Dispelling some myths: the Pittsburgh Penguins

[pits200 0]

Given the fact that the Penguins have played nothing but crap teams in the playoffs so far, I'll reserve my judgment until after game 1 that they're one of the two best teams in the league. I have a feeling the Pens are going to get their bells rung in game 1.

We'll see how well the Pens play without the puck, because they're not going to have it too much.

You're right, the 2 best teams might not be playing. Im still unsure about the Wings because they didn't have to play the Sharks or any other tough playoff team.

Also, dont forget that the Pens played in the hardest division in the NHL, 4 teams over 95 points and 4 playoff teams vs 2 for the Central.

So the Wings still have to prove to me that they are 1 of the best 2 teams in the NHL, I guess we will see this Saturday.

[Dabura 12,232]

Im still unsure about the Wings because they didn't have to play the Sharks or any other tough playoff team.

Self-destructive Sens team, perpetually incomplete Rangers team, Flyers team missing its best d-men -- sorry, but the Pens' path wasn't exactly brutal either. Dallas could go toe-to-toe with any of those aforementioned teams, including the Sharks -- who, lest we forget, they beat in 6.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Why would they? Draper will take that line, dude. That's just common sense.

What are you talking about?

I'm not insinuating anything, but perhaps you didn't read the rest of my post, because you just repeated exactly what I said at the end of it. I said that Draper's line will take the Malkin line because the Wings' second line won't match up to Pittsburgh's.

I was stating that Eva was right in saying the line matchups will look like this:

DET 1st Line vs. PIT 1st Line

DET 2nd Line vs. PIT 3rd (shutdown) Line

DET 3rd (shutdown) Line vs. PIT 2nd Line

DET 4th Line vs. PIT 4th Line

Edited May 23, 2008 by Never Forget Mac #25

[pits200 0]

Self-destructive Sens team, perpetually incomplete Rangers team, Flyers team missing its best d-men -- sorry, but the Pens' path wasn't exactly brutal either. Dallas could go toe-to-toe with any of those aforementioned teams, including the Sharks -- who, lest we forget, they beat in 6.

Ha, I knew my post would get some people in a tizzy. Fact is simple, neither team played the best of competition in the playoffs and did what they were suppose to do which is beat the living bejesus out of them and move on to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Go Pens!!!

[Dabura 12,232]

I'm not in a tizzy. I just think that line of reasoning is wack.

[Reds4Life 51]

You're right, the 2 best teams might not be playing. Im still unsure about the Wings because they didn't have to play the Sharks or any other tough playoff team.

Also, dont forget that the Pens played in the hardest division in the NHL, 4 teams over 95 points and 4 playoff teams vs 2 for the Central.

So the Wings still have to prove to me that they are 1 of the best 2 teams in the NHL, I guess we will see this Saturday.

Man, are you kidding? Wings need to prove they are one of the best teams in the league? lol

They won Presidents trophy, and even though you think we play in weak division, we actually struggled against Blues, Hawks and co. that means Wings absolutely dominated rest of the Western conference. Total domination.

Sharks? We destroyed them completly in regular season. Dallas beat Sharks, we beat Dallas. We went through more adversity than Pens. We at least had one decent opponent, you faced no real opponent.

Injured Sens, Impotent Rags, Injured Flyers..so stfu.

[pits200 0]

DET 4th Line vs. PIT 1st Line

I know everyone doesn't know much about Pitts 4th line, but don't make a mistake. The Pens will run 4 lines in the 1st game, look for them to get about 7-13 minutes of ice time throughout the game. But that obviously will depend on how the game is progressing and if one team gets way behind.

[Matt 1,049]

Analysts have been stating over and over that the Pens lack of faceoff success would play a crucial part for the first three rounds of the playoffs. So far it hasn't meant a damn thing really, but if Wings fans want to fall into the same trap so be it.

So far through the first three rounds the Penguins haven't played the Red Wings, have they? You know, only the best puck-possession team in the NHL. If you're happy with the likelihood that the Penguins will be chasing down the puck around 60% of the time for the first 15-40 seconds following faceoffs, so be it. I don't mind the wasted energy.

[pits200 0]

Injured Sens, Impotent Rags, Injured Flyers..so stfu.

