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hanley6
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
674 Posts |
 Posted - 04/28/2009 : 19:47:16
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Poll Question:
Who you think is going to win this series and why?
this one is going to be a tough one, but overall I think Washington has the stronger team... I have a feeling Washington will end on top of Pittsburgh at the end of the series, better goaltending, slightly better offense, and defense... I could be wrong but I think Washington will win
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Alex
PickupHockey All-Star
Canada
2816 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2009 : 19:53:01
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Washington may very well win, but can't say I agree with your points.
It is Pittsburgh that has the better goaltending, BY FAR the better defense (this is not even a question) and it's actually them who have the better offense. On paper, that is.
Because Pittsburgh has experience, because they are better in every aspect, because I want to see Crosby officially out-perform Ovechkin in at least one aspect of the game of hockey - the biggest one at that, ie. winning when it counts - I say Pittsburgh moves on. |
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hanley6
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
674 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2009 : 20:12:53
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| we will see, it will be close but we'll see who is the better team when it counts. But I wouldn't say Fleury is better than Simeon Varlamov he's been on fire only 7 goals against in 6 games .954 Save % out of 145 shots, Fluery hasn't looked good for 3 years now, has allowed 15 goals against in 6 games |
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Thrasher
Rookie
Canada
155 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2009 : 20:25:58
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Right, Varlamov has looked good. Against the worst offense in the NHL. Well sorry, the 28th ranked offense in the league. Pit is ranked 6th. Little bit of a difference. The edge in net definately goes to Pitt, Fluery has far more experience that Simeon. Washingtons offense is ranked higher, but i agree with Alex. Almost all of Pitts players have done this dance before, while Washington has Fedorov? Advantage Pitt. Defence, again, advantage Pitt. All Washington really has is home ice, and some exciting players(but watching the Rangers series, only Semin really stood out, and maybe Backstrom, while Green looked average and Ovechkin tried to do far to much).
Hoping Pitt can pull through this series, it would really help my draft
I Promise I didn't give her the STD, I'm not a sharing person. |
Edited by - Thrasher on 04/29/2009 00:04:06 |
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Guest9844
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Posted - 04/28/2009 : 21:23:33
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This is a dream series, and I'm soooo stoked to watch every game. Now all the Crosby lovers will see that Ovechkin is truly the best player in the NHL.
Washington in Game 7.
Ovechkin lays out Crosby several times. |
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hanley6
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
674 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2009 : 22:47:01
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quote:
Originally posted by Guest9844
This is a dream series, and I'm soooo stoked to watch every game. Now all the Crosby lovers will see that Ovechkin is truly the best player in the NHL.
Washington in Game 7.
Ovechkin lays out Crosby several times.
agreed.... We get to see more of Crosby's whining tactics and dirty cheap shots |
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Kenninator
Top Prospect
1 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2009 : 23:26:03
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If you look at both teams first round match up I noticed 2 things
1. Washington found themselves down 2-0 before they knew what hit them and basically dominated NY everywhere but goaltending.Enter Varlamov and an even more motivated Ovechkin and you have a Capitals team with huge momentum going into the second round.
2. Pittsburgh was outplayed by Philly in my opinion and had the benefit of alot of calls and I really don't think they should have had a 3-1 lead in the first place but they won the series and are going to the second round.
Prediction.....Washington in 6 if the games are called fairly (if bettman refs it then I see Pittsburgh in 6)so Washington is my call. |
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Rambo2305
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
546 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2009 : 05:25:54
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Varalamov is good, but he didn't get too much pressure from the Rangers. The Penguins have a much better offense then New York. With that being said, the Washington goalies (Theodore too!) will not hold up.
Penguins in 6.
"Everytime you step out onto the ice, it's a clean slate, anyone can win" |
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n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2009 : 14:23:19
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This one is the toughest to call, in my mind.
Washington looked like an average team at times with the NYR, and I have to give credit to the Ranger's defence, trapping, and Avery - it matched up well against the Washington high-flying forwards and Green. I don't see Pittsburgh's defence containing them, however.
