2008 Stanley Cup playoffs - conference finals

[Zetterberg is God 0]

Timonen out for the rest of the playoffs

[Red Baron 0]

I am now changing my prediction.

 

 

Pittsburgh in four and averaging 42 shots a game.

 

[the pinjockey 0]

Now is the time for Jaroslav Modry to ride in and save the day......right...right

[Red Baron 0]

How about getting Modry to play hockey. That'll be a big step in the right direction.

[the pinjockey 0]

The worst part of this isn't necessarily the first pairing. I think Hatcher-Coburn will be fine, they have shown excellent chemistry together. Coburn is fast enough to cover for Hatcher and Hatcher is more than willing to punch Crosby in the mouth.

 

The problem is the second pairing for Malkin's line is going to be a nightmare. I would imagine Jones since he is playing well this postseason would play with Smith. You know they'll run Smith out there even though he is terrible, with all of his oozing veteranocity. They are going to have to devote either the Carter or Richards line to solely shutting them down, no taking chances because they can't rely on anyone behind them.

[garfieldsnose 0]

I think I might change my prediction. Pittsburgh in 6. I think Timonen was the key for the Flyers stopping Pittsburgh's offensive prowess, and with him out, I in no way see how someone can fill his shoes while he is out. This is terrible news and it feels like to me we just lost game one.

[Zetterberg is God 0]

Great start to the series for the Wings. Fatigue or not, Dallas was dominated in pretty much every category. It's good to see the secondary scoring still there and the Mule potting another one was great.

[Nightwing 0]

How viable would it be for the Red Wings to build a new place at the site of Tiger Stadium? How bad of a neighborhood is Corktown? Could it be salvaged into a hockey version of Wrigleyville?

 

In all honesty, the place it's at right now would be ideal. That area of downtown is actually pretty impressive, and I don't mean "relative to Detroit". Everything good in Detroit really springs out of that area, and it'd be a shame if it weren't across from Hockeytown Cafe.

 

My Eastern Predictions (And I'm glad I waited, because the Timonen announcement would have affected it)!

 

Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh

 

Philadelphia's Road to the Cup: Out of all the teams in the Conference finals, I feel like Philly is the only one that played a team that was actually ready to contend. San Jose and Anaheim were flat, Colorado and Ottawa collapsed in their series, and New York couldn't get a rhythm (or a break). Washington, on the other hand, came out firing and Philly really fought through that series. After that, Montreal couldn't generate anything and Philly got some luck to beat them 4-1.

 

Pittsburgh's Road to the Cup: So far they've had one of the easiest routes through the playoffs. Ottawa was in danger of falling out of the playoffs and an utter wreck (my apologies to any Sens fans). Sweeping them is nothing impressive. New York was a decent show of force, but even in that series something just seemed to come over the Rangers and they couldn't get anything right. The rest doesn't look like it's hurt them, though.

 

My Take: Before the Timonen injury, I had Philly as my pick. Both goalies in this series are lauded, but I'm not sold on either of them as game-stealing machines yet. Of the two, though, I think Biron is probably the most realistic one; I just don't think Fleury has been up against the same level of competition that Biron has been playing against, and Biron wasn't lights out against Washington, but he was hardly a liability.

 

I still think Philly has a decent chance. I see a high-scoring affair, as I don't think the defenses here are up to stopping the offense these teams are going to generate. Of course, with Timonen out, I think Pittsburgh will have a lot more chances to score in comparison. In all honesty, these teams are a lot more evenly matched than they seem, despite Pittsburgh having all the big names.

 

Critical Performances:

Martin Biron. Basically the same thing I said about Turco. With that big piece of the Philly D being out, he's going to have to find another level to stop Pittsburgh's offense. If he can steal a game or two, Philly might be able to take this series.

 

Sergei Gonchar. He's been great this post-season, and if he can shut down Philly's top line this series might be over in 5 or 4. If he can't handle them, I think Philly can exploit Fleury, who hasn't been able to face much in the way of offense this playoff season.

