The Cup is Half Full

by MarkJoel66 on Jun 5, 2009 12:53 AM CDT Comment 15 comments

After three games in which the refs were doggedly determined to act like they were not even there, lest -gasp!- they affect the outcome of the game, they make a reversal in game four and leave muddy fingerprints all over the game -- it was as iff they suddenly wanted the spotlight. It didn't matter, the Penguins put together five of the best minutes in franchise history and took command of the game -- and possibly the series.

I just got back from Mellon arena. My ears are ringing like I was at a rock concert. I have never heard any arena so loud (and I was at Joe Loius arena last year for the cup Finals).

I will not bother giving a play by play. A couple of observations though:

* The final score should be 5-2. The hooking call when Kunitz had a clear open net should have not just resulted in a penalty... the Penguins should have been awarded a goal. But, considering the horrendous job by the men in stripes last night, I wasn't surprised.

* Does anyone think it was a good idea to scratch Justin Abdelkader in favor of Draper? OK, I'll admit, the kid's goals were kind of fluky -- but he is the Red Wings’ leading goal scorer in the series. Why would you sit him? Draper does not seem to be an upgrade... are things looking slightly desperate on the Red Wings bench?

* Paging Chris Chelios... Paging Chris Chelios... Please report to the Coach's office... you'll be activated next as we desperately try to find something to give this team a spark...

* I've taken a lot of grief for saying that injuries and age were going to play a huge role in this series. Up until last game, the Red Wings were pulling off one of the greatest con jobs in NHL history. It was like Muhammad Ali not sitting on his chair in between rounds to convince his opponent he wasn't tired. But here's a news flash: The champ was tired -- and so are the Wings. Unfortunately for the Red Wings, though, the challenger in this case keeps coming, and keeps punching, with more determination than smoking Joe Frazier...and the body blows are beginning to show. The Red Wings are breathing through their mouths. Zetterberg looks gassed. On the other side, Crosby looks like he's just getting warmed up.

* The most feared words of this series might be: "The Pittsburgh Goal, his first of the playoffs, scored by SIDNEY CROSBY..." The one thing about Crosby in these playoffs... when he scores they have come in bunches. Look out…

* For five and a half minutes, the Penguins took their game to a level the Red Wings have never faced before. Babcock wisely called a time out, but it didn't matter. The Red Wings looked like they were skating on Jello. The Penguins were beating them to every puck, at both ends, and making it look too easy.

* This series isn’t over. The Red Wings can still hold serve and win in Detroit. But, whereas the first three games were decided by fluky goals, or a goalie not looking sharp… not this one. This time, the Penguins beat the Red Wings. I’m guessing Mike Babcock isn’t sleeping well tonight.

On the other hand, I will be… as soon as my ears stop ringing…

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The Pens Win this Series...

And i think it will be over in Six unless Hossa Decides to clutch up and start getting points and Datsyuk decides to grow a set and get out on the ice. Also…Zetterberg is wearing out..he can’t constantly carry his team…all being he had alot of help in games 1 and 2 from the Refs..but still someone else really needs to step up or the Cup will be raised by Malkin and Crosby.

by Tony_O on Jun 5, 2009 10:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow, another real homer post.

The series doesn’t begin until a home team drops a game. If Pittsburgh comes to Detroit Saturday and wins, I would say they have a real opportunity to close it in six. However, the Red Wings understood after winning the first two games, they would have five more opportunities to get two wins.

I feel that’s one of the reasons they haven’t rushed Datsyuk back in. He probably could have been playing in game three, and definitely four. Yet, they’d rather have him at 90-100% for the games that really begin to matter now, as opposed to having him playing at 60% and possibly losing anyways.

People were being overly confident with the Red Wings up 2-0. I was cautiously optimistic that they could have taken one of the two games in Pittsburgh—especially game three, which I’d argue just barely slipped away—but believed realistically they would lose both.

