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The 2008 Stanley Cup Playoff Thread
- Thread starter hippiesandwich
- Start date
Pens, Meet Kromwell, and the Detroit D. No question in my mind Detroit has the best blue line in the game.
Det 4 Pens 0
Det 4 Pens 0
YOWCH! What a beat down. But that was only one game, and we had our chances.
First...this Kronwall guy does not impress me. Yeah great, you can leave your feet to hit people and knock them down, good for you. You can make big hits that get you on ESPN, good for you. Guys launching into punishing hits does not impress me one bit, sorry Nik.
Second.......Detroit is all over the ice. Some of those PP's we had did not even feel like PP's. They are definitely an excellent club, that has their game together. It was a treat to watch them play even though they beat my team. They are real, real good. If we keep our roster together, that could be the Pens in a couple years. Wow!
Third.....I did not realize the Osgood playing goal for Detroit is the same Chris Osgood I watched play for the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL back in the early 90's. I thought he was long gone from the league now. So that was very cool to see him in goal. I like him. Also, I forgot that Detroit has Zetterberg. He is one of my favorite players. So while I am true to my Pens, I will be happy for Chris and Henrik if they win the Cup.
Fourth.....we had chances to score in that game despite the excellent play from Detroit. Detroit was supposed to come out and do that tonight. Their experience had them far more ready for this game than we were. I know we'll calm down and play better Monday. This series is far from over.
-Mike
First...this Kronwall guy does not impress me. Yeah great, you can leave your feet to hit people and knock them down, good for you. You can make big hits that get you on ESPN, good for you. Guys launching into punishing hits does not impress me one bit, sorry Nik.
Second.......Detroit is all over the ice. Some of those PP's we had did not even feel like PP's. They are definitely an excellent club, that has their game together. It was a treat to watch them play even though they beat my team. They are real, real good. If we keep our roster together, that could be the Pens in a couple years. Wow!
Third.....I did not realize the Osgood playing goal for Detroit is the same Chris Osgood I watched play for the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL back in the early 90's. I thought he was long gone from the league now. So that was very cool to see him in goal. I like him. Also, I forgot that Detroit has Zetterberg. He is one of my favorite players. So while I am true to my Pens, I will be happy for Chris and Henrik if they win the Cup.
Fourth.....we had chances to score in that game despite the excellent play from Detroit. Detroit was supposed to come out and do that tonight. Their experience had them far more ready for this game than we were. I know we'll calm down and play better Monday. This series is far from over.
-Mike
Osgood came up big in the first period and after that the Wings took control of the game. Every time a Pens player turned around, there was a Detroit player yanking on his jock. Malkin gave new meaning to not showing up for a big game. Ruutu is a gutless puke and deserves a puck in the face. Nice to see the refs blow another call with Holmstrom....pathetic. Detroit has faster and more mobile D and the team looked focused and patient. Go Wings!
remember, Pens are 10-0 when they score first... when the refs pulled back that first goal by Lidstrom I was like, here we go again, no way was that even close to interference, Babcock was incensed, and still mad in the post game interview that no explanation was given.
Then experience kicked in... 3 shots in the 2nd and 4 shots in the 4th (or close to that), that ain't gonna win games against Detroit. Pittsburgh's bursts of speed that usually confuse defensemen, looked absolutely lame tonight. You could tell Detroit had watched video on the Pens offense probably since they went 3 up on Dallas... they penned in Staal and Hossa, kept Malkin to the outside and beat up Sykora and Crosby.
Another classy game by Ruutu... Fleury, one of the lesser talents on Pitts, kept them in the game. All of the Pens physicality was half a step behind, they beat up Detroit's glass pretty badly.
I have a Gretzky video where he tells a story about how the Oilers lost to the Islanders in a series, and while the Islanders were too beaten up, haggard, toothless and bloody to celebrate, the Oilers had hardly a scratch on them. He said it was at that moment he realized what it would actually take to win a cup. The Pitts are wrong if they think they are gonna win a cup and stay pretty...
Then experience kicked in... 3 shots in the 2nd and 4 shots in the 4th (or close to that), that ain't gonna win games against Detroit. Pittsburgh's bursts of speed that usually confuse defensemen, looked absolutely lame tonight. You could tell Detroit had watched video on the Pens offense probably since they went 3 up on Dallas... they penned in Staal and Hossa, kept Malkin to the outside and beat up Sykora and Crosby.
Another classy game by Ruutu... Fleury, one of the lesser talents on Pitts, kept them in the game. All of the Pens physicality was half a step behind, they beat up Detroit's glass pretty badly.
