hockeysattva

The games are uploaded after their conclusion here. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/PuckYou

Datsyuk had definitely been a regular season performer, and a playoff leader the last two years, but IMO he was most remarkable as a rookie. I remember the first time I saw him pass to himself off the back of the net. He just was a skill player that seemed to come from nowhere. I love his ability, but I got to say I agree that its a far stretch comparing him with Feds.

"I believe that the games are being called very well. They are allowing big-time hits to occur, hits that are penalized during the regular season. The pick plays on faceoffs are now not being called as they once were, but to tell you the truth, I don't have a problem with that. I like a little time and space to be created and it's a play that in no way causes injury. The Hossa play was close to a hook, but officials let skill players get away with that move because they are skill players who often make that play legally. Compared to the mess of some of the NBA playoff games, NHL referees are in complete control and largely invisible. I thought the team of referees Paul Devorski and Dennis Larue and linesmen Derek Amell and Pierre Racicot was top-notch. They did miss the Penguins' having too many men on the ice, but in a frenetic, loud Stanley Cup playoff game, that's like trying to find the extra car someone snuck into a NASCAR race. I think video review should be used in too-many-men-on-the-ice situations. The best of the NHL officials are the best in sports because they are great skaters and they understand the soul of the game better than other officials from the four major North American sports. They are the youngest, fastest and fittest, and played more games at a higher level." For the letter he was responding to please see: http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs/200...&id=4227753 I realize this may be just another thread on the officiating, but thought before it got merged I could put it here, as it is a personalities opinion and not mine.

So, you guys were all yelling, "too many men, thats too many men!!!" When you were watching it? I would much rather the refs focus on the puck and the play, you know in case it crosses the line, than focus on counting how many players are out at any given moment. The sixth guy really was away from the play, on the ice, but away from the play. The reffing has been good, not perfect, but it has minimally kept everything even -- so the teams can decide who will win or lose the series.

hockeywebcasts.com puts up four or five different streams for the Finals games, though the links don't show up until game time. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/PuckYou Has the games uploaded after the game is finished so you can watch them any time you want. The stream tends to be better quality later as well since there aren't six thousand other people doing the same thing as you. Hope that helps.

Dear John, I thought I would extend this little story your way. This saint Jeff from MA made a posting sometime yesterday on KuklasKorner that he had two tickets he needed to give away for Game 2, and as opposed to selling them, decides to give them to a real hockey fan who posts on the website (I received the tickets today, and they were both $190 at face value, and yes, that's upper bowl). Turns out he is also a Pens fan and I am a Wings fan, which just makes the act of kindness seem all the better to me. Now, me and my dad are set to see our first playoff game at The Joe, in the finals. Incredible. Thank you, Jeff! RJ Toledo, Ohio Further research on Jeff reveals he donates a pint of blood every Thursday, randomly mows one lawn a week in the Midwest, provides free Friday night babysitting, donated his "Matlock"/"Murder She Wrote" DVDs to the local senior center and donated BOTH kidneys to a welder in Holland in 1988. And still, he marches. After all, he's a hockey fan. http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs/200...&id=4227753

+3

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a forum where people would talk hockey instead of just complaining.

I'm not wrong about them; I already give them credit, and I did last year, but healthy the Wings are the best team in the NHL hands down. That being said, the best team does not always win, this could become some sort of miracle on ice... [Note: the Russian team was far (out of sight far) better, but still lost. Anything can happen that's why the games are actually played.] PS. When you say do the same, do you mean you will admit you made a mistake? Did you not think the Wings were downright amazing coming into this?

The Pens are a far more talented team than the Ducks IMO. Stop drink the Red stuff for a second guys, seriously. Hitting posts and crossbars is not just close... it really is almost in, and I can't believe you are trying to act like you haven't felt this way in the past (if you haven't get on a different bandwagon). I can't fathom why any of you would over-rate the Ducks the way you are. They should have been eliminated by the Sharks, who couldn't help but choke, and was the team I was most afraid of. I still can't believe what happened to the Bruins either... tangent... I'll dig up some stats if I need to, but yeah, Ducks not better than the Pens.

The Wings won, but I do somewhat agree that more time off could have been good for the Wings, though I think we all must get this out of our heads. The schedule doesn't hurt the Wings, its just the schedule, both teams have to play by it, and nobody NOBODY should use it for an excuse. Like I said, I do think the extra week off would have been better, but they needed to win tonight and did.

This will probably get merged, but Yeah!!! Helm was the first star of the night tonight for sure.

Just saw it on ESPN, good thing I checked before making a new thread eh. Lidstrom, Datsyuk out for Game 5 http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs/2009/news?id=4209247 No details though.

