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that entire line hasn't done anything..
which just shows how disgustingly deep the red wings are.
hawks gotta take it to the wings tonight, plain and simple.
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On the other hand – there's always another hand, isn't there? – you finish off a team as soon as possible and be glad for it.
If the Canes showed anything through the first two series, it's that you don't really want to let them hang around if you don't have to.... I'm sure both NJ and Boston were happy to have game 7 at home... and I'm sure NJ was happy to have a 1 goal lead with less than 2 minutes to go in game 7 at home... neither of them are happy now.
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On the other hand – there's always another hand, isn't there? – you finish off a team as soon as possible and be glad for it.
Yeah, there's always another hand.... 
Finish 'em off and rest and heal up for the final, yes.......a sweep would be better than a nail-biter at game 7 (again) with hopes that the other series goes 7 games.
I don't think they'll take 'em both in Carolina either....
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I sensed a demoralized and beaten Carolina team at the end of game 2. If the Pens can jump on em early in game 3 in Carolina they'll fold. They couldn't even beat up on Satan and Letang  . Momentum is clearly Pittsburgh's.. I don't care where they are playing. It will take something drastic for Carolina to get back in this series. Only thing I can forsee is a collapse from Fluery. And that is possible.
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I sensed a demoralized and beaten Carolina team at the end of game 2. If the Pens can jump on em early in game 3 in Carolina they'll fold.
They've been down in both series and almost every game at some point.. they won't fold. The problem is they'll start taking risks and the Pens make you pay for risks...
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Momentum is clearly Pittsburgh's.. I don't care where they are playing. It will take something drastic for Carolina to get back in this series.
Momentum flip flopped all over the place in the NJ and the Boston series... and it depends on what you mean by "get back in this series".. is down 2-1 with another game at home "back in this series"? or do they have to get to 2-2?
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Only thing I can forsee is a collapse from Fluery. And that is possible.
Heck he gave up 4 goals the other night and still won by 3...  How bad does he need to collapse?
In the end I think the Pens just have too much fire power and I sense that Ward is getting tired.. he played something like the last 19 games of the regular season without a rest as they were still trying to get into the playoffs... I think it's taking a toll... if anybody seemed flustered the other night, it was him.
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Khabibulin was pulled because of illness. Take it worth a grain of salt, but after giving up a 3 goal lead, I think it was performance wise. I won't be surprised to see Huet in there for Game 4.
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Khabibulin was pulled because of illness. Take it worth a grain of salt, but after giving up a 3 goal lead, I think it was performance wise. I won't be surprised to see Huet in there for Game 4.
i think you gotta ride huet. although i wouldn't be surprised to see nik back out there. great win for the hawks though. they could and probably should be up 2-1 right now. if they win sunday, this gets real interesting.
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That was an interesting game that didn't tell us anything we didn't already know. Chicago can and will score if you let them keep the puck in the offensive zone for any length of time. When Detroit bottles up the neutral zone and the slot, Chicago doesn't have a chance. I have no clue why they spread it out to start games. Even though Detroit was shorthanded much of the first period, I don't think it had a major impact in the outcome of the game. I think Datsyuk not being in the lineup was huge. Even though he's not scoring, he handles the puck and keeps it in the zone better than anyone. It seems the Wings just ran out of gas midway through the third and never topped off the tank. Chicago on the other hand regained their composure and played with fire after giving up the lead. Chicago still must win game 4 to make it a series, IMO. If they can keep their core intact, they'll be a team to recon with for years.
What are your thoughts on the Kronwall hit? It looked clean to me. He had the puck in his skates, the big question is if that indicates possession.
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That was an interesting game that didn't tell us anything we didn't already know. Chicago can and will score if you let them keep the puck in the offensive zone for any length of time. When Detroit bottles up the neutral zone and the slot, Chicago doesn't have a chance. I have no clue why they spread it out to start games. Even though Detroit was shorthanded much of the first period, I don't think it had a major impact in the outcome of the game. I think Datsyuk not being in the lineup was huge. Even though he's not scoring, he handles the puck and keeps it in the zone better than anyone. It seems the Wings just ran out of gas midway through the third and never topped off the tank. Chicago on the other hand regained their composure and played with fire after giving up the lead. Chicago still must win game 4 to make it a series, IMO. If they can keep their core intact, they'll be a team to recon with for years.
