Abel to Yzerman
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Cheaters, Victims, Dirty Bastards and Paid-Off Refs
by IwoCPO on 06/03/09 at 04:16 AM ET
Comments (176)
It’s 0518 EST and I think Pittsburgh still has like 8 guys on the ice. Thankfully only three of them are cross-checking Johan Franzen in the head at once.
There. If you’re that intent on blaming the refs for last night’s game go back and read those two lines all day and I’m sure your frustrations will just float away.
It was a good Stanley Cup Finals game. Good crowd. Disgusting tension. And, honestly, the Wings best game of the series so far.
I went to bed last night convinced that if I didn’t wake up this morning that would be ok. That, of course, is pathetic. But true.
Amazingly, when I opened my eyes the Wings had a 2-1 lead and that’s cool with me.
If we need to bitch about something today (and we will), I have a few recommendations.
The Penalty Kill is this family’s dirty secret. The Kill is the clepto dad, the dirty sister who hands it out like candy at Christmas, the mom who got a DUI last week, pulled over and arrested in the middle of the day. Our penalty kill is a problem like that. It’s not going to just go away without treatment. And, left to its own devices, it’s going to humiliate us all at the worst possible moment.
Gonchar’s goal was so predictable that my head was staring at the floor before he even got the shot off. “Fu**” is what I said as the pass reached him on the point. No doubt in my mind he was going to score. Speaking of the point, when’s the last time we took it away? I guess the idea is to just leave it wide the fu** open.
One more dittie, then it’s up to you guys to discuss this thing….Pavel? Dude. If it’s “up to you now”? I don’t think Uncle Mike would say day after day that it’s getting better, that tomorrow could be the day…if that foot was broken and Datsyuk is literally unable to play.
I think it’s pain management and pain tolerance. We’ll see.
It was a good game. A good playoff game at a critical time. And now it’s a 2-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals.
2 to 12 bitches. And that’s a good place to be.
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Comments
A 50% Datsyuk is good enough to make the Penguins accountable.
If he loses just speed, sure - but if he loses maneuverability, no. He’d be a sitting duck for a high hit if he can’t turn as quickly as he normally can and avoid getting smashed. It’s his ability to turn that is holding him back.
The league does not want a sweep. Is this really a surprise?
The third game in four nights is usually not very good. Is this a surprise?
Osgood always bounces back after a bad game. He’s been excellent, so he was due for a poor effort. With him it won’t snowball into a series of poor games - he’ll rebound in game four.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/03/09 at 05:46 AM ET
Hank needs some help. He was totally gassed at game’s end….
Hudler? Where are you? What the heck are you contributing?
Stop turning over the puck and go to the net.
Isn’t Brad McCrimmon in charge of the PK? It appears that when he took charge this season, the PK went to hell.
Posted by w2j2 on 06/03/09 at 05:50 AM ET
It’s always disappointing when the Wings lose, but really: if the Pens were going to win any game in this series, it would’ve been Game 3 at home with the Wings up 2-0. Just like the Blackhawks’ series, a perfect setup for a faux revival. Actually, given the circumstances, I thought the Wings played a very good game.
And it wasn’t Ozzie’s fault. On the first two goals, he was screened by his own players—and at least one of the goals was inadvertently redirected by a Wing. It’s one of Don Cherry’s pet peeves: either block the shot, or get the hell out of your goalie’s way. Don’t just stand in the shooting lane!
Strange thing about the Wings’ PK troubles throughout the playoffs: a couple years back, they weren’t as strong defensively overall, but their PK was better than it is now. Not sure why. But it’s the single biggest weakness in a really good team.
Posted by jvwalt on 06/03/09 at 05:56 AM ET
Once again, I’m over it. Good game by the Penguins. We lost too many of the little battles to win.
Obviously, I’ll be shitting all over myself tomorrow with the nightmare that the series could end up tied Friday morning.
Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 06/03/09 at 06:06 AM ET
I’m over it too. It was a good game. Wings still have a series lead blah.blah,blah,blah,barf. It doesn’t mean I have to be happy about. Bitches.
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 06/03/09 at 06:14 AM ET
The reason the PK is the dirty family secret and the Achilles’ heel of an otherwise great team is because it’s gotten to the point where it’s so very bad that if the refs want to even up the score and push the game to OT or cut the deficit and make the game more exciting, less of a blowout, all they have to do is call one of the many penalties they normally let slide. That’s bad news if we’re trying to close out this series. And the PK sucks for a few reasons. First, these guys are tired. Z played over twenty-five minutes last night. That’s Getslapped territory. We need some rest, but we’re not going to get it, so we really need a couple of good defensive forwards. Where might we get those? Seriously, even if they’re not 100%, we need Dangle and Draper back. Win Game Four, and then we can sit them again with three shots to close out the series. Without them, a loss in Game Four means we’d need more out of them whenever they get back—if we lose Game Four, they might be back in (gulp) Game Seven. Second, Ozzie let in a couple of softies last night. He won’t do that again, not this close to the Cup. That needs to tighten up. Finally, if our PKers are so tired, give more PK time to Taz and Gator. They’re young, they’ve got energy and drive, and let’s face it—they can’t do any worse of a job than is already being done.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 06/03/09 at 06:23 AM ET
A sweep would have been nice, but before this series even started I figured they’d lose game three - and once they went up 2-0, it was even more certain. Lousy, but we’ll see what happens on Thursday.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/03/09 at 06:23 AM ET
Anyone else tired of Hossa’s “Game 4 scoring”? He better come through. Just sayin’.
Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 06/03/09 at 06:34 AM ET
I’m about to watch On The Fly, Penguins Edition. More puking coming my way.
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 06/03/09 at 06:36 AM ET
Anyone else notice Bettman up in Mario’s suite last night? How professional it is for a commisioner to be fraternizing with an owner while a game is going on…it’s like he’s not even trying to cover up his favoritism any more.
And when will any of the cowards on TV stand up and stop defending the referees in this series? We already know Edzo hates Detroit (he was laughing at the Kunitz cross check to Mule’s temple) but I had a lot more respect for Doc until last night. The entire VS team showed us their V last night by just eating up and regurgitating what must have been a spoon fed script by Li’l Gary.
Anyone else notice that Wings goals were “bad breaks”, and Pen(i)s goals were “good bounces”? Now that’s a very subtle difference for the casual viewer, but for someone who knows what IMPARTIAL coverage is supposed to sound like, it makes me want to ram my head through a @#$%-ing wall. So Franzen’s goal was a “lucky bounce” because it hit a Pen stick on the pass from Z, but Malkin’s goal (hit in by Stuart) was the result of “relentless forechecking”.
I.Hate.Everything.Right.Now.
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 06/03/09 at 06:49 AM ET
I thought it was a godawful game by the wings last night (along with the refs, but it isn’t their fault the wings lost).
And that (along with the 2-1 marker for the series) is the Only Reason I Have Hope.
Posted by ColdWar on 06/03/09 at 07:01 AM ET
You have to think that any and all practice time before tomorrow will focus strictly on the PK…its getting ridiculous. Decent game by the Wings last night, but they picked the wrong period to be dominant. I really hope Pav comes back for tomorrow’s game. Hoss and Z both looked like mad men out there last night, but it died down by the third period, throw a little Pav in there and some of that dominance has to result in a goal.
Posted by MisterT on 06/03/09 at 07:13 AM ET
It’s time for #13 to get on the ice. If it is what it seems, and the doctors are clearing him, then with the good needles and fun pills, he should be no worse than 75%. He might not have the dynamic stick handling because he can’t turn as fast, but he still has good straight-ahead pace, some of the best hockey smarts in the game, a defensive understanding of what needs to be done, and among the best hands in the game. Put him on the line with Filppula and Hossa and suddenly that line is not only keeping Malkin at bay, but probably spending more time in the Pens’ zone.
