The 2008 Stanley Cup Playoff Thread

[burk48237]

One other thing, Sydney Crosby is very good, BUT until he becomes a two way player he is not a superstar. Zetterbergs work on the 5 on 3 is exhibit A. Right now Datsuk and Zetterberg have out played Malkin and Crosby by a wide margin. But if your "game changers" can't play on the penalty kill, your going to have a tough time winning cups with them.

 

[marcray]

Crosby's jawwing is reaching new heights at this point. What is the deal with Evgeni Malkin? He has to be hurt. He is not even breaking a sweat out there. Completely pointless, Therrien is giving him chance after chance to go out there and earn it, and he's skating away from plays. He's the first guy on his line back to the bench. What is the deal?

Defense and goalies for both teams were phenomenal tonight, could have gone either way, although I'd say Wings had an edge in possession. Wings 3-1 up going home... sweet deal, hope it happens.

 

[burk48237]

Crosby's jawwing is reaching new heights at this point. What is the deal with Evgeni Malkin? He has to be hurt. He is not even breaking a sweat out there. Completely pointless, Therrien is giving him chance after chance to go out there and earn it, and he's skating away from plays. He's the first guy on his line back to the bench. What is the deal?

Defense and goalies for both teams were phenomenal tonight, could have gone either way, although I'd say Wings had an edge in possession. Wings 3-1 up going home... sweet deal, hope it happens.

Yeah, Crosby had some pretty curious comments after the game. Especially his comments about Zetterberg. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt since it wasn't the deciding game and he wants to keep the Pens end up. Perhaps he feels that admitting the other side made a great play is not a good thing during the series. If he's talking this way after the series (Monday Night) he's an immature putz, plain and simple.

As far as Malkin, he's not the first soft Russian who looked "lost" on the ice during a Stanley Cup Final. I recall Both Federov and Koslov skating fairly aimlessly in that series sweep for New Jersey. Until Scotty Bowman was able to convince them to play defense (never did work with Koslov-he retired as a soft Russian) they couldn't take the big step. The Pens won a weak east, While the Wings playoff draw kept them from playing San Jose, Calgary, and Minn, they still had to beat those teams out during the regular season. And they played them last year in the Playoffs, I still contend the Wings would have been here last year had it not been for the injuries to Kromwell, and Schnieder. The West just plays much more physically especially on the defensive end.

As far as the future and the comparisons between the Islanders and the Oilers. This is a different NHL, the Salary cap makes it much harder to keep "superstars" and all of those top draft picks are looking for big payoffs. IF the Pens can keep it together, improve their coaching (I'm sorry Michelle is a wimp), learn to backcheck, and Crosby and Malkin can become two way players the future is bright in Pittsburgh, but those are a lot of "ifs". Actually the Wings may be much better set up for the future then the Pens. Datsuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, Huddler, Cleary, Kromwell, and Samualson are just entering their prime and under contract. And they've got more then just a few hot shots still coming in the "Swedish Pipeline". The next few years will be fun, but I suspect Detroit will be having a parade next week regardless.

 

[JimK]

According to ESPN, Holmstrom is a game time decision. If he is out, I hope Therrien does the right thing and leaves Gill out of the lineup too. He shouldn't be on the ice either if he hurt someone else to the point that they can not play.

Huh? I did not see the play in-question. That said-
If the League didn't suspend Gill...why should he NOT be available?
C'mon, that's just the nature of a contact sport.

 

[JimK]

What is the deal with Evgeni Malkin? He has to be hurt. He is not even breaking a sweat out there. Completely pointless, Therrien is giving him chance after chance to go out there and earn it, and he's skating away from plays. He's the first guy on his line back to the bench. What is the deal?

Don Cherry was rippin' away at Malkin, too.

 

[JimK]

Let's cut the BS. The WNBA, in the US, is creeping up in viewership on the Stanley Cup Finals. In New York, home of many possible casual hockey fans, this past week, Ice Hockey on a national network was beaten by a WNBA game.

