The official 2007-08 NHL Season discussion thread.

Post by **batdad** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:45 am

If Detroit does not win, which will only happen if Malkin actually shows up to play...and Sid, Roberts, Malone, Fleury, Gonchar, Talbot, Staal, Hossa and Dupuis ALL have the best games of their lives....the Wings could be in trouble. And this series will likely go 7.

However, I don't think that Malkin will show up and I don't think those other 9 players will all have the game of their lives at the same time. So...Cup goes out on Monday to the Dead things. darn!

Curse...curse...curse be right.

Although I do have to admit I don't hate the Things as much as I used to. And I would not mind putting to rest this old, tired phrase "No non-North American captain has ever led his team to a cup win"

Kekkonen · Post by **Kekkonen** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 9:25 am

I think I agree with everything Shadd said. I'll be highly surprised if there's more than three periods of hockey left in this season. In fact, if I had to make a prediction, I'd say we have about a period and a half of competitive hockey left.

Post by **archibalduk** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 10:17 pm

Kekkonen wrote:I think I agree with everything Shadd said. I'll be highly surprised if there's more than three periods of hockey left in this season. In fact, if I had to make a prediction, I'd say we have about a period and a half of competitive hockey left.

I totally agree with yourself, Shadd and Batdad. Barring a miracle, the Wings ought to have this sorted in tonight's game. I can't wait to get home from work tomorrow evening and watch my recording of it. I'd love this to go to a full seven games, though - it's just too long til next season! Bring on Stamkos and co!!

gibson41 · Post by **gibson41** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 5:48 am

I just woke up. It's 6:48 am, and I am watching it live on local sports channel. Penguins just scored into 3rd overtime. 4-3.

Series stretched for another 2 days. There we go.

Post by **Shadd666** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 5:52 am

The Red Wings clearly missed their first period, ending trailing 0-2 after 20 minutes... They did a great job coming back and taking the lead, just to allow a stupid goal 44 seconds away from the Cup. Then Fleury shut the door and Sykora somehow found a way to score...

So here we go for game 6... This time it's for sure: it will be the last game of the season in the Mellon Arena

Kekkonen · Post by **Kekkonen** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:26 am

OK, so I am very, very surprised...

Shadd666 wrote:The Red Wings clearly missed their first period, ending trailing 0-2 after 20 minutes... They did a great job coming back and taking the lead, just to allow a stupid goal 44 seconds away from the Cup.

34, actually. It's the first time I've seen a successful last-minute desperation attack by a team that's about to lose the Cup. It'll be interesting to see how well the Wings can recover.

Anyway, I think the Pens had the same problem they had in game 3 -- they had an early lead and some chances to put the game away, but they couldn't.

Taloncarde · Post by **Taloncarde** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:31 am

I thought for sure the Pens were done. After Detroit got the go ahead goal, the 5-6 minutes leading up to the penguins goal looked like they were all but giving up. Penguins would get the puck... Turnover to detroit, over and over and over.

So I was shocked to see them score the last minute desperation goal, and then to pull it together in the 3rd OT, wow.

(They looked gassed far worse than the Wings in OT, I know they were down a man on D, but the Pens looked like they were standing around, and certainly backing down a lot)

One thing negative i'd say, it seemed like i heard way too often "off the officials skate" for a game, I realize it's a challenging and demanding job to stay out of the way of the puck, but it seemed slightly excessive tonight (one play it happened back to back)

Kekkonen · Post by **Kekkonen** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 11:08 am

Taloncarde wrote:One thing negative i'd say, it seemed like i heard way too often "off the officials skate" for a game, I realize it's a challenging and demanding job to stay out of the way of the puck, but it seemed slightly excessive tonight (one play it happened back to back)

Now that you mention it, I thought so too. And it wasn't just that the puck bounced off their skates, there were too many instances where a player was fighting in the corner, got the puck, saw daylight... and then had to just about run over a ref who was too late trying to get out of the way.

Post by **Shadd666** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:17 pm

It's 'funny' to see how the negative points are oftenly directed to the refs more than to the players...

