This time it will be different

[beepbeep 3]

As any of you who remember know, last year before the series I appeared on this board to discuss the upcoming series. Unlike some cocky Pens' fans, I expressed doubt that the young Pens could overcome both a) the lack of knowing what to expect with a championship series, and b) the Red Wings' mix of experience and big-game, big-situation savvy. You have no idea what abuse I took from some Pens' fans over this, but I was proved right, as it took til game 3 for the Pens to even begin competing with Detroit.

Last year I had my doubts the Pens could win a 7-game series with Detroit -- this year, I have no doubt the Pittsburgh Penguins can win. Notice I said CAN -- not will. I (unlike some overconfident types who've shown up here lately) know what they're up against with this loaded Wings' squad. Age or no age, banged-up or not, Detroit is the best team in hockey until somebody knocks them off. That won't be any easier to do this year.

A lot's been made of the "experience" thing, as in the Pens have now been there and logically are ready to take the next step. Yeah maybe, but that's not the main factor as to why Pittsburgh has a shot. Something that's not been discussed much by the "experts", but to me is the key, is this: Coach Bylsma's system, which is much better suited to the talents of Crosby, Malkin and the rest of the squad. The trap scheme used by Coach's successor was an awful fit for the Pens -- and since Bylsma took over the team in late February, the Pens not surprisingly are a totally superior team. Suddenly the Pens went from being mentioned to almost not making the playoffs, to playing the best hockey in the conference. If Bylsma had coached the whole year, I have little doubt the Pens are the #1 or #2 seed.

So it will be a different series than last year. It's up to the Pens, though, to show they belong on the mountaintop -- we all know Detroit does. If the Wings come out and just plain outskate the Pens as they did last year, it'll be another short series. With guys like Datsyuk and Franzen, talent like the Pens have yet to face, that's still possible.

But somehow I don't think it'll work out that way.

One more thing: Osgood. Why this guy doesn't get more credit outside of Detroit is beyond me. The guy's awesome, yet they rarely mention his name among the top goalies. That's just wrong. I have no doubt he'll be a major pain to score on this series.

I wouldn't have the Pens face any other team but yours in the finals. Facing anybody else just wouldn't be the same. Here's to a having a series for the ages to watch...

P.S. Doobie doobie doo...

This time WILL be different, we're gonna kick your ass in 4 straight!

Edited May 29, 2009 by beepbeep

[Snazzy 0]

While I agree Pens are going to be better than last year, they still aren't there yet. Even with our injuries, Pens just doesn't have enough to take Detroit in the best of 7. And of course the Pens will be better than last year, they weren't good at all last year.... they had no place to go but up.

One thing the Pens fans don't realize is Detroit is better than last year. Osgood is playing out of his mind, we have the Franzen factor this year, we have the Hossa factor, we have more mature young guys in Hudler, Filpulla, Helm Ericsson and Lebda. Cleary was our MVP (along with Ozzie) at the end of Ducks on though the Hawks series. Sammy has been responsible and putting in that timely goal. Stuat and Kronwall are nothing less than BEASTS on the ice (keep you head up Pens--or you will get knocked the F OUT!).

Despite our two key guys being injured, they will come in HUNGRY and the other boys will feed off it.

Oh, and I encourage Pens fans to BOO Hossa, that will give him sustained energy and he will feed off it

[NomadFromKazoo 42]

Last year I had my doubts the Pens could win a 7-game series with Detroit -- this year, I have no doubt the Pittsburgh Penguins can win

Just curious what that's based on. While we drew a cream puff in the first round, we at least swept them while you want to 6 games with yours. 7 against the Capitols, who are just mediocre. You didn't win decisively until you beat a team running on fumes. We beat the Ducks, champs from 2 years ago and then the Hawks everyone was saying were so good until we beat them in 5 with 2 hands tied behind our backs. THEN it turned out maybe they were too inexperienced, we got lucky. I'm not seeing anything the Penguins have done to send chills down our spine.

So, overconfidence would be our apparent vulnerability. The media's been endlessly blowing their darling Penguins to the point we have the team who didn't even win their division getting billing as the team to beat against the team that won the last and four of the last eleven Cups. We get to be the underdog with something to prove. In this game ironically you're Hollywood glitz and we're blue collar get no respect......Pittsburgh!

I don't know, tell Lids, Datsuk, Zetterberg and gang we're up against it and probably going to lose to a team that's proven NOTHING? The media and your fellow fans are your biggest liability. We're the defending Cup Champion UNDERDOGS! Even overconfidence is actually an asset in our column. I'm not seeing the base of all this bravado.

