2007-08 Stanley Cup Finals: Red Wings vs. Penguins

[leaferguy]

I don't think a PIT/DET series would go on for too long.

[xethicx]

I think youre right...

Itll be just another completely pathetic display of diving, flailing, whining and falling down dramatically from Sidney Crosby that will win yet another series on power play goals for Pittsburgh.

I think the refs should come out in game one of the finals and make an impact right away by calling Crosby for diving the first time he does it and the continue to call him for diving and unsportsmanlike until he stops and gets back to playing hockey. If they do that, it will make for a much better series because he will play harder and stop being an embarrassment to himself and the NHL.

Winning the cup isnt worth a man's integrity and honesty. There's embelishing a little which is sadly a part of the game and then there's what Crosby has been doing in the playoffs this year which is a completely pathetic display of immaturity. He's WAY too good a player for that.

I just hope the refs come out and call a good game from the get go instead of just letting Pittsburgh win the cup on powerplays resulting from Suzie Whinesby's acting school.

[PSULion22]

Originally Posted by Goalie33Avs

Game 7, double overtime, Malkin from Crosby for the winner.

You forgot to post the series of the events that led up to that goal. Sidney Crosby takes a dive with no one around him and the refs give the Red Wings an obstruction-tripping penalty because the ice had a rut in it. The Penguins score on the PP.

I'm sure this will start an argument and I'll probably get flamed, but I'm gonna throw this thought I had out there. The general saying in sports is that players will do anything to gain an advantage. Slightly embellishing a call is commonplace. But, for the most part, there are few players that take diving to the art form that Crosby does (Kovalev, Ribiero, and Forsberg come to mind). Crosby is generally considered the best player in the NHL. I have seen him play in person quite a few times, a couple of them very close to the ice. He is tremendously skilled, especially when he is determined. You can see it's like a switch goes off in his head, and he just becomes a different player. So, why all the diving? He shouldn't need all the diving to gain an advantage, he already has it. Is he not as good as we think? Can he only play when he is either on the powerplay or opponents are afraid to hit him lest they take a penalty? His hands and vision are incredible, but those things require space to be an asset. Did his injury this year scare him? Are the dives a way of avoiding contact by trying to scare the competition? What about his focus and motivation? I've said he has the switch that flips in his head. But why doesn't he play like that all of the time? Does he have problems staying motivated and focused, especially in games where he is getting roughted up? Maybe it's his ego? Does he feel that he is the savior of the NHL and he shouldn't have to be bothered by all of the rough stuff? Basically, "let me play my game and give me the space to do so, it's the best thing for the league". Is that why he whines about every call the doesn't go his way?

I'm not saying any of this is true, it's just a thought I had. But whatever the reason, his Oscar-winning performance this postseason is a disgrace. I agree that a ref needs to stand up him and call him for it right off the bat in the Finals. But we all know that isn't going to happen. Sidney's going to dive everytime someone makes contact with him and he loses the puck. And, the refs are going to see him go down and call it. It's a shame, Crosby is so incredible to watch with what he can do but the diving just sours that.

[TartanBill]

Originally Posted by PSULion22

You forgot to post the series of the events that led up to that goal. Sidney Crosby takes a dive with no one around him and the refs give the Red Wings an obstruction-tripping penalty because the ice had a rut in it. The Penguins score on the PP.

I'm sure this will start an argument and I'll probably get flamed, but I'm gonna throw this thought I had out there. The general saying in sports is that players will do anything to gain an advantage. Slightly embellishing a call is commonplace. But, for the most part, there are few players that take diving to the art form that Crosby does (Kovalev, Ribiero, and Forsberg come to mind). Crosby is generally considered the best player in the NHL. I have seen him play in person quite a few times, a couple of them very close to the ice. He is tremendously skilled, especially when he is determined. You can see it's like a switch goes off in his head, and he just becomes a different player. So, why all the diving? He shouldn't need all the diving to gain an advantage, he already has it. Is he not as good as we think? Can he only play when he is either on the powerplay or opponents are afraid to hit him lest they take a penalty? His hands and vision are incredible, but those things require space to be an asset. Did his injury this year scare him? Are the dives a way of avoiding contact by trying to scare the competition? What about his focus and motivation? I've said he has the switch that flips in his head. But why doesn't he play like that all of the time? Does he have problems staying motivated and focused, especially in games where he is getting roughted up? Maybe it's his ego? Does he feel that he is the savior of the NHL and he shouldn't have to be bothered by all of the rough stuff? Basically, "let me play my game and give me the space to do so, it's the best thing for the league". Is that why he whines about every call the doesn't go his way?

I'm not saying any of this is true, it's just a thought I had. But whatever the reason, his Oscar-winning performance this postseason is a disgrace. I agree that a ref needs to stand up him and call him for it right off the bat in the Finals. But we all know that isn't going to happen. Sidney's going to dive everytime someone makes contact with him and he loses the puck. And, the refs are going to see him go down and call it. It's a shame, Crosby is so incredible to watch with what he can do but the diving just sours that.

[PSULion22]

Originally Posted by TartanBill

Says the homer from Pittsburgh. If the Flyers had won and Briere dove the way Crosby does, you would be crying too.

[5hahv1r1]

If Dallas wins tonight, it's going to game 7. Personally I feel a Penguins/Stars final would be much more interesting.