Not really a find, everyone who was paying attention already knew. In fact if the OP spent half as much time searching for information on the schedule as it appears was spent speculating this thread wouldn't even exist. The most bunk part of this conspiracy is that it kind of legitimizes the potential for 8 days off between rounds. Marketing the finals eh... seems like Bettman doesn't have confidence that the main event can sell itself...

This is really getting ahead of everything, but after its said and done there won't be anything to speculate about. So, both Crosby and Malkin are in position to get high in single season playoff records (maybe) with a good performance through the finals (should the Pens make it). Though, to be honest, they haven't been spectacular above and beyond by any means (example, Mario Lemieux C 1991-1992 15 games 16 g 18 a 34p), but have clearly been good. It all comes down to play in the finals. If they can't deliver in the finals, they can't win a Smyth. If one does, I'm sure we'll hear the arguement, but if the Pens don't win, they don't win a Smyth either. I really just don't see a 12 point performance from either of them in the finals. Early forecasts for the Wings would be much less fruitful. Though, if Osgood's play goes to the next level (ie. a shutout or two in the finals) he may end up the best candidate. The wings have 15 players with a playoff goal, 19 with a playoff point (6 in double digits), and 15 with a plus (only two with a minus Chelios and Maltby). That kind of depth makes it hard to say "_____ is really carrying the team." That being said Franzen and Cleary both have 2 game winning goals. Conversly, the Pens have 16 players with a goal, 20 with a point (6 in double digits), and 13 with a plus ( 8 with a minus). So, its not to say they don't have depth, but 28 and 26 points respectively sticks out more than 19 or 18 does...

Scotty may have been able to make this a 2 - 2 series going into game five, buts its hard to say if the match-ups he would design would be much different. He would likely have gotten a few veteran players before the deadline, but one cannot speculate about that so much. The reason I think the series could be tied right now, is that Scotty also had a good eye for special teams play, and possibly could make a three to two game for instead of against, but working the special teams better (preventing stupid penalties)...

There are many bad calls, but this IMO is the worst of them all as it was fully reviewed, and not a result of any rule changes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64OC-wpsMKg...feature=related The puck went through the net and in, and was reviewed and still ended up counting... wow!!!

TSN showed a pretty good replay, and the stick went into the face pretty good, but I didn't think I looked like a double minor so much as just a sloppy bad luck play.

(Proverb 17:21-28) He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him. Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity. He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Both are slightly different: "Better to be thought a fool, then to open your mouth and remove all doubt." -Samuel Clemmens (aka Mark Twain) "Its better to be thought a fool rather than to speak up and remove all doubt." - Lincoln and other sources: It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt . -- George Eliot The Foolish Monkey by Cam Watkins Once upon a time, there was a colony of monkeys living in the jungle. One paticular monkey was thought to be a fool, because he never talked. One day, the lion called a meeting of all the beasts of the jungle. The Lion opened the meeting by asking a question. The monkey immediately sat up and stated his opinion, and removed all doubt. Moral: Better to be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. But, the quotes has very very little to do with the likelihood that Datsuk will play which is extremely likely.

He didn't practice, that doesn't mean he's out. I would expect to see Datsyuk in the next game.

Being fair to Darren, the lockout hurt him substantially worse than most everyone else. It would have been his highest paid year, but instead it was one of his lowest... and the market totally changed in the cap era. I believe the lockout cost him 625k, and obviously that would make a big difference to anyone.

Rehab's for quitters!

Lidstrom's penalties were obvious and had to be called. When Rafalski was checked and had his stick broken we were in a really bad position so I don't blame Nick for taking that one either, but whether or not he takes many the refs definitely made the right call on those two. IMO the refs have been making the right calls, but just missing a few but both teams have been getting lucky with it. Oh, and PS, the Osgood holding penalty really was Chris' mistake.

I predict Syuk has a two assist night, and basically says I am not worried about scoring goals, I'm worried about winning games. Hossa first then Homer scoring goals in the next game, perhaps one of them being an empty netter. I don't see Flip scoring until game three or four, which will be interesting since Chicago will get beat by depth when they control the match-ups. Helm could have a couple goals in the last two games. PS. I am one of few who actually have predicted a sweep. I think our lucky one is going to be the difference in this series.

Interesting read, here is the lead: Last year, Sidney Crosby scored the ultimate postseason hardware hat trick. He picked up the Art Ross, the Hart and the Lester B. Pearson trophies honoring him, respectively, as the game's top scorer, MVP and the league's most outstanding player as judged by his peers. By collecting a league-best 120 points, Sid the Kid entered the record books by becoming the first teenager in major pro sports history to win a scoring title. A great achievement, but still not able to crack this list: 10 Degrees counts down the top 10 individual seasons in NHL history. http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/stor...&id=3187151 So, what do you think? I am not sure what to say...