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NHL PLayoffs 2009

#521
MJ5150 said:
Detroit is getting their fair share of coverage. Everyone and their momma is picking them to win again
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I've got this guy at work that totally hates the Red Wings. I have no idea what they ever did to him but he goes to Blue Jackets games and taunts Red Wings fans just because he doesn't feel they should be wearing their Jerseys in Columbus. He also told me that he told a young lady after a game that the Wings won that he hoped that she worked for GM so she would be unemployed. I guess the girl cried, since she did work for GM, and he was happy that he made her cry.

So, now you know why I defend my Red Wings so vehemently. I'm surrounded by Detroit hating morons.
 
#522
Jeff K said:
I'm a Flyers fan, so I don't have a dog in this fight.
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Forget it...:ninja:

The one thing I'll say...and bear in mind I didn't watch the game nor hear the commentary....the broader picture has always been Sid's **** in everyone's mouth. For what it's worth...Sid hasn't done ****. When he wins a Stanley Cup, then it can be Sid, Sid, Sid all night long for all I care.
 
#523
Jeff K said:
Malkin's breakaway resulted from Malkin tripping a Wing, then breaking out of his own zone. Osgood made a great save though, so no harm, no foul.

Later however, when the puck landed on Osgood's back, Zetterburg definitely covered the puck with his hand while in the blue, even though Osgood was starting to roll outward so it wouldn't roll into the net.

Bottom line is that both teams got away with a few. This should be an outstanding series...
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I watched that over and over as I thought Malkin got away with one as well. It seemed like he did looking back, but I can also see how it wasn't called. Maybe Malkin got the benefit of the doubt since Kronwall is a big clumsy guy who falls down often anyway? Could Kronwall be a diver??? I kid, I kid. :D

Seriously, I would have had no problem with Malkin being whistled there. But I am glad the refs let it play out, as long as they do it both ways I am cool with that. I don't want games with five and six PP's for both sides.

I'd like to be mad about the no-call on Z, but my team really needs to win a game on their own, and not have to rely on the refs to make calls accurately. I feel like if you need a call to go your way to win, you don't deserve to win anyway.

-Mike
 
#528
Just saw some poor grammatical errors up there....the meds are kicking in (Dr's Orders I promise).

I like to remind myself that even though Gretzky played 19 seasons he only won 5 (I think) cups. Crosby can't win em all, there is still lots of hockey left to play in this series and Sid may not win this one (they are definitely better prepared). Hopefully next year someone other than the RW's and the Pens will get a turn (half the reason I'm not so interested this year).

I have a feeling that the Pens are going to get the better of the Flyers in their rivalry over the next couple of years...maybe it will be more even with how the league is...IDK, but at some point it will be someone else's turn. You just never know with hockey.

[/emo thread hijack] (it's my thread...I can do what I want)

:D
 
#529
I can understand every reason why you guys think Pitt is better this year but I don't see it. The 2 stars are better but they lost Hossa and Fleury hasn't become a star yet. He's got enough expeirence now to where I'm beginning to wonder if he'll ever be a star. I'm far from Osgood's biggest supporter but he's played better than Fleury at about a quarter the cost. After Pitts top 3 forwards there isn't anyone that would crack Detroit's top 12. I think Chicago is better right now and depending on FA and the draft has the better future.
 
#531
tycobb73 said:
I can understand every reason why you guys think Pitt is better this year but I don't see it. The 2 stars are better but they lost Hossa and Fleury hasn't become a star yet. He's got enough expeirence now to where I'm beginning to wonder if he'll ever be a star. I'm far from Osgood's biggest supporter but he's played better than Fleury at about a quarter the cost. After Pitts top 3 forwards there isn't anyone that would crack Detroit's top 12. I think Chicago is better right now and depending on FA and the draft has the better future.
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I'm not sure I'd say Chicago is better although they might have a better future. Their biggest problem is they have over 12 million of their salary cap tied up in Khavabulin and Huet which takes them over the cap and makes it very hard to keep any of their other FA's or pay their young players when they get ready to hit the market. Khavabulin is 35, and he has a guarenteed 6 plus million coming, I don't know any one dumb enough to take a chance on that contract. So the cap could be the wall that keeps them from really progressing. I'm also not at all impressed with Quinville as a coach.

