Stanley Cup Finals Discussion Thread

[C20lw 0]

I am a lil worried about this series, but optimistic wings in 6. Malkin/Crosby have been a thorn in every goal tenders side. Shutting them down will make our job a little easier. Not having lidstrom or dats for a game or two will def put a lot of pressure on us, but nothing the Wings are mentally and physically preparing for. Pengs have been making some great plays and taking care of business with the addition some of the guys they picked up mid year. Weve been spending all year developing a team as a solid unit and increasing our depth. You take out our top 2 lines offensively, thats fine we still have 2 more that are waiting to burn Fluery. I dont think the Pengs have enough depth to stop that. It will be a hard fought battle on each end of the ice but look for Hossa to make some plays late in the game. Helm will continue to be a beast, Mule will still make fantastic shots that have goalies pulling tricks out their asses to save, and our D will continue to play smart at the blue line and keep the pressure in the zone. And if were lucky.... Crosby will get Kronwalled.

Wings in 6.

Hope to see Lids and Dats back Saturday, this series is gonna start off with a bang and we need to set the bar early.

[betterREDthandead 58]

Wings in 7. This'll be much harder than last year, I think. Last year we had the Pens in a 2-0 hole because they didn't know the Cup Finals from a hole in the ground and weren't ready. They're ready this year. Now we can't say they haven't been around the block. They have a coach they actually like playing for. It's not as simple as "they lost Hossa, we got Hossa" (although that's a huge factor in our favor.) I think home ice will help us pull this out, but man. Going to be a dogfight the whole way.

[mmorland 16]

Everyone is picking the Pens nationally....let em'

[WingsFan2008 0]

My legs are feeling sore in sympathy pains with tired Wings legs.

[WingsNick5 0]

Reports say that Nick will be playing on Saturday but that Dats and Johnathan are game time decisions. I can't imagine that Big E "won't" be playing. He wants to get back out there and earn his sc ring!

Wings in 5--Hossa will come up big against his former team and the cry baby will fall apart against our defense. Malkin will need to be watched.

Edited May 28, 2009 by WingsNick5

[ClearlyCleary 1]

It's not as simple as Detroit + Hossa, Pittsburgh - Hossa. But when it's Pittsburgh minus Hossa, Malone, Ruutu and Whitney AND THEN Detroit + Hossa, the math makes a bit more sense.

My personal opinion? Gina and Cindy do their damage, but the Wings have enough depth defensively to shut them down long enough to show the Penguins lack of scoring depth. Kunitz and Guerin have been mediocre with the exception of a game or two in the entire playoffs. And let's not forget Fleury needs to successfully make it onto the ice at the Joe without eating it!

Wings in 6

[Guest Four]

4-1

[MidMichSteve 1,115]

Ask anyone who knows stats- you can't base a conclusion on a sample size of 2.

Statistics have to be used properly. Give me a 15-25 game average based on this situation and I'd say we could be confident in it.

It was a joke?

*Sarcasm removed

[rwfan007 18]

Few things here:

1. The Wings are a little older than the Penguins, but they are in exceptional shape and have the veteran experience to make up for a lost step.

2. We have 2 shut-down D-pairings with Nick/Ralf and Kronner/Stuart. If the pens go with crosby/malkin on 1 line then Nick/Ralf have the entire penguins scoring threat neutralized. if the pens decide to split the Olsen twins up, then Stu/Kronner are more than capable to shut them down and lay on some "charm".

3. Hossa is going to play out of his mind to make sure that people see he made the correct decision on where to play this season.

4. Oz is a playoff freak. He has seen it all and done it all and will be in the HOF when he hangs up the pads.

5. The penguins have not seen a 4 line scoring threat like the wings. Even if Hank, Pav, Mule, and Hos dont play great, there is still Happy Feet, Helm, Cleary, Sammy, Flip, and Homer to deal with.

6. Oh yeah, our best offensive players are also our best defensive players. Z, Pav, Mule, and Hos all play significant time on the PK and are relentless on the backcheck. Crosby needs to look backwards this series and notice that he does not just have to deal with a defenseman, but the rest of the roster as well.

Quick edit for #7: Helm is playing great and I think he will be a significant deciding factor in the battle of 3rd/4th lines.

Wings take it in 6 just because we are a more balanced and complete team than the Penguins have seen the last 6 weeks.

Edited May 28, 2009 by rwfan007

[RedWingNut78 0]

Buccigross and the other ESPN "experts" are all picking the Pens. Except for Melrose

[Outsider 42]

Hopefully someone has found a remedy for the Conklin jinx....

Edited May 29, 2009 by Outsider

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Hopefully someone has found a remedy for the Conklin jinx....

