Dispelling some myths: the Pittsburgh Penguins

[IceMunkee 15]

BetterREDthendead:

Very well written and researched. I enjoyed reading it through and could not agree more. I hate reading really long post but yours was worth it!!!

[reggiedunlop 0]

BRDT, your post pretty much summed up every single thing I have been thinking for the past week, but better.

For everybody else... :

... I love cocky Penguin fans.

PLEASE........ i think most of the pens posts have been pretty tame. to hear you mo-towners talk , no one deserves to be on the same ice as you. you will not find me talking smack...... you clearly have history on your side........ i look it as a passing of the torch.......

[ThreeRiversFan 0]

BRDT, your post pretty much summed up every single thing I have been thinking for the past week, but better.

For everybody else... :

... I love cocky Penguin fans.

LOL...with all due respect....and I DO have alot of respect for you folks...theres plenty of cockiness on both sides....

[reggiedunlop 0]

Didnt one penguin fan say the pretty passing plays stop in the playoffs, the penguins have figured out how to play tough thats why they are good?

Another one says the pretty passing play will result in a score once the peinguins get the puck "in some way or another"?

Which is it?

let me combine my two fellow pittsburgher's thoughts....... the pens have proven (thus far) in the playoffs that they can play any way you want to play it........... 6-5 or 2-1, i guess they have been good at exploiting what has been given.

[betterREDthandead 58]

LOL...with all due respect....and I DO have alot of respect for you folks...theres plenty of cockiness on both sides....

That's 'cause we just won a game. Wait'll you see this place after a loss or two. You'll think Mikael Samuelsson had killed everyone's grandma.

[McCartyFanForLife 17]

Is it Saturday yet?

[NHLrules? 32]

let me combine my two fellow pittsburgher's thoughts....... the pens have proven (thus far) in the playoffs that they can play any way you want to play it........... 6-5 or 2-1, i guess they have been good at exploiting what has been given.

I see. Its not that they are good at one or two things, but are good at everything.

[IceMunkee 15]

LOL...with all due respect....and I DO have alot of respect for you folks...theres plenty of cockiness on both sides....

Should we not be. Between the two teams we have a good many possible HOF players. The two best teams one the ice. The Wings in the West and the Pens in the East. If Bettman was not a complete tool this could truly draw some much needed attention to the game.

[ThreeRiversFan 0]

That's 'cause we just won a game. Wait'll you see this place after a loss or two. You'll think Mikael Samuelsson had killed everyone's grandma.

LMAO...I was reading a little before game 6......

Hey..we are all so emotionally invested in this stuff...its natural to a degree

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

wow, you offend easily ha ha......... how dare that mean penguin guy question my mighty redwings :-) fleury had the better save percentage.......osgood better gaa....... so at best, i might allow a wash.

i hope you continue to underestimate brooks orpik. i also hope malkin is done with the blind passes. (got me on that one).....you did not deserve ottawa in the playoffs, you got to play st louis columbus and las angeles ALL YEAR.........

Offended, not at all. Just saying how wrong you are. I'm not underestimating Brooks Orpik, he isnt very good. Dont get me wrong, I'd take him on my team, but if you want him and Gill to shutdown Zetterberg and Datsyuk....

Hahah, your using our division as an example? I thought we'd be past this. We finished under .500 in our bad division, while winning the Western Conference, what does that mean? We dominated everyone else in the West. Besides, we didnt throw a game to get 2nd in the conference when we could've had 1st, that my friend is very deserving of playing Ottawa.

[ThreeRiversFan 0]

we didnt throw a game to get 2nd in the conference when we could've had 1st, that my friend is very deserving of playing Ottawa.

Not this garbage again.....

We sat Sid....with a bad ankle.....and they STILL only scored one goal (not counting the empty netter)

This tanking talk is insulting and just total BS

[selkie 10]

That's 'cause we just won a game. Wait'll you see this place after a loss or two. You'll think Mikael Samuelsson had killed everyone's grandma.

I've got a hard time seeing how he'd manage to do that. Poison? If he tried to take a swing at her head or something like that, the strike would go wide.

[reggiedunlop 0]

I see. Its not that they are good at one or two things, but are good at everything.

well lets start with the premise that you cant suck lemons and be in the scf. no they do not do everything well........ not a good face off team. i merely meant that they CAN play wide open hockey with anyone and have shown that they can play tight defense as well

[Doggy 130]

These are, without any doubt in my mind, the two best teams in the league. So any prediction that ends with "in 5" means you're only fooling yourself.

What? You say this and then tear the Penguins apart. If all you said was true about the Pens, we would sweep. The Pens are not one of the two best teams in the league. Pittsburgh is a spitting image of Ottawa last year.

Wings IN FIVE.