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 06/03/09 at 07:21 AM ET
The Wings looked like they played 3 games in 4 nights after only a couple days rest from the last series. I wonder why that is?
I’m not scared yet. Our boys looked oh so tired.
And uncle Mike, if you’re listening: “Take Samuel-FRICKING-sson of the damn point on the power play.” He makes me sick when he is out there. He always shoots and it is never on net. You know who I would like to see out there? Lebda. He has a pretty good shot, and moves the puck pretty well. Also quite quick.
What the hell do I know though?
Posted by ITDeuce from The Land of Ice and Snow on 06/03/09 at 07:22 AM ET
it’s like he’s not even trying to cover up his favoritism any more.
Well, to be fair, I’m sure for our home games he’d do the same and hang in the suite with the front office…if it weren’t for the fact that he’s most likely persona non grata with that crowd, and Mr. I, not being able to stand the sight of him, would slam the door in his face.
throw a little Pav in there and some of that dominance has to result in a goal.
Throw a little Pav in there and we’re not down by a goal in the first place. The Perfect Human played close to thirty minutes as well, that’s gotta be taxing. And that was only with the three penalties we got. If this game had been called tighter, Cthulhu knows what Z and Nick’s ice times would have totaled…
We need fresh legs in. Barring that, we need legs in that haven’t played a game in a while.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 06/03/09 at 07:25 AM ET
The Wings looked like they played 3 games in 4 nights after only a couple days rest from the last series. I wonder why that is?
Because NBC didn’t want to risk cutting into Conan’s debut if game 2 would go to OT…THAT’s why we played back to back. Thanks Gary.Ass.
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 06/03/09 at 07:25 AM ET
Hudler? Where are you? What the heck are you contributing?
After last night, that’s a softball question - look for a red jersey either:
(A) turning the puck over in the defensive end
(B) turning the puck over in the offensive end
(C) not within 10 feet of a black jersey at any other time
I’m not a Hudler-hater by any stretch, but he played a lousy game last night, yessir.
Posted by kemeisel on 06/03/09 at 07:42 AM ET
I thought Cleary had a really bad game last night too. What’s up with Homer? He seems to be largely ineffective this playoffs.
Bah, got shake it off and get ready for Game 4. I repeat what I wrote last night, the Wings looked gassed in the 3rd period.
Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 06/03/09 at 07:52 AM ET
I would be much more in favor of sitting homer for drapes. He has done basically nothing so far.
Posted by rwingscup19 from Dallas on 06/03/09 at 08:29 AM ET
Anyone else notice Bettman up in Mario’s suite last night?
Posted by WingsFanInBeanLand from Lidstrom's head telling him 1 more year on 06/03/09 at 08:44 AM ET
I.Hate.Everything.Right.Now.
Yep. I’m right there with ya.
Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 06/03/09 at 08:46 AM ET
Had a dream last night. Zetterberg scored on a breakaway—flipped the puck top-shelf on the backhand. The Flower flailed his waffleboard skyward, but there was no way he was going to stop this shot and everyone knew it. Doc Emrick had the call and judging by the pitch and volume of his voice, and the crowd’s response, it was a big goal. Maybe the series-winner.
I wouldn’t mention it, except the last time I had a dream like that, during the Anaheim series, the Wings won their next game.
It’s going to be a long-ass 36 hours.
Posted by Bio on 06/03/09 at 08:55 AM ET
Hawks fans hate Edzo too. Just sayin’...
Sitting Datsyuk with a 2-game cushion? No problem with it, give him some extra rest…just like resting him and Lidstrom in Game 5 vs. the Hawks, take advantage of being able to afford the game.
They can put it to bed with a win in the Igloo, so I’m guessing everyone dresses for that. I’m sure they’d like to finish it off on home ice.