The way I look at it, it was the Pens who made the Rangers look in your words "Impotent". Both the Rangers and Stars had 97 points on the year so its funny how you call the Stars a good team but the Rangers are no good. Glad to see you have an impartial mind and you aren't like, boo whoo, the Wings play all the hard teams...

Simple fact, each team played 2 bad teams and 1 ok team.

[Reds4Life 51]

The way I look at it, it was the Pens who made the Rangers look in your words "Impotent". Both the Rangers and Stars had 97 points on the year so its funny how you call the Stars a good team but the Rangers are no good. Glad to see you have an impartial mind and you aren't like, boo whoo, the Wings play all the hard teams...

Simple fact, each team played 2 bad teams and 1 ok team.

Dallas is better team than Rangers. Especially Stars' defense is much better. Wings had pretty easy way to finals, but we went through some adversity imho. Pens had easy way to finals too, but never faced any adversity. So if you think Wings must prove something, you are wrong.

Edited May 23, 2008 by Reds4Life

[Dabura 12,232]

The Rangers would have been eaten alive by any of the original 8 in the West. Moreover, I don't why I should be the one being scolded for being partial, when you're the one who made the wholly false assertion that the Wings haven't faced any tough playoff teams. You want a tough team? How about one that takes down the Ducks and the Sharks, wins one against a Wings team that's firing on all cylinders to stave off elimination, then wins another one in Detroit's own building, making the Wings look like -- for at least one game -- a bunch of morons on skates.

That's a tough team.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

You're right, the 2 best teams might not be playing. Im still unsure about the Wings because they didn't have to play the Sharks or any other tough playoff team.

Also, dont forget that the Pens played in the hardest division in the NHL, 4 teams over 95 points and 4 playoff teams vs 2 for the Central.

So the Wings still have to prove to me that they are 1 of the best 2 teams in the NHL, I guess we will see this Saturday.

This coming from a Pittsburgh Fan!

Its funny how you're absolutely sure the Penguins are one of the two best teams in the NHL, yet you're not convinced about the President's Trophy winning Red Wings who (along with Pittsburgh) arguably played inferior opponents in the first two rounds, yet the Wings CF matchup was no doubt more difficult than the Penguins.

If you're going to use the fact that the Wings didn't have to play the Sharks, than the same could be said about the fact that the Penguins only had to play the 7, 5 & 6 seeds respectively to make it to where they are. That's SOOO different than the Wings' 8, 6, 5 path! To top it off, if you want to compare playoff opponents, lets atleast base it on total standings points, which is much clearer than making comments about what division you play in. Pittsburgh's road to the finals was against teams that finished with 94, 97 & 95 points (total of 286 points) respectively, while the Wings opponents finished with 91, 95 & 97 points (total of 283 points) respectively. What a difference....a whole 3 points! Also, the Red Wings dominated the other two divisions in the Western Conference, just take a second and look at the numbers.

Lastly, if the Wings are fortunate enough to prove to *you* that they are one of the best two teams in the NHL by winning it all, are you going to come back and admit you were wrong?

Edited May 23, 2008 by Never Forget Mac #25

[pits200 0]

Dallas is better team than Rangers. Especially Stars' defense is much better. Wings had pretty easy way to finals, but we went through some adversity imho. Pens had easy way to finals too, but never faced any adversity. So if you think Wings must prove something, you are wrong.

Dallas- GA 207 for the season

NY- GA 199 for the season

What makes them better?

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I know everyone doesn't know much about Pitts 4th line, but don't make a mistake. The Pens will run 4 lines in the 1st game, look for them to get about 7-13 minutes of ice time throughout the game. But that obviously will depend on how the game is progressing and if one team gets way behind.

That was a typo, my bad. It's been corrected.

I meant to write: DET 4th Line vs. PIT 4th Line

[esteef 2,679]

Dallas- GA 207 for the season

NY- GA 199 for the season

What makes them better?

Tougher Conference.

[pits200 0]

then wins another one in Detroit's own building, making the Wings look like -- for at least one game -- a bunch of morons on skates.

That's a tough team.

Now you're giving all kinds of credit to dallas when it works into your argument. Its not possible that the Wings had a bad game which is probably what everyone was saying after that game. And not that, OH DALLAS IS SO GOOD they made us Wings look like fools. I dont believe thats what everyone was saying. You cant have things both ways to fit your argument.

