Out of the three 3-0 series leaders right now...

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

I know most of you will say Detroit, but I really think its Pittsburgh. They really surprise me with the talent they got on that team.

[DYags 0]

I'm shocked, absolutely shocked that a St. Mary's student is a Crosby fan. They're just so rare in Halifax.

Seriously- did you see the game last night? Therrien couldn't trust Crosby or Malkin on the pk through the second period. The pens taking stupid penalties took Crosby and Malkin right out of the game in the second period (obviously- that doesn't include the pp at like 17:00 of the second or somewhere around there). That's to be expected when your star forwards aren't among your 6 best defensive forwards. Note that either Malkin or Crosby is on the ice for every single even strength NY goal. Obviously that's partially effected by the fact that those two are on the ice in some combination for like 40 mins of every game, but the point is the Pens are vulnerable to a team that can shut them down at the same time as it's generating scoring chances with that same shut-down unit. Now- of course you can say that about near anyone.

My point is this- the Wings are deep, deep, deep in the capacity to shut a team down. The Rags have played rotten so far- and the Sens were an absolute joke in the first round- the fact that people praised Flurry so much made me laugh. (he did drop 4 goals in 24 shots in the first game against the Rags) He was being called the best tender of the first round when he hardly deserved it- Turco was an absolute monster.

The Pens still suffer from the same affliction they did last round- emotional vulnerability. It's amazing that people praise their amazing ability to withstand the heart-breaking loss of being behind in the first game against NY. I'll say this- crack Flurry early and shake the Pens confidence in him and they fall apart around him. If NY hadn't pissed their first game's dominant lead away the Pens would be on the brink of death right now- they're just not emotionally strong yet. They almost play like a team full of young 1st round draft picks (imagine that!). Hell- I'd respect them more if they didn't get full out blown every ten seconds on TSN.

All these comments aren't directed towards you, and we all know the Pens have a great team, but I'm sick of hearing the Canadian media slobber all over Crosby's jockstrap. I watched him play from freaking adam hockey up- I'm aware that he's good and that he's not Ovetchkin.

Feel free to quote stats at me- I don't really care because I'm well aware of all of them. I know the Pens are playing well, but I'm not going to be impressed until they face a modicum of adversity in these playoffs.

EDIT:

I've watched every Dallas game in the playoffs so far and they've impressed me the most. They're getting amazing play out of 22 players a night and Turco's been a monster. The only vulnerability I see is denying them PP chances and wearing their young dmen out with crisp puck cycling.

Loved every single word of that and you're spot on. The media hype around the Pens is clouding peoples judgement...

[tweekvp 0]

2007-2008 Playoffs

Goals

1. Johan Franzen, DET 8

2. Briere, D. PHI 7

3. Malkin, E. PIT 5

4. Datsyuk, P. DET 5

5. Zetterberg, H. DET 5

Goals Against Average

1. Chris Osgood, DET 1.44

2. Fleury, M. PIT 1.72

3. Turco, M. DAL 1.86

4. Ellis, D. NSH 2.52

5. Price, C. MTL 2.55

I know I'm being a homer, but I picked the Wings.

3 of the top 5 playoff goal scorers and the goalie with the best playoff GAA swayed me.

Per NHL.com

[sinbin 3]

Our boys! Game six with Nashville taught them a valuable lesson..Intensity with great hockey smarts wins the cup, they have shown it this round! Pitts ....no, Rangers don't impress me at all, no team, all individuals, Avery has turned out to be a circus clown. Dallas...close 2nd, very intense, but very lucky......

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

I can't fathom how anyone can think Dallas isn't the clear choice. The Rags are playing like shear garbage, and the Wings are doing well against a weaker opponent. Dallas on the other hand is handing it to the #2 seed in the NHL.

Time to take off the glasses....Dallas is the most impressive 3-0 series leader right now. That doesn't mean they'll win this or next round, though.

Ditto.

[MacK_Attack 108]

Dallas because it was the least expected.

[Duck Guy 86]

i would have to go with the stars.. because they defeated the ducks the defending stanley cup champs and are almost done with SJ the team that was favored by MANY to win the cup even before the season started. If it does happen (i dont want to jynx anything) i think Dallas will a tough opponent for Det.. While Pit is undefeated in this years playoffs i think they had a easier road then dallas they will not impress me until they win the east (just me) but as of now Dallas is just down right impressive and scary.. and the wings are good but not as Impressive as what dallas is doing.

