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Official 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs Discussion Thread

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BuckeyeMike80;1165475; said:
As yesterday showed us all, it's really hard to play hockey when you have both hands firmly grasping your throat....

They looked like a completely different team yesterday than they have for the past month or so, unfocused, confused and a step (or more) slow at times.

If they blow this lead that should be the end of Babcock and maybe Holland too.
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Mikey, you've got to have a little more faith in your team. If we lose again tonight, then I'll understand the complaining about choking. But, hopefully we'll go out there, get a solid win, and get ourselves ready for the finals. Chin up. :biggrin:
 
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The matchups in the Cup Finals are the reason the Wings went out and got Brad Stuart at the deadline.

He gives the Wings essentially two top tier defense pairing that they will be able to run at the Penguins, one against the Malkin line and one against the Crosby line.

I'll be shocked if Lidstrom isn't on the ice more than 25 minutes per game in each game and he'll always be on the ice against Crosby.

Offensively the Pens have the edge so long as Franzen isn't playing. It's not that big of an edge, but it's an edge. If Franzen is in the game and is at or near the level he was playing at, he gives the Wings two very solid lines both 5 v 5 and on the power play.

Defensively (where the I think this series will be decided), I think the advantage lies with the Wings seeing as they can trot out 2 defense pairings that would start anywhere else in the NHL not named Anaheim or Detroit or San Jose. Kronwall has stepped up his defensive game to match up with his offensive skills and Stuart would be a first line pairing with Lidstrom is Rafalski wasn't a Wing. Lidstrom and Rafalski are the best pairing in the NHL and they are playing like it too thankfully.

Osgood v. Fleury is a wash. Osgood only sees about 20 shots per game so the Pens will have to make them out. Fleury will have to get used to seeing Holmstrom's/McCarty's/Franzen's/Drake's ass in his face while the snipers keep shooting.

My prediction: If Detroit can win 60% of the faceoffs again (they won something like 67% against Dallas for the series) and average over 30 shots per game, the Pens will have issues winning this series.

If Franzen comes back and is healthy, Wings in 5. He makes guys like Samuelsson much more effective because while he makes some seriously questionable decisions with the puck, if he has Franzen standing in front for deflections, those wrist shots into the goalies chest are good for deflections and whatnot (just ask Jose Theodore)....

If no Franzen this series could go 7 games easily.
 
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