Posted by Forklift from Section 314 in the United Center on 06/03/09 at 09:10 AM ET
Rumor Mill on In the Slot Xm204 yesterday said that Datsyuk has a broken bone in his foot and is honestly done for the year. I doubt you’ll get anything to support it officially, but its what was said yesterday afternoon.
Posted by Ozman51 from Oklahoma City, Ok via Pittsburgh, Pa on 06/03/09 at 09:14 AM ET
A 50% Datsyuk is good enough to make the Penguins accountable.
the exact words that went through my head as Osgood headed to the bench at the end of the third last night: “man, it would be great to have Datsyuk be the one coming over the boards.”
I don’t even remember who they put out there for Osgood. it doesn’t matter, really, because it wasn’t Datsyuk.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/03/09 at 09:18 AM ET
Rumor Mill on In the Slot Xm204 yesterday said that Datsyuk has a broken bone in his foot and is honestly done for the year. I doubt you’ll get anything to support it officially, but its what was said yesterday afternoon.
If he’s done, he wouldn’t be skating. He’d be in a cast, eating pop corn in the press box.
Posted by Heaton on 06/03/09 at 09:19 AM ET
Stop turning over the puck and go to the net.
I would say this for pretty much everyone. why are they going around behind the net instead of driving AT the net with it? force Pittsburgh to take a penalty, or let them get to the net for a 5 foot shot.
when Hossa comes flying up the right side with the puck, gets a half a step or more on the dman, then just coasts around the back of the net and ends up on the opposite half boards with nowhere to put the puck but on a defenseman’s stick…I want to poke myself in the eye with a fork to end the pain.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/03/09 at 09:21 AM ET
I think I beat you on saying ‘F*ck’ while watching the game. I said it twice. (Actually, I said it many times but only twice in the context to which you refer).
The first time was when Cleary started to wrap his stick arm around the Pitt player behind the Pitt net. (Yep, sure as shit, the ref’s arm went up a moment later. Two moments later we were digging the puck out our net).
The second time was when Big Rig started to rubout that Pen(i)s player against the sideboards after he had dumped the puck into our zone. (Yep, sure as shit, the ref’s arm went up a moment later. Two moments later, we were digging the puck out of our net).
Posted by O-Joe on 06/03/09 at 09:22 AM ET
I’m a huge Penguins fan, began playing hockey because of Lemieux, played in high school and college, would give anything to see the Pen’s win the cup again and have been irritatingly reading this blog for the past 3 months, just hoping the Wings could lose early so that the Pens had a chance. But I’m writing to console you guys. I was at the game last time and frustratingly watched Detroit control the game (I know we played well the beginning of the 1st and 3rd, but most of the game the Wings controlled), a game the Pens had to win, the crowd was into it, you are older and maybe a bit more tired and you didn’t have your top offensive player. And we barely escaped with a win.
I don’t see a way that the Pens win 3 more games—one in Detroit—to win the Cup. You guys are stacked and you are going to be that way for at least 3 to 5 years. Players are taking less money to stay in Detroit. Babcock is the best coach in the league. You have a lot more Cups coming, including this year. The sad thing for Pens fans is that when we drafted Crosby after Malkin (I still can’t believe we took Staal instead of Towes…this is going to kill me for all time) we chalked up several Cups. With Detroit in the picture, it may not happen by the time Crosby and Malkin can leave.
The only chink in the armor that I saw last night, and you guys would know better than me from watching Osgood the past decade, is that he seems weak low stick side. Right around where Talbot scored but a bit lower. [But he was moving right to left, was screened, and it was a good shot so this wasn’t really his fault.] I was behind the net for last night’s game and he was getting torched their during warm-ups. But it was warm-ups! As you can see, I’m trying to find any hope I can here.
Unfortunately, I think you will be all joy and happiness if not Friday morning, then Sunday morning. Don’t rub it in too bad on us.
