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Concerns? Yeah, I’ve Got A Few…But Only A Few
by IwoCPO on 05/21/08 at 07:23 AM ET
Comments (45)
Still three days before we initiate Gary’s Baby Boy (yep, new glossary entry. #29) into the ways of The Final. Yes, a few of you have pointed out that I predicted this over a year ago. I resisted the temptation to acknowledge your praises, but I can wait no longer.
Me. Last Year.
I see Crosby in the Finals. I see a city that almost lost its team ride a euphoric Crosby-led wave right to the cusp of glory. And, yes, there he will meet…
...your Detroit Red Wings. You must believe me when I tell you that I saw this unfold so very clearly. The Kid against The Rejuvenated Dynasty.
I see a mainstream media frenzy, their hands forced because the story is just too good to ignore. I see a hockey fan base formerly split in their feelings about Chris Chelios come together as one, pitchforks and torches at the ready, as they watch Cheli abuse The Kid.
And I see heartbreak that will light a fire for redemption. I see Steve Yzerman visiting a crestfallen Crosby in a somber Pen room, consoling him as the Conn Smythe sits lonely in the corner.
That was before the fluttering puck from hell gained steam, plowed into our collective sack, then veered off behind Hasek in Game 5 against the one-shot wonder poultry.
But, one year removed and my prophecy has come true. But, one year later and the Pens are a little stronger than they were last year. Rumor has it, they’ve learned to play defense. According to any expert you can find, they’ve “bought into the system.”
At the start of the playoffs, the Penguins’ blueliners were supposed to be their Achilles’ heel (that, and Fleury) and their team defense was thought to be suspect. But the stats suggest the opposite: Pittsburgh has allowed an NHL-best 1.86 goals against per game.
That’s from ESPN’s Scott Burnside. He picked the Pens, because the union told him to.
He’s talking about the Pittsburgh defensemen, 3 in particular: Orpik, Gonchar and Gill. Newsflash: Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Homer will have them fetal by period 2, Game 1. Gonchar: exposed.
But where the blue line lacks, I’m thinking the forwards may compensate. For some strange reason they decided backchecking might be fun. Rumor has it the Baby Boy and Malkin are even in on this new form of entertainment in Pittsburgh. We’ll see. They haven’t had to check the likes of Detroit, but there’s enough youth and talent there to cause some issues.
But that’s minor compared to the real elephant in this room. And not just for this series, either. Come to grips with this: if Johan Franzen isn’t in the lineup Saturday, we’re not talking concussion. I tend to believe we never have been. Headaches are gone, allegedly. And that was the only symptom. Yet, “light workouts” are all that’s allowed at this point? And now Ken Holland’s suddenly railing against injury disclosure policies in the playoffs?
I could very well be wrong, and John Niyo’s blog entry from last night indicates I may be.
Wings GM Ken Holland tells CBC Sports that Johan Franzen has ramped up his off-ice workouts a bit and will be reexamined by team physicians Thursday to check his progress and measure his neurological results with his baseline test scores.
Franzen likely won’t be ready for Game 1 but if he can stay symptom-free with the increased intensity in the workouts, he’s at least on the right track toward possibly returning at some point in the finals.
If his workouts are intensifying, and if he’s cleared Thursday, he’s in there on Saturday. Then the question shifts from will he play to how well will he play. Specifically, can he pick up where he left off? Smart people would say there’s no way he can return and immediately continue the most improbable scoring streak the league has seen in a decade or more. But I’ve never, not once, claimed to be smart and meant it.
What Franzen will bring, if he comes back, is another worry for Pittsburgh. A second line they can give some leeway to becomes something they have to fret about and we dig that. But that’s a big frigging “if” brother. As of now, I’m not buying the concussion and any Franzen appearance the rest of this year will be a happy surprise.
You’re also concerned about Chris Osgood because you were raised to be. We must doubt him. It’s a core competency of all Wing fans. You can claim you don’t and you may even believe that if you’ve been drinking. But you are. You’re a little itchy because you have bad visions of 35 shots and rampaging Penguins. You’re feeling tender and alone, imagining The Story Of These Playoffs crashing down to earth. It could happen. I mean, it’s possible.
