Penguins Force Game 7
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Well hockey fans, it comes down to a 7th and final game to decide this year’s Stanley Cup Champions. The Pittsburgh Penguins took Game 6 at home over the Detroit Red Wings, 2-1, in a wild affair.
Up until Jordan Staal gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead early in the 2nd period, I thought the Penguins had squandered a great chance to be up by at least 3, maybe 4 goals. The Penguins certainly dominated the play. Unfortunately for them, Chris Osgood was on his game and gave Detroit the backbone they needed to have a real chance at taking home the cup. Tyler Kennedy looked like he gave the Pens an easy insurance goal with his great hustle in the 3rd period and it was looking mighty good for the Pens at that point. However, this is the Detroit Red Wings - and I sensed desperation from this team like no other time in these playoffs.
The Detroit Red Wings showed why they are the defending champs, as Kris Draper cut the lead to 1 on a nice rebound shot past Marc-Andre Fleury. With the lead cut to just 1 goal, I felt Pittsburgh sort of backed off a little too much. In doing so, the blueline for the Pens was easily crossed by the Wings in their attempt to tie up the game. Marc-Andre Fleury had to make many key saves, especially after Brooks Orpik (who had a strong game) coughed up a terrible pass inside the Wings blueline that led to a Dan Cleary breakaway. The game very well could have been tied up due to his gaff! Not smart, not smart at all! In the final seconds of the game, Detroit did everything that they could to tie it up, but they were denied by Rob Scuderi - not once, but twice inside the crease. And no Pierre McGuire, he did not put his hand on the puck!
So what do we have now? What we have is the ultimate game… Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Finals. Both teams have defended home ice and now Detroit has the opportunity to win 4 in a row at home to defend their cup. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, has gained one game over last years finals and has a legitimate chance to upset the Red Wings. Game 7 will be interesting, to say the very least.
Lastly, Pierre McGuire is starting to drive me nuts! He continues to be very overbearing with his constant input during the game. For example: “That’s a penalty!”, “That was dangerous!”, “That should have been interference!”. Just stop it. It’s hockey. It’s a tough and physical game to play... Enough said! Over and out!
EDIT: Well, the poll has closed. It looks like Rangers fans think Ryan Callahan should be the #1 RFA priority to attend to. I can't say I disagree! Go check out the new poll on the lower right hand navigation bar - relating to Marian Gaborik.
18 comments:
This is what I like to see... Game 7, baby!
Just wonder if the Penguins can actually... play good for once there. I mean, yeah, they played OK in 1&2... but 1 goal ain't gonna cut it
Game 7 should be a good one...
I'm thinkin' that even though home-ice has been HUGE this series, the Pens still have a really good chance of pulling off the comeback...
Oh, and I agree with you about Mcguire. He's been getting on my nerves for a while now...
Wrath, Who gave them a any chance of getting to game 7 when they were down 2-0?
This is what legends are made of is it not? Can Crosby, Malkin, Staal and Fleury take their team to that status?
Or is Detroit just too battle tested a group that will defend their home ice at any cost?
We only have to wait and see.
Dan.S, Glad to have you finally comment on the blog itself LOL.
You are right Game 7 should be a doozy. The Pens have got put it out on the line and not be intimidated by the fact that it is game 7 in Detroit.
I believe McGuire knows his stuff, but don't talk to us like we're idiots and we don't know the game.
Oh yea he's also one that wants to take fighting out of the game!
Did the game played by the Wings last night not seem somewhat familiar? For more than 2 periods they appeared to be playing not to lose the game instead of trying to win it. Only when their backs were really against the wall did some desperation really show. I think we saw that style of play with the Rangers this season under Renney. We all know how successful that turned out. I give full marks to the Pens for showing up big time, playing a physical game, and making Detroit work for every inch of the ice, especially in the offensive zone (at least through the first two periods). The constant line matching by Babcock seemed to take away any flow from the Wings' game. They seemed to be laboring to get any real offensive chance(there we go with another Rangers parallel).
Will a visiting team win a game in this series? Hard to tell. The Pens did not play particularly well in the first two games and stunk up the barn in game 5. There is something to be said about nerves, about having to play on the road. However, there is something that this year's French open runner up said about playing Federer: “Every time I played Roger, after the match, I always said, ’I played so bad today.’ Now I learned that it’s not that I played bad. He makes me play bad.” Well, maybe the Wings just make the Pens play bad at the Joe.
In any event, Friday night should be interesting . . . more so if the game goes into overtime.
Jason, The Penguins going into the the game should of been the desperate ones. They certainly did not want a repeat of last year losing in game 6 on home ice.
I think you Detroit played it just a little too simplistic last night. When Tyler Kennedy scored, only then did the Wings show the zeal to win.
Why in the world would you wait this long in a game to fire it up knowing one win clinches the cup?
Mind boggling isn't it?
Detroit still has the home ice advantage and that my friend is big. Can Pittsburgh pull it off? no question.
Ultimate games need the ultimate performances by their players. Which players for each respective team will step up?
Oh yea, love the Ranger comparison LOL.
Everything that I want to say has already been said, except I think Scuderi had three saves during that last 15 seconds, and four throughout the night. Again, I must say that he has been the most undervalued black, gold and white shirt out there... perhaps until last night.
I'm praying for Wings' to keep trying to line match during game 7. Especially now that the third line stepped up yesterday and said "we can score too".
