# NHL Playoffs **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 12, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs/492862 "2009-04-12T17:50:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 23
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs/492862/441 "2009-06-01T02:54:50Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > Settle down. The noncalls have equally hurt and benefitted both teams pretty much equally. > > And it’s 2-0 Detroit in the series heading back into Pittsburgh. Biggest thing that Pittsburgh has had problems with is Detroit’s depth. Looks to me like the Red Wings are better suited at taking advantage of it. Interference, holding sticks, clutching and grabbing. The Pens just have to get better at playing it that way, if that’s the way the refs want it. Now, if they start doing it too and start getting called for it, then you’ll know the bullshit is in. In the bigger picture, however, if the NHL thinks that most of the country outside of hockeytown wants to see that kind of, uh, less than skill-type hockey, they have another thing coming. Two fluke ass goals from Justin Applicator kind of hurt the Pens too. ETA: I did enjoy seeing Malkin kick Zetterberg’s ass a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs/492862/442 "2009-06-01T02:59:04Z")
I agree the non-calls have been called equally…but it still benefits detroit…their style much better fits a clutching, grabbing, banging style, which is completely allowed by not calling anything. Pittsburgh’s style is more wide open, and that’s very hard to establish when nothing is called. Honestly, the difference in this series so far has been mostly luck…very good luck for Detroit, and very bad luck for Pittsburgh. A lot of the ‘poke and hope’ type shots from Detroit have gone in, and a lot of the very best shots from Pittsburgh have just barely been knocked out or hit just off the wrong side of the post, or such. In this game, Osgood was very good, and that made the biggest difference, but it’s been really a lot of breaks tilting to Detroit. I’m hoping the tilting heads back a bit the other way for the next two, but who knows. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs/492862/443 "2009-06-01T03:01:05Z")
> [@dogbutler](#): > > Crosby grabbed the Prince of Wales trophy at the RBC center Tuesday. > > **Harborwolf** , if the Canes had half of you defense depth, we’d have a rematch of 2002. Your GM and scouting department rocks. The not so secret of Detroit’s success. The Wings scouts find players late in the draft and develop them slowly so that they’re mature and ready to contribute as soon as they hit the big leagues. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs/492862/444 "2009-06-01T03:02:42Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > The not so secret of Detroit’s success. The Wings scouts find players late in the draft and develop them slowly so that they’re mature and ready to contribute as soon as they hit the big leagues. Yeah, like that kid Hossa that they brought up through their system. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bruce\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs/492862/445 "2009-06-01T03:10:28Z")
Hossa knows a winner when he sees one, thats why he went to Detroit, for less money I might add. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs/492862/446 "2009-06-01T03:14:25Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > If Crosby was the youngest captain ever, how old was Yzerman when he became captain of the Red Wings? Stevie Y was captain when he was 21. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs/492862/447 "2009-06-01T03:19:16Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Yeah, like that kid Hossa that they brought up through their system. You know, you could make the Yankees-Red Wings connections before the lockout, and I’d agree. Even before the lockout, they had an amazing amount of home grown talent, with some escaping and blossoming in other places. Now that we’re in a salary cap era, those Yankee-Red Wing comparisons aren’t working anymore. The Wings have had phenomenal scouting for about two decades and have mined up a bunch of gems with later picks. So Hossa wanted to go somewhere he could get the Cup. I’m fine with that, so long as that’s his motivation. What’s wrong with winning? You wouldn’t berate a gambler for picking the eventual Stanley Cup champions before the season started and putting money on them then, would you? ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs/492862/448 "2009-06-01T03:24:04Z")
