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NHL PLayoffs 2009
- Thread starter warwick.hoy
- Start date
I was referring to the Cup Finals. Detroit beat us last year, they probably want to beat someone different this year.
-Mike
We beat both teams before in the Stanley Cup finals so I'm not sure if that's why. I just think that if we play Pittsburgh they would have this "get even" mentality and play us a lot harder than Carolina would. Plus the Pens are better IMO.
Magic won't cut it in the big game. You've got to have some money to pay the refs off too.
I would like to congratulate the Hartford Whalers for at least making it to the semi-finals this season.
Sorry I missed the game last night, but it was the finale of 24
I pretty much agree with XYM's take again. The Ducks are a tough team, but a regular season whistle would have killed them in that series. The league should really clamp down on the extracurricular stuff if it wants Hockey to get a wider audience. I am so sick of the "playoff goals" mantra. Yeah I know you have to get the tough goals around the net, like the one the ref whistled away in game 3.
But it's still not as enjoyable as a game with actual open ice. I couldn't believe how much more enjoyable game one with the Hawks was to watch then any game of the Ducks series. I can't imagine an inexperienced hockey fan getting converted to the sport watching that Wings-Ducks series, because their was so little skill display with all the interference and grabbing.
As far as my Wings, that's the difference between the Wings and most other teams. They can win playing either style. Kromwell and Stuart can play as physical as any defensemen in the league and Hosa and Franzen can mix it up as Power forwards. And the Wings skill players aren't afraid to mix it up either, Datsyuk and Zetterberg can hit too.
As far as the Crosby debate, I'll listen to talk about him being the best player in the league when he's a finalist for the Selke too. Right now I would take Datsyuk or Zetterberg over Crosby because they can win when they're not scoring. They are like having a third defenseman on the ice. The reason Steve Y has three cups is because he learned to be a force on both ends of the floor. I'm willing to chalk it up to inexperience in Crosby right now, and inconsistent coaching. He needs a coach who stays around for a few years and instills a defensive mindset in him, like Bowman did in Detroit.
Ironically, Hockey's marketing doesn't go with it's whistles. In the post season unlike the NBA, Hockey doesn't protect it's stars, if anything they have a bulls-eye on them. If they're are going to market their stars you would think they would punish players who take extracurricular shots on them in the playoff's.
Now my pick's for the Con Smythe:
1) Chris Osgood, The Rodney Dangerfield of Goalies has been the best goalie in the playoffs in the toughest town in the world for goalies. When the Wings win it's their skaters, when they lose it's the goalies fault. Well theirs been more then one game this run that Osgood has stolen.
2) Crosby. The league is dying to give it to him for the same reasons Datsyuk won't win the Hart. He is the leading scorer in the playoffs so far.
3) Franzien, The best "playoff goal" scorer in the league. He just has an unbelievable noise for the puck around the net. A very good regular season player, but a superstar in the playoffs.
I pretty much agree with XYM's take again. The Ducks are a tough team, but a regular season whistle would have killed them in that series. The league should really clamp down on the extracurricular stuff if it wants Hockey to get a wider audience. I am so sick of the "playoff goals" mantra. Yeah I know you have to get the tough goals around the net, like the one the ref whistled away in game 3.
But it's still not as enjoyable as a game with actual open ice. I couldn't believe how much more enjoyable game one with the Hawks was to watch then any game of the Ducks series. I can't imagine an inexperienced hockey fan getting converted to the sport watching that Wings-Ducks series, because their was so little skill display with all the interference and grabbing.As far as my Wings, that's the difference between the Wings and most other teams. They can win playing either style. Kromwell and Stuart can play as physical as any defensemen in the league and Hosa and Franzen can mix it up as Power forwards. And the Wings skill players aren't afraid to mix it up either, Datsyuk and Zetterberg can hit too.
As far as the Crosby debate, I'll listen to talk about him being the best player in the league when he's a finalist for the Selke too. Right now I would take Datsyuk or Zetterberg over Crosby because they can win when they're not scoring. They are like having a third defenseman on the ice. The reason Steve Y has three cups is because he learned to be a force on both ends of the floor. I'm willing to chalk it up to inexperience in Crosby right now, and inconsistent coaching. He needs a coach who stays around for a few years and instills a defensive mindset in him, like Bowman did in Detroit.