But leave that stresser behind for now. You’ll worry about it because it’s a law. But, don’t waste too much energy on that because he’s in a comfortable place right now. I’m not saying it’s a “zone”. Not quite. But he’s...comfortable. And, watch this, he may even steal a game or two. Or four.
Chris Osgood stealing a series. Now that would leave Pens fans....stunned.
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Comments
My main concern (as a Penguins fan) is Fleury’s reaction to Holmstrom. He hasn’t encountered that kind of player in this playoffs. Referees can establish some policy since game 1 (one side will not be happy with it) and it may prove as main factor in this series.
If Sidney’s Daddy has a word in it - advantage Penguins. We’ll see.
Posted by Kosta from Surcin, Serbia on 05/21/08 at 07:57 AM ET
My only concern is a 4th line issue. I am a D-Mac fan, but I did not like what I saw in the Dallas series from McCarty. Dallas is slower than Pittsburgh overall, and he could not keep up. I know he has the good storyline, experience and grit. Again were talking minimal minutes here. But, I would love to see Meech or Abdelkader in there because speed kills. It will never happen though because Uncle Mike would not have the balls to do it. It would be the equivalent of the Mickey Stanley move in the 68 World Series for those old enough to remember.
Pistons conflict with Red Wings games? What is the issue. The choice is obvious. What a joke!
Posted by Jeff from Loveland, CO on 05/21/08 at 08:45 AM ET
Stanley to shortstop happened two months before I was born Jeff, but you’re right. Great move. Mayo Smith, right?
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 05/21/08 at 08:57 AM ET
I’m a D-Mac fan to be sure and I think that his turning his life around is a good story. That being said, I’m a bigger fan of the Red Wings and, if Abbadabbadoo gives the Red Wings team a better chance at winning, I say move to the youngster.
Posted by J.J. from kansas on 05/21/08 at 09:05 AM ET
I said this at Pensblog, and surprisingly, was not made fun of for it.
Fleury has an edge on raw talent and ability. Osgood has seen everything and has been consistently solid almost the entire year. Ozzie won’t see anything he hasn’t seen before. Fleury will.
I call it a wash in the goaltending department.
Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 05/21/08 at 09:11 AM ET
Fleury is better than Osgood because Fleury was a first overall pick and Osgood wasn’t, right?
that’s sarcasm, right?
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 05/21/08 at 09:22 AM ET
Pensblog is good today.
They give cudos of A2Y and Kukla.
Check out the U-tube video starring Chelios.
Posted by w2j2 on 05/21/08 at 09:39 AM ET
Mac is a great story, no doubt, and he’s one of my all-time favorite Wings, but you guys are probably right- Abrakadabra would make better use of his minutes. But I don’t know, I do like seeing him out there. Unless he’s taking more minutes in penalties than his total ice time would have been.
Posted by scheisskopf on 05/21/08 at 09:42 AM ET
I’m just curious here, but which offensively gifted team has Pittsburgh played so far in the playoffs?
What’s that? None, yet? Huh. Interesting.
Posted by HockeyJoe from NY on 05/21/08 at 10:34 AM ET
Yes Chief, Mayo Smith it was. I was 8 at the time.
Posted by Jeff from Loveland, CO on 05/21/08 at 10:37 AM ET
I’m with ya Chief. After watching most of the Pens games this spring, their D doenst scare me. They play very solid team defense. Gonchar, Orpik, Whitney, all pretty good, but they dont have the skill or experiece to cover up when that team system breaks down. The forwards are not as quick as they need to be covering the slot when the Dmen go into the corners. And they rarely saw opponents defensemen sneaking down low along the boards like Lids, Rafi, and Kronner do routinely.
The smartest thing for the Pens would be to match up the Staal against the Circus. He’s easily the smartest player on the team, and very very aware defensively.
Their scoring does concern me. I know the +/- numbers dont compair to the Wngs, but they roll 2 very fast and dangerous scoring lines. Even if we hold em off even strength, and that’s likely so long as our 4th line doesnt get caught, PP time is going to be critical.
I’ll agree with Nathan and say the netminders are a wash. Flurey makes the bigger saves, but Ozzy makes cleaner ones. Flurey’s mental makeup is still largely unknown, while Ozy is a rock these days.
I like the Penguins alot, but this series they can sit on their sticks.
