OT: Lord Stanley's Cup

by **Carlitto H@kk** » Thu May 22, 2008 1:58 pm

I am SO fucking happy to see The Mighty Pens in the Final
and it is a Great Day to be a Pens fan!!!

But like EVERY hockey town,
being a fan can be gut-wrenching.
Aside from "maybe" the NBA,
the NHL seems to have the highest amount of
player movement throughout the season
and in the off season. You basically never know who's
gonna be around a while and who is just a "rental".

Case in point, my beloved Pens and all the guys on
their roster that we Pens Fans love...

From Pittsburgh Columnist, Ron Molinari:

"Of the 26 players on their NHL roster at the moment, 12 will qualify for unrestricted free agency July 1.

They are forwards Marian Hossa, Ryan Malone, Jarkko Ruutu, Gary Roberts, Pascal Dupuis, Adam Hall, Georges Laraque, Jeff Taffe and Kris Beech, defensemen Brooks Orpik and Mark Eaton and goalie Ty Conklin.

Include goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who is eligible for restricted free agency -- that means the Penguins can retain him by matching any offer he receives from another team or receive compensation if they would opt against doing so -- and it's easy to see why it's almost inconceivable that general manager Ray Shero will be able to keep the core of his team intact.

Not because ownership lacks the resources -- upper management has made it clear that Shero will be allowed to spend as much as he deems necessary, even if it means operating at a loss next season -- but because the Penguins won't have the salary-cap space.

Shero has been diligent about trying to set aside as much of that as possible during his two years on the job, but even with the NHL's cap maximum expected to rise from $50.3 million this season to somewhere near $55 million in 2008-09, squeezing all of his key players under it doesn't seem realistic.

The Penguins have qualified for the Cup final, in large part, because free agents-to-be such as Fleury, Hossa, Malone and Ruutu, among others, have elevated their games as the stakes have risen. That's great for the franchise in the short term, but strong playoff performances also drive up the value of players who are going on the open market.

With each victory the Penguins have earned this spring, the odds that their depth chart will look a lot different in a couple of months increases."

by **RedWingFan** » Thu May 22, 2008 2:27 pm

Uno_up wrote:
RedWingFan wrote:The Wings, meanwhile, drafted Datsyuk 171st overall and Zetterberg 210th overall...But it is amazing that the Wings have defied the system...Can't wait for the Wings to send all those high draft picks home.

Luck...But good luck at that, as the Wings themselves passed on them 5 and 6 times respectively.
It sucks we have to wait until Saturday for this. Like I need another excuse to buy a 28-pack.

Luck doesn't explain the team making the playoffs nearly 2 straight decades. :wink:

by **Uno_up** » Fri May 23, 2008 5:52 am

Carlitto H@kk wrote:"Of the 26 players on their NHL roster at the moment, 12 will qualify for unrestricted free agency July 1
They are forwards Marian Hossa, Ryan Malone, Jarkko Ruutu, Gary Roberts, Pascal Dupuis, Adam Hall, Georges Laraque, Jeff Taffe and Kris Beech, defensemen Brooks Orpik and Mark Eaton and goalie Ty Conklin.

Lots of talk in the Montreal area about going after Malone.

by **Moon Beam** » Sun May 25, 2008 11:56 pm

One down 3 more to win!
Go Wings Go!

by **7 Wishes** » Mon May 26, 2008 3:13 am

I love both of these teams - not rooting for anyone, just really enjoying the series and hoping it will go 7!

by **YoungJRNY** » Mon May 26, 2008 4:00 am

Alright people, fill me in.

Didn't get a chance to watch last night...was at a battle of the bands for my girlfriend and lost my phone so I don't know what the hell went on and I'm a nervous wreck. I know the Pens lost 4-zip...and we were down 1-0 going into the 3rd...what the hell happened...some kind of collapse in the 3rd??

