NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs - Part II

[Guynemer]

Incidentally... I'm normally not one to toot my own horn (fella could pull a muscle doing that), but I did predict Babcock matching the Zetterberg line against Crosby, whilst most hockey writers expected it to be the Draper line that drew that responsibility.

[Guynemer]

The Mule has been cleared to play in Game Two.

I can not wait...


GO WINGS!

[Lord Avalon]

[Tuberski]

The Pens look like ****.......

ACK!

[Lord Avalon]

Two down, two to go.

[notyoueither]

Jesus, this is ridiculous.

The differences in quality between these two teams can't be that big.

[Guynemer]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Jesus, this is ridiculous.

The differences in quality between these two teams can't be that big.

I'm thinking the same thing. Right now, the Wings are having an easier time with the Pens than they had with the Avs. Something is off with the Pens, and I'm not sure what it is.

Perhaps nerves, perhaps not knowing how to deal with adversity, perhaps not quite prepared for such a huge leap in the quality of their opponent, perhaps all of the above. The Wings clearly have a huge advantage in all three categories: too experienced to be nervous, had a dogfight in round one and a moderately difficult third round, and the Stars are much closer to the Pens in quality than the Flyers are to the Wings.


It's only 2-0, and I highly doubt this is going to continue to be the curbstomping it has been thus far, but the Pens could play a lot better and still lose the way the Wings are clicking right now.

[Guynemer]

Post game press conference, someone asks Mike Babcock, "Can you guys play any better?" Babcock answers without hesitation, "Oh, we're going to play better." He is a scary looking dude, and it's hard not to believe him.

[Asher]

Worst playoffs in recent memory every since Round 1 ended.

[Guynemer]

Well, I disagree, but I might be a wee bit biased.

[Guynemer]

I especially liked how Datsyuk, possibly the best all-around player in the game right now, did not back down and went toe-to-toe with Roberts in that melee at the end of the game, and actually beat his ass. His game has really changed quite a bit in the last couple years, becoming a defensive force and not at all afraid to throw the body around, but still managing to be a Lady Byng nominee.

[notyoueither]

I have a growing suspicion that people were looking at the wrong team and saying dynasty.

[Lord Avalon]

Earlier in the period Datsyuk also went after Malone, who had decked Zetterberg.

[Ben Kenobi]

East <<< West.

Expected. The west is incredibly deep.

[Guynemer]

Yeah, that's not the sort of stuff that hockey fans expect of skilled European players. Something has happened to Datsyuk, and I like it. He's gone from an exciting offensive presence to a simply miraculously sublime all-around force.