Edited May 29, 2009 by NomadFromKazoo

[ilmickeyli 40]

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[theman19 47]

another thing i i'll point out in regards to the pens, is what happened in the Carolina series. Way to many media personalites are making mountains of mole hills in Pitts beating carolina to the dust. Game one was a very close fought game, the rest not so much.

Key reason for me as both a fan of the canes and the wings, was the loss of Rutuu. Rutuu was key for all three series of locking down the other teams big player. When he went down, suddenly malkin went crazy. I'm not saying anything as dumb as "OMG IF RUTUU WOULD HAVE BEEN HEALTHY,...." That's stupid, penguins would have beaten carolina either way. But i'll point out that we have several players like that on the wings side.

A lot of people are thinking that with the loss of Datsyuk that the two way game from detroit is gone, and make no mistake it's not going to be perfect

But while last years series was the Datsyuk and Zetterberg show, Expect this series to be won and lost by the depth of cleary, helm and ericksson throwing their weight around.

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

This time WILL be different, we're gonna kick your ass in 4 straight!

lol...and then BewareThePenguin and ReggieDunlop can come on here again a year from now and spout their man love for Crosby and Malkin and the once again new look penguins. maybe they'll sign sundin at the deadline for a cup run for a pro-rated 14 million dollars to float around like a washed up bum.

sorry to take a stab at you two...but you're the 2 pens fans i know of on this site...all in good fun. i'm sure you'll fire back soon enough.

[xtrememachine1 795]

7 against the Capitols, who are just mediocre.

You're being too kind. Without Ovechkin, the Caps are a lottery team.

[reggiedunlop 0]

Just curious what that's based on. While we drew a cream puff in the first round, we at least swept them while you want to 6 games with yours. 7 against the Capitols, who are just mediocre. You didn't win decisively until you beat a team running on fumes. We beat the Ducks, champs from 2 years ago and then the Hawks everyone was saying were so good until we beat them in 5 with 2 hands tied behind our backs. THEN it turned out maybe they were too inexperienced, we got lucky. I'm not seeing anything the Penguins have done to send chills down our spine.

So, overconfidence would be our apparent vulnerability. The media's been endlessly blowing their darling Penguins to the point we have the team who didn't even win their division getting billing as the team to beat against the team that won the last and four of the last eleven Cups. We get to be the underdog with something to prove. In this game ironically you're Hollywood glitz and we're blue collar get no respect......Pittsburgh!

I don't know, tell Lids, Datsuk, Zetterberg and gang we're up against it and probably going to lose to a team that's proven NOTHING? The media and your fellow fans are your biggest liability. We're the defending Cup Champion UNDERDOGS! Even overconfidence is actually an asset in our column. I'm not seeing the base of all this bravado.

he wasnt spewing bravado.... read another sentence. he said CAN win........NOT WILL win.

[Shaman 713]

Just curious what that's based on. While we drew a cream puff in the first round, we at least swept them while you want to 6 games with yours. 7 against the Capitols, who are just mediocre. You didn't win decisively until you beat a team running on fumes. We beat the Ducks, champs from 2 years ago and then the Hawks everyone was saying were so good until we beat them in 5 with 2 hands tied behind our backs. THEN it turned out maybe they were too inexperienced, we got lucky. I'm not seeing anything the Penguins have done to send chills down our spine.

So, overconfidence would be our apparent vulnerability. The media's been endlessly blowing their darling Penguins to the point we have the team who didn't even win their division getting billing as the team to beat against the team that won the last and four of the last eleven Cups. We get to be the underdog with something to prove. In this game ironically you're Hollywood glitz and we're blue collar get no respect......Pittsburgh!

I don't know, tell Lids, Datsuk, Zetterberg and gang we're up against it and probably going to lose to a team that's proven NOTHING? The media and your fellow fans are your biggest liability. We're the defending Cup Champion UNDERDOGS! Even overconfidence is actually an asset in our column. I'm not seeing the base of all this bravado.

How dare you talk bad about the 2009 pens, they are the reincarnation of the 1984 Oilers you know, how they won 57 had a D man that scored 126 points, and of course Crosby had 206 points just like Wayne..... they had the exact same season the Oilers had.. I mean the parallels are undeniable, the wings should just accept right now that they will lose, because as we know, history always repeats itself, but not the way we think, like it the Wings being the last team able to repeat, no, that cant be the repeat, we dont have the annotated one.

