PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania -- It looks as though Kris Draper will return to the Detroit lineup tonight as the Red Wings visit the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Three of their Stanley Cup Finals matchup. He replaces Mikael Samuelsson, who is reported to be ill.
Draper skated on Detroit's third line in practice Tuesday, alongside Darren Helm and Dan Cleary. Jiri Hudler moved up to Henrik Zetterberg's line to take the spot Cleary had been holding down.
Should Samuelsson be able to play, Draper would remain out.
Pavel Datsyuk will not rejoin the Red Wings tonight but coach Mike Babcock was hopeful Datsyuk would be available for Game Four.
The Penguins are in a virtual must-win scenario as a loss would put the Wings just one win from claiming their second Stanley Cup in a row.
The Penguins are IN A MUST-WIN... there is not a shot in hell if they lose tonight, although I love my Penguins I put there chances of beating Detroit 4 of 5 at about 5%. I just hope that the Penguins learn from this experience, especially the GM Shero. He has the components to build a cup dynasty, he just has to learn to build around them better through the draft and cheaper free-agents, like it is done in Detroit.
MacLeod says that Samuelsson is in the pre-game soccer kickaround and is predicting that he will be in the lineup tonight with Draper kept out.
He has the components to build a cup dynasty, he just has to learn to build around them better through the draft and cheaper free-agents, like it is done in Detroit.
I would argue that Shero's got a tougher job with Crosby and Malkin taking up a combined 17.4M cap hit. Detroit, on the other hand, gets Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Franzen for that much.
And if they're making that much money, they have to improve defensively. Someone's going to have to do to Crosby what Ken Hitchcock did to Rick Nash in Columbus and make him be able to play on the PK. Every penalty the Penguins take hits them twice because the player goes off and Crosby goes off.
When Datsyuk is healthy again who do you think would be ousted? :c I'm just curious, Helm and Abdelkader and doing such a great job. Especially with Draper good to go, as well.
Leino will be the odd-man out when Datsyuk returns.
Leino will be the odd-man out when Datsyuk returns.
That sucks cause he's done well, too. ):
I hope the Wings can get another win in Pittsburgh, or at least play their best.
This is where the series gets interesting. If the Wings don't at least split in Pittsburgh, they've wasted their two-game lead.
Wings have gotta survive the first 10 minutes. Carrying them would be fantastic.
Wooooow, that was a wide-open net for Pittsburgh. Thank god the pass didn't make it.
So much for surviving. That puck should have been cleared. What a mess.
That sucks. I was just going to say things looked a little sloppy, too. ):
What a f*ck up.
Yeah Zata! Tied back up!
And Zetterberg makes it up! 
Good sign.
Phew.
thank u Hank
Wow! That made the Igloo silent!
PPG too much to ask for?
He has the components to build a cup dynasty, he just has to learn to build around them better through the draft and cheaper free-agents, like it is done in Detroit.
I would argue that Shero's got a tougher job with Crosby and Malkin taking up a combined 17.4M cap hit. Detroit, on the other hand, gets Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Franzen for that much.And if they're making that much money, they have to improve defensively. Someone's going to have to do to Crosby what Ken Hitchcock did to Rick Nash in Columbus and make him be able to play on the PK. Every penalty the Penguins take hits them twice because the player goes off and Crosby goes off.
In other words... What we do with our star players.
big PP here LET"S GO!!!
Johan Mother f*cking Franzen!
Looking good Frannnnnnzen!
Franzen yet again.
Yeah BABY!!!!! J.M.F Bitches! (Copyright Clark Rasmussen)
great job the way they started kinda scared me great recovery
Penguins fans want to say they don't get any breaks?
Penguins fans want to say they don't get any breaks?
lol yeah you know?? that might be the longest i have seen to many men with no call
Of course<now they can see!
I would have been amazed if they didn't call that hold. PK better hold up.
I wonder if on this powerplay the Pens go with 7 skaters? How about 8? Oh, what the hell, they might as well put their whole bench out there, including 2 goalies, seeing as how they can get away with it
Big stop by Ozzie off the Lidstrom giveaway.
OH MYYYY! OZZY
They tied it up again? Craaaap.
I still feel ok about tonight's game, though.
Knew that would happen as soon as Franzen went down. Damn.
His first softy
Aargh.
You know... There is always one sure bet you can make against the Wings, the other team WILL score on the Power Play.
did someone shoot him?
All that "subtle interference" Olczyk keeps bitching about? What about when the Pens hold people up on the way into their zone?
Disappointing period given that the Wings had a lead but if you had told me at the start of the game that the Penguins would score first but it would be tied after 20 minutes I'd have been happy with that.
Disappointing period given that the Wings had a lead but if you had told me at the start of the game that the Penguins would score first but it would be tied after 20 minutes I'd have been happy with that.
As predicted, the penalty calling would be inconsistant.
At least they finally started to play some Offense
Disappointing period given that the Wings had a lead but if you had told me at the start of the game that the Penguins would score first but it would be tied after 20 minutes I'd have been happy with that.
As predicted, the penalty calling would be inconsistant.
They are at least consistantly inconsistant!?@#
Fleury sucks, if it weren't for the posts...
Some good chances there. Which is another good sign
Stupid icing. He had room to skate it out.
Close call on Helm. That's freaky.
Big power play here. Goal would be huge.
that hit in the corner could of been ugly to on Helm
Power play spent too long looking for the pass early on. Sammy was the only one shooting.
Kris Draper
Credit: Clark Rasmussen
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