I have a Gretzky video where he tells a story about how the Oilers lost to the Islanders in a series, and while the Islanders were too beaten up, haggard, toothless and bloody to celebrate, the Oilers had hardly a scratch on them. He said it was at that moment he realized what it would actually take to win a cup. The Pitts are wrong if they think they are gonna win a cup and stay pretty...
Well, it was a great first game for the Wings. Fleury looked pretty nervous yesterday in the Media Availability conferences, and tripped on his way to the ice to start the game. After tonight's game, it'll be interesting to see how he responds.
I thought the Wings played great. I'm aggravated about the call on the no-goal, but it turns out we didn't need it. While I expect a better game 2 from the Pens, I do think tonight showed us what this series could be all about. The Wings showed up, played their game, and completely shut down the Pens.
It was great to see Cleary net a huge goal (shorthanded) on the Pens. His confidence has been hurting, but today was his first game without the football-style facemask, and it had to have done wonders for him to score. He's been one of my favorite players for the past two years. Zetterberg with the powerplay at the end just sealed the deal.
Keep in mind, Franzen may well be cleared to play in Game 2, so the Wings were without one of their top players for this one. It ought to be interesting to see how the Pens match up with another guy who's perfectly capable of putting the puck in the net.
The only other thing that leapt out at me was that Ruutu got away with one on his swing at Samuelsson, and Crosby pretty much got away with his hit on Stuart. The referees certainly gave Pittsburgh a chance, and they failed to convert. Will they step it up a notch in Game 2? I believe they will. If the Pens go down by two games, especially after this outing, it'll have to be one heck of a road to a comeback, if they can muster it.
I thought the Wings played great. I'm aggravated about the call on the no-goal, but it turns out we didn't need it. While I expect a better game 2 from the Pens, I do think tonight showed us what this series could be all about. The Wings showed up, played their game, and completely shut down the Pens.
It was great to see Cleary net a huge goal (shorthanded) on the Pens. His confidence has been hurting, but today was his first game without the football-style facemask, and it had to have done wonders for him to score. He's been one of my favorite players for the past two years. Zetterberg with the powerplay at the end just sealed the deal.
Keep in mind, Franzen may well be cleared to play in Game 2, so the Wings were without one of their top players for this one. It ought to be interesting to see how the Pens match up with another guy who's perfectly capable of putting the puck in the net.
The only other thing that leapt out at me was that Ruutu got away with one on his swing at Samuelsson, and Crosby pretty much got away with his hit on Stuart. The referees certainly gave Pittsburgh a chance, and they failed to convert. Will they step it up a notch in Game 2? I believe they will. If the Pens go down by two games, especially after this outing, it'll have to be one heck of a road to a comeback, if they can muster it.
Holmstrom has had that same goalie interference penalty called on him six times during the regular season, and already once in the playoffs. His stick was in Fleury's legs while Fleury was in the crease, but definitley a controversial call. How does Babcocks' reaction matter here? Of course he is incensed, do you expect differently? Part of his job is to protect and support his players. On any controversial call, he is going to get bent out of shape and ride the refs. Does Babcocks reaction prove the call really was wrong?
I do agree with you comment about us being one step behind. I made that comment out loud to myself a couple times during the game. Funny comment on the glass being beaten up good, it's true. I think the lame attempts from the Senators, Rangers, and Flyers to intimidate the Pens may have lulled them into complacency, and a sense of being invincible perhaps. Just my opinion. Their inexperience showed up tonight.
We'll get more than 19 shots on goal against the RW's on Monday. Osgood won't stop all 36 either. Our youth and lack of experience cost us tonight, but I believe our youth will come to be an advantage as the series rolls on. Detroit is old, and once we figure out how to break down that defense with our speed, we'll get our shots on goal. I wonder if they are really going to put Chelios out there?
-Mike
I don't know... the knock on Detroit for the past few years is that they're "old," "soft," and "slow." None of those things have proven to be true for the last two years.
Well, it's been six years since they have been to the Stanley Cup Finals. So they must tire out in the playoffs? I honestly have not paid enough attention to Detroit in recent years, but I know they are good and usually are.
Besides, calling them old is the only thing I got after the beat down we got from them tonight.
-Mike
Besides, calling them old is the only thing I got after the beat down we got from them tonight.
-Mike
Understood.
My grandmother (who's lived in Pittsburgh her entire life) called to tell me that the Wings were going to lose before the game, and that if we, somehow, managed to win, I was disowned from the family. ... I love that sort of passion for the sport.
Yup, butt kicking.
The pens have to start to adapt and play a little dump and chase to back up that D.... Malone (who I though played a good game) was the only guy I saw do it,once the whole game. I'm sure they did it more than that, I just didn't see it and I was looking.
They also HAVE to play more physical they gotta come out knocking heads, big time.
