We took a bunch of photos that didn't get in last night's post. Here they are:

-There were two Ulf Samuelsson jerseys that simply said "Ulf" on the back of them:

-An Igor Larionov jersey

-Paul Coffey jersey:

Kevin Stevens

-The C and D level concourse near on the east side of Mellon Arena:

-Some sad-looking bush outside Gate 3 near the big screen that's been trampled to death:

-There were tons of stands set up for kids to shoot pucks. This little guy was going with backhanders:

-We swear that's the back of Vancouver Canucks forward Trevor Linden:

-It's a little blurry, but this is the U.S. Steel Tower downtown. The lights have been turned on in an order to say "GO PENS:"

MORE THOUGHTS ON GAME 3

We had a few more thoughts on Game 3 that took us a few hours (as well as the NHL Network's replay) to get down.

-We don't care what team you root for. If you're a fan of hockey, you were a fan of that game last night. That was perhaps the best final game since Game 1 of the 2006 final between Carolina and Edmonton (AKA, the "Ty Conklin" game). There was end-to-end action. Big shots, big saves, even bigger hitting. When you tune in on television or plunk down your money to attend a game, you want games like that.

-The hitting was intense but clean. The sport is never more beautiful to watch than when two teams are doing everything to beat the daylights out of each but not resorting to the cheap stuff like the Penguins initiated at the end of Game 2.

-It's quite evident that playing behind on the Red Wings is almost a death sentence. If they score first, they almost squeeze any offensive flow out the game and they become a redder, more European version of the New Jersey Devils circa 2000. If the opponent scores first, the Wings will open it up and try to even the score. They have the talent to play dynamic exciting hockey.

-We can't immediately recall any one game where the battles in front of each net were so physical.

-The crowd last night was so reactive to everything. We still think the comeback win in Game 1 of the Rangers series was still louder however.

-The officiating was very inconsistent. The play devolved into a rodeo at times with a lot of obstruction being let go on both sides.

-Buzz kill note of the day: After getting beaten on the road in Games 1 and 2 of last season's final, the Senators won Game 3. The Ducks claimed Games 4 and 5 and the Cup.

-According to Pierre McGuire, Jarkko Ruutu told Kirk Maltby during the game he should retire.

-Thank goodness we had the option of switching the television in the press box to the CBC broadcast. NBC's is terrible. There aren't enough replays are far too many in-game advertisements. Yeah we know that how they pay the bills, but having the Heineken Keys To The Game or whatever it's called doesn't serve the viewer nearly as much as a replay of a decent check or block.

-We get to spend one more day at least on the road in Detroit and one less day in the office.

WINTER CLASSIC II?

The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting the NHL will soon announce the next Winter Classic will take place at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Seems Soldier Field would be a more natural fit for a hockey rink, but we guess the Bears have as good of a chance to make the playoffs as anyone else so it wouldn't be wise to have a hockey rink erected on the field. But the selections of the Blackhawks and Red Wings as participants would be marvelous. The Red Wings are obviously an established market. And the Blackhawks are a rising team and that market has experienced a re-birth as a hockey city. All the right elements the NHL can control will be in place for another marvelous event.

EMPTY NETTER ASSISTS

Playoff Stuff

Penguins

-Dave Molinari's game recap.

-Ron Cook says when his team needed him the most, Sidney Crosby came through.

-Evgeni Malkin played better in Game 3.

-Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press says Crosby can't save his team in the long run.

-Michel Therrien knew what he was doing when he began complaining about obstruction.

-Ryan Whitney said Crosby put the Penguins on his shoulders.

-The Penguins finally showed up.

-Sid the Kid was the man last night.

-Brooks Orpik mauling anything in red or white last night:

(Kudos to The Pensblog for the find.)

-The Penguins breathed some life into this series.

-Tickets aren't cheap.

-Michel Therrien spoke after the game. Kukla's Korner has the transcript.

-Did the Penguins change things in the series by winning Game 3? Vote on it here.

-Former Penguins forward Colby Armstrong was at the game working for Rogers Sportsnet.

-Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin wants to be like Sidney Crosby.

-Seattle's NBC affiliate declined to broadcast the game.

-TSN Ranked the ten greatest players in team history:

Red Wings

-Bob Smizik says the Red Wings are human after all.

-The Red Wings aren't worried.

-Detroit needs to play better on defense.

-Scotty Bowman has an interest in both teams in the final.

-John Niyo of the Detroit News had a Q&A with former Penguins and Red Wings defenseman Larry Murphy.

-The Red Wings aren't the same team on the road.

-Chris Osgood and Dominik Hasek took home some hardware.

-There were some Red Wings fans in Mellon Arena.

-Ratings for Game 2 were down in Canada.

-Because they apparently don't have enough Swedes on the roster, the Red Wings might be able to bring in Maple Leafs forward Mats Sundin.

AHL

-The Chicago Wolves are the New York Yankees of the AHL.

Non-Playoff Stuff

Atlantic Division

-The Rangers still owe Thrashers forward Bobby Holik a good chunk of change.

Northeast Division

-Mark Messier gave Mats Sundin a bald guy award or something.

Southeast Division

-The Panthers signed 2006 first-round draft pick Michael Frolik.

Central Division

-The Blues brought former Stars general manager on in some front office position.

Pacific Division

-The Stars signed defenseman Trevor Daley to a three-year contract extension.