It was predicted to be a six or seven game series. I think the Red Wings are in a better position than I thought they would be at this point. I strongly felt they would lose either game 1 or 2, and be in a hole or just barely evening the series.

by hallock on Jun 5, 2009 11:31 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow, another real dumb comment

“Homer” post… you crack me up…

A “Fanpost” on SB Nation, defined as: “Of, by, and for the fans” — and you expect me to be what… impartial? I’m a Penguins fan, not a journalist feigning impartiality. You only object because my posts are from a Pittsburgh perspective… If I had come on here writing about how amazing the Red WIngs are, and how they looked like a well-oiled machine after game one and two, you would be lauding my observations as well-thought out and right on… you are such a pretentious fraud.

by MarkJoel66 on Jun 5, 2009 7:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Paging Chris Chelios… Paging Chris Chelios… Please report to the Coach’s office… you’ll be activated next as we desperately try to find something to give this team a spark…

Yeah, if the Wings want to lose. Chelios has been absolutely brutal, and with the Wings looking slow last game, Chelios certainly won’t help with that.

or five and a half minutes, the Penguins took their game to a level the Red Wings have never faced before.

Yes, that’s right, the Wings have never faced a team that put up a few goals in a short timespan, never. The team that’s been there and done that since before the Pens’ stars were born has magically seen something they’ve never seen before… a team that can score on a rush and take advantage of DET defensive lapses!

The final score should be 5-2. The hooking call when Kunitz had a clear open net should have not just resulted in a penalty… the Penguins should have been awarded a goal. But, considering the horrendous job by the men in stripes last night, I wasn’t surprised.

Awarded goals are almost exclusively given in penalty shot situations. Kunitz didn’t have him cleanly beat from the blue line in. They were just inside the DET zone, Kunitz sidestepped him and went around. Not a penalty shot scenario, and thus, not an awarded goal.

Every one of these posts you make get more and more off the mark. Seriously, these aren’t good.

http://sacrificethebody.blogspot.com/
Sacrifice the Body - Examining the NHL through statistical analysis, reasoned thought, and blind conjecture.

by IAmJoe on Jun 5, 2009 12:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Every one of these posts you make get more and more off the mark. Seriously, these aren’t good.

You saved me a lot of typing.

Penn Staters belong at Penn State. The problem with a lot of kids is they just don’t know they are Penn Staters yet. -jesse. @ BSD

by TheK-GunNeedsReloaded on Jun 5, 2009 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's good

I’d hate to see you strain yourself… you know… coming up with complete sentences and rational points and all…

by MarkJoel66 on Jun 5, 2009 7:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fine.

I’m a Pens fan as well- I don’t mind reading stuff with a complete Pens-centric slant on a (the) Pens blog (or Pensburgh, no offense to Hooks/Frank). I come to Mirtle’s corner of the internet for a relatively slant free look on the NHL. I like to get out of the typical team-centric perspective and get a better view on things here.

I’m not trying to say you’re a talentless hack or anything. Just that I feel that your efforts are a touch misguided- post these on Pensburgh where the community at large wants them, or try to give them less of a chest-thumping tone. And you can’t chalk up losses to “fluky” goals if you’re going for that- goals (fluke or otherwise) count on the scoreboard the same. If you’re going to analyze the Wings shortcomings in the recent games (basically, looking gassed), do the same with the Pens (namely, the fact that they’re getting KILLED at even strength). You have some decent points in there, but the overall tone of the post will really turn off anyone that’s not a Pens fan.

In short, it’s the difference between an editorial in the Post Gazette and one with a national audience.

Penn Staters belong at Penn State. The problem with a lot of kids is they just don’t know they are Penn Staters yet. -jesse. @ BSD

by TheK-GunNeedsReloaded on Jun 6, 2009 12:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

In short, it’s the difference between an editorial in the Post Gazette and one with a national audience.

