Running 2008 NHL Playoffs Thread

Sho'will, Sammy.

 

Numbers from Starkey's column:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports//s_569114.html

378 -- Nicklas Lidstrom's career plus-minus rating. Wanna beat the Wings? Better grab a lead, because Lidstrom rules the third period when his team's ahead.

87 -- All eyes will be on 20-year-old Sidney Crosby, who has taken a team to the final faster than Mario Lemieux or Wayne Gretzky.

63 -- Faceoff winning percentage for Detroit's Kris Draper. Will this be the series in which the Penguins' flawed faceoff work is exposed?

46 -- Age of Detroit defenseman Chris Chelios, who along with defense partner Brett Lebda, can be victimized. Chelios has been battling injuries (no, he didn't fall and break a hip). Andreas Lilja is no less vulnerable.

36.3 -- Shots per game for the Red Wings, who are masters at finding the right angles to shoot from, thus avoiding bodies on the path to the net. They've been outshot once in the playoffs (and they lost the game)

29 -- Hello, Marc-Andre Fleury. The Penguins' goaltender hasn't had to a steal game yet. He might have to here. Fleury will have to be the Penguins' best player if they are to win the series.

25 -- Maxime Talbot's number, which must be called often to skate with Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy. His speed is critical.

12 -- Goals for Detroit's Johan Franzen, most of any player in the playoffs even though he hasn't played since Game 1 against Dallas. His availability and effectiveness could swing the series.

5 -- Shorthanded goals for the Red Wings in the playoffs, matching their regular-season total. The Penguins should think long and hard about whether they want Evgeni Malkin on the left point during power plays, with the likes of Zetterberg, Datsyuk and perhaps Franzen licking their lips on the penalty kill.

1 -- First goal wins? Red Wings had the best record in the league when scoring first (43-5-2) and were 11-16-5 when the other guys did. The Penguins are 10-0 in the playoffs when they score first, 2-2 when they don't.

0 -- Times we need to discuss the Penguins' pending free agents during this series. Please, enjoy the moment.

 

Both Mirtle and Duhatschek have picked the Wings:

http://mirtle.blogspot.com/2008/05/2008-stanley-cup-final-why-wings-will.html

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080524.NHLSTANLEY24/TPStory/TPSports/?page=rss&id=..NHLSTANLEY24

 

Great interview with Chelios, Elliotte.

 

Oh dear ... Fleury trips onto the ice ...

 

I was absolutely terrified when the Steelers played in SB XL because I knew it might be their only crack at the title. With all the great AFC teams, that might hold true.

Right now, I am not nervous for the Pens. I have a feeling this is a start of a great run.

Nice colors by the girl on the sideline.

 

Pretty loud "Let's Go Pens!" chants rolling around the Joe.

Nothing against Stevie Y, as he is a legend, but I do hope that the Wings have Gordie Howe do something before Game 2.

 

I wish I had been the puck on that ceremonial faceoff ... ROWR!

 

I just want to do a quick shout out to The Sporting News who called this series' participants about five months ago.

Their fantasy preview also helped me win the SportsJournalists.com league.

Big props.

 

Let Laraque loose.
Please.

 

If McCarty is stupid enough to want to fight Laraque...check that. No one is that stupid.

 

Bullshit ... McCarty is a certifiable moron.