May 26 2008 Pittsburgh@Detroit (Gm 2)
Detroit got two goals early from Brad Stewart and Thomas Holmstrom, and then played their puck possession game. Then Filppula got the 3rd, due mainly to poor defensive positioning and that was pretty much the game. One thing about the wings is they never beat themselves with poor positioning or bad turnovers.
Kris Draper and Henrik Zetterberg are rated one and two in playoff winning percentage on face-offs and are frustrating the Penguins because they are usually starting with the puck. Pittsburgh is frustrated due to the fact that they usually have the puck and Detroit is not letting them have it. When the Wings do give up the puck they are plugging up the neutral zone, 4 across and making it difficult for the Penguins to generate any speed with their forwards through the neutral zone. The young pens have to adjust and play as patient a game as Detroit does. Fight through the neutral zone and dump the puck deep, then pressure the Wings defense and get it back. It is not the way they usually play but Detroit is not going to let them play their normal game.
Evgeni Malkin has to quit playing like a shadow, and needs to step up and give Crosby some support. Crosby must be thinking he is playing in a phone booth because Detroit is giving him no time or space. That being said Sid the Kid still needs to get more ice time. The rest of the Penguins have to be better at puck support. Take a page out of the Red Wings book, watch closely and you will see that Detroit is playing a great team game. They are always around the puck and can dish it off to each other on a short outlet pass. They use a pack mentality around the puck. Support from team mates is a given, not something to hope for.
So far the Penguins have had no pressure on the Detroit “D”, no crease presents to get a second chance at an Osgood rebound, and if it keeps up, no hope of winning. You heard me speak previously bout the “dirty areas” of the ice, well that is where the pens have to go it they even want a chance at winning a game. Gary Roberts was the only Pen making life difficult for the Red Wings, just ask Johan Franzen LOL. No goals for the Penguins in two games should make them adjust, if not the series will be over quick.
There was some ruff stuff at the end of the game last night, which is a positive for the Penguin’s; they have to start to hate the Red Wings. Roberts will see to that
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
More control is what the major league's are after
I found an interesting article on adweek.com about the major sports leagues wanting more control over their programing. To help do so they have made a commitment to supply more content to the public. Read the full article here.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Young Penguins had a bad case of the jitters
, Game 1- Stanley Cup Final May 25 2008
The Detroit Red Wings drew first blood in the Stanley Cup final last night with a 4-0 win at Joe Lewis arena. The wings out waited the young penguins and then made their chances count in posting the win. Detroit used patience and veteran poise to frustrate the penguins. Pittsburgh for their part looked nervous for the most part and turned the puck over a couple of times, which cost them the game. Look for Pittsburgh to be better on Monday night. Being so young I think they were still a bit in awe of being in the show. The Penguins will be better but they are also up against a strong Detroit squad that rarely if ever beats itself. Detroit is playing great defense and playing almost mistake free hockey. I still believe that the series will go at least six games. Evgeni Malkin has to wake up and start playing better hockey. He has played fairly tentative since he was hit hard in game four of the Eastern Conference final.
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
The Detroit Red Wings drew first blood in the Stanley Cup final last night with a 4-0 win at Joe Lewis arena. The wings out waited the young penguins and then made their chances count in posting the win. Detroit used patience and veteran poise to frustrate the penguins. Pittsburgh for their part looked nervous for the most part and turned the puck over a couple of times, which cost them the game. Look for Pittsburgh to be better on Monday night. Being so young I think they were still a bit in awe of being in the show. The Penguins will be better but they are also up against a strong Detroit squad that rarely if ever beats itself. Detroit is playing great defense and playing almost mistake free hockey. I still believe that the series will go at least six games. Evgeni Malkin has to wake up and start playing better hockey. He has played fairly tentative since he was hit hard in game four of the Eastern Conference final.
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
Friday, May 23, 2008
Detroit gets a date with Pittsburgh
Detroit came out with purpose from the start and built a 3-0 lead after the first period on goals by Kris Draper (off his face, ouch), Pavel Datsyuk, and Dallas Drake.
Henrik Zetterberg scored short handed, three minutes and eleven seconds into the second period to make it 4-0 and pretty well lights out for Dallas.
Dallas looks totally flat and 0 for 6 on the power play against the “Presidents Trophy” winners. It stayed
4-0 after the second period.
Detroit just came out with the mind set of throwing pucks at the net, then getting in after them and always getting in front for a screen or a rebound. Dallas is one tired hockey team as they are having trouble clearing the front of their net. Detroit is just chipping and chasing. When Dallas did try a surge and pressure Detroit, Chris Osgood was there to shut the door. Detroit finally is through with a pesky Dallas team. Dallas did get one but that was it and the final was 4-1.
Detroit won the “Clarence Campbell Trophy” as the Western Conference Champions. When it was presented to Nick Lidstrom, the Wings captain, you guessed it; he did not want anything to do with touching it either. Those hockey players are a superstitious lot. They should play Stevie Wonders song when they present it lol.
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
Henrik Zetterberg scored short handed, three minutes and eleven seconds into the second period to make it 4-0 and pretty well lights out for Dallas.
Dallas looks totally flat and 0 for 6 on the power play against the “Presidents Trophy” winners. It stayed
4-0 after the second period.
