227 replies to this topic

[RussiaMalkin]

Hello Everyone,

I decided to post after reading some posts on here and I must compliment all of you on your insight and knowledge of the game. I must admit that the Red Wings are my second favorite team in all 4 sports. I really found a new appreciation for Detroit after the Super Bowl a couple years back where Detroit felt like "home."

That being said, I am a die hard Pens fan as you are die hard Wings fans. With both teams us 3-0, I think it's a given that we will meet in the finals. Without being bias I think the series breaks down like this:

Offense: EVEN- I think that the Crosby-Hossa-Dupuis and the Malkin-Malone-Sykora line are 2 of the best in the NHL with as much firepower as anyone in the league. That being said Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Cleary and Holmstrom-Draper-Samuelsson are just as explosive. I see a very even series on offense. I may have to give a slight advantage to Detroit because of their experience. Jordan Stall is 19, Evgeni Malkin is 20, Sidney is 21.

Defense: DETROIT- Even though this is close as well, advantage because of Lidstrom. He is clearly the best offensive d-man in the league. I am not really familiar with the rest of the guys but with the way you guys play, I think they are a solid bunch. I am going to say now though...Gonchar, Whitney, Orpik and Gill may surpise you. The Rangers and Flyers had star power and were totally shut down by us. The conception among most is that Pittsburgh is weak on defense but, that is not fair.

Goaltending: EVEN- This may not be popular. However, Flurey is 11-1 in the playoffs and playing his best hockey right now. He is finally living up to his billing as the number 1 overall pick a couple years back! Osgood is a fantastic goalie as well and so I think this is even.

Special Teams: PENGUINS- On the PP, the Pens are flat out deadly. Crosby-Malkin-Hossa-Malone-Gonchar are on the firstline and they make teams pay on the PP. The Pens PK isn't bad either. They are killing close to 90% of the opponents PP in the playoffs.

Overall, this will be a series for the ages. I hope for everyones sake it goes 7 games. I thank you all for allowing me to put in my 2 cents on this board. Good day to you all.

[KronwallCRUNCH]

I think the key to this series will be experience; especially in goal. Fleury WILL be a great goalie, but it's going to be pretty hard for him to handle all of the pressure of the SCF. One key aspect that you left out is the PK, which I'd definitely give the edge to Detroit. Also, don't forget that the Pens are one of the worst faceoff teams in the post-season. I think it will be an exciting series, but I think that Detroit's veterans will force the Pens into playing our game..It's not going to be as easy for Crosby/Malkin to dance around against the Wings when they don't have the puck nearly as much.

Here's to a great series!

[seeinred]

Hello Everyone,

I decided to post after reading some posts on here and I must compliment all of you on your insight and knowledge of the game. I must admit that the Red Wings are my second favorite team in all 4 sports. I really found a new appreciation for Detroit after the Super Bowl a couple years back where Detroit felt like "home."

That being said, I am a die hard Pens fan as you are die hard Wings fans. With both teams us 3-0, I think it's a given that we will meet in the finals. Without being bias I think the series breaks down like this:

Offense: EVEN- I think that the Crosby-Hossa-Dupuis and the Malkin-Malone-Sykora line are 2 of the best in the NHL with as much firepower as anyone in the league. That being said Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Cleary and Holmstrom-Draper-Samuelsson are just as explosive. I see a very even series on offense. I may have to give a slight advantage to Detroit because of their experience. Jordan Stall is 19, Evgeni Malkin is 20, Sidney is 21.

Defense: DETROIT- Even though this is close as well, advantage because of Lidstrom. He is clearly the best offensive d-man in the league. I am not really familiar with the rest of the guys but with the way you guys play, I think they are a solid bunch. I am going to say now though...Gonchar, Whitney, Orpik and Gill may surpise you. The Rangers and Flyers had star power and were totally shut down by us. The conception among most is that Pittsburgh is weak on defense but, that is not fair.