What are your thoughts on the Kronwall hit? It looked clean to me. He had the puck in his skates, the big question is if that indicates possession.
unfortunate for havlat, but a completely clean hit, the fact that he was tossed was pretty stupid in my mind.
it was a text book hit, feet on the ice, stick and elbows down. that's how you do it, it was a beautiful hit.
i was worried that he may have done some damage to his restructured and very fragile shoulder, but after seeing it a few times, i think he's probably just going to have a concussion if anything. could miss tomorrow but i don't see anything past that.
i agree, the hawks have to also win tomorrow, and then go balls out in game 5.
the hawks have a ton of young talent, a lot of it homegrown. they've just gotta manage to keep these guys together. khabibulin is probably gone after this seaosn just because of the money tied up with huet.
the campbell signing looks dumb and unnecassary right now. but these young guys, versteeg, bolland, brouwer to go along with toews and kane are making the future bright...
byfuglien was a guy who has been mentioned in trade rumors for the past 2 years, but after watching the impact he has had in almost every series, i don't think he's going anywhere. if he could skate better, he'd really be a force.
i still think the wings end up the winners outta this series, but if the hawks win tomorrow there is no doubt in my mind it's goin 7. and hockey game 7's, anything can happen, a goalie can wake up the day of the game and just not feel it. he can misplay a puck, someone can get hurt, a guy can take a highsticking penalty, draw blood, and stick his team in a 4:00 penalty kill.
anything can happen. that's why hockey game 7's are unmatched in sports.
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Blackhawks are all but dead.
Sorry fellas.
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Yeah, 3-1 down to the Wings is probably too much to overcome.
This playoff run for a young team such as Chicago wasn't about winning the Stanley Cup in 2009. The experience of getting deep into the post season and taking on an awesome team like Detroit will help the Hawks tremendously in the future.
Now they will know what it takes to reach the next level.
It happens all the time in hockey... a young & talented team on the rise gets brushed aside by the established, championship team. It usually makes them stronger in future years.
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Complete meltdown by the Hawks this afternoon. Even though I'm a Wings fan, I couldn't believe my eyes. You just cannot lose your composure like that (especially against a disciplined team like the Red Wings -- they will KILL you). ... and for QUENNEVILLE to STILL be whining about ONE questionable call after HE allowed his kids to become COMPLETELY unglued for 2/3 of the game is patently rediculous. I thought he was better than that, but... oh well. He SHOULD be worrying about getting his young team re-focused on the considerable task at hand. I'd be telling guys like Versteeg and Eager that, if they want to sit and watch the game, I'll send them home so they could do so without hurting the team. I was very disappointed in Joel today. There's no excuse for what we saw from the Blackhawks on the ice today. 
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Every team plays a crap game once in a while, but Chicago looked so mentally undone it wasn't funny. It seemed they were more focused on avenging the Kronwall hit than they were on playing hockey....and that's where coaching comes in. Cripe, even most of the Hawks fans on their message board said it was a clean hit. It didn't help that Q was playing the same line juggling game that undid Anaheim against the Wings. I've always liked Quenneville. I remember him doing some good things with St. Louis even though they didn't have much talent. I can't believe Chicago's locked into Huet for 5mill/yr for 3 more years. They're also paying Campbell a fortune and he's been a liability in this series. Maybe they can dump these cash cows for even more young talent. Their front office sure seems to know how to pick diamonds. Then again, as a Wings fan, I hope they don't. 
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.
