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Finals Playoff Prediction
by PuckStopsHere on 05/28/09 at 11:38 PM ET
Comments (12)
I was correct on both my semi-final predictions, split my second round predictions and went 5-3 in my first round predictions. This gives me an overall 9-5 record in the 2009 playoffs. That isn’t too bad and I am guaranteed no worse than a .600 record in the playoffs even if I miss the finals prediction.
Here it is:
Detroit defeats Pittsburgh This is a re-match of last year’s finals. What has changed in a year? Detroit is a year older. A couple of the players who have made the biggest changes in that year are Nicklas Lidstrom and Chris Osgood. Lidstrom has dropped from a should have been MVP defenceman to a Norris nominees who will not win that award. It’s a significant drop, even though he remains a top player in the league. Osgood dropped from a surprise All Star Game player to a horrid regular season. Such is life when you are in the later half of your thirties. Detroit has significant players who are struggling with injuries in Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk and Marian Hossa.
Another year for Pittsburgh helps their young stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin gain more maturity. Of course they do not have Hossa any more as he is playing on the other team. Pittsburgh is not without key injuries. Star defenceman Sergei Gonchar has been playing hurt.
I don’t think the injury angle is enough to close the gap between these teams. Detroit is too good. They have too many good players. Pittsburgh doesn’t have as good depth. The Penguins are made to look like a better challenger than they are since this is their second finals appearance. I think they likely would not be back if Carolina hadn’t eliminated Boston for them.
It is a final that is easy to market for the NHL. It will be interesting to see if it can live up to its marketing expectation. I think both of these teams are beatable. Pittsburgh more so. As a result, I pick Detroit.
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Tags: Detroit+Red+Wings, Pittsburgh+Penguins,
Comments
do u get paid to blog or is it just for your amusement? always wondered
Posted by Luongo-is-my-hero on 05/29/09 at 12:53 AM ET
so wait. are you now saying they’re elite in the salary cap era, or regardless of the salary cap era? or did you mean elite goaltending in the post salary lockout cap pre hall of fame era? who is playing hurt again? and what does that mean in the salary cap era? just as much or nothing at all as a hall of fame elite goaltender playing hurt pre-post-lockout era?
is anyone playing that will maybe win an award if they arent already nominated for it if they were a lock for it last season when they won it but not this season? who is that player? thats the key to this series.
Posted by now from yup on 05/29/09 at 02:00 AM ET
Regular season stats be damned. Ozzie and Lidstrom are playing at least as well as they did in last playoffs. Hell, Lidstrom had a good regular season by any measurement (including his own) and, If anything, Ozzie has been better than he was in last years playoffs. He was absolutely brilliant against the Hawks.
Posted by UMcastaway from Florida on 05/29/09 at 02:11 AM ET
Both these teams are beatable? BY WHO?!
What an idiotic comment. I mean, just plain STUPID comment.
Why don’t you just say, “My elite team lost and I don’t like hockey enough to actually support any other team.”
I don’t know what else to say, except I will never bother reading one of your blog posts. Its not worth my time.
Paul?
Please get rid of this pre-pubescent dork. He is dragging Kukla’s Korner down.
Posted by johnny 2 in kalamazoo on 05/29/09 at 06:26 AM ET
Man, if only the Finals could matchup up all those elite teams who either lost in the first two rounds or just missed the playoffs entirely…
Posted by HockeyinHD on 05/29/09 at 06:51 AM ET
Holy shit.
What a terrible write-up with absolutely no analysis put-forth.
Paul, this is embarrassing that this is on the front page each time he posts.
Posted by moore00 from Columbus, OH/Grand Rapids, MI on 05/29/09 at 08:49 AM ET
moore00, He is entitled to his opinion and he has his own beliefs.
Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 05/29/09 at 08:52 AM ET
Paul,
That’s fine, I love dissenting opinions (Pensblog/Empty Netters will be a daily read till the finals are over), but you are looking for quality bloggers on this site, and his total lack of research or ability to create a cohesive argument brings down the other great blogs here on KK.
I disagree but do not have a problem with his opinions. It is, however, his ability to write and discuss issues with any sort of intellect are the issues I have a problem with. It is amateur hour at its finest. KK is not amateur (even A2Y, which is professional in its immature, yet constantly entertaining ways.)
All the other blogs on this site are top notch. One blog here is not like the others. Anyways keep up a get site Paul.
Moore
Posted by moore00 from Columbus, OH/Grand Rapids, MI on 05/29/09 at 09:10 AM ET
How can we possibly beat Pittsburgh without an elite goalie?!
Posted by Alan from Atlanta on 05/29/09 at 11:15 AM ET
I have to agree with the above sentiments. His writing is horrible, plain and simple. Everyone else on KK is heads and above better in every aspect.
Posted by Luongo-is-my-hero on 05/29/09 at 01:51 PM ET
ya i do feel bad for this guy. kinda. not really. it must suck to be this inarticulate. this whole article was him just saying things about each team but not really making a point of it. i was waiting for him to say:
“detroit has red and white jerseys, pittsburgh wears black and gold, i dont know which is better but both teams wear them while playing”.
thats pretty much this blog in a nutshell.
Posted by now from yup on 05/29/09 at 08:54 PM ET
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say what? but..but.. but.. what about elite goaltending?
Posted by AxeMaster9 on 05/28/09 at 11:49 PM ET