Goaltending: EVEN- This may not be popular. However, Flurey is 11-1 in the playoffs and playing his best hockey right now. He is finally living up to his billing as the number 1 overall pick a couple years back! Osgood is a fantastic goalie as well and so I think this is even.

Special Teams: PENGUINS- On the PP, the Pens are flat out deadly. Crosby-Malkin-Hossa-Malone-Gonchar are on the firstline and they make teams pay on the PP. The Pens PK isn't bad either. They are killing close to 90% of the opponents PP in the playoffs.

Overall, this will be a series for the ages. I hope for everyones sake it goes 7 games. I thank you all for allowing me to put in my 2 cents on this board. Good day to you all.

Welcome

I agree with you on most of your assessments, except I don't think the defense category is as close as you'd like to think it is, especially if we're talking team defense.

Fleury's playing pretty damn well right now, but I like to think that with Homer and Franzen in front of him and Datsyuk and Zetterberg combining for goals that he has no chance on that he'll get rattled because he's still young.

I'm not one of the people here who thinks that the Wings are just going to steamroll the Pens. They're both playing phenomenal hockey and assuming they both move on, it should be one hell of a series.

[KronwallCRUNCH]

I agree with you on most of your assessments, except I don't think the defense category is as close as you'd like to think it is, especially if we're talking team defense.

I actually missed that the first time. Detroit has an absolutely HUGE edge in defense as far as personnel goes, and their system is far and away better than Pittsburgh. I think that it will frustrate the Pens' young guys, and lead to PP time for Detroit...let's do this!

[Matt]

Defense: DETROIT- Even though this is close as well, advantage because of Lidstrom...

Boy are you in for a surprise...

[Rice]

Boy are you in for a surprise...

I was just going to say, on paper it's not even close (knock on wood); Gonchar would be Detroit's number four. However, the Penguins do play impressive team defense -- more impressive than they get credit for, IMO. People seem to think they are all offense but from what I have seen that's not the case. Overall though, I don't think there's a team in the league that can match Detroit's defensemen or their forwards' dedication to defense.

[Rice]

Another thing to remember is the fact that Lidstrom is only averaging 25 minutes per game so far in the playoffs...and the Wings are still dominating teams. You can bet that Nick will be matching up with Crosby and Malkin for at least 30 minutes a game in the finals. Seems to me Babcock has been saving Nick for the most important games.

[RussiaMalkin]

I disagree with you guys. Hossa is one of the best 2 way players in the NHL. And if you keep thinking that the Pens defense is crap...it will be all of you who will be suprised.

Also, the Pens have heard this more expience crap before. The Rangers were banking on their experience to carry them to the confrence finals. They thought Jagr, Shanahan, Gomez and Straka would overwhelm the young Penguins. This team is extremely skilled on both offense and defense.

[seeinred]

I disagree with you guys. Hossa is one of the best 2 way players in the NHL. And if you keep thinking that the Pens defense is crap...it will be all of you who will be suprised.

Also, the Pens have heard this more expience crap before. The Rangers were banking on their experience to carry them to the confrence finals. They thought Jagr, Shanahan, Gomez and Straka would overwhelm the young Penguins. This team is extremely skilled on both offense and defense.

No one's saying that the Pens defense is crap. We are, however, saying that the Wings defense is phenomenal.

[KronwallCRUNCH]

I disagree with you guys. Hossa is one of the best 2 way players in the NHL. And if you keep thinking that the Pens defense is crap...it will be all of you who will be suprised.

Also, the Pens have heard this more expience crap before. The Rangers were banking on their experience to carry them to the confrence finals. They thought Jagr, Shanahan, Gomez and Straka would overwhelm the young Penguins. This team is extremely skilled on both offense and defense.

Datsyuk and Zetterberg will shut down your first line. Add Lidstrom, Rafalski, Stuart, and Kronwall into the mix, and you ARE in for a big surprise.