Aj
The pens have to start to adapt and play a little dump and chase to back up that D.... Malone (who I though played a good game) was the only guy I saw do it,once the whole game. I'm sure they did it more than that, I just didn't see it and I was looking.
They also HAVE to play more physical they gotta come out knocking heads, big time.
Aj
How do calls on Holmstrom in the regular season, affect this bad call? Controversial? Hardly. It was a bad call. The rule is goalie interference. Please enlighten me how he was interfered with. There is no rule that says you can't put your stick between a players legs, unless you tin can them, or in the case of the goalie, interfere with them in doing their job. So again, show me where Fleury was prevented in doing his job? Babcock's reaction is something I wish I'd seen earlier from Pens opposition coaches and sets tone. And for what it's worth, he's a 2nd time cup competing coach, at home in game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals, the guy is due an explanation. That's why it matters here.
I'm still trying to figure out where you think the Rangers and Senators tried to intimidate the Pens offense. The Rangers do not have a physical defenceman and don't get hard checking from their forwards either. Senators do have these guys but couldn't afford more injuries. Flyers maybe, but to say the Sens and Rangers tried to intimidate the Pens is delusional, they couldn't, even if they wanted to.
Detroit old? Not really. I'd put the fitness, along with the guts and heart of Draper, Holms, Lidstom, Maltby, Chelli, up against the youth of any 24 year old first timer. Long way to go, but you have to realize that Pens speed is exceptional in the East. Buffalo, Hurricanes, Lightning etc, have had speed in the past and continue to develop that part of the game, but in the West, high speed and skill, along with physicality, have been the mantra for over a decade. It's something that Detroit's defense is more than familiar with, along with their excellent back checking forwards, which was way evident last night. Not saying that Pens can't find a way, especially at home, but like I said, to do it, they're gonna have to get ugly.
And yes, as predicted, Fleury was weak, yet did keep your boys in it, in the second especially.
Hey look, another goal called back for absoultly no reason.
If anyone thinks that was actually goalie interference, then the league should have called back about 60% of every goal scored by every team this entire season. What a joke. I know Gary Bettman doesn't like Mike Illitch and Chris Chelios, but this is just pathetic.
If anyone thinks that was actually goalie interference, then the league should have called back about 60% of every goal scored by every team this entire season. What a joke. I know Gary Bettman doesn't like Mike Illitch and Chris Chelios, but this is just pathetic.
Well, I am still learning the game, so give me a break here. I noticed that the Rangers did try to intimidate the Pens, maybe not so much the Senators. They aren't really all that pysical of a team.
Until I watch the game for a few more years, I have to trust the commentators on VS, CBUT, or ESPN to help me along in the games. It looked to me like a few of the Rangers players were trying to intimidate the younger Pens players. Not that the Rangers are all that old though.
-Mike
I loved it when Chelli, a few years ago, talked about putting a hit out on Bettman...Classic!
OK, question guys. Help me out here. I pulled this sentence out of an article I am reading about game one over at ESPN.com...."The Red Wings will still have the last line change playing at home in Game 2...."
What's that all about? I thought you could change lines whenever you want in a game? Is there a limit to the amount of line changes and when you do them? Also, if I pick players A, B, and C to be line #1 before the game, do they have to stay that way? I thought I remember Therrien mixing up the lines late in game one?
-Mike
What's that all about? I thought you could change lines whenever you want in a game? Is there a limit to the amount of line changes and when you do them? Also, if I pick players A, B, and C to be line #1 before the game, do they have to stay that way? I thought I remember Therrien mixing up the lines late in game one?
-Mike
It means for a face off....... Stop play.
The home team has the right to watch what line the visitors send out and choose whom to play against them, The visitors are not then aloud to switch.
As soon as the play starts your free to change when ever you want.
Aj
The home team has the right to watch what line the visitors send out and choose whom to play against them, The visitors are not then aloud to switch.
As soon as the play starts your free to change when ever you want.
Aj
regarding home team changes, as above, unless it's an icing, then the team that commited the icing cannot change, opposition can. Also, in an attempt to speed up the game, I believe the NHL adopted a rule a few years back that teams should complete non TV timeout, pre face off line changes in 15 seconds. I'm not sure because it's hardly enforced, I've personally only seen a drop of the puck one time when a team had not completed it's change. The linesman dropped the puck to one guy. Quite amusing.
OK, so during game play you can change lines as much as you want. Just make sure you don't get caught in a switch like the Pens did when Samuelsson scored his first goal! 
It is just during a stop in play that the home team has an advantage in line changes since they go second. Wow, I can see that being an advantage for sure.
-Mike
It is just during a stop in play that the home team has an advantage in line changes since they go second. Wow, I can see that being an advantage for sure.
-Mike