[TartanBill]

Originally Posted by PSULion22

Says the homer from Pittsburgh. If the Flyers had won and Briere dove the way Crosby does, you would be crying too.

But the Flyers didn't win because the Penguins were just that much better.


SCOREBOARD

Been through plenty of disappointments, more and worse than a poor Flyers fan can imagine. But FF denial, fingerpointing, and scapegoating is the gift that keeps on giving. The celebration won't be complete until you guys give it up.

Thanks for your support!

[leaferguy]

Originally Posted by TartanBill

But the Flyers didn't win because the Penguins were just that much better.


SCOREBOARD

Been through plenty of disappointments, more and worse than a poor Flyers fan can imagine. But FF denial, fingerpointing, and scapegoating is the gift that keeps on giving. The celebration won't be complete until you guys give it up.

Thanks for your support!

He's a Rags fan...

All that aside, the Pens have been winning the draft lottery for years. Why all the belly aching about losing and the tough times? Your NHL welfare check finally cashed, is all.

[TartanBill]

Originally Posted by leaferguy

He's a Rags fan...

All that aside, the Pens have been winning the draft lottery for years. Why all the belly aching about losing and the tough times? Your NHL welfare check finally cashed, is all.

Ah, you agree better team won! Tomorrow is another day, but today we celebrate eliminating the Flyers. That hasn't happen in, well, forever! The historic thrashing in the elimination game is the bow on the gift box. The whining about the officials, using the draft to build a team, is music.

Dare to think the unthinkable, today, for this moment, the Rangers and Flyers are losers! Wining is not, after all, your God given right. The next series will determine the best hockey team on the planet and the Penguins will represent the East.

[sloth2946]

Originally Posted by TartanBill

Wining is not, after all, your God given right.

While not their god given right to win, a level playing field is though.

[MetropolisPt31]

Originally Posted by 5hahv1r1

If Dallas wins tonight, it's going to game 7

[leaferguy]

Originally Posted by TartanBill

Ah, you agree better team won! Tomorrow is another day, but today we celebrate eliminating the Flyers. That hasn't happen in, well, forever! The historic thrashing in the elimination game is the bow on the gift box. The whining about the officials, using the draft to build a team, is music.

Dare to think the unthinkable, today, for this moment, the Rangers and Flyers are losers! Wining is not, after all, your God given right. The next series will determine the best hockey team on the planet and the Penguins will represent the East.

We can't all claim birthright to the #1 pick as Mssr. Lemieux can, either.

Just the way the cookie crumbles.

Enjoy this, btw. When the time comes to re-sign this "lottery"-assembled all-star team, it will be fun to watch the Pens once again descend into a two-to-three man show that simply can't do it anymore. By 09-10, it should be fun to watch the Pens whinefest start up again

I can't wait to see the RFA bidding war on Malkin.

[junior1cats]

Originally Posted by TartanBill

Ah, you agree better team won! Tomorrow is another day, but today we celebrate eliminating the Flyers. That hasn't happen in, well, forever! The historic thrashing in the elimination game is the bow on the gift box. The whining about the officials, using the draft to build a team, is music.

Dare to think the unthinkable, today, for this moment, the Rangers and Flyers are losers! Wining is not, after all, your God given right. The next series will determine the best hockey team on the planet and the Penguins will represent the East.

Shouldn't you be celebrating your going to the Stanley Cup Finals ? That's more important. So if your team gets beat by whoever in finals are you still going to hang on that you beat the Flyers this year ?
Also there are 25 other teams that are losers this year besides the Rangers and Flyers.
Comon huh.
Nothing has been won, yet

[HMHINC]

So , uh , predictions if the Wings get past Dallas and take on the Pens?

[TartanBill]

Originally Posted by junior1cats

Shouldn't you be celebrating your going to the Stanley Cup Finals ? That's more important. So if your team gets beat by whoever in finals are you still going to hang on that you beat the Flyers this year ?
Also there are 25 other teams that are losers this year besides the Rangers and Flyers.
Comon huh.
Nothing has been won, yet

Of course we're celebrating going to the Finals. But when some spoiled Flyer and Rangers fans want to trydecry, denigrate, deprecate, depreciate, derogate, detract, discount, disparage, downgrade, run down, slight, talk down, minimize, or otherwise spoil the moment, then it's time revel in schadenfreude.

Originally Posted by leaferguy

We can't all claim birthright to the #1 pick as Mssr. Lemieux can, either.

Just the way the cookie crumbles.

Enjoy this, btw. When the time comes to re-sign this "lottery"-assembled all-star team, it will be fun to watch the Pens once again descend into a two-to-three man show that simply can't do it anymore. By 09-10, it should be fun to watch the Pens whinefest start up again

I can't wait to see the RFA bidding war on Malkin.

Now that's the spirit! When you can't win, revel in other's pain! It's much more fun than crying about how you were cheated by the unfairness of it all!

Of course, having the lottery pick doesn't mean you'll spend it wisely. Wasn't it Philly that traded away the core of a future cup team (including Forsberg) to Quebc for the right to pick Lindros? Once upon a time, the Pens traded positions in the first round, only to collapse and finish last. Minnesota passed up Pat Lafontaine to take Brian Bellows. But you are far too young to remember that pain.