McKeon: Geez, not ANOTHER Wings-Penguins Cup final...

[Valas19 50]

I think what blows me away about alot of the posts in this thread is how you are so quick to dismiss the pens. I am more concerned with the pens from this year then i was last year.. different team different year yes.. but these pens are firing on all cylinders... and we are hobbling into the SCF ( if we can beat chicago *wink*) With so much uncertainty in regards to injuries.. we should be concerened!!!

THIS.

Last year Malkin was garbage, looked like he had hit the wall. Not so this year.

Remember a few years back when the Oilers were firing on all cylinders? I remember clearly seeing Steve Yzerman walk off the ice for the final time of his career. I still can't believe we lost to the Oilers.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

THIS.

Last year Malkin was garbage, looked like he had hit the wall. Not so this year.

Remember a few years back when the Oilers were firing on all cylinders? I remember clearly seeing Steve Yzerman walk off the ice for the final time of his career. I still can't believe we lost to the Oilers.

So was Kane, Khabi and the rest of the Blackhawks for that matter. If the Wings are fortunate enough to move on, while the Penguins are playing great hockey right now, just like last year, they haven't faced a defense like they will in Detroit. While I don't deny the offensive talent of Crosby and Malkin (because it is incredible) did anyone else notice the amount of respect and room the Canes gave them? There's a reason Kane has been shut down in the series thus far....its because the second *before* he touches the puck there's two Red Wings on him. The same will go for Crosby and Malkin (just like it did last year) if the Wings move on.

[theman19 47]

I follow the pens pretty closely (i have to, one of my best friends is an obnoxious pens fan) and I gotta say i'm not worried, nor am I overly impressed.

Right now the pens are flying because they're two best players; Crosby and Malkin are playing the hockey of their lives. That was enough for Washington and Carolina but it won't be enough for us.

Here's my opinion on why;

1. The hossa factor. We all know he's been kinda quiet during the playoffs, except when he's motivated. When he's properly motivated (see pissed off super hossa after game three in quakckland) he's a force of nature. This guy is going to be boo'd ridiculed and otherwise lampooned every time he touches the puck. I hope they do too, I hope they give him such hell, because he knows that if the wings lose to the pens, he'll never hear the end of it his entire career. He won't let that happen.

2. One line does not a champion make

The Wings have beaten this team so many times in the past. 97 with the legion of doom line, 98 bondra oates juneau 02 BBC line of Battaglia-Brindamour-Cole,....most recently we did it again we beat malkin-Crosby-Hossa. Every year we win the cup, we do so because our D locks down their best line and our depth takes over. If we're healthy the pens won't be able to keep up.

3. They say they're better than last year, so are we.

Last year we could not have survived a playoff series with Datsyuk injured and not producing, in 07 we couldn't hang out when one of our top four D men was out and yet we did both this year. Ozzie I think at times has matched if not exceeded his play of last year stealing games at times against the ducks. Lastly, this years team is one of the most physical in recent memory. It's not like we're the same team as last year

4. They're a year older and wiser, so?

Another thing i keep hearing over and over again is how Crosby and Malkin are another year older, yada yada yada, Islanders vs. Oilers Gretzky had to lose in order to learn to win etc. etc. Sorry i don't buy it. You know who else is a year older? Darren Helm, Flip, Hudler, Franzen it's not like we're a team of Old guys anymore, we've got our own young guns, granted they're not on the level of crosby of malkin, but as opposed to two super players, we've got guys just as good, but also a team full of budding youth. Do give me the line that the wings are old and slow, if that was the case the hawks should dominate us.

It's not the same, the pens are a completly differenent team for the most part, but i'll say this, were it counts; the match ups have largley favored us and remained unchanged. Crosby's still gonna have to solve Zetterberg, Malkin is gonna have to figure out our D (remember that he was on fire last year heading in too) and Fleury is going to have to dramatically outplay ozzie which i don't think he can do.

Wings in Six.

[mjlegend 155]

I follow the pens pretty closely (i have to, one of my best friends is an obnoxious pens fan) and I gotta say i'm not worried, nor am I overly impressed.

Right now the pens are flying because they're two best players; Crosby and Malkin are playing the hockey of their lives. That was enough for Washington and Carolina but it won't be enough for us.

Here's my opinion on why;

1. The hossa factor. We all know he's been kinda quiet during the playoffs, except when he's motivated. When he's properly motivated (see pissed off super hossa after game three in quakckland) he's a force of nature. This guy is going to be boo'd ridiculed and otherwise lampooned every time he touches the puck. I hope they do too, I hope they give him such hell, because he knows that if the wings lose to the pens, he'll never hear the end of it his entire career. He won't let that happen.

2. One line does not a champion make

The Wings have beaten this team so many times in the past. 97 with the legion of doom line, 98 bondra oates juneau 02 BBC line of Battaglia-Brindamour-Cole,....most recently we did it again we beat malkin-Crosby-Hossa. Every year we win the cup, we do so because our D locks down their best line and our depth takes over. If we're healthy the pens won't be able to keep up.

