NHL Playoffs 2009 (FINALS!)

[vwboomer]

I don't think I've seen that many people tossed out in a series much less in a game 

Hopefully 1 more game will do it.

[redxblack]

Last year in an AHL game (Lake Erie v. Syracuse), there were only about 5 people left on the home team's bench by the time all the penalties were sorted at the end of the game. There were a couple tossed here, but the refs were constantly talking to these guys. Eager got tossed for saying something to the ref. That's something I have rarely seen.

[vwboomer]

This is crazy. I'm on dayshift this week so I'll be able to watch the games in real time! woooo!

[corey]

Pens take the cup in 6 vs. wings.

[redxblack]

Pens take the cup in 6 vs. wings.

Depending on when the playoffs start, that's a possibility. IF Detroit gets healthy again, Pittsburgh is done for. The Wings have the  best face-off man in the league (Draper) one of the best two way players in the league (Datsyuk) and the greatest defensemen in the universe (Lidstrom) all broken. If they mend before the series, Pittsburgh is in trouble. I think the pens will be a lot tougher than the blackhawks to beat. The wings spanked them with the thinned roster because Chicago beat themselves mentally.

[Ontario_Monster]

Anyone betting against my perdiction yet?  Yep Pens in 7 over Detroit  I've said it twice now ....

Cheers

[corey]

Depending on when the playoffs start, that's a possibility. IF Detroit gets healthy again, Pittsburgh is done for. The Wings have the  best face-off man in the league (Draper) one of the best two way players in the league (Datsyuk) and the greatest defensemen in the universe (Lidstrom) all broken. If they mend before the series, Pittsburgh is in trouble. I think the pens will be a lot tougher than the blackhawks to beat. The wings spanked them with the thinned roster because Chicago beat themselves mentally.

And of course, if it does happen, Detroit fans all over the world will use injury as an excuse. 
As i stated before, if they weren't so willing to take a physical beating ("goonism" as referred to be some) then they wouldn't be in this particular situation.
You're roster needs to be deep enough to handle the loss of a few key players.

I'm not saying I wouldn't do the same if Crosby and Malkin were both hurt... 

[redxblack]

Detroit fans as a group are much classier than that. We'll blame the refs!

Draper has a pulled groin, Datsyuk accidentally blocked a shot with his foot and Lidstrom has a long-term injury (it's the reason he skipped the all star game and got suspended because the league refused to recognize his need for rest).  It wasn't physical play with any of these three. Lilja is out with a concussion and Kopecky might need facial surgery. Both of those injuries are from physical play.

[redxblack]

and if the pens win, can you imagine the facepalm Hossa will have to plant?

[redxblack]

I'm quite happy the Pens grabbed the ECF trophy and held it aloft. I guess no one told them about hockey folklore.

[Magnus]

I'm quite happy the Pens grabbed the ECF trophy and held it aloft. I guess no one told them about hockey folklore.

perhaps crosby knows that back in '91 when the pens won the cup, lemieux touched the prince of wales trophy and it didn't seem to be a problem...

[redxblack]

He said later that last year he didn't touch it and they lost, so he thought he'd try this.

[Dannyboy]

As i stated before, if they weren't so willing to take a physical beating ("goonism" as referred to be some) then they wouldn't be in this particular situation.
You're roster needs to be deep enough to handle the loss of a few key players.

This is a joke, right?  You're not really calling Lidstrom and Datsyuk goons, are you?  Not only is that the furthest thing from the truth but the injuries didn't come from taking/giving a hit anyway.  Lidstrom, as far as I know, tweaked an ankle.  Datsyuk took a puck off the foot and Draper strained his groin skating down the ice.

As far as depth, I would love to see how the Pens do without Crosby or Malkin.  That is their team right there.  The Wings have more depth all around than the Pens. 

Wings in 6-barring any referee interference like last year.

[corey]

I think you misread. I was stating that the Wings are a team that is TOO disciplined. They aren't willing to stand up for their physical well-being when other teams start piling on the bodies. DEFINITELY not calling the goons, you are correct this would be the furthest thing from truth. I also was blissfully unaware of the injury circumstances surrounding the Detroit players, as that information somehow tends to not make it's way to Pittsburgh... Probably not a coincidence

As far as depth goes, Losing Malkin or Crosby would be a serious blow indeed.
But let's not forget about all the other guys that have multi-point games in the playoffs... Fedotenko, Staal, Gonchar, MAX TALBOT.... The list goes on and on and on...
The penguins have four lines that are all in sync. No personal agendas, no BS.

We'll just let Lord Stanley decide.
Sucks to be Hossa right now.

[redxblack]

Detroit needs to beat Chicago first. One step at a time.