2009 Stanley Cup Final - Pittsburg Penguins vs. Detroit Red Wings

[Blinkism]

Simple, Hockey Fans. Whos' going to take it?

My vote is Detroit in 6 (just like last year, finishing it off in Pittsburg).

I did not add the option, in the poll, for Pittsburg in 4 games because I created this thread after game 1.

Detroit currently leads in the series, 2-0 (3-1, 3-1). Game 3 is in Pittsburg.

 

[TBobLP]

Detroit in 5...the way it should have been last year.

Can't wait for game two tonight...GO RED WINGS!

 

[Dedans Penthouse]

Pittsburgh: great individual talent.

Detroit: great team.



Why are we talking about this (and the NBA) in June?......(they're in your "ESPN-wallet")

sorry but: when do the nfl camps start?.....lol

 

[TennisLover17]

Detroit in 6. Like Dedans said, they're a great overall team, and we all know an individual can't beat a whole team cough lebron cough.

 

[Swissv2]

I still think Pens can win it. Go Pens!
The Red Wings are the most formidable opponents Pens has faced so far, IMO, and Ozzy is just a sick goal tender.

 

[TBobLP]

I still think Pens can win it. Go Pens!
The Red Wings are the most formidable opponents Pens has faced so far, IMO, and Ozzy is just a sick goal tender.

I still can't believe he fails to get the recognition he deserves. I guess the trend is to call every young, hot goalie the next patrick roy and then pretend you never said that once theyre irrelevant in 3 or 4 years...but look at ozzy? still winning cups

 

[TBobLP]

this series seems to have gotten a little more interesting! malkin going after zetterberg at the end?!?

RED WINGS WIN GAME TWO 3-1, LEAD SERIES 2-0

 

[NickC]

Wings in 6. I hate Pittsburgh.

 

[Phil]

Wings in 6. I hate Pittsburgh.

You might want to see a doctor about that (i.e. that's YOUR problem!).

 

[TBobLP]

Evgeni Malkin wont be suspended for game 3, even though the rules state he should be for having an instigator penalty called on him the last 5 minutes of a game. The rescinded suspension doesn't matter to me as a Red Wings fan, but as an NHL fan it's just another in a long line of TERRIBLE decisions that will cause the league to be taken less and less seriously. If the rules is there, use it! If you don't want to use it, get rid of it!

I stand by my prediction of Wings in 5! I think the wings take another easy win in game 3, but lose a close game to a desperate pittsburgh team before thoroughly stomping them in game 5 at home in detroit.

 

[Blinkism]

Evgeni Malkin wont be suspended for game 3, even though the rules state he should be for having an instigator penalty called on him the last 5 minutes of a game. The rescinded suspension doesn't matter to me as a Red Wings fan, but as an NHL fan it's just another in a long line of TERRIBLE decisions that will cause the league to be taken less and less seriously. If the rules is there, use it! If you don't want to use it, get rid of it!

I stand by my prediction of Wings in 5! I think the wings take another easy win in game 3, but lose a close game to a desperate pittsburgh team before thoroughly stomping them in game 5 at home in detroit.

I agree 100% with what you're saying, and I predict basically the same thing.
The chance of a sweep is low, but it won't be as fun to watch as seeing Detroit take it at home (and hearing "dont stop believing" play while Crosby ponders exactly why his team wins and begins to realize maybe he's not as good as he's been hyped to be).

 

[RealityPolice]

Evgeni Malkin wont be suspended for game 3, even though the rules state he should be for having an instigator penalty called on him the last 5 minutes of a game. The rescinded suspension doesn't matter to me as a Red Wings fan, but as an NHL fan it's just another in a long line of TERRIBLE decisions that will cause the league to be taken less and less seriously. If the rules is there, use it! If you don't want to use it, get rid of it!

Agreed. There are obviously two sets of rules: one for All-Stars, and one for everybody else.

 

[topspin]

Gary Bettman once again has reduced his credibility and that of the NHL. I can't wait for this guy to retire or be fired. He has done nothing good for the game.