http://www.ianbell.com/2009/05/16/nhl-goalie-salaries-and-playoff-impact/

You might be able to make the argument that Aneheim is better then the Pens. they are certainly better on defense. In fact they are the only team that rivals Detroit in defensive depth. But I think the real issue is Detroit is better then last year at this point in the season (assuming Datsyuk returns). Remember Detroit didn't have Franzein in the finals last year. And Eriksson who I think has the potential to be another defense stud wasn't up. Detroit is faster and stronger now with the addition of Helm, Abdulcator, Eriksson, and Hosa.

Fluery's a good goalie, but it's to early to tell if he'll be a stud. Goalies a weird position. I can remember many goalies that have had "breakout" playoff runs and been marginal after. Look at Giguire or "Olie the Goalie" in WA. Both had great playoff runs and where hailed as the second coming of Gump Worsley or Patrick Roy and now their backups three seasons later. It's is very rare if you think about it to get sustained excellence at that position. And even Roy got beat by Osgood and Vernon in the conference finals. The Wings have decided to go with a good goalie and surround him with great defenseman. I think that makes more sense than dropping 6 million on someone with great goalie potential like a lot of teams have done.
 
#532
MJ5150 said:
Well shucks.....who on the Wings bench paid off Fleury tonight anyway? :D

I feel good despite the loss. Detroit "flipped the switch" tonight, but it looked to me like we also kept hitting and taking away open ice. Both teams had some breakaway chances. I suspected Detroit would crowd Crosby and Malkin all night, they have the best defensemen in the NHL easy. Despite that, they both got free here and there. They both seemed to stand up well to the pounding all night instead of playing scared like I thought they did last year. Staal played well also.

The TV guys kept talking about the "live boards", and I did notice the puck really kicks off the boards more than in other arenas. Obviously Detroit knows this and uses it to their advantage. Several Pen's looked surprised how the puck came off the boards, so they better hurry up and get used to that.

One complaint....when will the refs start calling Detroit for having eight or nine guys on the ice?? I know they had to have at least that many. :D :D :D

Ozzie looked tough, and that made me feel good. I really like him. Helm is a stud. Z seemed on a mission to stop Crosby more than anything else.

Oh hey, I had no idea Bylsma played for Babcock in Anaheim.

-Mike
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hey, remember me from about this time last year... haven't been around in a while, but sincerely wanted to wish you luck with the Pens. After seeing my NYR's getting beat by my personal favourite player in Ovechkin, I watched with interest how Crosby vs Ovechkin would play out and I gotta say, Crosby has done a complete 180 in his career in my mind. He has led by example, the whining has ceased, the diving has ceased, he's playing the game like a captain and a man, and I respect him a whole lot for leading his Penguins to the finals again, not only with a different coach but also a very different team. For a Rangers fan to say that, it means a lot.

Fleury should be respected also. Last year was a test for Fleury, he was on uncharted waters, however he's back in the Stanley Cup Finals and for a goalie, who has had to face an offensive Powerhouse like Washington, who were absolutely rolling like a tank at the time, that demands respect. He just doesn't get ruffled.

I'm interested to see how those older legs on Detroit perform tonight...

Anyway, good luck fans of both, respect to each, but if any Detroit guys here think this is over, think again.
 
