Elbows to the head on faceoffs, knee-to-knee hits, and crosschecks in the back are hockey alright...hockey by teams that don't have the talent to win any other way. ;)
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This was kind of my point. A huge part of hockey is having a team/player you love to hate, and often times the reason you hate them is due to a cheap shot here, a fight there. I in no way want to ever see anyone hurt (hey, I come from the land of Lindros concussions) but it's just something that has always been a part of hockey. I would totally boo if I were you!
That went basically as I expected it to go.
Don't care about the "thuggery" ... that's part of hockey. Sending a message at the end of a game to try and influence the outcome of the next one has been a part of the sport since it began.
But I guess I shouldn't expect Pens fans to know that ... they just discovered hockey three years ago. :razz:
See you in game two!
So are game misconducts. ;)
No bro...we discovered it when we won those back to back Cups in '91-'92.Quote:
But I guess I shouldn't expect Pens fans to know that ... they just discovered hockey three years ago. :razz:
You know....SEVENTEEN YEARS after you last won one...THIRTY FOUR years ago? :razz:
You most certainly shall. :DQuote:
See you in game two!
Actually, some of us discovered hockey in Pittsburgh much earlier than the '91 Cup winning season. I discovered it in 1984 and probably would have discovered it sooner than that but waaaay back then it was only broadcast on channel 53 which we didn't get until we got cable in the mid-80's (yeah, I know, I had a deprived childhood - no cable tv!).
It really doesn't matter. The bottom line is no matter who wins this series, neither team is winning the Cup.
Both teams will just be among the list of 29 also-rans.
I have to say I really wish the NHL would reconsider it's deal with Versus. Not only is the coverage terrible (no replays very sanitized by the NHL all the stupid pre-packed stoppage of play videos) but I have really no interest in the Western Conference First Round Games. At least with ESPN you would get to see all the games.
Don't underestimate the Ducks! 2-0 :thumbsup:
I agree about Versus. Their coverage is horrible. I'm just glad that we can get the first round(s) or Wings games on our local Fox Sports station. Most people around here watch any non-Wings games (or late round Wings games) on CBC. Canadian coverage is FAR superior to Versus!
They are my second favorite team if anything. I only like them because they are the only hockey team that I can actually go out and see. It's kinda hard to go across the country to go to Anaheim :D. Plus, living across country, we only really get the chance to see the Ducks play if they are on national TV or are playing the Panthers or the Lightning.
Pens took a step back this season when they lost Malone and Hossa. Yeah, Guerin has partially filled Malone's role but they didn't bring in anyone to replace Hossa and his 26 points in the playoffs last year.
PS - Before the playoffs started last season, I picked the Pens to win the Cup.
Can't comment on the defense because I don't know the team that well, really.
But from what I can see Crosby is scoring fewer points per game than he did last season. Last season he scored 72 points in 53 games (1.35 ppg) and this season he scored 103 points in 77 games (1.33 ppg).
Not a huge drop off but certainly not a "step up" either. And he has taken a huge drop off in +/-. Last season he was +18. This season he's only +3. :secret:
Malkin improved very modestly in points, but his goal production is way off from last year. He had 12 fewer goals in 2008/2009 than he did in 2007/2008.
I'm not sayin' ... I'm just sayin' ....
Malkin and Crosby are basically a wash between this year and last year, as Ian pointed out.
Kunitz is no Hossa.
And the Pens gave up more goals this year than last year.
Like I said, I just don't think they are as good this year.
With that said, the Eastern Conference is pretty well-balanced team for team this year with no dominant squad (not sold on the Bruins) so if the Pens reached the Cup Finals again, it wouldn't surprise me.
However, I think a Western Conference team will be hoisting the Cup again this season, maybe even a repeat in Hockeytown.