Pittsburgh's ANGELIC game 7 performance

[OsGOD 3]

hopefully the hockey gods want a wings/pens rematch in the finals... if not... god help us!

[BewareThePenguin 1]

I'm not saying that it was "fixed," but I do find it suspect. Judging by the way that the Bruins/Canes, and Wings/Ducks series is being called, Pittsburgh didn't play a 'perfect' game. If you want to say the game was well officiated, fine, I don't have any arguments if that's how the refs are going to call every game in every series, but it isn't. Tonight we'll see 4+ penalties called that weren't called last night. Truth.

The headline right now on the Sports Illustrated NHL page says "The Pens and Sidney Crosby played a near-perfect game." Maybe these things actually happen once in a while? I don't think SI is a Pens homer, btw.

Truth also -- had the it been the Red Wings in the Pens' place, you wouldn't be posting about how "suspect" you found it all.

[rick zombo 3,739]

My take on the game.

1. Pittsburgh got the first PP and made it count

2. Varlamov played poorly

3. Boudreau should have called a time out after Pittsburgh's 2nd goal.

4. Boudreau should have pulled Varlamov after Guerrin's goal.

5. From 3-0 on, the Penguins played perfect hockey except for Mouse-Face's bonehead play behind his own net which lead to Ovechkin's gift.

Washington had a great season, but they remind me of the early 90s Red Wings. They need to work out a defensive system and then commit to playing tighter hockey.

[Hossa7.4 0]

Game 7 was officiated very well. No question about that. However, hockey people tend to have short memory. Game 3. Caps are up 2-0 in that series and in the game like that with a lot of obstruction and interference from both sides they give 7 PPs to Pens and only two to Caps. And even after that the game was 2:2 at the end... If that series went to 3-0 I do not think Pens would have a lot of chance to comeback.

and SIX of those penalties that went against Wash. were called in a row. that was an important game , if they go down 0-3 they don't come back. Think of all the money the NHL has invested in hyping the Holy One.

the ref for that game: Dan O'Halloran.

In fact, DOH has reffed 7 Pens games in the PO's the last 2 years. The Pens are 6-1 in those games. The only loss: Game 1 in the Finals last year against the Wings. This was the game the Wings were called 4 times in a row for penalties in the first period. They spent almost the entire second half of the opening period , opening game, on the PK.

the ref for that game: Dan O'Halloran.

for the entire Pens/Caps series the Pens received 16 fewer minors than the Caps. Yet the Pens were penalized more during the regular seaon than the Caps.

and the owner of the Caps comes out at the start of the series and says he "just knows" this will go seven games?

O'Halloran reffed games 1,3,5 of last years finals, the Pens two wins during that series came during these games. Look at his record of calling off Wings goals, his on-record hate for the city of Detroit, if you feel it's not a conicdence your not seeing right.

Game 5 Wings/Ducks , the Red Wings, the second least penalized team in the league and a puck possesion team dominate this game yet manage only 3 PP's , the same number of PP's for the second-most penalized team in the NHL: the Ducks.

the ref for that game: Dan O'Halloran

look at our series versus the ducks, how in the world can a team who's game is puck possesion and the second least penalized team overall get called for as penalties as the most penalized team in the league?

it starts with Dan O'Halloran, who knows where it will end.

[Hank 0]

i watched the game...i saw the caps get away with a few but cant recall any obvious ones from the pens. come on, does everything need to be a conspiracy or did crosby start playing like the nhl has told us for years he can?

Hahaha. Great response.

I watched the game too and I didn't see anything the Pens did that warrented a penalty.

And whether you love him or hate him, Crosby is the man. He's got the entire hockey worlds eyes on him, during a game 7, on the road, and he scores twice and sets up another goal. He's clutch and he competes just as hard as anyone in the league.

In my mind, he proved in this series that he's one step above Ovechkin. Until AO can get to a Conference final, I will continue to believe Crosby is the better overall player and the best young superstar in the NHL.

[Theophany 110]

Until AO can get to a Conference final, I will continue to believe Crosby is the better overall player and the best young superstar in the NHL.

Until he learns how to go both ways, in my mind he's not a complete player.

Saying he's better than AO, who is horrible at D, isn't really saying much, IMO.

Yes, they're both good at scoring and setting up teammates, but they can't play D to save their lives.

[Marty Midnight 0]

and SIX of those penalties that went against Wash. were called in a row. that was an important game , if they go down 0-3 they don't come back. Think of all the money the NHL has invested in hyping the Holy One.

the ref for that game: Dan O'Halloran.

In fact, DOH has reffed 7 Pens games in the PO's the last 2 years. The Pens are 6-1 in those games. The only loss: Game 1 in the Finals last year against the Wings. This was the game the Wings were called 4 times in a row for penalties in the first period. They spent almost the entire second half of the opening period , opening game, on the PK.

the ref for that game: Dan O'Halloran.

for the entire Pens/Caps series the Pens received 16 fewer minors than the Caps. Yet the Pens were penalized more during the regular seaon than the Caps.

and the owner of the Caps comes out at the start of the series and says he "just knows" this will go seven games?

O'Halloran reffed games 1,3,5 of last years finals, the Pens two wins during that series came during these games. Look at his record of calling off Wings goals, his on-record hate for the city of Detroit, if you feel it's not a conicdence your not seeing right.

Game 5 Wings/Ducks , the Red Wings, the second least penalized team in the league and a puck possesion team dominate this game yet manage only 3 PP's , the same number of PP's for the second-most penalized team in the NHL: the Ducks.

the ref for that game: Dan O'Halloran

look at our series versus the ducks, how in the world can a team who's game is puck possesion and the second least penalized team overall get called for as penalties as the most penalized team in the league?

it starts with Dan O'Halloran, who knows where it will end.