 

My Pick: Pittsburgh in 6. I don't think that they can just blow past a team that's played pretty solid throughout the playoffs against teams that were really trying. But without Timonen, I can't pick Philly to win it all.

[CanadianChris 0]

Pittsburgh's Road to the Cup: So far they've had one of the easiest routes through the playoffs. Ottawa was in danger of falling out of the playoffs and an utter wreck (my apologies to any Sens fans).

No apologies necessary. If anything, you're flattering them.

 

[the pinjockey 0]

Someone needs to remind Marty Biron that he is not Marty Brodeur when it comes to the puckhandling.

 

They have to dress either Cote or Downie for game 2 just to get some energy in the lineup.

 

Oh, and Jaroslav Modry still sucks at life. Always good when the announcer uses the word "mosey" to describe a defensemman bringing the puck up ice while on the PP.

[packwingfn 0]

What the hell was that? Osgood better be fine.

 

After calming down, I know there won't be any suspensions because Osgood BUTT-ended him first, still hate when players use their stick to attack.

 

And is it just me or does anyone else think Versus is pro-dallas? Even in Detroits Game 1 Win, they talked about how tired Dallas was, and how they should improve in the next game, then today they talked about how good Dallas was today but still couldnt win. Why can't they talk about how good the Red Wings played today, and Thursday and how Osgood has been making some key saves.

[Red Baron 0]

Ribs will get a two game suspension for this.

[Nightwing 0]

There'll be no suspension.

 

1) That was obviously a lot of acting by Ozzie. Even moreso than Franzen's last year.

 

2) Riberio is a player that actually means something, unlike a career backup goalie. The NHL is typically gutless on these sorts of situations unless there's is just irrefutable evidence of an out-of-nowhere malicious attack. Riberio overreacted (He was not happy before that, as he raised his stick to one of the refs near the end of the game), but he didn't initiate what happened.

 

Overall, a good game, but the Wings are taking way too many penalties. Part of it is obviously the refs, who seem to switch how they ref from night to night, but they can't take penalties against a team that has an explosive power play like Dallas right now. It's like playing with a loaded gun, and it might cost them the next game, as Dallas is going to be REALLY fired up after Ozzie's tap to the face.

[packwingfn 0]

I say he should get a one game suspension from that. No matter how much acting was done by Osgood, no man should attack another man with his stick like that.

[Zetterberg is God 0]

Good game by the Wings but agreed that they are taking too many penalties. As far as the Ribeiro thing, I could see a suspension but he'll probably walk. In any event he's made little to no difference in this series so whatever.

[packwingfn 0]

Only fines for Osgood & Riberio.

[garfieldsnose 0]

Osgood did just as dirty a thing as Ribeiro did, don't try and pin it all on Ribeiro. I know we're all entitled to homerism, but come on guys.

[Nightwing 0]

Osgood did just as dirty a thing as Ribeiro did, don't try and pin it all on Ribeiro. I know we're all entitled to homerism, but come on guys.

 

What's dirty about it? It's something all goalies do. Mind you, most of the time guys don't get whacked by it, but putting out your goalie stick like that is a common thing to slow guys down. It's not a dirty play as much as it's a common play gone wrong. I don't think it's nearly as dirty as a two-handed slash to the chest-protector, nor as malicious.

 

And I want to ask you directly: How do you feel about the Flyers coming home tomorrow night? Both their losses were a lot closer than they probably should be considering your depleted Defensive corps and being in the Igloo, so do you think the Flyers are going to get a game or two? I'm thinking they can put Pittsburgh on their ass with a Philly crowd.

[Nightwing 0]

A very decisive victory there. Congrats to Pavs on his first hat-trick.

 

But the real story? Zetterberg. A force unto himself in this game.

[Zetterberg is God 0]

Another great game by Detroit. Zetterberg is putting his name into Conn Smythe consideration and Osgood is right there as well. It's not even close right now so the Wings should close it out Wednesday.

[Red Baron 0]

I'm wondering how much Finals tickets are going to cost. I'm willing to spend almost $2000 total for two tickets if its either in Detroit/Pittsburgh.

[nl5xsk1 0]

I say he should get a one game suspension from that. No matter how much acting was done by Osgood, no man should attack another man with his stick like that.

Neither guy deserved a suspension for that ... and, really, IMHO, not even fines were warranted. So many hockey fans complain about how Bettman turned hockey into figure skating, and yet so many hockey fans immediately view every incident as suspension-worthy. (not talking about you as an individual, packwingfn, but going by what I see on the hockey boards that I post at).

 

And, IMHO, what Osgood did with his stick was more dangerous than what Ribeiro did. Putting the BUTT-end of a goalie-stick where a player will skate into it is more likely to hurt someone than the retaliatory slash. Still, though, neither infraction was that bad in my eyes.

 

/day late, but I wasn't near a computer yesterday so couldn't post.

[garfieldsnose 0]

Osgood did just as dirty a thing as Ribeiro did, don't try and pin it all on Ribeiro. I know we're all entitled to homerism, but come on guys.

 

What's dirty about it? It's something all goalies do. Mind you, most of the time guys don't get whacked by it, but putting out your goalie stick like that is a common thing to slow guys down. It's not a dirty play as much as it's a common play gone wrong. I don't think it's nearly as dirty as a two-handed slash to the chest-protector, nor as malicious.

 

And I want to ask you directly: How do you feel about the Flyers coming home tomorrow night? Both their losses were a lot closer than they probably should be considering your depleted Defensive corps and being in the Igloo, so do you think the Flyers are going to get a game or two? I'm thinking they can put Pittsburgh on their ass with a Philly crowd.

 

 

I'm just depressed right now. I thought Philly would mandhandle the Pens tonight. Game 4 was up in the air, but I thought tonight was THE night to get into the series. Biron let in a soft goal and I just sank. The turnover leading to the Pens 3rd goal made me sink even more. I didn't think Timonen and Coburn would affect the scoring this much, but I'd venture to say with them in the lineup we would have way more than 5 goals in 3 games. That is embarassing, and I can't see Pittsburgh being as dominant as they are showing. There was no urgency, especially after going down 3-1, and as much as I bleed Flyers orange, it looked like they showed no heart or passion after that 3rd goal. I'm just so pissed off right now, I can't think too straight. I just hope if Pittsburgh wins this series, they win the Cup. Seeing Detroit raise the Cup sucks worse than Down Syndrome Malkin and Sid hoist it.

[Red Baron 0]

Imagine this.

 

 

Hal Gill, Stanley Cup Champion.

[CanadianChris 0]

After "Andre Racicot, Stanley Cup champion," anything's possible.

[Red Baron 0]

What about Ulf Samuelesson. I mean he scored the GWG.

[Zetterberg is God 0]

Detroit didn't deserve to win tonight. Obviously that no goal was bullshit but even so they didn't cash in on their other chances (and there were plenty) and they also took way too many penalties. They better close it out Saturday or this one is probably going seven. Also, it may just be me but Brian Rafalski is getting on my goddamn nerves. The game winner was pretty much his fault. It's not the first questionable play he's made and way too many of his shots are being blocked. He's not playing horrifically bad or anything but I know he can do much better and that's probably what's pissing me off.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Here's an interesting stat:

 

Gary Roberts will claim the record for most years between Cups if Pittsburgh winds up winning this year. His stretch would be 19 ('89 in Calgary). The man he'd take the record can prevent Roberts from doing so: Chris Chelios, who went 16 years between Montreal's '86 win and '02 with the Wings.

[Red Baron 0]

I don't see Chelios retiring next year.

 

The man is going to play until he's fifty or seriously hurt.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

I don't see Chelios retiring next year.

 

The man is going to play until he's fifty or seriously hurt.

 

What's he at? 100 or so games for that record, 4.5 years for the age record? It's tough to imagine him playing another five years (even for him), but shit, if anyone can pull it off, it's him. Or maybe the other guy in my last post, Gary Roberts.