Its gonna be fun.
Posted by Nate A from Dark side of the moon on 05/21/08 at 10:40 AM ET
I like this matchup but won’t be surprised if Detroit sweeps...and I will say I told you so
Posted by kevin from boston on 05/21/08 at 10:50 AM ET
I agree with you, as well Nate, and not just because of your name…
I take all down to two things.
The Penguins have the matchup with the second line, especially with Franzen being hurt. If they can get the matchup of Malkin against Filppula, that’s their biggest advantage. And even if the Wings successfully get Draper out there against Malkin, the advantage still has to go to the Pens for the Staal line against the Filppula line.
The Wings have a big edge with the d-men. They flat out have a better top four, no questions asked. Better defensively, and better with the first pass.
To me, everything else is equal. So, the question is, can the Pens exploit the matchups they’ll get with Malkin’s line on the ice, and can Detroit use their superior D to possess the puck and keep it away from the Malkin line?
Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 05/21/08 at 10:52 AM ET
I would have liked to have seen Abrakadabra in the first series....can Uncle Mike really bring him in the SCF now? A lot to ask a kid who has only played a handful of NHL games.
Posted by Millsz on 05/21/08 at 10:57 AM ET
I think the Pens are going to be in for some initial shock. They have yet to bear the full brunt of a team they’d played in the playoffs. Flyers were depleted by injuries. Senators just stunk for some reason.
The one thing nobody’s talking about is DET’s physical play and big guys. Have the Pens seen anyone like Kronwall or Drake (god he’s been a beast on the ice lately) yet? No, they haven’t. And has MA Fleury seen anyone like Holmstrom, Cleary, and hopefully Franzen parked in front of him all game long? No, not all year.
That’s goign to be what decides the series.
Posted by Primis on 05/21/08 at 10:59 AM ET
but they don’t have the skill or experiece to cover up when that team system breaks down.
I watched way too much penguin hockey this year (thanks to little gary’s VS fiasco), and have yet to see a system.
I never considered pond hockey, pickup hockey, and waterbug hockey to be a system.
They seem to be just pure talent.
Those guys are going to win a lot of cups...just not this year…
Posted by HockeyTownTodd from the "NOT QUITE DEAD PIRATE" on 05/21/08 at 10:59 AM ET
You all know how I feel about D-Mac, but if he shows defensive problems, he should sit in favor of Gator. We need youth and speed for all four lines to keep up with the Pens and keep them covered, especially on the road. Besides, can you imagine a fourth line of Maltby-Helm-Abdelkader? Raw, young, and inexperienced, but man, think of the speed…
And Nate, you’re right on with what I said earlier. With the Pens’ PP units (both), it’s critical that we stay out of the box. With Gary’s Baby Boy on the ice, it’ll be tough to do so-- breathe on him wrong and they’ll call it a penalty. But I really think special teams are going to be the key here-- that and good team defense. I’m not sure where I saw it-- I think I was pointed to it bo one of the 19 here-- but somebody claimed Pittsburgh have the better two-way forwards. I nearly did a spit-take-- I must have missed Crosby & Malkin’s simultaneous Selke nomination (Staal will probably get one someday, but that’s a whole ‘nuther story).
If Sidney’s Daddy has a word in it - advantage Penguins.
Kosta, we’ve considered that possibility. Hopefully Uncle Mike and the team have too, and will be extra-clean around him. Nobody wants to give a 25% PP opportunity after opportunity. It’ll piss us off, but it will most likely be a factor.
I think we really need Franzen back, otherwise it’s going to be a long, stressful series. This is the Finals-- there are no more games to conserve your energy for, to nurse an injury for. This is the time to give your all, because you don’t know when you’ll get the opportunity to again. Do-or-die. Give one hundred and ten percent. And we need guys like him, who’ll put traffic in the opposition slot and crease, because we play our best game with traffic down low around the goalie. So I think that if Franzen is cleared, he plays-- simple as that.
Wings fly. Penguins can’t.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the kitchen, trying to swallow whistles on 05/21/08 at 11:04 AM ET
you are probably right about avilkneivel’s lack of experience millsz, but if mac is gonna be replaced by anyone, i’d have it be him. i’d sooner suit up myself than see hartigan out there again.