 

[TBobLP]

Gary Bettman once again has reduced his credibility and that of the NHL. I can't wait for this guy to retire or be fired. He has done nothing good for the game.

oh come on, you cant be THAT naive? he helped ruin the NBA, now he's ruining the NHL....he's just getting started with the complete ownage of professional sports in america!

 

[topspin]

^He should have stayed with the NBA for all I care. What is obvious since he's been the grand puba of the NHL is that we now have way too many teams and too many in places that don't support hockey. We also have way too many overpaid players and fat owners robbing the fans of the hockey quality we used to have before 1994.

 

[TBobLP]

^He should have stayed with the NBA for all I care. What is obvious since he's been the grand puba of the NHL is that we now have way too many teams and too many in places that don't support hockey. We also have way too many overpaid players and fat owners robbing the fans of the hockey quality we used to have before 1994.

aint that the truth. i hate most of all that he has this idea of a "poster boy" that is so far off from what the NHL should have representing themselves as to fans of other sports. also, how do you explain to somebody watching hockey who isnt really a hockey fan why these players dont defend cheap hits or hits after the whistle anymore?? oh...because thats an instigator or thats just the new nhl. screw that, this sport needs its edge back

let it be said that i am NOT condoning cheap hits or any pronger-like antics whatsoever

 

[Ben42]

Agreed. There are obviously two sets of rules: one for All-Stars, and one for everybody else.

You mean like all the obstruction and interference penalties that don't get called on the Red Wings?

 

[CCNM]

I'm hoping the Pens can come back & win this, but I seriously doubt it. Was telling my brother the other day I'm surprised at the crowds at Joe Louis Arena-taking the GM bankruptcy into account.

 

[TBobLP]

You mean like all the obstruction and interference penalties that don't get called on the Red Wings?

it's the playoffs. there are non-calls on both sides of the ice.

 

[TBobLP]

...speaking of non-calls...

how about pittsburgh having 6 men on the ice for a good 25 seconds without a call?

2-2 right now at the end of the second period...great game so far.

 

[maverick66]

i have seen a few tv shows ripping on him saying he was gonna have the officials cheat to get the pens back into the series. I wouldnt be suprised if they did.

 

[TBobLP]

this game is intense...and nobody better spew anymore crap about the officials. they are being incredibly liberal with both teams. id even wager that theyre being even more liberal with the pens right now.

 

[TBobLP]

Penguins Win Game Three 4-2. Red Wings Lead Series 2-1

 

[topspin]

^So was that last penalty on Detroit deserved after they let everything go in the 2nd and most of the 3rd? Yes it was a penalty but where is the consistency. The officiating this year has been some of the worst I've ever seen.

 

[TBobLP]

^So was that last penalty on Detroit deserved after they let everything go in the 2nd and most of the 3rd? Yes it was a penalty but where is the consistency. The officiating this year has been some of the worst I've ever seen.

are you saying the one AGAINST detroit? i agree that it was a penalty but the refs are inconsistent and its a problem.

here's the main problem with liberal penalty calling...

first, when they are calling them as they see them it can ONLY be fair because if it's seen, its called. if its not seen, its unfortunate, but the refs can call fairly. when they decide to be liberal, who then decides what warrants a call? the ref. also, at what point do they have to make a call because things are just getting out of hand and they need to restore order and who makes that decision? the ref. this puts too much power in their hands. there is no reason why they need to be any more liberal in the playoffs. players can be tough without being called, they do it all year.

i still stand by my comment earlier telling one poster to learn to live with the fact that this type of officiating exists in the playoffs. no sense in whining about it, or blaming it on a single team. i was just stating my view on the subject in general with this latest post.

 

[topspin]

I agree that there normally is a different approach to officiating in the playoffs compared to the regular season. But this game was strange because they seemed to shift their tolerance midway through the 3rd period. I'd really love to sit in the officials' meetings to see what they discuss.

 

[TBobLP]

I agree that there normally is a different approach to officiating in the playoffs compared to the regular season. But this game was strange because they seemed to shift their tolerance midway through the 3rd period. I'd really love to sit in the officials' meetings to see what they discuss.

perhaps one of the things they might be discussing is the fact they would like to get paid to officiate more than 4 games in the finals...