Posted by Bryan from Pittsburgh on 06/03/09 at 09:24 AM ET
The roller coaster this post-season has been even worse due to the extra emotions of the impending off season. It goes from Hudler doing his job and saying, well we can’t lose him, good bye Hoss. Then the game 4’s come around and it’s well we can’t lose him, good bye Huds.
Last night? Would’ve been great for either of them to make the other ‘expendable’ (I realize it’s a knee-jerk reaction). Like PaulinMiamiBeach was saying, drive the net. Drive it like they were the previous two games. Watch game 6 of the Dallas series and do that.
Fluery still sucks. We’ll all feel much better with a vic in game 4.
Posted by Heaton on 06/03/09 at 09:26 AM ET
You know who they miss out on that PK?
Say it with me….
Andreas Lilja.
As big and nasty and as awesome as Zetterberg was last year, Lilja gave the forwards the comfort to chase guys out on the point because they knew there was one big monkey down low who would play defense.
Posted by HockeyJoe from Upstate New York on 06/03/09 at 09:29 AM ET
Rumor Mill on In the Slot Xm204 yesterday said that Datsyuk has a broken bone in his foot and is honestly done for the year.
as far as I understand (about hockey players, anyway) a broken bone in the foot isn’t necessarily a show-stopper. like others have said, it’s about pain management. if they can get his foot in the skate (which they obviously can, since he has been skating) then he can play - it’s just about whether he can take it. I would never second guess his decision if he does not, though. I’d never be one to say “be a man and play through the pain” because these guys already play through more pain on a nightly basis than any of us could handle for more than 30 seconds.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/03/09 at 09:30 AM ET
And, honestly, the Wings best game of the series so far.
I don’t get that at all. A horrid pk and more turnovers than Penguins on the ice, to me it was one of their poorer games this year. The 2nd period was their only good part of the entire game, regardless of the 2 goals in the 1st, and that still hade plenty of turnovers.
Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 06/03/09 at 09:36 AM ET
you are older and maybe a bit more tired
I’m so sick of people regurgitating this crap. it’s simply not true. I’m also sick of digging up the numbers to prove it wrong so look them up yourself.
the Wings have added Abdelkader, Leino, Ericsson, and Helm in this playoff run - in place of Lilja, Draper, and Datsyuk. how exactly does that make them OLDER?
now, tired? yes. the 7 game series against Anaheim took a lot out of them. Pittsburgh has had an easier road, physically. the Chicago series was no picnic either, and as it stands right now I’d rather be pissing and moaning about how stupid the league is to give a 9 day layoff until the SCF starts - rather than having seen the Wings have to play 3 games in 5 days after only two days rest.
if the Wings hadn’t had a softball series in the first round, this series would probably be going the other way because the Wings would be out of gas. as it stands, they’re hanging on by a thread. I think it says a lot that the Wings are in the condition they’re in and are still up 2-1 in this series. says a lot about the Penguins and the Eastern Conference, that is…
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/03/09 at 09:39 AM ET
I don’t get that at all.
I thought they managed the puck much better, had more quality chances and even played a better defense in longer stretches. Yes, the PK sucked, but it’s sucked all year.
Oh, and I’m trying to be as optimistic as possible so I can avoid a total meltdown.
Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 06/03/09 at 09:40 AM ET
I’ve gone back in time to 2007 and extracted DNA from one of our favorite defenseman to beat on during that time and I’ve combined it with the DNA of the worst Penguins’ defenseman out there.
Behold, on Thursday: Hal Gillja, turnoverer of pucks and bringer of holding penalties! MWAHAHAHAHA!
(no time for a photoshop)
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 06/03/09 at 09:41 AM ET
In the WCF game 3 live blog I wrote: “I hope the Hawks enjoy their celebration, because they’re going to get their asses handed to them on Sunday.”
That worked out pretty well. So here goes: I hope the Pens enjoy their celebration, because they’re going to get their asses handed to them on Thursday.