Posted by scheisskopf on 05/21/08 at 11:10 AM ET
Wings fly. Penguins can’t.
Flyers had very similar banner in Eastern Finals.
Posted by Kosta from Surcin, Serbia on 05/21/08 at 11:20 AM ET
I just wanted to say I am a Pens fan and a frequent vistor to the PensBlog. They linked me over to you and I have to give props. Your blog is intelligent with the occasional good jab at the opposing team. (In this case, the Pens.) I look foward to reading more.
I would wish you good luck, but ahhh yeah...not gonna do that. 
GO PENS!
Posted by FireFox on 05/21/08 at 11:24 AM ET
Andrew, I think that was Burnside from ESPN who said that they have better two-way forwards… I too lost it when I read that. Regardless, I agree with what all of you are saying, although I think that the Pens offensive numbers have been helped by playing against teams that tried to play on edge too much in an attempt to get under the Junior High Diving Squad’s skin. The problem was that Darrien Hatcher et al are not good enough anymore nor fast enough to handle all those PKs. Didn’t Dallas come in to the last series leading the playoffs in PP%? I believe that they were running around 25% and we got 2 goals to their 3. I know that Dallas’ firepower pales in comparison, but when the Wings possess the puck during large chunks of the opposing teams PP it doesn’t matter who is on the ice.
Posted by SharkBaiter from Hades' armpit in the outer reaches of San Jose, CA on 05/21/08 at 11:41 AM ET
Another thing I forgot to mention.
Pens Defensemen tend to not carry the puck out of their own zone and dont have forward support on the breakouts. They make good passes and often catch the forwards on the fly. But unless they at least create the impression that they might carry the puck for a while, Wings forecheckers are going to create all sorts of turnovers intercepting passes in the NZ.
I’m looking forward to Pav and Z and hopefully Fili turning Fluery inside out.
Posted by Nate A from Dark side of the moon on 05/21/08 at 11:52 AM ET
This is a series that is going to be fun to watch. Talent on both sides of the ice. In the end it will be the Wings that raise Lord Stanley’s Cup.
I do have total faith in our Silver Lining, Chris Osgood. He is on a mission as are the rest of the team. They have “The Look”. You can see it in their eyes. Hungry,very hungry.
“THIS IS THE YEAR!”
“BRING IT ON”!
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa. on 05/21/08 at 12:15 PM ET
Penalty or no penalty I want to see Kronner absolutely flatten Gary’s baby boy at least once. At least… And then I want him to look down and say, “welcome to the playoffs… bitch”
I guess I doubt that will happen though. At least the latter part.
Dan
Posted by ITDeuce from Michigan on 05/21/08 at 12:23 PM ET
hockeyjoe said:
I’m just curious here, but which offensively gifted team has Pittsburgh played so far in the playoffs?
What’s that? None, yet? Huh. Interesting.
Ottawa -261 goals, 2nd in League, 2nd in EC
Philly -248 goals, 6th in League, 5th in EC
I think the question should be, Have the Wings seen this type of offensively gifted team?
Nice blog, Mr. Bill Houlihan & intelligent insight [seriously, the glossary is killer too, {except that new #29 one!}]
Good Luck!...will be making the trek to Motown for Game 2!
Posted by dr. turkleton on 05/21/08 at 12:31 PM ET
I never considered pond hockey, pickup hockey, and waterbug hockey to be a system.
Agreed HTT.
I’m enjoying all the speculations but there are only two words needed to describe the outcome of this series…
Child Abuse.
This reminds me too much of Flyers-Wings in 97, when we swept them with systematic dominance. We won’t sweep the Pens because they’ll win (at least) one at the igloo. Wing in 5 (6 at the max)
I know we’re all concerned about secondary scoring without Franzen, but why is no one paying attention to the production coming from our D? They’re not just making good first passes, but are putting up serious points. Even if Fil’s line matches up against Malkin’s, we’ll have Kronner and Stuart to back them up. It’s hard to set up their 1-4 blueline wall when we’re coming on the transition.
This series is a fantasy matchup on paper and on video games. In real life...?
Child Abuse.
Posted by Osrt on 05/21/08 at 12:36 PM ET
Child Abuse.
Put your hubris in your pocket and save it for later, huh?
