Yzerfan1999 81 Report post Posted March 19, 2012 I think the blues are still the clear favorites at this point. Lol no way. The Blues are primed to lose in the first round. They don't have enough playoff experience on that team IMO. 2 heikks86 and Rick D reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zetts 236 Report post Posted March 19, 2012 (edited) Are we even sure that Crosby can stay healthy for more than 10 games? How do we know that he'll hold up to the physical grind of the playoffs? I'm sceptical. Edited March 19, 2012 by Zetts 3 heikks86, AceInTheSleeve and edicius reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xtrememachine1 795 Report post Posted March 19, 2012 Nobody wins the Cup in March. Seriously, how many times have we seen the Wings dominate in March, then get knocked out in the first or second round? The playoffs are a totally different game. Everybody gives a little extra. There's a little more fighting in the corner for loose pucks. More willingness to give up the body to block shots. More willingness to stand in front of the net to chip in a loose puck or deflect a shot. All these little things make a big difference in the postseason. Winning in the regular season is all good and fine, but they won't be playing Carolina, Winnipeg, Isles or Leafs in the playoffs and the good teams they'll be playing will be playing much differently than they are now. I'm not saying they won't change themselves, but winning a bunch of games in the regular season doesn't prove anything. Our fan base has learned that lesson a bunch of times. 2 MidMichSteve and Vladifan reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crashnburnluder 385 Report post Posted March 19, 2012 But what about the Rangers, they spent $12 mill on the biggest free agent this summer, Brad Richards? Only real thing locked down is Columbus will win the Toilet Trophy, it'd be hard for them to lose that. Followed closely by Edmonton again ... speaking of which, how many terrible years do you need to turn a team around .... damn, it looks like they've been having the top pick like 3 years in a row. If edmonton is lucky enough to win the draft lottery that would make 3 1st overall picks in a row. Hall, Hopkins, Yakupov??? Scary lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MidMichSteve 1,115 Report post Posted March 19, 2012 Nobody wins the Cup in March. Seriously, how many times have we seen the Wings dominate in March, then get knocked out in the first or second round? The playoffs are a totally different game. Everybody gives a little extra. There's a little more fighting in the corner for loose pucks. More willingness to give up the body to block shots. More willingness to stand in front of the net to chip in a loose puck or deflect a shot. All these little things make a big difference in the postseason. Winning in the regular season is all good and fine, but they won't be playing Carolina, Winnipeg, Isles or Leafs in the playoffs and the good teams they'll be playing will be playing much differently than they are now. I'm not saying they won't change themselves, but winning a bunch of games in the regular season doesn't prove anything. Our fan base has learned that lesson a bunch of times. And we promptly forget it at the beginning of every season.....myself included. 1 55fan reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toby91_ca 620 Report post Posted March 19, 2012 Are we even sure that Crosby can stay healthy for more than 10 games? How do we know that he'll hold up to the physical grind of the playoffs? I'm sceptical. Nope, we aren't sure...which is why I suggested that if Crosby and Letang are able to play the rest of the regular season and enter the playoffs healthy, then Pittsburgh probably is the favourite. I think the rest of the regular season should give some indication of whether Crosby will be able to stay healthy, I think there will be enough physical play down the stetch to test him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Wings Addict 787 Report post Posted March 23, 2012 Not sure about the cup but they now have a playoff spot locked up. Also happened during Radulov's debut. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MabusIncarnate 5,343 Report post Posted March 23, 2012 Some team early in the playoffs will become frustrated playing against the Pens, frustration leads to more physical play against the opposing team's star players. I doubt Crosby's durability to take on the physical game if it comes to that. Besides, it's the NHL. Who the hell knows what two teams will wind up in the finals. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SouthernWingsFan 854 Report post Posted March 23, 2012 It is situations culminated together like this that can win or lose a serious for you, regardless of talent. Look at the 1996 Wings. The 2009 Sharks. The 2009 Wings for f***s sake. Anything goes in the playoffs and anyone has a chance to beat anyone. I don't care how good the Penguins are right now. They will never be the lock to win the cup until they win the deciding game in the Cup Finals. Bingo. Pitt will certainly have a well-rounded roster assuming full health. The Blues, for example will likely have a hard working gritty team per usual as most of this season. They definitely should be respected. Nor should any team be taken lightly just because they might not be as talented on paper. While the Wings struggles are frustrating obviously as of late, with a healthier roster you never know what's going to happen in the postseason. No team - Pitt, St. Louis, Detroit, etc. is a slam dunk to win the Cup. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dave 324 Report post Posted March 23, 2012 It is situations culminated together like this that can win or lose a serious for you, regardless of talent. Look at the 1996 Wings. The 2009 Sharks. The 2009 Wings for f***s sake. Anything goes in the playoffs and anyone has a chance to beat anyone. I don't care how good the Penguins are right now. They will never be the lock to win the cup until they win the deciding game in the Cup Finals. Well let's take a look at this. The '96 Wings team lost to another power house, the Avs. It's not like the Avs snuck into the playoffs, they were #2 in the west by a large margin. The '09 Sharks lost to Anaheim, a team that was 2 years removed from a cup. The same team that came close to beating the Wings. The '09 Wings lost to the Pens, in game 7 of the finals. The Pens were #2 in the East, and had made the finals the year prior. Essentially what I'm trying to say is those examples don't really showcase the "anything can happen" mentality. The teams that won had every right to win. You rarely see low seeds winning the Cup. They are a low seed for a reason. The '09 Anaheim team is probably the best 8 seed in the past decade. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toby91_ca 620 Report post Posted March 23, 2012 Well let's take a look at this. The '96 Wings team lost to another power house, the Avs. It's not like the Avs snuck into the playoffs, they were #2 in the west by a large margin. The '09 Sharks lost to Anaheim, a team that was 2 years removed from a cup. The same team that came close to beating the Wings. The '09 Wings lost to the Pens, in game 7 of the finals. The Pens were #2 in the East, and had made the finals the year prior. Essentially what I'm trying to say is those examples don't really showcase the "anything can happen" mentality. The teams that won had every right to win. You rarely see low seeds winning the Cup. They are a low seed for a reason. The '09 Anaheim team is probably the best 8 seed in the past decade. Couple comments: '96 - yes, teh Avs were #2 in the West, but the West was pretty s***ty, #3 had 94pts. They were 10pts up on #3, but Detroit was 27pts ahead of them. '09 - Anaheim was not only the 8th seed in the West, they were actually the worst team (points wise) going into the playoffs (East and West combined) that year. It is true...anything can happen in a 7 game series, nothing is guaranteed. There are several examples of that, some of which apply to Detroit (2006 is another good example). How about the '86 Oilers. They scored 424 goals in the regular season, they finished 30pts ahead of the team that beat them in the playoffs. 1 LasVegasRocks reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted March 23, 2012 Somebody seriously negged my original post? Anyway, the reason I love hockey is that anything goes in the playoffs. It just seems too storybook, and we all know Crosby gets special treatment (Just like all league favorites do in every sport). Shoot, he'll probably get injured in the first round and then come back the final game and score the game winner, that's just how his career goes. It's not that I doubt the Wings, the Crosby-fest the past few years have just made me cynical when it comes to the Pens, I guess. I do feel like once the playoffs start the Wings have a good chance at wiping the slate clean and making a deep run. If the team is healthy. 1 Dabura reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toby91_ca 620 Report post Posted March 23, 2012 Maybe more close to home when it comes to Pens (close to their home).....did they think their 1993 team had it locked up? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Free_Candy 38 Report post Posted March 24, 2012 Nothing is guaranteed, key injuries, Fleury getting tired or sloppy D could cause problems. And if the Pens have to face the Flyers in the first round they will make life miserable. 1 LasVegasRocks reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dabura 12,198 Report post Posted March 24, 2012 Pretty sure the OP wasn't being literal with his question, i.e. "No team can 'lock up' the Cup" = truism. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Electrophile 3,554 Report post Posted March 24, 2012 I don't really care if they do or if they don't. I don't concern myself with the goings on of teams that aren't the Detroit Red Wings. 