That is bad news, and is a clear view on the state of affairs at the NHL.

I have always drawn a parallel between hockey & Jazz. Both are unfamilar to the masses & it takes a bit of effort to get into them...and a certain amount of humility to admit you may be clueless & need to learn something new, blahblah.
So, both are kinda for the few.

 

[marcray]

Yeah, Crosby had some pretty curious comments after the game. Especially his comments about Zetterberg. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt since it wasn't the deciding game and he wants to keep the Pens end up. Perhaps he feels that admitting the other side made a great play is not a good thing during the series. If he's talking this way after the series (Monday Night) he's an immature putz, plain and simple.

As far as Malkin, he's not the first soft Russian who looked "lost" on the ice during a Stanley Cup Final. I recall Both Federov and Koslov skating fairly aimlessly in that series sweep for New Jersey. Until Scotty Bowman was able to convince them to play defense (never did work with Koslov-he retired as a soft Russian) they couldn't take the big step. The Pens won a weak east, While the Wings playoff draw kept them from playing San Jose, Calgary, and Minn, they still had to beat those teams out during the regular season. And they played them last year in the Playoffs, I still contend the Wings would have been here last year had it not been for the injuries to Kromwell, and Schnieder. The West just plays much more physically especially on the defensive end.

As far as the future and the comparisons between the Islanders and the Oilers. This is a different NHL, the Salary cap makes it much harder to keep "superstars" and all of those top draft picks are looking for big payoffs. IF the Pens can keep it together, improve their coaching (I'm sorry Michelle is a wimp), learn to backcheck, and Crosby and Malkin can become two way players the future is bright in Pittsburgh, but those are a lot of "ifs". Actually the Wings may be much better set up for the future then the Pens. Datsuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, Huddler, Cleary, Kromwell, and Samualson are just entering their prime and under contract. And they've got more then just a few hot shots still coming in the "Swedish Pipeline". The next few years will be fun, but I suspect Detroit will be having a parade next week regardless.

I appreciate Crosby's press conferences, I find them typical captain routines. He is very diplomatic. But his constant on ice conversations with refs, his jawwing at Zetterberg after the end whistle, was tacky.

I don't believe that being Russian has anything to do with it , but as a Ranger fan Kovalev was always that huge under-achiever. Some guys just fail to show up at the end of the year, and some other guys come alive. It's hard to understand, but the comments on Malkin from his team mates and press who were in the locker room after the game, are pretty sad. Personally, I think he's hurt.

Wings look great, their regular season numbers are insane, but I think the Pitts are gonna be fine. I don't think we're gonna see another Oilers, but they'll compete for years to come. Hopefully Crosby will mature and become the role model the league needs, not what he think his press kit demands.

You think Therriens a wimp? You should check out Tom Renney...

I'm glad the series is going well for Samuelsson, ex-Ranger so I'm routing for him. He seems to be gaining some respect, if but a little, with Wings fans (?) and it should give him a confidence lift for his future.

Monday night, looking forward to it!!!

 

[rjny36]

The 5-on-3 penalty kill, and specifically Zetterberg's play, was a thing of absolute beauty. There are scarcely words to describe a situation where 3 guys hold 5 to zero shots on goal, and manages to get a breakaway towards the 5's goal, take a shot, AND retrieve the rebound.

Orpik had a nice shift the other day, hitting people and such, but that was truly one of the greatest defensive masterpieces I have ever witnessed. Pittsburgh fans have "The Shift," and Detroit now has "The Kill."

Lots of Wings fans are wondering how it might have gone had Therien not taken a timeout that helped rest our Iron 3. Either way, it was a fantastic PK.

 

[kserg]

I recall Both Federov and Koslov skating fairly aimlessly in that series sweep for New Jersey. Until Scotty Bowman was able to convince them to play defense (never did work with Koslov-he retired as a soft Russian) they couldn't take the big step.