Found it!

[Outsider 42]

Found it!

Well played, Sir.

Let's hope it works....

[chrisdetroit 189]

Everyone is picking the Pens nationally....let em'

Wrong. ESPN has 6 "experts" and they are split evenely 3-3 Pens-Wings

[chrisdetroit 189]

Buccigross and the other ESPN "experts" are all picking the Pens. Except for Melrose

NO THEY ARE NOT. They are split 3-3

ESPN Experts

What is it with the disinformation. You'd think that this was the democratic convention

[chrisdetroit 189]

I am a lil worried about this series, but optimistic wings in 6. Malkin/Crosby have been a thorn in every goal tenders side. Shutting them down will make our job a little easier. Not having lidstrom or dats for a game or two will def put a lot of pressure on us, but nothing the Wings are mentally and physically preparing for. Pengs have been making some great plays and taking care of business with the addition some of the guys they picked up mid year. Weve been spending all year developing a team as a solid unit and increasing our depth. You take out our top 2 lines offensively, thats fine we still have 2 more that are waiting to burn Fluery. I dont think the Pengs have enough depth to stop that. It will be a hard fought battle on each end of the ice but look for Hossa to make some plays late in the game. Helm will continue to be a beast, Mule will still make fantastic shots that have goalies pulling tricks out their asses to save, and our D will continue to play smart at the blue line and keep the pressure in the zone. And if were lucky.... Crosby will get Kronwalled.

Wings in 6.

Hope to see Lids and Dats back Saturday, this series is gonna start off with a bang and we need to set the bar early.

If Nick, Pav and Big E are back, Wings in 5. It sounds like Nick is back for game 1 and Big E for game 1 or 2 (worst case). We really need Pasha though or the Pens could stretch it to 7.

I really wanna see Hoss skate around Melon arena with the cup. That would be priceless....

[Drake_Marcus 890]

It was a joke?

*Sarcasm removed

You know me- I never joke around

[Drake_Marcus 890]

NO THEY ARE NOT. They are split 3-3

ESPN Experts

What is it with the disinformation. You'd think that this was the democratic convention

Irony. Rove would be so proud of his handy work if he met you.

[Rivalred 630]

Wings in 7. This'll be much harder than last year, I think. Last year we had the Pens in a 2-0 hole because they didn't know the Cup Finals from a hole in the ground and weren't ready. They're ready this year. Now we can't say they haven't been around the block. They have a coach they actually like playing for. It's not as simple as "they lost Hossa, we got Hossa" (although that's a huge factor in our favor.) I think home ice will help us pull this out, but man. Going to be a dogfight the whole way.

^^^^^

This....

It will be a tough series... Z, Pavel, and Hossa will be playing a lot of D...

[wmubronco420 25]

wow Barry Melrose has been right on so far this year with his picks. the scary thing is hes only got 2 wrong so far, he picked the flyers over the pens, and then the caps over the pens. Now he's got the wings beating the pens in the finals, could he be wrong three times?

EDIT: on second thought i think he did the same thing last year except he picked against the wings 2-3 times onlly for them to win...i think hes workin with some kind of reverse psychology voodoo stuff

Edited May 29, 2009 by wmubronco420

[flip 5]

Any updates on Hossa's knee? I know he finished the game last night, but he had ice on it afterwards and just said "We'll see" when asked if he'd play in game one. He said it with a smile, though.

[mjlegend 155]

If the Wings are up 2-1 after Tuesday, I like this team's chances of closing it out in five. These first three games are so crucial.

I even think that if they win Game 1, the Wings should more or less 'play for the home split' (roll four lines equally, play Chelly for 10 minutes) and then play balls to the wall for all 60 minutes Tuesday and do everything they can to win that game. I would like their momentum going into Thursday even though they're on the road and lack rest.

Despite what NBC wants - a sprint to the final so they can have their show with that 6'4" Irish American - the finals are as much a battle of attrition as it is hockey.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Any updates on Hossa's knee? I know he finished the game last night, but he had ice on it afterwards and just said "We'll see" when asked if he'd play in game one. He said it with a smile, though.

He's fine. He was being facetious.

[Glubki 17]

Has anyone seen odds for the entire series? I see the wings are favored in game one but I can't find the series odds.

[mjlegend 155]

Lines I've seen have the Wings (-1.5) with an O/U at a remarkably low 5.5. I think game one sees at least six goals, but I do think a lower-scopring game helps the team in red.

Found it:

http://www.point-spreads.com/hockey/052809...tting-odds.html

Wings are (-155) to Pitts (+125) to win the Cup.

Edited May 29, 2009 by mjlegend