H@kk fill me in bro (or Moon, or RWF) but I prefer H@kk :lol:

Misery loves company!! haha :wink:

by **Moon Beam** » Mon May 26, 2008 6:17 am

Alls I can tell ya is the Wings won and I am happy about it!
We entertained yesterday and had 20 friends and family members
scattered through in and outdoors.
I briefly saw highlights and the score when I stepped in for more sauce.

by **RedWingFan** » Tue May 27, 2008 3:51 am

YoungJRNY wrote:Alright people, fill me in.

Didn't get a chance to watch last night...was at a battle of the bands for my girlfriend and lost my phone so I don't know what the hell went on and I'm a nervous wreck. I know the Pens lost 4-zip...and we were down 1-0 going into the 3rd...what the hell happened...some kind of collapse in the 3rd??

H@kk fill me in bro (or Moon, or RWF) but I prefer H@kk Misery loves company!! haha

Well, the reason it was scoreless after the 1st period is because the Wings had a goal disallowed on a bullshit call because Gary Bettman has wet dreams about Sidney Crosby hoisting the cup.
That and the fact that the Red Wings were also shorthanded for 8 of the 20 minutes.
The second period the Wings were able to stay out of the box and do what they do best. Play keep away with tic-tac-toe passing. They took it to the Pens. For all the press the high picks Crosby and Malkin have gotten. They look very ordinary compared to the Wings.
The Penguins aren't playing in the Eastern Conference anymore. :wink:

by **YoungJRNY** » Tue May 27, 2008 5:50 am

RedWingFan wrote:
YoungJRNY wrote:Alright people, fill me in.

Didn't get a chance to watch last night...was at a battle of the bands for my girlfriend and lost my phone so I don't know what the hell went on and I'm a nervous wreck. I know the Pens lost 4-zip...and we were down 1-0 going into the 3rd...what the hell happened...some kind of collapse in the 3rd??

H@kk fill me in bro (or Moon, or RWF) but I prefer H@kk Misery loves company!! haha

Well, the reason it was scoreless after the 1st period is because the Wings had a goal disallowed on a bullshit call because Gary Bettman has wet dreams about Sidney Crosby hoisting the cup.
That and the fact that the Red Wings were also shorthanded for 8 of the 20 minutes.
The second period the Wings were able to stay out of the box and do what they do best. Play keep away with tic-tac-toe passing. They took it to the Pens. For all the press the high picks Crosby and Malkin have gotten. They look very ordinary compared to the Wings.
The Penguins aren't playing in the Eastern Conference anymore.

Gotchya. I am not surprised. In each of the 4 series, the Pens have started off rather slow. The Wings dodged a bullet with those penalty's and if they want to give the Pens time to warm up and give us another 8 minute period with a man advantage then the Wings are in for a rude awakening. Young team testing the waters during Game one of the Stanley Cup. The Wings have been there plenty. Don't worry, give it a tad bit more time and Pittsburgh will make themselves right at home..WATCH IT.

by **RedWingFan** » Tue May 27, 2008 1:30 pm

YoungJRNY wrote:
RedWingFan wrote:
YoungJRNY wrote:Alright people, fill me in.

Didn't get a chance to watch last night...was at a battle of the bands for my girlfriend and lost my phone so I don't know what the hell went on and I'm a nervous wreck. I know the Pens lost 4-zip...and we were down 1-0 going into the 3rd...what the hell happened...some kind of collapse in the 3rd??

H@kk fill me in bro (or Moon, or RWF) but I prefer H@kk Misery loves company!! haha

Well, the reason it was scoreless after the 1st period is because the Wings had a goal disallowed on a bullshit call because Gary Bettman has wet dreams about Sidney Crosby hoisting the cup.
That and the fact that the Red Wings were also shorthanded for 8 of the 20 minutes.
The second period the Wings were able to stay out of the box and do what they do best. Play keep away with tic-tac-toe passing. They took it to the Pens. For all the press the high picks Crosby and Malkin have gotten. They look very ordinary compared to the Wings.
The Penguins aren't playing in the Eastern Conference anymore.

Gotchya. I am not surprised. In each of the 4 series, the Pens have started off rather slow. The Wings dodged a bullet with those penalty's and if they want to give the Pens time to warm up and give us another 8 minute period with a man advantage then the Wings are in for a rude awakening. Young team testing the waters during Game one of the Stanley Cup. The Wings have been there plenty. Don't worry, give it a tad bit more time and Pittsburgh will make themselves right at home..WATCH IT.

