Also..

Hope the Wings WIN the Stanley on Monday!!!

pskooper wrote:you could fairly say, zetterberg was more precise than crosby with the stopped puck. *zetterberg simply stopped crosby's shot from scoring. detroit has been more consistent, aggressive and accurate; reasoning for success-rate.

wings are playing exceptionally well. i have to say, pittsburgh/detroit is a blast to watch. can't wait for monday's game!

man, up to that point, I thought zetterberg was playing like crap. what an effort and intelligence to make it back into the play after coming all the way back from the offensive zone and see that crosby was the one to mark. he attacked the stick way before the puck was even passed. Crosby still got his stick on it, putting it squarely back in the direction from where it came, instead of on the net, but zetterberg's skate was there. Datsyuk was awesome all game long. Rafalski looked like a piece of shit all game long. despite his goal, even Lidstrom struggled. McCarty looked great coming off the bench. This game, like game 3 could've gone either way. Too bad pittsburgh played like crap in the first two games. we could've had a great series. Although, I guess I want to see Datsyuk and Zetterberg raise the cup (and see a european captain win for the first time) I guess I'm rooting for Pittsburgh to win the next two to make it a series.

Malkin's lack of production could be linked to injury, but I don't see too many other Pens scoring in bunches, either. But I suppose what the media is zeroing in on is his lack of contribution, period. I think injury or not, he's a kid, and adversity has made its way into his head. He responded to adversity in the series with the Rags by slew-footing a guy, and against the puck-possessing Wings, he's responding by trying desperate 1 on 4 attempts, and/or forgetting the team game in general. By game 2, he (and many of the Pens) were playing beaten before the series was over. He'll grow up, but I doubt we'll see it in this series.

Datsyuk and Zetterberg took some time as well to coordinate their skills with their heads in the playoffs as well, but then again, neither were first round "stud" picks.

In Washington, we have our own frustrating Russian prodigy in Alexander Semin, but he and Backstrom both showed quite a bit of moxie in the series vs Philadelphia. Hopefully it's a sign of things to come.

atnight wrote:Malkin's lack of production could be linked to injury, but I don't see too many other Pens scoring in bunches, either. But I suppose what the media is zeroing in on is his lack of contribution, period. I think injury or not, he's a kid, and adversity has made its way into his head. He responded to adversity in the series with the Rags by slew-footing a guy, and against the puck-possessing Wings, he's responding by trying desperate 1 on 4 attempts, and/or forgetting the team game in general. By game 2, he (and many of the Pens) were playing beaten before the series was over. He'll grow up, but I doubt we'll see it in this series.

He's being a typical Russian, alternating flashes of superstar ability with mental breakdowns. At least Malkin managed to keep it together until the Finals.

OH COME ONNNN I NEED TO BE UP IN 4 HOURS

Nah, stay up. It's likely the last game of the season. These ones are the ones that make the Stanley Cup playoffs so much more compelling than any of the others.

Brett Hull's going to show up out of nowhere and kick in the winner for the Wings....

Lemuel Gulliver wrote:Nah, stay up. It's likely the last game of the season. These ones are the ones that make the Stanley Cup playoffs so much more compelling than any of the others.

Well, if the Pens don't pull this one off, it won't be because they quit. They've been with 5 defensemen since the middle of the 3rd period. Though I just saw Gonch on the bench.

alandeus wrote:Brett Hull's going to show up out of nowhere and kick in the winner for the Wings....

Al, You could get shot in Dallas for saying that [though it's the gods' honest truth].