kidish

I've always liked TC as well, but I still thought it was a good decision to start with Oz and go from there. Likewise with Anaheim, they made the right decision going with Hiller even though I've always liked Gigs. (He would have made one helluva Flame.)

Haha, that's a good line. Had Osgood not been up to the task in these playoffs, I think you folks would have liked TC.

No offense bud, but you clapping generally means bad things for my argument. Haha. I'm not really for or against any team here. Just seeing two teams going at it, and it's been fun, both both teams' fanbases get way out of hand on wanting so-and-so hanged. It's hockey.

You know, that's not really the opinion I get of things except on this board. So I'll take that with a grain of salt. Anaheim is definitely the more undisciplined team here. But I get to watch this series without seriously caring who wins. And bullocks to you if you don't see your own precious team cheapshoting Anaheim back. It's a chippy series, which makes it awesome to watch, but both teams are dancing on the floor here, not just one. Or can I refer you to the TSN panel they did on Kronwall always leaving his feet on his hits this season? That's "cheap," "dirty," and "illegal," and you know what, most of the league thinks Detroit gets away with it FAR more than any other team because you're friggin' Detroit. Anaheim has a bad rep, and they earn it, but they don't get away with nearly as much as other teams in this league because of it.

Because Anaheim is the ONLY team in this series who has played dirty or has given out some cheap shots, right?

Haha, hilarious! Good call. The tradition is stronger than the win or lose emotion. I don't think it is awkward for the guys, it's just...tradition. They all know it's coming. Yet they play with all their hearts before it does. It's a great tradition, and I'd refuse to be a fan of a team that disrespected this tradition. ...because at least your team gets to have it, mine...not so much!

That's dumb, because if that did happen, that player wouldn't BE on the ice during the handshake. A game misconduct kicks you out. Again, if one guy bones up and is disrespectful, do you pout and sit out and then get reamed in the media for it? Brodeur has the best reaction: respect the tradition, but if you hate someone that much, don't shake HIS hand. In this instance, you don't think all of Detroit wouldn't want to shake Hiller's hand? He's been quiet, he doesn't flop or dive, he does his job, and he's the other reason Detroit had to do this is seven games. The athletes appreciate that talent, they respect that.

Absolutely, your first part is spot on. How do you beat the goon-style play? Beat them, send them home. I only say this as a devil's advocate, but Carlyle could have done the same with his defenseman, saying he had a lung contusion AND a broken nose. (Even then, Kronwall broke Carter's nose with a jumping elbow...no call. So injury may not matter.) The Wings just need to go out and beat them, then what happened will turn into a rallying cry for your organization and they'll be left licking their hurts.

His metaphor is pretty good though considering to Detroit, Anaheim IS the devil and company! haha.

Why should he kid? Look, it's obvious Anaheim is public enemy number one here to the fans. And likewise there, they hate Detroit a lot. But these players are PAID athletes. Aside from the obvious locks, whose to say you aren't ending up in an Anaheim (or conversely, for the Ducks, a Detroit) uniform next season?* So respecting the individuals on the ice, regardless of what's happened during competition, is a big tradition in the NHL. Several of your Wings fans here have said the same, but the one Ducks guy comes in and says the same, you treat it like he's just told you that Penquins can fly after all and that Anaheim is the cleanest team evar. He just said a fact: players that shun the handshake tradition DO get analyzed by the media after the fact. I think Detroit's the classiest organization in hockey, and I say that with much envy because I'm from Toronto. So frankly, whether it's Anaheim or the Flyers of yore, you shake hands and continue the tradition. For the players, it is easy to leave it on the ice -- they are all just trying to win, but once the series is over, hey, there's a lot of them who are probably friends. * your coach came straight from "dirty as hell" Anaheim. Two of your players went there after they won a Cup, etc. Just never know.

Alright, I see what you mean now, especially about the meanstreak. I can definitely see that. Getzlaf seems like a more complete guy than Bert does, like you mentioned, maybe akin to Nash but with that meanstreak. I hadn't noticed him being particularly undercover dirty though. His team does that plenty around him. I have noticed that he takes really dumb penalties. Is that what you mean? Either way, he's a good player. I'd love him in a Leafs uni.

I haven't watched the triple slow-mo recap or anything, just the standard replay from Versus, but I didn't notice Niedermayer looking up at Datsyuk before the elbow. His back and head were turned and coming around, following the elbow...hey, I could be wrong. I thought the exact same thing with the Holmstrom elbow: it was cruddy he threw it--and he meant to throw it--but by no means was it intentionally aimed at that guy's face, per se. I'm just giving my opinion though, I'm not saying I really know one thing or another with certainty. I thought GordieSid&Ted's post was pretty great.

