|
Post by Zipper14 on May 31, 2009 11:22:27 GMT -5
Yup, the Wings are just too deep, especially on D. I think defensive depth is the main difference between the East and the West. A lot of 7th or 8th D-men on Western teams would be the 5th or 6th D-men in the East.
|
|
|
Post by fukufuji on Jun 1, 2009 13:11:55 GMT -5
I am surprised the wings dominated the pens top lines so easily. They are effectively shutting down the ice needed by Malkin and Crosby. I am really disappointed in the pens 3rd and 4th lines, when the top 2 lines are stifled they need to find a way to score. I think Detroit's 4th line is outscoring its first in this series. If con Smythe was just the MVP finals it might go to Darrin Helm or Justin Abdelkader Pitts should consider a change of their lines before its too late. Malkin, Crosby, Feditanko / Satan, Staal, Guiren. Let Kennedy, Cooke Dupuie and the other bottom 6 just try and keep the puck out of their net. I complained about this to my wife last year, Pitts spreads their talent out too far IMO. Detroit has gotten a few bounces and they are getting away with some key interference and hooks, but for the most part the non calls are bad both ways. I am not a huge fan of a bunch of calls, but to have tight officiating all playoff then the finals is anything goes. I don't like the inconsistancy, So far I am not too happy with this series, The conference semi-finals are still tops IMO.
|
|
|
Post by Zoom Waffles on Jun 1, 2009 13:38:46 GMT -5
see i completely disagree... i think spreading out the talent is the only way the pens have stayed so close. while the wings have done a good job of keeping malkin/crosby off the scoresheet (for the most part), the penguins have also been effective at the same thing. putting malkin/crosby on the same line does two things... first, your concentrated offense will ALWAYS be going against detroit's best D (and defensive forwards). If crosby/malkin can't break through that (which I don't think they can), there's no point to overloading. Second, it lives yourself defensively vulnerable... malkin/crosby can shut down zetterberg's line, but then who faces hossa's line?
you're absolutely right... staal's line needs to score some goals in this series or pittsburgh's never going to win. That said, bringing the series back to Pittsburgh will throw off the matchups and give crosby a bit more room to work with.
|
|
|
Post by fukufuji on Jun 1, 2009 15:39:23 GMT -5
Yeah that's true all your eggs in one basket can really hurt escpecially when Detroit's lines are 1A 1B 1C and 1D. Playing in Pitts should be interesting, not only will they be fired up but the matchups are another factor. Plus Detroit won't have home boards advantage. I am giving up on the series too soon.
On the other hand I think wings would have trouble shift after shift against corsby and malkin even with their best defense out there. Pitts is all about offense and outscoring their opponent, I think they would be better off to structure their team for the best offense and let everything else be what it is. When your opponent outmatches you in almost every aspect focus on your strength.
|
|
|
Post by Zoom Waffles on Jun 1, 2009 17:07:36 GMT -5
that's a good point. although, with the shaky goaltending of marc-andre fleury, i hate to think what would happen when hossa is up against craig adams, miro satan, and mark eaton...
|
|
|
Post by fukufuji on Jun 7, 2009 23:18:20 GMT -5
I was really hoping pitts would win this year but they are starting to show some signs of just being too young and not ready. Game 5 was another mental melt down and very undiciplined. Even down 4 goals there is still half the game left and you have one of the most prolific offenses in the game, its not the time to be taking totally pointless penalties after the whistle and away from the play. Need to learn to control the frustration. They should consider benching Kunitz, he is the worst offender of pointless penalties. He is not going to take anyone with him when its the wings in the finals.
|
|
|
Post by Zoom Waffles on Jun 7, 2009 23:28:18 GMT -5
benching kunitz sounds like a good idea... i just don't know who they'd replace him with. the best option in the stands right now is sykora... but he can't really play that role. they'd have to put sykora back with geno/fedotenko, and move talbot up to Sid's line.
the game was a pretty bad meltdown, but it didn't really surprise me. Since Bylsma took over, the Pens have been a team that plays on a lot of emotion. i'm not sure it has as much to do with their youth as it does with their style of play. Sometimes that kind of emotion-filled game is a positive thing (see 3 goals in 5 minutes in game 4). Other times it kills you (game 5...).
for once, two days off will be a GOOD thing for the penguins. we'll see (hope) that they can regroup before Game 6 to force a 7th game. I think all hockey fans can agree we'd like to see that, right? except wings fans, maybe...
|
|
|
Post by fukufuji on Jun 10, 2009 9:34:39 GMT -5
Wow a game 7 how sweet it is. I think this will be a defining moment for the pens. Can they do what they have not been able to do which is win at the Joe? But more important than winning (as silly as that sounds) can they keep their composure and stay in the game if things don't go their way. Its a lesson most championship teams have to learn at some point, no matter how big of a hole you are in, now matter how much the other team is cheating, no matter how bad the calls are, no matter where the bounces go, no matter who is injured, you stay in the game and keep going for the win. Good luck wings and pens, winner take all here we come.
|
|
|
Post by Zoom Waffles on Jun 12, 2009 23:54:49 GMT -5
Pens win! Pens win! Pens win!!!
i'm SO glad i predicted this series wrong, haha.
|
|
|
Post by Zipper14 on Jun 13, 2009 14:08:50 GMT -5
Congrats to the Pens. They continually proved me wrong all throughout the playoffs. I underestimated the D of Scuderi and Gill. Those guys did a great job of shutting down the Wings in the third of game seven. Scuderi will get some big bucks in the FA market this year. If Jeff Finger makes $3.5 million then Scuderi could be getting $4.
|
|
|
Post by fukufuji on Jun 14, 2009 15:03:59 GMT -5
Pens deserved that win they worked hard for it. Anyone that says the pens won because the wings played crappy or injuries is being a sore looser. Pens outplayed them. Max Talbot, that was just incredible for him to step up. Wonderful wonderful job penguins. I could take rematch after rematch of these 2 teams if it works out that way.
|
|