Edited May 29, 2009 by Shaman464

[xtrememachine1 795]

How dare you talk bad about the 2009 pens, they are the reincarnation of the 1984 Oilers you know, how they won 57 had a D man that scored 126 points, and of course Crosby had 206 points just like Wayne..... they had the exact same season the Oilers had.. I mean the parallels are undeniable, the wings should just accept right now that they will lose, because as we know, history always repeats itself, but not the way we think, like it the Wings being the last team able to repeat, no, that cant be the repeat, we dont have the annotated one.

I can understand the comparisons between the 80's Oilers and the Pens, but what about the 70's Canadiens and the Wings? I think today's Wings play alot like the Habs from that era. Everything from the all time stud defenseman to the four lines of speedy two way forwards.

[reggiedunlop 0]

lol...and then BewareThePenguin and ReggieDunlop can come on here again a year from now and spout their man love for Crosby and Malkin and the once again new look penguins. maybe they'll sign sundin at the deadline for a cup run for a pro-rated 14 million dollars to float around like a washed up bum.

sorry to take a stab at you two...but you're the 2 pens fans i know of on this site...all in good fun. i'm sure you'll fire back soon enough.

firing back at you is too easy :-)

good luck tomorrow night

[zenway9 1]

I am sick to death of Pitt fans saying Hossa is a "traitor". He was a RENTAL player for the Pens! Just because he was made to throw on your jersey does not make him a Pen for life (Thank God). There are so many players that have been rentals for the Red Wings, but we don't go around calling them "traitors".

You guys seriously need to get over that kick, or is that all you have to hold on to?

[Snazzy 0]

I am sick to death of Pitt fans saying Hossa is a "traitor". He was a RENTAL player for the Pens! Just because he was made to throw on your jersey does not make him a Pen for life (Thank God). There are so many players that have been rentals for the Red Wings, but we don't go around calling them "traitors".

You guys seriously need to get over that kick, or is that all you have to hold on to?

Lol! Yeah this cracks me up too... Hossa took a freakin PAY CUT to play on a superior team, and he's viewed as a traitor. I'd hate to see how Pens fans act if they get dumped by a girl they date for 3 months... from the attitude that I see from them, they'll probably stalk and harass her on myspace and facebook.

They really do need to let it go. It's pathetic, their obsession is just mental!

Hossa took a pay cut to play on a superior team, GET THE FOCK OVER IT ALREADY!!!!

Edited May 29, 2009 by Snazzy

[Idoit40fans 0]

Lol! Yeah this cracks me up too... Hossa took a freakin PAY CUT to play on a superior team, and he's viewed as a traitor. I'd hate to see how Pens fans act if they get dumped by a girl they date for 3 months... from the attitude that I see from them, they'll probably stalk and harass her on myspace and facebook.

They really do need to let it go. It's pathetic, their obsession is just mental!

Hossa took a pay cut to play on a superior team, GET THE FOCK OVER IT ALREADY!!!!

I, and many others in PIttsburgh, don't care. People don't have a problem with him leaving, they have a problem with him leaving to go to the team that just knocked him out of the Stanley Cup Finals. Like I said, its a little out there, but not remotely close to being as outrageous as you're making it out to be.

[theman19 47]

Ever since both teams lined up and advanced, i've heard nothing but how "this year will be different" "This is the PENS year" "This is history, it's fate, like the 84' oilers."

The reasoning is kinda sound,....kinda,....

The penguins are in fact a different club than the one that got steamrolled by Detroit last year (about freaking time someone admitted that, I was beginning to wonder if we beat them at all)

But so then are the wings.

This years club is hurting and tired. A retarted schedual and physical series against a big Chicago team made that possible. But we're not goign down without a fight. And you're crazy if you think the pens have the "clear" advantage as so many pundits would like to think.

A. We have hossa.

I know everyone is tired of hearing this, but I honestly get the sense from some people that the "demise of the traitor Hossa" is already in the past. It seems the fans, the media, everyone is saying,.."now hossa gets his just reward." This isn't a comic book people, sometimes the bad guy wins. Sometimes the Joker stands over the corpse of Batman and laughs. In the minds of everyone not wearing red and white, Hossa is the traitor and should be destroyed for "daring to change teams" (see Bucci's article on ESPN to really feel the venom. ) But this could all go very very wrong for the pens. Last year Hossa exuded effort nearly tying the game in the dying seconds. This year he still wants that cup, but now he also doesn't want to see an entire city point their finger and laugh. A question for Pens fans "ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?"

