2009 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS VS. DETROIT RED WINGS

davetherave wrote:

Acrobat wrote:A few questions for those who think Pittsburgh can pull it off:

1. Lidstrom was widely reported to have had a lower body injury, yet numerous reports stated that he was walking and moving around quite comfortably. If you are Holland, with your team up 3-1 going home, do you play your star defenseman? Are you even less likely to play him knowing that winning in 6 instead of 5 gives an extra week or more of rest?
   
2. In the 2008 SCF, Marian Hossa figured in two of three goals Pittsburgh scored in their first win (game 3) and two of four goals in their OT win (game 5). Through the series, Hossa had as many points as Crosby and Malkin combined. He is now playing against his former team, and has been replaced by Guerin? Satan? Can they really make up for the loss of a 1.4PPG player in the SCF, as well as counterbalance his efforts against them?
   

From ESPN:

Crosby (2 goals, 5 assists in the series) and Malkin (6 goals, 3 assists) are playing like big stars are supposed to play when titles are decided. They already have more points (56, or 28 each) than the 49 they had in four rounds last year, when a visibly tired Malkin was held to two goals in his final 10 games and Crosby had two in his final nine.

The main difference in these Penguins from a year ago is the lack of a Marian Hossa, a top-line winger who can play alongside Crosby and take over a game, yet 38-year-old Bill Guerin (7 goals, 7 assists in the playoffs) has a goal in four of his last six games.

FYI Guerin has more goals and points (7-7-14) than Hossa (6-6-12) to date in the 2009 playoffs (source NHL.com).

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Looks like the poll is showing strong support for the Pens right now. Interesting because there's not a lot of posts and comments supporting the poll results thus far.

shabbs wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Looks like the poll is showing strong support for the Pens right now. Interesting because there's not a lot of posts and comments supporting the poll results thus far.

I was surprised to see that... everyone was talking Detroit this and that... yet the poll is heavily in the Pens' favour... interesting...

wprager wrote:They are all just trying to fake me out in the bracket pool.

wprager wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Everyone should know by now I'm calling a Penguins win this time around but due to the Pool I won't reveal the number of games just yet.

People talk about how much weaker the Pens are without Hossa but I think this team is stronger this time despite losing Hossa, Malone, Roberts, Laraque and Ruutu.

The big difference this season is getting rid of Therrien and promoting Bylsma. The turn around in their season was incredible once he took over. The Pens were under prepared and out coached last year. With Malkin and Crosby barely showing up on the score sheet in the finals they still made it 6 games.

This season they have a couple Veterans that know how to get the job done in Kunitz and Guerin. They're a more prepared and determined group, they're better coached than last season and Detroit has some wounded players. Lidstrom and Datsyuk may still play but they won't be 100%.

Pittsburgh is better this year and Detroit is still great but I still give the edge to the Pens.

Losing Laraque and Ruutu is definitely two big plusses. Against a team as disciplined as Detroit those two were, essentially, taking up valuable roster spots from more deserving players.

I don't agre about Roberts. Roberts brought veteran leadership and grit, with a scoring touch to boot. He played a hard game butm, surprisingly, took few penalties (yeah, we all know he got away with murder, but still). I'd say between Guerin and Roberts, it's a wash. Different players, bringing different elements, but on the scoresheet I don't know which one would get you more goals. Guerin probably plays more minutes, but that just takes ice time away from Crosby/Malkin. No clear winner in that one, IMO.

Losing Hossa hurts. I don't care how you slice it, he's as close to elite after Crosby and Malkin as you could get on this team. Kunitz does not replace either his points or his minutes. Kunitz also does not split Lidstrom/Kronwall's ice time from defending Crosby/Malkin like Hossa would have.

On the coaching side, yes, Therrien was likely outcoached by Babcock, but who wouldn't be? As far as playoffs -- and, especially, the Finals -- are concerned, Bylsma is still wet behind the ears.

I give Pittsburgh a slight edge on the top two lines. Detroit has better 3rd and 4th lines.

On defense it's not close, assuming Lidstrom is close to 100% (he was day-to-day in the games he sat out, so with all that rest he's ready to go). Lidstrom, Kronwall, Rafalski, Stuart. Pittsburgh did not have to face Chara, so we don't know how Crosby and, especially, Malkin, will do against Kronwall.

I gave Pittsburgh and edge in goaltending early on, and Fleury has not done anything to diminish my assessment of his play. On the other hand, Osgoode has been money when it counted. Slight edge in talent, perhaps, to Pittsburgh, but Osgoode has experience on his side.

Overall, experience (players and coach) and defense should make this a repeat performance for the Wings.

Intangibles:
The Penguins want to prove to Hossa that he did not choose wisely. On the flip side, Hossa wants to prove just the opposite. Also, he's got his own post-season performances of the past to become, well, the past. And he's in a contract year to boot.

Fleury wants to make a case for himself for Vancouver. Both Luongo and Brodeur have taken a step back this post-season. Fleury went head to head with Ward and won. Adding a Cup Ring to his collection would go a lon way to impressing Yzerman.

As for predictions, you'll have to check my picks in the bracket pool thread once they are in.

davetherave wrote:Injury update on the Wings/Pens from Canwest News Service today:

A healthy Pittsburgh team, on an extra day's rest, faces a Detroit squad that ended the Chicago series without its No. 1 defenceman and No. 1 forward--Nick Lidstrom (lower body injury) and Pavel Datsyuk (foot) --as well as another longtime nucleus player, Kris Draper (groin), emerging star defenceman Jonathan Ericsson (appendectomy), and with Marian Hossa nursing a swollen knee from a third-period collision Wednesday.

SensFan71 wrote:No Lidstrom I guess eh? that may hurt Detroit a little, but their depth will prevail in this series.

SensFan71 wrote:No Lidstrom I guess eh? that may hurt Detroit a little, but their depth will prevail in this series.

caissie_1 wrote:
You smart man... I was hoping you would mess up and post your pick. Im going crazy trying to read your mind.