Detroit just came out with the mind set of throwing pucks at the net, then getting in after them and always getting in front for a screen or a rebound. Dallas is one tired hockey team as they are having trouble clearing the front of their net. Detroit is just chipping and chasing. When Dallas did try a surge and pressure Detroit, Chris Osgood was there to shut the door. Detroit finally is through with a pesky Dallas team. Dallas did get one but that was it and the final was 4-1.
Detroit won the “Clarence Campbell Trophy” as the Western Conference Champions. When it was presented to Nick Lidstrom, the Wings captain, you guessed it; he did not want anything to do with touching it either. Those hockey players are a superstitious lot. They should play Stevie Wonders song when they present it lol.
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Young Penguins focused on the prize
Pittsburgh was up 2-0 after the first. To be honest I had to dash out from the cottage to a local watering hole to see the gold medal game between Russia and Canada. Just got the tail end, as my start time was screwed up. We did not tune into the Pens game until after. Philly won the last one so now the young Pen’s have to refocus and put the flyers away. They don’t want to go back to Philly and give the flyers any more confidence.
The Stars won again yesterday and giving the Red Wings some trouble. Detroit needs the “killer instinct” back and put Dallas away in their own barn, because they don’t want a game 7, where anything can happen.
Anyway back to the Pen’s and Flyers. The penguins scored again to make it 3-0 at the half way point in the game. They have their heel on the flyers throat, now they just have to finish them off. Pittsburgh scored on the power play again. The flyers are now just chasing the penguins around and the result is getting caught out of position and taking penalties. The pens are lethal on the power play and make it 5-0 with about 1 minute left in the second period. Jordan Staal scored on a rebound.
The final score in the game was 6-0. Marc Andrea Fleury was solid in the net making 21 saves. He made a great pad save with about six minutes to go, and then had to kill off a penalty with a buck forty left to preserve the shutout.
Michel Therrien should get some credit here as he kept a young team focused on the job at hand and the result was the Penguins most complete game of the playoffs thus far. It could not have come at a better time.
The Penguins won the “Prince of Wales” trophy as the Eastern Conference Champions. It was presented to Sidney Crosby, the youngest captain in NHL history to lead his team to the Stanley Cup finals. If you watched the presentation you would have noticed that Crosby did not touch the trophy at all. My guess is that if Detroit wins the next game, Nick Lidstrom won’t be touching the “Clarence Campbell” Trophy either.
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
http://thesportingnews-walt.blogspot.com/
The Stars won again yesterday and giving the Red Wings some trouble. Detroit needs the “killer instinct” back and put Dallas away in their own barn, because they don’t want a game 7, where anything can happen.
Anyway back to the Pen’s and Flyers. The penguins scored again to make it 3-0 at the half way point in the game. They have their heel on the flyers throat, now they just have to finish them off. Pittsburgh scored on the power play again. The flyers are now just chasing the penguins around and the result is getting caught out of position and taking penalties. The pens are lethal on the power play and make it 5-0 with about 1 minute left in the second period. Jordan Staal scored on a rebound.
The final score in the game was 6-0. Marc Andrea Fleury was solid in the net making 21 saves. He made a great pad save with about six minutes to go, and then had to kill off a penalty with a buck forty left to preserve the shutout.
Michel Therrien should get some credit here as he kept a young team focused on the job at hand and the result was the Penguins most complete game of the playoffs thus far. It could not have come at a better time.
The Penguins won the “Prince of Wales” trophy as the Eastern Conference Champions. It was presented to Sidney Crosby, the youngest captain in NHL history to lead his team to the Stanley Cup finals. If you watched the presentation you would have noticed that Crosby did not touch the trophy at all. My guess is that if Detroit wins the next game, Nick Lidstrom won’t be touching the “Clarence Campbell” Trophy either.
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
http://thesportingnews-walt.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Canada lets the gold medal slip away
You have to give the Russian’s full marks for their gold medal win. They trailed Canada 4-2 going into the third period. They came out and carried the play, eventually tying the game with about 6 minutes left to play. Both teams traded a couple of scoring chances but regulation time ended with the score knotted at 4 a piece.
Overtime had a new format this year in the World Hockey Championship. The teams play a twenty minute sudden death period, four on four.
The first shift into the overtime, Rick Nash shot the puck over the glass from inside his own blue line and was assessed an automatic two minute penalty for “delay of game”, giving the Russians a 4 on 3 power play. With their firepower that was all they needed. An Ilya Kovalchuk wrist shot from the slot was deflected off a prone Canadian defenseman and over Cam Wards right shoulder into the net.
Game Over
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
http://thesportingnews-walt.blogspot.com/
Overtime had a new format this year in the World Hockey Championship. The teams play a twenty minute sudden death period, four on four.
The first shift into the overtime, Rick Nash shot the puck over the glass from inside his own blue line and was assessed an automatic two minute penalty for “delay of game”, giving the Russians a 4 on 3 power play. With their firepower that was all they needed. An Ilya Kovalchuk wrist shot from the slot was deflected off a prone Canadian defenseman and over Cam Wards right shoulder into the net.
Game Over
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
http://thesportingnews-walt.blogspot.com/
Friday, May 16, 2008
Dallas pride was at stake
Detroit @ Dallas (game 4)
Dallas came out flying and buzzing the Red Wings net, with a strong start. Chris Osgood was holding the fort and was keeping Detroit in it. The wings looked lethargic; they were not moving their feet. The result was that Detroit was short handed twice within the first ten minutes of the game. They were lucky the stars had no finish and were blowing their chances once again. Dallas finished o-3 on the power play in the first period, but it was still their best period of hockey yet in the series. The stars out shot the wings by a margin of 9-5, with nothing to show for it.
