Pulling for a Hawks/Pens final personally.

yeah you're right. What was I thinking.

PENSSS :cool:

Bruins/Hawks, with the Hawks prevailing.

WOOO HOME ICE

Missed the games last night. I'm glad to see the Canes made it, however I wouldn't have been upset for the Bruins to have prevailed either. Hope the Pens can beat the Wings. If it comes down to goal tending, the Pens should have the edge.

Pens in 6, Wings in 5 for this round.

Pens in 7 for the finals.

Nope. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the Detroit Red Wings will be winning back-to-back Stanley Cups for the first time in, depending how you count it, 11-12 years.

What? Marc Andre Fleury is awful

Against someone named Osbad, he has the edge I think.

yup, he sure is.

lol. My dad is a Philly fan and even he admits Fleury is one of the best goalies in the league.

:rant: @ no game tonight.

Lookin like gonna be a Cup Rematch vs Wings. Way to G Pens. Canes had a great playoff run but the Pens fire power just too much.

Well, all due respect to Blackhawks fans, but there was absolutely NO FUCKING EXCUSE for the despicable deeds of the Chicago players during the game, and there is CERTAINLY no room in the NHL for coaches who think they can blatantly fucking argue during and after the game over a call made at the end of Sunday's 1st period. As for as I'm concerned, Joel Quenneville got off with way too little punishment. As far as I'm concerned, if I was in the NHL commissioner's (sp.?) shoes, I would have suspended his sorry ass for tonight's game.

You add all that to horrible goaltending (yes, I do realise they played without normal G Nikolai Khabibulin), and a Detroit team that was looking to avenge the game 4 loss and take out some serious frustration and there was just no way we were going to let Chicago fly back to the Joe for tonight's game 5 with the series knotted @ 2 gm.'s a piece.

I'll admit I am not his biggest fan, but Osgood has been stellar in the playoffs. I remember reading that Marc Andre Fleury's Save percentage in the 2nd round was somewhere around.89

In fact, you guys want to go inside the numbers.

Chris Osgood- 11 wins, 4 losses, 33 Goals Against, 2.14 GAA, .921 Save precentage

Marc Andre Fleury- 12 wins, 5 losses, 46 GAA, 2.62 GAA .905 Save Percentage. Sorry guys but the numbers dont lie

You have to take into consideration that Detroit's defensive brigade is better, and thus lets in fewer dangerous shots, less breakaways...

You shouldn't trust numbers all the time. People did that with Theodore in 2002 and look where it got him.

Well, Detroit won, surprise, surprise.

The Pens do look like they'll be tougher to beat this season, especially if the Wings remain banged up, and the top guys on Pittsburgh keep playing like they've been doing.

can't wait for this series after last year. I will finally be able to watch a fucking game now instead of following it on google.

It is going to be hard for Detroit to beat the pens in back to back finals for sure,

But if Datsyuk and Lidstrom get ready in time, they will probably win.

Avatar bet for the Finals? You put a Detroit Red Wings logo as your avatar until the start of next season if they win, I'll show a Montreal one if they don't

That save Huet made on Frazen with like 3 seconds left in the 3rd was fucking amazing.

IT'S GONNA BE A BLOOD BATH!!!!!!!!!!!!...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was hoping for this final. Like to see the Pens get revenge.

And the consporacy-theorists have more fuel...

"The NHL wants the Pens to win, since Crosby is 'the face of the sport'. Why else would they have scheduled Games 1&2 on back-to-back days?"


Personally, I'm digging it.

If they wanted him to win, they woulda made it happen his 1st year with Lemieux.

True, I am enjoying this back to back game process. I think it will add more intrigue, however, it will make winning game 1 that much more important

Deal, you're on.

But then by waiting to try for Gm. 5 tix, you are automatically presuming that one side or the other won't sweep the series...

P.S.--Detroit F 12th overall Stanley Cup!:y::yes:

No way is either side going to sweep. I'll honestly be a bit surprised if it doesn't go 7.

Pens FTW!

The latest on Detroit players in question for the Finals (\/):

Red Wings expect Lidstrom, Ericsson to play

Friday, 05.29.2009 / 2:01 PM / News

Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) -Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said Friday defensemen Nicklas Lidstrom and Jonathan Ericsson will play in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals.

Babcock said Pavel Datsyuk's status will be a last-minute decision before
Saturday night's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL's first championship rematch in 25 years.

Lidstrom and Datsyuk practiced the day before the opener, but Ericsson didn't as a precaution just days following surgery for acute appendicitis.

