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Posts Tagged ‘Stanley Cup Finals’

Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals – The final game this season

June 12th, 2009

Tonight the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings square off for the Stanley Cup. The regular season is irrelevant and the future doesn’t matter. It’s about making less mistakes than the opponent for the last 60 minutes of the 2008-2009 season. That actually sounds pretty easy. Pretty sure every professional hockey player would shake their heads if they thought I was serious. Well, I am, sorta, but you know how these things are…

Who has the advantage going into game 7 tonight? It depends who you ask, but I’d like to objectively point out two area’s I think Pittsburgh benefits from.

Game 7 Experience
So much has been said about the Detroit Red Wings and their Stanley Cup experience from their recent Cup victories, however, most players on the Wings have never done so in a game 7. So how is that an advantage for Pittsburgh? Simple – the Penguins just don’t know any better. This game is exactly like game 6: lose the game and you lose the Cup. The simple fact the Wings haven’t been in game 7 territory might be enough to get them overthinking the situation. Yes – these are pro’s of the highest level, but they are still human beings. Every situation Detroit has faced in recent years, they’ve faced before. Nothing is new for them… until now. Pittsburgh’s youth could certainly provide an odd advantage here.

Improvements & Answers
Despite losing Ryan Malone in the off-season (note: next time you want to sign Malone; sign his dad first), Marian Hossa to some other team (can’t remember who…) and trading Ryan Whitney (maybe the Pens just don’t like Ryans, hence why they drafted Sidney Crosby over Anaheim Duck pick Bobby Ryan… alright. Bad joke…), the Penguins are a deeper team than last year. Every game they play (with exceptions to game 5…), shows they’ve learned from previous experiences. They didn’t get shutout in games 1 or 2 at the Joe Louis Arena, like last year and they won game 6 in Pittsburgh, unlike last year. They didn’t panick against Washington and completely dominated game 7 of that series. The remarkable thing about the Penguins playoff run this year is that they seem to have an answer for everything. When they look down and out, they play better. They turn up the heat. When Evgeni Malkin’s play is questioned, he gets better. Marc-Andre Fleury was pulled in game 5, yet rebounds in game 6 for a huge performance. You get my drift. The Penguins Cup run hasn’t been a fairy tale, but when the clutch performances are needed most, the Penguins have come through every time.

I’m still thinking Crosby’s raising Lord Stanley tonight. For the sake of this blog (We did say we might turn Stayclassy.net into a fishing blog if we’re not right on the Penguins winning…), I hope I’m right.

*Gulp*

Stay classy, young Penguins

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Posted in NHL Commentary, Stanley Cup Playoffs

Tags: Detroit Red Wings Evgeni Malkin Marian Hossa NHL Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby Stanley Cup Finals StayClassy.net

Stanley Cup Final- Game 7- Keeping my Fingers Crossed

June 12th, 2009

I have to admit, it’s hard not to get caught up in the hype for this one. Stanley Cup Final rematch, Game 7, back at the Joe, a chance to build on a dynasty for one team, a chance for redemption for another team. The storylines are endless and the excitement has built to an all-time high. This is what the NHL wanted. Let’s hope they get it.

Why the cynicism?

I have no doubt that this game has the potential to be great; a game we will talk about for years to come. But, like Marc-Andre Fleury in Game 1 last year, it also has the potential to fall flat on its face.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQQaQGOSquo&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b]

This morning, the TSN Top Ten was the Top Ten Stanley Cup Final Game 7 moments. Not to give too much away, but there were only ten moments they listed. Yesterday, Ian Mendes at Rogers Sportsnet posted some of the best Game 7s in sports. Again, it was a short list. I’m sure in both cases there were many more. But there have also been plenty of duds. So here’s hoping tonight’s game doesn’t turn out like these travesties:

2009 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals- Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Washington Capitals
In what had been arguably the best series of the playoffs, there was no other option than a Game 7. Two of the best young teams in the East were going the distance, and we were promised fireworks. Well, except for a breakaway save by Fleury against Alexander Ovechkin, this game had about the same enthusiasm as Joaquin Phoenix’s recent appearance on Letterman. Pittsburgh skated away with this one, and I felt like I was watching pre-season in Switzerland. Not the Conference Semi-Finals.

