Viewpoint

to whc534 from Toronto,
What in the BLEEP is wrong with you? I cant understand why I have to keep teaching you new hockey fans. First of all, it takes four wins to win a series in the Stanley Cup playoffs. So, you don't say "TOLD YA SO" until after its over. Not after two games. Maybe I'm wrong though, and you do have some kind of immortal powers to see the future. I just find that hard to believe,since you actually think a team would lose a game on purpose, so they could win the series at home. Every time I hear someone say that,I just have to laugh. All that statement does, is show how little that person knows about sports. Please, think about how stupid it is to actually think that. WOW!!!!
BA

Pittsburgh will win game 4 at home with the help of their fans, and then end up winning the series in the seventh game.

Go Penguins Go!

WHY is noboby behind the Penguins....and everyone seems to be an expert on the Wings side of the blinkin' fence? Won't everybody be surprised tonight when the Wings are overwhelmed by the Penguins -- you so-called experts...I would say that you obviously don't watch a lot of sports. What will you say when the Penguins are firing on all guns and are unstoppable?? It's certainly not over for the Penguins yet... remember all the great sport comeback stories...they are countless - and the Pens are not out of it yet!! So...it remains to be seen what will happen next, and come on folks, the Wings aren't really that great...stay tuned and you could be eating your own words !

2 games have been played in this series only.how we all are to right off a good hockey team so soon. A good thing all you couch coaches are not management you are soooo negative The pens are far from done yet ,home ice will make a difference .The wings have their flaws and the pens will find them. pens in 7

Somebody tell Don Cherry that the Wings are really playing old-time hockey. Backcheck, play the body (look at Datsyuk hitting and coming out with the puck!)at the blue line, make the puck come loos, support on the loose puck, make the quick outlet pass, move back up ice. No "trap", no "grab", just pass, skate, shoot, save. And keep your stick out of the road!

1st of all I remember when the Red wings
had the same problems that Pittsburg is
having now. Fans in Pittsburg be patient
and see what moves the ownership makes in the post season. The Pens will be back in the Finals again if they buy into a system that
works for the TEAM not a couple of players.
This is only 5/28/08 but I think the Wings will win in 5 games. Look out for the Blue Jackets in 2 yrs. Couch Coach.

I completely agree with Scott's comments on the series two games. I would like to add that it is a classic example of experience versus youth. The youth on Pittsburg, eg. Crosby, Staal, Malkin, are still out there having fun, not realizing what they are playing for. Another big difference is the discipline of the Detroit players. Detroit is playing as a team, Pittsburg as individuals.

Lest we forget, the NHL is one of the few professional sports associations that has freely admitted that it sits down with its referees to advise them on what penalties to focus on and call. This is - when you take the time to think about it - a very short step from admitting that the games are 'fixed.' If the league emphasizes, for example, stick penalties versus interference, holding and the like, then the teams that use a lot of interference enjoy an advantage. And lets face it, the league has a good idea of what teams are doing to give that team an 'edge' on the ice.

When are we going to get back to the days of calling the game - and the penalties - as it was intended, regardless of the league's 'advice' and regardless of what period we're in?

Many, many - including the CBC and the hockey "experts" on TSN -are asking " Where is Malkin?"

Where is Malkin? Where is Malkin?

Like Crosby has been setting the series on fire?

Where is is the whole forking Pittsburgh Penguins team?

Pitt has not played theWings for two plus years - its like they are in different leagues. Now the Penguins are finding out what the real world of hockey is all about!

Detroit is in a different league than the Pittsburgh Penguins!

Babcock is showing the NHL and the rest of the world exactly what kinda coach Therrien is...a minor leaguer. Therrien couldn't coach his way outta a wet paper bag. A monkey coulda lead the star-studded Pens to the Final. How can Therrien complain about Osgood's antics when his stars Crosby and Malkin are the worst in the play-offs for this kinda stuff. These 2 are supposed to be such strong skaters, why is it that when someone touches them they fall. Setting good examples for the youngsters out there.

I wouldn't worry about a Detroit sweep. The league will make sure to drag it out so that they can make the most cash off of the Crosby marketing machine (i.e.: more Gary Roberts punches, etc will get overlooked, while someone plowing into Osgood will be ruled a dive. That's why Pittsburgh is in the playoffs in the first place.
Sarcastic, yeah? And I don't even like Detroit...

To all the people who laughed when i said detroit all the way. TOLD YA SO.......
not that the series is over but it will be over soon.

pitssburg is too fast for the old wings, pittsburg is young. they are too talented for the wings. crosby and malkin will rip apart the red wings defence......where are all the people that were on the pittsburg bandwagon????? thats right, no where to be seen.

i know its just 2 games in to the cup finals but at best it will take 3 more games for the wings to win. im giving them 3 because they might want to win at home infront of home fans.