In 1983 O'Halloran's, then wife, 'Gretchen' sent him out to the Windsor area's first IKEA to pick up a meatball dinner for the two of them. She beat it on him, taking their Vallhund puppy and his freshly sharpened Husqvarna across the river to Motor City to make go with a guy that made peanuts selling peanuts at the Joe but 'had time for her'... helps explain a lot don't it.

[WingsFanInDC 0]

Being at the game, there were some missed calls on both ends, but the refs sure missed some significant calls, but then again, they were happening outside of the game play area.

Not only that, but this was kept out of the media until it was revealed last night after the game: Ovie had a minor groin pull, Semin had an undisclosed injury, Green had a bum shoulder, and Pothier was playing with a broken foot. I dont know if these things really would've made a BIG difference, but after going to just about every home game for the caps, i'm confident to say that these arent just a bunch of "Wet behind the ears" guys. I've seen them play and basically, this was more of a "off game", but sure one hell of a day for it to happen. A strong majority of the players grew up from the hershey bears team and moved on to play with the caps. So it's not like they all didnt know each other.. but a majority of them played previously for the bears.

I will say this.. the Caps fans are incredible. They showed class, and while some of you may think i'm posting a biased remark about the pens fans, well, they're some of the worst fans ever. I don't know which is worse, pens or flyers. Going to the stanley cup game last year, i got yelled at, hounded, and even some bratty 13 yr old kid poking me in the back saying "red wings suck" while i'm taking a piss, I'm confident i can safely say the pens fans are nothing but a bunch of idiots. At least 5 or 6 got kicked out yesterday from the game because they simply didnt know when to shut up. obnoxious behavior and beer will do that to you.

Anyways, i'm proud of the caps for doing what they have done in the last 2 years.

[Ms_Hockey 0]

The calls have been inconsistent for every team at least once in every series they've played in.

I don't know why we'd expect anything different in the Pens/Caps series.

[Yzerman#19 17]

and SIX of those penalties that went against Wash. were called in a row. that was an important game , if they go down 0-3 they don't come back. Think of all the money the NHL has invested in hyping the Holy One.

the ref for that game: Dan O'Halloran.

In fact, DOH has reffed 7 Pens games in the PO's the last 2 years. The Pens are 6-1 in those games. The only loss: Game 1 in the Finals last year against the Wings. This was the game the Wings were called 4 times in a row for penalties in the first period. They spent almost the entire second half of the opening period , opening game, on the PK.

the ref for that game: Dan O'Halloran.

for the entire Pens/Caps series the Pens received 16 fewer minors than the Caps. Yet the Pens were penalized more during the regular seaon than the Caps.

and the owner of the Caps comes out at the start of the series and says he "just knows" this will go seven games?

O'Halloran reffed games 1,3,5 of last years finals, the Pens two wins during that series came during these games. Look at his record of calling off Wings goals, his on-record hate for the city of Detroit, if you feel it's not a conicdence your not seeing right.

Game 5 Wings/Ducks , the Red Wings, the second least penalized team in the league and a puck possesion team dominate this game yet manage only 3 PP's , the same number of PP's for the second-most penalized team in the NHL: the Ducks.

the ref for that game: Dan O'Halloran

look at our series versus the ducks, how in the world can a team who's game is puck possesion and the second least penalized team overall get called for as penalties as the most penalized team in the league?

it starts with Dan O'Halloran, who knows where it will end.

The Caps didn't need Dan's help blowing game 7. They handled that on their own.

However, it is plain for all to see that Dan O'Hallowrong is the Tim Donaghy of the NHL.

Ed: sp

Edited May 14, 2009 by Yzerman#19

[servo 15]

When you quickly go up 4 goals to nill it is easy to stay out of the box.

Everyone one on that team showed up big time! I only hope I can say the same tomorrow about the WIngs.

Actually, I'm praying for an off game by Hiller.

[IceMunkee 15]

I watched to and the Caps just got owned from start to finish. No penalties is wierd but the Caps only had 4 so that would lead to believe that it was not lopsided. The NHL did not have to give the Pens any love they won 6-2. You could have given the caps 4 penalties and it is still very unlikely they would have won. They played like garbage and the Pens played very skilled hockey.

[russianswede919293 95]

I watched the game and the Pens played for the most part a squeaky clean finisher. I mean, they played just about perfect while the Caps defense and goaltending absolutely sucked. It was pretty much the equivalent of the Wings Game 7 against Colorado in 2002. One-sided from start to finish.

Conspiracy theory = phail.

Very well put. The Penguins played a very clean game. Could some chincy hooks have been called, maybe, but IO'm glad they weren't. The Penguins dominated from start to finish.

[Nev 1,085]

All this "the Pens played a really clean game talk", since when did that matter in todays NHL? Seriously? Each team will usually get called for 2-3 complete BS penalties per game. "Even-ups", "tone-setters", "favouritism", call it what you will, the fact remains that you can play a competely disciplined, infraction free game and the refs will still put you on the PK several times.

[IceMunkee 15]

All this "the Pens played a really clean game talk", since when did that matter in todays NHL? Seriously? Each team will usually get called for 2-3 complete BS penalties per game. "Even-ups", "tone-setters", "favouritism", call it what you will, the fact remains that you can play a competely disciplined, infraction free game and the refs will still put you on the PK several times.

So would'nt you agree that this is a step in the right direction?