OK hockey fans, what are your predictions for this years Stanley Cup finals? I am not surprised to see either of these teams here again. IMO This will be an awesome series, as it is a rematch and there will be a lot of drama surrounding it, such as Hossa leaving the Pens to go to the Wings to win a championship (Ty Conklin as well), and the Pens wanting to make their former team mates "eat crow."

Here is my prediction:

Detroit v. Pittsburgh for the Stanley Cup. DRW has 2 key injuries with Lidstrom and Datsyuk out. The good news is that game one is 3 days away, Saturday 05.30.09.

I take the Wings in the series (I am a homer). The Wings are the better team, not by much, but enough to make the difference. Depth will be the key difference, which Detroit showed they have, by beating the Bl;ackhawks missing 2 key players.

Forwards: Wings have an advantage with experience. Watch out for the WIngs 3rd and 4th line, they can be dangerous and will score. The Pens are hungry, and Malkin and Crosby have been hot. They are 2 of the brightest young stars in hockey and do not want to go home without the hardware this year. Edge - Pitt (slight)

Defense: The Pens are good, but the WIngs are better. Defense wins Championships and the Wings have been stellar, not only with their defensive corp, but with the entire team playing d first. Edge - Detroit

Goal: Both goalies have been awesome. Hard to pick who is better. I go with Osgood with the intangibles of 3 prior cups to Fluery's ZERO. Edge - Detroit

Coaching: Babcock is the Master, great coach, coaching a great team. What is Pitt's coach name? He will melt down by series end. Edge - Detroit

This will be a hard fought series, with a lot of close games. There may be one blow out (usually is).

RED WINGS IN 7.

Go Wings!

The fact that they can still win despite injuries to key players throughout the playoffs like Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Draper, Rafalski attests to the true depth of the Red Wings.

Last year, I was shipped off to Basic Training knowing the Wings were playing the Pens. I never found out the outcome of the series until a week after. (No news, no civilian talk, etc etc.) This year, I get to watch the whole thing, and I can't wait to watch the Wings do it again!

I'm a Wings fan but I am very concerned about the injuries right now. The Wings have the edge in experience and are a bit deeper on the bench, but injuries could really impact them, especially if Lidstrom and Rafalski miss time. That could open things up for the Penguins talented forwards more than we'd like.

In the end, Detroit should be able to do it, but it won't be easy. That being said, Detroit won't recover if they go down early in the series IMHO. If they lose game one...well, I won't have a lot of hope left. The Pens will play aggressively and Detroit will play catch up, and relying on Osgood when you're defense is pressing for offense is a dangerous game regardless how "good" he's been so far these playoffs...

Penguins will win the series this year....one big difference will be the play of Malkin. He literally STUNK in the playoffs last year, this year he is a completely different player playing with confidence. Crosby had to carry and will the team on last year, now he can do his thing knowing Malkin is fully capable of sharing the load. It's like Lemieux and Jagr in their prime all over again.

The Penguins are also playing a different kind of hockey this year than the Red Wings saw last year mainly due to the coaching change, last year they played conservative and defensive hockey while this years style is all out all the time, put your opponent down early and instead of playing conservative with the lead, continue burying them with goals.

quote Originally posted by kslish: Penguins will win the series this year....one big difference will be the play of Malkin. He literally STUNK in the playoffs last year, this year he is a completely different player playing with confidence. Crosby had to carry and will the team on last year, now he can do his thing knowing Malkin is fully capable of sharing the load. It's like Lemieux and Jagr in their prime all over again. The Penguins are also playing a different kind of hockey this year than the Red Wings saw last year mainly due to the coaching change, last year they played conservative and defensive hockey while this years style is all out all the time, put your opponent down early and instead of playing conservative with the lead, continue burying them with goals.

Spoken like a Pens fan, lol! I'd be careful saying "will win," but you have some good points. Myself, I'd be concerned about a team that plays "all out all the time" though. They will be vulnerable to odd man breaks if they are too aggressive when facing a talented and experienced Redwings team that, barring injury, is probably even better than the team that beat them last year. Plus, they risk wearing themselves out if the series goes long, "young" or not. If the Wings are healthy on offense, the dynamic duo in Pittsburgh may not be able to make up the difference, Malkin playing better or not.

It should be good regardless.

[This message has been edited by FieroFanatic13 (edited 05-28-2009).]