Dallas finally was forcing the Detroit defense into turnovers by getting on them quickly, taking away their time and space. The Dallas caught their first break of the series when Detroit (Datsyuk) scored on the power play. Holmstrom was ruled in the crease and the goal was waved off. Replays showed he was outside of the blue paint and the goal should have counted, but I think this one was called back on Holmstom’s reputation and where he usually sets up his office on the power play. No sooner had Dallas killed off the penalty when Steve Ott took one for elbowing Rafalski and the wings were back on the power play. Detroit had 3 power plays in the second and came up empty as well. Dallas drew first blood when Eriksson scored on a rebound with just 23 seconds left in the second period.
Henrik Zetterberg tied it for Detroit 48 seconds into the third period on another Dallas turnover. Mike Modano put Dallas ahead again on the power play. Just previously Daniel Cleary had broken his stick blocking a shot from the point so it was really five on three and a half when Modano scored. Brendan Morrow made it 3-1 Dallas with just under 6 minutes left. Detroit pulled Osgood and had a six on three for the last half minute due to the fact that Dallas was already down two men before Osgood was pulled. Marty Turco was very strong in the Dallas net making 34 saves. The final was 3-1 Dallas but it seemed like Detroit was just mailing it in for forty minutes of the game.
Hockey World Championship
Canada beat Norway by a score of 8-2, and moves on to face Sweden in the semi-final on May 16. Finland shocked the USA in overtime and will face Russia in the other semi also on Friday May 16.
Norway stayed close at 2-2 for half of the game, then Canada flexed the hockey muscle and turned it into a bit of a laugher.
May 15 Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia
Jeffrey Lupul opened the scoring for the flyers when his shot deflected off Hal Gill’s stick and up over Fleury’s left shoulder at about 11:30 of the first period. Daniel Briere scored on the power play to make it 2-0 with about 8 minutes left in the first period. Letang on Pittsburgh took and interference penalty which the announcer called two minutes for flipping, what the hell is flipping, makes you wonder what he was smoking.
Philadelphia was putting much more traffic in front of the Penguins net, for the first time in the series and they were playing their best game of the series. Jeff Carter made it 3-0 before the end of the period.
The flyers were doing a good job in this game of plugging up the neutral zone, making it difficult for the Penguins to generate speed coming into their defensive zone. There was no scoring in the second period.
Jordan Staal scored for the Penguins early in the third period at the 3:16 mark. Chipping a shot off Marty Biron’s pad and into the short side of the net. Staal scored again at 14:11 with a short side wrist shot. The flyers were getting a nervous because they have been known to have a hard time holding a lead this year. Staal was the best player on the ice for the Penguin’s. Lupul got his second of the night into an empty net to seal a 4-2 flyers victory at 19:27 of the third period.
I should have known that both the stars and the flyers would not be swept in their respective series. There was just too much pride in their respective dressing rooms to let that happen. I will still be surprised if both series are not over with identical 4-1 records after the next game.
Speaking of the next games, I don’t think our American cousins get it, the Dallas @ Detroit game is at 1:30 PM Saturday May 17 and The Philly @ Pittsburgh game is at 3PM on Sunday the 18th. You watch hockey AT NIGHT, that way you can enjoy the day outside, at this point I don’t know if I will see them or not as I will be up north at the cottage.
World Hockey Championship
Canada defeated Sweden 5-4 on Friday May 16, 2008, and will face Russia in the gold metal game. You guessed it the game is Sunday afternoon at 3PM. It‘s enough to drive a hockey guy crazy. Can you say picture in picture. Russia got to the goal metal game by defeating Finland 4-0. The Bronze game (who cares) is at 3 PM on Saturday the 17th at 3PM. Sweden will play their arch rivals Finland.
That’s it for now
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
http://thesportingnews-walt.blogspot.com/
Dallas came out flying and buzzing the Red Wings net, with a strong start. Chris Osgood was holding the fort and was keeping Detroit in it. The wings looked lethargic; they were not moving their feet. The result was that Detroit was short handed twice within the first ten minutes of the game. They were lucky the stars had no finish and were blowing their chances once again. Dallas finished o-3 on the power play in the first period, but it was still their best period of hockey yet in the series. The stars out shot the wings by a margin of 9-5, with nothing to show for it.
Dallas finally was forcing the Detroit defense into turnovers by getting on them quickly, taking away their time and space. The Dallas caught their first break of the series when Detroit (Datsyuk) scored on the power play. Holmstrom was ruled in the crease and the goal was waved off. Replays showed he was outside of the blue paint and the goal should have counted, but I think this one was called back on Holmstom’s reputation and where he usually sets up his office on the power play. No sooner had Dallas killed off the penalty when Steve Ott took one for elbowing Rafalski and the wings were back on the power play. Detroit had 3 power plays in the second and came up empty as well. Dallas drew first blood when Eriksson scored on a rebound with just 23 seconds left in the second period.
Henrik Zetterberg tied it for Detroit 48 seconds into the third period on another Dallas turnover. Mike Modano put Dallas ahead again on the power play. Just previously Daniel Cleary had broken his stick blocking a shot from the point so it was really five on three and a half when Modano scored. Brendan Morrow made it 3-1 Dallas with just under 6 minutes left. Detroit pulled Osgood and had a six on three for the last half minute due to the fact that Dallas was already down two men before Osgood was pulled. Marty Turco was very strong in the Dallas net making 34 saves. The final was 3-1 Dallas but it seemed like Detroit was just mailing it in for forty minutes of the game.