Oh I watched it alright. Another session of school. The Wings smothered them. It was as convincing as anything I've ever witnessed.
After the Wings scored the 3rd goal I was watching the Pens players on the bench with a bit of sympathy. I remember all too well when the Wings were swept by the Devils in '95. It still makes me sick to my stomach.
That all changed when that sack of shit Roberts skated up behind Franzen (who just missed 3 weeks with a concussion) and punched him in the jaw. Then that gutless turd Whitney did the same thing after the whistle a few shifts later. Any Penguins fan should be disgusted by...not only their pathetic performance, but mainly their pathetic actions!!!!
What a joke. I hope the Wings embarrass them even worse in game 3. I hope the Wings win the cup at home though. So I guess they'll have to let the Pens win game 4. The Wings have played a clean series thus far. Too much to ask the Penguins to take their ass beatings like men huh? :roll:

by **Carlitto H@kk** » Wed May 28, 2008 2:36 am

RedWingFan wrote:Oh I watched it alright. Another session of school. The Wings smothered them. It was as convincing as anything I've ever witnessed.
After the Wings scored the 3rd goal I was watching the Pens players on the bench with a bit of sympathy. I remember all too well when the Wings were swept by the Devils in '95. It still makes me sick to my stomach.
That all changed when that sack of shit Roberts skated up behind Franzen (who just missed 3 weeks with a concussion) and punched him in the jaw. Then that gutless turd Whitney did the same thing after the whistle a few shifts later. Any Penguins fan should be disgusted by...not only their pathetic performance, but mainly their pathetic actions!!!!
What a joke. I hope the Wings embarrass them even worse in game 3. I hope the Wings win the cup at home though. So I guess they'll have to let the Pens win game 4. The Wings have played a clean series thus far. Too much to ask the Penguins to take their ass beatings like men huh?

Dude, I agree w/you on the cheap shot Roberts took.
Totally uncalled for. Didn't see the Whitney hit.

I gotta say, I am at a total loss for words on these first 2 games.
At times it seems like the Wings have 10 guys on the ice;
how else can you explain 3 guys in red ALWAYS crowding the puck when
the Pens try to move thru center-ice!!!

I don't know what to make of it but the High-Profile Pens such as Crosby, Malkin, Hossa,
Malone, Staal... they have ALL been reduced to second tier players. Crosby, for his part,
is working his ass off at both ends but can't get anything going.
Malkin looks like he is skating thru quicksand.. is he hurt/ill???

I am still hopeful the Pens will pull their heads out of their asses in games 3 & 4 at home
but I know it's a long shot...

Never watched the Wings this year but I am VERY impressed with what I see
and honestly, as a DIE HARD Pns fan, don't see this series going more than
5 games now :cry:

by **Michigan Girl** » Wed May 28, 2008 3:01 am

Moon Beam wrote:One down 3 more to win!
Go Wings Go!

2 DOWN!!!! WINGS SOAR!!! :wink:

by **RedWingFan** » Wed May 28, 2008 5:02 am

Carlitto H@kk wrote:Never watched the Wings this year but I am VERY impressed with what I see
and honestly, as a DIE HARD Pns fan, don't see this series going more than
5 games now

Carl, I can relate and sympathize with with you with what I went through with the Wings in '95. You'll have plenty more opportunities to be impressed....all the Wings young key players are locked up in long term deals!!!!

Great column here.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2 ... d=tab3pos1

If there is a silver lining to this darkest of playoff clouds, it's that the Penguins have yet to lose on home ice this postseason. The bad news is this same Red Wings team is going to follow them home.

"We play a lot of tough buildings. We relish [it]," Osgood said. "We enjoy playing on the road and challenging ourselves to win hard, tough games. And our team is more built for those games now."