#534
burk48237 said:
I'm not sure I'd say Chicago is better although they might have a better future. Their biggest problem is they have over 12 million of their salary cap tied up in Khavabulin and Huet which takes them over the cap and makes it very hard to keep any of their other FA's or pay their young players when they get ready to hit the market. Khavabulin is 35, and he has a guarenteed 6 plus million coming, I don't know any one dumb enough to take a chance on that contract. So the cap could be the wall that keeps them from really progressing. I'm also not at all impressed with Quinville as a coach.

http://www.ianbell.com/2009/05/16/nhl-goalie-salaries-and-playoff-impact/

You might be able to make the argument that Aneheim is better then the Pens. they are certainly better on defense. In fact they are the only team that rivals Detroit in defensive depth. But I think the real issue is Detroit is better then last year at this point in the season (assuming Datsyuk returns). Remember Detroit didn't have Franzein in the finals last year. And Eriksson who I think has the potential to be another defense stud wasn't up. Detroit is faster and stronger now with the addition of Helm, Abdulcator, Eriksson, and Hosa.

Fluery's a good goalie, but it's to early to tell if he'll be a stud. Goalies a weird position. I can remember many goalies that have had "breakout" playoff runs and been marginal after. Look at Giguire or "Olie the Goalie" in WA. Both had great playoff runs and where hailed as the second coming of Gump Worsley or Patrick Roy and now their backups three seasons later. It's is very rare if you think about it to get sustained excellence at that position. And even Roy got beat by Osgood and Vernon in the conference finals. The Wings have decided to go with a good goalie and surround him with great defenseman. I think that makes more sense than dropping 6 million on someone with great goalie potential like a lot of teams have done.
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KhaBIbulin is 36, and is UFA this season. He likely won't be resigned by the 'hawks. Pahlsson probably won't resign, theres another ~2.5 million. While I like the guy, I don't see them resigning Byfuglien because he was being paid 3 million last season. Not signing those 3 guys and getting rid of Sopel frees up close to 15 million in cap space.

Helm was on your team last playoffs :p

As for Olie the goalie. He had a Cup run in 1998, and very late in his career he turned into a backup. Giguere had 2 amazing Cup runs. The first one where they swept the Red Wings ;) and he won the Conn Smythe trophy even though they lost in 7 to New Jersey. And then he won the Cup in 2007. Sure he played backup this post-season, but Jonas Hiller was the hotter goaltender going in to the playoffs and thats why he got the start.
 
#535
heroincredible said:
KhaBIbulin is 36, and is UFA this season. He likely won't be resigned by the 'hawks. Pahlsson probably won't resign, theres another ~2.5 million. While I like the guy, I don't see them resigning Byfuglien because he was being paid 3 million last season. Not signing those 3 guys and getting rid of Sopel frees up close to 15 million in cap space.
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Yeah but they need to resign Havelet UFA probably for a raise and they still have 5.6 million tied up for 3 more years!:rollno: in a goalie that was their backup for the season. And they badly need to improve on the blue line, I would also suggest that 7 million a year for Campbell is a bit steep too.

Helm was on your team last playoffs
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Yeah but he played about two minutes a game and wasn't half the player he is this year.:p

As for Olie the goalie. He had a Cup run in 1998, and very late in his career he turned into a backup. Giguere had 2 amazing Cup runs. The first one where they swept the Red Wings and he won the Conn Smythe trophy even though they lost in 7 to New Jersey. And then he won the Cup in 2007. Sure he played backup this post-season, but Jonas Hiller was the hotter goaltender going in to the playoffs and thats why he got the start.
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My point is not that they don't have value. My point is that in the age of a salary cap their aren't enough goalies that play that consistently for that long to be worth the amount of 5-7 million dollar a year long term contracts that are scattered around the league. Gigure was a 6 million dollar backup that didn't log any ice time in the semi final series against Detroit. That's Nick Lidstom or Datsuyk money. The truly great goalies the (the superstars) are far to rare compared to the amount of big goalie contracts in this league.
 
#536
I get a real chuckle out of tracking the games on NHL Game Center at NHL.com while I'm watching it on TV. There are some real whiners and knuckleheads in the live chat. I just lurk and laugh. Seems like 3/4 of them H - A - T - E the Red Wings and just fume every time the Wings score. They've been a real hoot now through 3 rounds of Wings winning.