Hockey World Championship
Canada beat Norway by a score of 8-2, and moves on to face Sweden in the semi-final on May 16. Finland shocked the USA in overtime and will face Russia in the other semi also on Friday May 16.
Norway stayed close at 2-2 for half of the game, then Canada flexed the hockey muscle and turned it into a bit of a laugher.
May 15 Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia
Jeffrey Lupul opened the scoring for the flyers when his shot deflected off Hal Gill’s stick and up over Fleury’s left shoulder at about 11:30 of the first period. Daniel Briere scored on the power play to make it 2-0 with about 8 minutes left in the first period. Letang on Pittsburgh took and interference penalty which the announcer called two minutes for flipping, what the hell is flipping, makes you wonder what he was smoking.
Philadelphia was putting much more traffic in front of the Penguins net, for the first time in the series and they were playing their best game of the series. Jeff Carter made it 3-0 before the end of the period.
The flyers were doing a good job in this game of plugging up the neutral zone, making it difficult for the Penguins to generate speed coming into their defensive zone. There was no scoring in the second period.
Jordan Staal scored for the Penguins early in the third period at the 3:16 mark. Chipping a shot off Marty Biron’s pad and into the short side of the net. Staal scored again at 14:11 with a short side wrist shot. The flyers were getting a nervous because they have been known to have a hard time holding a lead this year. Staal was the best player on the ice for the Penguin’s. Lupul got his second of the night into an empty net to seal a 4-2 flyers victory at 19:27 of the third period.
I should have known that both the stars and the flyers would not be swept in their respective series. There was just too much pride in their respective dressing rooms to let that happen. I will still be surprised if both series are not over with identical 4-1 records after the next game.
Speaking of the next games, I don’t think our American cousins get it, the Dallas @ Detroit game is at 1:30 PM Saturday May 17 and The Philly @ Pittsburgh game is at 3PM on Sunday the 18th. You watch hockey AT NIGHT, that way you can enjoy the day outside, at this point I don’t know if I will see them or not as I will be up north at the cottage.
World Hockey Championship
Canada defeated Sweden 5-4 on Friday May 16, 2008, and will face Russia in the gold metal game. You guessed it the game is Sunday afternoon at 3PM. It‘s enough to drive a hockey guy crazy. Can you say picture in picture. Russia got to the goal metal game by defeating Finland 4-0. The Bronze game (who cares) is at 3 PM on Saturday the 17th at 3PM. Sweden will play their arch rivals Finland.
That’s it for now
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
http://thesportingnews-walt.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Dallas at wits end.
May 12 2008 Detroit @ Dallas
Detroit opened the scoring with a Pavel Datsyuk goal, but Dallas tied it up on a goal by Nic Grossman after Dallas had controlled the puck for one minute and 14 seconds in the Detroit end. The Wings problems started when they iced the puck. The line had already been on the ice for a while so Detroit took a time out to try and rest the players stuck on the ice. Needless to say it didn’t work. Detroit did reclaim the lead 37 seconds later though when Datsyuk finished from Thomas Holmstrom for his second of the game.
Dallas started the second period on the power play and came up empty. They had about 3 chances and missed them all. Detroit would make them pay again for their lack of finish. You don’t get that many so you had best be burying the ones you get as Dallas is no doubt painfully aware of by now. The Dallas got a bounce their way as Brad Richards tied it with a bank shot off the knee of Brad Stewart on the Detroit defense. Hudler restored the Detroit lead with a brake away goal at 11:54 of the period. Then Henrik Zetterberg made it a two goal bulge scoring short handed and taking advantage of Brad Richards (a forward) playing defense for the power play. Detroit then went into the shut down mode, sitting back and waiting for Dallas to get too aggressive and make a mistake on a bad pinch. Chris Osgood was very steady again in the Detroit net. He has not been spectacular but he has not had to be.
This was the best game Dallas has played in the series. They tried to get physical, out hitting Detroit by more than 2-1, but it still was not enough to get the “W”. Detroit bent on occasion but never did break. Zetterberg did his Houdini impression, taking the puck through 3 stars players and fed Datsyuk for his 3rd goal of the game in the 3rd period. The final was 5-2 and a 3-0 series lead. You have to admire the likes of Datsyuk and Zetterberg, not only are they great offensive players but they don’t hurt you on defense either. They back check hard all the time and more often than not regain control of the puck.
My gut tells me that Dallas won’t win a game and that goes double for Philadelphia.
May 13 2008 Penguins @ Flyers
To be honest I missed almost the whole game as I had my two girls out for their first lacrosse game of the season. I saw the last five minutes and I think the final score was 4-1 Pittsburgh. It looked like just more of the same. Philly is finding it pretty tough sledding without their top two defensemen for moving the puck.
On a side note Canada beat Finland 6-3 in the Hockey World Championship Tournament and with the win will face Norway in the quarter finals. There you have it, you are up to date.
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
http://thesportingnews-walt.blogspot.com/
Detroit opened the scoring with a Pavel Datsyuk goal, but Dallas tied it up on a goal by Nic Grossman after Dallas had controlled the puck for one minute and 14 seconds in the Detroit end. The Wings problems started when they iced the puck. The line had already been on the ice for a while so Detroit took a time out to try and rest the players stuck on the ice. Needless to say it didn’t work. Detroit did reclaim the lead 37 seconds later though when Datsyuk finished from Thomas Holmstrom for his second of the game.
