I will of course, disagree. As far as I can see, the wings will have the best defense that Pittsburgh will play even without Lidstrom--who is playing in the opener, btw.

As for Datsyuk, even before he was injured he wasn't putting my many points, so he wasn't a HUGE loss. He was working hard, but nothing was going in when he was on the ice.

Honestly I don't see what aspect of the game Pittsburgh can outperform Detroit in. Detroit has a deeper offense, a better defense. Fleury might steal a game, but not more than one. I said it before, the only team who could have beaten the wings was the Ducks.

Wings in 5. 6 if Fleury channels the spirts of Brodeur, Roy, Luongo, Hasek, and Sawchuck all at the same time.

In the immortal words of the Sherminator...

"It was just my time boys. It was just my time."

Based on yesterday's game, I have two observations: the Pens can control the forecheck in Detroit's zone. Doesn't mean they will, just means they possess the ability to do so. And secondly...the boards at Joe Louis Arena need to be demolished and rebuilt. Seriously, this is hockey not pinball. Those things are ridiculous. Get rid of 'em.

I've got the tiniest violin in the world, ' Stache. (I kid, of course) But really, every rink has it's quirks, and every team knows the rink it plays in. Who knows, the deciding factor in the next two games could be the air faulty air conditioning at Mellon or whatever. (inanane example, but you get my point)

Anyways, I'm pretty convinced the NBC prognosticators are just drumming up excuses for what amounts to poor play (and a LOT of bad luck) by Fleury. That's actally been really suprising for me: how bad (and to be fair, unlucky) Fleury has been.

Actually, that's been really frustrating so far. All I've heard about tonight was the "unlucky penguins." It's been distressing how little credit has gone to the wings for winning two very close games. Have the Pengiuns had a few bad breaks? Yeah. But that's hockey. I'm sure it'll even out before the series is through.

(Actually, getting Malkin back as a gift from the NHL despite clearly deserving the suspension for instigating a fight will go a long way towards evening out the Penn's karma. Dude is guilty, should sit next game. I know he won't, but he should.)

I have to revise my assessment of the playoffs after seeing two games ( I literally just got back from game 2). The difference so far, as near as I can tell has been...Osgood? Both teams have played great defense, and have potent offense, but so far Ozzie has outperformed Fleury, or so it seems to me.

Penguins in 6 eh? Detroit loosing 4 in row...will never happen. Detroit takes it in 5 at the Joe!!!

Jeff - check my comments before the Eastern Conference finals. You'll see that I've been complaining about Fleury's ability to consistently give up one soft, bad, unlucky, or ugly goal a game - and that was when the Pens were winning. He absolutely has to be better. If he doesn't let in those two bad bounces in game one it's a different story; if he doesn't let in Abdlecracker's lame ass goal last night then the Pens still have a fighting chance. I'll never concede that Osgood is a special goaltender; put him on the Islanders and let's see how he fares...that said, the guy wins and that's really all that matters. There's no argument.

The Malkin non-suspension is just one more prime example of the selective amnesia the league has had in regards to the rules during these first two games. It's ridiculous. He should definitely be gone. But then Hossa should have been called for slashing, Zetterberg should have been called for covering the puck with his hand in game one, and Osgood should have been called for jacking Jordan Staal in the face with the butt of his stick.

I think none of these things have happened because the NHL wants to let these two high powered teams "play." That's a mistake. All it does is give the team with the lead the incentive to use obstruction and interference (a point which was brought up even by the announcers last night) and slows the entire game down to a 1995 New Jersey Devils borefest. I don't blame the Wings for playing this style of hockey when they get the lead - and it's not like it's a surprise. They did it last year and they're amazing at it. They get results. Other teams would do it if they could do it as well as the Wings can, but they can't. I can't overlook their talent and give them all the credit in the world for creating such a suffocating brand of play.

But why on earth should the officiating change just because it's the finals??? To quote something I read elsewhere: "Can you imagine the outrage if, in the Superbowl, the NFL decided to "just let them play" and didn't bother calling any of the penalties that make the game what it is today? Roughing the passer, pass interference, holding, tripping, offsides, you name it, all legal in the Superbowl. Maybe in the World Series this year they can just decide that every pitch is going to be a strike."

It's retarded. If I was a Wings fan I'd be outraged that Malkin's not suspended. Rules shouldn't be arbitrary! I don't know what the league is thinking but this kind of junk has to be addressed. We shouldn't have to wait for another lockout to fix things like this...

You know, it's weird. I'm always really suprised to realize that Ozzy is actually really good, too. Well, at least he's not a bad one, and he always seems to play really well when the wings need him.

I didn't think the game was boring at all. Then again, being there isn't the same as TV. I did notice a bit of trapping on the wings part, but I thought the biggest problem Pittsburgh had wasn't breaking the zone but getting more than one shot to the net. It seemed after every shot the puck was gathered by the Wings and put out of the zone.

