Rob Parker-Wings wont repeat

[Chelichic 12]

Clickondetroit.com

DETROIT -- It's only natural to think that the Red Wings will win the Stanley Cup again.

After all, they beat these same Pittsburgh Penguins a year ago to win the Cup. And, if you remember, they did it quite convincingly, smashing the Penguins in the first two games en route to the title in six games.

But these aren't last year's Penguins. Not by a long shot.

No one thought they'd be back here late in the postseason again looking for more, not even Marian Hossa, who passed up a mega-bucks, multi-year contract from the Pens to instead take a flimsy one-year deal with the Wings.

Hossa, who starred for Pittsburgh last June, thought his best chance to win the Cup was with Motown, not in the Steel City.

Hossa will wind up being both wrong and disappointed.

The Penguins will beat the Wings. Sorry, Hockeytown.

There's not much rhythm or reason why because both teams are talented. It's a gut feeling, one that can't always be figured out in analysis.

If you watched what the Penguins did in the previous two rounds, you would have been impressed. They beat the great Alex Ovechkin and Washington in Game 7 in D.C. And it wasn't even close. For good measure, they dismissed the Carolina Hurricanes in four games in the Eastern Conference finals.

"To have the opportunity with Pittsburgh again should be a lot of fun," Wings' coach Mike Babcock told the media after his team advanced with a 2-1 OT victory over the Blackhawks Wednesday night. "There should be a lot of hype about this series."

Indeed. That's because arguably the best player in the league plays for the Penguins.

The Penguins have an outstanding 1-2 scoring punch in Sidney Crosby, the best player in the game, and Evgeni Malkin. They have an incredible 56 points in the postseason. No tandem is close. Wings goalie Chris Osgood has his work cutout for him. Then again, Osgood has seen them before.

It's not often teams meet back-to-back in a championship series. In fact, the last time it happened in the NHL was 1984. Then, the Edmonton Oilers finally stopped the New York Islanders' dynasty after four straight Cup victories.

For sure, this time of the year, it always seems as if it's a birthright for the Wings to be holding up the Cup at the end. In their last four Stanley Cup Finals appearances, the Wings have won all four Cups.

However, you have to ask yourself are the Wings running on empty. They have injuries. Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk each missed two games in the Western Conference finals.

"Hopefully, we'll manage to get some guys healthy, get guys back," Osgood said. "We'll be ready. To us, it's fun. We enjoy this time of the year. We enjoy the opportunity to play against Pittsburgh and for us, it's going to be a lot of fun."

That wasn't the case for Pittsburgh last spring. They were a young group, trying to learn on the fly.

They were overwhelmed in the first two games. By the time, they got a feel of the series it was too late.

That won't happen this time. And the Penguins have an advantage because the first two games are back-to-back at The Joe, starting Saturday night. Thanks, NBC. That's asking a lot of either team to try to win two games in two nights.

Hence, there's a great chance that Pittsburgh will get a split and steal home-ice advantage.

It just might be the opening the Pens need.

When it's all said and done, the Penguins will win the series in six games and capture their first Cup since 1992.

All I got to say is GO WINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

time to take them pesky penguins out!!!

[vOrophin 5]

There's not much rhythm or reason why because both teams are talented. It's a gut feeling, one that can't always be figured out in analysis.

At least he's honest that he's got nothing outside of Crosby and Malkin's point totals to justify it.

[titanium2 867]

Too easy.

If he's right, then he'll have those 5 seconds of feeling right but if he's wrong then his hometown team will have another championship.

As a Detroit writer I would think that the former is worth risking for over 5 seconds of appearing as a journalist who was right.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Ansar Khan and Rob Parker in a steel-cage no-submission grudge match, this Saturday at the Joe!

[titanium2 867]

Ansar Khan and Rob Parker in a steel-cage no-submission grudge match, this Saturday at the Joe!

Has anyone seen Ansar's prediction? I haven't yet. I have a feeling he'll go for Wings in 6/7.

[Glubki 17]

Khan says 6 maybe 7 - it is up on mlive now...

[titanium2 867]

Khan says 6 maybe 7 - it is up on mlive now...

Yeah after I posted that I thought maybe I should check before I open my mouth or rather... hit the reply button.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20...nt_be_easy.html

Though usually he gives a pretty clear cut break down of everything and then finishes it with a hard cut prediction.

I know he said Wings in 6 against the Hawks; Wings in 5 against the Jackets IIRC and I'm honestly not sure about the Ducks but me thinks it was Wings in 6.

[titanium2 867]

Khan said that "Brooks Orpik dishes out hits, (but) he is not as punishing as Kronwall and Brad Stuart."

...What? Is he kidding? Orpik is a psycho.

