29 replies to this topic

[Dark Knight]

Please post your thoughts, pictures and comments on tonight's game in this thread.

Detroit at Pittsburgh

[FredFrog]

Please post your thoughts, pictures and comments on tonight's game in this thread.

Detroit at Pittsburgh

I expect Detroit to come back and win Game 4. They are the superior team and they have now played a road game at Pittsburg. They will learn from that loss and play a style more similar to Games 1 & 2. If Detroit is "on" its game, they should win. If so, the season will end in Game 5 in Detroit.

[Todrick]

Wierd... i saw game 3 a bit differently....

Pitt finally remembered how to play.

they had several additional scoring opportunities that could have easily blown that game wide open... the score did not reflect the beating that Detroit took.

Game 4 should go to the Pens.

It seems it took them a couple games to sort out the physical obstructionist Western Conference... Ottawa never got their heads around it last year, then again, they didn't have the talent Pitt has.

When Pitt is on... no one is going to stop them, not even the mighty Red Wings

[TroyLoney]

According to the script (aka last season's Ducks/Senators series) the Red Wings will go back to dominating this series and win the next two games.

Please post your thoughts, pictures and comments on tonight's game in this thread.

Man, that's a quick turnaround!

[2forroughing]

Wierd... i saw game 3 a bit differently....

Pitt finally remembered how to play.

they had several additional scoring opportunities that could have easily blown that game wide open... the score did not reflect the beating that Detroit took.

Game 4 should go to the Pens.

It seems it took them a couple games to sort out the physical obstructionist Western Conference... Ottawa never got their heads around it last year, then again, they didn't have the talent Pitt has.

When Pitt is on... no one is going to stop them, not even the mighty Red Wings

We must have been watching different games. The snowbirds earned their win no doubt, but I did not see the same oportunity for them to blow it wide open. The first period was all wings with the only exception that matters (the score). I believe that the Wings will tighten up the D and agree with TL; Game 4 and 5 to the Wings.

[Still MIGHTY]

According to the script (aka last season's Ducks/Senators series) the Red Wings will go back to dominating this series and win the next two games.

Depends on which script you subscribe to...
'03 Mighty Ducks or '07 Ducks

I'm drinking the Mighty '03 Kool-aid...

's offensive talents really burst through.
Crosby has proven his worth.
I expect big things from Malkin, Hossa, Staal and the likes.

[2forroughing]

Depends on which script you subscribe to...
'03 Mighty Ducks or '07 Ducks

I'm drinking the Mighty '03 Kool-aid...

's offensive talents really burst through.
Crosby has proven his worth.
I expect big things from Malkin, Hossa, Staal and the likes.

I think he meant the 07 Ducks as a comparison to the Wings). However, I guess he could be referring to the 03 Ducks who lost every away game, but won every home game (as a comparison to the Pens).

Either way, same overall result.

[TroyLoney]

I think he meant the 07 Ducks as a comparison to the Wings

Indeed I did. The Ducks won the first two games in dominant fashion, lost the third game but came right back and won the next two to close it out. I expect the same will happen with the Wings.

The Penguins offense didn't exactly shine in this game. They put the winning goal off of Osgood's ass, that's not skill that's garbage. Crosby had two goals and they got a lot of good chances, but so did Detroit. Fleury made a phenomenal save on Holmstrom in the third or else the game would be tied up. One bounce goes the other way in that game and the Wings are up 3-0 right now.

The way I see this series is that the Wings dominated two games from start to finish and the Penguins stole one game. I can't see the Penguins stealing three out of the next four games nor can I see them dominating the Red Wings so I guess I have to go with Detroit. Maybe not in five, though that is a possiblity, but eventually I think Lidstrom and the boys will be hosting Lord Stanley this summer.

[DropThePuck]

TSN's Ice Chips:

While it was initially thought Tomas Holmstrom suffered a knee injury in Game 3, sources tell TSN the problem may be more of a groin/sports hernia condition that was bothering him just prior to the beginning of the playoffs. If the groin muscle is torn, and the Wings aren’t saying anything right now, Holmstrom could be forced out of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The team's official position is that it is lower body injury and they will know more Friday.

Detroit wanted, and intended to fly home this morning. However, Mike Babcock says the NHL wouldn't allow it for media access reasons. Instead, the Wings will spend the day and night at an undisclosed location in the Pittsburgh area. - TSN

Red Wings Coach Mike Babcock blamed himself for keeping his top players, including Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk, on the ice too much during a first period that Detroit largely dominated until Crosby scored at 17:25. "I thought those guys tried to do too much," Babcock said. "I thought the coach played them too much and I thought they tried to do too much. So they stayed on too long. And we didn't have the same kind of tempo coming off our bench that we did in the first couple of games. I like the fact that we're trying, but you've got to do more by doing less." - Detroit Free Press

[Still MIGHTY]

You never know.