> [@Jman](#): > > God I hate the Red Wings. And what’s the deal with the hockey gods? How many breaks has Detroit had this series (um…let’s see, two of the three goals in game 1), and how many BAD breaks have the Pens had this game…multiple posts just skipping by…it’s just really, really frustrating. Also, this ‘let’s not call anything’ reffing crap has prevented at least 3 good scoring opportunities by the Pens and directly led to Detroit’s second goal, which should have been a Pens powerplay…sorry, a slash that breaks a stick is an automatic penalty, and the fact that that wasn’t called is atrocious. Haha..I think the refs and the PTB are trying to do everything they can to keep the Pings in it. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs/492862/449 "2009-06-01T03:26:31Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > The not so secret of Detroit’s success. The Wings scouts find players late in the draft and develop them slowly so that they’re mature and ready to contribute as soon as they hit the big leagues. It’s not a secret, just they do it so well. Just like the Canes GM has fleeced Philly and picked the gems off the waiver wire. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs/492862/450 "2009-06-01T03:43:14Z")
Fleury is killing them. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs/492862/451 "2009-06-01T04:39:05Z")
> [@dogbutler](#): > > I like the “fantasy” one. Also my fave, cause it’s MY fantasy to have a goalie step into the bedroom in full gear. Yowza! I would not be in a maid outfit though. 'Cause then it would be weird. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs/492862/452 "2009-06-01T05:58:56Z")
excerpt from NBC coverage. > [@](#): > > Crobsy head up the wing, he takes a slash. He crosses the ice, he take a slash. He turns on the dime, and he takes a slash, he turns around, He takes a slash from the immortal Smash “the Slasher” Slashman. He drive towards the net. Goliath gives him a slash, Attila cross checks him, he wards off 12 slashes at once from the entire brass section at once. Crosby saves an Autistic Inuit child from a polar bear while dancing across the pillars of absolute death. \*\*\* Oh there is Zetterberg raping a virgin puppy \*\*\*\* Crosby reverses the Ice, he takes 25 .50 cal shots to the face from Adolph Hitler, but get the cross off to The Siddhartha The golden one recovers the puck .But, horror of horrors, as Osgood is eating the heart of reicarnated Lama the puck bounces off his cauldron of girl-scout-raping. > > Well thank god the ref called a penalty on Lidstrom from having a sock that was #0FFF12 rather than #0FFF13, I think he should meat the firing squad I am so looking forward to VS. coverage, and I can’t believe I am saying that. Can we please find an announcer who doesn’t have his tongue in Corsby’s Vagina? ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs/492862/453 "2009-06-01T11:16:43Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Looks to me like the Red Wings are better suited at taking advantage of it. Interference, holding sticks, clutching and grabbing. The Pens just have to get better at playing it that way, if that’s the way the refs want it. Now, if they start doing it too and start getting called for it, then you’ll know the bullshit is in. > > In the bigger picture, however, if the NHL thinks that most of the country outside of hockeytown wants to see that kind of, uh, less than skill-type hockey, they have another thing coming. 😕 Did I miss the part where Detroit was knocked out of the playoffs and the Nashville Predators made it to the finals, cause otherwise this post makes no sense. What Detroit is doing isn’t called interference and the like. It’s called defense. Outside of Pittsburgh, teams have realized that they don’t have to step out of the way of opposing players, or simply skate backwards. Sure it’d be more polite, but it’s not necessary. > [@](#): > > Two fluke ass goals from Justin Applicator kind of hurt the Pens too. “Applicator?” Is that supposed to be clever, cause I’m not seeing the humor. Of course, his goal tonight brings me to my earlier point of how to play defense. Abdelkader skates in to the offensive zone on a 1-2. How this is supposed to go is the two converge on the player and force the puck free into the boards. No penalty and no danger, right? So why did one player engage Abdelkader and the other simply skate backwards away from the play? Both defenseman take him out and there’s no “fluke goal.” Pittsburgh blueliners are as much to blame for that goal as Fleury. > [@](#): > > ETA: I did enjoy seeing Malkin kick Zetterberg’s ass a bit. You really shouldn’t have. When a player on your team is fighting, that means your team lost. He’s also damn lucky he didn’t get an automatic one game suspension which an end of game instigator penalty calls for. And it’s easy to kick someones ass when you [jump them from behind and start swinging with your gloves on and your stick in your hand](http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/stanleycup/Stanleycupfinal/story/2009/06/01/sp-malkin-instigator.html?ref=rss). That wasn’t an ass kicking. That was a hissy fit. > [@](#): > > Yeah, like that kid Hossa that they brought up through their system. Why is noone upset about Conklin leaving? Feel kinda bad for the guy. It’s always Hossa. Hossa Hossa Hossa! That’s a good point though, The Wings just threw cash at him and he’s just ripped the Pens apart and has been scoring goals left and right.:dubious: Wait, five of the six goals scored against Pittsburgh in this series have been scored by players from the Wings system (Franzen, Ericsson, Filpula, and “Applicator,” though if you want to be funny about it “Abdicator” would be better) with the lone nonsystem goal coming from Brad Stuart, and he signed for well under what he could’ve gotten in the open market (which I don’t want to leave out the other mercenaries who’ve been stifling the Penguins: Chris Osgood, Henrik Zetterberg, Nick Lidstrom, Nick Kronwall. All brought in with the lure of big bucks. If only there were a salary cap to prevent teams from buying championships. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs/492862/454 "2009-06-01T12:44:41Z")