2004 Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals- Ottawa Senators vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Maybe this one stings a bit more because of my allegiance to the Ottawa Senators, but talk about another Game 7 letdown. In what was supposed to be Ottawa’s chance at finally beating the Leafs in the playoffs, a struggling offense, and stellar, if not incredibly lucky goaltending from Ed Belfour (remember when that Hossa shot hit the butt-end of his stick? Really Eddie? You meant to do that?), pushed this series to a Game 7. Well, we all remember how this one went. Current Stars GM Joe Niewendyk put two softies past Patrick Lalime and the game was out of hand and out of reach. The Sens bench, which used to turn defense into offense, was absolutely startled. They had no game plan after those goals, and we had to watch in utter dismay as Alfredsson led the charge to shake hands with the dreaded Leafs. In a series that had so much potential for Sens fans and the Battle of Ontario, this Game 7 was a dud.

2003 Stanley Cup Finals- New Jersey Devils vs. Anaheim Mighty Ducks
This one is being talked about as Dan Bylsma’s missed opportunity, but Game 7 was a complete bore. After coming back from a 3-1 deficit, most of the hockey world was cheering on Giguere and the Ducks as the cinderella story of 2003. But a shutout performance from Martin Brodeur and two goals from Mike Rupp made this less exciting than a John and Kate Plus 8 marathon on TLC.

1999 Western Conference Finals- Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche
Colorado took an impressive 3-2 lead over the future Stanley Cup Champions with a 7-5 victory in Game 5. After Dallas tied the series in Game 6, we all figured for some fireworks in Game 7. Well, 6 minutes into the third period and Dallas was already up 4-0. Only 7 minutes later did Colorado score its first goal, but Dallas had already wrapped this one up. They were on their way to the Finals. With a Colorado team that featured the likes of Sakic, Forsberg, Drury, and Fleury, we all figured we’d get a bit more out of this Game 7.

1996 Conference Semi-Finals- Detroit Red Wings vs. St. Louis Blues
I don’t know if you can call this a bad game, so much as a brutal way to end a series. We all know the goal. It’s replayed over and over and over. But Steve Yzerman grabs a loose puck that was coughed up by Wayne Gretzky, skates into the St. Louis zone, and fires a shot from the blueline that somehow handcuffs Jon Casey. It cements Yzerman as a great leader, player and playoff performer, sends Casey to who-knows-where, and ends the series. Good series, good hockey. Awful goal.

My age is beginning to show here, cause I’m sure I’m missing some other brutal Game 7s. Here’s hoping that tonight’s billing lives up to the hype, and doesn’t make my list next year.

Stay classy, Stanley Cup Finals Game 7. The NHL needs you.

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Posted in NHL Commentary, Stanley Cup Playoffs

Tags: Alex Ovechkin Anaheim Ducks Dallas Stars Detroit Red Wings Eastern Conference New Jersey Devils NHL NHL Playoffs Ottawa Senators Pittsburgh Penguins Stanley Cup Stanley Cup Finals StayClassy.net Steve Yzerman Toronto Maple Leafs Wayne Gretzky Western Conference

The what-ifs of the Stanley Cup Finals – Game 7 especially…

June 11th, 2009

This has been an incredible series to watch. Great hockey from both the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Ups, downs, and lots of what-ifs. Really, this series has boiled down to the intangibles. Leading into Game 7, a lot of these questions are going to be talked about. And this series will undoubtedly come down to a few more. But I present to you, the best what-if moments of the Stanley Cup Finals.

What if:

- Malkin had scored on that breakway in Game 1, when the score was still notched at 2-1?

- Abdelkader wasn’t slotted into the lineup, and scored two clutch goals to put it out of reach?

- Abdelkader hadn’t been scratched for Games 3, 4, 5 and 6?

- Hossa hadn’t been silent for most of the series?

- Fleury hadn’t stopped Cleary on that breakaway?

- The Wings hadn’t embarassed the Penguins in Game 5?

- Scuderi hadn’t made 3 impressive saves at the end of Game 6?

- Staal and Kennedy hadn’t stepped up and provided that secondary scoring?