 

[Richard Pur]

...speaking of non-calls...

how about pittsburgh having 6 men on the ice for a good 25 seconds without a call?

2-2 right now at the end of the second period...great game so far.

I'm all for the original six teams and everything (I'm from the Chicago area - go Blackhawks!), but I find it hard for me to root for Detroit. I think the Bill Lambier years with the Pistons really turned me off of Detroit.

Back to last night's Pens win. It was like someone at a higher level (ahem - maybe at a commissioner's level or something) called the officiating crew before the game and told them to do anything possible to give the Pens the advantage. There were a ton of no-calls for the Pens.

It would be great to see a 7 game series. But that's what I was saying after the Blackhawks had a good win in game 3 to bring the series to 2-1 Detroit. Thursday's game will be interesting.

Rich

 

[TBobLP]

I'm all for the original six teams and everything (I'm from the Chicago area - go Blackhawks!), but I find it hard for me to root for Detroit. I think the Bill Lambier years with the Pistons really turned me off of Detroit.

Back to last night's Pens win. It was like someone at a higher level (ahem - maybe at a commissioner's level or something) called the officiating crew before the game and told them to do anything possible to give the Pens the advantage. There were a ton of no-calls for the Pens.

It would be great to see a 7 game series. But that's what I was saying after the Blackhawks had a good win in game 3 to bring the series to 2-1 Detroit. Thursday's game will be interesting.

Rich

I don't want to say that the crews were told to help the pens win AT ALL. with that said, it's getting to the point where im 50% on whether this is actually the case or not. Games 1 and 2? not TERRIBLE in terms of the way these games are normally called, but game 3 was just out of the ballbark bad. 6 men on the ice for 25 seconds? a call on ericsson that even during the reg season would be iffy?? ARE YOU FRIGGIN KIDDING ME?

I STILL STAND BEHIND MY PREDICTION OF WINGS IN 5.

Once again it's the wings against the pens, the refs and bettman himself. these refs really need to redeem themselves in game 4. as does the Wings PK.

 

[topspin]

perhaps one of the things they might be discussing is the fact they would like to get paid to officiate more than 4 games in the finals...

Agreed! It's obvious the league also wants a close final. I really don't care who wins. I don't really care for either team but it would be nice to see a new champion. That said, Detroit is playing really well and they owned game 3 (other than the first 5 minutes of expected Pit desperation hockey) up until that bad call.

 

[Fearsome Forehand]

I tried to watch game 3 only to discover there is no major network TV coverage for games 3 and 4.

It is on Versus only; who the heck has Versus? Unfortunately, I'm way out of range for CBC so I would have to subscribe to Versus to watch the non-weekend games.

I have to believe these secondary sports (like hockey and tennis) are hurting their cause to expand the sport's popularity by going outside of the major networks like NBC, CBS, ABC, or the ESPN's. Almost no tennis outside of the majors is on anything but Tennis Channel and most people don't have TC ( I don't). I never even heard of Versus before and I'm sort of pissed off that the NHL signed over the broadcast rights of the Stanley Cup Finals to such an obscure network.

I have to favor the Wings because I remember well when they were referred to as the Detroit Dead Things (back when the Norris family still owned the franchise.)

I wish Mike Illich would buy the Lions. ;o)

 

[Cruzer]

I tried to watch game 3 only to discover there is no major network TV coverage for games 3 and 4.

It is on Versus only; who the heck has Versus? Unfortunately, I'm way out of range for CBC so I would have to subscribe to Versus to watch the non-weekend games.

I have to believe these secondary sports (like hockey and tennis) are hurting their cause to expand the sport's popularity by going outside of the major networks like NBC, CBS, ABC, or the ESPN's. Almost no tennis outside of the majors is on anything but Tennis Channel and most people don't have TC ( I don't). I never even heard of Versus before and I'm sort of pissed off that the NHL signed over the broadcast rights of the Stanley Cup Finals to such an obscure network.

The NHL is on Versus because that is the only network that will give them decent coverage of games. ESPN would only take NHL broadcasts if they fit in around some of their other popular programs like poker, tractor pulls, or bowling. The NHL is practically paying NBC to broadcast NHL games and even then they still have to schedule games to the whim of some NBC exec who wouldn't know Sidney Crosby from Bing Crosby. Hence you end up with the Stanley Cup final games being played on consecutive days since NBC would not give up a weekday evening for a NHL game.

Bettman is trying hard to get the NHL a more lucrative television deal in the US but there seems to be little chance of the NHL getting anything better than Versus. Compared to the television coverage the NHL gets in Canada (CBC, TSN, Rogers Sportsnet) television coverage in the US is really a joke and is likely to remain that way.

 

[TBobLP]

The NHL is on Versus because that is the only network that will give them decent coverage of games. ESPN would only take NHL broadcasts if they fit in around some of their other popular programs like poker, tractor pulls, or bowling. The NHL is practically paying NBC to broadcast NHL games and even then they still have to schedule games to the whim of some NBC exec who wouldn't know Sidney Crosby from Bing Crosby. Hence you end up with the Stanley Cup final games being played on consecutive days since NBC would not give up a weekday evening for a NHL game.

Bettman is trying hard to get the NHL a more lucrative television deal in the US but there seems to be little chance of the NHL getting anything better than Versus. Compared to the television coverage the NHL gets in Canada (CBC, TSN, Rogers Sportsnet) television coverage in the US is really a joke and is likely to remain that way.

the NHL is on versus because they offered bettman guaranteed money. bettman isnt trying hard to do anything except run this league into the ground.

BTW, if the series goes to 7, both game 6 and 7 will air at 8pm on Tuesday and Friday, respectably.

 

[TBobLP]

I tried to watch game 3 only to discover there is no major network TV coverage for games 3 and 4.

It is on Versus only; who the heck has Versus? Unfortunately, I'm way out of range for CBC so I would have to subscribe to Versus to watch the non-weekend games.

I have to believe these secondary sports (like hockey and tennis) are hurting their cause to expand the sport's popularity by going outside of the major networks like NBC, CBS, ABC, or the ESPN's. Almost no tennis outside of the majors is on anything but Tennis Channel and most people don't have TC ( I don't). I never even heard of Versus before and I'm sort of pissed off that the NHL signed over the broadcast rights of the Stanley Cup Finals to such an obscure network.

I have to favor the Wings because I remember well when they were referred to as the Detroit Dead Things (back when the Norris family still owned the franchise.)

I wish Mike Illich would buy the Lions. ;o)

im assuming that THEY assume the same people willing to get a cable package for UFC will also happen to like the NHL??

 

[Fearsome Forehand]

Not sure what the inside baseball is on the TV coverage but I would assume the NHL went with the highest bidder even if not many households subscribe to that particular network (Versus). (The same reason Indian Wells was on the TC instead of ESPN; money)

How do they expect to grow their sport's popularity if the viewership is so limited?

I can understand NBC, or the other majors, not wanting to take the ratings hit over showing whatever inane sit com or hospital/lawyer/cop drama is normally on during that time slot. But, ESPN routinely broadcasts lots of lame/worthless stuff like women's softball or basketball games so I doubt broadcasting the NHL SC Finals would put much a damper on their already low ratings.

I'm assuming CBC isn't on Dish Network?

 

[TBobLP]

PENGUINS WIN GAME FOUR 4-2. SERIES TIED 2-2.

I was wrong about my prediction of the Red Wings taking the series in 5 games. I was wrong, and therefor i will make no prediction going forward. I hope they can turn it back around at home and take another 2 games quickly and end this series that has gotten ugly pretty fast.

 

[ShooterMcMarco]

I'm glad the Penguins are turning this into a series, I hope they win it all.

 

[TBobLP]

I wouldn't say there was a whole lot to complain about in this last game on either side. still just wish the games were called a little tighter.

 

[TBobLP]

Game 5 tonight at 8pm

 

[TBobLP]

Red Wings win game five 5-0. Red Wings lead series 3-2.

COME ON RED WINGS! ONE MORE WIN!

 

[TBobLP]

bumpity bump