[IceMunkee 15]

Offended, not at all. Just saying how wrong you are. I'm not underestimating Brooks Orpik, he isnt very good. Dont get me wrong, I'd take him on my team, but if you want him and Gill to shutdown Zetterberg and Datsyuk....

Hahah, your using our division as an example? I thought we'd be past this. We finished under .500 in our bad division, while winning the Western Conference, what does that mean? We dominated everyone else in the West. Besides, we didnt throw a game to get 2nd in the conference when we could've had 1st, that my friend is very deserving of playing Ottawa.

Money!

I am so tired of the Wings play a weak division... Blah, blah, blah. Could it not be said the same about the entire eastern confrence? Maybe, maybe not. The fact still remains that we got beat up playing the likes of Columbus, St Louis, and Chicago while running through the Ducks, Sharks, Flames and the sort.....

Really does it matter if you underestimate Nosepik? We are not the ones trying to score... Maybe Orpik is underestimating the Datsyukian dyke? Or the friendly shoulder of Kronic?

[Chelichic 12]

Ive never been to a playoff game until game 1 of the WCF. It was awesome!!! So my bf and I just couldnt stop ourselves from picking up tickets for game 5 and 7 of the SCF (thank you overtime pay!!!). So I want them to win in 5 or 7. Win at home!!! GO WINGS!!! :octo:

[Rice 42]

Faceoffs.. blah.

In the regualr season, Detroit was #1 in the league, Pittsburgh was dead last.

But, oh my.. Pittsburgh scored on 10.6% of their shots, good enough for 3rd in the league. While Detroit only converted 8.9%.. 21st in the league.

No doubt you will win the faceoffs, we don't need them. We will get the puck one way or another, we always do.. and when we do decide to quite being pretty with the passing, we will score.

Hasek will be your starter by game 4.

All I can say to the Pens is good luck getting the puck from the best posession team in the league. Why do you think Detroit's shooting percentage is so low? I'll tell you why: it's because they own the puck the whole god damn game so they outshoot everyone.

Oh and worse things can happen than having one of the best goalies of all time relieving Osgood. That won't be necessary though.

[Datsyerberger 279]

Money!

I am so tired of the Wings play a weak division... Blah, blah, blah. Could it not be said the same about the entire eastern confrence? Maybe, maybe not. The fact still remains that we got beat up playing the likes of Columbus, St Louis, and Chicago while running through the Ducks, Sharks, Flames and the sort.....

Really does it matter if you underestimate Nosepik? We are not the ones trying to score... Maybe Orpik is underestimating the Datsyukian dyke? Or the friendly shoulder of Kronic?

Datsyukian lesbians? What?

I hope you meant "Datsyukian deke"

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Yzerman191 37]

Just a side note in light of that shooting percentage statistic: thus far these playoffs, the 'Wings are shooting at nearly 10% shooting percentage, whereas the Penguins are shooting at about a 8.6%. Throw in the fact that Detroit typically gets 10+ more shots than their opponent each game. Now I'm not using that as an argument for the Red Wings' sake as I agree with BRTD's original post in saying that the sample size is too small; I'm just using that to invalidate the shooting percentage being in the Pens' favor argument.

Also, Fleury and Osgood's save-percentages are roughly the same (.007 off), so that argument should go right out the window as well. Penguin fans can call Osgood a choker all they want, but he's got a cup and the experience in his favor (and the best defense in the league doesn't hurt either). His only two losses thus far in the playoffs have been because of the team in front of him, not due to his lack of performance. But go ahead, keep giving Pittsburgh the nod in goaltending; Theodore and Turco had it too.

[IceMunkee 15]

Datsyukian lesbians? What?

I hope you meant "Datsyukian deke"

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Exactly what I meant was Datsyuk will Deke you so hard it will turn you out... right, yeah... or something. Thats what I get for not sleeping much. Ah newborn's will do it to you, unfortunatly his mother did not get turned out by Datsyuk's Dyke's, deke, duke. Whatever.

[HeyNow71871929 0]

because they're so much worse then the Islanders, Thrashers and Lightning?

The Penguins also played the Atlantic Division 32 times this year. The Atlantic is arguably the best division in hockey. They contain 3-4 elite top tier goaltenders in the division. I don't think this series is going to be as easy as many of you think it will. I hope it hits you folks hard and real fast. We are every bit talented as the Red Wings are. Clearly, many of you have not watched enough Penguins games to realize how monsterous Hal Gill has been for us since the trade deadline, or how shutdown type physically overmatching Brooks Orpik can be. And you guys completely underestimate Marian Hossa. I have seen enough Datsyuk and Zetterberg, and I think Marian Hossa IS THE BEST BACKCHECKER IN THE GAME. He just sneaks up behind you, lifts your stick, and takes the puck away in one smooth motion. And boom 2 strides the other way and no one is going to catch him. Oh well, who am I to be telling you guys all this. You all will find out soon enough what I am talkign about.

