The red wings win the series vs hawks right?

[betplom]

Well, one game later, and it is 5-1 Detroit.

This series is over.

Rematch of last year.

Result will be the same, Detroit will beat Pittsburgh again.

[yisman]

I wouldn't be so sure, plommer.

[betplom]

I wouldn't be so sure, plommer.

I'm fairly certain the Pens cannot hang with the Wings, Detroit are simply awesome, not average, not above average, awesome.

The Pens are a very good team and they will be frustrated two years in a row.

Apparently only a handful of guys here realize how dominant the Red Wings are, they have been slacking off and still winning, I don't believe they have given their best effort yet.

[element1286]

I'm fairly certain the Pens cannot hang with the Wings, Detroit are simply awesome, not average, not above average, awesome.

The Pens are a very good team and they will be frustrated two years in a row.

Apparently only a handful of guys here realize how dominant the Red Wings are, they have been slacking off and still winning, I don't believe they have given their best effort yet.

Do you really think that is a good thing?

Are they slacking off, or are they just not as good as everyone believes them to be?

[element1286]

Slacking has been a common theme for the Wings this year. When was the last time you saw a Wings team that didn't finish in the top 5 of GAA and pk for the regular season? Not only were they not a dominant defensive team they were below average, tied for 19th in GAA, and 25th in pk.

I find it hard to believe they just decided to turn it on for the playoffs.

[betplom]

Slacking has been a common theme for the Wings this year. When was the last time you saw a Wings team that didn't finish in the top 5 of GAA and pk for the regular season? Not only were they not a dominant defensive team they were below average, tied for 19th in GAA, and 25th in pk.

I find it hard to believe they just decided to turn it on for the playoffs.

I think they have been bored, its really been too easy for them, the only teams that I think could have stopped them were Anaheim and Boston, only because they play a different style than Detroit.

There is no other team in the league that can keep up with Detroit playing the Red Wings type of game , they are strong with any line on the ice, they play smart hockey and don't take bad penalties, they seem to be composed even under pressure, they have superior puck movement and the players all seem to know where teammates are at all times, Detroit rarely "dumps and chases" they constantly make excellent passes an gain the offensive zone flawlessly. Detroits transition from defense to offense is most impressive and superior to any team.

Pitt has a couple of all star players but as a complete team they are still far behind the Wings. Wings got more offense with the addition of Hossa, he's starting to turn it on as well.

I still believe this years result will be the same as last year, Detroit in 6.

Why do you think the Pens can beat the Detroit juggernaut this time around?

I think I know why, you're a fan of the Pens.

Good luck to Pittsburgh, they're going to need it.

[element1286]

Why do you think the Pens can beat the Detroit juggernaut this time around?

I think I know why, you're a fan of the Pens.

Maybe I am being a homer.

But to answer your question I think the Pens are a better team than last year. The team is deeper and more suited for playoff hockey, they possess the puck more, and have been outshooting their opposition since Bylsma has taken over. Crosby and Malkin have been incredible. And Fleury has taken a page out of the Osgood book, and just won games despite the numbers. The Penguins have experience, and know what it is like to play on the biggest stage. They won't have a deer in headlights look like they did in games 1 and 2 last year.

Plus, I don't think Detroit is the same team. They used to be known for defense, now they just try to outscore the opposition. That worked against an overmatched Columbus team, but were taken the distance by a good but unspectacular Ducks team. What they have done to the Blackhawks has been impressive, but I wasn't that high on the Blackhawks coming in to the playoffs at all.

I had Pittsburgh as the third best team in the NHL heading into the playoffs, I had Detroit fifth. I stand by that assessment.

[reno cool]

Anything can happen. They almost lost to Anaheim. But Detroit has to be a big fav. -200 would be good value on Detroit in my opinion.
They're style is so tough to beat. You can hardly get the puck and when you do there's always two guys back. The Wings are everywhere, they're well balanced, their passes are accurate.