Same thing happened in '03

New Jersey dominated the Ducks in the first two (3-0 shutouts), then the Ducks gutted out two one goal wins at home (both in OT, however). Heck Game 3 was 3-2 in the Ducks favor.
GAME 1: @NJD 3, ANA 0
GAME 2: @NJD 3, ANA 0
GAME 3: @ANA 3, NJD 2
GAME 4: @ANA 1, NJD 0
GAME 5: @NJD 6, ANA 3
GAME 6: @ANA 5, NJD 2
GAME 7: @NJD 3, ANA 0

There are tons of similaties
Sweep of a defending Champ in the first round (Theres was the Eastern champ but still)
Both teams only had 2 losses en rout to the Cup Finals
The only difference is that Pittsburg isn't a Cinderella.

I can very much see this as a similar series.
But I think if Pittsburgh is going to win the series, it would be in 6 games.
I think if Pittsburgh can get a win tomorrow with a 2-goal margin or larger, they have a chance at a Game 5 win in Detroit.
But I think if it gets to a Game 7, Detroit wins.

[hillbillywingsfan]

Wierd... i saw game 3 a bit differently....

Pitt finally remembered how to play.

they had several additional scoring opportunities that could have easily blown that game wide open... the score did not reflect the beating that Detroit took.

Game 4 should go to the Pens.

It seems it took them a couple games to sort out the physical obstructionist Western Conference... Ottawa never got their heads around it last year, then again, they didn't have the talent Pitt has.

When Pitt is on... no one is going to stop them, not even the mighty Red Wings

ok so when they are "ON" as you say they can only beat detroit by 1 goal? wow...ok.

and all of our bad turn overs that they scored on didn't mean anything right?.

[Cassie8236]

Hillbilly....you bobblehead redwings make me laugh all the time.

[Todrick]

ok so when they are "ON" as you say they can only beat detroit by 1 goal? wow...ok.

and all of our bad turn overs that they scored on didn't mean anything right?.

nope, when they are on they make the wings look silly... like they did for much of game 3... half the time Holmstrom seemed to be wondering where he was... The wings got schooled.

just as the pens got shcooled in Games 1 & 2... the real question going forward... are the wings quick learners?

[2forroughing]

nope, when they are on they make the wings look silly.

I guess they havent' been "on" yet. Somebody better find the switch. If you think that eaking out a one game desperation win is making the Wings look silly, then we are operating on two vastly different paradigms.

[hillbillywingsfan]

nope, when they are on they make the wings look silly... like they did for much of game 3... half the time Holmstrom seemed to be wondering where he was... The wings got schooled.

just as the pens got shcooled in Games 1 & 2... the real question going forward... are the wings quick learners?

hahahaha schooled???? like i said if they beat us by 1 point and they are suppose to be soooooo good then thats not real good to me. and did you watch the game? i didn't see what you seen. we were off our game and still almost tied it. i hope thats not the best the pens have or they will for sure lose. they would'n of scored 2 of their goals if it wasnt for bad turnovers. we shut them out 2 games in a row...when we are on the pens have no chance.

[Dark Knight]

I don't know how anyone can argue that Pittsburgh "schooled" Detroit in that game. I'm not a fan of either team but Detroit has been the superior team and I fully expect them to win tomorrow night.

[UltraDavid]

The Wings missed open shots, and gave up some unfortunate bounces and turnovers, and failed to capitalize on takeaways, Fleury had a couple amazing saves when the Wings challenged, and the Pens won the game on a garbage goal. Detroit had way more shots on goal and carried the puck longer than the Pens as well. From what I could see, Detroit dominated the game at points and broke even with the Pens at others. Even in this game, I thought Pittsburgh's offensive prowess was really disappointing; they basically got carried by a single player, and their other good forwards were more or less invisible. Sidney Crosby's an amazing player, but even he isn't gonna win too many games on his own against the Detroit Red Wings.

Man, stupid Wings, being all good and stuff. Here's to hoping Ken Holland retires after this season.

[DropThePuck]

May 30 - TSN's Ice Chips:

Detroit Red Wing forward Tomas Holmstrom expects to play in Game 4 and will skate on Saturday morning before making a final decision. The lower body injury is not related to the groin injury that kept him out for 13 games in March. Coach Mike Babcock says its a hamstring injury and expects him to play. - TSN

[DropThePuck]

Q. Will you give us your understanding of Holmstrom's injury and his chances of playing tomorrow?

COACH MIKE BABCOCK: What are the rules? Do we have to talk about the injury or just what part of the body or what do we have to do?