Edited May 21, 2008 by HeyNow71871929

[jawbreaker 0]

DISPELLING THE MYTH OF MYTHS

#2...... wings have the edge in defense. cannot argue with you there. whitney will own the norris trophy for the next decade, gonchar is a candidate this year. you certainly have better offensive defensemen but you have no one as "stay home, hard hitting" as orpik. you have not faced as aggressive a forecheck as the pens. as i think we are the more offensively deep team, look for some of your "elder" defensemen to be a little slow come the third period.

This is pathetic. Whitney will never win Norris, 'cos after Nick you will have Dion Phaneuf, Jack Johnson, Duncan Keith etc. Whitney will never be as good as Phaneuf is right now. And please check your info: Gonchar is not a candidate this year. Norris nominees 2008: Lidstrom, Chara, Phaneuf. Plus, Rafalski is at least as good as Gonchar. Kronner and Stuart are better than Orpik, Whitney & Co. It seems that PIT has better D

[Rice 42]

The Penguins also played the Atlantic Division 32 times this year. The Atlantic is arguably the best division in hockey. They contain 3-4 elite top tier goaltenders in the division. I don't think this series is going to be as easy as many of you think it will. I hope it hits you folks hard and real fast. We are every bit talented as the Red Wings are. Clearly, many of you have not watched enough Penguins games to realize how monsterous Hal Gill has been for us since the trade deadline, or how shutdown type physically overmatching Brooks Orpik can be. And you guys completely underestimate Marian Hossa. I have seen enough Datsyuk and Zetterberg, and I think Marian Hossa IS THE BEST BACKCHECKER IN THE GAME. He just sneaks up behind you, lifts your stick, and takes the puck away in one smooth motion. And boom 2 strides the other way and no one is going to catch him. Oh well, who am I to be telling you guys all this. You all will find out soon enough what I am talkign about.

Where is this "best backchecker in the game" mantra coming from all of a sudden? I'm pretty sure some commentator must've said it, because it seems that every Penguins fan on the Internet has taken it and run with it. Seriously. I have read that on this board and HFboards at least 15 times in the past couple weeks.

Unfortunately for the Penguins, Hossa isn't the best backchecker in the league. His backchecking may be highlighted by the lack of it amongst his teammates. Every single one of Detroit's forwards is proficient in backchecking, save for maybe Holmstrom and Hudler who aren't all that bad. You've got Datsyuk and Zetterberg (one of which should win the Selke this year) and Draper who has won the Selke before.

I'm sorry if I'm skeptical that Hal ******* Gill and Brooks Orpik are going to shut down Zetterberg and Datsyuk. Those guys are in the Adam Foote/Ruslan Salei mold and Foote and Salei were turned into pylons during the Colorado series.

If you really think Orpik and Gill are shutdown defensemen, I cannot wait for you to see what Lidstrom can do.

[NHLrules? 32]

The Penguins also played the Atlantic Division 32 times this year. The Atlantic is arguably the best division in hockey. They contain 3-4 elite top tier goaltenders in the division. I don't think this series is going to be as easy as many of you think it will. I hope it hits you folks hard and real fast. We are every bit talented as the Red Wings are. Clearly, many of you have not watched enough Penguins games to realize how monsterous Hal Gill has been for us since the trade deadline, or how shutdown type physically overmatching Brooks Orpik can be. And you guys completely underestimate Marian Hossa. I have seen enough Datsyuk and Zetterberg, and I think Marian Hossa IS THE BEST BACKCHECKER IN THE GAME. He just sneaks up behind you, lifts your stick, and takes the puck away in one smooth motion. And boom 2 strides the other way and no one is going to catch him. Oh well, who am I to be telling you guys all this. You all will find out soon enough what I am talkign about.

I think Dats leads the leads in take aways. Hal Gill is a pylon. Brooks Oprik?

Im just saying.

Edited May 21, 2008 by NHLrules?

[HeyNow71871929 0]

BRDT, your post pretty much summed up every single thing I have been thinking for the past week, but better.

For everybody else... :

... I love cocky Penguin fans.

HA! You're one to talk, hypocrite. You and your Wings fans make it seem like this series is a cakewalk. Us Pens fans are just looking for you guys to show some respect towards what the Penguins have done to get this far. One poster in this thread said Lidstrom is the best player in the NHL. Now come on. Take your Red Wings glasses off and come in touch with reality. There is no doubt Lidstrom is the best dman in the NHL and the World, but best player? Come on. It just seems like everyone here thinks all things Red Wings is the best and Penguins are nowhere near them. It's ridiculous.