Game six for respect, game seven for the cup! Regardless of what happens, this has been a great series... whichever team wins it will have certainly earned it!
GO PENS
How nice it is to have a game 7 in a Stanley cup finals, but at what price? I'm sincerely hoping now for a huge scandal in that decisive game, that will finally force the league to react and recognize there is a problem with the officiating. I've been very frustrated so far seeing how bad a game can be officiated without any reaction or declaration from the officials themselves. Pitiful. Even more pitiful when that's an NHL columnist who makes that sad observation.
http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/10/nfl-officiating-sure-looks-good-when-compared-with-the-nhl/
I meant NFL columnist.
Krista Lynn, You had to enjoy the performance and final result last night.
Now the question is can they do the unthinkable and win on the road in Detroit?
It's always nice to see one of the lesser known players like Scuderi steal some of the stage. You can't win without players like him on your squad.
Game 7 is all you can ask for as player and now it's up to them.
Jeff, It's nice to see it go 7 no question. I have been screaming for awhile about lack of consistency with officiating over the past few years.
I would hope that it does not interfere with how game 7 is played, but you never know do you?
Again I go back to the "New Age" of NHL that everyone seems to think is eye appealing and exciting to watch.
Jeff, It's confusing to the player, the officials and last but not least the fan who pays hard earned cash to watch this crap.
This is what they wanted and this is what they got. The league has over reached it boundaries with all the rule changes in trying to sell a simple game.
Kotsy, this is slightly off topic, but I am curious as to your opinion. What do you think about the unfolding of events in Phoenix? It looks like Balsillie may be willing to fork over millions in so-called relocation (i.e., extortion) fees to have the desert dogs moved to Hamilton. I wonder if this is a first big crack in the Bettman regime (he, after all, is fighting tooth and nail to keep the team in Phoenix where there is apparently not enough interest in the NHL). This regime is responsible for two lockouts, one of which destroyed an entire season, as well as this new NHL, RBK Edge jerseys (that diaper look still makes me want to puke), and Versus (with the brilliant coverage by Bob Harwood, Bill Patrick, and Kieth Jones, with one of the worst hockey play-by-play announcers that I have ever heard, Joe Beninati).
Jason, I don't understand why you wouldn't want a man who has more money (3 and half Billion or so) than the NHL put together in your league?
In today's economy you need strength and Balsille brings that. Why continue to push the NHL where it's not wanted?
Getting Hockey coverage in the USA is getting better. The only problem you have is ESPN starts off the 6:00 and 11:00 sports night with game X of the Yankees or the Sox .... what a joke!
When the Stanley Cup Playoffs are on in the NHL feels it's more important to tell us about a come from behind win by the Yankees to lead off the show. I think you get my point.
Versus love it or not stepped up and took Hockey on and ESPN acts like spoiled brats over losing the package.
Could it be better... Yes is my answer!!!
I for one think it is so precious the way that so many of the calls in game 6 seemed to favor the Penguins, even to the point of penalties not being called until almost 5 - 10 seconds after the actual infraction. I mean come on...one of the Penguins even grabbed one of the Wings by the leg and upended him right around center ice and there was no call made...
Honestly I'm not a fan of either team competing for the Cup this year, but it's just the inconsistency of the calls and the non-calls that really make me wonder what exactly the NHL is thinking nowadays...it's that ominous 'umbrella' of the new NHL that you mentioned in your earlier blog.
I think that umbrella and some of the shoddy call making throughout this series is part of the NHL's plan to making Crosby 'the Next One'. I can almost guarantee that if the Penguins 'somehow' win the cup they will treat it like it's the next best thing since the Miracle on Ice back in 1980. They will probably go on and on about how Crosby took a team that was ranked 29th in the league in the 2005 season after coming back from the lockout and elevated them to a Stanley Cup. Needless to say it will probably go unsaid that Malkin scored more points in the regular season this year than Crosby...but alas the NHL had already anointed Crosby as the chosen one...guess they kind of screwed the pooch on that one.
Now when Crosby or ANYONE for that matter scores over 200 points in a regular season...THEN they can start making comparisons to Gretzky....!
Saul, I think both sides have a legitimate argument over the calls in this series. Officiating has been horrible since the lockout, not just playoffs!
You're probably right about pumping Crosby as the new face of the NHL. Honestly though you can't put it all on Crosby's back.
The league needs to do a better job in getting guys like Malkin and Ovechkin help in dealing with the media.
It's hard to sell anyone who can't communicate effectively to promote the game. That's why Crosby is the guy. Oh and by the way he's damn good too!
I will have to agree with you on the Gretzky thing. I lived it and it was a privilege to be on the same ice when he was achieving these remarkable numbers.
Thanks for your response.
Laugh all you want, don't think it could be MORE applicable to tonight's matchup. LETS GO PENS!!!
"Great moments are born from great opportunity. And thats what you've earned here tonight. Tonight, we skate with em, tonight we stay with em, and we shut them down, because we can! Tonight WE are the greatest hockey team in the world. This is your time. Their time, is done, its over. I'm sick and tired of hearing about what a great hockey team Detroit has, Screw em! This is your time! Now go out there and take it!"
BRING IT HOME BOYS, BRING IT HOME!
Krista Lynn, After that I'm even ready to play! Hey let's hope it turns out the way I predicted Pens In 7 on "ICE BREAKERS".
It will be one to watch that's for sure!
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