OT: NHL Looking at the Playoff Picture Right Now
1. Pittsburgh is over matched vs Philadelphia and Marc Andre Fleury has lost his game in goal mentally.
2. Sidney Crosby is quickly becoming more of a goon than a professional player and can't compete well under frustration.
3. The Flyers are DAMN SCARY. Averaging around 5 goals a game in this series.
4. Vancouver without the other Sedin SUCK. Luongo has not looked good in net and the Canucks special teams are a travesty on the PP.
5. LA looks like the real deal in the West with Kopitar and Quick.
6. Detroit's age has finally caught up to them and our new guys can't seem to out do the Predators lineup of Erat, Weber and Rinne. Even though we out shoot them.
7. Ottawa might be stronger than what people are giving them credit for winning in OT. They fought the Rangers hard in game 2.
8. Washington has some momentum going back to the capital with the series tied. 1-1.
9. SJ and St Louis match up well against one another and it's likely going to come down to a 7th game.
10. Hawks now have momentum going back to Chicago with Crawford playing amazing in net vs Phoenix.
11. Florida will most likely lose in 5 to the Devils who overall are out shooting the Panthers with the series now going to NJ.
My finals prediction thus far. LA Kings vs Philadelphia Flyers or a rematch of 2010 with Chicago vs Philadelphia. Your thoughts?
April 16th, 2012 at 11:53 AM ^
And sometimes, you double post. Gosh darn it to heck.
April 16th, 2012 at 12:02 PM ^
ALWAYS been a little b*tch when things don't go his way.
April 16th, 2012 at 12:02 PM ^
Flyers / Pens is a bloodbath.
Makes me long for the days when the Avs could put a decent team on the ice.
McCarty / Lemieux. Good battles. Good times.
April 16th, 2012 at 12:02 PM ^
April 16th, 2012 at 12:14 PM ^
I would argue that the Devil's outplayed the Panthers in the third period yesterday by a wide margin. The thing with the Devils is that there is no rhyme or reason to their play. They came out with absolutely no punch at all and looked lost for two periods. Their forecheck was awful and no one got back on defense in transition. Then in the third period they pushed the play and came close to tying it on a few occasions. I think the series goes 7.
And Brodeur may not be the player he was ten years ago, but he is still more than capable of stealing a couple games. It's not like he has played poorly so far. He had no chance on the first two yesterday and the third one wasn't a great goal to give up, but it also was one of those that handcuff a goalie and are tough to pull in.
April 16th, 2012 at 12:20 PM ^
Haha, where was the Panthers fan in the open thread yesterday? You guys could start your own private thread because there's not a lot of outside interest in that series.
April 16th, 2012 at 12:22 PM ^
Poppycock! We could fill a whole arena with the combined might of our fanbases. Well, maybe Yost.
April 16th, 2012 at 12:21 PM ^
The Devils have some serious talent. When they turn it on, they can play with anyone in the league. But for some reason they are incredibly inconsistent in games. You're right about Brodeur too. He may not be the best in the world anymore, but he is still pretty damn good and is an asset still.
April 16th, 2012 at 10:28 PM ^
I'm curious as to your take on all of the Crosby complaining going on in here. Just curious. I'm also curious to hear more from Blue in Yarmouth.
I don't see you post much but many of the posts I have read of your lead me to believe a couple of things:
1) you are a pens fan
2) you actually know a bit about hockey.
I have replied previously in the thread and that is going to be my last post on the Crosby thing because I don't enjoy talking to myself very much and we both know that on this blog (on this debate) that is basically what I am doing.
I will say that even though you are a pens fan your bias hasn't really shown in your assessment of Crosby's game as it isn't far off what my firends in the NHL think of the guy. They all say he is the best player in the league, he's well respected and he doesn't take a lot of shit like many other skill player in the league.
On a side note, I have had the opportunity to meet the kid on a few seperate occasions as he hails from my home province. The perception of the majority of the people on this blog couldn't be further from the truth when it comes to Crosby.
Also, since you're a pens fan I have to just say something that has puzzled me ever since it occurred...Can you explain how it is that the GM for the Pens actually picked Staal over Toews? Can you imagine a team with Malkin, Crosby and Toews? I mean, don't get me wrong Staal is a talent, but Toews would have given the penguins probably 3 of the top five forwards in the NHL. Hindsight is a great thing...
April 17th, 2012 at 11:13 AM ^
Seriously, thank you for your contributions to this thread. I, for one, really appreciate it. And thank you for the kind words, too. Two things I do want to note, because I'm sure it's easy for many to say "well, he's just a Pens fan, so of course he likes Crosby" are (1) I'm actually as big of a Red Wings fan as I am a Penguins fan (I grew up in Michigan and have spent a good chunk of my adult life in Pennsylvania) and (2) I'm really just a fan of hockey in general (I'm willing to stake a large sum of money that I've watched more of this year's playoff games than almost anyone else posting here - I've missed: the Boston and Rangers games from last night (I was finishing my taxes and I forgot to set the DVR)). I think that's where I come from a different perspective than a lot of people who are posting in here. They've seen Crosby play maybe (and this may be generous) twenty full games during the entirety of his career (thirteen of which would, logically, come from two lengthy SCF series). I've heard enough of the constant, totally off base, criticisms of his game to know that no one who actually watches games (rather than just highlights) and makes those criticisms can remotely be taken seriously. In fact, the only reason I even respond to people like that is so that other people who might read their posts don't take their comments as representative of reality. The one thing I would really love to know, but will never get a real answer, is where all of that irrational hate and venom actually comes from. I don't think it's fair to say that it comes from the SCF match ups, because I've heard it from fans of enough other teams to think that there is something much more to it. Regardless, it's not based in rational thought and, as you've so clearly said, it's not representative of what people who are actually in the game believe. Seriously, your posts on this have been incredibly insightful. I just hope that people give them an honest read and open their mind to the fact that much of what they subjectively believe doesn't mesh with the objective reality. So, again, thank you.
Your question about Staal is a great one and it's one that I've yet to hear a real firm answer on. The speculation, though, is that they did what everyone would consider "unthinkable" with that high of a pick: used that choice to fit a need, rather than pick the best player available. Everything on that, at least as far as I've heard, is just speculation, though. There were rumors have swirled about three things, though: (1) they liked Staal's size/skill combination and his defensive abilities (which they were right about), (2) they thought they could transition Staal to wing (something that they've tried to do every single off season he's been in Pittsburgh, but hasn't worked, and is probably largely given up on at this point) and (3) they didn't think they'd ultimately be able to keep Toews long term because of the other contracts they were projecting at that time (which they were probably right about). I agree that Crosby, Malkin and Toews would have been a (near) dream combination, but I think that's easy to say in hindsight, because they were probably correct on "(3)" in that they probably wouldn't still have Toews (or one of the others) by this point, had they drafted him instead. With hindsight, I think the best thing they could have done with that pick is traded down, rather than drafting Toews, because I don't think any of the other guys that were available to them, and went in the top ten selections, would have been the right long term fit (it's easy to say that Toews, Backstrom or Kessel would have been easy picks, but none of them fit that matrix they were looking for). Ultimately, though, and this speaks to how that draft turned out, in my opinion, the best player who will come out of that draft is currently playing against the Penguins: Claude Giroux.
I figured they must have been thinking longer term and the ability to be able to keep the three of them together coupled with the fact that they would have had 3 first line centers on a team. Staal is a very good player and fills a key role for the pen's, it's just hard not to imagine what a team with Crosby, Malkin and Toews could do.
I think you're pretty close to the mark in your pick of who you think will ultimately be the best player from that draft class. I would make a case for Toews, but I would put Giroux a very close second. It's funny because I didn't follow much of his Jr. career, but watched him in the world juniors and wasn't terribly impressed. Having had a few seasons to watch him progress I can't emphasize how poorly I judged his talent. That also pains me to say because even though I have friends on the flyers, as a team I can't stand them. Since the days of Bobby Clark and his crew I have disliked them and watched as they turned many good hockey players into goons. I just wish my friends would sign for someone else.
I will also say that I have a hard job understanding the hatred towards Crosby as well. I mean, I know he helped beat the wings once and missed shaking Lidstroms hand, but seriously, it has to be more than that. As I said, my brother is a pens fan and has a very nice home theatre so I often go over to watch pens games with him and have had the chance to see quite a bit of Crosby's games in the NHL. What they are all complaining about isn't based on reality at all, it's a complete mystery to me. Having met him a few times in person I can also say that it isn't related to his off ice personality either as the guy is about as unassuming a professional athlete as I have ever encountered. Very modest, very respectful and approachable. The only thing that pissed me off about him was that he had the nerve to call me Mr. ______ when we were first introduced....I was only 34 at the time, but that made me feel old.
I hear you on your sentiment about the Philadelphia organization. There are actually a number of players that I appreciate who play there (e.g. Giroux and Hartnell, mainly), but something about that organization just seems to bring out the worst in players. Trust me, I can see why you'd like your friends to sign elsewhere. Giroux is a foregone conclusion to be in Philadelphia for a long time, but I'm actually really curious to see what Hartnell decides to do with his next contract after next season. He's been a clutch player for them, but at the price he'll command, given their cap situation, I could see next season being his last in Philadelphia.
I had a good laugh out of the Crosby calling you "Mr." story. I often find it curious how people use that term. I'm in my early 30s, and my line of work brings me in contact with a lot of older people, and it always catches me off guard to be referred to as "Mr." by someone who's like 90. I've also had it go the other way, though, like you said, where it comes from a younger person, and my reaction (internally) is always "why did you have to go and say that". Haha.
One last thing: seriously, thank you so much for your contributions to this thread and all of the other hockey threads. I've always enjoyed reading what both you and Jim Lahey have to say on anything hockey related.
April 18th, 2012 at 10:29 AM ^
It isn't very often we get to talk hockey on this site but I definitely enjoy it when we do. I love this site and the chance it gives me to interact with others who share my passion for UM football, but one thing that has driven me nuts ever since the pens beat the wings in the cup final is the constant Crosby bashing that goes on.
Sometimes I just leave the threads without saying anything because I know how it is going to turn out, but others (like this time) I get too fed up to do that.
What I find so amazing about it is these people don't even know the guy and also barely follow his career, yet they feel they know enough to talk such shit about him. I've played against some pretty dirty players in my time and I never took any of it personally. I didn't hate the guys or even dislike them. I didn't particularly like playing against them, but it ended there. Once the game was over they were just another person. It astounds me how fans can conjure up such a personal distain for someone they don't even know and haven't even met.
Let's be honest too, it isn't like he is a Claude Lemieux. I just don't get it. Having met him I can honestly say that he is completely different than the perception people here have of him. He's a good kid with alot of pressure on him and I think he handles it pretty damn well from what I have witnessed.
The last thing I will say about this whole thread is that people constantly get jumped on on this blog for throwing around things like O$U and the like. People say "we're better than that" and things of that nature. Yet when some clown calls Crosby Cindy they think it is funny. Well I have to say that I thought the people on this blog were better than that, but I guess I was wrong.
April 16th, 2012 at 12:41 PM ^
I was at both games this weekend! I'm a Wings fan, but since moving to south Florida I've become an honorary Panthers fan... I'd love to see more playoff hockey down here, but honestly I see the Devils winning in six
A third Panther fan here, but this statement shows the major problem with South Florida sports fans. Everyone is a damn transplant, which leads to a lot of bangwagon fans.
April 16th, 2012 at 12:10 PM ^
Not really that news worthy, but the Wings have brought up 11 players from Grand Rapids to serve as Black Aces.
Fowards: Joakim Andersson, Louis-Marc Aubry, Fabian Brunnstrom, Francis Pare and Tomas Tatar.
Defense: Travis Ehrhardt, Garnet Exelby, Doug Janik, Brian Lashoff and Brendan Smith
Goalie: Tom McCollum
The Griffins coaching staff is also going to join as assistants.
April 16th, 2012 at 12:09 PM ^
As long as the Penguins or Blackhawks don't win, I'm satisfied.
April 16th, 2012 at 12:32 PM ^
It'll be interesting to see what happens in Game 4 between the Pens and Flyers, especially since Pittsburgh is looking at the real possibility of missing Neal, Asham, and Adams. Ever since the end of the first period in Game 1, the Penguins have been trying to beat the Flyers at their own game rather than play the style which got them to the precipice of a conference title despite missing Crosby for most of the season. The Flyers have to love it
For a team that was supposed to have a huge advantage defensively and in net, they've been absolutely appalling in their own zone. Almost every single goal the Flyers have scored (20! In only 3 games!) has been because everyone on the Penguins just stands there like a traffic cone. And for as good as Fleury can be when he's on his game, he's been one of the worst goalies I've seen in the playoffs in a while. Not that Bryzgalov is playing much better, but he does have that sparking 3-0 record this year.
I don't think Philly makes it much past this first round (assuming they don't blow a 3-0 lead, which is entirely possible with these two teams), but if they can figure out how to cut down on their own defensive miscues, they've got as strong a team as anyone else this year.
April 16th, 2012 at 12:58 PM ^
I think they had a great game 1 to make the comeback and it totally rattled the penguins who have now allowed 8 goals in two consecutive games to Philly. I think it's more indicative of Pittsburgh getting jumped on way more than they expected and they're not there mentally anymore.
Hahaha, I don't think the Flyers are going to fare too well the rest of the playoffs, but to say they've been awful on the power play is the most ridiculous statement I've ever heard. I don't care how bad the Penguins PK has looked this series, going 6/10 (against a team that allowed opponents to convert 12.2% in the regular season) is the exact opposite of awful.
I meant to say on the penalty kill. I agree, saying their power play has been awful would be laughable. It's been great. That was definitely a "I was typing it on my phone and didn't proof it" mistake, but I deserve to be made fun of for that one. Laughably bad mistype on my part...
Not sure I agree with your view of the Red Wings. That series is pretty even and the Wings are peppering the shit out of Pekka, that dude is a beast, 6'5 goalie who can move like that is tough for anyone. Not sure why you think they cant keep up? They are in the Predators zone most of the games.
Rematch of the 2010 Stanley Cup Final.
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The OP is very smart and right in thinking this way.
.
Yes.
-The Flyers are not scary if they have to play the Rangers. IIRC they are 0-6 or 0-7 against them this year, and most of those weren't close.
-I like the Kings a lot right now, I think Quick could end up being this year's playoffs hero.
-The Red Wings are not going to win their series. I'm sorry, but they just aren't. Not enough speed, intensity, and the competitve fire just doesn't seem there compared to other teams I watch on a nightly basis.
-The Devils are clearly better than the Panthers, but New Jersey seems to just let them back in every game late.
-I don't really know what to make of the Hawks/Coyotes yet, we'll see how Phoenix plays on the road.
-Caps/Bruins has surprised me, the defense has been incredible so far, this one could go 7 and be the best series of the playoffs.
As a Hawks fan I've seen a lot of Rinne this year and he is good. Really, really good. I want nothing to do with Rinne and I'm really glad that the NHL reseeds playoffs.
About the Caps/Bruins:
Holtby and Thomas are both playing out of their minds. Holtby looks like he's freaking out whenever a shot comes in, but hey, he's making the saves. Crazy amazing poise for a 22 year old with 19 NHL games prior to the playoffs.
Caps are playing some great defense and 2 way hockey, I remember Semin, who is not at all known for anything slightly resembling defense, diving to stop a maybe breakaway and diving in front of shots. Bruins are doing their usual good job playing D and Chara and Seidenberg are shutting down Ovechkin's line. Caps put their best playmaker Backstrom on their second line with Semin and as you can tell in the first two games, its working pretty well.
This series is great and can go either way. Caps should play great at home as usual. They're equalling the Bruins rough and physical play
My homer pick, Caps in 6. Take both games at home, give one back to Boston then win it on home ice.
I'll take that. I'm proud of my caps so far. I'm hoping they can keep up the good fight.
We haven't had one of those wacky upset-filled years where we get a bunch of lower seeds playing the second round in a while, but this looks like it's shaping up to be one of those. Out of the 8 teams seeded 1-4, only Nashville is leading their series. Vancouver is about to be the first 1 seed to get swept since the current format started in 1994.
I don't expect the Wings to win another game. You can outshoot the other team 45-25, but if you give up shots on odd man rushes you're going to give up goals. For the past 6-7 weeks, they have hardly ever shown up in the first period of games. They look like they expect to just throw their jockstraps out there and win. Then they fall behind by two or three goals, and they do an "oh shit" and they dominate the third period. Usually, they come up short. Headline at The Detroit News says "Red Wings seek better start in Game 4". Boy that sure seems familiar.
If the Wings don't get out of the first round, it's time to take that as a sign that some changes are needed. That will make the third year in a row where the Wings don't even look like a contender. A decade of trading away draft picks and never getting a Top 10 pick is catching up with them.
The 2010 Playoffs featured seeds 4, 6, 7, and 8 in the 2nd round of the Eastern Conference and 7 vs. 8 in the Eastern Conference Finals.
And once again, I'm getting sick of people sayin the Wings are old, and changes need to be made. They've been "old" for 20 years. They've won 4 of the last 15 cups. I like the current formula, and the current crop of young guys (Emmerton, Nyquist, Mursak, et. al) look pretty good. With money to spend this offseason (a rarity), they will make the necessary changes to bolster their lineup like always.
I'm going to be honest. The Red Wings are the only organization that I have never once questioned a personnel or coaching decision. I'm 24 (like Pat Stansik!), so I wasn't around during the Dead Wings time. But in my lifetime, I have never been able to question them. Same can't be said for Michigan, Tigers, Pistons, Lions, etc.
Best organization in sports. If they see a change, they will make it. But the current formula will never change, nor should it.
April 18th, 2012 at 11:07 AM ^
They are the best organization in sports, but even the best organization can't keep striking gold in the late rounds in the draft year after year. When people talk about the Wings' drafting prowess, they use the same examples (Holmstrom, Zetterberg, Datsyuk) that they used five years ago.
In 2001, I thought that the Wings were getting too old, but they salvaged it by getting some big time free agents (Hull and Robataille). They also got a young guy named Datsyuk. With the salary cap, they can't just go and get anyone that they want now.
I thought that they might have been on the decline after 2004, but Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Franzen sort of rescued the franchise. There are no young Datsyuks, Zetterbergs, or Franzens in the organization now. I haven't seen one guy under 25 in the organization who I think is a Top 6 caliber forward. All of the young guys like Nyquist, Emmerton, Conner, Mursak, etc didn't do much the past few years when the Wings were riddled with injuries and desperately needed guys to contribute.
IMHO they need to evaluate a few guys and make some changes in the lineup. Let Stuart go. Let Hudler go. Lidstrom and Holmstrom will probably retire. Put a couple more guys out there for trade to clear up some cap space. Get at least one Top 6 free agent forward and a top 2 defenseman -- guys who have never won a Stanley Cup and are hungry.
The Bruins need Krejci and Seguin to step up. That's the key. Both have to stick their noses into things and the Bruins will win this series. I think the defense has played well, even Corvo and Zanon. Thomas has been playing out of his mind. They need to disrupt Holtby. The Caps do not have a good defense. Mike Green? Dennis Wideman?
The Bruins offense is better than what it showed in the first two games. Hopefully they're motivated to bring it on. They're the defending Cup champions. They have to play like it.
April 16th, 2012 at 10:46 PM ^
Great win for the B's, but not near where they want to be in terms of style of pace/and dictating play. Can't not be happy with a lead in the series though. Big win.
Hoping Wings can win Game 4, don't want to see that team in a 3-1 hole again
Bruins and Caps is a good series.
April 16th, 2012 at 10:22 PM ^
LOL at Don Cherry's comments tonight on Crosby in game three. Good stuff, right there...
April 16th, 2012 at 11:19 PM ^
Crosby most certainly instigates fights when he's frustrated and then barely drops the gloves. He acts like a tough guy when he should be a finesse player. If he played without speaking and was a quiet leader, he would be a legend. Instead, he slashes at the goalie's glove 4 times because he's angry he hit the side of the net, then takes cheap shots when the Flyers surround him. They didn't even throw the first punch, which you can bet your ass I would (and did) if someone slashed my goalie's glove even once after the puck's covered. Crosby's captainship is a joke sometimes.
April 16th, 2012 at 11:39 PM ^
Let's see some YouTube examples of this goalie glove slashing that you're alleging. If it's such a rampant problem, as you make it out to be, it shouldn't be hard to find multiple examples. I've seen almost every game of his professional career and I haven't seen him do anything like that, any differently than any other player, anyway.