The OFFICIAL 2008-09 NHL Playoffs Thread

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Dr. Sak

I really like Edzo, and think he's one of the best color guys out there. As you know he use to be the coach of the Pens (tic), and Suburban can correct me if I am wrong on the next part, but his exit was not exactly amicable. He was their coach right before and after the lockout and had little or no talent (besides Crosby and MAF) to work with.

The team signed Recchi who turned into a locker room cancer, demanding certain things from the coaches and he eventually was one of the main reasons Edzo was canned. Even when asked about Recchi today Edzo will refuse to comment saying that "he has nothing nice to say about man." I'm not sure if he holds the Pens responsible at all for it.

Correct on both counts-- Crosby's rookie year he finished the year with Andy Hilbert and Colby Armstrong as his wingers. He had Malone (his rookie year as well) and a good player in Aleksey Morozov..and that's it. They gutted the team in 2002 and were playing with guys like Dan Focht and Landon Wilson, or after the lockout, 40 games of Ziggy Palffy before he got out of Dodge.

Recchi was pretty vocal of his unhappiness. To a lesser extent, Leclair did the same. Rumor was some of the vets looked down upon the way some of the youngsters (Crosby leading that pack) wanted to work hard, extra practices, etc, that the vets felt they could do without. Pretty strong rumors of Crosby and Recchi butting heads.

Originally Posted by DataKing

You only have to suit up for one game in the playoffs to get your name on the cup, right? Or does it have to be one game in the finals? (Pretty sure its the former, but they say that memory is the first thing to go.)

I believe it is 1 game in the finals, or 40+ games during the regular season. So Datsyuk would be safe...but so is Eric Godard

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Schmidty

Well, that was fun. Pittsburgh is less ready to win the SC than Chicago was. They have no leadership.

I think the Pens are very good, but I think a team like the Blackhawks are closer than Pittsburgh because they have a leader like Toews.

Anyway, I almost hope the Pens win one game at home, so this series can be more exciting and help the NHL.

Mark Messier disagrees with you, but what's he know?

2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Blog - Sports - Penguins keep positive attitude into Game 3

Pittsburgh centre Sidney Crosby joins Zdeno Chara of Boston and Calgary’s Jarome Iginla as finalists for the Mark Messier NHL Leadership award.
Messier was solely responsible for choosing those three, although he accepted input from league officials, team personnel and fans.
He said Crosby, like the other two, met a number of criteria pertaining to success on and off the ice to earn his place as a finalist, and cited Crosby’s work while “having the weight of the NHL on his shoulders and conducting himself [well] as a young player, much like Wayne Gretzky did when he came into the league.”
Messier also said that parallels that have been between the 1984 Edmonton Oilers and 2009 Penguins are not unreasonable, but that the Penguins face a formidable challenge in trying to get back into the series.
“Execution gets to be the primary factor in the final,” he said. “They had some fundamental breakdowns in the second game that, at this time of year, are very hard to recover from, especially against a team like Detroit, who just does not give up anything defensively.
“If they’re going to beat Detroit, they’re going to have to execute better than they did in the first two games because Detroit does not give up anything defensively. And when [the Penguins] are getting chances, Osgood is playing amazing again.”

[Pumpy Tudors]

SERIOUSLY, DOC AND EDZO, DON'T YOU AGREE THAT THE PENGUINS ARE NOT IN TROUBLE YET????????? DOC? EDZO? WHY AREN'T YOU GUYS TALKING TO ME?

[Dr. Sak]

So SR you sold your tickets for tonight?

[Dr. Sak]

HAHA they just made fun of Crosby still living with Lemieux.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Max Talbot is one of my favorite players. Good to see him start this game well.

[henry296]

Every bounce that creates a scoring chance the Wings bury it.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Dr. Sak

So SR you sold your tickets for tonight?

Yeah, i got $250 a piece. Plus, I've been bad luck this playoff run so far, 0-2, and they don't need my help.

I'm holding out for game 6, when they'll be up 3-2

Insanely bad officiating all around the first 12 mins or so.

How do you miss 6 guys on the ice for that long?