So, leading into Game 7 on Friday night, here’s a few more, which could essentially win the Stanley Cup.

What if:

- Crosby steps up and breaks the jinx at the Joe?

- Malkin provides another dominating performance to finish these playoffs?

- Zetterberg and Datsyuk put on a ‘defense turning into offense’ clinic?

- Hossa breaks out of his funk?

- Fleury makes another game-changing save early in Game 7 (see game-changing save in Game 7 against the Capitals)?

All of these factors, and many more, are huge for tomorrow’s game. I refuse to make a call or prediction in this forum. I’ve done it in the past, but it never works out. Just know that we are lucky enough to have a Game 7, and to keep an eye out for these intangibles. Man I love sports.

This has been an incredible series to watch. Great hockey from both the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Ups, downs, and lots of what-ifs. Really, this series has boiled down to the intangibles. Leading into Game 7, a lot of these questions are going to be talked about. And this series will undoubtedly come down to a few more. But I present to you, the best what-if moments of the Stanley Cup Finals.

What if:

- Malkin had scored on that breakway in Game 1, when the score was still notched at 2-1?

- Abdelkader wasn’t slotted into the lineup, and scored two clutch goals to put it out of reach?

- Abdelkader hadn’t been scratched for Games 3, 4, 5 and 6?

- Hossa hadn’t been silent for most of the series?

- Fleury hadn’t stopped Cleary on that breakaway?

- The Wings hadn’t embarassed the Penguins in Game 5?

- Scuderi hadn’t made 3 impressive saves at the end of Game 6?

- Staal and Kennedy hadn’t stepped up and provided that secondary scoring?

So, leading into Game 7 on Friday night, here’s a few more, which could essentially win the Stanley Cup.

What if:

- Crosby steps up and breaks the jinx at the Joe?

- Malkin provides another dominating performance to finish these playoffs?

- Zetterberg and Datsyuk put on a ‘defense turning into offense’ clinic?

- Hossa breaks out of his funk?

- Fleury makes another game-changing save early in Game 7 (see game-changing save in Game 7 against the Capitals)?

All of these factors, and many more, are huge for tomorrow’s game. I refuse to make a call or prediction in this forum. I’ve done it in the past, but it never works out. Just know that we are lucky enough to have a Game 7, and to keep an eye out for these intangibles. Man I love sports.

Stay classy, NHL fans

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Posted in NHL Commentary, Stanley Cup Playoffs

Tags: Detroit Red Wings Evgeni Malkin Henrik Zetterberg Marian Hossa NHL Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby Stanley Cup Finals StayClassy.net

Can Bylsma Learn Anything from Babcock?

June 11th, 2009

If there is one thing about the Stanley Cup and the NHL, you can find connections in the weirdest of places. Take for instance, Dan Blysma and Mike Babcock. Blysma, as many people know, was playing for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks (back when they were still mighty) when Babcock was coaching. They both went to Game 7 together, and they both lost to the New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup Final.

Both coaches probably learned a lot in that situation, but that doesn’t mean Blysma isn’t trying to get a little more information from Babcock. The following is a completely untrue recorded telephone conversation from last night.

Mike Babcock: Hello?

Dan Blysma: Um, hey Mike. It’s Yzerman.

M.B: Yzerman? Which one?

D.B: Um, the good one.

M.B: Is that you Dan, you sorry S.O.B?

D.B: Yeah. Sorry coach.

M.B: What did I tell you Dan. You can’t keep calling me coach. You’re part of this club now. Just call me Mike. So what can I do for you?

D.B: I’m pretty nervous coa…er….Mike. I mean, it’s game 7. The only other Stanley Cup Final Game 7 I’ve been in didn’t work out so well.

M.B: Yeah, we really screwed the pooch on that one. But there was a lot more clutching and grabbing back then.

D.B: Seriously eh. Remember that time Adam Oates was holding onto my sweater for protection after Paul Kariya got drilled by Scott Stevens?

M.B: Not that kind of clutching and grabbing Dan. But anyways. There’s nothing to be nervous about. You got a heck of a team over there.

D.B: You think so? I’ve always thought they were pretty cool dudes. Did you know that Jordan Staal can’t even drink yet?