Don't care FTW!!!

Jim

I've been really impressed with what I've seen of the Red Wings during the playoffs. I haven't seen too many Penguin games though, so it's difficult for me to fairly judge how well they'll do against Detroit.

It'll all come down to injuries. The team with the fewest injuries to key players should come away with the cup. How's that for not committing myself to picking a winner?

Both teams have superbly talented offensive players. I'm looking forward to a great series.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: I've been really impressed with what I've seen of the Red Wings during the playoffs. I haven't seen too many Penguin games though, so it's difficult for me to fairly judge how well they'll do against Detroit. It'll all come down to injuries. The team with the fewest injuries to key players should come away with the cup. How's that for not committing myself to picking a winner? Both teams have superbly talented offensive players. I'm looking forward to a great series.

I think you've hit the nail on the head. Injuries could play a huge role in this series.

But you're right- it will be a good finals regardless. I don't see either team taking it easily!

I am hoping for a repeat of last year. I want to see the wings really crush their hopes again. I can't stand crybaby crosby, and hope that he never gets his mits on the cup. I wanted the Canucks or the Bruins to win it this year, but whataya gonna do... root against crosby! Let's go Wings, we're rebuilding dynasties!

Grew up in Detroit watching the Red Wings. My money is for a repeat to the cup. Go Wings!

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Wings in 6



P.S.
I'm very much looking forward to seeing Cindy Crosby get Kronwalled at some point during the series

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Nick www.naskie18.com GoogleTalk: naskie18 AIM: naskie18

Living on the west coast I don't get to see Crosby play very often, but he must be pretty damn good for some of you guys to dislike him so much.

Well as much as I would love to see the Wings take a sheet kicking and get swept in 4 i just don't think it will happen.
My guess is that it will be Detriot in 6. They are a well oiled machine right now, it'll be hard to stop them.

However, if Det. doesn't get Datsyuk and Lidstrom back for game 1 I think that will leave a pretty wide open door for the Pens to take the first game.
Thier 'all out play', which I think is a good way of describing thier style this season kslish, may shock the Wings, who have IMO been playing a very conservative (read: boring) style as of late, and the Pens may steal that first game in Det. That may throw Det. off as others have said. I am not certain they'll be as good of a team if they are forced to play catch up hockey. Then again if they win game 2, they nearly as good as ahead and can go back to thier style of play.

A few other points that I think will affect the outcome of this series will be: Will Pits. be able to handle the crowd in Det.'s barn? Had Chi. won games 5 + 6 they would have lost # 7 b/c Det. really seems to feed of it's fans and is tough to beat when at home.

Obviously the injuries to Datsyuk and Lidstrom will be big factors. I think Detroit needs these guys back in a big way. They're a big part of thier offence and thier defence.

If Crosby and Malkan et al can pull it together and really focus, and if they took enough experience away from last year, maybe, just maybe they can pull this off.

Personally I'll be cheering for the Pens. I have a good buddy who loves Detriot and likes to brag about them, so that is more than enough reason for me to cheer against them. Also Pits. swept Carolina which really won them a soft spot in my heart this year!

Go WINGS!! I know they will walk away with this one. I am still upset my Sharks didnt make it. They were number 1!

It should be a good series..

If it comes down to game 7 we should let the Steelers play the Lions for the cup

quote Originally posted by Patrick: Living on the west coast I don't get to see Crosby play very often, but he must be pretty damn good for some of you guys to dislike him so much.

Such is the case. Everyone seems to hate Sidney Crosby since he's currently the best all around player on the ice (although he's not Gretzky or Lemieux level yet) he works hard, is a good guy off the ice and is naturally talented. The constant drumming of the press that Crosby is the best probably causes non Penguins fans to get tired of hearing about him also. I think he comes across too perfect, too stuck-up, too polished so people just hate him just because he comes to town and spoils their teams party.

A lot of people used to hate Gretzky too.

quote Originally posted by kslish: Such is the case. Everyone seems to hate Sidney Crosby since he's currently the best all around player on the ice (although he's not Gretzky or Lemieux level yet) he works hard, is a good guy off the ice and is naturally talented.............