B. You arn't the only team with emerging stars.

Another thing everyone is saying? "The dynamic duo of the pens is another year older and more experienced. It was inexperience that lead to their defeat a year ago." Be that as it may, guess who else is another year older? Darren Helm, Flip, Mule These guys had flashes of brilliance against the pens last year, mule being injured for most of it. Now these guys are coming into their own. Who do you cover if your the pens? Z? Hossa? The hawks did that, and darren helm scored, Flip scored, Kronner ate a few guys etc etc.

C. Our D is nothing like you've faced all playoffs long.

Lets be perfectly clear, this isn't going to be like the wide open style the pens excel at. This won't be the washington Carolina slug fest, the pens stars won't get 20 quality chances a night, they may get ten,....or less if Dats comes back. Also no other D can hit like ours of the teams youve played. Crosby and Malkin wern't scared to death of Joni Freaking Pitkanan levling one of them. It's been said of Malkin that after Richards laid him out against the flyers last year, he was never the same. Crosby and Malkin are one Kronwall freight train (or stuart) from being out of this series. Im aware Orpik could do the same, but do you have the depth after those two? Cause we do.

D. Our Goalie isn't rattled, ever.

The rookie for the caps (not going to murder the spelling of his name) and Cam Ward both played incredibly for the their respective teams during the playoffs. However, when the pens came to town and the offense was cranked up to eleven those repective tenders couldn't respond. The thing with Osgood is that he's completly unshakeable. If you score 8 on him and he's pulled game one. Game two it's a strong probability that he could shut you out. There will be no max talbit "floaters" elluding our goalie

E. Depth Depth Depth,....oh and D.

A lot (maybe more than anything) has been said about the fact that crosby and malkin play on a team that allows them to be double shifted and they run with seven D men. That works perfectly well against one line clubs like Washington or Carolina, where if you shut down the Eric STaals and AO's there's not enough depth to make up the loss. We don't have that problem. Our fourth line has more cups than your entire team does and are very adapt at scoring big goals,.....not mention our 3rd line is on a point per game. Go ahead double shift the blue hell out of those guys,......it won't be strength against weakness if they're matched up against our third lines and if they have to play a two way game....they'll be tired.

I respect the pens, i think they're a great orginzation. That said, i'm glad we play them. We'll beat them in six games and prove to the world again, that Depth and D wins championships....isn't that right Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey, Glenn Andersson and Kevin Lowe? (all 84' oilers btw)

Edited May 29, 2009 by theman19

[NomadFromKazoo 42]

he wasnt spewing bravado.... read another sentence. he said CAN win........NOT WILL win.

So you ignore my entire point on that the Penguins have done nothing to demonstrate they are a threat to win and just get hung up on the word bravado? Or, were you just worrying about that theoreticaly since he said "can" no one could dispute that theoretically anyone could beat anyone? I took his point to mean he thinks there is a REASON the Penguins could win, an actual basis, not just the theoretical anyone CAN win if they are in the game. Hmm. Man, can you say ANAL? Sorry, didn't mean to say that last part out loud...

Edited May 29, 2009 by NomadFromKazoo

[chrisdetroit 189]

As any of you who remember know, last year before the series I appeared on this board to discuss the upcoming series. Unlike some cocky Pens' fans, I expressed doubt that the young Pens could overcome both a) the lack of knowing what to expect with a championship series, and b) the Red Wings' mix of experience and big-game, big-situation savvy. You have no idea what abuse I took from some Pens' fans over this, but I was proved right, as it took til game 3 for the Pens to even begin competing with Detroit.

Last year I had my doubts the Pens could win a 7-game series with Detroit -- this year, I have no doubt the Pittsburgh Penguins can win. Notice I said CAN -- not will. I (unlike some overconfident types who've shown up here lately) know what they're up against with this loaded Wings' squad. Age or no age, banged-up or not, Detroit is the best team in hockey until somebody knocks them off. That won't be any easier to do this year.