The universe will hear you and make bad things happen, if you aren’t careful.
You guys are making me nervous, and the series doesn’t start until Saturday!
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/21/08 at 12:48 PM ET
Your blog is intelligent…
Not so quick the Firefox! Blowing smoke up our collective 19 person kilt will flatter no one. Having been summarily kicked out of the Hasek for four days, me thinks what you are seeing is the ugly side of sobriety...brains, rational thought and reasonable discussions. We reserve the right to be juvenile, petty and annoying, yup, frequently annoying.
Where else can you get two guys named Nathan talking hockey..to each other, two guys named Paul, both in Florida, talking hockey, CJ and SJ (are they related?) and god bless Andrew in A2 or where ever the hell he happens to be!
Intelligent...you just wait!
Posted by Rumbear from Betty Ford Center on 05/21/08 at 12:56 PM ET
seriously, baroque. though it might be a reaction to the Blog War. let’s just take this time to clean out all the dried vomit in the Hasek Club Car, dig Mark Hartigan out of the coal pile, serve the first class customers in the Lilja Car another glass of wine (since they won’t be going anywhere until all of this is over) and hopefully the Stress Train will be ready to go again by the time game one starts.
Posted by scheisskopf on 05/21/08 at 01:00 PM ET
Intelligent...you just wait!
Don’t I count? 
But yes, the level of dialogue does tend to roll downhill rather rapidly as a game and a series progress.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/21/08 at 01:02 PM ET
let’s just take this time to clean out all the dried vomit in the Hasek Club Car…
Sure - who brought the powerwasher?
Or a firehose - judging by the level of crustiness, I think we might need a firehose.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/21/08 at 01:04 PM ET
Ottawa -261 goals, 2nd in League, 2nd in EC
Philly -248 goals, 6th in League, 5th in EC
Can there be a more damning indictment of the “EC”?
Realistically, when the Pond Skimmers faced Ottawa the Sens were nowhere near the team that put up those eye popping numbers.
And Philly? Well look at their injuries and subsequent boneheaded play to see how threatening they really were.
It’s true though, Modano, Floppa, Smyth, Sakic, Morrow, Zubov, Richards, et al def. didn’t pose much of a threat.
And please Baroque, last time you started talking about pride and hubris look what happened. Let’s just leave all of that to Austen and Hardy and let the lads vent a bit.
Posted by SharkBaiter from Hades' armpit in the outer reaches of San Jose, CA on 05/21/08 at 01:18 PM ET
Ottawa -261 goals, 2nd in League, 2nd in EC
Philly -248 goals, 6th in League, 5th in ECI think the question should be, Have the Wings seen this type of offensively gifted team?
You’re going to put up the shell of what used to be Ottawa as your support? That team wasn’t scoring in a whorehouse, nevermind on the ice, the second half of the year. Philly? Their dirty tricks caught up to them and their PP sucked. I won’t even discuss the Rangers inability to score goals all season long.
As for Detroit - I think they can handle their own, they deposed of the three teams immediately behind them in the Western Conference in scoring in successive rounds (NSH 3rd, COL 4th, DAL 2nd amongst playoff teams).
Enjoy the Circus Pittsburgh, you’ll have a nice front row seat.
Posted by HockeyJoe from NY on 05/21/08 at 01:19 PM ET
I think Philly had a couple good scoring lines certainly, but I won’t give the Pens any credit for beating Ottawa. They were the weakest team in the playoffs, didn’t have Alfredsson (and when they did he wasn’t 100%), and I’m convinced that Spezza was still more than nursing his injuries from the regular season.
The fact is, neither the Penguins or the Wings have seen an offense in their playoff runs like they are about to face.
Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 05/21/08 at 01:29 PM ET
What the hell, if the dialogue ends up in the crapper… I’m thinking quite a few posters are thinking it might as well start off there.
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 05/21/08 at 01:53 PM ET
I like the way the Wings match up against the Pens a lot more than the way they did against the Stars. Like I said before the start to last series--if the Wings were going to lose the cup, it would have been last round.
Wings will be better even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill. For offensive forwards, you have to give the edge to Pittsburgh, but in every other category, the Wings skaters are better. The second lines worry me while Franzen is out, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. With Franzen in the lineup, the line I’m more nervous about, strangely, is the Pens fourth line.
