboy]

It was nice to have Datsyuk back. I love that guy.

He was awesome.  Now we need to get Hossa scoring.

[redxblack]

Was Hossa playing?

He's been the invisible man in this series, as well as the last two. I think bringing up Helm, Leino, Abdelkader, Kindl, and a couple other griffins might make more sense than resigning Hoss. I'll defer to Kenny Holland - that man is a hockey genius.

[redxblack]

I was reading on Kuklas Korner that the curse of the octopus may have struck again. In every series when an opponent disrespects the octopus, the series shifts hard for the wings.

cutnpaste
Near the end of Karen Newman's rendition of the national anthem, a couple fans tossed customary octopi onto the ice surface at Joe Louis Arena. Penguins forward Maxime Talbot skated over and spit on one of the squid before the game five began.

Talbot's questionable decision was a sign of things to come for the Penguins in the second period, when the Red Wings power play finally got on track to score three times.

[vwboomer]

So last nights game is what it musta felt like to be a Pens fan thursday night eh? 

Game 7 tickets are being looked at.......dunno whether to hope they are needed or not
Helm continues to impress and having Datsyuk back might have lit the fire under their ass that they needed