2008 Stanley Cup goes to...

[Bengal]

I liked the outcome! Wings 4-0.

The Holmstrom call was pure bullshit. Bad call.

Seemed like Detroit was just a bit faster than the Pens. I was thinking their youth would equate to them being quicker on the ice, but that wasn't the case in this game.

I don't know much about the Pens, I don't watch must of the East at all. But I'm sure they can play much better than they did tonight. I don't see a sweep but I think the Wings get it in 6. But we'll see.

Ozzie looked very good too. Nice to see him continuing to play well.

[Razor]

Damn...Detroit totally outplayed the Pens in every aspect of the game in the second and third especially in the most important catagory...physically. Hopefully the Pens can bounce back and match the Wings in game two. If not, it's going to be a short series.

The disallowed goal was too easy to call. If you call that poor officiating, then I'd hate to see what you call good officiating.

[goodwood]

The disallowed goal was too easy to call. If you call that poor officiating, then I'd hate to see what you call good officiating.

Ok Stevie Wonder.

I call good officiating the act of not calling things that shouldn't be called.

He wasn't in the crease.
He didn't bump him.
His stick didn't move or impede any of the goalie's limbs.
There is no rule stating that the stick can't be in the crease.

If the refs are going to call that chickenshAt then they should have also called Crosby for leaving his feet to make a check, he threw an elbow in someone's face right in front of the officials, and there was n obstruction call on Malkin they could have made...and that's just from the highlights in summary of the game.

It's ok to be a fan of a team but you still have to be objective...
These...


will help you see clearer than these...


Seriously, they'll probably put Gary Roberts in the line-up for the next game...if not Gary will be in the office punching out Mario, Therien and whomever else contributes to the roster.

I am surprised that the refs didn't call one of the Red Wings for tripping Fleury as he led the Penguins onto the ice at the start of the game.

[semagic]

penguins played nervous and couldn't take advantage early power plays... i thought they were faster than the red wings. it was a good call on the disallowed goal, the rule is you interfere with the goalie it's a penalty doesn't matter what degree of contact it was. even babcock in the series vs. the stars said that goal was a "reputation call" so detroit fans have to know it's not incidental contact. i've always thought the red wings were the best at those in tight goals and always on the edge. now the calls are going against them. so it evens out. i think osgood stole one last night.

[Racerx2k]

Being a Pittsburgher, I sat in on the game for a while, last night. That is, until I got frustrated, watching. I walked away, figuring the Pens would tie things up, or at least close the gap by a point (was 2 - 0, at the time, and those were scored by an ex-Pen. Dammit.), only to come back to it, later to see that they had a few minutes on the clock and had not scored at all, only to see a final of (gulp) 4 - 0.
Now, I am in no way a hockey expert, but, to me, it just looked like they couldn't make things happen on the ice, last night. Crosby is pretty much at God-like status, here, these days, and even he couldn't seem to sink the puck. ho well, that's one game down. I hope they took something valuable from last night's showdown.

[goodwood]

it was a good call on the disallowed goal, the rule is you interfere with the goalie it's a penalty doesn't matter what degree of contact it was.

There was no interference and Fleury was out of his crease. Bad call. That's 2 goals taken away from the Wings on poor calls. Good thing they got a handfull of goals elsewhere.

Crosby is pretty much at God-like status, here, these days,

You think he's God-like there? You should see it here (5-10 minutes drive from where he grew up)!!

[goodwood]

There was no interference and Fleury was out of his crease. Bad call.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LO_hW_4F4Y

Show me where the penalty is...too bad the overhead shot isn't up. If Orpik is BETWEEN the opposing player and his own goalie how can there be a penalty?
I can imagine a few ways I am sure but none that actually happened.