M.B: Yeah, I heard that. Some of my guys can’t drink either….but it’s for their blood pressure. Doctor’s orders. Anyways Dan, just go out there and give them the same speech I gave you guys in 2003.

D.B: Which one.

M.B: Oh come on. You remember. I said: “Don’t screw this up, or you might end up coaching against me some day in the Stanley Cup Finals and I swear to you I will punish your entire team for not letting me win the Stanley Cup this year!”

D.B: Oh….right. Do you think that’ll work?

M.B: Well, it didn’t back then, and now look at where we are.

D.B: Ohhhhh. Well on the plus side, maybe Sid the Kid will end up coaching against me.

M.B: Sure Dan. Anyways, good luck tomorrow. And stop calling.

D.B: Okay coach.

If there is one thing about the Stanley Cup and the NHL, you can find connections in the weirdest of places. Take for instance, Dan Bylsma and Mike Babcock. Bylsma, as many people know, was playing for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks (back when they were still mighty) when Babcock was coaching. They both went to Game 7 together, and they both lost to the New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup Final.

Both coaches probably learned a lot in that situation, but that doesn’t mean Bylsma isn’t trying to get a little more information from Babcock. The following is a completely untrue recorded telephone conversation from last night.
Mike Babcock: Hello?

Dan Bylsma: Um, hey Mike. It’s Yzerman.

M.B: Yzerman? Which one?

D.B: Um, the good one.

M.B: Is that you Dan, you sorry S.O.B?

D.B: Yeah. Sorry coach.

M.B: What did I tell you Dan. You can’t keep calling me coach. You’re part of this club now. Just call me Mike. So what can I do for you?

D.B: I’m pretty nervous coa…er….Mike. I mean, it’s game 7. The only other Stanley Cup Final Game 7 I’ve been in didn’t work out so well.

M.B: Yeah, we really screwed the pooch on that one. But there was a lot more clutching and grabbing back then.

D.B: Seriously eh. Remember that time Adam Oates was holding onto my sweater for protection after Paul Kariya got drilled by Scott Stevens?

M.B: Not that kind of clutching and grabbing Dan. But anyways. There’s nothing to be nervous about. You got a heck of a team over there.

D.B: You think so? I’ve always thought they were pretty cool dudes. Did you know that Jordan Staal can’t even drink yet?

M.B: Yeah, I heard that. Some of my guys can’t drink either….but it’s for their blood pressure. Doctor’s orders. Anyways Dan, just go out there and give them the same speech I gave you guys in 2003.

D.B: Which one.

M.B: Oh come on. You remember. I said: “Don’t screw this up, or you might end up coaching against me some day in the Stanley Cup Finals and I swear to you I will punish your entire team for not letting me win the Stanley Cup this year!”

D.B: Oh….right. Do you think that’ll work?

M.B: Well, it didn’t back then, and now look at where we are.

D.B: Ohhhhh. Well on the plus side, maybe Sid the Kid will end up coaching against me.

M.B: Sure Dan. Anyways, good luck tomorrow. And stop calling.

D.B: Okay coach.

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Posted in NHL Humour, Stanley Cup Playoffs

Tags: Anaheim Ducks Detroit Red Wings New Jersey Devils NHL Pittsburgh Penguins Stanley Cup Finals StayClassy.net Steve Yzerman

Where in the world is Marian Hossa?

June 10th, 2009

Finding Marian Hossa in the 2009 Stanley Cup finals is almost as hard as those Where’s Waldo books from grade school – especially the one where Waldo’s at the zoo. Or the one just below where it seem’s he’s at a KFC football game.

Can you find Waldo? More importantly, can you find Marian Hossa?

Hossa’s playoff performance in 2008 with the Pittsburgh Penguins did wonders to shed the reputation of being a non-playoff performer. Hossa scored 26 points in 20 games in the Penguins 2008 run. So that was last year and everyone knows what happened next…

… One year later: Marian Hossa finds himself back in the Stanley Cup finals, against the very team he left. You couldn’t write a better story than this if you tried. Hossa turned down long term offers from the Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks and Montreal Canadiens (among others) for the chance to win a Stanley Cup in Detroit. Doing that probably means you really want to win a Stanley Cup, right?