Take the only goal last night: how many whacks did it take them to get the puck in? Five, six?

Well, Fleury looked a lot better in game 3 and look at what happens. Overall, I thought it was a pretty decent game from both teams. The penguins came out a lot harder, but no team was really able to hold the momentum for very long.

Interesting note: Malkin got an assist on all three goals. Amazing, considering he probably shouldn't have been playing at all.

I'm actually less annoyed with that then you'd think. I don't really think the rule is that great, I'm more annoyed that the letter of the law was discarded because it's Malkin and not some other player. The same thing happened when Pronger stepped on some other player and got 8 games and a stern talking to as opposed to the thirty that was established 2 months earlier as precedent (I forget who it was)

Truth be told, I'm more miffed about the blown "too many men" penalty than anything else. Most penalties are subjective--the ref thinks there was enough of a hook or a hold to warrant the call. But having 6 men on the ice is an objective offense--there's no value call or judgment, it's just a penalty. Refs missed it, though. What can you do?

Told you the bad luck would balance out, 'Stache. Maybe now that karma is evened out a bit, we can get on with the actual gameplay.

Yeah, my stance on the lackluster officiating this series hasn't changed just because the Pens won. How many things are these guys going to miss??? The too many men no-call was mind blowing...

Anybody else think that was a really poor game by Crosby last night? Zetterberg's goal was more or less his fault and then there was at least one really bad giveaway and what seemed like a hesitancy to shoot. I don't know, he seemed off to me last night.

Is Datsyuk definite for game four?

I honestly didn't really notice crosby. Which should tell you how he's playing. I think he got an assist, though.

As far as I know, Datsyuk is still only a maybe for any game.

What do you boys think of my prediction now? I love watching these teams play.

Bosh, must be nice to be non-partisan. Every five seconds I'm either jumping out of my seat or hiding my eyes.

Game 4 thoughts: Great game, except when the wings decided to take a five minute breather in the middle of the second period. Other than that bit of time I thought it was really back and forth, with the wings pouring it on in the third. Both goalies played well, making the big saves when they had to.

God, I can't wait to get Datsyuk back in the play. Malkin is scary. That 3rd goal, when he blocked the puck on the blue line was amazing. Ericcson played it PERFECTLY, with any lesser player than malkin that wouldn't have been a goal. Crosby totally owes Malkin a beer for that one.

I still think wings will win (what kind of fan would I be otherwise) but I was wrong about the way they'd do it. From what I've seen, I'm guessing the home team wins every game. Wings in 7

Oh, and I thought that game was pretty well officiated, actually. Maybe you could have awarded the penalty goal at the end, but it really made no difference.

Which brings me to the SPECIAL TEAMS. The numbers say it all:

Wings--1/9
Penguins--4/8

Have I mentioned I want datsyuk back?

Jeff - I'd stay away from reading any recaps of game 4. The media (well, yahoo at least) seems to be making a big deal that the Red Wings are a tired team and even as a Pens fan, I don't buy it. Like you said, they had one bad section of the 2nd period. Saying anything other than that is giving the Pens too much credit, I think.

Exciting game though last night. Definitely agree that it was the best officiated and the best simultaneous effort by the two goalies. As much of a horse as Malkin was last night and as pretty of a pass Crosby had on Kennedy's goal, Fleury was the number one star and real difference maker. I think my heart stopped about 8 different times in the third and Fleury was the only thing that kept me from just up and dying.

Datsyuk will be a huge plus for the Wings (and specifically Zetterberg). Bosh, I'm glad you're feeling good about your prediction but this thing is FAR from over...

Great game last night. I'm a Pens fan and was smiling like an idiot when Staal busted through neutral ice, blasted past Lidstrom, made Rafalski look like a tree, and rifled it past Osgood.

It's been a good one so far. The Pens still have a mountain to climb. Winning in Detroit won't be easy, but I think they are up to the task now.

Let's go Pens.

Sorry Alex, but the wings were just clinical tonight.

What a difference Datsyuk makes, even if he's not at full strength.

I thought a "playoff beard" website would have pictures of playoff beards and maybe we'd even be able to grade them. But, oddly, I don't see even one pic of one playoff beard here. am I missing something? thanks.

Shane, I think You missed the host having a life and a family to take care of.

If you want to go find the pictures then you'll be a playoffbeard.com HERO.

Also, beards are always a relevent topic. ON that note, How about Dan Cleary? I've been impressed with his play AND his beard. I mean, the wings clearly outclass the Penguins in this regard.

Holy wow - Brent Sutter resigns AND Dany Heatley asks the Senators for a trade!!

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=281356

Don't these fools know that there's a hockey game tonight?!?

And for the record...if the Red Wings sign Heatly I'm officially done with hockey.

It had to be said.

The Flyers signed Ray Emery? (The question mark is indeed intentional)