HUH? Which Kazlov are you talking about? Slava? If so, did you miss '97 playoffs? And retired???? Really? Well, I guess that's what it's called when you get traded to Thrashers. Or are you talking about Viktor?

 

[mobax]

HUH? Which Kazlov are you talking about? Slava? If so, did you miss '97 playoffs? And retired???? Really? Well, I guess that's what it's called when you get traded to Thrashers. Or are you talking about Viktor?

Viktor did not play for the Wings. Slava was something of a defensive liability but had goods hands and worked well with the Russian 5 unit. I don't believe that Slava is retired.

 

[kserg]

Viktor did not play for the Wings. Slava was something of a defensive liability but had goods hands and worked well with the Russian 5 unit. I don't believe that Slava is retired.

I know he didn't, but he still could have been talking about him. It would make sense because Viktor was never on a winning team, however, Slava was...

Neither one of them are retired, Hence my confusion with those comments. And his Federov comments i really don't understand. It seems like he missed 97 playoffs completely. Federov was game winning goal leader in those...

 

[burk48237]

Viktor did not play for the Wings. Slava was something of a defensive liability but had goods hands and worked well with the Russian 5 unit. I don't believe that Slava is retired.

It was Slava, and in the 95 playoffs he was a non factor because of his softness. He was always a liability defensively, but the Wings solved the problem with the Left Wing lock. He had great hands but didn't win enough playoff battles in the corner, He would have been a superstar had he worked on D. He is largely the reason the Wings felt they had to go out and get Shanahan (a true power forward). He never fully bought into Scotty's system, but enough of the other guys did (Federov and Yzerman especially) to bring the cup here. I didn't realize he was still in the game. Man, I still miss Konstentinov.

 

[mobax]

... Man, I still miss Konstentinov.

I with you on that. I saw a picture of him exiting the court house about a week ago and it was one of the saddest things I've seen. He looks 80 years old.

 

[kserg]

Man, I still miss Konstentinov.

Big times, such an awesome player and individual.

 

[Bad Brains]

I guess tommorow might be the final chapter of the Sydney Crosby story (featuring game 5).

If the Wings do end up winning the cup, the networks might skip showing the celebration on the ice and replace it with footage of Crosby packing his equiptment in the locker room.

Remember guys, the Red Wings aren't winning, Crosby is just losing.......

 

[Bad Brains]

Man, I still miss Konstentinov.

Konsteninov was a beast. HE was perhaps the best player in the world at the time of his crash.

 

[kserg]

I guess tommorow might be the final chapter of the Sydney Crosby story (featuring game 5).

If the Wings do end up winning the cup, the networks might skip showing the celebration on the ice and replace it with footage of Crosby packing his equiptment in the locker room.

Remember guys, the Red Wings aren't winning, Crosby is just losing.......

I gotta ask, the hate for Crosby is just because he is a diver? Or he is an all around ahole or something? Being in the west, i don't see much of him, so i was just wondering.

 

[heroincredible]

Don Cherry was rippin' away at Malkin, too.

Clearly you are not familiar with Don Cherry, as he usually rips away at everyone who isn't a Canadian, even if they play well.

I gotta ask, the hate for Crosby is just because he is a diver? Or he is an all around ahole or something? Being in the west, i don't see much of him, so i was just wondering.

Personally, I hate Crosby because he's a diver and a whiner, and seems to be a princess/diva. There was an incident a couple of years ago where his jersey was stolen after winning the World Junior's. I seem to recall Crosby crying and there was a big fuss over the whole thing because poor Cindy lost her jersey.

 

[warwick.hoy]

I seem to recall Crosby crying and there was a big fuss over the whole thing because poor Cindy lost her jersey.

LnotOL

 

[lowendmafia]

I used to hate watching hockey on TV because I could never tell where the puck was or what the hell was going on. However, I just got a new HDTV and all the HD channels. I watched the game last night and I couldn't turn away, it was intense. I think that I am now a Hockey fan. Thank you HD gods!