Of course, that doesn’t mean I don’t want to punch everyone I see today.
Posted by Bella on 06/03/09 at 09:42 AM ET
he seems weak low stick side. Right around where Talbot scored but a bit lower.
you did mention the screen, which was a part of it, but here’s what really happened on that goal. Osgood was in perfect position for the shot, but Talbot fumbled the puck a little and ended up closer to the boards before he shot it. this changed the angle, but Osgood literally didn’t move - so he was out of position, leaving that stick side open.
it was a huge mental error by Osgood. that being said, it is entirely possible he didn’t SEE Talbot move because of the screen, but to me I think he probably did see it.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/03/09 at 09:43 AM ET
Oh, and I’m trying to be as optimistic as possible so I can avoid a total meltdown.
Good luck with that.
Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 06/03/09 at 09:45 AM ET
It looks like Datsyuk is getting better, judging from Babcock’s comments yesterday. If you watch the footage of the Wings arriving in Pittsburgh on Monday, you can see Datsyuk limping. However, he’s traveling with the team, even if he’s limping, and walking into the hotel with the team. He’s skating, and Babcock says he’s improving. My guess is we see him in game four or game five. I think Draper should certainly play for Abdelkader, Sammy, Hudler, or Maltby in game four. His faceoff skill and penalty killing are needed. He has had jump when he’s played these playoffs and certainly should be in the lineup.
I don’t think we should panic. I was about to vomit several times throughout the game last night, but this is a familiar pattern. Same with the Chicago series. After three games against Anaheim, we were down 2-1, right? Pittsburgh is better than last year, so we’re not going to sweep, and it may take six or even seven games. My wife constantly rips on me for spouting doom and gloom whenever the Wings lose a playoff game, but if we’ve learned anything in the past two months (god the playoffs are too long), it’s that this is a veteran team, and they usually bounce back.
I still think we should win, if we bear down and if Osgood bounces back. I don’t see any reason why both of those things won’t happen. We outshot them in their building and controlled the play for large stretches. Yes, Lidstrom looks tired, etc., but they’ve looked like this since game one of the Columbus series, to be honest.
For Bryan and Ozman, thanks for the comments and posts. I really dislike Bettman, Versus, and the philosophy that the NHL is following in broadcasting and marketing the game, but I respect the Penguins organization (and the Hawks organization, as well, HockeeNight). I disagree with the analysis that the Wings will continue to stand in the Pens or Hawks way for years to come. Yes, the Penguins will need to balance their roster, perhaps cutting Staal loose, in order to compile more depth, but they are close, and Fleury, Malkin, and Crosby are signed long term. A cup will eventually happen, although I’m confident the Wings will take this one.
Next year and beyond, I just don’t see how the Wings can maintain the same kind of depth and balance. I really hope they do, but if they sign Hossa, I just don’t see how Hudler or Sammy are kept. Once Ericsson, Helm, and Abdelkader mature, they’ll need larger contracts. I think the Wings will remain competitive and near the top of the league for as long as Kenny remains GM, but the idea of the Wings stopping the Pens or Hawks for four years, etc., while nice to imagine, I think is a bit of a stretch.
Posted by TDeters on 06/03/09 at 09:47 AM ET
The roller coaster this post-season has been even worse due to the extra emotions of the impending off season. It goes from Hudler doing his job and saying, well we can’t lose him, good bye Hoss. Then the game 4’s come around and it’s well we can’t lose him, good bye Huds.
Hopefully Hossa does to the wings what he did to the pens this offseason. Give every indication that he is going to resign, forcing your GM to not resign key players, and then turn around and leave for another team, handcuffing your team too late in the free agency game.
That my friends is the reason Pens fans hate Hossa. Not the fact that he left, but the way he did it. Malone was our Hudler, Samulsen (sorry for spelling) in the sense that the GM will relunctantly let them walk to resign Hossa.
