toby91_ca

Well, I think Pittsburgh has been playing incredible defense in these playoffs. In terms of hitting, I thought there was a lot of big hits in tonight's game. Not an indication of "big hits", but in terms of numbers, there is more hitting in this series than in the Dallas vs. Detroit series.

I was half listening to that as well and wasn't sure what they were talking about. I'm normally a good multi-tasker, but I guess not this time.

In regards to Malkin's occasional dirty play, I think it has come from some frustration in these playoffs, not that there has been too much need for frustration. This is exactly what Malkin was like in the World Junior tournament, especially against Canada, but I haven't seen much of it again until recently. He'll grow out of that. I only caught half the game, but in terms of someone saying there was a weak call on Hatcher, not sure if it the same one that I saw, but if it was cross-checking on Staal, then there is no way that was a weak call, he was a few inches from cross-checking him across the face. Also, Hatcher got away with a ton of dirty s*** in this game, and I only saw half of it. Smith gets the odd dirty play in too...and gets away with it. If you ever spend some time just watching players away from the play, lots of guys do little dirty things now and then that go unoticed, but none if it is too bad where someone is going to get hurt.

Unfortunately I was at a baseball game last night (work function) rather than being home and watching the game, so I didn't see this particular incident. Homer does tread a fine line near the goalie and sometimes he interferes, but most times he doesn't since he has a lot of experience doing this and knows how far to go. That said, you really do not need to make contact with the goalie for it to be interference, you simply need to impede his ability to be in a position to make a save. Again, without seeing the play, I assuming the complaints are simply to get the refs thinking and watching for it in subsequent games. Same thing with the Rangers complaining about the refs calling penalties against them in their series with the Pens (then again, the Rangers had more powerplays).

Doesn't Montreal have 24?

Most of these incidents are quite old, but I'll comment anyway. In the video, there are two separate spearing incidents. Crosby definately dives, or embellishes both of them, but to be honest, I have never seen a player get speared and not react the same way. I'm not sure why this is. Spearing is a big deal, but to me, it doesn't necessarily inflict anymore damage than a good slash. I suppose a spear is "capable" of inflicting a lot of damage, but most spears do not and they are result in the player falling to the ice like a criple.

Where are the videos? I'm not saying he has never taken a dive, every player has, but to call him a diver is way off.

Would you like to share the clip? I wonder if a better question would be "Do you think Crosby is a diver and if yes, is your answer based on watching him play, or reading garbage spewed by others?" I think the bad rap Crosby has received from some has almost soley been the responsibility of a couple opposing teams. In his rookie year. Hitchcock and the Flyers branded him a diver and a whiner and this has been sticking almost ever since with some, but most have been able to ignore the BS. Crosby certainly complained a bit in the early days, especially against Philly, but he was getting the routine cross-check in the face and losing teeth against Hatcher. Now more recently, mostly started by NY media, the Rangers tried to place a seed in the heads of the refs and the NHL that Crosby dives and gets the benefit of calls. Again, this is total BS, the Rangers were simply playing games, trying to get an edge in the series. Ultimately, I think these games had little to no impact.

Once again, I enjoy the benefits of living in Canada where this is not a problem.

I really don't understand why so many are confused with this. If a guy hooks a player, it should be a penalty, regardless. If a player takes a dive, the guy putting out his stick will complain, but why is he putting out his stick to hook in the first place? Hooking a player is a penalty, if the player getting hooks decides he is going to embellish it he may get called for an unsportsmanlike penalty. The fact that a player embellishes or dives does not eliminate the fact that the other player actually commited a penalty.

If he doesn't play, would this make him the softest player in the league? Probably not, if he doens't play, I would think it was for other reasons (concussion maybe?)

Crosby and Malkin have combined for 25 points in 7 games. What is an opposing coach to do? If you try to shut down one guy, the other is going to burn you.

Well, I don't think you can look at the 3 of the 4 series that are currently at 3-0 and suggest they are not competitive. Wings vs. Avs - Wings are clearly the better team and combine that with the fact that the Avs are hurting. The series is not as competitive as everyone would have hoped. Stars vs. Sharks - Series is 3-0 for Dallas, but this is probably the most competitive series out of the 4. Pens vs. Rangers - Series is 3-0 for the Pens and they have been the better team, but it is more competitive than the 3-0 series lead would suggest. The Rangers really took it to them last night, but the Pens did show that they can really burn you in quick fashion.