[NHLrules? 32]

Ha, I knew my post would get some people in a tizzy. Fact is simple, neither team played the best of competition in the playoffs and did what they were suppose to do which is beat the living bejesus out of them and move on to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Go Pens!!!

SO you dont think Dallas would have beat all the teams you played so far?

[Dabura 12,232]

Dallas- GA 207 for the season

NY- GA 199 for the season

What makes them better?

You can't just go by numbers. Trust me, the Wings and their fans have been learning and re-learning this lesson for years.

What makes the Stars better is their team defense, first and foremost.

[Reds4Life 51]

Dallas- GA 207 for the season

NY- GA 199 for the season

What makes them better?

Regular season stats..*sigh* like they mean something.

I watched Pens-Rags series, and Rags D was horrible. Really bad. Not only their defensemen..but whole team played bad.

Drury, a 7 or so million guy, sucked. Shanny was invisible..only players who tried hard were Jagr, Staal and Lundqvist.

Stars were much better. They were tough opponent.

[esteef 2,679]

Dallas- GA 207 for the season

NY- GA 199 for the season

What makes them better?

...Better wins record, better Goals For, Better PP %, better PK%, etc. Are we done?

[NHLrules? 32]

One guys thoughts http://blog.stats.com/2008/02/parity_in_nh...for_exciti.html

and another

Thought

Look this up in google, looks like the West beat up on the East this year.

[Dabura 12,232]

Now you're giving all kinds of credit to dallas when it works into your argument.

No, I'm giving credit where credit is due. The Stars are a good team; they did beat the defending Cup champs and that oh-so-scary Sharks team; and they did begin to give the Wings a good run for their money before collapsing in Game 6.

Edited May 23, 2008 by Dabura

[NHLrules? 32]

So we arent the best because we didnt play the best playoff teams ie SJ and Ana, but we beat the team that beat them?

How does that work in your gold and black mind?

[chrisdetroit 189]

This coming from a Pittsburgh Fan!

Its funny how you're absolutely sure the Penguins are one of the two best teams in the NHL, yet you're not convinced about the President's Trophy winning Red Wings who (along with Pittsburgh) arguably played inferior opponents in the first two rounds, yet the Wings CF matchup was no doubt more difficult than the Penguins.

If you're going to use the fact that the Wings didn't have to play the Sharks, than the same could be said about the fact that the Penguins only had to play the 7, 5 & 6 seeds respectively to make it to where they are. That's SOOO different than the Wings' 8, 6, 5 path! To top it off, if you want to compare playoff opponents, lets atleast base it on total standings points, which is much clearer than making comments about what division you play in. Pittsburgh's road to the finals was against teams that finished with 94, 97 & 95 points (total of 286 points) respectively, while the Wings opponents finished with 91, 95 & 97 points (total of 283 points) respectively. What a difference....a whole 3 points! Also, the Red Wings dominated the other two divisions in the Western Conference, just take a second and look at the numbers.

Lastly, if the Wings are fortunate enough to prove to *you* that they are one of the best two teams in the NHL by winning it all, are you going to come back and admit you were wrong?

It doesn't matter who played who. Compare the 2 teams head to head:

Offensive forwards - Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen against Crosby, Malkin, Hossa That's a tough one. Slight advantage Pens

Defensive forwards - Big advantage Wings with our 2 Selke finalists

Offensive D Men - Big advantage Wings. Looking at the numbers, 18% of the Pens points come from the D verses 24% for the Wings

Defensive D Men - Big advante Wings with Norris Nick, Nick Jr, Rafalski, Stuart

Goaltending - slight advantage Wings. The numbers are about the same but Ozzie's experience give us the upper hand

Home Ice - Wings

Face Off Wins - big advantage Wings and this is crucial for a puck possesion team

Coaching - advantage Wings with our Jack Adams finalist and Babcock's Finals experience

Grit/Physical Play - slight advantage Wings Watch out for Kronwall and Stuart

Hunger/drive - advantage Wings who got robbed last year and are playing like a team possesed

Ok, granted some of this is opinion but its not far off. 10 factors and 9 of them Detroit has the advantage.

Now I understand the Canadian bias for the Pens, but people, this isn't going to be close. Wings in 4 or 5

[Dabura 12,232]

Yeah, but the Wings are all, like, 40 years old, so that balances it out.