[reno cool]

And I fully credit the coaching staff. The style of play is no accident. It is well designed for today's nhl.

[The General]

Looks like Detroit is ready to gain another championship to me.

[Axis]

Slacking has been a common theme for the Wings this year. When was the last time you saw a Wings team that didn't finish in the top 5 of GAA and pk for the regular season? Not only were they not a dominant defensive team they were below average, tied for 19th in GAA, and 25th in pk.

I find it hard to believe they just decided to turn it on for the playoffs.

Only chance Pens will have is if they continue to score...Detroit has been fairly effective in shutting down the stars for opposing teams..

And Datsyuk/Hank/Hossa aren't really scoring...and they still manage to win (though Hossa had 2 today)

Ozzy has the best stats of any goalie in the playoffs...if you didn't notice.

[yisman]

I'm fairly certain the Pens cannot hang with the Wings, Detroit are simply awesome, not average, not above average, awesome.

The Pens are a very good team and they will be frustrated two years in a row.

Apparently only a handful of guys here realize how dominant the Red Wings are, they have been slacking off and still winning, I don't believe they have given their best effort yet.

Detroit has the edge, but not in goal.

This Penguins team has been amazing since the coaching change and I would be stunned if they weren't competitive in the series. They will bring it this year and make it closer than it was last year, and possibly win.

Only a handful of guys? The general thought is that no one can hang with the Red Wings, which is why Detroit will be installed as a pretty solid favorite. I'll be taking the Penguins, assuming the matchup happens, because there will be value.

[yisman]

Ozzy has the best stats of any goalie in the playoffs...if you didn't notice.

That just isn't true. He doesn't have more wins than Fleury, he has a worse GAA than Tim Thomas, and fourth in save % among goalies with at least three games played.

He's played well, but he doesn't have the best stats. That simply isn't true.

Hiller was better than he was, easily. The Ducks didn't lose because they had inferior goaltending.

If you're judging by stats, he's at best third behind Thomas and Hiller, who are both now gone, but it wasn't because of their play.

This all ignores the fact that Osgood's deficiencies are covered up by the talent of the forwards and the defensemen of Detroit, the best in the NHL.

[reno cool]

What line would you like? take +180

I like the fact the Wings have been the dominant team in the last 15 years without a big name goalie. Gives some support to my view that the goalie factor is generally overrated. The majority of NHL goalies are quite capable. A good team will make any of them look good.

[yisman]

It probably will be something like +180 and I consider that good value.

[Axis]

That just isn't true. He has less wins than Fleury, a worse GAA than Tim Thomas, and fourth in save % among goalies with at least three games played.

He's played well, but he doesn't have the best stats. That simply isn't true.

Hiller was better than he was, easily. The Ducks didn't lose because they had inferior goaltending.

If you're judging by stats, he's at best third behind Thomas and Hiller, who are both now gone, but it wasn't because of their play.

This all ignores the fact that Osgood's defiencies are covered up by the talent of the forwards and the defensemen of Detroit, the best in the NHL.

Last I checked, Hiller and Thomas were both playing golf...or am I wrong??

And I was going with what NBC said on TV, about him having the best stats as a goalie still left in the playoffs...I didn't care to verify this myself.

He's playing well enough for them to win, and not much worse than Fluery, from what I've been watching

[Axis]

What line would you like? take +180

I like the fact the Wings have been the dominant team in the last 15 years without a big name goalie. Gives some support to my view that the goalie factor is generally overrated. The majority of NHL goalies are quite capable. A good team will make any of them look good.

Curtis Joesph? Dominic Hasek?

Yea...those names don't ring a bell in the hockey world.

I think what you meant to say was, they've been dominant while they're goalies have struggled??

[yisman]

He's playing well enough for them to win, and not much worse than Fluery, from what I've been watching

OK, so don't spread bogus stats. Look them up, and do not just repeat hearsay. If you're too lazy to verify, it's unnecessary to post condescending things like "Ozzy has the best stats of any goalie in the playoffs...if you didn't notice."