Call it The March of the Machines.

by **Carlitto H@kk** » Wed May 28, 2008 6:12 am

RedWingFan wrote:
Carlitto H@kk wrote:Never watched the Wings this year but I am VERY impressed with what I see
and honestly, as a DIE HARD Pns fan, don't see this series going more than
5 games now

Carl, I can relate and sympathize with with you with what I went through with the Wings in '95. You'll have plenty more opportunities to be impressed....all the Wings young key players are locked up in long term deals!!!!

Great column here.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2 ... d=tab3pos1
If there is a silver lining to this darkest of playoff clouds, it's that the Penguins have yet to lose on home ice this postseason. The bad news is this same Red Wings team is going to follow them home.

"We play a lot of tough buildings. We relish [it]," Osgood said. "We enjoy playing on the road and challenging ourselves to win hard, tough games. And our team is more built for those games now."

Call it The March of the Machines.

When it comes to "young talent", the Pens match up perfectly with the
Wings, if not a little better.

But it's the flawless execution that the Wings are shaowing that is killing the Pens.
Look at the Defense and forechecking of both teams:
Wings storm the offensive zone, Pens got 2 D-man "back-peddling" with a forward
trailing behind the 2-3 man rush.

Pens "try" to storm the offensive zone and are QUICKLY met, sometimes at the red line, by
both Wings D-men and at least 1 forward, stifling any momentum and shutting off passing lanes...

It's like the Coyote constantly trying to out-smart the Road-Runner :cry:

I still have hope for home ice, though.
I refuse to believe we will get swept!

by **YoungJRNY** » Wed May 28, 2008 7:36 am

That was the first game of the series I watched and all I can say is WOW. The Wings are for sure in a class of their own. Like H@kk said, I was pointing with my fingers NUMEROUS times at the Television counting to see if they snuck a 6th or POSSIBLY a 7th man on the ice...they were THAT good. Good isn't even the word. I've never seen the Pens struggle like that this year and both games so far was a complete beat down, and that is an understatement. It's like The Soviet Union VS the United States all over again in the Olympics (matchup wise.) David VS Gollieth. I am not counting out the Penguins...you are nothing until you win a game on the road...I know for damn sure that those first 2 games at home are far more crucial than I imagined. Lets see if the Pens can match the Wings intensity in Pittsburgh. I'll be the first to say I am disappointed with the squad coming out of the gates.. on the road. I knew it would be tough, but I at least thought the Pens would have a much more fight in them than what they showed these past two games.

They play like that, and it's an easy sweep for the Wings for the Cup. We will see.

by **RedWingFan** » Wed May 28, 2008 12:02 pm

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti ... 048/sports
Whack a penguin. My top distance is 311!!!

by **Moon Beam** » Wed May 28, 2008 3:09 pm

Fun stuff RedWingFan, thanks.

Carlitto and YoungJRNY good posts Fella's.

by **Carlitto H@kk** » Thu May 29, 2008 8:03 am

This is it, Pens Fans!!!
Tonight, Our fate will be decided!
Do NOT lose hope!
Do NOT lose Faith!
Do NOT let Red Wings fans
and hundreds of talk-radio jocks
let you believe that your Penguins
were a Fluke this year!

It's a Hockey Night in Da 'Burgh!!!

GO PENS!!!

by **YoungJRNY** » Thu May 29, 2008 8:05 am

Carlitto H@kk wrote:This is it, Pens Fans!!!
Tonight, Our fate will be decided!
Do NOT lose hope!
Do NOT lose Faith!
Do NOT let Red Wings fans
and hundreds of talk-radio jocks
let you believe that your Penguins
were a Fluke this year!

It's a Hockey Night in Da 'Burgh!!!

GO PENS!!!

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by **RedWingFan** » Thu May 29, 2008 8:06 am

Carlitto H@kk wrote:This is it, Pens Fans!!!
Tonight, Our fate will be decided!
Do NOT lose hope!
Do NOT lose Faith!
Do NOT let Red Wings fans
and hundreds of talk-radio jocks
let you believe that your Penguins
were a Fluke this year!

It's a Hockey Night in Da 'Burgh!!!

GO PENS!!!

