May 28, 2008

Well, they could start by, oh, I don't know, maybe finding a way to score a goal at some point.

posted by chicobangs at 11:43 AM on May 28, 2008

But how? When I saw the box score for game one, I was dumbfounded to see that Hossa, Crosby and Malkin played only about 18 minutes each, and Sykora logged only about 13 minutes of ice time. Therrien upped their ice time (except Sykora) for game two, but the first three named players should be logging defenseman type of time for each game. It's the final series of the season, Michel, play your goal scorers.

posted by NoMich at 12:04 PM on May 28, 2008

Malkin looks pretty gassed to me. Not sure if extra ice time is a good idea for him.

posted by holden at 12:30 PM on May 28, 2008

They will have all the boost they need tonight when the home crowd blows the arena up. They always wake up at home. Look for the series back in Detroit tied at 2!!!

posted by Debo270 at 01:04 PM on May 28, 2008

The Penquins are being outclasses and played by a superior team. Series will go 5 games at the most.

posted by giveuptheghost at 02:47 PM on May 28, 2008

It's the final series of the season, Michel, play your goal scorers. I was wondering why he hadn't been getting any juice for the Jack Adams. Having watched the first two games, I have my answer.

posted by wfrazerjr at 04:06 PM on May 28, 2008

"You're not coming to the Stanley Cup final and start changing your system," Therrien said. Why would you want to adjust your gameplan when it's been so effective thus far in the series? All those fast, skilled stars have been completely neutralized. It's time to try whatever it takes to get a few past Osgood, and if that means dumping the puck in and being physical, ya gotta try it coach. Debo, I love your optimism (don't have a preference in this series, just don't want the season over just yet.)

posted by tahoemoj at 04:17 PM on May 28, 2008

Malkin looks pretty gassed to me. Not sure if extra ice time is a good idea for him. I agree. I saw a quote of his where he admitted that this season has been a long one and that he is very tired. I'm not sure where it was though so I can't link to it.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 05:06 PM on May 28, 2008

I'm starting to have flashbacks of 2003. Well, except that Babcock and Rafalski are on the same team.

posted by MrFrisby at 08:26 PM on May 28, 2008

All you Detroit fans, don’t plan that parade just yet. The fire is back. Its just like when Rocky cuts Drago, they aren't invincible. The home crowd woke then up. It’s a series again. Tahoemoj don’t worry still plenty of hockey left to play.

posted by Debo270 at 06:45 AM on May 29, 2008

Debo: You're doing a lot of cheering, which is fine, but what are the reasons you think the Pens will win this? Great game last night, especially during the six minutes of uninterrupted play in the third period that was at a furious clip. Hockey's really exciting when there's open ice and icing and penalties don't harsh the momentum. Remind me again why we don't use European-sized rinks? I think the Pens have a chance, but something about the Wings comeback in the third makes me question whether Pittsburgh can hold them off. Detroit just looks more composed and threatening when they've got the puck in deep, with precision passing and lots of open looks at the goal, while Pittsburgh is scrambling for opportunities. As someone who didn't pay much attention to the NHL in recent seasons, I'm glad I got to see a little of Sid the Kid's ability last night. That first goal was great. I still don't know how Stuart caught him in the second when he blew right by him and looked like he was on a breakaway. It's like he stopped time.

posted by rcade at 08:07 AM on May 29, 2008

Franzen's goal was really something, man. Nice moves and hard work. Was that a backhander that scored? Crosby was a man on a mission for this game. He looked rather beat up, but I think he's learning that that is what it's going to take to win the Cup. The Pens, as a team, really got under Holmstrom's skin, too. Which is exactly what they need to do. You can't let Holmstrom set up camp in front of your goalie. Make him pay if he wants to hang out.

posted by NoMich at 08:21 AM on May 29, 2008

I think the Pens got a wake up call in the first two games. BUt home ice is ours. Those of you that watched could hear the crowd over the announcers. This team thrives on that. I feel that once we win tomorrow, the momentum will be ours. We realized last night we can play with this team. This team has gone on rolls all season and I just feel this is the start of another. I see us lifting the cup at home after game 6. Call me crazy if you must. Hearing interviews with players today, they sound like that team that rolled through the playoffs. Despite being down, they have all the confidence in the world. Sid seems ready to throw the team on his back and take them the distance. He was just waiting for the games to be on national TV!!!

posted by Debo270 at 08:32 AM on May 29, 2008

I think the Pens have a chance, but something about the Wings comeback in the third makes me question whether Pittsburgh can hold them off. Detroit just looks more composed and threatening when they've got the puck in deep, with precision passing and lots of open looks at the goal, while Pittsburgh is scrambling for opportunities. I agree. The main difference between the Penguins' win and the Wings' wins are that while the Wings seemed to dominate the Penguins, the Penguins did not dominate the Red Wings last night. I think the Wings will come out strong in game four and set themselves up for a chance to win the Cup in Detroit.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 08:59 AM on May 29, 2008

I too don't think the Penguins are going to win this series, but it's awesome to see them grow game by game. Malkin is out of gas at this point; he's never played so much top-flight hockey in one year in his life, and if he sleeps off the entire month of July, it wouldn't surprise me. (Care for some off-season stamina training, anyone?) But Crosby, well, you gotta give it up for him. He needed to step up and make things happen, and he did. The Penguins may win the next game, but Detroit has a couple more answers than Pittsburgh has. This year.

posted by chicobangs at 09:23 AM on May 29, 2008

The main difference between the Penguins' win and the Wings' wins are that while the Wings seemed to dominate the Penguins, the Penguins did not dominate the Red Wings As a pittsburgh fan, i flash back to the 1960 worlds series 1. Yankees – 4, Pirates – 6 2. Yankees – 16, Pirates – 3 3. Pirates – 0, Yankees – 10 4. Pirates – 3, Yankees – 2 5. Pirates – 5, Yankees – 2 6. Yankees – 12, Pirates – 0 7. Yankees – 9, Pirates – 10 The Yanks outscored them 55 - 27 and lost the series. I can see the Pens winning one goal games, and the redwings winning their games big(except they probably aren't going to win anymore) and gary Roberts will be our Mazeroski with the walk off homerun.

posted by Debo270 at 09:45 AM on May 29, 2008

Debo, don't let anyone rain on your parade. Seriously, hang in there, and if the Pens win, you have a nice round of I-told-you-so's for all the doubters (no haters here, but I'll accept skeptic or doubter) in this thread. That said, the fact that you had to go back half a century and into another sport to find such an anomaly brings to mind one of my favorite aphorisms: The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; but that's the way to bet.

posted by chicobangs at 10:15 AM on May 29, 2008

I know its a stretch, but you have to keep the faith. If you asked me if i would bet a large sum of money on my positive feelings, well i may not be as sure...... Right now though, being in Pittsburgh, The city is going nuts and I am a believer.

posted by Debo270 at 10:21 AM on May 29, 2008

gary Roberts will be our Mazeroski with the walk off homerun. I'm glad you've chosen such a classy player to be the hero.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 01:09 PM on May 29, 2008

gary Roberts will be our Mazeroski with the walk off homerun. I'm glad you've chosen such a classy player to be the hero. I don't mind so much when he always ends up taking the stupid roughing/hooking penalties.

posted by jmd82 at 03:55 PM on May 29, 2008

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