As for goaltending? Look at it this way: Fleury’s been good since he came back from injury three months ago. Osgood’s been good since he came back to Detroit three years ago (well, not really, but it sounds good). Whose streak do you think is more likely to break?
Posted by Ryan from Toronto on 05/21/08 at 02:06 PM ET
Ottawa? You seriously can’t count Ottawa. Everything positive they did was in the first 3 months. The last half of the season and the playoffs they were a #12 team at best, not really a playoff team when the Pens put them out of their misery. The Flyers were injured horribly by the time the Pens series came around, so referencing their #6 status is also fool’s gold.
That said, the Pens size and skills up front can establish the kind of extended possessions in the Wings Defensive zone that usually ends up in the back of the Wings net. The Pens have a significant size and weight advantage. The best counter to that is the Wings ability to quickly pass out of their own zone and transition, and by the way the Wings forecheck and ability to put the other team’s D on their heels, if not their backs, is substantial.
The key to the series will be the Pens ability or lack thereof to establish lengthy possessions inside the Wings zone. Wings fans can usually smell an opposing goal coming 10 or 15 seconds ahead of time when we can’t break up possession.
Posted by RWBill from Back aboard the Hasek. on 05/21/08 at 02:29 PM ET
A2Y gets it right about Pens defense. Gill has all the mobility of a cigar store Indian, and Gonchar is Russian for pylon. Backchecking may be the latest fad in Steel City, but how does Baby Boy find the time in between all that Oscar-worthy flopping?
Posted by JimS on 05/21/08 at 02:30 PM ET
A Final Gordon Lightfoot Reference to Dallas:
“At Seven P.M. a main hatchway caved in, he said
Fellas, it’s been good t’know ya”
Posted by RWBill from Back aboard the Hasek. on 05/21/08 at 02:47 PM ET
Gill has all the mobility of a cigar store Indian
Less.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/21/08 at 02:59 PM ET
RWBill - That photo is the wallpaper on my work computer right now. I just love it.
I agree that the one area that will be a big concern is if the Pens can keep the Wings hemmed in their own zone. This was a problem in the Dallas series and every time I called a goal right before it happened. What RWBill said.
Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 05/21/08 at 03:03 PM ET
hockeychic, it’s sick feeling that impending doom when the Wings can’t break possession down deep in their zone and you can see what’s coming. It usually doesn’t end well. The Pens have the size to take advantage of that situation, otherwise overall the Wings maybe have an advantage.
Posted by RWBill from Back aboard the Hasek. on 05/21/08 at 03:11 PM ET
Where else can you get two guys named Nathan talking hockey..
Intelligent...you just wait!
That’s right, Rumbear, it’s only a matter of time before I quit talking serious hockey and show respect to the Pens and their fanbase and turn into a juvenilicious (yeah, that’s right) child.
And I’m damn proud.
Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 05/21/08 at 03:29 PM ET
Gill has all the mobility of a cigar store Indian
Hal Gill’s blazing speed reminds me of another former Maple Leaf—Wendel Clark.
I mean, honestly, were these two guys skating in luke warm tar?
Of course, if Hal Gill had half the talent and leadership that Clark did, his slowness wouldn’t be such a big deal.
Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 05/21/08 at 03:31 PM ET
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"And for the record, I don't hate the Red Wings, I hate their fans."
--Douche Bag at Puck Daddy who isn't Wyshynski
"You’re nothing but a douchebag ****, c3po. Go f**k yourself, and learn something about hockey in the process. Nothing ruins my day more than seeing your byline on the kk page."
--Hector, A2Y fan, statesman, Pittsburgh Chapter of Jonas Brothers Fan Club President
"I can just imagine the kindergarten teacher’s reaction when the tyke blurts out 'Mommy says Gary Bettman is a f*cking f*ckface! He wants to give ‘Rosby the bad touch.' ”
--Bella, of the 19
"A2Y is what other blog sites aspire to be when they fail to grow up: intelligent immaturity for the juvenile genius set”
--Captain Dennis Polonich, of the 19
Fleury is better than Osgood because Fleury was a first overall pick and Osgood wasn’t, right?
Posted by Justin on 05/21/08 at 07:42 AM ET