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NHL PLayoffs 2009

#641
At this point, the series is tied (I could make a VERY strong case for the Wings rightfully being up 3-1, but last night was all Pens, they just outplayed the Wings). It's a best of 3, Detroit still has home ice. If the officiating is down the middle, that's all I can ask. No stupid missed calls or ticky-tack calls EITHER WAY. No diving from either side. I want Datsyuk healthy. No cheap shots from EITHER SIDE (I'm talking to you, Chris Kunitz). These teams have too much skill for it to go down any other way. Gary Bettman (aka the poison dwarf) - for the sake of all that is good and right about hockey, PLEASE allow this to happen. It's not too late to salvage some awesome hockey for games 5-7.

While I think the Flyers got the bum rap more than a few times this season, they partly did it to themselves with their egregious cheap shots by certain individuals the previous season. The refs remember that stuff. It shouldn't affect current games, but I'm sure there is some lingering memories of those hits that is affecting the subconscious. It still doesn't excuse horribly blown calls against any team.
 
#643
Well, I had to get up early and got zero sleep that's why the brief comment earlier. A few points.

While I felt the officiating didn't cost the Wings the game, this is the second time in the last two games that the Refs missed an obvious penalty or call that led to Pens goal. The Pens were offsides without question on the play that set up their first goal. After missing six men on the ice the night before that's just pathetic, and inexcusable.

I agree with you a bit on Holmstrom. But I also think it would be nice if just one friggin time the NHL officials would actually enforce the friggin rules when he's in the game. I've never seen a guy that takes so many after whistle hits and out of the play interferences and cross checks. :rollno:

Last night was the first night they really missed Datsuyk. Maybe it was the let down of the game time decision. But they have had no problem with Crosby, who has been thoroughly outplayed by Zetterberg. But they have had no answer for Malkin, I suspect a quick skating Selke trophy winner could change that situation.

As far as the game itself, if you watched the game it seemed lopsided, especially the second period. But the stats were fairly even. The short hander definitely took the wind out of the Wings sails. As far as the play of the Pens, remember role players tend to make big plays at home, the question for the Pens will be how well will Fedetinko, Stahl, Talbot, Dupuis, and Scuderi play at the Joe.

The word around here is Datsyuk is definite for game five. At this point right now I'd say the teams have played fairly even with the Pens getting a bit more help form the officials at home. Well it's best two out of three with the Wings having home ice.
 
#646
warwick.hoy said:
The Flyers didn't lose to a better team...they lost to the zebras. [/rant on that].
Click to expand...

:rollno:

Since I have been talking hockey with you guys here, I don't think your Flyers have ever lost to a team better than them. It's always the refs who doom your team to failure. Overall, I really value your opinions on hockey, but that kind of talk is making you look like my guy who you say whines all the time.

Yeah, Crosby went to the ice on a little slash at his calf. No worse than the end of game one when Talbot poked Osgood in the chest with his stick and Osgood when flying backwards like someone blasted him with a shotgun in the chest. Here is video of the incident on YouTube, there is a close up at about the 1:42 mark. Even the most diehard Detroit fan has to admit Osgood embellished that fall...

Talbot, Osgood at end of game one.

-Mike
 
#647
Catching up on my hockey news since I have been away from a computer all day...

Babcock says Datsyuk will play in game five. Great news for Detroit. I like the way he plays, he is great. Interesting to see how the Pens handle another sniper who can skate fast.

Interesting story on Hossa over at ESPN.com. How he hasn't done much of anything in the playoffs this season and how the guy we got to essentially replace him, Bill Guerin, has more points that Hosse. Only one more, 15 to 14, but Hossa played much better with Crosby last year. Just sayin.....

-Mike
 
#648
That's because the Flyers are the best team in the league...you didn't know that Mike? :D

I don't think that there is any one team that is better than any other team...at least those that make it to the playoffs. You could say that Detroit or Pittsburgh dominate...but if you look at the regular season...both teams went on lengthy loosing skids. At the time I was saying my "how the mighty have fallen". Both teams are battling for the cup now. It's all in how you look at adversity.

I'm actually mistaken and remembering wrong my bad. The bad goal was only the no goal that counted for Naslund in the regular season. I was getting a little pissed with the officiating and trying to concoct a conspiracy theory,...but I had forgotten one thing...hockey has to be the most difficult sport to officiate. The fact is...a Wing could have brought the too many men to the attention of the refs while it was happening...where was the Wings bench...??? 21 seconds and the nobody saw...and by nobody I mean nobody save the commentary that sits above the rink and has a birdseye's view of the ice surface.

Sorry...Carry on.
 