Maybe not, if you are Marian Hossa. Hossa has had a fairly “meh” playoffs so far, registering only 15 points in 22 games. That’d be pretty good, if you weren’t playing with the likes of Johan Franzen, Henrik Zetterberg, Jiri Hudler, Nick Lidstrom and others. In the Finals, against his old team, Hossa has 3 assists in 6 games. Hmmm… two of those games were played with Pavel Datsyuk, too.

Marian Hossa - 2009 Stanley Cup finals version

It’s not just the numbers – it’s his play too. Hossa is a dominant player in the NHL because of his size, strength and hockey smarts. I haven’t really seen much of that. Sure, he’s been dominant along the boards with the puck, but the longer he holds the puck, the less likely he is to do anything with it. So while it’s impressive, where are the results to say “wow, you made something happen” ?

TSN’s Ray Ferraro made some great points following Pittsburgh’s clutch game 6 victory saying Hossa looks like he’s scared to touch the puck or do anything with it.

I agree with that.

Hossa’s not throwing the body much either; not making impact hits, not forechecking or owning the neutral zone as well as he can or as well as coach Mike Babcock probably wants. If anything, it should of be him stepping up to shadow Evgeni Malkin during Datsyuk’s absence. Had he done so, would we still be talking about who will win this series?

I just don’t get it – this is Hossa’s chance to win the big one and he’s not showing up. Not even close. If you can’t show up on the score board, you can sure as hell contribute with strong, aggressive play. And I still don’t get why Waldo is at a KFC football game, either.

Stay classy, Marian Hossa

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Posted in NHL Commentary, Stanley Cup Playoffs

Tags: Detroit Red Wings Edmonton Oilers Henrik Zetterberg Jiri Hudler Johan Franzen Marian Hossa Montreal Canadiens NHL Nick Lidstrom Pavel Datsyuk Pittsburgh Penguins Stanley Cup Finals StayClassy.net Vancouver Canucks

Who's your Conn Smythe pick?

June 8th, 2009

Not since 2003 has a player on the losing team in the Stanley Cup finals won the Conn Smythe trophy as the most valuable player. We all remember J.S. Giguere’s performance that year, and that thick beard that probably had Scott Niedermayer jealous in both length and color (grey beards don’t look cool, Scott).

And as the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs wind down either Tuesday or Friday night, we’ll be left figuring out this year’s Conn Smythe winner. Well, we won’t, the NHL will, but you get what I mean. It’s with no surprise that this year’s Conn Smythe winner is a 2 horse race between Evgeni Malkin and Henrik Zetterberg.

You can make pretty good arguments for Sidney Crosby, Chris Osgood and maybe even Johan Franzen, but ultimately, Zetterberg and Malkin are the front runners. Their impact – although slightly different – are the big reason why both Detroit and Pittsburgh are in the finals, again.

The winner of the Conn Smythe usually goes to the winning team. Duh. Unless a performance nearly overshaddows the winning team, like Giguere in 2003. So the question really becomes:

If the Red Wings win the Stanley Cup, has Evgeni Malkin done enough to win the Conn Smythe?

Conversely, if the Penguins win the Stanely Cup, has Henrik Zetterberg done enough?

Malkin has truly stepped up, leading the Penguins (and all other players) with 35 points in 22 games. Zetterberg is 3rd in playoff scoring (24 points in 21 games), but his biggest contributions lie in his defensive play, shutting down Rick Nash, Ryan Getzlaf, Patrick Kane and now Sidney Crosby. Oh yeah, and his offensive contributions aren’t anything to frown on either.

It’s a tough call. Ultimately, the team that wins the Stanley Cup will probably host the Conn Smythe as that player will likely outplay everyone else, propelling their team to victory. But that’s based on how the NHL has typically awarded the trophy.

Who do I think should win the trophy, regardless of who wins the Cup? Henrik Zetterberg, by a mile. He’s shut down some of the game’s best and brightest stars as noted above. He’s been relied on even more in the Stanley Cup finals with Pavel Datsyuk injured and out of action. He’s average more than a point per game in the playoffs (averaged slightly less in the regular season), despite increased attention and time spent in the defensive zone.