The Wings PP when Filppula just randomly runs into Craig Adams when there is no one else within 20 feet of them, and the puck is 30 feet away. If the reasoning has been the D skating backwards has as much right to the ice as the puck pursuer on a dump in, WHAT THE FUCK was that!?

Call on Orpik was pretty poor, Gonchar is pinning I think Zetterberg to the ice right next to them, and that's nothing...Orpik bumps Cleary who happens to be off balance, it's a call.
But then they make it up by calling Cleary for holding later for putting his hand on Eaton on a dump in. While I agree that should be called, it hasn't been for 2 games, or the prior 15 mins of the 1st period, but that one time is a penalty.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by henry296

Every bounce that creates a scoring chance the Wings bury it.

Crosby was God awful on Zetterbergs goal. He watch the puck come around the boards, picked up by Leino, who takes it to the net...Crosby still standing in the same spot behind the net.

[Tekneek]

Officiating has been poor all series.

[Matthean]

With the Wings out shooting the Pens around 2-1, if the Pens pull this off, it's a huge steal.

[henry296]

Fleury best period of the series by far.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Tekneek

Officiating has been poor all series.

But consistently poor, which is a good thing. Or at least better than inconsistently poor.

Consistently good > consistently poor > inconsistently good > inconsistently poor

I think that's right

[henry296]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

But consistently poor, which is a good thing. Or at least better than inconsistently poor.

Consistently good > consistently poor > inconsistently good > inconsistently poor

I think that's right

I think so, but what is inconsistently good? All penalties called are good, but miss other ones?

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by henry296

I think so, but what is inconsistently good? All penalties called are good, but miss other ones?

I guess inconsistently good would be most calls made correctly, but then 3rd period/OT whistles are put away.

That's better than inconsistently applied calls through all 3 (or more) periods. I think.

[Matthean]

Looks like the Wings decided to take this period off. Can't be too encouraging for the Pens knowing their goalie is going to have to save them though.

[Suburban Rhythm]

So, after 2 games and 2 1/2 periods, they make the interference call. Again, to me, that is a penalty, that's what they wanted to eliminate after the lockout. But, now guys have been playing 170 minutes one way, and now it's different.

Also, is VS really showing 30 mins of whatever this shit is, before going to the postgame show?

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by DataKing

Heh...I actually thought it, too, but then I'm a Ducks fan, so people just dismiss my opinions on them.

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by DataKing

You only have to suit up for one game in the playoffs to get your name on the cup, right? Or does it have to be one game in the finals? (Pretty sure its the former, but they say that memory is the first thing to go.)

One game in the finals or a certain number in the regular season (40?)

But they can make exceptions if the team asks for one.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Per TSN, no Datsyuk tonight

[Dr. Sak]

Wow Kuntiz better watch, he might get whiplash from whipping his head back like that...the pens training staff might want to check his reaction time...he might have a concussion.

[henry296]

A bad night for heavy rain in Charlotte... rain fade on the dish so no Versus right now. I get the NBA game however... just great.

[Matthean]

Monster 2nd period for the Pens should all, but seal this up. Back-to-back penalties and the Pens still score and get 3 total in the 2nd. So far the team with the most shots may end up 0-4. It's like the goalies feed off the home crowd.

[Suburban Rhythm]

So wasn't Draper dressing to give the Wings another option to match up as a defensive center vs Crosby/Malkin? 5 mins thru 2 periods.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Non-playoffs, but haven't seen mention of the Avs move yet.

NHL 4th liner - turned minor league coach - turned NHL coach: Joe Sacco

This has worked out pretty well for Pittsburgh so far.

[samifan24]

Here's a good WSJ article about Darren Helm and other "postseason hell raisers."

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

Non-playoffs, but haven't seen mention of the Avs move yet.

NHL 4th liner - turned minor league coach - turned NHL coach: Joe Sacco

This has worked out pretty well for Pittsburgh so far.

bleh. joke move by a joke franchise

[bbor]

Originally Posted by samifan24

Here's a good WSJ article about Darren Helm and other "postseason hell raisers."

Good article...although it bothered me to no end that they called him Mr.Helm through the whole article.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

Non-playoffs, but haven't seen mention of the Avs move yet.