Q: The type.

COACH MIKE BABCOCK: I do a lot of stuff with kids cancer, and there's a thing called HIPAA compliance where you can never reveal anything about the person, how come we have to do it in the League? (Laughter.)

<NHL.com link>

[DropThePuck]

Sykora, who had 28 goals and 63 points this season, has yet to record a point in the finals and has no goals in his last seven games and only one in his last 12 playoff games. He was very accommodating in discussing the series, calling tonight's game "do or die," and he was honest about his personal scoring woes.
...
But when he was asked to compare his experiences with 2003, he became abrupt.

"I don't talk about the past," he said as he walked away. "I don't talk about me losing."

For those interested in more parallels: Sykora and the Ducks won Game 4, and he contributed a goal and an assist in a losing effort in Game 5 and a goal and two assists in Game 6.

<LAT link>

[DropThePuck]

Detroit Red Wings forward Tomas Holmstrom put an end to speculation regarding his status for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final when he did not participate in the pre-game skate at Mellon Arena.

Holmstrom, who suffered a hamstring injury in the third period of Game 3 following a collision with Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Hal Gill did not practice with the team on Friday but skated on Saturday morning. His status remained in question up until this evening, when he was nowhere to be found on the ice.

<NHl.com link>

[DropThePuck]

End of the 1st and game is tied at 1.

Lidstrom, N. (07:06 in 1st)
Hossa, M. (PPG, 02:51 in 1st)

[DropThePuck]

2 - Lidstrom, N. (07:06 in 1st), Hudler, J. (02:26 in 3rd)
1 - Hossa, M. (PPG, 02:51 in 1st)

The Penguins entered the game with a 9-0 home record in these playoffs and an 11-0 mark when scoring the first goal, but the Wings ended both those marks and now will attempt to win the Stanley Cup on home ice Monday night (8 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, RDS, NHL Radio).

Jiri Hudler broke a 1-1 tie at 2:26 of the third period, capitalizing on some great work by his teammates to keep the puck alive in the Pittsburgh zone. Defenseman Brad Stuart made a great play at the right point to keep a bouncing puck on-side and got it deep to Darren Helm. He got it across to Hudler, who scored his fifth of the playoffs on a backhander that hit the post to Marc-Andre Fleury’s left, then went off the goaltender and finally into the net.

<NHL.com recap>



Fans watch game four of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Finals between the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins outside of Mellon Arena on May 31, 2008 in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania.
(Photo by A. J. Messier/Getty Images)


A Pittsburgh Penguins fan sits dejected after Game 4 of the Stanley Cup hockey finals between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 31, 2008. The Red Wings won 2-1 and lead the best-of-seven games series 3-1.
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)


Dallas Drake #17 of the Detroit Red Wings and Jarkko Ruutu #37 of the Pittsburgh Penguins are separated by officials during game four of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Finals at Mellon Arena on May 31, 2008 in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania.
(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)


Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock gives instructions behind forwards Henrik Zetterberg, left front, of Sweden, and Darren Helm, right, during the second period in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup hockey finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 31, 2008.
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)


Detroit Red Wings' Dan Cleary, right, is checked by Pittsburgh Penguins' Adam Hall during the second period in Game 4 of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey finals Saturday, May 31, 2008 in Pittsburgh.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)


Detroit Red Wings forward Jiri Hudler (26), of the Czech Republic, celebrates his goal as he skates behind Pittsburgh Penguins forward Tyler Kennedy (48) and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, right rear, during the third period in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup hockey finals, in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 31, 2008.
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

[DropThePuck]

The Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins face off the start game four of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Finals at Mellon Arena on May 31, 2008 in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania.
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)


Detroit Red Wings' Johan Franzen, right,of Sweden, mixes it up with Pittsburgh Penguins Brooks Orpik during the first period in Game 4 of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey finals Saturday, May 31, 2008 in Pittsburgh.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)


Pittsburgh Penguins' Marian Hossa, rear, of the Slovak Republic, scores the first goal against Detroit Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood during the first period in Game 4 of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey finals Saturday, May 31, 2008 in Pittsburgh.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)

[LightItUp4126]

Malkin is dumb. Dumb change. Dumb hockey. No effort. It's like he doesn't even care, typical Russian. He's #1 and nobody else matters.