This is the first year that I've gotten to watch a full regular season and a good bit of the playoffs. I've seen good portions of Flyer's seasons when I lived in Pottstown PA in '00-'01, and have tried to watch any game I could on VS. This season I picked up Center Ice since I decided there wasn't nearly enough hockey in my life. Take my commentary with a grain of salt.
In depth analysis? Crosby gets high marks for the Springboard Event. He is a bit of a whiner too especially when his team isn't winning. Get over it loosing is part of the game. This is something I hope he grows out of because he is an extremely gifted hockey player, but lacks a lot of credibility amongst fans. (Somebody tell me, was the same true of Gretzky?) Something tells me the league will stop at nothing to see their poster boy hoist the cup.
With that out of the way, here is what I saw during the Philly/Pitts Series.
Pittsburgh had composure even during Game 4 when it looked liked they didn't. They capitalized on mistakes made the Flyers made in their own end. Pittsburgh's D is very underrated, but the system they employ seems to be a 1-2-2 neutral zone trap (grrr). It worked and it kept the Flyers off the scoreboard for the most part.
Pittsburgh puts pucks on net. Most of the goals that they scored on Biron were fluky odd bounce, of the shin/skate, redirection type goals, but thats what happens when you put pucks on net.
I'm not too familiar with the Wings, but I'd say that if they keep their passing game going like I know they can they will beat the trap. Then its just a matter of getting deep and putting it on net.
In depth analysis? Crosby gets high marks for the Springboard Event. He is a bit of a whiner too especially when his team isn't winning. Get over it loosing is part of the game. This is something I hope he grows out of because he is an extremely gifted hockey player, but lacks a lot of credibility amongst fans. (Somebody tell me, was the same true of Gretzky?) Something tells me the league will stop at nothing to see their poster boy hoist the cup.
With that out of the way, here is what I saw during the Philly/Pitts Series.
Pittsburgh had composure even during Game 4 when it looked liked they didn't. They capitalized on mistakes made the Flyers made in their own end. Pittsburgh's D is very underrated, but the system they employ seems to be a 1-2-2 neutral zone trap (grrr). It worked and it kept the Flyers off the scoreboard for the most part.
Pittsburgh puts pucks on net. Most of the goals that they scored on Biron were fluky odd bounce, of the shin/skate, redirection type goals, but thats what happens when you put pucks on net.
I'm not too familiar with the Wings, but I'd say that if they keep their passing game going like I know they can they will beat the trap. Then its just a matter of getting deep and putting it on net.