A lot's been made of the "experience" thing, as in the Pens have now been there and logically are ready to take the next step. Yeah maybe, but that's not the main factor as to why Pittsburgh has a shot. Something that's not been discussed much by the "experts", but to me is the key, is this: Coach Bylsma's system, which is much better suited to the talents of Crosby, Malkin and the rest of the squad. The trap scheme used by Coach's successor was an awful fit for the Pens -- and since Bylsma took over the team in late February, the Pens not surprisingly are a totally superior team. Suddenly the Pens went from being mentioned to almost not making the playoffs, to playing the best hockey in the conference. If Bylsma had coached the whole year, I have little doubt the Pens are the #1 or #2 seed.

So it will be a different series than last year. It's up to the Pens, though, to show they belong on the mountaintop -- we all know Detroit does. If the Wings come out and just plain outskate the Pens as they did last year, it'll be another short series. With guys like Datsyuk and Franzen, talent like the Pens have yet to face, that's still possible.

But somehow I don't think it'll work out that way.

One more thing: Osgood. Why this guy doesn't get more credit outside of Detroit is beyond me. The guy's awesome, yet they rarely mention his name among the top goalies. That's just wrong. I have no doubt he'll be a major pain to score on this series.

I wouldn't have the Pens face any other team but yours in the finals. Facing anybody else just wouldn't be the same. Here's to a having a series for the ages to watch...

P.S. Doobie doobie doo...

Well said. Blysma's system is an offensive minded system more "run and gun" and this has served the Pens well, however there is a problem. It is LESS of a defensive minded system that Therien's system. This is going to make it more of a challenge for the Pens to shut down the Wings and more of a problem for the Wings to shut down the Pens.

The Wings are puck possesion team and are very good defensively. If the Wings can shut down the run and gun, the Pens have no chance because they are actually worse defensively this year than last. And more than 50% of the Pens goals come 3 guys from Malkin, Crosby and Guerin.

2.15 GAA last year in the playoffs and 2.76 this year. More than 1/2 a goal per game difference. This ranks 8th in this years playoffs.

The Wings went fron 1.86 to 2.12 about 1/4 of a Goal per game difference. This is second behind only Boston.

The pens are better offensively and they are more "mature" but as we all know defense wins cups.

Regardless of what Malkin and Crosby learned last year, they don't have the defense to pull it off.

The Pens could win if there are injuries to the Wings but otherwise it's not likely.

[NomadFromKazoo 42]

How dare you talk bad about the 2009 pens, they are the reincarnation of the 1984 Oilers you know, how they won 57 had a D man that scored 126 points, and of course Crosby had 206 points just like Wayne..... they had the exact same season the Oilers had.. I mean the parallels are undeniable, the wings should just accept right now that they will lose, because as we know, history always repeats itself, but not the way we think, like it the Wings being the last team able to repeat, no, that cant be the repeat, we dont have the annotated one.

Yes...you got me there. Maybe the Penguins will win. I just find it perplexing that everyone (i.e., the brainless media) are running around pumping them when they didn't win their division and didn't win an actually impressive playoff series. But I LOVE it. Man, we win 4 of the last 11 Cups and the media gives us something to prove! If I were on the Wings getting disrespected like they are in favor of a team with such little credentials, I'd be calling the Penguins saying let's go TONIGHT! I'd be so ready to pound their smug little grins into the ice, and do it over and over.

Thank you, mindless, shallow, hero worship sports media! ESPN driven cluelessness rules across the vast, contentless wasteland. You are idiots, but thanks for giving the defending champs the mission to PROVE themselves!

[esteef 2,679]

It will be different cause this time you guys have.............SATAN?!!

esteef

[beepbeep 3]

he wasnt spewing bravado.... read another sentence. he said CAN win........NOT WILL win.

Cindy= hossa=

[10 Minute Misconduct 104]

If the Wings are tired they sure didn't show it last series.

[Cern 0]

The pens are better offensively

Even that isn't necessarily true. If anything, the Penguins' scoring depth has receded from last year, it's just being covered up by Malkin and Crosby's personal numbers. I really don't feel like going back through all the games' boxscores these playoffs but 10 of 12 Penguins forwards are completely dead in the water without one or the other feeding them pucks. Even if you only partially contain one of the two - which Detroit is more than capable of doing - the Penguins are going to run into scoring trouble.

[zenway9 1]

It will be different cause this time you guys have.............SATAN?!!

esteef

Oh Boy, so now does this mean we have to take that piece of crap Satan on our team next year after we beat them again? I sure hope not.

[beepbeep 3]

he wasnt spewing bravado.... read another sentence. he said CAN win........NOT WILL win.

Here's your can :flush:

[Snazzy 0]

Hey guys, did you get the memo?

This time it will be different

:flush: