Wings Win the Stanley Cup On Penguin Ice

I’m drained from the two-month playoff journey, and a tad ticked off that the Pens’ lost the Stanley Cup to Detroit in six games.  So I’m gonna keep this short and sweet (not to mention three days after the fact!).  The Wings were the better team throughout the series, however, the Pens’ were starting to show life in the later half of the Cup final, but it was too little too late.  The Wings claiming their 11th Stanley Cup (4th in the past 11 years) with a 3-2 win at Mellon Arena on Wednesday.  Henrik Zetterberg was named the Conn Smythe trophy winner for playoff MVP, finishing tied with Sidney Crosby in total points with 27.  So it’s wait ’til next year for the Penguins, but a great season to be sure.  The future is bright in the Steel City!!

 

No Cup For Detroit, As Pens’ Win Epic 3OT Thriller In Motown

I was there, I saw it in person!  Game #5 of the 2008 Stanley Cup Final may well go down as one of the best games in playoff history, as the Pittsburgh Penguins staved off elimination to beat the Wings 4-3 in triple overtime, to cut Detroit’s lead in the series to 3-2.  The game had it all (not even to mention the Stanley Cup was in the building):  raw emotion, blown leads by both teams, injuries, blood, amazing crowd and goaltending, last second heroics, and a Penguin win for the ages!  My girlfriend and I survived the hostile environment at Joe Louis Arena, sitting through the over 4 hour roller-coaster ride of emotions from section 217A.  I was even taking a video of the final minute of an expected Detroit win (for a piece of history) when Max Talbot http://www.myxer.com/ringtone:505118/ saved the Pens’ season with less than 35 seconds to play, and the champagne chilling on ice in the Wings locker room.  The Joe went from insane loudness and joy, to total silence and horror.  The Pens’, who blew a 2-0 first period lead, were totally dominated in the 3rd and most of the three overtimes, and if not for the un-real goaltending of Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh’s season would have ended, and the Wings would have Cup #11.  But sports is a funny animal sometimes.  The guts the Pen’s showed to stay in the game with the late tally, and Petr Sykora’s 3OT winner http://www.myxer.com/ringtone:505117/ were true testiments to how great this bunch of players are.  So it’s back to Mellon tonight for Game #6, and if the Pens’ can pull it out, there will be a game for “all the marbles” in Motown on Saturday night!  I can’t wait to see it happen.  Let’s Go Pens’!!  Oh, check out the pictures I took at the game using the link below.

http://s244.photobucket.com/albums/gg38/darthwall/game5pensvswings/

Cooled Down Reflections

OK it’s been about 24 hours since the Penguins lost to Detroit, to trail 3-1 in the Stanley Cup Final, and I’ve now calmed down to point out some things.  First of all, the better team is winning this series to be sure.  The Wings may not be the greatest team to ever win (or going to win) the Cup, but they deserve full marks for the lead they’ve earned.  Second, the Pens’ have had a super season, one that not many true fans of the team thought to be possible this soon in the “Crosby Era”.  It’s never easy to have your team lose so close to the ultimate prize, but I’m fairly confident that even in this salary cap NHL, the Penguins will be playing for Lord Stanley’s mug several more times with this current core.  The reason I’m posting this quasi-post mortem on the series, is because I will be in Detroit tomorrow night for Game #5, and will not be back to post until Tuesday evening.  So my girlfriend and I will either see the Pens’ extend the series and their season, or we will witness one of sports greatest moments, the awarding of the Stanley Cup.  I guess it’s win-win no matter what.  But I would really rather skip out on the history part! 

 

Will the Duke and the K-girl see this awarded Monday night?? 

Pens Listless In Biggest Game Of the Year

Not really going to say much, because I’m seething right now.  What a pathetic effort by the Penguins with their season on the line, losing 2-1 to the Wings in Game #4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.  The Pens’, who now trail the final 3-1, showed no heart, no jump, and ultimately will not be winning the  Stanley Cup this season.  In fact I will have the priviledge of watching the Wings hoist the Cup Monday night at the Joe.  Can’t fucking wait.  Oh and if any of you see Evgeni Malkin in the next day or so, can you have him report to the team, he’s been missing for a week now.   OK I’m going to beat the cat and smash something Chet Greenslade style (inside joke).

 

It’s Sid To the Rescue, As Pens’ Win Game #3

Holy fuck I’m drained!  After sitting through some truly ugly hockey in Detroit for Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, tonight’s Game #3 in Pittsburgh was a complete 180.  Not only did the Penguins score a freakin’ goal, they scored three of them, en route to a 3-2 win, and a shaved 2-1 series lead for the Red Wings.  This was one of the better games of the playoffs in my opinion, with tons of hitting, flow, scoring chances, and overall effort by Pittsburgh.  Pittsburgh was led by Sidney Crosby, who put the team on his back leading by example, and scoring the first two Pens’ goals — their first of the series — and backed by some solid goaltending by MAF, and sick physical play of the ageless warrior Gary Roberts.  The Pens’ proved that Chris Osgood can be beaten, and took away Detroit’s neutral zone dominance that was on display in full force back in Motown.  Adam Hall of all people scored what proved to be the winning goal in the third, off of a good forcheck by Roberts and Max Talbot.  We’re now on a 48 hour break before Game #4 at Mellon on Saturday.  Tonight’s win also guarentees a Game #5 at the Joe, which I will be attending with the girlfriend!  Let’s hope the series is tied at 2-2 by then.