Hank should win this trophy. I believe he’s meant more to the Detroit Red Wings than Evgeni Malkin has to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Don’t get me wrong – Malkin is no slouch. I believe Zetterberg has been a hair or two more dominant to the Red Wing’s pursuit of Lord Stanley than Malkin to the Penguins. Do you agree?

Stay classy, Zetterberg

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Posted in Stanley Cup Playoffs

Tags: Conn Smythe Detroit Red Wings Evgeni Malkin Henrik Zetterberg NHL Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby Stanley Cup Finals StayClassy.net

Pittsburgh Penguins unsung hero's

June 5th, 2009

Who would of thought one year would make this kind of difference? As the Stanley Cup finals continue to move forward,the Pittsburgh Penguins continue to improve and there’s no better evidence of this than Evgeni Malkin.

The billing for this year’s Detroit Red Wings/Pittsburgh Penguins match up was a more confident and experience Penguins team against the truely professional Red Wings. We’re seeing just that. Game 4’s second period explosion from the Penguins could very well be a turning point in the series.

So while Malkin, Marc-Andre Fleury and Sidney Crosby (oh yeah, that guy – we’ve nearly forgotten about him with Geno’s play) are the hero’s, there’s a number of other unhearlded Penguins who deserve kudos: specifically Maxime Talbot and Ruslan Fedotenko.

Ruslan Fedotenko has 13 playoff points in Pittsburgh’s 21 playoff games (7 goals, 6 assists) – not too shabby. Averaging a goal every second game certainly forces defenders to take note of him, as well as Malkin. Defenseman have to cheat somewhere and Fedotenko has really stepped up his playoff game.

Maxime Talbot has 10 points in Pittsburgh’s 21 playoff games (6 goals, 4 assists) – again, not too shabby. Although only one of Talbot’s goals is a game winning goal, it’s worth noting the timing of each to be impecable. Talbot’s timely slapshot that beat Cam Ward in the Conference Finals, right after a penalty kill was certainly a boost and a turning point in the series. Talbot’s fight with Flyer’s tough guy Dan Carcillo was the spark the Penguins needed to get through the second round and his forechecking has opened up space for Malkin and Fedotenko to work their magic.

Secondary scoring is an absolute must for deep playoffs runs – a good reason why Pittsburgh are two wins away from the Stanley Cup. Talbot is a +6 and Fedotenko is a +8. Talk about a gritty scoring line who’s getting things done for Pittsburgh, while Crosby continues to the head-to-head match up with Henrik Zetterberg.

Stay classy, Max and Ruslan

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Posted in NHL Commentary, Stanley Cup Playoffs

Tags: Detroit Red Wings Evgeni Malkin Henrik Zetterberg Maxime Talbot NHL Pittsburgh Penguins Ruslan Fedotenko Sidney Crosby Stanley Cup Finals StayClassy.net

A simulated preview of the Stanley Cup finals

May 29th, 2009

I’m really excited about the Stanley Cup finals this year. The Pittsburgh Penguins versus the Detroit Red Wings. Hossa versus karma. Marc-Andre Fleury versus Chris Osgood. You get the idea. There’s no shortage of story lines either (don’t forget the Penguins backup goalie last year was Ty Conklin, who happened to sign with the Red Wings this past summer…).

So with such anticipation, a few days between series’ and admittedly too much free time, I simulated a 7 game series between the Red Wings and Penguins in NHL09 on my Xbox 360. The results? Quite formidable, depending on who you’re rooting for. And surprisingly realistic, too.

Here’s how the series shaped up, game by game with noted highlights.

Game 1: Detroit wins 3-2
Dan Cleary get’s the game winner as a result of Marc-Andre Fleury misplaying the puck late in the 3rd period. After the game, I edit Fleury’s goalie pads back to his old school bright yellow pads.

Game 2: Pittsburgh wins 4-1
The Detroit team auto-edited Marian Hossa’s visor to be tinted, as a result of Fleury’s pads. Apparently EA Sports has a sense of humor.

Game 3: Pittsburgh wins 1-0
Fleury gets a 28-save shutout for the Penguins. Must be the pads.

