Dead on. It’s not bad for the NHL because it went against the Wings. It’s bad for the NHL because anyone paying attention will have more reason to think the League is a joke, that their officials can’t do their jobs in a competant way.

Garth,

I guess what I mean by that is I’ve expected Hossa to be the dominant player he was at times in the season, the Wings’ other “I shoot I score” player. He hasn’t been that all playoffs, with the exception of Gme 4′s. This is a key moment for him, an opportunity to step it up and both shut his critics up, and to add to the success of his stint here. Instead, he’s seemingly let the storyline get in his head, to the detriment of his play. It’s very disappointing, to me anyway. Playing well but not scoring isn’t cutting it for me any more. We need him to rack up some points.

Jamie,

Yeah, the Wings outplayed them for over half the game, but a sixty minute effort is needed.

John,

Exactly. Their play in their own zone is far too loose and it’s killing them. Pittsburgh’s forecheck is getting to the defensemen far too much.

Good analogy on the officiating. The knife in the back of an already sick person. The Wings were already in trouble of their own making, but some of those missed calls really sent them in a spiral.

Tim,

You’re right. It is absurd. And what’s more absurd is that I think they did notice, but chose not to call anything. My wife noticed that at the end of the shot Versus showed with a wide view, you can see the ref at center look at the Pens player going off, and then turn to look at the deep ref and make a sort of “eh” hand motion. Let’s not forget that the guy skated right past the linesman, too. How they justify that is beyond me.

The Wings do need to make a statement early in Game 4. It’s time for them to take this series over. I’m not sure what mental block is keeping them from playing their best for long stretches, but they have to get over it tomorrow night.

Jason,

I was pissed, but I do remember laughing in an “of course!” way in my head. Pissed won out, though. The NHL would never admit any wrongdoing. I feel like we’re in an alternate reality sometimes with this League: “Everything’s great! We have no problems! We’re perfect! Happy! Doubleplusgood!”

After watching Samuelsson struggle at times last night, I’m definitely in the “Draper would have been better” camp. I hope he’s in for Game 4.

John,

I’ll keep telling myself that between now and Thursday night…

We all will, I think.

Meg,

Like John says in his response, there were almost too many to mention. That one was definitely key, though. The Wings could have gotten something going right there, but instead the puck went the other way on an illegal play.

What’s amazing is there haven’t been that many complaints outside of the fans. It’s disturbing that it takes that little to sway the officials’ weak little minds.

hockeychic,

That’s exactly it. No sense of immediacy/urgency. Waiting for a perfect moment in the future when that moment is already in the past by that time. So many great chances blocked by skates because the Wings waited a split second too long.

Baroque,

Yeah…

jvwalt,

That’s what I’m saying–the Wings blew it, even with all the knives in the back. They definitely didn’t help Osgood out much.

I think the Wings are still in control, too, but they need to assert that control on Thursday or they’ll lose it.

You’re right about this team. I find myself occassionally thinking, “too bad this’ll be over soon” for no real reason other than a feeling that all good things have to end sometime, and having to remind myself, “No, it won’t be. We’re still stacked for years to come.”

JK,

It’s not a double standard to voice legitimate gripes, such as at least the too many men situation. And until last night, I’ve felt the officiating was poor both ways. Last night, however, the pedulum swung fully over to the Wings’ side, and it seemed like they got jobbed every other shift.

My view on complaining about officiating is this: it’s open season during the game, and in the immediate news cycle afterward (so, today). After that, it’s in the past, and time to move on. So, I’m going to go ahead and complain about it today, and then I’ll be done, for the most part. Until the next pathetic excuse for officiating comes up.

As for your claim that there hasn’t been a bad call that cost a team the game, that’s true if you mean a 1-to-1 connection. But I’ll draw your attention to the blatant trip at the blueline that went uncalled just before the empty net goal last night. If that gets called, the Wings don’t go down 4-2 there, and get a chance at tying it up. That’s pretty direct, though not 1-to-1. 

And let’s not discount the too many men situation. The Wings took a penalty just after that sequence because they weren’t able to clear after going up against six men in the defensive zone, and then Pittsburgh scored. Again, pretty direct, though the Wings could have killed the penalty off. The point is, though, a call there would have changed the game in a significant way.

I certainly don’t feel the Wings are entitled the Cup, unless they earn it. This year, I happen to believe they’re well on their way to that. I do expect a fairly called series, even if it means the Wings get penalties for doing stupid things.

I’m not especially worried about the series; I think the Wings are still in control. If the Pens were going to win any game, it was going to be Game 3 at home (just like the Blackhawks). Under the circumstances, the Wings played pretty well overall.

Broader reflection on these playoffs: the Wings sure do have tons of talent. And they’ve suddenly become a young team. Aside from Lidstrom and Osgood, their core players are either young or in their prime — and there are so many young players banging on the door, that Babcock is having trouble getting everybody in the lineup. The Wings dynasty shows absolutely no sign of ending. In fact, they’re in much better shape now than they were a few years ago, when most of their core players were old. It’s an amazing accomplishment in the salary cap era.

You’re right Megan, that was BS too, unfortunately there were just too many to “count” to mention them all. The interference on Ericsson still gets me. If they called that all series, the Wings would have about 6 more PP goals this series. Gill did it to Helm twice on the same dump-in for crying out loud. For some reason it bothers me more than the 6-men thing.

The Wings in 5 most of us predicted is right on track.

I’ll keep telling myself that between now and Thursday night…

Ah well, on the upside, the Pens faithful can no longer say their team didn’t get any breaks in this series…

But credit to the Pens, especially their role players. It was the game they needed to have if this was going to be a series at all. They were strong on faceoffs again too, and my earlier prediction that if they scored 4 or 5 goals they’d win has unfortunately held up…

But three games in four nights after a short layoff, against a desperate team on enemy ice–no real surprise losing this one. Detroit should be more focused for game four, and Babs now can fiddle with his lineup a bit too, at the very least to get Draper in to shore up the faceoffs. And maybe we’ll get us a minor miracle and even see some Datsyuk… though I know I shouldn’t hold my breath.