Detroit's defense isn't what it was last year (especially with Lidstrom hurting and Chelios old). Pittsburgh has had a year to mature and to reflect on how they got schooled last year. And maybe I haven't seen enough of Detroit's playoff games, but Osgood has not impressed me as much as he's impressed others.
I'm calling Pittsburgh in 6, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them win in 5. It'll be like Edmonton's second stab at the Islanders in 1984.
Hey Cindy, you whiny little girl: No need to stick Maltby just because you lost. Try that again after game 2 and see if you live long enough to run away like a little bitch like you did tonight.
Originally posted by Reverend J ShaftHey Cindy, you whiny little girl: No need to stick Maltby just because you lost. Try that again after game 2 and see if you live long enough to run away like a little bitch like you did tonight.
Detroit's go-ahead goal last night was completely inexcusable. THREE Penguins AND Fleury are all over the net and NOT ONE OF THEM IS LOOKING AT THE PUCK.
I actually think the reffing thus far has been outstanding. Very few penalty calls other than obvious ones and it allows both teams to do a lot more hitting. Makes for a much more enjoyable series.
My problem with people bitching about the six men on the ice, the Pens didn't score! They only kept the puck back the Red Wing's side for 21 seconds. I know it should be a penalty, but it really is nothing compared to the shit Detroit got away with the way they scored goals or stop goals being scored against.
Tomorrow has now become the must win game for the Pens.
Haha, yeah. Take a drink every time Olczyk talks about "that subtle interference that Detroit is so good at getting away with." Chug when Zets covers the puck in the crease.
Tomorrow has now become the must win game for the Pens.
Totally. Tomorrow is the chance to reverse history from last year. Either it's a rerun or we write a new story.
Originally posted by JustinShapiroHaha, yeah. Take a drink every time Olczyk talks about "that subtle interference that Detroit is so good at getting away with." Chug when Zets covers the puck in the crease.
Tomorrow has now become the must win game for the Pens.
Totally. Tomorrow is the chance to reverse history from last year. Either it's a rerun or we write a new story.
Hey! Didja know Edzo got fired from the Penguins once? Didja know he's still bitter? Didja know every time a Penguin touches someone, Edzo's going to call it a crosscheck?
Oi.
And yes, tomorrow basically is where everything is on the line. Does Sid have it in him to will this team past the Detroit Juggernaut?
Will Bylsma throw Mike Zigomanis (who has just been cleared to return) in on the 4th line to take key faceoffs, planting Pascal Dupuis back in the press box?
Can the Penguins reverse fate and piss off 95% of the hockey universe?
Originally posted by lotjxMy problem with people bitching about the six men on the ice, the Pens didn't score! They only kept the puck back the Red Wing's side for 21 seconds. I know it should be a penalty, but it really is nothing compared to the shit Detroit got away with the way they scored goals or stop goals being scored against.
Originally posted by Justin ShapiroHaha, yeah. Take a drink every time Olczyk talks about "that subtle interference that Detroit is so good at getting away with." Chug when Zets covers the puck in the crease.
Hey, here's a novel idea: Why doesn't EVERYONE quit bitching about the reffing? It goes both ways - always has, always will. Seriously, Justin, for someone who did the eye rolling about a reffing conspiracy against the Wings, you sure whine about it going the other way.
Seriously, Justin, for someone who did the eye rolling about a reffing conspiracy against the Wings, you sure whine about it going the other way.
No. Well, in the moment, probably, because I think the natural emotional reaction is to side with your players. But really, no. I think blaming the referees outright is a loser refrain. Bounces and breaks tend to even themselves out over a series, and I think the biggest reason the Penguins are down has been the saves that Osgood has made. I thought we were just joking about the 6-on-5, just havin' a laugh.
With "Take a drink every time Olczyk talks about 'that subtle interference that Detroit is so good at getting away with.' Chug when Zets covers the puck in the crease," the true essence of my incredible joke was that 1) Edzo really does say that approximately once a period, and 2) the Zetterberg thing was a unique situation that happened twice in two games.
So much funnier now, I know.
Why doesn't EVERYONE quit bitching about the reffing?
If the officiating has been bad, it should be acknowledged. This is a product that the NHL was desperate to rush onto NBC. It's embarrassing for the league when the announcer on the broadcast of the biggest stage in the sport can't hide his bewilderment at a badly botched, glaringly obvious extended Too Many Men. And it's embarrassing when replays are showing so many basketball picks and jersey tugs that "subtle interference" has become a catchphrase.
Originally posted by JustinShapiroAnd it's embarrassing when replays are showing so many basketball picks and jersey tugs that "subtle interference" has become a catchphrase.
But would you want to watch a hockey game where interference is actually called every time it happens? I wouldn't. In fact, didn't the NHL try to change its rules by calling more of the clutching and grabbing after New Jersey was stifling offenses with its neutral zone trap? Doesn't really seem to have worked all that well.
I'd just prefer the refs call the more blatant penalties and the announcers just leave the penalty calling to them.
That, and I secretly hope Pierre McGuire gets hit in the face with an errant puck while on camera in his little box. But your mileage may vary.
For what it's worth, most of the people that have been on HNIC radio this week has been happy with the "let them play" attitude of the refereeing so far (for the most part).
As a Wings fan, I will say that they certainly know how to "push/stretch" the rules. I guess that would make them the Spurs or the Patriots of the NHL.
I'd rather have less officiating than more officiating. But that's my preference.
Originally posted by Reverend J Shaft But would you want to watch a hockey game where interference is actually called every time it happens? I wouldn't. In fact, didn't the NHL try to change its rules by calling more of the clutching and grabbing after New Jersey was stifling offenses with its neutral zone trap? Doesn't really seem to have worked all that well.
You don't watch the regular season either, huh? There have been at least a couple incidents in each game, both ways, where there was interference that absolutely would have been called in the regular season.
As for the trap, Detroit technically plays one. But the two rule changes that did more to eliminate it than the "no clutching and grabbing" were the shrinking of the neutral zone and the deregulation of the two-line pass.
For my part, I'd rather see a few penalties let go and have a more wide-open 5-on-5 game than periods dominated by 5-on-4, 5-on-3, and 4-on-4. I understand I may be in the minority on that.
Pittsburgh still isn't getting "bounces". And it's past the point where you can blame plain old luck: Detroit is simply one of the best-disciplined teams I've ever seen. And their positional play (not just point-in-space, but body position) is utterly absurd. The third period the other night finally saw some chinks in the armor though, as the Pens seemed to have finally ground the Wings down a little bit with physical play. If they can keep that up and Fleury plays well, I still think Pittsburgh in 6. If Datsyuk comes back at anywhere near 100% and Detroit can shadow both Malkin and Crosby, though, they'll need someone else (Talbot? Dupuis? Staal? Fedotenko?) to step up big.
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As an aside, Sidney Crosby said on TSN over the weekend that he would probably cross the picket line and play with replacement players if the opportunity came his way.