First, to the Pens fans here, thanks for keeping it classy, it was a pleasure to discuss the game and have it actually be enjoyable and not a flamefest like happens in so many other places. MJ5150, you're a credit to Pens fans, and it was great to chat with you. For the other Wings fans, I hope you enjoyed the season as much as I did. The chocolatier in town is going to make a replica Stanley Cup for a party I'm having after the last day of school and I'll post a pic of it.
The game: Wings killing an early 5 on 3 was huge. The Wings popping the early goal to get the lead was key, going up 2-0 was bigger. The trickle-in goal, while unfortunate for Fleury was, in some ways to me, not unexpected. Fleury played a HUGE game in game 5, and the Wings were due to get a break with an ugly goal, especially considering the own-goal by Kronwall. Sometimes the ugly goals even out over time, if not necessarily in the same series. My mother called me about it and was razzing me about it (my Dad is a HUGE Flyers fan and he was a bit bitter, plus he loves to bust my nards about hockey when he can).
The second Pens goal as mentioned... the stick being slashed out of Lilja's hand should have been a penalty, effectively it was a 5 on 3. Admittedly, my first response when I saw the stick fly and didn't notice the slash was one of my typical $#*@%&# Lilja outbursts since he's prone to inopportune screwups. When I saw the slash, I just turned to my wife and she said "That should have been a penalty, shouldn't it?" She's picked up a lot this year.
The end of the game. Gee, is Hossa a UFA or what? He really brought it this playoff season, and is going to get paid and paid well come July 1. The last second drama was fitting, though Datsyuk was blatantly hauled down and it should have been called so it wouldn't have mattered anyway. That said, I'm glad it wasn't and no goal was scored so it was decided by the players. This Pens team had a great never say die attitude. IF (and it's a big IF with the salary cap) this Pens team can stay together, they will be dominating the East for a few years. I stand by my comparison to the 1983 Oilers even more now. One difference: The 1983 Oilers needed 4 Finals losses to figure it out. The 2008 Pens got it after 2. If they stay together, they have the potential for a dynasty in the East. Though the Wings have the same potential in the West. Personally, I'd be more than up for a rematch next year (and 2010, 2011, etc...).
It sounded like there was a "Crosby" chant when Hank was awarded the Conn Smythe. Low class by the fans in the arena, but not unexpected. I completely agree with supporting your own hometown heroes, but have some respect for the champs (and yes, I'd have said the same thing if it was in Detroit and Crosby won it and Wings fans started a chant in the Joe... oh wait, they wouldn't
). Sid had a heck of a season, and a great playoffs. IMHO, Fleury was the most valuable player for the Pens during the playoffs. Seeing Lidstrom get the Cup was just a great thing - the guy has always been a class act, and this was evidenced by his handing the Cup off to Dallas Drake. 1009 regular season games over 16 seasons, and the guy gave his body every night for the good of the team, whether it was a preseason, regular season, or playoff game. I've got a feeling he's going to retire on top and enjoy a well deserved rest.
As far as the coverage... the coverage on VS. was terrible. The loss of Bill Clement in the studio was huge. While I don't know the particulars of his departure, I can't help but think the low quality had a big reason for his going. The bias of the coverage towards Pittsburgh (no Joe-Vision, no bar shots compared to what was shown in Pittsburgh), was a bit less than cool in my book. Compare that to what CBC did with the Dan Cleary angle (1st Newfoundlander to win the Cup) as well as the every Pens check was a "great hit" and every Wings hit should have been a penalty comments from most of the NBC announcers (though Maguire did accurately call the Stuart hit clean). Milbury annoyed me long before VS. entered the picture, and Maguire is hit and miss. The other guy they had was, imho one of the worst hockey announcers I've seen.
