The 2008 NHL Offseason Thread

[Surely]

As a Pens fan, I am embarrassed That was the most pitiful game we have maybe played all season. Or, Detroit is THAT good...I wouldn't know since we never get to see them play here (stupid NHL schedule).

Congrats to the Wings, they really deserved it...they played solid defense and severely limited our chances.

Methinks Detroit IS that good. Lookout Pittsburgh, you'll have to do better than 7 shots total in the 2nd and 3rd to beat this team.

 

[Sean7512]

I refuse to believe that they are THAT good.....Fleury played horrible, I love how he threw the puck out into the MIDDLE of the ice on their one goal. The other goals he let in were soft as all can be, esp the wrap-around. I love Osgood, but he is what, 41?? I question his endurance....

I am not putting the wings down, I know they are good...but we did make them look much better. Either way, I'm happy we made it this far as most didn't think we'd make it to the Finals.

No sore loser here

 

[Surely]

Osgood will not be the reason if Detroit loses this series. Endurance shmendurance- I think he can handle a few more games.

Chalk up Fleury's and the rest of the team's mistakes to inexperience. Too bad they don't have a tough, hard-nosed veteran on the team who has won the cup before. Someone that the youth on the team could have looked to when things got rough during the game. Someone who had a life-threatening injury but still came back to be a dominant force in the league. Yeah, it's too bad they don't have someone like that. What? They do? But he was in the press box and not on the ice, not dressed for the game?
Why wasn't Roberts playing? If they lose the series, that will be the question Therien will be asked the most. Playing him was a no-brainer. I see he's in for game 2 though.

This series is far from over. I hope the Pens can get back into it.

 

[Sean7512]

Osgood will not be the reason if Detroit loses this series. Endurance shmendurance- I think he can handle a few more games.

Chalk up Fleury's and the rest of the team's mistakes to inexperience. Too bad they don't have a tough, hard-nosed veteran on the team who has won the cup before. Someone that the youth on the team could have looked to when things got rough during the game. Someone who had a life-threatening injury but still came back to be a dominant force in the league. Yeah, it's too bad they don't have someone like that. What? They do? But he was in the press box and not on the ice, not dressed for the game?
Why wasn't Roberts playing? If they lose the series, that will be the question Therien will be asked the most. Playing him was a no-brainer. I see he's in for game 2 though.

This series is far from over. I hope the Pens can get back into it.

He just got over pneumonia, and was just cleared to play a day ago. He could have played last night, but it probably was the best decision to give his old lungs one more day...He sure would have helped though, thats for sure!

 

[Surely]

He just got over pneumonia, and was just cleared to play a day ago. He could have played last night, but it probably was the best decision to give his old lungs one more day...He sure would have helped though, thats for sure!

Exactly- he was cleared to play. And he was not happy about not playing. He really had to bite his tongue to not say anything negative about Therien. One day I'm sure we'll hear his full opinion about not playing.

Keep in mind that he isn't a normal 42 year old. He's probably the most well-conditioned and in-shape player in the entire league (a close second would be Chelios). I just can't agree with your "old lungs" comment.

I think the Pens expected playing the Wings to be a lot easier than game 1 was. The way they blew through the East, they probably expected more of the same in the finals.

They have the talent to regroup and play better, that's for sure. They just need to be more disciplined.

I still think that the Wings will take the series.

 

[Teh Don Ditty]

Here is an interesting article on ESPN (of all places) about how the '08 Pens are like the '83 Oilers.

If your memory needs refreshing. The '83 Oilers we're swept by the Islanders in the Cup Finals.

 

[Sean7512]

I still think that the Wings will take the series.

Well, I think tonight will tell us if the Pens can win the series or not. I think if they Pens lose, they are doomed. Cause chances are that Detroit will split in Pgh (esp being up 2-0), then its 3-1...and that is VERY hard to do. Lets see if we even make a game out of it tonight

 

[robo]

Well, I think tonight will tell us if the Pens can win the series or not. I think if they Pens lose, they are doomed. Cause chances are that Detroit will split in Pgh (esp being up 2-0), then its 3-1...and that is VERY hard to do. Lets see if we even make a game out of it tonight

Defense Baby... and don't jump off the bandwagon

GO WINGS...

Peace

 

[Sean7512]

Defense Baby... and don't jump off the bandwagon

GO WINGS...

Peace

Im not jumping off the bandwagon....I've been a Pens fan since I was 4. Even through those years where we lost every game, I watched all of them. I am just being realistic, 3-1 would be very tough to come back from.

 

[Surely]

Here is an interesting article on ESPN (of all places) about how the '08 Pens are like the '83 Oilers.

If your memory needs refreshing. The '83 Oilers we're swept by the Islanders in the Cup Finals.

Good find. An in-depth hockey article on ESPN!

Interesting theory.

You just like the article because it mentions the Isles and the Stanley Cup in the same sentence

I guess the Leafs have been perpetually in an '83 Oilers state for 40 years......

 

[Teh Don Ditty]

Good find. An in-depth hockey article on ESPN!

Interesting theory.

You just like the article because it mentions the Isles and the Stanley Cup in the same sentence

I guess the Leafs have been perpetually in an '83 Oilers state for 40 years......

I was rather shocked to find said article on ESPN. I didn't know they knew hockey still is being played.

It is an interesting theory. Let's see if the Pens can prove it wrong.

Thanks for blowing up my spot. I will cry and then probably destroy buildings when they win their next cup. I only want to see one. I then could die happy.

Oh. Right. Has been a long time for you guys. 41 years and counting. I'm up to 25 and counting.