 

0-fer Motown

Not happy with the hockey I’ve seen so far in the Stanley Cup Finals, and not just because the Penguins are down 2-0.  The latest snooze-fest, last nights’ 3-0 debacle (and second straight shutout loss), was a perfect example of the boring style of hockey that ruined the game back in the mid-90’s.  Detroit deserves full marks for their dominating performance so far, but let’s be honest, they are about as exiting a team as the Port Dover Sailors.  Un-watchable really.  And I thought the NHL was doing all they can to cut down on obstruction, when did this series turn into the 1999 playoffs?  For the Pens’ part, they need to score a fucking goal on Chris Osgood.  Why?  Because he’s Chris fucking Osgood.  I have never seen a more ordinary goalie look like the second coming of Pat Roy.  And Marc-Andre Fleury can stop pretending to be the Marc-Andre from his rookie season thank you very much.  The series is on the line Wednesday in Pittsburgh. If the Pens’ win, we have a chance at a good series, a Wings win means a sweep and no Game #5 for me in Detroit.  Yes in case you didn’t know, I have two tickets to Game #5.  Maybe I’ll be seeing the “other” team win the Cup, instead of my Pens’.  Shame.

Stinkbomb City

It must be said that I didn’t see one second of Game #1 of the Stanley Cup Finals.  I had a prior DJ’ing gig to attend to.  And boy am I glad I missed this clunker, 4-0 Wings.  Not much to say, seems the Pens were dominated in the games’ final 30 minutes, and a poor PP in the first did them in.  Marc-Andre Fleury also picked a bad time to play his worst game of the playoffs, and worst game since injuring his ankle back in the fall.  So it’s bounce back time for Game #2 on Monday.  A split in Motown is all that could be expected anyways.

Stanley Cup Finals Preview

With less than two days until the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals gets underway — between my beloved Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings — I thought it was about time I did my own Finals preview.  First off, my bias will not be ignored, obviously I love the Pens’ and believe they will win this series no matter what.  But I do acknowledge the Wings as a superb team, with very little flaws.  The thing is, the Pens’ in my opinion are playing at a slightly higher level than the Wings heading into Game #1 in Motown.  At 12-2 through three rounds, Pittsburgh has shown it’s not a one-trick pony with tons of offense and very little else.  In fact, the Pens’ are the top team statistically in the playoffs when it come to defence!  Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is the top-rated goalie, and the team has bought into coach Michel Therrien’s defensive system.  I also feel the Penguins have more offensive depth, and more lineup depth overall than the Red Wings.  Having said all that regarding Pittsburgh’s improved “own end” play, I think the Wings hold the slight edge with their d-crop.  Nic Lidstrom is perhaps a top three d-man of all time, and he leads by example on the back end.  So here is my breakdown of the main categories of both squads:

Goalie – Slight edge to Fleury (the Conn Smythe winner after three rounds if you ask me)
Forwards – As good as Zetterberg and Datsyuk are, you can’t compare to Crosby, Malkin, Hossa, Staal
Defence – Wings have the bigger names, especially Lidstrom, but this isn’t as one sided as it appears
Coaching – Edge to Babcock only because he’s been in the Final before, but Therrien has been great in ‘08
Special Teams – Penguins have a better PP in the playoffs, and both teams are killing penalties at 87.3%

So my gut tells me the Penguins will win the series in 5 games.  Yes a shock to some that I’m even taking the Pens’, but even moreso that I’m calling it in 5.  I just have a feeling this is going to be a similar series to the New Jersey-Detroit Final of 1995.  A favoured Detroit team got absolutely buzz sawed in a sweep to the underdog Devils, when not too many people thought Jersey could even win a game.  Maybe this series isn’t seen in the same light, but the circumstances kind of remind me of that year.  So call me crazy, or call me lucky, but I sense Lord Stanley’s Cup will be residing in the “Steel City” for the next year, with Sid and the boys winning at least a year or two before anyone (including myself) thought they would.  It will be a great day for hockey if it comes to fruition!  LET’S GO PENS’!!!!

Four More Wins, As Penguins Head To the Cup Finals!!

Talk about statement games!  The Pittsburgh Penguins not only beat the Philadelphia Flyers to advance to their third Stanley Cup Final in team history, they absolutely dismantled them.  And after the dust had settled in the Pens 6-0 pasting http://www.myxertones.com/ringtone:489560/  of the Cryers Sunday afternoon, it was quite clear to most, this Penguins team is a force to be reckoned with.  Led once again by the goaltending of Marc-Andre Fleury, the Pens buried the Flyers early and often, in a game that was very similar to their 8-0 1991 Stanley Cup clincher versus the then Minnesota North Stars.  This game was never in doubt, with Ryan Malone netting the game and series winner less than 3 minutes into the game on the PP.  Marian Hossa was a beast once again on both ends of the ice, and Sidney Crosby capped off a much better series than the Ranger 5-gamer, with two assists.  The Pens now await the winner of the West Final, with Detroit clinging to a 3-2 series lead.  On a personal note, I have tickets to Game #5 of the Cup Final in Detroit, so you know who I will be cheering for Monday.  LET’S GO PENS”!!!!  The three stars of the East Final:

1. Marc-Andre Fleury
2. Marian Hossa
3. Sidney Crosby

 

Terrible First Does Pens’ In

A lacklustre Pittsburgh Penguins effort in the first period resulted in 3 Philadelphia goals (including two on the PP), as the Cryers beat Pittsburgh 4-2, for their first win of the series.  Some shoddy play by the Pens’, along with some ticky-tack penalties were the main reason for the opening 20 minutes of ugliness.  However, for most of the 2nd period and just about the entire 3rd, the Pens’ outplayed Philly, and after Jordan Staal potted two in the final frame, the Flyers looked like a team that was out of gas.  Should bode well moving forward for Game #5 at Mellon Arena on Sunday, with the Pens’ leading the series 3-1.  It should be mentioned that Crosby and Malkin were a tad off tonight.  Hope that is out of their systems for the next game!