Overall, this series tightened up a LOT more than people expected after the 1st two games, and I give the Pens a lot of credit for that. Wings win in six (hrm... sounds familiar ) but it was a closer six than expected after the first two games. Hopefully it'll springboard hockey to bigger and better things as far as broadcasting. Hrm... maybe VS. should hire the talkbass hockey crew to do commentary -it'd be a huge improvement over what they have now 
The game: Wings killing an early 5 on 3 was huge. The Wings popping the early goal to get the lead was key, going up 2-0 was bigger. The trickle-in goal, while unfortunate for Fleury was, in some ways to me, not unexpected. Fleury played a HUGE game in game 5, and the Wings were due to get a break with an ugly goal, especially considering the own-goal by Kronwall. Sometimes the ugly goals even out over time, if not necessarily in the same series. My mother called me about it and was razzing me about it (my Dad is a HUGE Flyers fan and he was a bit bitter, plus he loves to bust my nards about hockey when he can).
The second Pens goal as mentioned... the stick being slashed out of Lilja's hand should have been a penalty, effectively it was a 5 on 3. Admittedly, my first response when I saw the stick fly and didn't notice the slash was one of my typical $#*@%&# Lilja outbursts since he's prone to inopportune screwups. When I saw the slash, I just turned to my wife and she said "That should have been a penalty, shouldn't it?" She's picked up a lot this year.
The end of the game. Gee, is Hossa a UFA or what? He really brought it this playoff season, and is going to get paid and paid well come July 1. The last second drama was fitting, though Datsyuk was blatantly hauled down and it should have been called so it wouldn't have mattered anyway. That said, I'm glad it wasn't and no goal was scored so it was decided by the players. This Pens team had a great never say die attitude. IF (and it's a big IF with the salary cap) this Pens team can stay together, they will be dominating the East for a few years. I stand by my comparison to the 1983 Oilers even more now. One difference: The 1983 Oilers needed 4 Finals losses to figure it out. The 2008 Pens got it after 2. If they stay together, they have the potential for a dynasty in the East. Though the Wings have the same potential in the West. Personally, I'd be more than up for a rematch next year (and 2010, 2011, etc...).
It sounded like there was a "Crosby" chant when Hank was awarded the Conn Smythe. Low class by the fans in the arena, but not unexpected. I completely agree with supporting your own hometown heroes, but have some respect for the champs (and yes, I'd have said the same thing if it was in Detroit and Crosby won it and Wings fans started a chant in the Joe... oh wait, they wouldn't
). Sid had a heck of a season, and a great playoffs. IMHO, Fleury was the most valuable player for the Pens during the playoffs. Seeing Lidstrom get the Cup was just a great thing - the guy has always been a class act, and this was evidenced by his handing the Cup off to Dallas Drake. 1009 regular season games over 16 seasons, and the guy gave his body every night for the good of the team, whether it was a preseason, regular season, or playoff game. I've got a feeling he's going to retire on top and enjoy a well deserved rest.As far as the coverage... the coverage on VS. was terrible. The loss of Bill Clement in the studio was huge. While I don't know the particulars of his departure, I can't help but think the low quality had a big reason for his going. The bias of the coverage towards Pittsburgh (no Joe-Vision, no bar shots compared to what was shown in Pittsburgh), was a bit less than cool in my book. Compare that to what CBC did with the Dan Cleary angle (1st Newfoundlander to win the Cup) as well as the every Pens check was a "great hit" and every Wings hit should have been a penalty comments from most of the NBC announcers (though Maguire did accurately call the Stuart hit clean). Milbury annoyed me long before VS. entered the picture, and Maguire is hit and miss. The other guy they had was, imho one of the worst hockey announcers I've seen.
Overall, this series tightened up a LOT more than people expected after the 1st two games, and I give the Pens a lot of credit for that. Wings win in six (hrm... sounds familiar
) but it was a closer six than expected after the first two games. Hopefully it'll springboard hockey to bigger and better things as far as broadcasting. Hrm... maybe VS. should hire the talkbass hockey crew to do commentary -it'd be a huge improvement over what they have now 
).