Except to get in print in a newspaper, ones views might have to actually be somewhat justifiable. His little essays are more like sports radio call-ins.

http://sacrificethebody.blogspot.com/
Sacrifice the Body - Examining the NHL through statistical analysis, reasoned thought, and blind conjecture.

by IAmJoe on Jun 6, 2009 3:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You can come to Mirtle’s blog for whatever reason you want, I suppose… but last I checked, none of my posts were in violation of the TOS. Sorry, I don’t write for your pleasure and enjoyment…

by MarkJoel66 on Jun 6, 2009 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not that I expect anything different

But the Chelios line was a joke. But, as Wings fan, I can understand why you have lost your sense of humor…

by MarkJoel66 on Jun 5, 2009 7:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of course, given that much of the rest of what you say that is patently wrong or turned to support your team or belittle the Wings without actual explanation, I had to go with the assumption that you honestly thought Chelios would be used in this series, or that he might help the team. I might make a somewhat logical assumption and lump you in with the other bandwagoners in Pitt (not all of them are bandwagoners, and props to those who were there when the team was awful for several years there) who remember hearing the name Chelios back in the day when they used to watch Lemieux and Jagr, and think that this guy is still the player he was back then.

http://sacrificethebody.blogspot.com/
Sacrifice the Body - Examining the NHL through statistical analysis, reasoned thought, and blind conjecture.

by IAmJoe on Jun 6, 2009 3:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let me see

The rest of what I said is patently wrong…?

Let’s review:

My first post said the Red Wings would lose for three reasons:
   1. Their penalty kill is atrocious.
   2. Their big guns are not being productive
   3. Injuries are going to play a factor.

How’s that looking right about now?

The Penguins are scoring on 44% of their power plays. I haven’t checked, but that must be close to some record for Stanly Cup finals. The Red Wings are down to what… 60% on their PK? The Pens are something like 4/9 right now, I believe.

As for point two, you want to compare point totals of the Red Wings stars in the playoffs with the Penguins? When the Red Wings leading goal scorer in the series is a guy named Justin Abdelkader, I think we can all agree that the Red Wing’s stars are not scoring.

Finally, I said that the Red Wings have injuries which are going to affect the series. You think having Datsyuk playing the game, instead of watching and “drinking lots of beer” might be have changed the outcome of this series?

I also said the Penguins would win (in six games) for three reasons:
   1. The Bylsma system has them playing a more up-tempo style that would be hard for the Red Wings to handle
   2. Evgeni Malkin was a better player this year, and the Red Wings would have trouble handling him
   3. Their playoff experience this year is a better path than last year… playing a tough DC series and a tough Philly series better prepared them for the finals, and a short series against Carolina left them rested and ready.

So… How’s that looking?
The up-tempo style of the Penguins is clearly affecting this series. As for Malkin, he has been a huge difference in the finals. And the play-off experience in Washington (being down 2-0 in the series) definitely helped the Penguins’ mental toughness when the games shifted back to Pittsburgh.

Again… my comments – made before the series even began – are hardly patently wrong. You just can’t let your bias as a Red Wings fan allow you to accept it.

by MarkJoel66 on Jun 6, 2009 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So he likes the Penguins. If you don’t like the tilt of his posts, you can simply cease reading them. You guys could find something more important to get upset about than this guy liking the Pens so much. Pretty weak.

MarkJoel66 – You should post this stuff at Pensburgh. Not that I see anything wrong with you posting them here, you just will find more interested readers there.

-David
sixminutecynic.blogspot.com
www.piratesmix.com.

by pascaldupweevil on Jun 5, 2009 3:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This isn’t about what team he likes.

If he wants to have faith in the Pens, that’s great—we all have bias. However, it skews his analysis of what is actually happening on the ice. If you want to only hear the choir voices, by all means go post on Pensburgh.

I simply worry that when Pittsburgh wins the series, he will see his opinions as justified.

by hallock on Jun 5, 2009 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

I may be joining you there in a bit… but this is kind of fun here… I like watching the bluster and huff of self-proclaimed “Hockey Town.” Can’t blame them though, I guess… I mean, besides the Red Wings… what do they have to look forward to… the Lions winning two games this year?

by MarkJoel66 on Jun 5, 2009 7:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs