Stanley Cup Playoffs Random Thoughts

[Senser81]

I enjoyed the disallowed goal/interference penalty in the Rangers v. Penguins game. Of all the plays to finally call goalie interference, the refs choose the wrong one. Later that night, I saw a Minnesota Wild player skate into the Blackhawk goalie from behind and lay on him while the puck was being passed around the perimeter...no call!

 

[kmanharris]

I enjoyed the disallowed goal/interference penalty in the Rangers v. Penguins game. Of all the plays to finally call goalie interference, the refs choose the wrong one. Later that night, I saw a Minnesota Wild player skate into the Blackhawk goalie from behind and lay on him while the puck was being passed around the perimeter...no call!

Goalie interference is almost always incorrectly called. I've seen it called a handful of times during these playoffs and each one was because the offensive player was pushed from behind by a defensive player. There's nothing the offensive guy can do at that point.

 

[nwfisch]

The flaky goalie who has allowed 5 goals in 4 games, including two shutouts.

We had this discussion in my office, that while MAF has bad moments, because of the team he plays on he is put under the spotlight so much more compared to other goalies. When you play with the face of the game, it is going to happen.

If Montreal wins, it's a:tyrone: into the finals.

Or 8 goals in 2 games. :yao:

 

[EmpireWF]

Rangers one period away from a hell of a series comeback.

 

[kmanharris]

That's why he's the king. Jesus.

 

[Woy]

See ya, Dan. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

 

[leaffan]

See ya, Dan. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

He's not the problem imo.

 

[Woy]

He's not the problem imo.

What would you say is?

 

[kmanharris]

What would you say is?

Would you say Malkin is the best player on the Penguins? Crosby is great, no doubt, but I would rather go up against Crosby than Malkin any day. He's big, strong, and fast. I think he is without a doubt a more complete player than Crosby. Thoughts? Or am I way off base here?

 

[Dan The Man]

 

[dave]

Took a rare day owing to watch Game 7 Bruins-Habs Wednesday night. Thank God or whomever you choose to worship, my backup editor was ok with the short notice.

 

[ryne candy]

Bring on the Ducks/Kings...

 

[Price]

What a game by Crawford.

 

[ryne candy]

What a game by Crawford.

esp. considering his game 4 performance.

 

[dave]

Would you say Malkin is the best player on the Penguins? Crosby is great, no doubt, but I would rather go up against Crosby than Malkin any day. He's big, strong, and fast. I think he is without a doubt a more complete player than Crosby. Thoughts? Or am I way off base here?

Crosby just had a rough playoff run. Writing him off because of one bad playoff run is insane.

 

[Senser81]

Getting tired of listening to the sports media spew cliches about how the Wild "gummed up the works" or "slowed the game down" when talking about the Wild. To me, it just looked like the Wild outplayed the Blackhawks for much of the series. They seemed to be quicker and more aggressive, while the media made it seem like the Wild was just laying back and mucking things up. I didn't think the Wild were really all that physical (with the exception of Stoner), and they usually outshot the Blackhawks.

My question is: what strategically did the Wild do that was so effective? I haven't heard any real explanation. It seemed to me that the Wild would tie people up off the puck...a lot of clutching and grabbing on Blackhawk offensive players so that when an up-ice rush happened or there was a rebound, the Blackhawks wouldn't have open players or get 2-3 shots in quick succession. I did see on one Wild goal that a Wild player skated into the back of Duncan Keith, which allowed the puck-possessing Wild player to have a 1-on-1 with the goalie. Is this a blueprint that the Kings/Ducks can duplicate against the Hawks in the next series?

 

[kmanharris]

Crosby just had a rough playoff run. Writing him off because of one bad playoff run is insane.

Where did I write him off? I asked if he thought Malkin was the better player, which I think an argument can be made (and one I would agree with).

 

[Woy]

Where did I write him off? I asked if he thought Malkin was the better player, which I think an argument can be made (and one I would agree with).

Seems like this opinion has made its rounds lately with Crosby's playoff struggles this year. Malkin isn't the playmaker that Sid is, nor do I think he is as good defensively, and he takes more stupid penalties than Crosby. I do, however, think Geno has demonstrated more "flashes of brilliance" lately, like on his goal in Game 5.

So no, I don't think Malkin is better than Crosby, but I won't argue too much against that opinion. But when the debate is close like this, it also makes the recent playoff failures even more unacceptable, which is why Bylsma and Shero (who I think leaffan is going to place blame on, and it wouldn't be wrong) should be under fire.

 

[leaffan]

What would you say is?

Forward depth is horrible and drafting over the last 6 or 7 years has been pretty bad in the forward department. Dmen not so bad but they keep trading away those prospects.

 

[kmanharris]

Seems like this opinion has made its rounds lately with Crosby's playoff struggles this year. Malkin isn't the playmaker that Sid is, nor do I think he is as good defensively, and he takes more stupid penalties than Crosby. I do, however, think Geno has demonstrated more "flashes of brilliance" lately, like on his goal in Game 5.

So no, I don't think Malkin is better than Crosby, but I won't argue too much against that opinion. But when the debate is close like this, it also makes the recent playoff failures even more unacceptable, which is why Bylsma and Shero (who I think leaffan is going to place blame on, and it wouldn't be wrong) should be under fire.

That's fair. I'm not writing Crosby off by any means, like Dave suggested. It probably is more of a "what have you done for me lately" type of scenario. It could also be because Crosby is all NBC talked about during the series. The fact that he gets infinite more attention than Malkin makes each disappearance that much more noticeable.

I personally think Crosby gets flustered too easily for a superstar player and it affects his play way more than it should. Just my opinion though.