Peace,

James
 
#537
Is Abdulcator the next Sidney Crosby? He has more points in the finals:D

I must admit this game had me worried. The back to back scheduling after the one game less rest going in created a situation where I thought Pittsburgh could steal one. I think the Pens played even through about a period and a half but then their D started looking tired and they made some mistakes. Again, Fluerry allowed one softy and Osgood played stand up. Osgood seems to be in the right position all the time and Fluery seems to play himself out of position. Malkin played a good game but his aggressiveness cost them the Fillpilla goal. If he isn't worried about hitting a covered Holmstrom, Fillpilla isn't skating all alone with the rebound to the left of the net, Malkin left him to get an extra hit on Holmstrom. Pittsburgh played better but on the last two goals they didn't play smarter.

Either way the Wings are up 2-0. But granted the Pens aren't as shellshocked as last season.
 
#538
It sure does feel good to be able to go to work tomorrow and be up 2-0. I was worried after that first goal. Pittsburgh really looked like they wanted it more. I was at my mom's house watching the first period. When the period ended I got the family back in the car and tried to drive home in time to see the start of the second but with 2 kids under 2 years old it's utterly impossible. So when I got home I turned on the TV and was pleasantly surprised that it was now 2-1, Detroit. I didn't even see the 2 goals or even replays. That 3rd goal by Justin Abdelkader was gorgeous. I think he'll be on the 3rd or 4th line at the beginning of next season along with Helm.

Now the hard part, playing in the Burgh!!!
 
#539
burk48237 said:
Yeah but they need to resign Havelet UFA probably for a raise and they still have 5.6 million tied up for 3 more years!:rollno: in a goalie that was their backup for the season. And they badly need to improve on the blue line, I would also suggest that 7 million a year for Campbell is a bit steep too.



Yeah but he played about two minutes a game and wasn't half the player he is this year.:p



My point is not that they don't have value. My point is that in the age of a salary cap their aren't enough goalies that play that consistently for that long to be worth the amount of 5-7 million dollar a year long term contracts that are scattered around the league. Gigure was a 6 million dollar backup that didn't log any ice time in the final series against Detroit. That's Nick Lidstom or Datsuyk money. The truly great goalies the (the superstars) are far to rare compared to the amount of big goalie contracts in this league.
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But the money to resign Havlat is NOT going to be taken out of that 15 million, as you have to take the money he was making this year in to account as well. So we have ~22 million to get Havlat signed as well as our RFA's, which is more than enough. Yea, the 7 million for Campbell is tough to swallow, but he turned down more money from other teams to play in Chicago. And Huet was only the backup for the playoffs, since Huet and Khabi split playing time during the regular season.

Helm playing an average 7:30 mins a game and getting 2 goals and 2 assists is hardly anything to scoff at.

Giguere played against Detroit in game 3 I believe. Had Hiller not played as well as he did at the end of the season, we would've seen Giguere start in the playoffs. It was the same situation in Washington. Theodore wasn't playing well at all, had a bad game in game 1 against New York and they put the rookie goalie in who played stellar. The salary cap doesn't matter as much in the playoffs as far as goaltending goes. You have to go with the hot hand. The regular season is where it matters more IMO, because those high priced goalies will play more and win you more games. Which is why a number of them have poor playoffs because they get overplayed during the regular season and are tired by the time the playoffs start. Take a look at Kiprusoff. He is consistently playing 70+ games a season, and the Flames have lost in the first round of the playoffs the last 4 seasons. He is making 8.5 million a year.
 
#540
burk48237 said:
Malkin played a good game but his aggressiveness cost them the Fillpilla goal. If he isn't worried about hitting a covered Holmstrom, Fillpilla isn't skating all alone with the rebound to the left of the net, Malkin left him to get an extra hit on Holmstrom.
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If Hossa got called for hooking on Dupuis, thus preventing him from clearing the zone, Detroit would have been playing shorthanded and not scoring a goal moments later ;)
 

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