Ironically, Hockey's marketing doesn't go with it's whistles. In the post season unlike the NBA, Hockey doesn't protect it's stars, if anything they have a bulls-eye on them. If they're are going to market their stars you would think they would punish players who take extracurricular shots on them in the playoff's.
Now my pick's for the Con Smythe:
1) Chris Osgood, The Rodney Dangerfield of Goalies has been the best goalie in the playoffs in the toughest town in the world for goalies. When the Wings win it's their skaters, when they lose it's the goalies fault. Well theirs been more then one game this run that Osgood has stolen.
2) Crosby. The league is dying to give it to him for the same reasons Datsyuk won't win the Hart. He is the leading scorer in the playoffs so far.
3) Franzien, The best "playoff goal" scorer in the league. He just has an unbelievable noise for the puck around the net. A very good regular season player, but a superstar in the playoffs.
Good thing we scored those two goals early. Cam Ward was playing awesome once he settled down. He is a really good goalie, never seen him play before all that much.
But Miro made him look like a fool on his goal the way he juggled that puck around before firing it past him, impressive for a 34 year old with that speed too. The Malkin goal was suh-weet...."let me skate by and flick this over your shoulder when you're not watching." Awesome!
One down, three to go.
-Mike
But Miro made him look like a fool on his goal the way he juggled that puck around before firing it past him, impressive for a 34 year old with that speed too. The Malkin goal was suh-weet...."let me skate by and flick this over your shoulder when you're not watching." Awesome!
One down, three to go.
-Mike
I pretty much agree with XYM's take again. The Ducks are a tough team, but a regular season whistle would have killed them in that series. The league should really clamp down on the extracurricular stuff if it wants Hockey to get a wider audience. I am so sick of the "playoff goals" mantra. Yeah I know you have to get the tough goals around the net, like the one the ref whistled away in game 3.
Not to sound like a mutual appreciation society, but well said
Great observation. It's what the Wings of the mid 90's lacked before they picked up Brendan Shanahan
You know, the comparison to a younger Stevie Y when he was an offensive wonder but not good defensively (though not quite the one-way wonder that Jagr was) is actually a very good one, and one that MJ should recognize as backhanded props. I hadn't thought about that parallel largely due to Stevie Y's being largely ignored due to playing at the same time as Gretzky and Lemieux while Crosby is way over exposed in the media. I think you're spot on, that if Crosby gets that kind of coaching who can morph him into playing both ways with the intensity that Pavs and Hank do that he'll hands down be the best player in the league. Ovechkin imho is the better goal scorer and brings a bigger physical element, but, like Crosby, doesn't play the D.
You'd think, but there's the poison dwarf for you....
I LOVED his response to Maguire during game 1 - "I don't care what they think, I'm in the top 10 all time in regular season and playoff wins". He deserves far more respect than he gets. I do feel though that unless he pitches a couple of shutouts in the final rounds that he's a dark horse at best.
agreed, though I think Franzen is going to keep cranking it up and make a run.
He's my pick for now, and I still am thrilled he's only a $3.9 mil cap hit for the next 12 years.
I quit reading what all you guys are saying about Crosby a few posts ago. I like him, and he makes a great case for the best player in the NHL. There is no "best player", so we can all debate this forever.
For the record, my favorite player in the NHL is Zetterberg, but I also really like Holmstrom. I have a Z beanie and t-shirt.
-Mike
For the record, my favorite player in the NHL is Zetterberg, but I also really like Holmstrom. I have a Z beanie and t-shirt.
-Mike
Is anyone here pulling for the Hawks? I know they're a young team but they're tenacious as hell and fast learners...I think Joel Quenneville should be up for the Jack Adams Award personally (I know he isn't...why I'm not sure). Anyways the Hawks have a tough road ahead with Detroit, especially being down one game already. We'll see what happens tonight. 
Is anyone here pulling for the Hawks? I know they're a young team but they're tenacious as hell and fast learners...I think Joel Quenneville should be up for the Jack Adams Award personally (I know he isn't...why I'm not sure). Anyways the Hawks have a tough road ahead with Detroit, especially being down one game already. We'll see what happens tonight.
I'm pulling for 'em, but I honestly don't see them winning.
I'd love to be surprised, though.