#649
MJ5150 said:
Babcock says Datsyuk will play in game five. Great news for Detroit. I like the way he plays, he is great. Interesting to see how the Pens handle another sniper who can skate fast.
Click to expand...

Even if Datsuyk plays I'm not sure he'll be 100%. If his foot is still sore I really can't see him exploding on the puck as usual or navigating through the offensive zone like he's used to doing. He may be able to distract a defenseman away from the other skaters but I'm not sure he'll make a big impact right away. I hope I'm wrong though.
 
#650
MJ5150 said:
Yeah, Crosby went to the ice on a little slash at his calf. No worse than the end of game one when Talbot poked Osgood in the chest with his stick and Osgood when flying backwards like someone blasted him with a shotgun in the chest. Here is video of the incident on YouTube, there is a close up at about the 1:42 mark. Even the most diehard Detroit fan has to admit Osgood embellished that fall...

Talbot, Osgood at end of game one.

-Mike
Click to expand...

Lol, we watched the replay about 20 times laughing hard. Osgood is the worst actor in NHL history!
 
#651
A little of subject here, but do you all think this will be Osgood's last year? And IF it is, who will replace him? Conklin's a good goalie but the Wings are used to superb goaltending. To bad my Minnesota Wild resigned Backstrom to that 4 year deal, I would've hated to see him wearing the winged wheel.:hiding:
 
#652
blues_bassist said:
A little of subject here, but do you all think this will be Osgood's last year? And IF it is, who will replace him? Conklin's a good goalie but the Wings are used to superb goaltending. To bad my Minnesota Wild resigned Backstrom to that 4 year deal, I would've hated to see him wearing the winged wheel.:hiding:
Click to expand...

I'm hoping we can get someone of the caliber of Ryan Miller. There's so many good up and coming goal tenders in the farm systems right now but it would be nice to get Ryan Miller back in his home state.
 
#655
blues_bassist said:
A little of subject here, but do you all think this will be Osgood's last year? And IF it is, who will replace him? Conklin's a good goalie but the Wings are used to superb goaltending. To bad my Minnesota Wild resigned Backstrom to that 4 year deal, I would've hated to see him wearing the winged wheel.:hiding:
Click to expand...

I believe Osgood is still under contract for one more year. He might play more, veterans usually pro-long their career in Detroit.

Flashback to 1995. If you were to tell anyone that Blackhawk defensman Chris Chelios will win a Stanley Cup on the Detroit Red Wings in 2008, they would think you were smoking crack.
 
#657
burk48237 said:
While I felt the officiating didn't cost the Wings the game, this is the second time in the last two games that the Refs missed an obvious penalty or call that led to Pens goal. The Pens were offsides without question on the play that set up their first goal. After missing six men on the ice the night before that's just pathetic, and inexcusable.
Click to expand...

And the trip too, no?
 
#658
It's really a shame that after every game everyone ends up bitching about the refs (but with good reason).

The NHL really needs to adress this problem. I have been following hockey a long time and I don't remember it being THIS bad.

You see blatant penalties not being called, than the most minor infraction is called at critical times in the game. On top of that, you have Pittsburgh with 6 men on the ice for half a minute, and Zetterburg covering up pucks in the crease.
 
#659
Bad Brains said:
It's really a shame that after every game everyone ends up bitching about the refs (but with good reason).

The NHL really needs to adress this problem. I have been following hockey a long time and I don't remember it being THIS bad.

You see blatant penalties not being called, than the most minor infraction is called at critical times in the game. On top of that, you have Pittsburgh with 6 men on the ice for half a minute, and Zetterburg covering up pucks in the crease.
Click to expand...

It almost makes you think "conspiracy."
 
#660
Bad Brains said:
It's really a shame that after every game everyone ends up bitching about the refs (but with good reason).

The NHL really needs to adress this problem. I have been following hockey a long time and I don't remember it being THIS bad.

You see blatant penalties not being called, than the most minor infraction is called at critical times in the game. On top of that, you have Pittsburgh with 6 men on the ice for half a minute, and Zetterburg covering up pucks in the crease.
Click to expand...

It seems every season playoffs is marred by penalties... as a Rangers fan, don' ask me why, we have serious axes to grind with refs, but we also have Sean Avery in the line-up who gives us a better record, so what can we do? At some point however I hope that Avery, who is taking his beating, will be respected for his play, as long as he continues to behave.

Back on topic, this years finals I believe are some of the fairest on record. The too many men for Pitts was ridiculous, however Detroits multi man obstruction tactic is ridiculous also. Something I believe has been talked about off ice, because it has miraculously stopped in the last two games with eye-opening results.

All in all, this series is being officiated evenly. Not every decision is fair, but looking back on each game you can come to no other conclusion than the refs are being "even".
 

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