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
Showing posts with label Detroit Red Wings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Detroit Red Wings. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
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
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/
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