NHL 4th liner - turned minor league coach - turned NHL coach: Joe Sacco

This has worked out pretty well for Pittsburgh so far.

Wow, Joe Sacco! There's a name from the past. How did I miss that?

Don't know enough about his coaching acumen to say if it's a good move for the Avs, but for Sacco, I'll give the former longtime Duck a thumbs up and a good luck.

[Maple Leafs]

There is a little known league bylaw that every NHL coach must be a former Maple Leafs fourth liner.

[Suburban Rhythm]

What was there, like 4 whistles in the 1st period?

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

What was there, like 4 whistles in the 1st period?

Yeah that was some fun hockey to watch.

[Schmidty]

What a bunch of bullshit.

Star Cam?? Yet they only are following Crosby and Malkin. Damn, I haven't been a big believer in the "Pens Must Win for the NHL" conspiracy theory, but I'll be damned if shit like that doesn't fuel the fire. Shit, I guess that even though Zetterberg and Datsyuk are as good or better overall than Crosby and Malkin, they aren't "stars". That rubs me the wrong way.

[Schmidty]

Woohoo!! 3-0!!

[DeToxRox]

Detroit's PP needed a spark. Thanks Geno/Kunitz.

[DataKing]

Outstanding game all-around so far by the Wings, and it looks like some of the Pens are starting to lose their cool. I just hope the refs don't let things get out of hand late. Let's hope the NHL stays true to its "no message sending" stance.

Dats may not be skating 100%, but damn it's still good to have that guy back...his stick work is amazing sometimes.

[Dr. Sak]

Pens are gooning it up!

[DeToxRox]

If Detroit couldn't have been here, I would've loved to see Anaheim vs Pittsburgh. I would love to see Crosby, Malkin and Kunitz try and act like tough guys vs them.

Oh wait, that wouldn't happen.

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by DataKing

Let's hope the NHL stays true to its "no message sending" stance.

If you're a superstar (in their eyes) this rule does not apply to you.

[Dr. Sak]

Detroit fans...you are doing us Philly fans proud with the "Crosby Sucks" chant!

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Schmidty

What a bunch of bullshit.

Star Cam?? Yet they only are following Crosby and Malkin. Damn, I haven't been a big believer in the "Pens Must Win for the NHL" conspiracy theory, but I'll be damned if shit like that doesn't fuel the fire. Shit, I guess that even though Zetterberg and Datsyuk are as good or better overall than Crosby and Malkin, they aren't "stars". That rubs me the wrong way.

Yeah, Bettman getting all those fake PPs to Pittsburgh is really hard to swallow.

Not saying these aren't valid penalty calls on Pittsburgh, but the conspiracy bullshit? Really? Why are the Pens down 5-0 then? The refs revolting against that tyrant Bettman?

[Suburban Rhythm]

Dola

I work with a "Fleury stinks...they'll never win anything with him!" guy. I can hardly wait for Monday morning.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Going out on a limb....Penguins 7-6 in OT.

[DataKing]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

Going out on a limb....Penguins 7-6 in OT.

That's not a limb...it's a really long twig.

[Schmidty]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

Yeah, Bettman getting all those fake PPs to Pittsburgh is really hard to swallow.

Not saying these aren't valid penalty calls on Pittsburgh, but the conspiracy bullshit? Really? Why are the Pens down 5-0 then? The refs revolting against that tyrant Bettman?

You seem angry.

[Schmidty]

Dola.

And the more I see Crosby, the more I think he should have an 'A' on his jersey, not a 'C'.

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

Going out on a limb....Penguins 7-6 in OT.

Maybe if it were the Flyers up 5-0 I'd agree with this

[Greyroofoo]

so this is a playoff game
with the best teams in the NHL


right?

[Dr. Sak]

Have you watched any of the other 4 games?

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Schmidty

Dola.

And the more I see Crosby, the more I think he should have an 'A' on his jersey, not a 'C'.

Posted this earlier in the thread.

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

Mark Messier disagrees with you, but what's he know?

2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Blog - Sports - Penguins keep positive attitude into Game 3