[Shawn Lutz]

The disallowed call was bad. I'd think that 98% of any sane individule would say the same thing. Being in or outside the crease does not matter here. The bottom line is that hommers stick, even though it grazed Fleurys pad did not cause him to miss that puck. Are your going to call slashing on ALL stick on stick contact now too. I'd be a bit pissed if the outcome of the game was different I can assure you of that. The Wings responded well to it imho. Now for the Pens fans I'd ask you if it was a 2-1 Wings lead game late in the 3rd, netminder pulled, NHL poster boy fired that puck, Malkin in front and that goal disallowed would you still say it was a good call? I reverse the situations and its still a bullshit call. No consistency other than on Holmstrom...2-3 different times last night they could have called goaltender interference on "love taps" to Chris Osgood but nothing.

How about that stellar athleticism on Fleury entering the gate...lol

The Pens will make adjustment and game 2 will be a lot tighter. I personally dont feel the Penguins are giving Detroit enough respect post game wise... the Red Wings had nothing to do whatsoever in handing them their asses...it was just them playing poorly. the Wings PKU has nothing to do with negating their PP 4 in a row in the first period. The Wings defensive play had nothing to with the best (laughs) offense in the league getting 7 shots on goal the last 2/3's of the game. The Datsyuk and Zetterberg (both up fo the Selke) had nothing to do with shutting down Cindy Crosby and Malkin. The Wings defensive play had nothing to do with taking away speed in the neutral zone...they just werent moving their feet...pfft...welcome the Western Conference Hockey fellas...expect more of the same

[Bengal]

i think osgood stole one last night.

How did he steal one when the Pens couldn't find the net with a bazooka?

I think the Fleury trip coming out on the ice is an erie omen of what's to come.

I said it before, the obstruction call was bullshit. If anyone can show me how Holmstroms stick obstructed Fleury from making the save, I'm all for it. Fleury didn't even see that shot.

But it didn't really matter in the end. Detroit was just too fast for the Pens. The got the good bounces last night too. We'll see how "quick" the Pens are Monday.

[semagic]

How did he steal one when the Pens couldn't find the net with a bazooka?

i think he made some big saves early on the four penalty kills. "if" he doesn't make some key saves in those kills... the wings are playing from behind, and the penguins are playing with the lead. differant game completely.

[Bengal]

Well, to me, "steal one" means he got away with something he shouldn't have. I think those saves can be credited to Ozzie so what did he get away with? Nothing. He played very well, as he has since they brought him in for Hasek. He didn't "steal" anything, he earned it.

But if the would have gotten one, it's a different story. But that's a big "what if". Lucky, I don't have to play that game.

[Rupe]

Pens blew too many opportunities in the first when they marginally looked like the better team. I didn't recognize the guys who took the ice in final two periods...one of the most lackluster efforts that I've seen all year.

Great job by the Wings in taking advantage of opportunities and taking the Pens out of their game after the first period. If Pittsburgh can take one on the road tomorrow, I would call it a good start to the series. I hope the Pens are motivated by Detroit's pressing attack at the end of the third with the game in hand.

[Shawn Lutz]

right, stealing a game to me is the netminer wins the game that otherwise shouldnt have been won. Detroit played well enouh to win in ALL areas of the game so nothing there to steal. I do agree he made some key saves at key points of the hockey game however...just as he as al playoffs

[semagic]

right, stealing a game to me is the netminer wins the game that otherwise shouldnt have been won. Detroit played well enouh to win in ALL areas of the game so nothing there to steal. I do agree he made some key saves at key points of the hockey game however...just as he as al playoffs

ok calm down everyone i just meant... to ozzie's credit he made some key saves that kept detroit in the game, early on. the penguins have been very good on the power play and had some good scoring chances early in game 1. after those four kills in a row, he stopped a breakway chance shortly after... the penguins got fustrated and didn't generate much after that. i'm not saying he or the wings were lucky to win game one. the veteran leadership paid off in game 1.

[Mat]

fleury choked big time, no surprise, it took him years to regain his confidence after he blew the WJC's for canada. hes the type of goalie that when hes hot hes hot, but once the confidence is gone he completely hits the shitter. 5 goals against after he fell flat on the ice to start the game is a good example of that.

crosby did a disappearing act in the Memorial Cup when his Oceanic team went up against the powerhouse London Knights. i expect this series against detroit to be the exact same, just with Sidney crying a little bit less (literaly) than when he was a teenager