The biggest negative point i've seen in this game is that Malkin is still nowhere to be found in those Finals. This has a real impact on the game. The refs' skates issue is totally anedotic. This happened what? 10-15 times in the game? Okay, that's a lot compared to usual, but this game also had about 80 plays that lead to a shoot on goal, and about 150 plays that didn't lead to a shoot. That's over 200 plays, and you're focusing on just 10? That's 5% of the game. Maybe not the best 5%, but just 5%. There are way more interesting things to say about the other 95% of the game. [/end of the "leave the refs alone!" rant]

One thing i didn't pay attention about until now is that the Wings closed all of their series on the road in these playoffs... They always had the home ice advantage, but needed 6 games vs Nashville, 4 games against Colorado, and 6 games against Dallas. Or course, it doesn't mean they will necessarily close the Finals in Pittsburgh, but it's a funny point to take into consideration...

Taloncarde · Post by **Taloncarde** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:54 pm

Oh, don't get me wrong Shad, the Penguins play was not great. Malkin looked like he was ready for his shifts to end most of the time, but had a few really good shifts too, Overall it seemed like the Penguins could not control the puck. Only reason I mentioned the refs thing is that it was taking me out of the game and getting me frustrated in what was otherwise an intense game

Post by **B. Stinson** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 5:26 pm

I finally agree with the NBC commentators on one point they made a few times towards the end: It's good neither of those "goaltender interference" calls lead to a goal. They were clearly bad calls, and a goal from either of them would have destroyed the otherwise great game. ...But they didn't, and the game remained a good one.

Post by **batdad** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 5:31 pm

Malkin was a tad better last nite. Now, look at my post above. Certain Pens had career defining games last nite...especially Fleury in the OT's. The Wings thougth they had it wrapped up and came out flat as a board without any emotion. Yeah, they picked it up...but not enough.

It ain't over til its over. This could be a classic series in the end. Like 1994 and Oilers-Canes....it could get good. Real good.

Of course, Detroit could also hammer em tomorrow. ANd in fact I think they will.

Curse on the Dead things, Curse on the dead things.

Kekkonen · Post by **Kekkonen** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:15 pm

batdad wrote: Of course, Detroit could also hammer em tomorrow. ANd in fact I think they will.

We'll see. If they do that, they deserve the Cup (and I'm saying that as someone whose last reason for not disliking the Wings disappeared the minute Yzerman retired). Last night's loss has to be just horrid for them; I can't imagine how much it eats you up inside to be 35 seconds from a Stanley Cup party just to have the other team force you to play an additional 2.5 periods and then beat you.

Taloncarde · Post by **Taloncarde** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:20 pm

It's Detroits cup to lose (And not just because the series is 3-2, Detroit has out played Pitt overall in the series)

I think Zetterberg is probably the most likely Selke canidate, barring the series going to Game 7 and heroics from either side. Scoring, defensivly, etc he's been there. While Osgood deserves credit too, I just think Zetterberg has been outstanding all playoffs long.

Zetterberg 75% chance of Selke, Osgood 25% (IMO)
Not Pitt canidates yet, if they go to 7 games it could be Fleury, or it could be another player who steps up and helps win the next 2 games. (IE, if Sykora goes nuts the next 2 games, he could win it, etc)

Kekkonen · Post by **Kekkonen** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:39 pm

At the moment, I'd go with Osgood for Conn Smythe if the Wings win, which is something I could never, ever imagine saying a month ago. He's been ranging from good to stellar. Rock solid play leading to the finals, shutouts for the first six periods, and then he was IMO the main difference-maker in game 4. If the Pens somehow manage to win, it's because Fleury's heroics in OT1 last night made it possible, so he just simply has to get the Conn Smythe (unless maybe if the next games go 10-8 to the Pens with Crosby going 2+5 in both).

Sometimes, the CS goes to the goalie by default because nobody else stands out individually (see Vernon, Mike, spring of 1997). This time, they've both earned it IMO.

Post by **batdad** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 11:41 pm

Zetterberg hands down. The guy has been absolutely awesome in each and every game he has played. WHen he was nominated for the Selke I said "huh?". I know he is good defensively but that good? And in the playoffs he has been better in his own end and everywhere on the ice. The guy is a tremendous hockey player. How the hell do 29 teams let him get away in the draft like that? Man...he must have come on like gangbusters.