Dallas started the second period on the power play and came up empty. They had about 3 chances and missed them all. Detroit would make them pay again for their lack of finish. You don’t get that many so you had best be burying the ones you get as Dallas is no doubt painfully aware of by now. The Dallas got a bounce their way as Brad Richards tied it with a bank shot off the knee of Brad Stewart on the Detroit defense. Hudler restored the Detroit lead with a brake away goal at 11:54 of the period. Then Henrik Zetterberg made it a two goal bulge scoring short handed and taking advantage of Brad Richards (a forward) playing defense for the power play. Detroit then went into the shut down mode, sitting back and waiting for Dallas to get too aggressive and make a mistake on a bad pinch. Chris Osgood was very steady again in the Detroit net. He has not been spectacular but he has not had to be.
This was the best game Dallas has played in the series. They tried to get physical, out hitting Detroit by more than 2-1, but it still was not enough to get the “W”. Detroit bent on occasion but never did break. Zetterberg did his Houdini impression, taking the puck through 3 stars players and fed Datsyuk for his 3rd goal of the game in the 3rd period. The final was 5-2 and a 3-0 series lead. You have to admire the likes of Datsyuk and Zetterberg, not only are they great offensive players but they don’t hurt you on defense either. They back check hard all the time and more often than not regain control of the puck.
My gut tells me that Dallas won’t win a game and that goes double for Philadelphia.
May 13 2008 Penguins @ Flyers
To be honest I missed almost the whole game as I had my two girls out for their first lacrosse game of the season. I saw the last five minutes and I think the final score was 4-1 Pittsburgh. It looked like just more of the same. Philly is finding it pretty tough sledding without their top two defensemen for moving the puck.
On a side note Canada beat Finland 6-3 in the Hockey World Championship Tournament and with the win will face Norway in the quarter finals. There you have it, you are up to date.
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com
http://thesportingnews-walt.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Flyer’s backs against the wall
Well the second game in this series between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia was anything but a classic. In fact it was not really a very good game.
Sidney “Sid the Kid” Crosby put Pittsburgh ahead on the power play with 9:10 remaining in the 1st period, when his centering pass went of a flyer’s defenseman’s skate and caromed into the flyers net on the short side. The Penguins thought they had another with about 3 minutes left in the first period, but a video review was ruled inconclusive and the goal was not allowed. Personally I thought the flyer’s dodged a bullet here as the puck looked like it went over the goal line from my perspective on the replays.
Jeff Carter tied it up on the power play for Philly at 5:46 of the second period, but Marion Hossa put the Pens back into the lead with another power play goal with just over 6 minutes left in the middle period. This goal was scored just 9 seconds into the power play.
Mike Richards got Philly even again with a short handed marker with 24 seconds left in the second period. Evgeni Malkin, who was hearing foot steps, threw the puck blindly into the middle of the ice where Richards received the gift, went in alone and beat Biron with a beauty of a wrist shot into the top right corner of the net.
Pittsburgh went up 3-2 at 8:51 of the 3rd period when Maxim Talbot took a no look backhand feed from Gary Roberts and planted it into the back of the net. Late in the period Pittsburgh got away with a couple of non calls that would have been penalties in the 1st period. Jordan Staal, iced the win with an empty net goal at 19:31 of the 3rd, making the final score 4-2 for Pittsburgh. The Pens now take a 2-0 series lead into Philadelphia.
At this time I would like to elaborate on why I am picking the Red Wings and the Penguins to meet in the cup final. The Stanley Cup playoffs are the toughest grind in professional sport, and thus it makes the Stanley Cup the hardest trophy to capture. Just ask some of the players that had distinguished and long careers without ever getting even a sniff of the cup. That being said it almost boils down to this. In order for a team to have a legitimate chance at winning the cup, they need at least one playoff round where they can finish a team early, say in 4 games or 5 max. Chances are if you have to fight through two or three 7 games series to get there. There won’t be enough left in the tank to finish the trip. Just look at the Dallas Stars now against Detroit, They have no legs left and are running on vapor. Where Detroit finished a depleted Colorado team in four straight. Pittsburgh did the same in the east, beating Ottawa 4 straight and then toasting the Rangers in five games. That is why they will meet in the cup final and it should be a great series. Both teams are loaded with talent and have a very quick and decisive counter attack. Should be fun to watch.
Everyone remember you heard it here first.
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com/
http://thesportingnews-walt.blogspot.com/
Sidney “Sid the Kid” Crosby put Pittsburgh ahead on the power play with 9:10 remaining in the 1st period, when his centering pass went of a flyer’s defenseman’s skate and caromed into the flyers net on the short side. The Penguins thought they had another with about 3 minutes left in the first period, but a video review was ruled inconclusive and the goal was not allowed. Personally I thought the flyer’s dodged a bullet here as the puck looked like it went over the goal line from my perspective on the replays.
Jeff Carter tied it up on the power play for Philly at 5:46 of the second period, but Marion Hossa put the Pens back into the lead with another power play goal with just over 6 minutes left in the middle period. This goal was scored just 9 seconds into the power play.
Mike Richards got Philly even again with a short handed marker with 24 seconds left in the second period. Evgeni Malkin, who was hearing foot steps, threw the puck blindly into the middle of the ice where Richards received the gift, went in alone and beat Biron with a beauty of a wrist shot into the top right corner of the net.