Game 4: Detroit wins 3-1
Nik Kronwall’s feet left the ice for a big hit late in the 3rd period after Evgeni Malkin makes a sweet dangle. I think Malkin’s head blew up. He leaves the game with an upper body injury and doesn’t return. I checked and the game doesn’t give 5 minute interference penalties. Ever.

Game 5: Pittsburgh wins 4-3 (OT)
Chris Osgood get’s a hard slash from Brooks Orpik as retribution from Kronwall’s hit. After that, Ozzy let’s in a weak OT goal from Sidney Crosby. Never thought I’d say this, but compared to the video game, Crosby’s real life mustache isn’t that creepy.

Game 6: Detroit wins 4-2
Pavol Datsyuk plays a strong game for Detroit, but with a glitch in the game, one of his skates is twice as big as the other one. Wait, upon instant reply and super zooming, it’s actually showing how swollen his foot really is. Kinda gross.

Game 7: Pittsburgh wins 5-3
Craig Adams scores the fifth goal of the game into an empty net… again. Pretty sure the Xbox is psychic or something. The reflection of the Stanley Cup shows Marian Hossa with an evil look reminiscent of Dr. Evil from Austin Powers. Also, my Xbox started kept glitching and Crosby refused to pick up Lord Stanley, thinking it was the Prince of Wales trophy.

And of course, in a crazy ironic sequence, Marian Hossa signs a 1 year contract with the Penguins in the offseason as an unrestricted free agent in hopes to win a Stanley Cup.

Stay classy, Stanley Cup finals.

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Posted in NHL Humour, Stanley Cup Playoffs

Tags: Detroit Red Wings Evgeni Malkin Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby Stanley Cup Finals StayClassy.net Xbox 360

2009 Stanley Cup predictions: Stanley Cup finals

May 28th, 2009

Saturday May 30 is when the NHL’s 2009 Stanley Cup final will begin. Pittsburgh Penguins versus the Detroit Red Wings. There certainly are no shortage of stories available for this series either. Can Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin out play Detroit’s top stars? Are Detroit healthy? Can the Penguins take Hossa’s cup dream away? Many of these questions will start to be answers in just over 48 hours.

As always, here are the Stayclassy.net predictions for the Stanley Cup!

Stanley Cup Finals

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Detroit Red Wings
Burgundy: Pittsburgh in 7 games; In short, they are hot, healthy and jiving nicely. Finally, the Red Wings goaltending will be an issue. Nothing against Osgood, but I believe Marc-Andre Fleury will be a huge difference here. Also, I’m questioning Detroit’s health for stars like Datsyuk and Lidstrom.
Fantana: Pittsburgh in 6 games; Pittsburgh are a stronger and more poised team than they were last year. Factor in Malkin’s emergence as a true playoff star and the fact that Detroit are pretty banged up right now (Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Ericsson, Draper and even Hossa) and you come to the easy conclusion that this year is all about the March of the Penguins.
Mantooth: Pittsburgh in 6 games; Because I say so! And because the team is different this year, more mature, Billy G has been a great addition, Geno has found is groove, and Sid..well Sid is still playing great! Detroit has been playing very well, and being the defending champs, holds a lot of weight. But are the injuries going to hurt them? In one word, Yes! Is Ozzy that solid between the pipes? He is, but the Pens offense is connecting very well. The Truth is I have made some wrong calls in these playoffs, in fact I didn’t have either of these team in the final… I will let the winning captain (Which will be Sid), take my mother out for a nice seafood dinner in exchange for a picture with the Cup.
Tambland: Pittsburgh in 5 games; Please see my Open Letter to Marian Hossa to see why the Penguins will win this series. Bottom line: they’re healthier, faster, younger, learned from last year and have better goaltending. Plus they have the hockey gods on their side, as well as every media outlet in North America. I hate to say it, but I kind of want to see Crosby lift the Cup now.
Baxter: Pittsburgh in 6 games; What a difference a year makes. A stronger, more mature Pittsburgh team. Hungrier and knowing now what it takes to win. Malkin is just starting to peak. Crosby has been at his plateau since the start of the playoffs. Bill Guerin is looking ten years younger than he really is. Fleury is making the clutch saves when needed. Besides, there is always the Commercial:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnEY-4Ot6Ds]

Wow. There you have it, Stayclassy.net is definitely picking Pittsburgh to be 2009’s Stanley Cup winners. I wasn’t expecting that. Do you agree?