Dumbass, you forgot "SCORE A GOAL" :lol:

by **RossValoryRocks** » Thu May 29, 2008 10:14 am

RedWingFan wrote:
Carlitto H@kk wrote:This is it, Pens Fans!!!
Tonight, Our fate will be decided!
Do NOT lose hope!
Do NOT lose Faith!
Do NOT let Red Wings fans
and hundreds of talk-radio jocks
let you believe that your Penguins
were a Fluke this year!

It's a Hockey Night in Da 'Burgh!!!

GO PENS!!!

Dumbass, you forgot "SCORE A GOAL"

Yeah one would be nice huh????? God...good thing I didn't make a bet with anyone from Detroit...of course there is nothing from that shit town I want anyways...

by **Rick** » Thu May 29, 2008 10:22 am

RossValoryRocks wrote:
RedWingFan wrote:
Carlitto H@kk wrote:This is it, Pens Fans!!!
Tonight, Our fate will be decided!
Do NOT lose hope!
Do NOT lose Faith!
Do NOT let Red Wings fans
and hundreds of talk-radio jocks
let you believe that your Penguins
were a Fluke this year!

It's a Hockey Night in Da 'Burgh!!!

GO PENS!!!

Dumbass, you forgot "SCORE A GOAL"

Yeah one would be nice huh????? God...good thing I didn't make a bet with anyone from Detroit...of course there is nothing from that shit town I want anyways...

How about that new Camaro? That's sharp as hell.

by **RedWingFan** » Thu May 29, 2008 10:27 am

RossValoryRocks wrote:
RedWingFan wrote:
Carlitto H@kk wrote:This is it, Pens Fans!!!
Tonight, Our fate will be decided!
Do NOT lose hope!
Do NOT lose Faith!
Do NOT let Red Wings fans
and hundreds of talk-radio jocks
let you believe that your Penguins
were a Fluke this year!

It's a Hockey Night in Da 'Burgh!!!

GO PENS!!!

Dumbass, you forgot "SCORE A GOAL"

Yeah one would be nice huh????? God...good thing I didn't make a bet with anyone from Detroit...of course there is nothing from that shit town I want anyways...

Good, cuz you can't have our hockey team.

by **RossValoryRocks** » Thu May 29, 2008 10:44 am

Rick wrote:
RossValoryRocks wrote:
RedWingFan wrote:
Carlitto H@kk wrote:This is it, Pens Fans!!!
Tonight, Our fate will be decided!
Do NOT lose hope!
Do NOT lose Faith!
Do NOT let Red Wings fans
and hundreds of talk-radio jocks
let you believe that your Penguins
were a Fluke this year!

It's a Hockey Night in Da 'Burgh!!!

GO PENS!!!

Dumbass, you forgot "SCORE A GOAL"

Yeah one would be nice huh????? God...good thing I didn't make a bet with anyone from Detroit...of course there is nothing from that shit town I want anyways...

How about that new Camaro? That's sharp as hell.

Chevy...ok...F.O.R.D. (Found On Road Dead, Fix Or Repair Daily) No thanks...I am not a big fan of either Chevy much either...

Ok...Score taken care of...Go PENS!

by **RossValoryRocks** » Thu May 29, 2008 11:21 am

Make that 2...

by **RedWingFan** » Thu May 29, 2008 11:25 am

RossValoryRocks wrote:Make that 2...

Yeah, I bet Gary Bettman just creamed his trousers. :lol:

Pathetic bastard! :lol:

by **RedWingFan** » Thu May 29, 2008 11:47 am

RossValoryRocks wrote:Make that 2...

2-1, the Mule is back!!!

by **Blondie** » Thu May 29, 2008 12:23 pm

Moon Beam wrote:Go [color=red]Wings [/e downcolor]Go!

Sorry to do this, Moonie. You know I love ya, but I gotta say GO PENS!!!

by **Moose** » Thu May 29, 2008 12:53 pm

Huge win Pens....now we have a series!

by **YoungJRNY** » Thu May 29, 2008 1:31 pm

"Game ooooonnnnnn"

:lol:

MR

OT: Lord Stanley's Cup

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