Zetts...wow! The man is a force. (Had Franzen not been injured--it could have been him) But now....Zetterberg gets it...by acclamation I bet.

Devils88 · Post by **Devils88** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:59 am

i was absolutly surprised from zetterbergs performance the whole year. and especially in the playoffs. he was unstoppable til now in the offense.
he's everywhere defensive also. kill's penaltys, blocks out crosby and co., is on the ice in every important shift.
though osgood and datsyuk do also very well, zetterberg is the one who deserves the conn smythe this year.

if the pens win (what i can't believe, they were outplayed every game by detroit, what is a shame for this penguins team) it could only be crosby.

BTW: as a devils-fan i thought i would never see a nhl-player slower then ken daneyko....til this season
...it's HAL GILL.

Hypnotist · Post by **Hypnotist** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:51 pm

batdad wrote:...How the hell do 29 teams let him get away in the draft like that?...

Not only did the other 29 teams just let pass him by, they all passed on him 7 TIMES!!!

Taloncarde · Post by **Taloncarde** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:17 pm

Devils88 wrote: BTW: as a devils-fan i thought i would never see a nhl-player slower then ken daneyko....til this season
...it's HAL GILL.

haha, the big lumbering defenseman is on it's way out

But I know I felt that way about Craig Ludwig, I mean, he is a great player, great at blocking shots, but if I ever saw him pinch i'd cringe

Post by **batdad** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 4:12 pm

Hal has a great nickname..."SKills" Hal "Skills" Gill. Except that really the nickname is Hal "no skills" Gill but is shortened to make sound nice.

Gill is a good person in the room, and he is usually a very strong pk presence. But anything els...ick> Man can't skate, handle the puck, shoot, or pass.

Post by **archibalduk** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 7:42 pm

It was one hell of a game - how many defensive mistakes did each team make?! Both teams had some darn good opportunities to capitalise on some turn-overs. I got the impression the Wings thought they'd already won the cup. I do think this game will serve as a wake up call and have got my money on this being wrapped up in game 6. I hope I'm wrong, though - I'd love this to go to a nail-biting seventh game

Fleury has played a big part in keeping the Pens in this series. His toe-save in the third was sublime

Taloncarde · Post by **Taloncarde** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 3:36 am

Why did the Penguins even try passing in the 3rd period? I swear it seems like all period long, long pass, picked off by Detroit, posession by detroit, long pass by Pitt picked off by detroit....

Post by **timmy_t** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 4:05 am

Even though I hate the Red Wings, they did a great job. Congrats to them and Henrik Zetterberg for the Conn Smythe !

Hypnotist · Post by **Hypnotist** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 4:21 am

Now that Detroit is officially crowned Stanley Cup Champions, I can say this without feeling like a conspiracy theorist.

<

>
I can't help but feel like the league has a backdoor policy to help the Pens win. The Pens are a great young team, but I don't see them making it past the Conference Finals without a lot of questionable calls/non-calls. The Cup Finals were no different. This years playoffs have destroyed my affinity for Crosby and Malkin. I'll probably never deride their skill, just the perceived preferential treatment by the leage.
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>

I knew Zetterberg would win the CS (and not undeservedly) but I would have liked to have seen it go to Osgood. Without Ozzy's always steady (and regularly stellar) net-minding, the Wings wouldn't have even made it to the WCF.

Congrats to everyone in the Red Wings organization on their 4th cup in 11 years and the 11th in team history!!

Now the worst time of the year begins...the off season.

Post by **timmy_t** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:07 am

Hypnotist wrote: I can't help but feel like the league has a backdoor policy to help the Pens win. The Pens are a great young team, but I don't see them making it past the Conference Finals without a lot of questionable calls/non-calls. The Cup Finals were no different. This years playoffs have destroyed my affinity for Crosby and Malkin. I'll probably never deride their skill, just the perceived preferential treatment by the leage.

Oh please.... Your team won the cup. Enough about the refs. There is no conspiracy Hypnotist.

These are not the droids you are looking for....

Preferential treatment = HA!