Pittsburgh went up 3-2 at 8:51 of the 3rd period when Maxim Talbot took a no look backhand feed from Gary Roberts and planted it into the back of the net. Late in the period Pittsburgh got away with a couple of non calls that would have been penalties in the 1st period. Jordan Staal, iced the win with an empty net goal at 19:31 of the 3rd, making the final score 4-2 for Pittsburgh. The Pens now take a 2-0 series lead into Philadelphia.
At this time I would like to elaborate on why I am picking the Red Wings and the Penguins to meet in the cup final. The Stanley Cup playoffs are the toughest grind in professional sport, and thus it makes the Stanley Cup the hardest trophy to capture. Just ask some of the players that had distinguished and long careers without ever getting even a sniff of the cup. That being said it almost boils down to this. In order for a team to have a legitimate chance at winning the cup, they need at least one playoff round where they can finish a team early, say in 4 games or 5 max. Chances are if you have to fight through two or three 7 games series to get there. There won’t be enough left in the tank to finish the trip. Just look at the Dallas Stars now against Detroit, They have no legs left and are running on vapor. Where Detroit finished a depleted Colorado team in four straight. Pittsburgh did the same in the east, beating Ottawa 4 straight and then toasting the Rangers in five games. That is why they will meet in the cup final and it should be a great series. Both teams are loaded with talent and have a very quick and decisive counter attack. Should be fun to watch.
Everyone remember you heard it here first.
Sincerely Walt Webb
http://allsportsontheweb.com/
http://thesportingnews-walt.blogspot.com/
Saturday, May 10, 2008
My take on the NHL Playoffs
April 29 2008
After winning the first two games in Pittsburgh, the Penguins were in control of their series with the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist was not himself in the first two games of the series. He seemed to be battling the puck and ended up to deep in his net and not challenging and penquin shooters.
Game three was the same as the previous two with Lundqvist still playing to deep in the net. New York out shot the Penquins in the game 39-17 but still ended up loosing by a score of 4-3. Pittsburgh was up 2-0 after the first period but the Rangers took control of the game in the second period and managed to tie the game up at 2-2. Then the Rangers Ryan Hollweg got a little too aggressive and took a foolish boarding penalty. Pittsburgh scored on the resulting power play and took the momentum back from the New York squad. The penalty proved to be the turning point in the game and Holliwig never saw the ice again for the rest of the game. With that the Penquins went up in the series 3-0.
Stick a fork in the Rangers as they are done.
In game 3 the score was tied at zeros until the last minute of the 1st period when, while killing a penalty, Patrick Marlowe got a breakaway and scored to make it 1-0. The score stayed that way until Dallas got a 5-3 power play early in the 3rd which they capitalized on to tie it at 1-1. Dallas then got a penalty shot but Nabokov stopped it and the game remained tied.
Dallas owned the third period and through everything at the sharks. San Jose seemed to be playing nervous hockey and were worried about making mistakes. They did manage to hold the fort though and get the game into overtime.
In the overtime San Jose ended up icing the puck with their 4th line on the ice. Ron Wilson called a time out to try and rest his troops. It did not help because the Stars sent out their top line against the Sharks 4th line. San Jose lost the draw and got caught running around. They never got the puck back until they were fishing it out of their net after the O.T. winner at 4:37. A shot by Nordstrom from the point deflected off Jeremy Roenick, who was attempting to block it, and went into the top left corner of the net.
May 1 2008
Pens and Rangers
The Rangers came out and started very strong as they had to because their backs were against the wall. It was win or go home. The first thing I noticed was that Henrik Lundqvist was standing up better and coming out of the net a bit better. Cutting the angles down better and playing with much more confidence. The Rangers were rewarded for their hard work with a goal by Jaromir Jagr about 16 minutes into the second period. Just after the goal Evgeny Malkin was awarded a penalty shot but Lundqvist shut him down. Then Dubinsky made it 2-0 about one minute into the 3rd period. Jagr added an empty netter to seal the deal and the Rangers stayed alive to fight one more day. The Rangers will still be toast.
This game was the first bit of adversity the young Pens had faced in the playoffs this year and they showed some frustration. Michel Terrion’s job now as the coach is to re-focus his young players again and have them fight through and not let the frustration fester.
Detroit and Colorado
The Ave’s are all banged up and would have needed to be completely healthy to take a run at the Red Wings. They are missing too many key players to have any chance. So I think, they have the fork in them as well cause their done. No Ryan Smith, no Peter Forsberg, no Paul Stasny. Half of their offence is on the shelf. In the game Colorado turned the puck over way to much and against a team like Detroit, which usually means it will end up in your net. Detroit is likely one of the two best teams in the league at counter attacking. The other is Pittsburgh who I happen to think will be playing Detroit for the cup.
Anyway the puck did end up in the Ave’s net, 3-1 after one period, then two quick ones in the second pretty well sealed it. The final score was 8-2. Colorado done like dinner, four straight. Now Detroit can rest up and watch Dallas and San Jose beat the crap out of each other, hoping their series will go 7.
May 2 2008
Dallas and San Jose
Dallas was in complete control of the game and was up 2-0, with two goals by Brendon Morrow called back, the first was ruled to have been kicked in, while the second was gloved in. The gloved one was the right call but the kicked in goal should have counted. The Sharks were completely listless for two periods and looked dead in the water, pardon the pun. They had turned the puck over to many times to count (about 18) without it really costing them.