Stay classy, Stanley Cup finals.

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Posted in Stanley Cup Playoffs

Tags: Detroit Red Wings Marc-Andre Fleury Marian Hossa NHL NHL Playoffs Nick Lidstrom Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby Stanley Cup Finals StayClassy.net

Open letter to Marian Hossa

May 27th, 2009

Dear Mr. Hossa,

Let me begin by saying that I respect your ability as a hockey player. As a former draft pick and player for the Ottawa Senators, I saw you skilfully outplay the competition. One particular play comes to mind when you skated around the Philadelphia zone twice and then scored a goal. It was very impressive.

I also respect you because you brought us Dany Heatley. I know it was a bit of a shock for you to go to Atlanta, but you helped to create a solid core of offensive players here in Ottawa. While your time in Atlanta was probably not that much fun, you should feel comfortable that fans in Ottawa were still able to enjoy playoff hockey because of your sacrifice. So for that I thank you.

Last year, as you might recall, you were traded to Pittsburgh. You went all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. You grew a pretty good playoff beard, and you got to play with two of the best players in the game today (Crosby and Malkin just in case you don’t remember). Although you lost, people in Pittsburgh were pretty excited to have you there, and from what I understand, offered you a lot of money to stay so you could do it all again.

But you signed in Detroit. You probably remember that too. You said you wanted a chance to win the Stanley Cup, and that’s cool. Who wouldn’t. You signed a one-year deal. That was also very noble of you. I hope I’m not telling you too much you already know, but you had a good season, and are now one game away from the Stanley Cup Final, for the second year in a row I might add.

Here’s the thing though. The hockey gods, well they don’t deal to kindly with people messing up their plans. They are very fickle. I know this because I saw my team–the Ottawa Senators–not make the playoffs only two years out of the Stanley Cup Final.

You see, had you signed in Pittsburgh, you probably wouldn’t have made the playoffs this year. It’s like hockey karma. Pittsburgh would have been just shy because Ray Shero probably wouldn’t have made any significant changes (hiring Dan Blysma for instance) because there was a pretty good core in tact. He probably wouldn’t have traded for Bill Guerin either. Or Kunitz. Basically, there’s a lot that wouldn’t have happened if you would have signed there.

Instead, you went to Detroit, and the hockey gods teased you. Detroit played well to start the season and into the playoffs, and you probably felt like you made the right choice. But then the hockey gods revealed their true plan. They made Pittsburgh a contender again, brought them back to the Stanley Cup Final where you will, barring any unforeseen turnarounds by the Chicago Blackhawks, face your old team again. But guess what. The Penguins are going to be the ones raising the Cup over their head this time. Sorry Mr. Hossa. That’s just how it works.

Hockey is a funny thing like that. Remember that time that Ray Bourque went to Colorado and he won the Cup? It worked because the hockey gods intended it to work that way. There was no ill will towards Boston. Even Bruins fans were happy that Bourque won. But in this situation, Pittsburgh will get the upper hand.

Unfortunately, you really didn’t have much choice in the matter. If you would have stayed in Pittsburgh, it would have been a disappointment. By signing in Detroit, it is going to be a disappointment. I appreciated your honesty when you made that decision. It wasn’t out of spite or malicious intent, but I think the lesson here is to not try to change what has already been determined. You will win your Cup one day Mr. Hossa, but it’s going to be when you resign in Ottawa. Let’s be honest, you know you want to come back here.

Best regards,

Stayclassy.net

Dear Mr. Hossa,

Let me begin by saying that I respect your ability as a hockey player. As a former draft pick and player for the Ottawa Senators, I saw you skilfully outplay the competition. One particular play comes to mind when you skated around the Philadelphia zone twice and then scored a goal. It was very impressive.

Only certain players are allowed to go win a Stanley Cup with another team. And it has to be cleared by the hockey gods.

Only certain players are allowed to win the Stanley Cup after moving teams for that purpose. And even those are highly scrutinized by the hockey gods.