No, “Applicator” is funnier. After hearing him mic’d up after he scored, he sounds like he needs a feminine product. And is it called defense or is it called gay porn? I know I’d rather watch hockey than a bunch of guys playing grab ass. What people want to watch is something like the Pens-Capitals series. They prefer to see people who can shoot, not grab sticks and sweaters. Hopefully they’ll address it before next season - after Detriot grabs the cup this year. Oh, and the Cup, too. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs/492862/455 "2009-06-01T13:53:23Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > No, “Applicator” is funnier. After hearing him mic’d up after he scored, he sounds like he needs a feminine product. > > And is it called defense or is it called gay porn? I know I’d rather watch hockey than a bunch of guys playing grab ass. > > What people want to watch is something like the Pens-Capitals series. They prefer to see people who can shoot, not grab sticks and sweaters. Hopefully they’ll address it before next season - after Detriot grabs the cup this year. Oh, and the Cup, too. Damn. 2 games into the finals and the grapes get sour. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs/492862/456 "2009-06-01T14:24:01Z")
The Wings are a talented team. The days of The Philly Goons is long gone. The Wings have a lot of talented skaters and stick handlers. To imply they are grabbing goons is insulting. It is the by product of crying . The series is not determined until someone breaks the home ice problem. All the Wings did was save home ice advantage. If the Penguins win at home ,there is a lot of hockey left. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs/492862/457 "2009-06-01T14:46:46Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > Damn. 2 games into the finals and the grapes get sour. Sour grapes implies that I’ve said I wouldn’t want the Pens to win anyway, doesn’t it? I haven’t said that. I would very much like them to win, and I hope that they start doing things like cross-checking people on the attack at the blue line (which would have been interference in every game before this series) and breaking the sticks of defenders so that they can score a goal. I only hope that, as I’ve said before, if they should change tactics the refs do not also decide to change tactics as well. I’m simply resigned to believe that the Pens will not be as good at this style of hockey. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs/492862/458 "2009-06-01T14:49:15Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > The Wings are a talented team. The days of The Philly Goons is long gone. The Wings have a lot of talented skaters and stick handlers. To imply they are grabbing goons is insulting. It is the by product of crying . > The series is not determined until someone breaks the home ice problem. All the Wings did was save home ice advantage. If the Penguins win at home ,there is a lot of hockey left. I haven’t seen any particular skill from the Red Wings. I’ve seen a lot of lucky bounces off some crazy boards, along with Fleury letting a couple of garbage goals go in. The only skilled score from the Wings came off the play that they broke a stick, so I kind of see that as a wash. ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs/492862/459 "2009-06-01T14:50:55Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > The Wings are a talented team. The days of The Philly Goons is long gone. The Wings have a lot of talented skaters and stick handlers. To imply they are grabbing goons is insulting. It is the by product of crying . I’m from Chicago and absolutely love the Blackhawks. I revile the Red Wings so much I’d give up several important body parts to see them lose the finals. And…I agree with you. They are the most talented team in hockey. ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs/492862/460 "2009-06-01T14:52:13Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > I haven’t seen any particular skill from the Red Wings. I’ve seen a lot of lucky bounces off some crazy boards, along with Fleury letting a couple of garbage goals go in. The only skilled score from the Wings came off the play that they broke a stick, so I kind of see that as a wash. I would attribute to skill the fact that they’ve only had to score 2 goals to win either of the first two games. Goaltending skill, of course. Other than that, you claim you havn’t seen skill from the Redwings, yet they’re up 2-0, outscoring the Pens 3-1. Woe is Pittsburgh if Detroit can statistically dominate them so with no skill. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs/492862.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-playoffs/492862.md?page=24)