A couple belated thoughts thus far. Note: I only saw part of the replay of game 1 on the NHL Network since I was stuck in a van coming back from Rochester (though it was worth it to play around in the House of Guitars. 7 String Conklin? Nice. 25th Anniversary Stingray? Beautiful. Wife being along and really liking them? Priceless. (if only the powerball ticket would hit, since she's apparently starting to gain an appreciation for nice bass gear....)
The bounce goals in game 1 were weird to say the least, but, as Babcock said, the Pens were practicing the bounces at their practice session. Every building has its quirks. Osgood stole that game (I don't ever recall saying that, but he did very well in the pipes). The puck on the back - I'd like to see a DIRECT overhead shot. The angle I saw, it was darn close to the outside edge if not out, and it seemed to me that Ozzie was rolling to the outside and Hank was trying to cover it so it didn't roll free. The rule about hand on the puck in the paint was written regarding a puck on the ice surface - in 30+ years of watching hockey, I don't ever recall seeing that happen before.
Faceoffs were the big key in that game - 71% win by Detroit was HUGE.
Game 2 - the penalty on Ericsson was weak imho that led to a good powerplay goal by the Pens - looked like they had about 7 whacks at it. That said, the following penalty on Malkin was also weak, if I'd have called anything on that one, it'd have been coincidentals since I saw both players grabbing each other, but my instinct would have been to let it go. The Zetterberg sprawl behind Ozzie was an amazing display of defensive awareness.
The Pens came VERY close on quite a few chances. Yes the Wings are up 2-0, and they've made their own luck through hard work. Still, this 2-0 gap is NOT the same as last year where it wasn't even close in the games. The Pens carried the play for significant stretches during both games. Home ice is going to be huge in this series. I expect Crosby to get on the score sheet in the Pitt games because with the final change, he's going to be able to get away from Zetterberg and Lidstrom/Rafalski. Datsyuk is the defending Selke winner, and a finalist this year, but if I had a vote both seasons, Zetterberg would have had my first place vote, Datsyuk second.
The Malkin instigator at the end was a surprise. Even less of a surprise was the NHL rescinding it. Insert obligatory photoshop of Malkin in Ducks jersey here.
That said, it was frustration on a goal attempt and being shut down by Zetterberg rather than an attempt to injure/send a message like the Ducks crap after game 6. BIG difference imho. I'd rather see Malkin in the lineup than out so there can be no excuses either way (much as I want to see Pavel back in the lineup).
Babcocks comments after game 2 were well said. His clarification about Crosby before he took any questions was very classy. I also got a kick out of his subtle jab at the NHL office when he said he expected nothing to happen regarding the instigator (he was right). I feel bad for Bylsma regarding the post icing goals - time out or not time out, he got burned both ways. The play in game 2 I think Babcock set a speed record for getting his guys out to capitalize on the Pens' fatigue.
Overall, the officials have pretty much let both teams play. In a skill vs skill series like this, it's what you want. I was hoping someone would hit Maguire between the benches with octopus slime the way he was complaining at times. These composite sticks break all the time, and he was screaming about Hossa shattering DuPuis' stick. Please. The no call was the right call, and I'd say that if it was the other way around.
DuPuis played a heck of an energy game, and was imho one of the Pens best players. Fleury needs to step it up for the Pens to get back into this, since Ozzie seems to be dialed in well. Justin Abdelkader (note the spelling, PLEASE don't use Abdul Gator like a moron on a Wings page I frequent did
) is chipping in beautifully. He was a 2nd round pick by the Wings, and both of his goals showed a VERY deft hand at corralling an uncooperative puck to get the shot off. He tore it up in Grand Rapids this year, and is impressing me.
Darren Helm is hitting everything in sight, and playing extremely well. I'm tempted to give Tomas Kopecky the play of the year award for getting his face broken since it's what made the roster space for Helm. Though "Helmer" may be the traditional nickname for him, I'm thinking Nightmare on Helm Street may be more appropriate, especially if he bulks up and adds the Kronwallian hit to his repertoire.
I was hoping to get a split out of the first 2 games, so I'm thrilled to see the Wings up. They've caught some breaks, but also played well. If the Wings can manage a split in the Burgh, things are looking great. That said, the final change giving Bylsma the chance to get Crosby and Malkin away from Zetterberg is going to be HUGE. If I'm him, I load them together and jack their ice time through the roof whenever Zetterberg isn't on the ice. If Datsyuk comes back for Game 3, than it's that much harder but I have a hunch he's got broken bone(s) in his foot and just can't push off strongly. The Wings need to weather the storm and stick to their game. The way some of the breaks have gone, and the way that the last change has come into play, I wouldn't be surprised if the Pens blew one open at home, particularly with the crowd behind them.
Finally, regarding the Hossa hate. Mike, it isn't bad here, but if you go over to letsgopens.com the official site of whiny Pens fans, it's almost to the level of psychotic obsessive. Hossa was a rental, he played what, 31 games for them? The Chelios analogy was much different - he played years for them and was the cornerstone of their D and made anti-Wings comments for years, then he came to Detroit and fit in well after the Hawks thought he was washed up.
The Fedorov leaving Detroit was a pure money grab/ego boost. He wanted to be THE MAN, and it wasn't going to happen with Yzerman there and with the rise of the team first culture. I love the skill Fedorov had, but his departure was less than friendly. I got over the booing quickly - 1 game was enough. He did a LOT for the team and deserves respect for that. I wish him well as he closes out his career in the KHL playing with his brothers.
Shanahan - came to Detroit, and was a linchpin of several cup teams. He chose to leave after Yzerman retired to allow the younger players like Hank and Pavs to develop, and to let Nick get the C. IMHO it's wasn't a money grab. The Rangers offered 2 years, the Wings if I recall correctly only offered one. No hard feelings there from me. He earned my respect as a Wing, and I feel that no boos are due him upon a return to JLA. He's with the Devils now - I have no problem, he started there, and never would have left if he hadn't been sent to St. Louis as compensation for the Scott Stevens signing imho.
Obligatory salute to the Vladinator comment earlier. I still wear my Konstantinov white jersey with the NHL 75th patch proudly, though this season's playoff game day jersey is the new Zetterberg winter classic. The thoughts of a Konstantinov/Kronwall pairing is just scary. It'd be like Chuck Norris was cloned into a tag team.
