Big players do big things at big moments. Sidney Crosby is the man.
Granted the kid can't grow a playoffbeard yet (although high marks for the effort sir), he refused to quit and let his Penguins fall without a fight to the Detroit Red Wings. Crosby finally got Pittsburgh on the scoreboard in the series last night with his first of two goals. His efforts clearly energized the club. The Pens also got some secondary scoring, and the eventual game winner from forward Adam Hall, who's second effort goal was actually a thing of beauty.
The Red Wings kept things interesting and carried the play late in the game, but the Pens held on to win 3-2, cutting the Detroit series lead to 2-1. This was a great game to watch, especially the third period. Back and forth action, and an incredible amount of physical play.
Unfortunately we have to wait till Saturday for Game 4, but at least we get a break from Mike Milbury for an extra day. That Ovechkin interview during the second intermission was painful (no fault to Ovechkin). Congrats Mike. You've gone from crappy GM, to really crappy analyst. By the way, I love the "you guys are the coaches" segment on NBC (not really). Mike what would you do if you were the coach of the Pens. "I'd trade everybody, for little or no return. Mostly no return."
Even though I picked the Wings to take this series in 5 games, I am surprised that they have been so dominant thus far. They have found the secret to defeating the Penguins... by completely shutting them down, and keeping them off the scoreboard. Two straight games. Two shutouts.
The Red Wings have done a fabulous job at limiting the opportunities by the Penguins, but when they have broken through, Chris Osgood has been there, and been spectacular. Detroit has done an incredible job in keeping Crosby and Malkin off their game, and last night their frustration was beginning to show through. The Penguins have been unable to mount a sustained attack.
The Red Wings are also recieving scoring from their secondary players. While they managed to hold Zetterberg to just an assist, and Datsyuk off the scoresheet, the door was opened for Holstrom, Stuart, and an amazing goal by Valtteri Filppula.
The playoff beards. We have a banner crop this year my friends, and choosing the Chuck Norris trophy winner is going to be near impossible. Playoff beards appear to be required uniform for the bulk of the Detroit roster, and I have to give credit to the facial hair development being displayed by the largely pre-pubescent crew of the Penguins. Well done lads. You all look like you've been lost at see for months.
Game 3 shifts to Pittsburgh on Wednesday, and to NBC as well. The Versus crew bid us farewell this evening, and I have to give them credit. They've all really grown on me like a... playoff beard. However, the network switch should bring us into the loving embrace of our own Bill Clement, as he welcomes us into his tent, and his heart.
Could the NHL have asked for a more favorable Stanley Cup Finals matchup than the Detroit Red Wings versus the Pittsburgh Penguins? Probably not.
The markets involved are big hockey towns. Both teams play an exciting style of hockey (which for us is great, but for the casual fans might be just what the sport needs to grow itself). The Red Wings have lived up to their regular season billing, and the NHL's brand name of Sidney Crosby is finally going to the big show. I say finally as if we've had to wait and ponder for decades (like Dallas Drake, who incidentally has one of the coolest names in hockey if not all of sports. I'm sure if hockey hadn't worked out for him a career in auto-racing would have been there to scoop him right up) when we would get to see this superstar strut his stuff and legitimize himself amongst the greats of the sport. This is his third season in the NHL, and he arrives at the big dance. Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins have matured at an astounding rate. Transforming themselves from a franchise of the future, to a team of now. I think management saw something in the club in February that gave them the confidence to pull the trigger on the Marian Hossa deal. We've all watched as the Pittsburgh Penguins have easily cut a path through the Eastern Conference (only losing two games) to the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Detroit Red Wings were dominant once again in the regular season, and while they may have shed their playoff choke label last season by attending the Western Conference Finals (losing to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Anaheim Ducks), any season that they don't win the Cup almost seems like failure (which is a tough standard to live up to). The Red Wings have also for the most part blazed through the Western Conference, and even though they received a few wake-up calls along the way (in Nashville, and Dallas), they always seem to bounce back hard.... much to the dismay of their opponents.
Both clubs are playing inspired hockey, and are clearly the class of their Conferences. So who wins? This is perhaps one of the more difficult choices I've ever had in determining a winner. Is their a clear-cut favorite? Can one bet against the best player in the NHL? Here's how I see things unfolding....
The Pittsburgh Penguins remind me of the baby Oilers of the early 1980's. A team that achieved amazing success throughout that decade and even beyond. However prior to that success, that team faced defeat... especially when they were smacked in the mouth by the New York Islanders. I think most franchises need to lose big, before they can win big. The Oilers needed to see what it took to win. So did the Red Wings. The Devils. The Hurricanes. The list goes on. All these teams grew from those heart breaking losses and became champions. Unfortunately for the Penguins, I think it is there time to lose. Their future will be a bright one, but the present will be very gloomy.
I expect the Red Wings to come out hard, put their foot on the throat of the Penguins and not let up. I think the Penguins defense, will be overwhelmed, and their offense will be unable to find the room to navigate through the Detroit blueliners. While I would love to see this series go long, I don't think that will happen.
Pavel Datsyuk and the Detroit Red Wings put the Dallas Stars on the brink of elimination from the playoffs last night, and moved one step closer to moving on to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Pavel Datsyuk scored his first ever career NHL hat trick (which is mind-boggling) and helped lift the Red Wings to a 5-2 win, and a 3-0 series lead over the Dallas Stars.
I picked the Dallas Stars to win this series in 7, and frankly I don't think I've made a worse prediction this playoffs (except for maybe the Caps beating the Flyers in 3 games in round one.... but I was kinda kidding on that one... kinda). The Dallas Stars look outmatched part of the time, and completely frustrated for the remaining time. The Red Wings hold onto the puck (if you played the puck possession drinking game last night, you'd be in bad shape right now.... how many times did Doc and Eddie say 'puck possession'), and never give their opponents an opportunity to mount an attack. This series looks as good as over.
The list of coaching vacancies continues to grow, and today the San Jose Sharks hung a big Help Wanted sign on their franchise.
The San Jose Sharks fired head coach Ron Wilson after the Sharks entered the season as Stanley Cup favorites, finished as the Pacific Division winners, and were again a dissapointment in the playoffs, dropping out in the second round to the Dallas Stars.
I don't believe the problem in San Jose, regarding the playoffs is Ron Wilson's fault. I've said it before, and I'll say it again... the Sharks will never be a super team until they get Eddie Van Halen on guitar.
I kind of thought that this was long overdue, so I created a Playoff Beard Message Board so we could all get together a shoot the puck in real time. You can get there through the top nav by click in BEARD BOARD, or by clicking here!
It's still in it's infancy so if you guys have any suggestions, on what you'd like to see, just let me know and we'll make it happen!
Is it me, or did Hillary Clinton steal Brian Engblom's lid?
I know that's a little off topic, but everytime I see the Senator on TV, I can't help but wonder what she'd look like with a playoff beard (it may help her bid for the Presidency.... actually no that's a bad idea). I digress.
Let's get to it....
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
Pittsburgh Penguins versus Philadelphia Flyers
Everyone is saying that this is going to be THE series of the playoffs. I'm having a hard time finding an argument to counter that statement. Cross-state, intra-state.... call it what you will (including perhaps the most tedious stretch of road to travel if you happen to be going cross country), there is little love lost between these two clubs... and perhaps the two cities. Do people from Philadelphia hate the people in Pittsburgh? Most likely, and I'm sure the feelings are mutual. The Flyers have had a knack for driving Captain Sidney Crosby crazy, and have been successful in taking him out of his game.... however, Crosby has had some highlight reel performances against the Flyers. To be fair, both clubs are amazing. The Penguins have matured so quickly in the last 3 years, and the Flyers... HOLY CRAP! You sucked big time last season, and now they are in the Eastern Conference Finals! This series should be nasty from the opening faceoff, and should be an extended one, but ultimately I think the Penguins will find a way to win it.... even though the Cros-beard isn't happening. Jeff Friesen is still laughing.
Playoff Beard Prediction: Penguins in 6 games.
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
Detroit Red WIngs versus Dallas Stars
For all the attention the Eastern Conference matchup is getting, I think this playoff series could be even more entertaining. The Detroit Red Wings appear to be on a mission, and have more or less cruised through the first two rounds with little difficulty (a slight road bump in Nashville, but a goalie change was just what the Babcock ordered). I think the easy road ends here and their first test will be at hand. The Dallas Stars knocked off the defending Stanley Cup Champion Anaheim Ducks in round one, and the second seeded San Jose Sharks (for all the crap I gave them, they still are a formidable hockey club... don't hate me for being right Shark fans) in round two. The Red Wings looked good in round one, and amazing in round two, but let's boil this down a bit. Yes they swept the Colorado Avalanche in 4 games, but who did they really defeat? The Avs were so decimated by injury that they were ready to call me up for game 5..... sadly the Bosher never got his opportunity. Side Note: Kris Draper with a playoff beard looks like Chuck Norris' stunt double. This series is going to be a long back and forth battle, and could hold a few surprises for everyone.
How bummed is Peter Forsberg right now for not signing with the Philadelphia Flyers?
How grateful are you Flyers fans that he chose to sign with the Colorado Avalanche and spend his time on their training table?
Who would have thought that the Philadelphia Flyers would rebound so hard following a disastrous 2006-2007 season where they finished at the bottom of the league? Even I cannot say that I saw such success headed their way. Playoffs I thought were possible... but to the Final Four? Inconceivable?!?!
Believe it or not, the Flyers have finally figured out the formula to playoff success... goaltending. Martin Biron outdeuled Montreal Canadiens goal keeper Carey Price last night in their 6-4 win that closed out their second round series in 5 games. The Flyers goal scorers are also on fire, recieving contributions from just about everyone right now. Daniel Briere is second in playoff points, and R.J. Umberger is second in playoff goals, and Vaclav Prospal is feeding the puck to everyone, and is among the leader in assists.
Just across the state, the Pittsburgh Penguins wrapped up their second round series with the New York Rangers. While the Rangers made it look interesting, I think after Game 1, there was no question who the winner of the series would be. The Rangers did manage to avoid the sweep, but were essentially bested in almost every aspect of the game. The Penguins bring a potent powerplay, loaded with top notch forwards and now ride a goaltender in Marc Andre Fleury who defeated Vezina nomineed Henrik Lundqvist. The Penguins closed out their series in 5 games, and so far, have lost only once during the post-season tournament.
The Detroit Red Wings are on a mission. They easily dispatched the Colorado Avalanche in 4 games (they hammered the Avs in game 4, 8-2, and Johan Franzen (I heard a sick stat the other day on the NHL Channel, that Franzen has 26 goals in his last 26 games played... crazy) recorded his second hat trick of the series) and made Jose Theodore look mortal again... and most likely destroyed any bargaining power he had going into unrestricted free-agency this summer. While the Avs weren't healthy I doubt they would have done much against the Wings. The Red Wings now wait to learn who they will face in the Conference Finals.
Big players do big things at big moments. Sidney Crosby is the man.
The Red Wings are halfway there. Amazing.
Pavel Datsyuk and the Detroit Red Wings put the Dallas Stars on the brink of elimination from the playoffs last night, and moved one step closer to moving on to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Detroit Red WIngs versus Dallas Stars
How bummed is Peter Forsberg right now for not signing with the Philadelphia Flyers?
