(graphic from NHL.com)Not key injuries. Not a quirky schedule with back-to-back games for television. Not Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
The Wings are just two victories away after beating the Pittsburgh Penguins, 3-1, Sunday night in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena.
Teams that win the first two at home, as the Wings have done, are 31-1 in a best-of-seven in the Stanley Cup Final.
Note that last sentence. Pens fans will say “Yeah? Well, what about that Washington Detroit
I’m thinking the Pens had their chances tonight and On to Pittsburgh.
Great Game!! The cap was watching as Malkin was tossed with only 18 seconds left. I am hoping he gets some kind of carry-over into the Tuesday meeting. If you watch that "fight" closley he actually clubbed the Detroit player across the back with his stick. He is such a dirty player, I hate him the most of any player in the NHL.
ReplyDeleteWhat's that smell, hmmm, that's Penguins smoking in the morning!! I just love the smell of Penguins smoking in the morning, its the smell, of, of, Victory!!!
BT: Jimmy T sends.
The game was satisfying, to say the VERY least! At least for Wings fans, anyway. As for Malkin... I'm not that familiar with him, given as how we don't see all that much hockey here to begin with, and most certainly VERY little from the East. What I DO know of him I've learned in these playoffs. He's a gifted scorer and play-maker, that's for sure. And a dirty fighter. The first few whacks on Zetterberg... who got his first five minute penalty for fighting last night ... were from Malkin's stick, while Z was fighting off another Pen on his back. That was pretty danged ugly. The Wings owe Malkin a couple for that.
ReplyDeletere: Smokin' Pens... LOL! Yeah, I think they're done. There's not a team in the league that could four out of the next five against these Wings. I'm thinking there will be a split in Pittsburgh and then the Wings will skate the Cup around the ice at The Joe.
Per that Malkin incident; I'm pretty sure that the replay showed Malkin stabbing Osgood in the chest with the stick!
ReplyDeleteWhere are those Bruisers that were brought up from Muskegon?
Great Game.
Buck, I have seen plenty of #71: not only against the Flyers but against any of many teams that we got over either the COMCAST sports network or on Versus. We get a bunch of Ice Hockey here in South Eastern PA (I even watched the State High School Ice Hockey Championships, which were broadcast here).
ReplyDeleteWhat you said about him is accurate, he is a talented puck handler and has a net presence that is uncanny (pucks just seem to come to him but he puts himself into those positions). But, that same talent is used to shield what he is doing from the nearby Zebra so he can get away with a slash here, or a hold there or even a stick butting (which I have seen get away with) in the scrums around the net. And even when he does it in full view of the Zebra’s they let him play on. I can't tell you how many times I have seen him instigate something and it was the opposing player going into the box NOT Evgini.
It burns me, I’d love nothing more than to have some goon go out there and literally take his head off and skate around the rink with it on a stick. I would pay good money to see that.
Oh and just for the record, I don’t like Sidney Crosby either. The NHL’s Golden ‘Canadian’ Boy. I am so glad Alexander O showed up at the same time, more class, humility and exuberance. Take some of the wind out of Sid the Kid’s sails.
Anyway!!! I bleed.
BT: Jimmy T sends.
Darryl: That was Talbot who speared Ozzie and that was what started the brawl. The tough guys from Grand Rapids are there... my hero McCarty among 'em... but they're just not dressing for the games. If push comes to shove (heh) they're available.
ReplyDeleteJimmy sez: "But, that same talent is used to shield what he is doing from the nearby Zebra so he can get away with a slash here, or a hold there or even a stick butting (which I have seen get away with) in the scrums around the net."
I have no idea how much reading you've been doing on this series, but there's a LOT of press... particularly in P-Burgh... about how the Wings "cheat." MUCH was made of the Hossa hooking/slash that wasn't in last night's game (and the associated but correct "non-call"), and you'd think Hossa had peed in the Holy Water at the Vatican if you believed everything that was written. But Hey! it's the SCF and emotions are running high.
I hear ya about Malkin, though. Crosby, too. There's just something about Sid the Kid that rubs me the wrong way, and I think it has a lot to do with his reputation for being a whiner. I'll give Crosby his due: he IS a skilled player. I ain't so sure about that "next Gretzky" thing tho. I've seen a lot of those come and go over the course of the last 15 years or so (remember Lindros?). Ovechkin, OTOH, is a pure joy to watch. I love his understated presence with the media and the absolute JOY he takes in playing the game. We... the hockey community... need more like him and less of the Crosbys. IMHO.
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