Looking at those numbers, I am inclined to agree with your comparison. You've seen more of Bertuzzi than I, and then of course he was on Anaheim the following year, so they might be pretty comparable guys. I guess where I see it is that Getzlaf plays like Joe Thornton--a big power-forward playmaker--with an Iginla edge. Bertuzzi was a much better scorer because he powered to the front of the net real well, but the main difference is that Bertuzzi was on an exceptional line in Vancouver, whereas Getzlaf has always been paired with pretty much just Perry. Getzlaf is more of the start of the play than I remember Bertuzzi ever being. Much like a Thornton or Iginla. However, I suspect you were comparing them in light of Bertuzzi's infamous incident and implying Getzlaf is a cheap-shot artist like Todd. (Who had been suspended prior to that incident; again, I don't believe Getz ever has been.) I don't know, maybe Getzlaf is eventually going to be seen as a cheap-shot player -- though he has Perry for that -- so I see him as more of just a legitimate powerhouse playmaker than someone like Bertuzzi. But then again, stats don't lie, and God knows my perception don't count for s*** as far as hockey history goes.

Pretty much. Although I'd still say the DVR is lying. It's a ******* post-game scrum--this still happens in hockey, despite the rules and such. The elbow was s***. I personally don't see intent, but who cares what I see, I'm just some Leafs fan watching some really great hockey right now. Does it matter who started it? The teams were charged up, it just makes game seven in this series more awesome to anticipate. Considering this series of two past Cup winners is being vastly overshadowed by the Sid vs. Ovie matchup, it needs all the help it can get!

Without Getzlaf, there'd have been no series. Detroit would have met Chicago in this round.

They aren't comparable whatsoever, sorry.

He had credibility before? Heh. Anyway, the makeup of the Anaheim team is better left for the other thread about Scotty's vicious and intentional attempt to injure the ever innocent and perfectly harmless Datsyuk. Who cares if Anaheim is a bunch of cheating lairs who would sleep with your mom even if she was pregnant with you still? Getzlef is still a pretty ******* great hockey player!

Hank is correct. Soemtimes I don't think Anaheim fans realize what they have in Getzlaf. He's a real good player.

THAT'S what I've been saying. Thank you for saying it better.

I'd hope Detroit wouldn't change much. They are one of the few pure skilled teams in the league right now. Like an above poster said, the Wings enforcer is the power play. They keep winning, so why change that up!?

Nothing in the regular season matters in the playoffs. Nothing in the previous series matters in the current series. It all starts over with each new series. Bobby Ryan could have been Jesus walking on water out there at any point, but against Detroit, he's been invisible, and at the worst possible time--you need your star guys to step up in big games. Perry is fairly invisible without Getzlaf. Be realistic. I don't have the hate against Anaheim like most the league does, because I like some of their players and dig their coach, but just be realistic: Perry has numbers when Getzlaf has numbers. Otherwise, he's a fairly average player, that's it. He's good enough to hang with Getzlaf, which is a compliment, but I mean...so was Kunitz, and his "skill" is pretty questionable since he continues to get lucky in his career and play on lines with guys way over his head.

Haha, he's living in a nice fantasy world then.

No, I get what you're saying, but...it just isn't the case. It HAPPENS still to this day, and like it or not, the league doesn't do much about it. Every year this sort of thing happens, and no suspensions occur. Last two Cup Finals: Niedermayer gets a puck shot at his chest blatantly, huge scrum occurs, no penalties or suspensions. Last year: Osgood is taken out--penalty is called--and a huge scrum occurs where both sides pull some cheap shots, no suspensions. Scrums happen in hockey. That's something that won't change unless they remove fighting altogether. The elbow was s***, I'm not disagreeing on that. So I mean, if that's the bother with anything I'm saying, I'm already agreeing with you. Just the rest of it: hey, that was a hockey scrum, let it fuel the fire for game seven already!

Haha, good call on that Bobby Ryan kid. Goes from Calder candidate to invisible. Teemu's linemates seem fine, it's just that when he gets the puck, it's an automatic turnover. Anaheim's been complaining about that all season with him. He's just not that good any more. Getzlaf is the Anaheim threat. Shut him down, the rest is easy.

The first post in this thread is quite TRUE. Detroit can take Getzlaf off his game, they can take Anaheim easy. Period.