Osgood is the biggest diver I have ever seen! Sykora barely grazed his arm!

Agree. Ozzie knows how to dive. However, that play made no difference in the game. The Pens were completely mental at that point anyways.

you must have been watching a different game, because the calls were pretty even.

Agree. I thought this was, despite the Roberts punch to Franzen’s head, one of the better officiated games of the playoffs. I wasn’t once upset with a call against the Wings, and other than the Roberts debacle, didn’t scream at the TV over a missed call.

Example of how well they did—they caught, in real-time, that Gill high-sticked his own player.

Seems to me that Penguins lost everything good they built during last two years in the span of two pathetic games. Pathetic in both performance and manhood. I am ashamed.

Am I a bad person because it brings me joy, not just to see the Wings win, but to see Little Cindy lose and then cry at his presser? I hope that douche canoe never wins a Cup. I’m sure he’ll grow up over the years, but I’m already so sick and tired of his whining to the refs on every commercial break, and I’m so damn sick of looking at his stupid rapist beard.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 05/27/08 at 09:16 AM ET

Actually, Ozzie did make at least one spectacular save—just after Malone interfered with him.

That was my favorite part of the game.

Well, other than seeing Datsyuk throw some punches in that last minute scrum.

Fleury should take note- a little interference doesn’t have to result in the puck going in the net.

Posted by justin13 from Boulder on 05/27/08 at 09:25 AM ET

Pens got to the SCF by depending on Power Plays.  Wings got here by dominating 5 x 5, what has emerged as the defining mark of this series.  Pens didn’t even manage 1 shot at even strength until after 25:00 had been played.

Check out the playoff plus/minus leaders, which over a period of time reveals even strength tendencies.

Top 7 in plus/minus are all Red Wings

Zetterberg +16
Datsyuk +13
Kronvall +13
Stuart +12
Franzen +11
Lidstrom +9
Samuellsson +8

Highest Pens?  4 @  +6.

What I said, Pens have depended on the Power Play to get to the SCF, which is exactly why Baghdad Bob is begging publicly for Power Plays in Game 3 at his barn.  It’s the only way they can get back in the series because in a straight top to bottom matchup they are badly outperformed.

Posted by RWBill from Richmond, VA on 05/27/08 at 09:33 AM ET

I’m sure he’ll grow up over the years, but I’m already so sick and tired of his whining to the refs on every commercial break…

Gretzky and Mario were two of the biggest whiners the game has ever known.  No surprise Boy Wonder is turning out to be just like them in that regard, as well.

Posted by O-Joe on 05/27/08 at 10:02 AM ET

Well, other than seeing Datsyuk throw some punches in that last minute scrum.

That makes me wonder whether Don Cherry is anti-Russian, or just anti-Pavel Datsyuk.

He made fun of him on ESPN for that.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/27/08 at 10:59 AM ET

I used to respect and enjoy watching the Penguins.  I lost a lot of it in the game that they lost to the Rangers where at the end of the game they engaged in a lot of similar tactics that we saw last night. This series has only increased that. I loathe Ryan Malone.  Malkin is tired?  What’s up with that?  This is the Stanley Cup Finals, who cares if you are tired, that alone should be enough to fire you up.  You have to suck it up and play.  Whining about the officiating only gets you so far.  If that knocks you off your game so completely, you have to come up with something else.  I really think the Pens were surprised in Game 1.  Therrien looked shell shocked about half way through that game but I don’t see them making changes that are effective.  Collagen lips Crosby looks like the only player with any jump so why not give him more ice time?  At this point, it can’t hurt.

Wings are not the Devils of the 90s.  That comparison makes my temper rise because I still haven’t forgiven them for 1995.

Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 05/27/08 at 12:22 PM ET

It took me several posts to realize who the hell “Cindy” was.

Comparing your opponent to a woman as an insult does not help your argument.  There’s no reason to insult all women when making a point about the guy’s whining.  Compare him to a child, or an adolescent, or invoke the names of whiners past. 

Just saying, it’s passe.  Like the idea that the Penguins might present a decent matchup and some suspense.

Posted by Jenius on 05/27/08 at 02:15 PM ET

> Agree. I thought this was, despite the Roberts punch to Franzen’s head, one of the better officiated games of the playoffs.

What game were you watching? There was that blatant non-call in the 1st period when a Red Wing highsticked Rob Scuderi who was bleeding like hell. I don’t know how FOUR referees could not see that because it was right where the puck was.

And there was that ridiculous call against Malone for goalie interference. Osgood pushed Malone then took a dive and the ref sent Malone to the box!

These refs were so pro-Detroit last night it was unbelievable. I hope we will not have to see that pair again!!

That said the Wings were by far the better team in the first two games and they deserve to be ahead. The Pens were a bitter disappointment so far and if cannot get a different system of how to play agains these Wings, Detroit will celebrate with the cup after game 4 in the Burgh.

Posted by Joe from Frankfurt, Germany on 05/27/08 at 03:30 PM ET

There was that blatant non-call in the 1st period when a Red Wing highsticked Rob Scuderi who was bleeding like hell.

If that is the play I’m thinking of, it wasn’t a Red Wing.  Filppulla was trying to get past Hal Gill, both their sticks got up as they were trying to pass Scuderi, and Gill’s stick hit his teammate right in the face.  Several shots on CBC showed it clearly.

And there was that ridiculous call against Malone for goalie interference. Osgood pushed Malone then took a dive and the ref sent Malone to the box!

Just as ridiculous as some of the calls on Holmstrom.  Or calls made throughout the regullar season, for that matter.  I think most fans have given up on having decent officiating - just spread the crappiness in an even layer over the entire ice surface.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/27/08 at 03:53 PM ET

That’s the same crap this dummy announcer at CBC said. They showed the replay about 5 times and every time you could see that it was the Wing player’s stick that hit Scuderi in the face, but every time this guy at CBC said “yes, it’s Gil’s stick”. IT WAS NOT! Look at the replay!

The Holmstrom call in game 1 was a good call: He had his stick between Fleury’s legs and seemed to give a little hook in the pads at the moment the puck was shot. An advice for him: Take the stick away there and nobody will call a penalty against you.

Posted by Joe from Frankfurt, Germany on 05/27/08 at 11:39 PM ET