The defending champion Red Wings will lean heavily on Lidstrom against superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Lidstrom is a six-time winner of the Norris Trophy, given to the NHL's top defenseman, and a finalist to win it again this summer. He has missed two games with a lower-body injury

Detroit would also get a boost from Datsyuk, a finalist for league MVP and best defensive forward honors, but doesn't want to rush him back because a foot injury kept him out of the last three games in the Western Conference finals.

Good. I don't want any crybaby action when the Penguins wipe them all over the ice.

Incidentally, can someone with some time on their hands figure out how many players from both Pittsburgh and Detroit played in last year's Cup final and will play in this year's? (Hossa doesn't count, I mean guys who played for the same team both times.) I do NOT have time on my hands, btw. And what am I even doing in this forum.

Datsyuk isn't gonna play tonight.

I think the Pens take game one, just have a feeling.

Pretty much the same teams, on the Pens its all the same except for Kunitz, Fedotenko, Guerin, Satan, Boucher. There is a few more, but I doubt they play, like Godard and Goligoski

For the Wings it's the same team except for rookies who will get in due to injuries and Conklin.


Edit, that took all of 5 minutes lol

Well then, guess we both thought wrong.

Tough going against the best sports franchise in all of sports for the past 15 years.

Wings in 4

:wavesad:

ugh, good game. Detroit looked a lot better as the game progressed. Detroit was out hustling the Pens the last couple minutes, even with a 6-5. But Crosby, Malkin and them were beat.

Crosby made a sick play when he spun around and shot it. Would of been amazing if he made that.

I'm just happy I got to watch a game at home. I don't get that stupid Versus channel they air hockey on here

:nono:

as if Malkin wasn't aready my favorite player, he just became my hero of the week.

Shoulda been 2-1. That was clearly slashing by Hossa before the 2nd goal was scored.

HAHAHAHAHA it won't last but Malkin got an instigator penalty and if that lasts no Malkin Game 3.

I agree with the Hossa thing but the problem is the sticks are so weak nowadays. Also, Fleury should have had the 3rd goal.

And? Wood or Fiber Glass, it's still a penalty.

I've seen so many sticks break this post season it is redic. Also, I don't want you to sit back and tell me that the Wings are breaking rules and Sid is sitting there being an angel. He is getting away with shit too

Because, I said that, rite?

I think last night's fight definitely sealed the deal for any non-traditional NHL viewers out there who weren't sure whether or not they would watch game 3 Tuesday, and btw, to whoever posted the pic, I'm sorry but a still pic cannot do that end of game brawl justice, so, here everyone, is a vid version (\/):
<EMBED src=http://www.youtube.com/v/LFfdXlbV7n0&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1 width=500 height=405 type=application/x-shockwave-flash allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></EMBED>

Oh, and @ splaya's mini-diatribe: Sorry, man but I gotta side with the refs on this one. I applaud them for showing some restraint in the penalty dept. (i.e., only calling the obviously way blatant shit) They weren't born yesterday. They know just as well as every fan, player, coach, GM and owner out there what's at stake, and they don't want to disrupt the flow of the games. :y:

You son of a bitch I was defending the refs :mad:

Also, WTF @ this (\/):
NHL's Campbell rescinds Malkin suspension
Sunday, 05.31.2009 / 11:48 PM / 2009 Stanley Cup Final: Detroit vs. Pittsburgh
NHL.com
DETROIT -- National Hockey League Executive Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell issued the following statement regarding the instigator penalty assessed to Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin at 19:41 of the third period of tonight’s Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final:

Rule 47.22 states: "A player who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation in the final five minutes or at any time in overtime shall be suspended for one game, pending a review of the incident. The director of hockey operations will review every such incident and may rescind the suspension based on a number of criteria. The criteria for the review shall include, but not be limited to, the score, previous incidents, etc..."

Following that review, Campbell said: "None of the criteria in this rule applied in this situation. Suspensions are applied under this rule when a team attempts to send a message in the last five minutes by having a player instigate a fight. A suspension could also be applied when a player seeks retribution for a prior incident. Neither was the case here and therefore the one game suspension is rescinded."

NHL Hockey Operations also determined that Malkin should have been assessed a game misconduct for not having his jersey tied down.

From: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=424480

:nono: Bullshit, none of the criteria apply! Apparently this jackass who made the decision can't read his own goddamned rule that starts with "A player who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation in the final five minutes..." THERE WAS :18.2 to go in the game!!!:mad: So I guess nobody's above a suspension, unless you're Evgeni Malkin...again, just :nono:

They aren't gonna suspend a star player for the Stanley Cup finals. Especially when the league is starved for ratings and it currently has its best opportunity to get back on American national television in a big way for the first time in years.