He does not have the best stats of any goalie. Of any goalie left? Probably, but that isn't saying much. Also, he does not have better stats overall, and his playoff stats are an aberration to me. By regular season stats, he's easily the worst of any playoff goalie.

He's playing well enough for them to win, yes, but he's not a top quality goalie.

His deficiencies are covered up by Detroit's superior talent.

Pittsburgh has better top shelf talent, but Detroit is deeper.

Crosby + Malkin + Fleury > Datysuk + Zetterberg + Osgood

However, Detroit also has Lidstrom, Hossa, Franzen, Filpulla, etc.

[Axis]

Yea they have better scorers, and like you said...Detroit has more...

I know I'm a homer, but Detroit has better defense than anyone Pitt has seen thus far in the playoffs, as long as Lidstrom can come back, and his injury isn't super serious...Wouldn't be surprised to see a 7 game series if both the Wings/Pens move forward.

And Osgood DOES have the best stats of remaining goalies...yea, there are only 4...one of which plays for the Pens...

Ozzy - 11w-4L 2.14 GAA 92.5 SP
Fluery - 11w-5L 2.71 GAA 90.2 SP

Just sayin'...guess I wasn't spreading bogus stats after all...practice what you preach, look up the stats yourself before calling someone else out I just should have said "left in playoffs"...even so he's 3rd out of all goalies who'd played in the playoffs

And I found my stats at ESPN.com if you really wanna check...

[yisman]

no, it was a bogus stat.

He does not have the best stats of any goalie. Of any goalie left? Probably, but that isn't saying much.

Like I said. There are only three other goalies.

[yisman]

practice what you preach, look up the stats yourself before calling someone else out

Do me a favor and actually read my posts.

That just isn't true. He doesn't have more wins than Fleury, he has a worse GAA than Tim Thomas, and fourth in save % among goalies with at least three games played.

He's played well, but he doesn't have the best stats. That simply isn't true.

Hiller was better than he was, easily. The Ducks didn't lose because they had inferior goaltending.

If you're judging by stats, he's at best third behind Thomas and Hiller, who are both now gone, but it wasn't because of their play.

This all ignores the fact that Osgood's deficiencies are covered up by the talent of the forwards and the defensemen of Detroit, the best in the NHL.

If I didn't look up the stats, how did I know all that?

[yisman]

Most combined goals from top two goalscorers in last ten postseasons:

1)2009 Penguins: 26 (Crosby and Malkin)
1)2008 Red Wings: 26 (Franzen and Zetterberg)
3)2004 Lightning: 24 (Fedotenko and Richards)
3)2001 Avalanche: 24 (Drury and Sakic)

The three other teams all won the Stanley Cup.

[BobHarvey]

Looks like Detroit is ready to gain another championship to me.

Ditto!

[Axis]

I don't care if Thomas or whoever have better stats if they're out of the playoffs...I know Ozzy sucked during the season...it's now the post-season.

And never said you were wrong about Malkin/Crosby being a better combo than Zetterberg/Datsyuk....

Though, one combo has some cups rings, while the other doesn't...

[yisman]

No, just pointing out a trend.

Osgood is the same goalie he was during the season. It's up to the opposition to expose his weaknesses.

I will say that he's put up some nice stats in the playoffs between this year and last year. Pior to that, it was 8 years since he'd won a playoff series.

[reno cool]

Curtis Joesph? Dominic Hasek?

Yea...those names don't ring a bell in the hockey world.

I think what you meant to say was, they've been dominant while they're goalies have struggled??

gd point. I actually forgot all about him.
Vernon, Osgood I remember.

[Deuce]

I like the Red Wings

[G's pks]

One more to go...

[G's pks]

Its over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OT win baby!

Cash those series tickets!