Crosby is talented, but I can argue that Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg are [i]better[/] all-around players than Sid. They too work hard, at both ends of the ice, go into the corners and do whatever it takes to win. Problem is the NHL and the Media do not offer them the the same "props" because they are European. If they were from the US or Canada, they would be all over these guys. Alexander Ovechkin has the same problem. I would say he is better than Sid as well.

For me HZ is the best player in the league right now. He is the second coming of Mark Messier, who IMO, was a much better player than Gretzky.

There was a time when the general consensus was that European players were too soft, and that you could not win a cup with them. The 2008 Red Wings threw that thinking right out the window. Is Tomas Holmstrom soft? How about Johan Franzen? Heck even Hossa is playing a better 2 way game this year and has been getting in some scraps.

GO WINGS!!!

quote Originally posted by WingNut - MD: Problem is the NHL and the Media do not offer them the the same "props" because they are European. If they were from the US or Canada, they would be all over these guys. Alexander Ovechkin has the same problem.

I beg to differ with you on that one. Especially this past season , Alexander Ovechkin has been mentioned first and foremost in any sports broadcast on TV or radio here in Vancouver after a Washington game. His talent and enthusiasm for the game is becoming legendary.

It often takes more than just talent alone for press coverage. The Detroit players you've mentioned are highly skilled, but are they perhaps... boring?

quote Originally posted by Patrick: It often takes more than just talent alone for press coverage. The Detroit players you've mentioned are highly skilled, but are they perhaps... boring?

I wouldn't say boring...but they're on a team that is expected to be great, which I think is a lot of the reason they don't get as much press as say Crosby or Ovechkin. Zetterberg and Datsyuk are phenominal players, and as far as all around players go, I would put both of them ahead of Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin, or anyone else you want to put on that list.

I don't think its them being European rather than North American, I think they're just overlooked because they're players on a team that is expected to be great, they're not the one exceptional player that a team has, and aren't necessarily the face of the franchise.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: It often takes more than just talent alone for press coverage. The Detroit players you've mentioned are highly skilled, but are they perhaps... boring?

No.

quote Originally posted by naskie18: ...... I think they're just overlooked because they're players on a team that is expected to be great, they're not the one exceptional player that a team has, and aren't necessarily the face of the franchise.

I said it here first. Zetterberg will be the next Captain of the Red Wings. Maybe Lidstrom is the face of the franchise, but how can you exclude HZ & PD?

EdIt to fix quote tag

[This message has been edited by WingNut - MD (edited 05-29-2009).]

quote Originally posted by WingNut - MD: AO has been mentioned for being over-enthusiastic after his goals. It is becoming his schtick, but his incredible play is not what is being mentioned, it's his antics...

Again, I have to beg to differ with you. Perhaps the sports broadcasters here in Canada (or in Vancouver) focus on different aspects of the game than the ones in Detroit, but what I see played back over and over again is the spectacular goals that Ovechkin scores. It's also admired that he's no pussy-cat out on the ice, which has been the criticism of European players for years.

Part of the reason why I appreciate Ovechkin's enthusiasm on the ice is because I went through 12 years here of watching Markus Naslund play for the Canucks with NO enthusiasm . Naslund is a quality individual and I have nothing against him as a person, but it pained me to see him wearing the "C" on his jersey here year after year (before he finally left for the Rangers). He was the WRONG guy to be supposedly inspiring his teammates.

As far as celebrating a bit after scoring a goal, so what? There's nothing that anyone in the NHL does that even approaches the choreographed showboating nonsense that occurs after an NFL touchdown.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 05-29-2009).]

We do not have TSN here in the States. Unfortunately what I see, ESPN, VS, Fox Sports, they have centered on the negative aspect of AO. I'm glad and am not surprised that the Canadian stations cover him in a better light. It is the Canadian Past-time. I recently got CBC added to my TV after a 6 year absence, so Hockey Night in Canada will be on my Saturday night docket next season.

Some of the things he has done have been over the top, but IMO the sport needs a guy like AO.

No complaints out of me. I feel he is the best player in the NHL along with Zetterberg.

quote Originally posted by WingNut - MD: I recently got CBC added to my TV after a 6 year absence, so Hockey Night in Canada will be on my Saturday night docket next season.

Great! Don Cherry is a bit of an ass, but by and large Hockey Night in Canada does an excellent job of showcasing the fastest, most exciting team sport on the planet.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 05-29-2009).]

well, the roast duck was good
the black hawk pie was a fine dessert
anyone have a good pengiun recipe?

quote Originally posted by Patrick: by and large Hockey Night in Canada does an excellent job of showcasing the fastest, most exciting team sport on the planet.