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campbell is on the books for the hawks longer than anyone else...
i don't mind huet, i think the signing only looks bad because khabibulin bounced back in a contract year, prior to the season people were talking about him maybe being finished, the year before he was constantly hurt and not playing well which definitely cost them a shot at the playoffs. they pretty much had to ride patrick lalime (career backup) and corey crawford for a few starts (young and inexperienced) the second half of the year, and they barely missed it.
yesterday was just embarassing though. you can't go and start stuff with the wings, they just don't fight back, they are too focused on defending and scoring, to get into unnecassary fights.
these young guys all came up under scotty bowman's presence. they all backcheck, they don't coast up the ice when the play is going the other way (see patrick kane)
luckily for the hawks, they have scotty bowman in the front office who could maybe provide them insight on how to beat detroit, because the wings ain't goin anywhere. they're going to be around for some time. right now, i would say they are the best run orginization in pro sports. they develop great players, and they find guys to be productive that weren't really that productive in other places. dan cleary was pretty much left for the birds after a few stints with other teams. on the red wings, he's found his spot.
i'm a hawks fan, but have only been since the lockout. i grew up a red wings fan, but became a hawks fan after averaging 4-5 games a year. but i'm not one of these fans that chants de-troit sucks and hates the wings, i love watching them play, i love the fact that it is about the team and not about stats or who makes the all star team. they play for the cup. it's also not about money, as guys go there, take less money and years to have a shot at the ring.
they are the new england patriots of hockey. except they are better at hockey than the patriots are at football.
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Wings & Blackhawks going to OT in Game 5.
I turned the game on in the third, the goalies have made some huge saves... Red Wings almost won it with less than 20 seconds left, Huet made a couple of spectacular stops.
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Wings going to the finals. One of the best goaltending battles of the playoffs. Huet and Osgood both stood on their heads.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.
- John Muir
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Even without Datsyuk & Lidstrom, Detroit is a great team. The Hawks had a great playoff run and should be good for some time to come, they have a great young nucleus.
Should be a good Cup final.... if I had to bet money, I'd say Detroit if for no other reason than experience... but I'd rather have PIttsburgh win because Detroit has won enough lately IMO, and I'd like to see Sidney Crosby win a Stanley Cup.
We'll see how much the Penguins have benefitted from last year's Cup final appearance. They might be ready.
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such a shame the Blackhawks couldnt score more then 1 goal that was pretty much a luck backhander, Huet was unbelieveable. He was the only reason that game went to OT.
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Can't wait for the game tomorrow. I think this series is going 7 games with the Wings prevailing. With the loss of Hossa and a new coach, I thought the Penguins were going to have an off year, but they look better and more composed than they did last season. I don't think the Wings are going to shut down Malkin again. The difference in this series is going to be defense, and I believe the Wings have an edge here and also home ice advantage.
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pittsburgh is definitely better this year, a little more physical, smarter, and marc andre fleury has more experience. i think they can give detroit a much better series then last year when they fell behind 3-1...
should be fun to watch though. hopefully detroit can get their stars healthy too, who missed the last few games.
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I'll be rooting for Pittsburgh, but if I had to make a prediction, I'd say Detroit in 6.
BTW.... Lidstrom is playing tonight, Datsyuk is uncertain at this time.
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Wings did a good job on Crosby tonight, but I don't think that will be the case in Pittsburgh (they'll have the last line change). Once again, depth proves invaluable. The Wings 4th line saw more ice than the 1st in the last period. How many people here have heard of Justin Abdelkader? He scored the last goal, Fleury scored the other 2.
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yeah, that guy Abelbaker or whatever is from Michigan, too. He must have been tickled pink to score that goal. 1st ever playoff goal.
The Wing are so deep it's crazy. Once they were up 3-1 it was over.... didn't allow Pittsburgh a lot of room.
edit: you had it spelled right... Abdelkader.
Game 2 is today.
Last edited by lampdogg; 05/31/09 07:59 AM.
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Just Clicken Lampy
All I will really say is I am pulling for the Pens, I still have friends involved with the organization.
I will also say,even though they lost I enjoyed watching that game last night way more than I enjoyed the Cavs. I havent watched a game all year but am definitely going to watch this series. going to have to break out my early 90s Russian style Pens jersey.
KING
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Two notes: 1. Last years finals saw the Wings come out and be very physical from the get go.....good smash mouth hockey. The Pens need to hit back, early and often and not like Sid did last night AFTER the game..... 2. Too much just knocking the puck around ( to clear) and not enough passing on the part of the Pens. They skate better and have more athleticism, they need to use it. Pass and work it into a scoring opportunity.....don't just kick it towards the other end...... 
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Detroit plays those boards at the Joe so well. It turned into two goals last night.