Then 6 minutes into the 3rd period Dallas turned the puck over and it was in their net. Then 4 minutes later, Jeremy Roenick (who was hitting everything in sight) made a beautiful pass to spring Brian Campbell and he fired a rocket wrist shot into the top corner.
The game then went into overtime and one minute and five seconds in Joe Rafalski won it for San Jose, with a shot over Marty Turco’s shoulder on the short side. That occurred from another Dallas turn over. You got to love this game, San Jose does nothing but turn the puck over for the first half of the game and is golden, Dallas turns it over maybe 4 times all game and twice it ends up in their net. 3-2 final and back to Dallas. for game 6.
May 3 2008
Montreal and Philly
I am not going to dwell much on this game. Bottom line is “No guts no glory”. Montreal showed that just because you a good team in the regular season, the playoffs are completely different. If you don’t go hard in the corners and in front of the net, “the dirty areas” of the ice, you will not win in the playoffs. Plain and simple, end of story. Montreal was faster and had a deeper line up than the flyers, but had no BALLS and played on the perimeter. Now they are golfing.
May 4 2008
New York at Pittsburgh
Henrik Lundqvist was back to his old self and was holding the fort, keeping his team in the game. It was only 1-0 Pittsburgh half way through the game and the only reason the Rangers were still in it was because of Lundqvist. The Pens were bussing all around the Ranger net after Hossa’s power play goal. Malkin then scored to make it 2-0 with a quick backhand over a surprised Lundqvist’s shoulder. The puck deflected off a Ranger defenseman’s stick.
The Rangers came out strong in the third and carried the play, tied the game and sent it into overtime. Marion Hossa scored the game and series winner.
The Penguin’s will now play the Flyers in the Eastern Conference final. Pittsburgh should win and get to the cup final. Philly played Pittsburgh tough all year though and took the season series 5-3. The flyers may try and rough up the young pens but guys like Gary Roberts and George Larque won’t let that happen.
May 4 2008
San Jose at Dallas
Well this game was “Hudson Bay Rules” in the first period as the ref’s let them play and bang each other about. Dallas scored first but the bottom line in the whole series was that Marty Turco out played Vezina Trophy candidate Nabokov. This was especially true in the first three games of the series.
Dallas has matched San Jose physically in the series even though they were giving up an average of ten pounds per man. San Jose tied the game just over one minute into the third period. Detroit was home resting, rubbing their hands together and hoping that the series would go seven games and they would bang each other up so the winner of the series would be softened up for them. Right at the end of the third period Brendon Morrow layed a huge hit on Milan Muholick and he did not return for the overtime.
In the overtime Nabokov robbed Brad Richards with the save of the playoffs, coming across post to post to grab his shot with his glove. Nabokov should leave the puck alone because his is no Marty Turco, when it comes to handling the puck.
Dallas wins the game and the series at about the 11 minute mark of the fourth overtime period after Brian Campbell took a tripping penalty. The series did not go seven by it may as well have. Of the six games played, four of them went into overtime.
May 8 2008
Dallas at Detroit
As expected Dallas did not have any legs in this game after their grueling series with San Jose. Detroit got up 4-0 and coasted home with a 4-1 win. Dallas had better wake up and have a much better effort on Saturday because they can’t afford to be down two games to a team like Detroit. Needless to say, even before this game I am picking a Pittsburgh vs. Detroit cup final.
May 9 2008
Philly at Pittsburgh
There was not much to this game and both teams looked sluggish after there layoff. Pittsburgh started to take it up a notch in the second half of the game and won 4-2
After winning the first two games in Pittsburgh, the Penguins were in control of their series with the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist was not himself in the first two games of the series. He seemed to be battling the puck and ended up to deep in his net and not challenging and penquin shooters.
Game three was the same as the previous two with Lundqvist still playing to deep in the net. New York out shot the Penquins in the game 39-17 but still ended up loosing by a score of 4-3. Pittsburgh was up 2-0 after the first period but the Rangers took control of the game in the second period and managed to tie the game up at 2-2. Then the Rangers Ryan Hollweg got a little too aggressive and took a foolish boarding penalty. Pittsburgh scored on the resulting power play and took the momentum back from the New York squad. The penalty proved to be the turning point in the game and Holliwig never saw the ice again for the rest of the game. With that the Penquins went up in the series 3-0.
Stick a fork in the Rangers as they are done.
In game 3 the score was tied at zeros until the last minute of the 1st period when, while killing a penalty, Patrick Marlowe got a breakaway and scored to make it 1-0. The score stayed that way until Dallas got a 5-3 power play early in the 3rd which they capitalized on to tie it at 1-1. Dallas then got a penalty shot but Nabokov stopped it and the game remained tied.
Dallas owned the third period and through everything at the sharks. San Jose seemed to be playing nervous hockey and were worried about making mistakes. They did manage to hold the fort though and get the game into overtime.
In the overtime San Jose ended up icing the puck with their 4th line on the ice. Ron Wilson called a time out to try and rest his troops. It did not help because the Stars sent out their top line against the Sharks 4th line. San Jose lost the draw and got caught running around. They never got the puck back until they were fishing it out of their net after the O.T. winner at 4:37. A shot by Nordstrom from the point deflected off Jeremy Roenick, who was attempting to block it, and went into the top left corner of the net.
