I won't blame a loss on bad officiating. I think they are extremely tired. They have to get back to the level of play I saw in earlier games or they are done.

If I had to choose one word to describe last evening’s playoff game between Dallas and Detroit, it would be: INTENSE. Both teams were pretty even last night. Dallas stepped up their level of play from game one and battled very hard right up until the end but ended up finishing the game with an empty net and two men in the box again in the final seconds. The Wings we told by their coach they weren’t using the body enough in game one and they definitely increased their hitting last night. Wings won 2-1 and are now 2-0 in the series, which goes back to Dallas for a Monday night game. Franzen, Detroit's hottest goal-scorer of late, did not dress for the game as he'll be out for at least two games due to "concussion-like symptoms" he's suffered with for two weeks since the series with Colorado. Detroit's Darren Helm scored his first-ever NHL goal in the first period making it 1-0 Detroit. There were again some bad calls Saturday night and a lot of missed calls for both teams. Through the end of the second period, the Wings led in the amount of penalities with 5 for Detroit to Dallas' 4.

The game turned a bit ugly late in the 3rd period assumably due to Dallas' frustration. Dallas drew 5, 3rd-period penalties while Detroit drew none. As Draper took Ott down during one of the last face-offs, Ott pulled Draper's helmet off and slugged him a few times in the face with his gloved hands. Draper did not retaliate and Ott was given a 10-minute game misconduct penalty. But the most controversial incident was just as the game ended when there was an altercation between Wings goalie Chris Osgood and Dallas Forward Mike Ribiero.

Intentional or not (Osgood claims it was innocent but the video adds question) the butt-end of his goal stick caught Ribiero just under the cheek as he skated past the net. This infuriated Ribiero who then reacted by two-handing Osgood in the chest from behind the net with his hockey stick. The stick hit with sufficient force to break in half. Osgood tumbed to the ice. A trainer attended to him. He appeared okay in an interview later on. Ribiero was given a 10-minute match penalty that will be reviewed by the league. Detroit's team captain, Lidstrom suggested a league suspension of Ribiero was in order. He said in an interview that if he was angry with Osgood he should have dropped his gloves and went at with him man-to-man, but that a stick in the chest from behind the net wasn't acceptable. Newspapers this morning are labeling Ribiero’s action “a cheap shot”. Dallas called Osgood’s action “cowardly”. Regardless, neither action should have happened. No further word is currently available this morning regarding the league's final decision on the incident. 

Thanks Glenn.  I wasn't able to see last night's game.  Nice update.

I haven't had time to watch the Eastern Conference games but there sure seems to be quite a battle brewing in Pennsylvania between the Pens and Flyers! From what I did catch of the games it looks like some good, old-time hockey! Pens up 2-0.

As for the Western Conference, both Osgood and Ribiero were fined by the league, undisclosed amounts for their post-game altercation on Saturday night. But there's still some strong feelings remaining on both teams so I can only predict that we'll be seeing a few gloves hit the ice in Colorado tonight. Game on!  Wings up 2-0.

I am becoming a Detroit fan... is it me, or are the playoffs in HD just amazing??? 

You're right indy.  Hockey is fantastic in hd.  Probably gains the most with the format of any sport.

End of second.  Turco lets in another breakaway.  He has been good this year and last in the playoffs.  But this year the breakaways are killing him.  During the regular season he stopped most of them.  You have to have those stops to win.

LOL @ Tomas Holmstrom!!!!  I have not seen anything that funny watching hockey in quite some time.  Usually you see a forward juking a goalie out of his jock; Tomas just juked himself out of his own jock! 

Too many mistakes.  You just can't make those kind of mistakes againt the wings.

My second post after the Turco one was regarding the whole team.  The stars have three key players out, but that is hockey, nothing to cry about.  The wings are on top of their game right now.  If they play the pens it will be similar to the stars style of play, only the pens don't miss the net as much.  The stars have a lot to build upon from this year, with their young d corps which just gained a ton of playoff experience, plus the swedish phenom they just signed to add into the mix.  All in all a positive year, despite this conference championship series.

kuisis:

Looks more and more like a wings pens Stanley Cup final. Could someone tell me why Detroit isn't selling out the games?

kuisis: That's an easy one to answer: We're the Motor City and American cars & trucks aren't selling. We have a state unemployment rate as of March 2008 of 7.2% (highest in the nation). Many of those still working are experiencing 50% pay cuts. Gas costs $3.85 to $4.00+ a gallon. Few people here can afford the cost of playoff tickets. Third round tickets start around $300 from what I understand and that's for standing room only. The 4th round tickets will be through the roof if the trend follows past years at the Joe (Joe Louis Arena). Parking at the Joe is $20 to $50. HD Cable: Priceless!  -Glenn

You would think that a little yield management could be applied, filling more seats at lower prices with greater overall revenue.