Now all the hype was on this kid called crosby. crosby this crosby that. All i see is that kid frustrated out of his jammy's playing a vastly experienced and more so vastly talented def corps. lets not even go talk about malkin. we'll give him a break.

The wings simply put are classy. You blink and they are gone. They are taking shots on ur goalie. Pittsburg is way too inexperienced to handle that kind of classy and deft passing and execution.

now pittsburg has resorted to just blaming that wings play obsturction hockey. its not the fault of the wings if pittsburg players cant get past them. like their tv analyst said when asked of the roberts hit - tough luck, its the playoffs, if u have problem with it go cry somewhere else.

So far the ONLY shot that pitssburg has taken and scored is that gutless, cheap, coward, yellow bellied, lilly livered shot that roberts put on franzen. that sucker punch to the head. Its just sad to see that a guy with that much grit take a cheap shot. I would have expected some one less experienced to do that.

all in all pitssburg has started to cry instead of owing up to their shortcomings. u dont expect that from mario lemieux or any thing he is associated with. alas its happened and u dont have to see further than their coach for that.

this series is all but over. its just a formality. the pens just dont stand a chance against the wings.

I understand the disappointment of those who miss the freewheeling that the Pens are capable of,but I can't agree that the Wings are "boring" and have "sucked the life" out of the game. Sure,lots of offense with fancy individual moves is exciting to watch,but those are brief moments in all but the most wide open fire wagon games. What I'm finding fascinating is the seamless teamwork of Detroit-the transition game,the support work,the anticipation, the discipline and maturity. It would be a soulless machine except you can tell that there's passion in the mix as well. In the end,hockey is a team game,and this is a near perfect team and beautiful to watch!

Baldtruth, perhaps you should start wearing a hat in the sun. First of all, the goalies of the West would wither and die like hothouse flowers without their side-of-beef defensemen clearing the crease. Swap goaltenders between the East and the West and you would see a bunch of coddled old grandmas being tied in knots by the swarming offenses of the Eastern conference. As for East vs. West from a fan's standpoint, I would much prefer to watch quality play develop across the breadth and length of the ice (skating WITH the puck, anyone?)than see a bunch of linebackers dump-and-chase their fan base into catatonia.

Detroit is clearly an excellent team, but I still see this series going 7. All Pittsburgh needs is a bit of daylight from time to time, and the youth and energy will soon begin to turn the tide against the veteran plodders (first line excluded) of the Detroit machine.

It's been a thrill watching the Wings great players finally headed toward a cup. Too bad Cherry and many other commentators refuse to give them the credit they deserve. Oh well, we Wings fans have to grin and bear it.

Oh weathervein sports columnist do you really understand what you are witnessing.Remember your cmment about Calgary's improbable cup appearance in 04. They actually won that cup in game six. Possibly you would be more suited to cover the Mulroney-Schreiber affair.Detroit is putting on a clinic. Most enjoyable for those who can appreciate it and not want mindless,pinball,bangpuck,score-a-minute new NHL tactics that many players are overpaid to produce. It's refreshing to see some old time integrity in the game.

Leaf management, are you taking notes. The Red Wings emulate what it takes to be successful. Good management, good scouting and good coaching!
Go Wings!

What an awesome Defensive series we have here. The team with the most depth is the team that is winning. The team with top notch 3rd and 4th line players is putting the puck in the net, and these same players are finding a way to score.

Instead of complaining about the lack of the top names scoring, look at the depth of the team that is, and realize what a beautiful thing it is to see the "10 minute men" getting the job done.

LETS GO WINGS!!!!!!!!! but i would like to see it go a few more games due to the fact i am in a pool and have the wings beating pens in seven!!!!!! experience will overcome the youthfullness of the pens team

I think that we are in when experience counts.
Redwings are good team. Benguins have to wait when their time comes,they have young talents but the wings have talent and experience.
Hersi,Kitchener,Ontario

I don't know if anyone listens to internet radio-but you get the post game press confrences and alot of player interviews.

Pittsburgh was politicing hard after the game about Detroit holding them up in the neutral zone--it sounded like a very desperate cry to the NHL. I really didn't think they needed the goon-squad tactics after two lopsided losses either.

Detroits all about business- the only thing that can beat them is themselves right now.

Detroit.... running like well oiled machine....team play at its best

The ice under the Pens is melting as sure as if it was on my driveway here. Will Ozzie ever get any respect? Never once heard last night or today that he tied Turk Broda for 8th in all time playoff shutouts at 13.