May 1 2008
Pens and Rangers
The Rangers came out and started very strong as they had to because their backs were against the wall. It was win or go home. The first thing I noticed was that Henrik Lundqvist was standing up better and coming out of the net a bit better. Cutting the angles down better and playing with much more confidence. The Rangers were rewarded for their hard work with a goal by Jaromir Jagr about 16 minutes into the second period. Just after the goal Evgeny Malkin was awarded a penalty shot but Lundqvist shut him down. Then Dubinsky made it 2-0 about one minute into the 3rd period. Jagr added an empty netter to seal the deal and the Rangers stayed alive to fight one more day. The Rangers will still be toast.
This game was the first bit of adversity the young Pens had faced in the playoffs this year and they showed some frustration. Michel Terrion’s job now as the coach is to re-focus his young players again and have them fight through and not let the frustration fester.
Detroit and Colorado
The Ave’s are all banged up and would have needed to be completely healthy to take a run at the Red Wings. They are missing too many key players to have any chance. So I think, they have the fork in them as well cause their done. No Ryan Smith, no Peter Forsberg, no Paul Stasny. Half of their offence is on the shelf. In the game Colorado turned the puck over way to much and against a team like Detroit, which usually means it will end up in your net. Detroit is likely one of the two best teams in the league at counter attacking. The other is Pittsburgh who I happen to think will be playing Detroit for the cup.
Anyway the puck did end up in the Ave’s net, 3-1 after one period, then two quick ones in the second pretty well sealed it. The final score was 8-2. Colorado done like dinner, four straight. Now Detroit can rest up and watch Dallas and San Jose beat the crap out of each other, hoping their series will go 7.
May 2 2008
Dallas and San Jose
Dallas was in complete control of the game and was up 2-0, with two goals by Brendon Morrow called back, the first was ruled to have been kicked in, while the second was gloved in. The gloved one was the right call but the kicked in goal should have counted. The Sharks were completely listless for two periods and looked dead in the water, pardon the pun. They had turned the puck over to many times to count (about 18) without it really costing them.
Then 6 minutes into the 3rd period Dallas turned the puck over and it was in their net. Then 4 minutes later, Jeremy Roenick (who was hitting everything in sight) made a beautiful pass to spring Brian Campbell and he fired a rocket wrist shot into the top corner.
The game then went into overtime and one minute and five seconds in Joe Rafalski won it for San Jose, with a shot over Marty Turco’s shoulder on the short side. That occurred from another Dallas turn over. You got to love this game, San Jose does nothing but turn the puck over for the first half of the game and is golden, Dallas turns it over maybe 4 times all game and twice it ends up in their net. 3-2 final and back to Dallas. for game 6.
May 3 2008
Montreal and Philly
I am not going to dwell much on this game. Bottom line is “No guts no glory”. Montreal showed that just because you a good team in the regular season, the playoffs are completely different. If you don’t go hard in the corners and in front of the net, “the dirty areas” of the ice, you will not win in the playoffs. Plain and simple, end of story. Montreal was faster and had a deeper line up than the flyers, but had no BALLS and played on the perimeter. Now they are golfing.
May 4 2008
New York at Pittsburgh
Henrik Lundqvist was back to his old self and was holding the fort, keeping his team in the game. It was only 1-0 Pittsburgh half way through the game and the only reason the Rangers were still in it was because of Lundqvist. The Pens were bussing all around the Ranger net after Hossa’s power play goal. Malkin then scored to make it 2-0 with a quick backhand over a surprised Lundqvist’s shoulder. The puck deflected off a Ranger defenseman’s stick.
The Rangers came out strong in the third and carried the play, tied the game and sent it into overtime. Marion Hossa scored the game and series winner.
The Penguin’s will now play the Flyers in the Eastern Conference final. Pittsburgh should win and get to the cup final. Philly played Pittsburgh tough all year though and took the season series 5-3. The flyers may try and rough up the young pens but guys like Gary Roberts and George Larque won’t let that happen.
May 4 2008
San Jose at Dallas
Well this game was “Hudson Bay Rules” in the first period as the ref’s let them play and bang each other about. Dallas scored first but the bottom line in the whole series was that Marty Turco out played Vezina Trophy candidate Nabokov. This was especially true in the first three games of the series.
Dallas has matched San Jose physically in the series even though they were giving up an average of ten pounds per man. San Jose tied the game just over one minute into the third period. Detroit was home resting, rubbing their hands together and hoping that the series would go seven games and they would bang each other up so the winner of the series would be softened up for them. Right at the end of the third period Brendon Morrow layed a huge hit on Milan Muholick and he did not return for the overtime.
In the overtime Nabokov robbed Brad Richards with the save of the playoffs, coming across post to post to grab his shot with his glove. Nabokov should leave the puck alone because his is no Marty Turco, when it comes to handling the puck.
Dallas wins the game and the series at about the 11 minute mark of the fourth overtime period after Brian Campbell took a tripping penalty. The series did not go seven by it may as well have. Of the six games played, four of them went into overtime.
May 8 2008
Dallas at Detroit
As expected Dallas did not have any legs in this game after their grueling series with San Jose. Detroit got up 4-0 and coasted home with a 4-1 win. Dallas had better wake up and have a much better effort on Saturday because they can’t afford to be down two games to a team like Detroit. Needless to say, even before this game I am picking a Pittsburgh vs. Detroit cup final.
May 9 2008
Philly at Pittsburgh
There was not much to this game and both teams looked sluggish after there layoff. Pittsburgh started to take it up a notch in the second half of the game and won 4-2
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