Edited May 1, 2008 by Duck Guy

[stormboy 47]

i put pens just on the shear fact that they're undefeated. yeah, ott sucked, but the rangers cleaned out the devils in round one so they have to be doing something right. (or they were doing something right, anyway.) yeah, the refs may have stolen one game from the rangers, but the 2-1 OT dallas game (game 3) should have been 2-1 sharks after regulation due to a blown call. turco had the puck anything but frozen early in the game and got a quick whistle. in which case, after tonight, that series is 2-2 with san jose going back home.

granted, the sharks have not been playing well at all. but a 2-1 OT victory with a disallowed goal for the other team isn't real impressive. ana has had no offense for most of the year, and the sharks struggled with the flames, who didn't impress me in a huge way.

i thought detroit should not have taken six games against nash, esp the way we lost games 3 and 4. even a sweep of the avs, though it will make me happy--REAL happy--won't impress me hugely as theodore has sucked, half their team's been injured, and, IMO, the calls have gone our way. not that those are excuses, just things that make me not blown away by the wings at this point...

edit: i think the "stolen" rangers goal was game two? merh.

Edited May 1, 2008 by stormboy

[ZETTERBERGPWN 2]

i say dallas .. i thought they would get owned .. but they're playing good hockey . its the only team scaring me but i think we can win vs them

[This Is Bida 0]

edit: double post.. read post on next page

Edited May 1, 2008 by This Is Bida

[This Is Bida 0]

I'm shocked, absolutely shocked that a St. Mary's student is a Crosby fan. They're just so rare in Halifax.

Seriously- did you see the game last night? Therrien couldn't trust Crosby or Malkin on the pk through the second period. The pens taking stupid penalties took Crosby and Malkin right out of the game in the second period (obviously- that doesn't include the pp at like 17:00 of the second or somewhere around there). That's to be expected when your star forwards aren't among your 6 best defensive forwards. Note that either Malkin or Crosby is on the ice for every single even strength NY goal. Obviously that's partially effected by the fact that those two are on the ice in some combination for like 40 mins of every game, but the point is the Pens are vulnerable to a team that can shut them down at the same time as it's generating scoring chances with that same shut-down unit. Now- of course you can say that about near anyone.

My point is this- the Wings are deep, deep, deep in the capacity to shut a team down. The Rags have played rotten so far- and the Sens were an absolute joke in the first round- the fact that people praised Flurry so much made me laugh. (he did drop 4 goals in 24 shots in the first game against the Rags) He was being called the best tender of the first round when he hardly deserved it- Turco was an absolute monster.

The Pens still suffer from the same affliction they did last round- emotional vulnerability. It's amazing that people praise their amazing ability to withstand the heart-breaking loss of being behind in the first game against NY. I'll say this- crack Flurry early and shake the Pens confidence in him and they fall apart around him. If NY hadn't pissed their first game's dominant lead away the Pens would be on the brink of death right now- they're just not emotionally strong yet. They almost play like a team full of young 1st round draft picks (imagine that!). Hell- I'd respect them more if they didn't get full out blown every ten seconds on TSN.

All these comments aren't directed towards you, and we all know the Pens have a great team, but I'm sick of hearing the Canadian media slobber all over Crosby's jockstrap. I watched him play from freaking adam hockey up- I'm aware that he's good and that he's not Ovetchkin.

Feel free to quote stats at me- I don't really care because I'm well aware of all of them. I know the Pens are playing well, but I'm not going to be impressed until they face a modicum of adversity in these playoffs.

EDIT:

I've watched every Dallas game in the playoffs so far and they've impressed me the most. They're getting amazing play out of 22 players a night and Turco's been a monster. The only vulnerability I see is denying them PP chances and wearing their young dmen out with crisp puck cycling.

You are one hundred and fifty percent absolutely right. Which is exactly why I hope they sweep their way to the Finals only the play us and get swept by us. Now wouldn't that be like the BEST thing ever? (or funniest... probably both)

Edited May 1, 2008 by This Is Bida