Doc Holiday

double

I believe the term "4 goals in the third period" disagrees with you. Indeed, but like I said, there are a few reasons people give the nod to Ovie. Plus he is more flashy than Crosby is.

Ovenchkin is the scorer, plus Crosby was unable to prove himself last year so that has only given Ovenchkin more of a chance to step up his game. Plus I didn't see an unbelievable game out of Crosby during the finals.

Both ends of the ice take talent. That is why Lidstrom is so far ahead of his peers. Considering there are many more goal scorers than defensemen that makes Lidstrom's talent all the more valuable. Ovenchkin may not win the MVP for the regular season. Lidstrom is almost guaranteed to win it with the amount of freaking talent that oozes from his forehead alone. He can stop an Ovenchkin and pass to an AHL player and cause a goal. Ovenchkin oozes offensive talent, but he isn't the only one with great ability and when it comes to 1v1, Ovenchkin would not have an easy time against Lidstrom. Give Ovie a few years when he is in his prime and he may have enough skills to dangle any defenseman in the league, but Lidstrom has too much for him in my humble opinion. Pardon me if I am rambling, I am very tired and for some reason would rather talk hockey than rest.

No you can't.

Pardon me for misreading. I'm not saying your team has to be strictly defensive minded. You, however, said that a team has to have an offensive mind to win. The Lighting come to mind... Selke nominees. That isn't what I'm talking about. I'm talking about the fact Lidstrom steps toe to toe with the best offensive players in the league and boasts a plus minus of 40, and getting 70 points in the process. Don't forget this is against a very stacked Western conference. I'm not, but you seem to harp on it as if that is the only picture. Buffalo was able to get only two goals less than Detroit last season and didn't even make the playoffs. But we don't have to! You explained how Lidstrom is also a potent offensive player as well! Of course we can forget the fact Detroit had the fewest goals against this season and the whole +40 rating because apparently only offense matters. Tell that to the Pens. Buffallo had offense. Where were they in the playoffs? Lidstrom is not only a defenseman he is a point getter as well. He stops the Ovenchkins and Crosby's and gets assists while doing it. Ovenchkin can't solve Lidstrom and considering Lidstrom can smother so much offense (like mr Ovie) that is why he is so valuable to a team.

So wait, you say in the 80s and 90s the NHL was purely offense, but now the new NHL is becoming more offense? When was it defense, and why for the past two years have the offensively minded teams been defeated where it counted (Ottawa and Pittsburgh). And I also find it odd that the huge reason for Detroit's success was due to their forwards not only playing offense but defense, and that the MVP was not picked only for his offense, but largely for his defense (see 5 on 3 where AO's offense wouldn't help). Yes, Ovenchkin has the ability to carry a team on his shoulders to the playoffs, but Lidstrom's defensive play has shut down the top players in the league on a consistent basis.

How many all star defensemen are in the league today? Now how many all star forwards are there? Lidstrom is a very very rare breed, and Ovenchkin is essentially a much better form of today's power forward. I'd take the rare breed. And considering in today's NHL an stacked Pittsburgh's offense was completely shut down by a stacked Detroit defense I really don't get what basis you have for that assertion. Offense wins games, defense wins championships.

Aweeesommmeeeeeee............

What about players retiring?

I've been an Ozzy fan since 97 when he was picked to start. Yes I know he's been around longer but I was only 8 at the time and I wasn't as into the game as I became the next few years.

Maybe he will take 500 to play here.

I didn't know Crosby was a brilliant two way player. Sure Crosby has the offensive talent, but Pavel has just about as much of that and a ridiculous amount of defensive skills to boot. Plus Crosby wouldn't mesh as well as Zetterberg. They would turn into the "Not Euro, but still really good" twins.

Hasek will change his mind on retiring and be back to take Osgood's spot for a couple years.

Good for him. Though I've always hated the Avs he's the kinda guy you just can't dislike.

Pittsburgh's style can't match Detroit's. They focus their offense on two players and our defense smothers them both. At least With Hossa it spread the cover out giving them a decent oppurtunity to make something happen. Dallas I am not afraid of. San Jose maybe, but like I said nothing over there wows me. The main factor that can't determine a real winner in the playoffs is the trade deadline. Pittsburgh acquired Hossa and it made all the difference, so we will have to wait till we know how easily Detroit can sweep every team in the playoffs.

Well the thing is I don't believe his point getting will continue to go up from here on out, which makes me only think he will be a great, not "Great" forward in the years to come.

Well consider every team we lost to since 2003 has beaten everyone else in the Western Conference. Why are the Red Wings the chokers when other high ranked teams were defeated by the same "underdog" teams? Plus all those teams went to game 7 in the finals against the "top" team in the East.

One word: Bonuses. Illitch has a lot more money to spend on that since the cap keeps him from spending a large sum of his profits, which allows him to use a good portion towards keeping his players comfortable and happy. If only he could lower ticket prices so me and my college buddies could go to every game. And $15 for parking?! Come on!

What about the Tigers? If anything Illitch will just take money from the Lions to put into the Wings.

My guess is Kenny didn't.

If I rooted for another team it would be Toronto just because it would be cool to have a stanley cup final with blue and red on the ice. And I like the Hawks and Kings too.

Yeah, I guess you are right, nobody should get mad about a loss because sometimes teams lose. I guess if my team has a chance to celebrate their 4th cup in 11 years I should just sit and enjoy watching hockey and say "that's nice" when anyone scores. And nearly one year ago? It's been two months. Shut up and get out of this thread if you don't want to deal with someone venting their frustration at a loss as big as game 5 was.

Someone should check to see if anyone at the Pens boards has found it.

But they didn't. That ruins the whole "excitement ending on a high note" thing.