But guess what. For games 3 and 4, they are not going back on National Television. The game is strictly on Versus

That's Jesus's point though. Unless there's a sweep by Detroit (not happening, btw) Games 5-7 ARE on national TV. Malkin being on the ice for Game 3 helps make sure they get to those "if necessary" games.

Game 1 the Pens were the better team, but suffered some bad bounces.

Game 2 the Red Wings were the better team, and the Pens were 2 posts away from a tie game.

Hossa got away with a BIG one that directly led to Filppula's goal.

If Pittsburgh plays game 3 like how they did in the first 2 games, the broom is DEF coming out in game 4...

Althought the wings are the superiour team, I doubt that the pens will get swept. I think that they will win game 3 tongiht, but then lose games four and five to the wings.

Wow that Versus commercial with Explosions in the Sky playing just gave me goose bumps, anyone else see that?

What where they chanting after that 4th goal tonight? I noticed them chanting something earlier in the game as well..couldn't make it out.

Hey good game by Pittsburgh tonight. Detroit just seemed like they did not want it as bad. No arguments here, we got outplayed and outhustled

Hopefully Pittsburgh wins game 4, makes things more interesting. Also don't really like the Red Wings for whatever reason, although the city of Detroit could probably use a championship right now...

Anyone take me in for 6 months if the Pens win?

I dont think I could live here with everyones nose brown from Saint Sidneys ass if they win.

They just won it last year.

Tony u bite your fucking tongue

The only thing I hate about it being the Finals is no hockey every night.

Keep talking like that and I'll run you out of town myself :nono:

Just kidding. There are quite a few out there like you say, but I and most of my friends are equally Gino and Sarge fans. Besides, if Sid gets too pompous, we'll chase him away like we did Jagr.

lol. There's a difference in not being able to afford both Jagr and Lemieux and being "chased" away.

No, FUCK YOU, GO RED WINGS!
p.s.-Also mad props to former MSU player Justin Abdelkader for becoming the only NHL player to score his first 2 goals in Gm.'s 1 & 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals, even if he did get lucky on both of them...kid's got a bright future ahead.

To quote WDVE's "Mullet Talk", "Jagr has been whining a little bit lately... like, pardon the term, a little bitch. It's like when Jagr cut off his mullet, his nutsack went with it."

Well, hopefully, at any rate, the Wings will take Gm. 4 tonight so they can win the Cup at Joe Louis Arena on Saturday in Gm. 5, instead of having to win it on the road. But I won't complain, as long as they clinch it one way or the other.:y:

And now it's best of 3. Will either team be able to win on the road? I hope so, as long as it's not Game 6.

This is turning out to be a great series. Series don't start till home team loses. I said that after the first two games and now after the series is tied. Also I am a Pens fan and I gotta say the refs are putting the whistle away this series and its going both ways. I like it. Let the players decide it.

Why are you insulting the greatest player of our generation aside from Mario?

Jordan Stall is the better of the Stall's, imo.

If we can pull out a win in Game 5, have a good feeling about winning it all.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahhaha

mark out :love:

He's not entirely wrong, until he left the Pens, and his play dropped, he was considered the next Mario.

Jagr is my fav player of all-time and got me into hockey. plus he's Czech :)

I remember after he left the Pens, on the NHL games the next couple years I would always bring him back.

Seriously want the Pens to win, only to shut up retarded Detroit fans who think the Wings are bigger than Jesus. Listening to Detroit radio stations is retarded, all of them today were like "Saturday is game 5, when the Wings will probably win the cup". Fuck off.

Well, if they're still stupid enough to say we'll "probably win the cup" (i.e., in Gm. 5 Saturday), well then, they obviously didn't take note that the series is tied 2-2, meaning neither side is taking the cup until at least Gm. 6, possibly even Gm. 7...

This was during the day yesterday, you tool. Meaning they were assuming Detroit would win last night, and then take the cup Saturday.

If only it had happened that way...

WOO-HOO! 4-0 Detroit right now. YES it's only the 2nd Period but I am feeling pretty good about the Red Wings chances here tonight to win...

Better make that 5-0 Detroit!:D:D:D:D:D

FUCK ALL YOU HATERS. Detroit is playing at an absolutely elite level right now...not taking silly penalties and maintaining their composure...

Unlike Malkin and Kunitz. Is Darren Helm really too much for you guys to control your emotions.

If Kronwall lays out Malkin or Crosby, my night is complete

DAMN RITE, Splaya!

Somebody gon' get they ass kicked
Somebody gon' get they wig split...

And see, Sidney Crosby fucking hitting Zetterberg in the knee is why I hate that Fucking prick.

Talbot's losing his composure.