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1. Last years finals saw the Wings come out and be very physical from the get go.....good smash mouth hockey. The Pens need to hit back, early and often and not like Sid did last night AFTER the game.....
Sid laid out some pretty good hits during the game, also.
I thought the Pens kept Detroit from controlling the neutral zone like no other team has so far. Unfortunately, this means keeping your D (and most of the time a wing) back and letting your forwards do all the work in the offensive zone. This doesn't lead to many second chances. That's the way Detroit plays, and they just wait for a mistake. It doesn't hurt that all 4 lines have the potential to put the puck in the net. This type of hockey doesn't allow for many odd man rushes and the wide open hockey the Pens are used to.
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This has been a good second period tonight in Game 2. Red Wings got a gift with that non-penalty call, and scored just seconds after to take the 2-1 lead. Refs missed an obvious hook and it cost Pitt.
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Awesome end to the 2nd period, both teams coulda scored in that final minute.
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Man... this game is more frustrating than last night... posts.. missed calls.. missed chances.. weak goals against.. this sucks. That last goal they made sound like it was the D's fault. Which it partly was.. but they jumped up a second late and let the guy take a weak off balance slapper and Fluery does his o'lay with his glove. I'm shutting it off for now and going to go lift some weights in the basement. I'm hoping for some luck to go the Pens way by my hard lifting... but I doubt it. Just start hitting the body and get some momentumn to get back to the igloo down 2-0.
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Detroit wins 3-1, again.... although Pittsburgh may have deserved a better fate.
They had plenty of scoring chances, more than enough to win many hockey games. Osgood stopped what he could, he wasn't spectacular but he was very solid. Pitt. couldn't seem to get a bounce in the third to get to within one.
The Red Wings are sitting pretty but this series is not over.
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If Detroit keeps playing with fire with those defensive zone giveaways, they could be in for trouble. I read that Malkin could get a 1 game suspension for instigating in the last minute. I also don't think Fleury is worth the hype he's gotten. Osgood's playing the way he says....make all the saves he's supposed to and a few spectacular ones. He's really looked good this playoff season.
The Pens are going to have the last line change at home, and we'll see some different matchups I'm sure. Datsyuk and Draper should be ready to go in game 3. Unfortunately, Abdelkader and Lehno are probably the odd men out. I'm thinking keep Abdelkader in and sit Maltby. He's the only Wing on the negative side of the +/-.
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This has been a good second period tonight in Game 2. Red Wings got a gift with that non-penalty call, and scored just seconds after to take the 2-1 lead. Refs missed an obvious hook and it cost Pitt.
... and then the Pens got an even BIGGER gift when the NHL decided Malkin wouldn't sit for a game for instigating a fight toward the end of Game 2. If it were a regular season game, Malkin would have missed a game. No doubt about it. I don't blame the NHL for that decision though. They want the series decided with the best players on the ice and I think it was the right call.
Whining about non-calls at this point in the season is pretty pointless. The refs are letting the boys play and that is as it should be. The Pens were clutching, grabbing and hooking all game through the neutral zone trying to slow the Wings' transition game and they didn't get called for it. So be it.
The Pens aren't playing THAT badly, but they are, obviously, getting frustrated. They have to settle down and play their game if they want this thing to go more than four games. This is particularly true if the Wings get Datsyuk and Draper back for Game 3. The Wings' depth and experience has carried them through this entire playoff season. You can't rattle these guys into beating themselves. You have to out work them to win and nobody has been able to do that on a consistent basis. The Pens are CAPABLE of that, but the Wings, so far, have been able to take them out of THEIR game. It will be interesting to see how they respond. The pressure is really on the Pens right now.
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but the Wings, so far, have been able to take them out of THEIR game.
I don't see that... they have been playing their game. Just haven't had one single bounce go their way yet. The hockey gods have not been on the pens side. They need to all go to hockey church on this day off and pray for more bounces. Wings maybe... maybe should have had 2 goals last night. Pens should have had 5 or 6. Osgood while playing good has been his very lucky self... he's playing big and hoping the puck hits him. After almost every shot last night he was looking behind him cause he had no idea where the puck was. I have confidence this can go back to Detroit tied up the way the Pens have played.