[ben_usmc 253]

Has Rob Parker ever been right? If he is who I am thinking of Valenti talks so much s*** about this guy, and everytime I seen an article related to him he is spouting off about some buls*** he knows nothing about. It's like the people on PTI trying to debate hockey. I'd rather listen to Cherry.

[ben_usmc 253]

Khan said that "Brooks Orpik dishes out hits, (but) he is not as punishing as Kronwall and Brad Stuart."

...What? Is he kidding? Orpik is a psycho.

I haven't seen one highlight reel hit from the guy. I mean he's good but when it comes down to hit counts (Kopecky had a high hit count also), aside from Orpiks epic 13 seconds of hits he really hasn't been that impressive.

Edited May 29, 2009 by ben_usmc

[Trapt1307 81]

I don't really understand why everyone's acting like Malkin did nothing all playoffs last year, and now he's some completely different player. He was fifth leading scorer in the playoffs, and only had two points in the finals. I highly doubt he is going to be able to keep up the pace he's playing at against the Wings. If he does they're going to win, but I highly doubt he does.

[titanium2 867]

I haven't seen one highlight reel hit from the guy. I mean he's good but when it comes down to hit counts (Kopecky had a high hit count also), aside from Orpiks epic 13 seconds of hits he really hasn't been that impressive.

In terms of amount of hits, I have no idea, I just think he's an idiot and looks like a psycho. When you see him hit out there it's as if that's the only enjoyment he gets out of playing the game.

If you go back to Game 6 of last year two of the Wings goals were directly, imo, a result of him choosing to play the body over the puck. Sammy puts the puck on net, it's loose, Orpik could clear it away if he were aware but decides instead to try and hit Filppula, who got his stick on the puck anyways and scored. And with that goal by Z, Orpik was right there and could've cleared it away but was more concerned about a potential scrum in front of the net.

[Grim 5]

I love how Parker's "gut feeling" fails to point out any specific holes in the Red Wings' game. Is this subtle hedging?

[EuroTwin 240]

Hey Parker, my 'gut feeling' is that you don't know what your talking about. My gut also says Wings in 5.

It also says mmmmmmm pizza.

[titanium2 867]

It also says mmmmmmm pizza.

Damn you... What'd you get on it?

Now I have to see if Papa John's or whoever is still open at 1:30AM.

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

Rob Parker is a worthless POS.

How he manages to stay in employed in a city he so clearly hates is amazing to me.

[EuroTwin 240]

Damn you... What'd you get on it?

Now I have to see if Papa John's or whoever is still open at 1:30AM.

I'm boring, just cheese.

Which is what Parker is full of. BA-DUM KISH.

I know, it was awful. I'll leave now.

[TCbrizz 2]

there's a reason Wob got fired from both his print and tv gigs - he's a no talent moron who couldn't write his way out of a wet paper bag. Who on earth is letting him give an opinion on anything these days? His career is OVER. It's time for him to start learning spanish or Romanian or something, because he's never getting another real sports journalism job in the US.

And OF COURSE he picked against the wings...it's the only way he can get anyone to spend a few seconds listening to him - the only thing he can do now is try to say something controversial to get a little press and you guys have given him exactly what he wants. the best thing to do with diseases like wob is to just ignore them...the media's immune system is working just fine with him...he's almost entirely gone!

[titanium2 867]

I'm boring, just cheese.

Which is what Parker is full of. BA-DUM KISH.

I know, it was awful. I'll leave now.

[Ladsud2002 0]

So glad this guy isnt wasting space in my sports page anymore.

[10 Minute Misconduct 104]

the more i hear EVERYONE say "the pens wont s*** the bed this year the first two games like last"...the more i think they might.

[tdinc 45]

Rob Parker is a nobody..... he is a fraud......and a usless reporter. His opinions mean nothing................

[egroen 384]

Correct me if I am wrong, but the Pens had more of a struggle to get to the Finals this year than they did last year.

Without all these injuries, I feel the Wings would have a strong chance of sweeping the Pens - they can run roughshod over any team without an elite defense.

With all these injuries, I fear we may have ourselves a series.

[ilmickeyli 40]

What about Bob Barker?

[theman19 47]

I am SOOOO sick of hearing how this is history repeating itself, that this is the 84' oilers all over again. No it's not people, not even close. The wings aren't on the tail end of their dynasty we have just as many young legs as the pens do.

I completly agree with whatifsports. Hossa will be the conn smyth winner. He shot on MAF everyday for like five months. He knows his weaknesses. Just like past wings seems to kill us when we play them, they knows how we play and how to beat us. Hossa knows the pens system, yes i know they have a new coach but that doesn't change how they play the game across the board. Believe it or not, he's goign to be the key to winning this series for us.