I've got to agree with you here, its always nice to see a game on the CBC. The commentators on most of the local american (satalite tv) stations do a pretty piss poor job of calling the games IMO. I'd sure rather have time clock #2 Bob Cole calling games than someone who has to wait for the next face off to say what the whistle may have been for.

[This message has been edited by AV8DAY (edited 05-29-2009).]

quote Originally posted by WingNut - MD: I recently got CBC added to my TV after a 6 year absence, so Hockey Night in Canada will be on my Saturday night docket next season.

That's one thing I really dislike about having DirectTV now....no CBC

Yeah I had Dish. At my old house I added and antennae that goes around the dish. I was able to pick up the local channels for free that way, includung CBC 9 out of Windsor. When I moved, my new yard has a lot more trees, and the same antennae would only pick up ABC (Channel 7 in Detroit). So I bought the local package, but it did not include CBC.

About a year ago I switched over to AT&T uVerse. It is a good service, but it too did not have CBC. About a month or so ago, they added it to my package. I was a happy camper. The only problem with it now, is I recently bought an HD TV. CBC's broadcast is not in Hi-Def. So the quandry I now find myself in is watch it in Hi-Def, and have OK commentary, or watch in low-def and have the CBC team. We are watching the game in Hi-Def, and flipping over to CBC between periods as a compromise. the HD picture is phenomenal for hockey, and I refuse to give that up.

edit for spelling mistakes, what else.

[This message has been edited by WingNut - MD (edited 05-29-2009).]

quote Originally posted by WingNut - MD: CBC's broadcast is not in Hi-Def. So the quandry I now find myself in is watch it in Hi-Def, and have OK commentary, or watch in low-def and have the CBC team. We are watching the game in Hi-Def, and flipping over to CBC between periods as a compromise. the HD picture is phenomenal for hockey, and I refuse to give that up.

I don't know about the signal that your carrier delivers, but CBC broadcasts the games in HD.

quote From Here: 08:00 PM ET HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA: Stanley Cup Playoffs (HD) - Game 1 – Pittsburgh @ Detroit; Round Four – Stanley Cup Final Round Four – Stanley Cup FinalGame 1 – Pittsburgh @ Detroit(Live Full Network) (High Definition where available)

HI all

GO WINGS!! The Wings are now out ahead after game 1 tonite...... Tomorrow is game 2 on NBC at 8 eastern time........

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Me, I sell engines, the cars are for free, I need something to crate the engines in....
Enzo Ferrari....

Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines....
Enzo Ferrari...

Today they are called garage's, yesterday, they were stable's! Eric Jacobsen....

13 wins down, 3 to go. GO WINGS!

I was at a Fiero club function and missed the game, but I heard that Detroit got some lucky breaks. Don't count the Penguins out yet. One game does not make a series!

The goalies determined game 1. Osgood showed his experience and played the puck better....Fluery's flailing basically scored Detroit two goals. Other than that I thought the game was pretty even, Detroit looked mighty tired in the second period but got a second wind once they had the lead and the Pens started to look frustrated late in the 3rd period.

Tonight should be interesting....I think the Pens have to score first to be in a better position during the game and regain confidence, especially playing in Detroit's rink with their crowd.

Wings 3-1

quote Originally posted by Patrick: I was at a Fiero club function and missed the game, but I heard that Detroit got some lucky breaks. Don't count the Penguins out yet. One game does not make a series!

You are correct, and the Pens will play tough in the Igloo, but I love the position the Wings are in going to Pitt up 2 - 0!!!!

14 wins, 2 to go. GO WINGS!!!!

quote Originally posted by Gokart Mozart: Wings 3-1

I would say the wings scored 4 goals, 1 just happened to be in the wrong net.

quote Originally posted by darkhorizon: I would say the wings scored 4 goals, 1 just happened to be in the wrong net.

I agree.

And Malkin isn't the saint he's made out to be. He deserved the suspension...any other player (except Cindy...err...Sidney Crosby) gets that suspension, had a Red Wing done it, they'd have gotten the game to sit and think about their actions. Malkin knew he would skate (no pun intended) on that suspension. Look for game 3 to be a Bettman special.