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Quote:
This has been a good second period tonight in Game 2. Red Wings got a gift with that non-penalty call, and scored just seconds after to take the 2-1 lead. Refs missed an obvious hook and it cost Pitt.
... and then the Pens got an even BIGGER gift when the NHL decided Malkin wouldn't sit for a game for instigating a fight toward the end of Game 2. If it were a regular season game, Malkin would have missed a game. No doubt about it. I don't blame the NHL for that decision though. They want the series decided with the best players on the ice and I think it was the right call.
Whining about non-calls at this point in the season is pretty pointless. The refs are letting the boys play and that is as it should be. The Pens were clutching, grabbing and hooking all game through the neutral zone trying to slow the Wings' transition game and they didn't get called for it. So be it.
The Pens aren't playing THAT badly, but they are, obviously, getting frustrated. They have to settle down and play their game if they want this thing to go more than four games. This is particularly true if the Wings get Datsyuk and Draper back for Game 3. The Wings' depth and experience has carried them through this entire playoff season. You can't rattle these guys into beating themselves. You have to out work them to win and nobody has been able to do that on a consistent basis. The Pens are CAPABLE of that, but the Wings, so far, have been able to take them out of THEIR game. It will be interesting to see how they respond. The pressure is really on the Pens right now.
that entire instigator rule is garbage anyways...
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that entire instigator rule is garbage anyways...
What's garbage is starting something at the end of a game you've already lost. It's bush. That's one of the reasons the rule is in place and it generally works. It hasn't been used all that much, but this one was RIDICULOUS and the ref had no choice but to call it.
I think the NHL handled it just right though. The officials sent the message to both teams: "we're gonna let you guys play it out on the ice, but if it gets out of hand, we'll shut it down." They didn't need to suspend Malkin to do that (even though a one-game suspension is usually mandatory for that penalty).
Don't get me wrong, I've never been of the mind that fighting should be taken out of the game altogether. If two guys have been getting on each other's nerves all game long, by all means, let them settle the matter on the ice. Those things tend to sort themselves out over time. What Malkin did at the end of last night's game, however, was just flat-out dumb (and it really could have cost his team).
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 9,149
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 9,149 |
While totally understandable, I'd rather they find another way than letting them fight on the ice. Most hockey fans -- this is why I am not one -- like the action, and it pretty much keeps me away other than to monitor who wins the Cup. I was told by a very close friend that the reason I do not appreciate hockey is because Cleveland doesn't have a team  Columbus does, and I still do not pay it much attention. I respect and honor those of you on the board who do love and understand the game. It's just not my thing. Don't see the Penguins getting this Series.... (Didn't Cleveland have a hockey team in the old WHL ? Seems I remember that from my childhood,...)
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,936
Hall of Famer
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Hall of Famer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,936 |
Yeah... hockey is definitely an "acquired" taste. However, I DO think the NHL has done a pretty good job over the years in reducing the amount of fighting you see. IMO, the game today is a much faster, exciting game than it was in the 70's and 80's (when teams employed players who could barely skate solely for their pugilistic prowess). Ironically, the influence of an influx of extremely talented European players may be what ultimately saves hockey from extinction as a major pro sport (it's still in critical condition, but at least it's breathing on it's own... for now...  ). Fighting aside, there is no faster sport in the world, IMO. FWIW, not only did Cleveland have a WHA team (the Crusaders), they had a NHL franchise for a short time (the Barons). I have a lot of great memories of both teams. The best was after a Crusaders game against the Hartford Whalers. Gordie Howe played for the Whalers at the end of his long career and I was among a bunch of kids who got to meet him as the Whalers emerged from the Coliseum to get on their bus. He was a super nice guy who took the time to sign each kid's program. I remember him saying to all of us "you know, if I miss this bus, one of your dads is going to have to take me to the airport." Well, imagine the prospect of having Mr. Hockey himself in your car for a ride to Hopkins! I'll never forget that as long as I live.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 17,027
Legend
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OP
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 17,027 |
zetterburg wanted a piece of malkin last night, that's why i have a problem with that rule.
if zetterburg didn't want to fight, he wouldn't have. i love that this willy carry over to game 3, and that's why i think that rule should be taken away and let things be the way they used to be...
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Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum NHL Playoffs/Predictions thread
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