3 markaswell, edicius and Zeowingsfan reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z Winged Dangler 2,082 Report post Posted March 28, 2012 If the playoffs start as the standings are currently, if the top 4 teams in the east move on to the 2nd round, the Penguins potential opponents in the east are the Flyers, Rangers, and if they make it past those 2, the ECF would be Pens/Bruins. If they win the cup, they'll certainly have to earn their way against the 3 toughest (physically and skilled) teams the east has to offer. here's hoping that the Flyers beat the piss out of them and win or they soften them up for the Rangers/Bruins. 1 LasVegasRocks reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
8 Legged RedWing 367 Report post Posted March 28, 2012 I don't really care if they do or if they don't. I don't concern myself with the goings on of teams that aren't the Detroit Red Wings. Lol why did you get negged for a simple, honest response? To say the Pens have the cup locked up is kinda ridiculous. They may be one of the favorites but nobody is a lock and that's why they play the games. I know Crosby doesn't look rusty now which is insane considering how many games he has missed but the playoffs are a different beast and I will be interested to see if he will still be able to match the high tempo of play as everyone else for 4 full rounds. 1 Electrophile reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingslogo19 281 Report post Posted March 28, 2012 Nope they don't. Anything can happen come playoff time Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
edicius 3,269 Report post Posted March 28, 2012 Plus Letang's injured again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HockeytownRules19 902 Report post Posted March 30, 2012 I guess the Pens suck too just like the wings... have lost 3 of 4... including an 8-4 loss at Ottawa and now after tonight's loss, lost both games of a home and home with the Islanders... I bet they are freaking out too Come on guys, we know the wings are a really good team... Let's get after the Preds tomorrow! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Wings Addict 787 Report post Posted March 30, 2012 I think they're still the favorite though right? Not that it means anything. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Electrophile 3,554 Report post Posted March 30, 2012 Lol why did you get negged for a simple, honest response? You got me swingin'. Not to put too fine a point on it, but no one has the Cup locked up until there's 30 seconds left in the 3rd period of the clinching game and the winning team has a >1 goal lead. Anything can happen. Cliche yes, but it's a cliche for a reason. Crappy teams can come out of nowhere and win everything, while world-beaters can get their asses handed to them. We've seen it happen to us, we've seen it happen to other teams. So tell me again why we're worried what Pittsburgh is doing? We wouldn't theoretically see them until the Cup finals anyway, should we progress that far. It's not like we're talking about a potential WC opponent. 1 Hockeymom1960 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Wings Addict 787 Report post Posted April 9, 2012 Does a team that plans on winning the Stanley Cup have to be playing well going into the playoffs? If the six previous seasons since the 2004-05 NHL lockout is an indication the answer is yes.Only the 2005-06 champion Carolina Hurricanes had piled up fewer than 10 wins in their final 20 games of the season. The 2006-07 Anaheim Ducks (13-3-4), 2007-08 Detroit Red Wings (12-6-2), 2008-09 Pittsburgh Penguins (15-3-2), 2009-10 Chicago Blackhawks (11-6-3) and Boston Bruins (10-6-4) all put together 24-or-more point finishes in their final 20 games. Interestingly, the two hottest teams entering the playoffs will clash in the first round this spring. Here are the final 20-game segments for the 16 teams that made the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs: Pittsburgh 15-4-1--31 points Philadelphia 13-5-2--28 points New Jersey 13-5-2--28 points Chicago 12-4-4--28 points Los Angeles 12-5-3--27 points St. Louis 11-5-4--26 points Nashville 12-7-1--25 points Vancouver 11-6-3--25 points Washington 11-6-3--25 points Phoenix 10-6-4--24 points Boston 11-8-1--23 points San Jose 10-7-3--23 points Florida 8-6-6--22 points NY Rangers 10-9-1--21 points Ottawa 9-9-2--20 points Detroit 7-10-3--17 points -- Yikes, . http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/opinion/2012/04/flyers-pens-enter-the-playoffs-on-a-roll.html Hmm... Interesting theory. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hockeymom1960 5,107 Report post Posted April 9, 2012 No, for crying out loud, I do not think the Pens have the Cup locked up. What wins the cup is hard work and a lot of luck. Anyone has a shot or they all would give up and give it to the team the idiot media predicts will get it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites