that big reason is lidstrom has been there for them and he is one of the guys that can get the minutes neutralize players on another team. hedman, i think there will be a learning curve but i think he can be a dominant player for a long time. >> e.j., one final thought, not on the draft but on the trade that came about the flyers getting chris pronger in exchange for lupul and draft picks. how big a deal is this for the players? >> it's a huge deal. they want to win now, they want to be the stanley cup champions. also against the washington capitals. they look at the teams, that have really talented forwards. sidney cross burks alex ovechkin in washington, crosby in pittsburgh, you have to have big, tough, strong talented defensemen to offset those guys. philadelphia has a real good team. they have a big addition with pronger, one of the top defensemen in the league. he is going to the hall of fame on the first ballot. the question as it always is, is the goaltending. they're making some changes there. chris pronger gives them great defense and makes them a dangerous team in the east.

fredi gonzalez is mix and matching his bullpen here with matt lidstrom on the d.l. >> rob: he loves room service. >> bob: 27-year-old lefty. two games for atlanta in 04, oakland in 07-08. guzman flies one out of play. cristian guzman has to lay off of that pitch. he's not going to hit it out of the ballpark. the nats need him slashing ground balls and line drives. >> rob: don't help this kid. he's going to throw one chest high to you, let it go. >> bob: you don't need a home run to tie the game here. >> rob: need some base runners. you need at least one base runner to tie it up. >> bob: nick's been good against left-handers. then there's zimmerman. right side, and two, to the pitcher. the top of the order tonight, the top three hitters with nick johnson coming in, 0 for 11. in fact, nick's the only one hitting the ball out of the infield on three flies. one to each field. this is frustrating. even when you get a really well pitched game, the nats have not been able to solve the marlins. if johnson takes one -- johnson takes one way upstairs. one out here in the top of the ninth. 

matt lidstrom, their closer, is on the d.l. with 14 saves. and that ball to center.hat will be deep enough to score dee asa. 3-2 marlins. and the lead-off double by wes helms really hurting. and now the marlins with hanley ramirez, and you know what he'll be trying to do. he'll be trying to hit a home run to make this a 4-2 game. he'll be facing julian tavarez and ron villone is going to be tagged with the go-ahead run here. the marlins manufactured it with a double, a sacrifice and a fly ball. it will be julian tavarez trying to keep ramirez in the park and the nats in the game. e content to sit around and wait. wait for something to happen. for business to pick up. but for you, it's time to kick it in gear. time to get going. time to get tough. take control. you're not gonna run and hide. because backing down's not your style. grab your bag. it's on. ( ding ) to give people great, fresh beer. oh, he insists upon quality. everything's got to be a+. over the years i've been in stores all over the country just checking on the freshness and the quality of sam adams. ri

>> bring on zetterberg, bring on lidstrom. i don't care who i play against. going to be the best player on the ice that night. follow my lead, and i will win us the cup. oh, look who is back. hey. >> thanks for dropping by for game 7, barry. >> eight days later. i apologize. didn't get the memo. >> he's late all the time, forget about it. >> let's get the coaching perspective. you're dan bills ma. you heard what sidney crosby had to say. what else do you say to sid? >> i'll bring him in and say sidney we're here because of you. you've had an unbelievable year, and you're an unbelievable leader. i'm going to do everything in my power to keep you away from zetterberg, every chance i get. but if i can't, you've got to go out and outplay him, and outscore him. wee need that offense from you in this building in detroit. >> sidney crosby, a minus 3 in this series. let's flip the switch here. marian hose a, the top goal in the regular season. big goose egg so far. matthew barnaby, you're hose a. give me your game 7? >> i came here for one reason, to hoist that cup.