Firehawk

I have a question: Is the Conn Smythe trophy for the MVP of the SCF or the MVP of the playoffs?

Im not gonna get on the refs for the way they called it today. I'll take this style of refing the rest of this series. I liked that they let the teams play and decide the game. I was absolutely positive they were gonna give Pit another power play at the end of the game, since they were down 2 goals, but they didn't. I wonder why they don't have Mc Creary in at all for this series...or at least, I don't think they do. Last year they didn't, and he's one of the best.

As much as I dislike Crosby, objectively speaking, it was really unfair of Bettman and the NHL to dump their hopes on a kid that hadn't even played a game yet in the NHL and was deemed the saviour. Completely unfair. The league is in bed with him now, for better or worse, till death do they part. So, what do you expect I guess, eh?

To be honest, I think they've already got that feeling, my friend. I'm not sure the Pens can play any better than they did today. The wings kept on top of the big guns, and our depth beat their depth tonight. That's the jest of what happened. Can you believe on the Pens HF board one fan said that Osgood isn't a good goalie and Malkin and Crosby need to play better? I mean seriously... lol. They're just not used to being shut down, because THEY ARENT USED TO PLAYING AGAINST REAL DEFENSE!

So... You gotta think that the longer the Pens aren't leading in a game, or if they find themselves down 2-0, or hell, even now at 1-0, that the pressure is all on THEM to do something. They got smacked around last year, and were expected, you know, with all of their experience from last year, to come in here and beat Detroit. You have to think the pressure is going to be on the Pens now. We all know Detroit can handle anything. They've faced every adverse situation over the past several years and come out on time most of the time. The wings are the champs, and playing to repeat, but you have to think the pens have all of the pressure on their shoulders to do something, what with all the hype they're getting. What do you guys think about that?

Ozzie more than made up for that goal...if you even want to say it was soft. That was a very hard slap shot through 2 defenders by malkin. You don't know where the puck is going on a slap shot. Good stop, just a tad off his glove, otherwise he gets the shutout. I'll take that any night of the week, Ozzie. Ozzie was outstanding the rest of the game. That's experience, folks. Fleury on the other end looked nervous and scared to me. His reaction after the first goal said it all, and the 3rd goal, he took a skate half way around the ice I thought.

In the west, they'd be much more exposed by the solid defense that teams bring. Either that, or those two would be come much better players. Probably both would occur. The east doesn't have powerhouse defense. I don't know why Pens fans think otherwise. Most of their issues and discussions going on their boards (from my lurking in) are the same crap we heard last year..."Sid and Malkin need to step up, we need to play better defensively, etc". The Pens haven't run into a powerhouse offensive team as well as powerhouse defensive team yet. Detroit is a COMPLETE team. They won't get rattled no matter what. When the wings have breakdowns, they recover and usually find a way to come out on top. You don't win 4 cups in 11 years and be favored in the other 7 years to win the cup, just on a whim...

If he were mature, he'd just brush it off. But we all know he's not. If he got whacked, We'd probably get a suspension.

I think we're nitpicking a little bit about Sidney's Post Conference. I don't think he whined much at all, honestly. And trust me, I can't stand him. It's unfortunate for him now because everything he says is so under scrutiny. Wow, sounds like I'm standing up for him. I'm really not. I still think he's a *****, but let's try to not nitpick too much guys. We won, it's 1-0, whether we got lucky bounces or not. I'll take 20 more 'lucky goals' and plan a parade in a week if that's what it takes to get us the cup!

I will give you that much, I thought the refing stayed out of the game for the most part. They let things go on both sides...all things considered, nice job by the refs. The only people that don't think Sidney whines are Pens fans, Don Cherry, and any national broadcaster...oh and also Bettman. Any other NHL fan thinks he's a baby.

He was invisible quite a bit in the game...

SO who thinks Crosby is going to whine about something? Any takers?

I was just thinking this. For a rookie coach, to give respect to the Wings when it's due...honorable. I haven't heard any retarded excuses yet...nice change of pace...lol.

So... 1. We swing Octopi and it gets on the ice and somehow causes possible hazard for injury, so now you're going to be fined 10,000 if you do it... 2. We cheat on faceoffs. 3. We interfere constantly. 4. Our boards are too lively. I give up...

Since we won 70+% of the faceoffs, I'm going to say he's gonna pull a Hitchcock and say we were cheatin...

I'm sure the Pens are thinking, "well, we are better, see? We got a goal this time"...

I'm gonna go ahead and say the Refs were not too bad tonight. You could argue the calls they did make, but I'm glad they kept the calls low and let the teams play. I was waiting for the Pens to get a PP at the end there...just like they did in games 5 and 6 last year.

What did he do I missed it? Anyone get a clip of crosby at the end of the game?

Man, if only the unsung heroes could get it. I'd give it to Helm. He was a terminator out there today.

Well, at least the Pens scored 1 goal this time in game 1. Snickers...

Pens are showing me something...they're definitely showing their experience from last year. Unfortunately, because they're inferior to the Wings, it's not 'putting them ahead' so to speak. At least, not yet. Wings are doing a good job of keeping the big boys away from the puck. That being said, wings were outplayed in the 2nd, got the lead anyways, that's gotta be a great thing going into the 3rd. Wings better pick it up.

I thought the pens carried the play more than the Wings in the 2nd. That late goal has to really hurt them...I'd think. They won more battles, wings looked slow and out of sync for the most part in the 2nd...

I thought helm was doing a good job on the forecheck, and as a result was getting the puck back and maintaining possession in the O-zone most of the time on his shift...the rest of the team needs to follow suit.

You can see that we miss Datsyuk, with the bringing the puck in and the back-checking. We are doing a fine job, but I still think his presence is definitely missed.

If i were not a fan and I were tuning in, I'd think the Pens won it last year...