CROZ87

Hey guys. Just wanted to thank you for letting me and some other Pens fans here during this series and the days following. It was a great series, and now that there was a split, I'm hoping for a rubber match. I know you guys are probably getting annoyed with all the Pens people here now, I know I would if there was Wings fans all over the Pens board (except the few classy ones that come by), so I'm going to say my goodbyes and thank you guys for letting me post here for the past few weeks. Good luck during the offseason and next season. If we are scheduled, I'll probably swing on by here. Thanks again!

Agreed 100%. The more players out there, the better.

Unfortanately, outside of people that follow hockey, if you would go down the road and ask who Patrick Kane was, no one would know. The only two names the casual fan knows is Crosby and Ovechkin, (a possiblity of Malkin). I personally would love to see those three marketed, along with Toews, Kane, Richards, Semin, Green, and vets like Zetterberg, Lindstrom, Hossa, Gaborik, Igllina (sp??) but the casual crowd doesn't even know one of their names. So the NHL needs to draw them with a recognizable name. Just like the NBA. I don't follow it. Pgh doesn't have a team. But I'll watch when Lebron is on. I'm sure people are sick of him and Kobe. But watching Lebron, it drew me in and now I like Howard of the Magic. I'll watch him now too.

Excuses are for losers.

Agreed, and the same holds true the other way. Anyone who hates him will view his actions differently to help build their hate. That is why I said I'm not going to try to change anyones opinions here, because they are locked. But to me, Crosby is a great person, a great player, and a great leader.

Definitely congrats, and it was an awesome year for both teams. Hopefully there is a rubber match next year. Thanks for letting some of us Pens fans on this board. You guys are definitely great. Great team, great board, great fans.

To say he doesn't play defense and isn't good at it is ignorance on your part. Is he as good as Zetterberg, or heck, even Staal? No. But he plays great defense along with his offensive skills.

I know I'm not going to change anyone's opinoin on Sid, whether good or bad, but I get the good fortune to watch him every single game. And I get the good fortune of seeing his charity work around the city of Pgh, the endless hours of interviews, and promotions, etc, etc. He is a great player and a great leader IMO. He is also a great member of the Pgh community. People who don't get to see him all the time seem to focus just on his negatives. And it paints a very bad picture. Does he dive and look at the refs? yes. But he has cut it to a level that I think isn't worth talking about anymore. His rookie year tarnished him, but I think he has grown up a ton, and he still has a ton to do. But for his age, and the pressure put on him to not only lead the Pens, but to be a face of the NHL, I think very few people his age could do what he has done. I also saw a picture of the whole Babcock thing. He talked to him before, and Babcock threw in the leadership thing as they were parting, but that is the only thing the camera caught. It wasn't as bad as it looked. As for missing half the Red Wings, you get caught up in the moment. He didn't do it intentionally. Like I said, I'm not going to change anyone's opinions, but as a Pens fan, and someone who gets to watch him all the time, and see what he does around the community, he is a great young man, and a great role model.

Since the Pens joined the league in 1967, they have 3 Cups, and the Wings have 4. The Pens have made 11 consecutive playoff appearances in the 90s into the early 2000s. They are now on 3 again. In the last 19 seasons: - 15 playoff appearances - 6 Division titles - 4 Conferene titles - 3 Stanely Cup championships - 1 President's Trophy - 11 Art Ross trophies - 4 Hart winners That's not too bad. I do agree, I think this Detroit Red Wings team is still better than the current Pens team, but the best team doesn't always win. Congrats on an awesome series. Hopefully the rubber match occurs next year. You guys have a great organization, which makes it that much more satisfying to win the Cup. We beat the best.

Just wanted to say that regardless of the outcome, this has been a series of the ages. Great, great series with two great teams. I will outright admit I'm jealous of the Wings, and how great they have been over the last 15 years. And I only hope the Pens could have the same success you guys have had, and I hope that begins on Friday with our first Cup win in 17 years. I still think you guys have the advantage, obviously being at home. You guys seem unstoppable up there. Hopefully we get a lucky bounce or two and win it. Regardless, good luck (not too much luck) and hopefully its a great back and forth game.

I'd call it a draw. The Pens and wings both had their moments of domination during all four games. I think there have been missed calls by the s***ty refs in all four games. And I think there have been mental lapses by both teams in all four games. I think the 2-2 series accurately display how the series has gone. I think both teams could have said they could have won the games they lost. It's been an even break. Home ice is obviously giving the only edge.

Dude, seeing Franzen take Kane's mouth piece was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Great .gif.

Thanks. I promise I won't post too much and annoy you guys. It's your board. Just wanted to join in for this next 4 to 7 days. I may check in again every once in a while since I'm a huge hockey fan after that. But this seems like a great, well run board.

Hi. Just wanted to jump on as a Pittsburgh fan. I don't really ever post on other teams sites, in fact, I never have. I came here last year to read some threads to get another perspective, and I did it this year. I also did it on other boards. Any way, I just wanted to say that you guys are by far the best fans of any other teams I have ever read. There are a few that are over the top, but that happens in every city for every team in every sport. But 99% are awesome. Anyways, since it's down to a 3 game series now, I just want to say that this will be fun. And I'm rooting for the Pens to win, but regardless, this will go down as a legendary series. Good luck. Let's have fun.