OT: Sens-Pens, Game 7

Submitted by Hotel Putingrad on
Pretty good game on NBCSN for those of you interested. 2-2 headed into 2nd OT. The only two words in the English language that pair better than "breakfast burrito" are "sudden death."

The Krusty Kra…

May 25th, 2017 at 11:47 PM ^

Ottawa seemingly has meh'd its way into a Game 7 vs Pittsburgh based on the sheer determination of Erik Karlsson and Craig Anderson. The Penguins, despite being Stanley Cup Champs, have been pushed to the limits two rounds in a row. I think Nashville can beat whoever wins this series but Ottawa has provided great theater considering no one has believed in them all playoffs.

bamf16

May 26th, 2017 at 10:03 AM ^

That narrative that "Pittsburgh gets all the calls" died a couple years back among those who tend to watch NHL hockey pretty religiously, but for those who weren't paying attention, this series killed it forever.  Story today that Bobby Orr chastised Gary Bettman Thursday night for what Crosby had to endure in Game 6 with no calls.

The Penguins were seething following Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final because of the beating Sidney Crosby absorbed against the Senators.

It turns out someone else was rather dismayed by the eye-raking nonsense that night.

Numerous sources told me that, on Wednesday, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman received a phone call from legendary defenseman Bobby Orr. I was told that Orr was so disgusted by Ottawa’s treatment of Crosby that he informed Bettman that it was “terrible that the best player in the world could be treated like that.”

Orr, now an agent, doesn’t represent Crosby, but they have a very good relationship.

“He’s a great guy,” Crosby told me following his team’s Game 7 triumph against the Senators.

Orr is also likely looking out for his client, the Oilers’ Connor McDavid, the league’s leading scorer this season. The time will come, in all probability, when McDavid is considered the world’s best player. Orr surely doesn’t want McDavid to deal with the abuse Crosby has this spring.

 

rob f

May 26th, 2017 at 7:53 AM ^

is easily the most awesomely awesome trophy in all of Sports.

That said, I don't like the idea of either the Penguins or the Predators hoisting it in celebration.

Goggles Paisano

May 26th, 2017 at 6:04 AM ^

It's a shame this doesn't even get a mention on the ESPN front page nor in the headlines.  All of that was devoted to the NBA and a comment from a gymnast at the airport.  I can assure you this game was a zillion times more entertaining than Cavs/Celts which was over in the 2nd qtr.  

uncle leo

May 26th, 2017 at 9:40 AM ^

I hear a lot of people around here (this board and elsewhere) saying how they would be okay with Pittsburgh winning this series.

And after watching last night, and those fans go nuts, and that smarmy organization go back to the finals again, are you still okay with it?

Don't know about you guys, I was sick to my stomach watching them celebrate. Just reminds me how Pitt and Chicago continue to succeed, and our organization is at minimum 3-5 years away from competing again.

Clarence Beeks

May 26th, 2017 at 3:17 PM ^

Do you know how many teams have been to a Cup final since the Wings last were there?  Only 12.  I'm sorry, but 18 teams aren't "scraping the bottom of the NHL barrel".  Sure, some are, but the vast majority aren't.

Perkis-Size Me

May 26th, 2017 at 12:41 PM ^

You'll have to forgive me for not feeling bad for you. 

You're the damn Red Wings. You're the Yankees, the Packers, and the Lakers of the NHL. You made the playoffs, up until this year, seemingly every year since Lincoln was in office. You have a slew of Stanley Cup wins, I don't know how many of the all-time greats that played for you, and a rabid, well-traveled fanbase that will follow you to the ends of the Earth and back.

You're fucking Hockeytown USA. More than half the teams in the NHL would kill to have had a even a fraction of the success the Red Wings have had. So yeah, I don't feel an ounce of sadness for you that you have to watch your team rebuild. 

But if it makes you feel better, sports go in cycles. Eventually guys like Patrick Kane and Sidney Crosby get old and retire, and those teams come back to Earth too. And I'm guessing it won't be too long before Yzerman hears the call and comes home. If he can do what he's done in with a small market team in Tampa, he can be even better in Detroit. 

uncle leo

May 26th, 2017 at 1:08 PM ^

This isn't Hockeytown anymore. That was some lame ass marketing stunt that is all but over now.

First, why would Yzerman come back home, to be some "savior?" He's not going to do anything to tarnish his legacy. Such an old freaking bit that people around here just hang onto that their "hero" will come back to save us.

The entire landscape of hockey has changed. Holland has proved without a shadow of a doubt he cannot handle the new era of the salary cap. As long as he's the GM, this team isn't doing anything and will continue to fall steadily into purgatory.

Making the playoffs doesn't mean anything anymore, ESPECIALLY with the way the Wings have done it since 2009, which has been as a low seed.

Unless Holland is shown the door (which isn't happening) or figures out how to stop giving out horrible contracts, the Wings are headed towards a long period of bad hockey. 

The streak was put on a mantle and was a nice cover for the fact the team hasn't had a lick of success in almost a decade.

uncle leo

May 26th, 2017 at 3:58 PM ^

I'm assuming that you mean the 8-seeds in each conference that got to the finals?

Doesn't that make it even worse for your case if you are arguing that anyone can win the whole thing just by getting in? The fact that the Wings have been completely allergic to any success since 2009?

Perkis-Size Me

May 26th, 2017 at 3:59 PM ^

Could always be worse, pal. You could be a Caps fan, a team that is always the Regular Season Champions, has the talent to win the Cup almost every year, but is has never even made it past the second round of the playoffs. You could be a BlueJackets fan, which has never won a playoff series in its history, and anytime an Original Six team comes to town the entire arena is flooded with opposing fans. You could be a frickin' Coyotes fan. Honestly forgot that team still existed. 

And who's to say that Yzerman won't come back? If everyone followed your logic of not wanting to risk tarnishing their reputation, Harbaugh would never have come back to Michigan. Or Theo Epstein would not have taken jobs with the Red Sox and the Cubs, and he would not have become arguably the greatest exec in the history of baseball. It's the Red Wings, man. The allure of that job will ALWAYS be there. 

I'm from Tampa, and even I'll tell you that I think Yzerman's days with the Lightning are numbered. 

gobluenyc

May 26th, 2017 at 5:25 PM ^

Let's just start there. It was as exciting as sports gets. 

That said, the Pens are one of those teams that are hard to like. They have had 3 of the greatest players in their primes of the last 50 years, Lemieux, Jagr and Crosby. They had one off year, and got Crosby for it. It's ridiculous. Imagine instead of Peyton being replaced by Andrew Luck, that Brady was, and the Patriots just stayed a super power. That's the Penguins. 

I'm a lifelong Rangers fan, a team named after another state's icon. It's a nice story, but it's still weird. (The original owner was named Tex You can figure out the rest.) They've had mixed success but hoisted the trophy once in my lifetime. 

The Pens, Red Wings and Habs are the Yankees of hockey. (Thank God I have the Yankees.) Maybe they're more like the Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal teams that are always in the top 6 of the EPL. Always.

I'd have preferred Ottowa win last night, but it didn't stop me from enjoying a really great game. I hope it didn't stop you either.