 

[puckhead193]

detroit wins game 2!!!!!
na na na na na hey hey goooood bye

 

[FightTheFuture]

Stanley Cup Finals Game 2: DET 3 - PITT 0

well detroit being up 2-0 really means nothing till they can win in mellon arena. from the scrum at the end of the 3rd i'd say pittsburgh is going to come out fast and furious at home.

once again detroit capitalizes on the garbage goals. bothered me at first, then i remembered that in the playoffs these types of goals are common. in fact almost all playoff goals are this dirty. but the wings haven't seen them because they both coasted through their conferences.

ozzie was on top of his game again and the D wasn't giving them much space to move. pittsburgh did look like they were finding ways to get open towards the middle of the 2nd. most of their best chances came in the third. detroit has been resilient when holding a lead and even more so when being antagonized.

i gotta give the goat to ryan malone though. after up-ending zetterberg he looks staggered to see datsyuk in his face. shortly after that he goes into a hissy fit when getting called for goaltender interference. were the pens really that frustrated? sykora's shot at osgood was reminiscent to ribero's two hander to the chest at the end of game 2 against dallas. and gary roberts going after datsyuk during the scrum? i've never seen datsyuk throw a fist. ever. hopefully that gets rid of the lady byng tarnish.

Here is an interesting article on ESPN (of all places) about how the '08 Pens are like the '83 Oilers.

i would agree that the pens have the talent to be compared to the lineup of the 83 oilers but comparing the wings' three stanley cups in 6 years to the islanders dynasty is absurd. especially since new jersey accomplished the same feat.

na na na na na hey hey goooood bye

waaaaay too soon. off topic -but did you catch the boston-pistons score tonight? i was surprised to see them win, let alone by 20!

 

[robo]

Im not jumping off the bandwagon....I've been a Pens fan since I was 4. Even through those years where we lost every game, I watched all of them. I am just being realistic, 3-1 would be very tough to come back from.

It's smalling alot like "97" to me

Good Luck and see you next year

Peace

 

[richard.mac]

its not over yet. Pens have the 2 home games coming up. im not a die hard Pens or Wings fan but i dont wanna see a roll-over instead a close series. so Pens are going to win the next 2 at home!

 

[Rhosfelt]

Very intense play from both teams, but I think being at home really made the difference here. Hopefully this is the turning point in the series, and I think a win in game 4 would really make this interesting.

BTW to pick the pens in 6, they had to lose two games so, it's not over wings fans, just because you win two games at home.

 

[Surely]

Now we've got a series.....if they can tie it up, it'll really get interesting.


Looks like the Winter Classic won't be at Yankee Stadium after all- it's going to be in Chicago between the Hawks and the Wings.

 

[Teh Don Ditty]

Nice work Pens. Tie it up on Saturday

Well would you look at that. Chicago is an excellent market to have a game. The Original 6 matchup is nice too.

Let's hope they put it in Solider Field.

 

[roland.g]

It's not a series until someone wins on the road, or game 7 or something like that. Let's hope for a repeat Sat making it 2-2. Doubt we will see the Pens reel off 4 straight. So the only likely scenario is holding home ice through 3-3 with the chance the Pens can pull off a game 7 win. If they can get game 4, I see detroit taking 5 and then it is really on the Pens to take 6 at home with the wings on the verge. If the Pens win 4 and 5, then I see detroit winning game 6 to in Pitt to force a game 7.

 

[Rhosfelt]

Looks like the Winter Classic won't be at Yankee Stadium after all- it's going to be in Chicago between the Hawks and the Wings.

Excuse my ignorance on the west, but will that be a good match up? I would have loved to see the NY match, as I would have gone for the islanders known that would be the underdogs, but they would play with extreme passion.

Basically can the Hawks really take on the wings? and Make it as good of a match up the winter classic was this year?

 

[Teh Don Ditty]

Excuse my ignorance on the west, but will that be a good match up? I would have loved to see the NY match, as I would have gone for the islanders known that would be the underdogs, but they would play with extreme passion.

Basically can the Hawks really take on the wings? and Make it as good of a match up the winter classic was this year?

Clearly you missed that fact that Hawks were extremely close to making the playoffs. They have an exciting young team. It should be a really good matchup.

And thank you for saying that about the Islanders. For the most part, they tend to show up to games when it involves the Rangers.

 

[Rhosfelt]

Clearly you missed that fact that Hawks were extremely close to making the playoffs. They have an exciting young team. It should be a really good matchup.

And thank you for saying that about the Islanders. For the most part, they tend to show up to games when it involves the Rangers.

Yeah I'll make a confession now, I really only pay attention to the thing the pens do, and some of the East moves, but other than that, I find it hard to care about teams we don't play... Hopefully next year that will change >_<

 

[Teh Don Ditty]

Yeah I'll make a confession now, I really only pay attention to the thing the pens do, and some of the East moves, but other than that, I find it hard to care about teams we don't play... Hopefully next year that will change >_<

The Hawks were 3 points out of a playoff spot and they were 6 games above .500

You need to work on expanding your scope dear sir.

 

[Rhosfelt]

The Hawks were 3 points out of a playoff spot and they were 6 games above .500

You need to work on expanding your scope dear sir.

I tired! not having VS at school or the NHL network really killed it, I can only read stats for so long before it seemed like more reading that I should be doing. hahah

 

[Teh Don Ditty]

I tired! not having VS at school or the NHL network really killed it, I can only read stats for so long before it seemed like more reading that I should be doing. hahah

I generally stick to watching highlights of the game. Then take a quick flip through the stats. NHL.com has gotten a lot better with their video highlights thankfully.