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 review. sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label review. sports. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
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/
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