Hopefully Karma comes around and takes a bite out of Hossa this year. Lets go Pens!
Posted by Gretzky_to_Lemieux on 06/03/09 at 09:49 AM ET
It was a good, exciting game. Just with the wrong score. The officiating sucked but that’s been the case all series. Good teams overcome that and win despite the calls/non-calls. I would say it has about evened out in this series. But next time Edzo complains about “subtle interference” someone should have him watch how Hal Gill plays.
Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 06/03/09 at 09:51 AM ET
My eight cents on last nights game:
1) The puck absolutely would not stay on the Wings sticks; bad ice and/or nerves. The Wings, even on short passes had lots of trouble getting the thing the settle down or lost it completely.
2) Too many turnovers (see #1 above).
3) The Wings owned the second period, and the majority of the 1st. Except for a couple of shifts after the Pens took the lead, the Pens owned the 3rd (but that is partly due to them having the lead). 3 games in 4 nights took its toll.
4) Ozzie was not better than MAF last night.
5) I have absolutely no idea what is going to be called a penalty and what is not. Apparently the REFS do not either.
6) Strangely, I am not terribly stressed out about the Pens (ignorance can be bliss you know). They had a magnificent start to the game, first 5 mins or so, but after that, not so much. I just do not see them winning 3 more games.
7) Our PK sucks badly.
8) Playing the reigning Selke winner and finalist again, and Hart finalist would help immeasurably. He certainly would cause matchup problems for the Pens. Give DET more puck possession and scoring threat, not too mention his ridiculous “D” play.
As an aside, how well do you think the Pens would be playing without one of their Hart finalist??
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 06/03/09 at 09:57 AM ET
Holland > Shero.
Hudler + Samuelsson > Malone.
Babcock in a presser the other day was talking about how deep the Wings are with NHL-ready talent in Grand Rapids and he said that if you don’t cultivate them right, they get paid too much too soon and can turn into mercenaries. Malone is a mercenary. I expect another team to way overpay for Samuelsson in this off season. I think Holland will be ready for that. With Hudler, I can see his situation working out very similar to Filppula’s. Flip was a UFA just like Hudler will be this year. He didn’t even entertain any offer sheets from other clubs; he wanted to stay a Wing. My guess is that Hudler will do the same.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 06/03/09 at 10:00 AM ET
What really pisses me off though is that even after PIT scored 1st, the Wings bounced back and took a lead. Score tied after 2, on the road = GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY = wasted.
The Wings must have been gassed, because I’d hate to think they were nerve wracked.
Then again, I never thought sweep was possible. All the pressure Thursday night is with the Pens.
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 06/03/09 at 10:04 AM ET
’m so sick of people regurgitating this crap. it’s simply not true. I’m also sick of digging up the numbers to prove it wrong so look them up yourself.
Average age is meaningless. Any fan of a team with Chelios, Draper, Maltby and Homer on it should know this. Average age is just as meaningless when you add 20 year-olds 5 minutes a night. Look at the age of key contributors to both teams:
Lidstrom: 39
Osgood: 36
Zetterberg: 28
Datsyuk: 30
Franzen: 29
Rafalski: 35
Crosby: 21
Malkin: 22
Gonchar: 35
Fleury: 24
Staal: 20
Orpikk: 28
Their bit pieces are old (Guerin is a bit more than that, admittedly), but their core are the young guys. 20, 21, 22, 24, 22. Our most important player is 39 and, though he may be immortal, he may also not be. Our next few are 28, 30, 29, 36.
We are the older team. It’s not like we’re talking 2002 Wings, but we are a significantly older team. Honestly, though? Who cares. Age isn’t everything. Franzen is a young 29. Ericsson is 25 going on 20. Crosby is 21 going on 26. Malkin is 22, but still three years of NHL games into his career. Games played wear on you more than a year of living does (unless you’re living like D-Mac) though no one wants to admit this.