3. They say they're better than last year, so are we.

Last year we could not have survived a playoff series with Datsyuk injured and not producing, in 07 we couldn't hang out when one of our top four D men was out and yet we did both this year. Ozzie I think at times has matched if not exceeded his play of last year stealing games at times against the ducks. Lastly, this years team is one of the most physical in recent memory. It's not like we're the same team as last year

4. They're a year older and wiser, so?

Another thing i keep hearing over and over again is how Crosby and Malkin are another year older, yada yada yada, Islanders vs. Oilers Gretzky had to lose in order to learn to win etc. etc. Sorry i don't buy it. You know who else is a year older? Darren Helm, Flip, Hudler, Franzen it's not like we're a team of Old guys anymore, we've got our own young guns, granted they're not on the level of crosby of malkin, but as opposed to two super players, we've got guys just as good, but also a team full of budding youth. Do give me the line that the wings are old and slow, if that was the case the hawks should dominate us.

It's not the same, the pens are a completly differenent team for the most part, but i'll say this, were it counts; the match ups have largley favored us and remained unchanged. Crosby's still gonna have to solve Zetterberg, Malkin is gonna have to figure out our D (remember that he was on fire last year heading in too) and Fleury is going to have to dramatically outplay ozzie which i don't think he can do.

Wings in Six.

This. I hope.

[Dabura 12,232]

I think what blows me away about alot of the posts in this thread is how you are so quick to dismiss the pens. I am more concerned with the pens from this year then i was last year.. different team different year yes.. but these pens are firing on all cylinders... and we are hobbling into the SCF ( if we can beat chicago *wink*) With so much uncertainty in regards to injuries.. we should be concerened!!!

The Pens were better last year. I've been watching them all season and all through the postseason, so I'm not just blowing smoke. I think their stars are hungrier this season, but on a pound-for-pound basis, last year's Pens were much more formidable -- intangibles and all.

Also, I wouldn't say the Wings are hobbling into the finals. I think at this point they're being more cautious than anything else (in terms of giving players some rest). You don't see the Pens sitting Crosby or Malkin or Gonchar because they can't afford to do it; all of their hopes and dreams rest on the shoulders of about four players. The Wings, on the other hand, can go without their #1 defenseman, one of their top-three forwards and a key checker and still rout the opposition like they just did. The depth of this team is absolutely absurd.

[Wings_Fan_In_Exile 3]

I follow the pens pretty closely (i have to, one of my best friends is an obnoxious pens fan) and I gotta say i'm not worried, nor am I overly impressed.

Right now the pens are flying because they're two best players; Crosby and Malkin are playing the hockey of their lives. That was enough for Washington and Carolina but it won't be enough for us.

Here's my opinion on why;

1. The hossa factor. We all know he's been kinda quiet during the playoffs, except when he's motivated. When he's properly motivated (see pissed off super hossa after game three in quakckland) he's a force of nature. This guy is going to be boo'd ridiculed and otherwise lampooned every time he touches the puck. I hope they do too, I hope they give him such hell, because he knows that if the wings lose to the pens, he'll never hear the end of it his entire career. He won't let that happen.

2. One line does not a champion make

The Wings have beaten this team so many times in the past. 97 with the legion of doom line, 98 bondra oates juneau 02 BBC line of Battaglia-Brindamour-Cole,....most recently we did it again we beat malkin-Crosby-Hossa. Every year we win the cup, we do so because our D locks down their best line and our depth takes over. If we're healthy the pens won't be able to keep up.

3. They say they're better than last year, so are we.

Last year we could not have survived a playoff series with Datsyuk injured and not producing, in 07 we couldn't hang out when one of our top four D men was out and yet we did both this year. Ozzie I think at times has matched if not exceeded his play of last year stealing games at times against the ducks. Lastly, this years team is one of the most physical in recent memory. It's not like we're the same team as last year

4. They're a year older and wiser, so?

Another thing i keep hearing over and over again is how Crosby and Malkin are another year older, yada yada yada, Islanders vs. Oilers Gretzky had to lose in order to learn to win etc. etc. Sorry i don't buy it. You know who else is a year older? Darren Helm, Flip, Hudler, Franzen it's not like we're a team of Old guys anymore, we've got our own young guns, granted they're not on the level of crosby of malkin, but as opposed to two super players, we've got guys just as good, but also a team full of budding youth. Do give me the line that the wings are old and slow, if that was the case the hawks should dominate us.

It's not the same, the pens are a completly differenent team for the most part, but i'll say this, were it counts; the match ups have largley favored us and remained unchanged. Crosby's still gonna have to solve Zetterberg, Malkin is gonna have to figure out our D (remember that he was on fire last year heading in too) and Fleury is going to have to dramatically outplay ozzie which i don't think he can do.

Wings in Six.

This should be nationally published.

[Doc Holiday 0]

THIS.

Last year Malkin was garbage, looked like he had hit the wall. Not so this year.

Remember a few years back when the Oilers were firing on all cylinders? I remember clearly seeing Steve Yzerman walk off the ice for the final time of his career. I still can't believe we lost to the Oilers.

I'll give you two words: Manny Legace.