He did embellish it, but it's natural, everyone embellishes it when they get hit with a high stick, maybe Sammy put a little more into this one than others, but no big deal.

The Pens were 8-1-1 agains the Western conference this year.

Man oh man is Crosby ever getting a bad rap here, mostly due to the New York media, who have been spewing garbage since before the series started. If you take a couple seconds and review the play, you should be smart enough to know Crosby wouldn't be diving there. Firstly, he stumbles a bit, maybe goes to one knee, but keeps on going, he didn't even go down. Secondly, had he not been obstructed at all, he's in for a potential 2 on 0, why would he dive to give up that play? Also, this is the EXACT play that the NHL really wanted to get rid of, obstruction in the neutral zone. Crosby had speed and was jumping in to join the rush and was slowed by Straka, it's a clear cut penalty regardless. Thing is, Crosby handles the puck so much and takes so much abuse, he is bound to go down every now and then, unfortunately, when he does go down, people think he is diving. To be honest, I don't even think those complaining have a problem with it, they are just trying to get in the heads of the refs and trying to get them to think twice about calling a penalty the next time....it is way too obvious at this point.

Did anyone hear anything about the story that Bettman actually got involved and put a stop to any potential of Burke leaving Anahiem to go to Toronto? That's the extent of what I heard. I just heard a quick recap of the story and didn't get the full details. If this is true, I think I would fully be on the bandwagon of Bettman haters. Not because I'm dying to see Burke go to Toronto, just because of the principle of the whole thing. If true, it woudl appear painfully obvious to me that he is out to protect the southern US hockey teams.

I think it is risky to offer him that much money, but that doesn't mean it isn't the right thing to do. It would be risky not to as well. I think it is warranted to take notice that he is currently the team leader in goals, pts and +/-, but you do have to take that cautiously as we are only talking about 7 games.

THANK YOU!! I was trying to figure out what was going on this morning when I saw a Hockey Canada stage being set up. Looked like some press conference was going to be held. Now I know why.

I agree, I didn't see the whole game, but it has become painfully obvious that some, if not all refs, are calling playoff games differently than regular season, which the NHL insisted would not be the case.

Backstrom actually played better when moved off of Ovechkin's line

So, I just have to vent a little. How many in here are participating in playoff hockey pools? I always go into a pool at work (used to run the pool actually, but do not anymore). This pool is very simple, pick 10 forwards, 5 defensemen and 1 goalie. For skaters you get 1pt for each pt. the player scores and for the goalie, you get 2pts for a win and an extra pt. for a shutout. Can't get much easier than that. So, my philosphy is that you have to go with the teams you think are going to go deepest in the playoffs, rather than simply the best players......duh...this is obvious. I normally pick at least 1/2 Wings players, which hasn't always worked out well, but so be it. In any event this year, I picked 1/2 Wings and 1/2 Pens. Here's where I need to vent. The Pens players I picked performed as well as anyone could ask. All of their star players scored a lot of points, especially Crosby and Malkin. HOWEVER, since they swept Ottawa, these players only played 4 games so far. So, I'm getting penalized because the players I picked did too well, which causes them to play less games. I guess in the long run, if the teams I picked are really the best teams, they will end up playing more games than the rest even if they have some short rounds, but it just pisses me off right now. I was leading the pool after the first 4 games, now I'm down around the middle of the standings.

In terms of "better" hits, I won't comment, way too subjective, however, I will comment on the number of hits, since you asked. Begin has 37 hits so far (Lucic has 35, Phaneuf has 33). This compares to Kronwall's 13. At 13 hits so far in the playoffs, it leaves 59 players that have had more than him.

This is true. At the other end of the spectrum is a VERY WELL KNOWN FACT that it is against LGW's board rules to have a topic in existence on one of these two players without mentioning the other. I think everyone has done an excellent job adhering to those rules over the past few years and I congratulate everyone for their efforts!

Not sure how Ontario's race is different from other parts of the country or world. To be honest, I don't fault Don too much for being proud of where he comes from. I guess as a public figure, you should appear to have no bias, but who cares? I have to tell you, when someone comes along from my home town, I am biased towards that player, I'm proud of where I come from. I don't see the problem with that (as long as you admit your bias)