The Official 2008-2009-2010 NHL Thread

 

I wouldn't last a week alone in a forest.  I'd become deer food. 

 

I'm disappointed that the Red Wings didn't win, but quite frankly the Penguins were the better team this series.  The game that the Red Wings won 5 to 0 was the only game where the Red Wings actually looked like the Red Wings.  The Penguins could have won the first two games that the Red Wings won, if it wasn't for a couple of gratuitous bounces.  On the other hand, the Red Wings could have one 3 of the 4 games that they lost if it wasn't for some bad luck or bad calls that went against them.  Don't mistake that last comment for sour grapes.  That is hockey for you.  In Game 3, if the refs call the Penguins for too many men on the ice (I'd say 20 seconds with 6 guys on the ice certainly qualifies), the Wings might have been on the power play at the time that the Penguins scored the game winning goal.  That's not to say that the Penguins wouldn't have scored short-handed (see game 4).  The Penguins might still have won that game but it was still a bad break for the Wings.  In Game 6 with the score 2 to 1 Zetterberg hit the post with a shot.  An inch to the right and it is in the net (or maybe Fleury saves it?)  And then with just seconds left the Penguins' defenseman makes a save because Fleury is out of the net and when Franzen slides the rebound towards the net it gets past the defenseman's hand but it happens to hit his back skate which is on the line.  That close to tying the game up, but no cigar.  In Game 7, the Penguins scored their first goal on a play that could have been whistled for icing, but the linesman chose not to call it.  Stuart coughed up the puck and the Penguins scored.  It is what it is, but it was still an unfortunate break.  And than late in the game during desperation time one of the Wings (I forget who) beat Fleury up top, but the puck hit the crossbar and bounced away.  Again, an inch lower and the Wings score (or Fleury makes the save).  Fleury made two great saves at the end and the Penguins win the Cup.  

 

If any of those plays go the Red Wings way and it could be a different team carrying the Cup.  On the other hand, the circumstances would have changed and the Penguins may still have won.  It was a great series and Malkin, Talbot, and Kennedy were too much for the Wings.  I am still left unimpressed by Sid the Kid however.