Z: 432
Pav: 526
Filppula: 235
Franzen: 292*
Ericsson: 27
Crosby: 290
Malkin: 242
Staal: 245
Franzen’s GP is misleading as much of it was in a 3rd-line role with limited ice time and wear and tear. For that matter, Datsyuk played at least a couple seasons without the burden of the #1 guy and his game isn’t one that sees him take all that many hard hits (which is, of course, the secret to Lidstrom’s dominance after 1330 GP- plus 16 seasons worth of frequently-deep playoff runs- 6 cup finals, 2 more conference finals now!).
There’s little history of this sort of thing thus far, but these 19-20 year old superstars carrying their team like Crosby? They’re going to break down. It happened to Yzerman but he willed himself to continue to lead and let some younger legs carry the team more and more during the regular season. You can’t expect that to be the route every youngster wearing a C and playing #1 center minutes takes.
Gretzky’s dominant years ended in the early 90s. His last great year was 93-94 when he was 33. After that he was still incredibly potent, but couldn’t stay healthy for a full season and, if he did, put up really respectable but not “Great one” numbers (97, 90 in 96-97, 97-98).
I’d honestly venture to say that Z is closer to the breaking point where he starts to decline physically than any of the fore mentioned, but Crosby is nipping at his heels- and I think we all know which has the intelligence to remain great when he loses a step (though both may do this).
We’re older. This can only be argued if you use Abdelkader and his 22 year old legs’ 5-8 minutes a night to justify a nonsensical point. We’re not as much older as people make us out to be by using Draper and Chelios’s 38 and 47 year old scratched ages.
Posted by shanetx on 06/03/09 at 10:05 AM ET
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I’m not accusing him of flaking, and god knows if I (or any of us, really) had such an injury, we’d probably be popping Vicodin like chiclets and still sobbing, but Pavel, in the immortal words of Dick Vermeil, “it’s time, young man.” Time to do whatever it takes to numb that sucker up as best you can and get out there. A 50% Datsyuk is good enough to make the Penguins accountable.
And honestly, fuch this penalty kill unit. It just boggles my mind. It isn’t a case of Datsyuk being out, or Lilja being out, or Lidstrom not being healthy. It’s just a lack of commitment and determination. They’re not winning the battles in the trenches and coming out with the puck to clear it. And they’re just standing around waving their sticks half-heartedly while Pittsburgh (and Anaheim….and Chicago….) cycles it around. It’s embarrassing to watch, and has gotten to the point where I just assume it’s going in the net the second the whistle blows and the penalty box door opens. Draper is needed for this reason alone. It’s time to put our best faceoff man in, because if we don’t win the faceoff on the PK, it’s not leaving the zone, and it’s going in the GD net.
Other than that…eh. Could complain about the refs missing the six men, missing Kunitz channelling his Anaheim days when he went after Franzen, missing Hossa get run face first into the boards or the fact that the road cone Hal Gill has committed blatant interference every single time he’s been on the ice…eh. Doesn’t matter. The Ericsson penalty was crap because they’d been letting that go, but the fact remains, the PK failed us yet again, and this time it cost us the game. But other than that, the effort all around has to better. Ozzie had a stinker of a game, needs to bounce back. Three shots in the third period, pitiful. I’m honestly concerned about that. The tank was just empty at the end last night. No energy at all. But hey, they lost Game 3 in Anaheim (sort of) and Chicago too, and responded with curb stompings that would make Edward Norton blush. Same pattern since the lockout ended. Home team goes up 2-0, loses Game 3 on the road, and wins Game 4 to go up 3-1.
Like I said in the LB, Joannette should be back reffing in Game 4. 11-0 in the past two postseasons when he’s on the ice. Make it 12 in Game 4. And then make it 12 in Game 5, bitches.
Posted by EFWolverine from Dearborn on 06/03/09 at 04:59 AM ET