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The 2008 Stanley Cup Playoff Thread

#441
Well, that power play lasted about 10 seconds.

Another penalty.
...this is playoff hockey, right? Shee-it...they're doing nothing but whistle blowing. C'mon!

Philly can't get it goin' with a 4-3...they're in deep trouble.
 
#445
JimK said:
Well, that power play lasted about 10 seconds.

Another penalty.
...this is playoff hockey, right? Shee-it...they're doing nothing but whistle blowing. C'mon!
Click to expand...

I feel your pain... VS commentators actually sticking up for the Flyers with the "soft call" comment... soft calls to say the least. This 10 mins I just squeezed in my dinner break is looking way too familiar.
 
#453
marcray said:
Osgood used to live opposite me when he was an Islander. Sweet family, very friendly and humble, it's amazing to see him at this level again. Good for him.
Click to expand...

He played junior here, in Medicine Hat, and last time the Wings won the Cup, he had a meet and greet, and let everyone get a picture with him and the cup...autographs, everything.

That goes above and beyond humble.


I was really glad to see him get the starting position over Hasek. Even after he and Franzen destroyed my team, Ozzy is awesome. Conn Smythe candidate for sure.
 
#454
Joey3313 said:
He played junior here, in Medicine Hat, and last time the Wings won the Cup, he had a meet and greet, and let everyone get a picture with him and the cup...autographs, everything.

That goes above and beyond humble.


I was really glad to see him get the starting position over Hasek. Even after he and Franzen destroyed my team, Ozzy is awesome. Conn Smythe candidate for sure.
Click to expand...

As an aside, my gf's dad works as a scout for the Tigers!
 
#457
The Pens talent overcame the crappy calls once again. I believe they are destined to win the Cup this year...(knock on wood). The anti-Pittsburgh love-fest that is going around the league right now is sickening. The Pens would be blowing out every team if there wasn't an anti-Pittsburgh bias. Someone in the NHL doesn't want the Pens to succeed (and yeah, I've read some of those bogus posts in this thread suggesting otherwise).

Screw all the haters, the Pens are going all the way!!!
 
#458
Yeah, yeah, yeah. That was awesome. I love how the cameras scanned the crowd everytime the Pen's scored and showed all the fans with these "what do we do now, we're supposed to be winning" looks on their faces. Sad thing is, I think the Flyers feel the same way. They don't have any answers, or skills to beat the Pens.

I saw some quick whistles in that game. I saw some shady calls on both side of the...puck...I guess you would say here? But it looked pretty even to me, and the commentators even acknowledged that the players better get a good understanding how the refs are calling the game tonight. In a series with so much contention and hate between the rivals, I think the refs do need to keep tight control on the game play. I'm used to seeing that in NFL and college football games.

It looks like we will be moving on the the Finals. So to Burk and the other Wing fans, or guys who know the Wings.....what is different about the Red Wings that should make me nervous? I can obviously tell they are an excellent team...but what separates them from Ottawa, the Rangers, and the Flyers?

-Mike
 
#459
MJ5150 said:
Yeah, yeah, yeah. That was awesome. I love how the cameras scanned the crowd everytime the Pen's scored and showed all the fans with these "what do we do now, we're supposed to be winning" looks on their faces. Sad thing is, I think the Flyers feel the same way. They don't have any answers, or skills to beat the Pens.

I saw some quick whistles in that game. I saw some shady calls on both side of the...puck...I guess you would say here? But it looked pretty even to me, and the commentators even acknowledged that the players better get a good understanding how the refs are calling the game tonight. In a series with so much contention and hate between the rivals, I think the refs do need to keep tight control on the game play. I'm used to seeing that in NFL and college football games.

It looks like we will be moving on the the Finals. So to Burk and the other Wing fans, or guys who know the Wings.....what is different about the Red Wings that should make me nervous? I can obviously tell they are an excellent team...but what separates them from Ottawa, the Rangers, and the Flyers?

-Mike
Click to expand...

The difference (hopefully) Is that they will destroy the Pens.

The Pens most notable attribute I've seen this series is their D and goal tending. I don't want to take away from their offense which seems to make something out of nothing every time. Surely they can force turnovers and create scoring chances and get goals, but their cohesion is good not great (unlike the Wings which is surreal) The Pen's D is Keeping the Flyers out of the slot and out from behind the goal line, where they like to work. They can't get any traffic in front of Fluery because the D won't even let them have the puck or get any momentum; even on the PP. When the do get in front of Fluery, they miss passes, shoot it wide, or give it right to him. When they get to the offensive blueline, they give it right back to the Pens (bad decision Downie, I still have faith in the young guy though. He knocked Laraque on his @$$)

They are essentially shutting down the offense of the Flyers which during the regular season (a lot different than the playoffs) had 7 20+ goal scorers (granted Prospal got most his goals with Tampa Bay). There is plenty of skill on The Flyers, but they aren't able to adjust to Pitt's defensive scheme. I think there is a lot of nervous players, and inexperience on the Flyers as well.

This is adversity and the Flyers are responding poorly, but it isn't helping that they have lost their 2 best defensemen. Timmo is arguably their best player and Coburn is really starting to come into his own and mature into a talented d-man. Those guys could usually recover for bad turnovers. Jones, Parent and Kukkonen are too inexperienced to be effective. I don't want to take anything away from their abilities, they just need to mature some more. I'm sure this playoff run will help with that. I love Hatcher to death but he is playing through a lot of pain in his ankle and knee. He is also 35 and played almost 30 minutes in game 2. He'll still take the body, and he is a smart experienced d-man, and a good leader, but he is getting too old, and he has to be one of the slowest skaters in the league

All and all if they loose, oh well. (there is still a slim doubtful chance). They made a wonderful turn around from last season, and this will be a good learning experience for the young guys like Carter, Richards, Jones, Parent, Downie (the last 3 all making playoff debuts). I think I'd be most disappointed for Biron. He waited a long time to see playoff action. Seems like he folded under the pressure of the conference finals.

Okay, that was my rant, now here is my 2 drachma on to your actual question. Whilst I've only seen highlight reel footage of Detroit, there seems to be something magical about the way the Wings have jelled. There seems to be a lot of chemistry on that team, and that is something I'm not seeing so much on the Pens.

Detroit plays a game of puck possession and seem to be able to get goals from anywhere of the ice. They pass quickly and crisply. Their passing percentage I'm betting is quite high.

The same can be said about faceoffs. Whilst I can't accurately comment on Detroit, I'm betting their FO % is good. It is often overlooked but faceoffs are hugely important. Faceoff wins lead to puck possession. Goals are often scored after a faceoff win. A problem the Flyers are having with the Pens is they lose too many defensive zone FO's.

Also health. With the exception of Franzen; Detroit is healthy (to my knowledge). Same with the Pens, Roberts was out tonight, but other than that Pittsburgh is healthy as well. Something the Flyers and the Avs did not experience these Playoffs.

To canopener. I'm not sure what Playoffs you're watching. Anti-Pittsburgh bias. I scoff at that. Perhaps Marcary and few of us don't like them cause of a certain diving, whining, over-hyped, sell-out, (I actually liked the pens when Jagr and Lemieux played) but the Pens are heavily favored in media coverage and heavily biased towards on the ice. Of course I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that Pittsburgh has the "next Gretzky" playing for them. (I never seen a whole lot of Gretzky in his younger days; was he a diver too?)
 

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