This game had it all. Extreme highs, matched with heart breaking lows. I may have even cried at times. We saw Zetterberg pull this team up on his shoulders and lug them down the ice into the offensive zone. As much as I hated to see this game almost go down the toilet in the 3rd, there is no better feeling than seeing Zetterberg rocket a shot past Hiller in OT while the Ducks skated to the locker room with their heads down.

Jump to it

With Josh out of town I figured I'd take a shot at a Movie Poster. I don't have the skills as our resident photochopper, but here goes...

Click the jump for the poster

This could be it, friends. This could very well be the last Red Wings game played as a member of the Western Conference. This could be the last game of an all too short season. This could be the end of our stress and the beginning of our summer-long depression. Hockey is a funny sport in that the harder working team can lose. A sport where a degenerate thug like Corey Perry can do whatever he wants to whomever he wants and not sit. A sport where a young kid can make the biggest mistake of his life, then be a hero 48 hours later. We just don’t know.

But there are some things we do know:

What do you think about this?  From Drew "I Hate the Fans" Sharp: 

Coach Mike Babcock is contemplating lineup changes for Game 6, perhaps opting for a little more veteran experience on the blue line. There have been more than a few occasions in this series where their green defensemen — Brendan Smith, Brian Lashoff and Jakub Kindl — have handled the puck in their own end as if it were radioactive.

But could adding Ian White or Carlo Colaiacovo into the lineup really provide that dramatic of an improvement?

You’ve gone this far. Don’t stop now. Let the kids learn from their mistakes, even if it ultimately contributes to another early playoff exit.

I haven't said much about it, but I'm not convinced that Lashoff is really doing anything positive back there the blueline. Provided he hasn't already thrown his skates away, I'd like to see White in there.  He wasn't playing great at first, but I certainly thought he was a top six guy overall.  I figured he must have slept with Babcock's wife or something in there, because he's been stuck in the doghouse since March.  

Hit the jump for more: 

Frustrating game.  Chances were there for both teams.   Ducks made it happen at the end. 

Here's the recap. 

FIRST PERIOD

And here we go - a huge game. 

After the break: 

FIVE

Tonight is game five.  I'm tired, you're tired... but you know who isn't... THE ROOKIES.  Hit the jump for a preview of tonight's game.

Holy crap, what a game.  We saw the team fight through confidence issues and some terrible puck luck these games and hustle their way to 49 shots in the 3-2 OT win.

As Brunner said after the game, they deserved this win.  

Marvelous game from every freaking player on the team.  That includes Cleary, Filppula, Smith, you name it.  

Here’s the recap as I watched it during the night.  

First Period

On Bertuzzi’s first shift, he faced the absolute worst interference I’ve seen lately.  Even the CNBC announcers mentioned it.  No call of course. 

Completely rookie mistake by Smith on Anaheim’s first goal.  First he loses the puck in front of Howard, second he doesn’t attack the Ducks player as he kept whiffing on the puck.

We have a Kronwalled!  I smiled. 

Howard looks clumsy so far this period and really, this playoff series. Pucks are bouncing, he’s falling, things just look awkward.   Now he’s certainly not the reason we’re down right now, he is being outplayed again in the playoffs. 

Star of the first period – the crowd at the Joe.  The “Todd-Ber-tuz-zi” chant followed up by “You Got Kronwalled!”  Nice work guys. 

And end of the period, Johan gets a penalty for half what happened to Bertuzzi earlier.  Crap is what that is. 

End of 1st 1-0 Ducks

Second period and on, after the break: 

So is it doom and gloom? Many day that the Wings are done, and after that 4-0 loss the other night I can't say it's not tempting to jump on that bandwagon. Does losing DeKeyser hurt? Yup. Is Abby's ill fitting suspension going to cripple the team offensively? Probably not, but it still stings.

What's tonight going to bring us? I would hope its hellfire wrought down from the heavens where the hockey gods sit perched waiting to smite the sinful ducks. Kick Jimmy in the head... Charge Abdelkader head first into the boards... Break DK's thumb... We see how you play, and at some point you will pay.

Click the jump for more.

Everyone else and their mother has had their say on the Abby hit and his two game suspension, so lets get someone who actually played the game they way it should be played to comment on it.  Here's @D_Mac25:

What a f'ing joke - Abby gets 2 games for playing hockey how I grew up playing it. The way it should be played. I'm embarrassed by what the NHL has become and how Bettman hockey has infiltrated it. He's turning hockey into ballet. He's gonna get the boys wearing red and white tutus next. Abby - love ya kid, keep playing the game the way I showed you. And lastly, the fact that Perry walked away after he pulled off Howie's helmet and no grabbed him up by his chin strap and wrapped it around his neck until his feet were flopping had me about to climb over the glass. The game has changed folks. DMac

Also, this: 

(Credit BigC23)

But today, none of this matters.  Must win tonight, with or without Abby. 

Found on Tumbler, honestly not sure who took the pic. 

Today is a special day.  If you haven't heard, it's May 4th.  Why is this date important? Hit the jump to find out!