It can't be any simpler than you have to put the puck in the net to be in the game. I don't buy all the hoopla about who scores first and the stats. At the end of 60 mins whoever has the most goals wins, whoever wins 4 games first wins the cup. Being down 2-0 is not insurmountable, but 3-0 will sure be a big hole to climb out of. The Wings look to disciplined and too strong. Sid The Kid and the Pens will have likely have to wait another year or two before they are called Champs.

If Detroit gets the first goal in Game 3, it's a confirmation that the series is over. The Stanley Cup will be in Pittsburgh on Saturday for the coronation.

On paper it looked like an exciting match-up. In real life (ie. on the ice) it has been no contest. Make no mistake, Pittsburgh is a good team with a lot of skill, as their home record, season and play off record, before this series indicate. However, one of the true calibrations of a really talented, focused and driven team,is, how bad they make the other team look. So far, Pittsburgh has been made to look real bad.

This series is definetly sucking the life out of playoff hockey. Although, I'm in favour of the Red Wings; I want to see competitive action with the penguins. I want to see this series go in to 6 games (at least). Penguins need to stop wasting their time punching Franzen in the head and get their heads in the game if they want a championship.

Hey, Scott! You still picking Pittsburgh in 6?

Just a couple of thoughts; 1. defence wins championships 2. there is no substitute for experience. Maybe next year for the kid.

Detriot is too good. I was really hoping to see an entertaining stanley cup finals, but I find myself day dreaming watching what are supposed to be the best games of the year. Detriot has a dreamteam and it just seems like this whole season has been over before it began.
So much for OT and game sevens with a team like the wings. If the wings score first the series is over for me.

Detroit might be a great team but man they are sucking the life out of this series. I was hoping to see a lot of goals out of the skilled players like Malkin, Crosby, Datysuk and Zetterburg. Instead we are getting goals from Samuelson, Cleary, etc, etc. Whoopie!!

The Wings are just a better team all around. They made the Penguins look like a minor league team. They never panic when under pressure and make those plays to get the puck out of their zone. I've watched them play all playoffs and it is the same thing game after game. They get the puck and then keep it, so their opponents cannot generate anything. When their opponents do get the puck, they are then under tremendous pressure to score because they may not get the puck back for a while.

Even though Detroit is so dominatant against each of their opponents (and stand a good chance of sweeping the Penguins), I still really enjoy watching them play. The way they control the puck is so beautiful compared to many other teams to just chip the puck ahead and hope they get it back. I will truly miss watching them play when the playoffs are over.

I didn't expect this to be a close series. I think all of the hype is more marketing than anything else. I thought that the real championship series was the Western Final. That was the series between the two best teams in the league. I do not think that the Peguins would be able to beat the Stars either.

The most disappointing thing about this series is the play of Malkin. He's a Hart trophy candidate, but he's no where to be seen as of late. I think a big part of it is that the Wings are doing a great job defending against him. Even so, I still expect that he can generate something from time to time.

Well, I picked Detroit to win the cup last year but it's a question of how teams match up and Anaheim matches well against Detroit. Also, last year I doubted whether any team in the East would have made the playoffs in the West. People don't realize how tough it is out here. When I look at Eastern teams play I wonder if they know anything about defense at all. Also, the goaltending is far superior in the West-- Turco, Luongo, Kiprisoff, Nabokov and so on. I think Minnesota would have beaten any Eastern team, Calgary too. The Sedin twins would be top ten easily in the East-- no defense!

The two things that stand out when you look at these two teams are the huge gap in the talent level between the two sets of d-men, and the fact that Dat-Zet, and Cros-Malk are top ten scorers in the league, but Dat-Zet are Selke finalists and Cros-Malk don't even kill penalties for their team. The addition of Rafalski last year and then Stuart at the deadline is clearly the difference between a good playoff run last year and probably a cup this year.

I'm already on the record for saying this matchup reminds me of the '83 series between the Islanders and Oilers. Originally, I thought that it would go six games, which it may, if the Pens win tomorrow. Otherwise, it's over in four---just like '83.

Detroit is an accurate depiction of what an NHL team should be like. They move seamlessly as a unit. They should have been last years Stanley Cup winners. They are the most deserving team. Pittsburgh stands no chance of winning this series.

To win,the Red Wings have to get a good forecheck going early in game three.
An early goal (in the first five minutes) will completly demoralize the young Penguins.
Frustration set in for the Penguins late in game two and playing in front of their own fans, an early advantage for the Red Wings will spell the end.
Defense, team defense,wins games.
Who has the better defense? Zetterburg and Datysuk killing penalities! When Pittsburgh are a man short, Crosbie and Malkin are on the bench. They are not in the game.
This should be a short series.