The Eastern Conference is weak as it is, so any team that would have come out of the West probably would have shell-shocked the Pens.


Crosby/Malkin and the boys are going to get so frustrated that their team is going to get held to 15 shots per game, that they're going to start taking stupid penalties, and the Wings will feast. Write that in stone.

[T.Low]

Welcome. ANd thanks, its great having other teams fans show interest in the Wings enough to post on LGW.



I am really excited about the Stanley Cup Finals. Its going to be quite a showcase.

I am scared to death of the Penguins. Not because they posses mad skills, which of course they do. But because they have absolutely no pressure on them and they are young.

If the Wings stay focused and don't feel the pressure, this will be the best SCF in years. Best of luck to you and your Penguins, and may the best team win. Go Wings.

[RussiaMalkin]

Well...if you go win the Cup....you will do so stopping 2 of the 3 best players in the world. Crosby-Malkin and Ovechkin..you mix up who goes where.

[Matt]

I disagree with you guys. Hossa is one of the best 2 way players in the NHL. And if you keep thinking that the Pens defense is crap...it will be all of you who will be suprised.

While I won't say the Penguins' defense is "crap" -- teams that get to the SCF don't get there without solid play on both sides of the puck -- but do you want to get taken up on that "surprised" bet?

It's okay for now, though, you're bubbly, glowing and excited about your team being up 3-0 on a scrappy little Flyers club.

School starts next week for your young Penguins.

[seeinred]

Well...if you go win the Cup....you will do so stopping 2 of the 3 best players in the world. Crosby-Malkin and Ovechkin..you mix up who goes where.

I think you might mean 2 of the 4 best players in the world. #1 plays defense for the Red Wings

[Hockeytown Red Wings]

They may be the most talented, but they're gonna learn that they're not the best all around players on the ice. That title will go to Datsyuk and Zetterberg.

Crosby and Malkin will learn with age, and likely surpass both with ease, but it's not their time....yet.

[Matt]

Well...if you go win the Cup....you will do so stopping 2 of the 3 best players in the world. Crosby-Malkin and Ovechkin..you mix up who goes where.

Fine by me. Take solace in having "two of the best three" players in the world while us Wings fans enjoy the two most complete hockey players on the planet, one of the top defensemen to ever play the game and, oh yeah...

... that shiny silver trophy.


But hey, at least you've got Crosby and Malkin, right?

[sergei_is_still_a_wing]

^you dont get to the SCF without an extremely skilled team. i dont think anyone is doubting that.

BUT, the wings are not the rangers. the rangers have not made it past round 2 since 96/97. since then the wings have won 3 cups. Lidstrom, holmstrom, osgood, hasek, datsyuk, zetterberg, chelios have all been with the team for what seems like eternity and know what it takes to win the chalice.

and yes, our D is better. you give us a slight edge, we'd like to think we have an overwhelming advantage there. its a wings board. its gonna be that way.

all i know is that there will be no sweeping of either team if the wings/pens play of late is any indication.

welcome to LGW and heres to an exciting series!

[RussiaMalkin]

You all may be right. The Pens have over-achieved this year and at this point...I'm not sure they know whats about to hit them when they play Detroit. That may be good or bad for Pittsburgh...who knows.

Personally...I think if you take the Pens top 2 lines and the Wings top 2 lines...they are pretty even. Hell, I hope this is a yearly tradition in the Finals with you guys!

[KronwallCRUNCH]

I think that something else you're ignoring about the Pens is that your best defenseman is basically a forward. The Pens D is going to get WORKED by Detroit. If defenders like Foote, Robidas, Zubov, etc can't handle Dats, Z, and the boys, an inexperienced Pens defensive unit is going to get mowed down by them.

You're not in the Eastern Conference anymore.

[Xitium]

While Crosby and Malkin may lead the Pens to a Cup, I don't think it will be this year.

Also, the gap is much larger between the Wings Offense and Pens Defense than it is between the Pens Offense and the Wings Defense.