Pittsburgh, on the other hand, I agree was the beneficiary of many good calls, and easily could have been in the same spot as Washington in the end. They also didn't impress me because their potential is so high . . . but they have all been through this before, and experience counts for so much.
Washington in 7, but might as well flip a coin.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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Guest2559
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Posted - 04/29/2009 : 14:41:04
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| If Ovechkin doesn't play like he did in the first seies (LIKE A$$) then washingto will win. He needs to quit getting the blue line cutting across and taking that s***ty wrister that misses the net or gets blocked. He needs to drive to the net harder and pass more and they win the series. Also somebody in Washington please notice our buddy Kozlov out there he is god awful. Keep him off the ice. |
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pensfan17
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
330 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2009 : 18:14:29
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I would like to see Washington's D try to contain Pitt's offence, their offences are pretty even, but Pittsburgh's defence is much better. As for Fleury vs Varlamov , are you Varlamov praisers serious? Fleury made it to the cup finals last year. Varlamov has played like 10 games in the NHL. The series against the Rangers he faced about 20 shots a game, only 15 in game seven. Remember game 4 in the Pittsburgh - Philly series, 45 saves. Varlamov is good, but Fleury is better and more experienced.
That being said still a close series, Pens in six. |
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Guest9929
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Posted - 04/29/2009 : 20:30:04
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| I completely agreethat the caps are playing better, simeon varlamov was gettin pressure from sean avery and the whole aspect of the NYR. |
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deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2009 : 21:09:02
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Well, I can't say I'm a Varlamov fan, but - he's playing well, and collected. Game 7 showed me that, as he made a couple of huge saves with the game in the balance (Antropov should have had a couple more goals if not for getting robbed by him). The list of unknown goalies being put into the fire of the playoffs and getting hot for a good run is long and well documented . . . so yeah, I'd actually call the goalies pretty even (Fleury did not impress me 1st round).
I know Washington looked like the worst of the eight teams going through in a lot of ways . . . Ovechkin looked totally out of sorts at times, as did Green. But I give the credit to the solid checking of NY, and I just don't see the same containment happening second round.
Who is checking Ovechkin's line? Semin's?
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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hanley6
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
674 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2009 : 22:33:38
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quote:
Originally posted by Rambo2305
Varalamov is good, but he didn't get too much pressure from the Rangers. The Penguins have a much better offense then New York. With that being said, the Washington goalies (Theodore too!) will not hold up.
Penguins in 6.
"Everytime you step out onto the ice, it's a clean slate, anyone can win"
that can haunt Pittsburgh too, you say Washingtons goalies cant hold up against Pittsburgh, well Fleury can't hold up on Washington either, he's not that good... 1-3-0, 4.73 GAA and a .873 save percentage against Washington this season... I know the Playoffs is different hockey... but Pittsburgh was lucky to get passed Philadelphia, The Flyers out played Pittsburgh way too many post dingers. I have no doubt in my mind that Ovechkin is going to rock Sidney Crosby all over the ice with hard clean hits. And Fleury will have no chance against Ovechkin, Backstrom, Semin, Fedorov, Green, Poti... Ovechkin and Green are going take care of Crosby, so the only real threats will be Malkin and Gonchar... Washington has the better defensive team, And better Goaltending. Ovechkin is better Defensively and Offensively than Crosby hands down.
It will not be easy for neither team but at the end I feel Pittsburgh is going down probably game 7 |
Edited by - hanley6 on 04/29/2009 22:34:48 |
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Thrasher
Rookie
Canada
155 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2009 : 23:14:27
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quote:
Washington has the better defensive team
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Joke, right Hanley?
Lets Match this up shall we?
Pens
Gonchar
Letang
Eaton
Scuderi
Gill
Orpik
Caps
Green
Poti
Jurcina
Pothier
Erskine
Morrisonn
Gonchar and Green, both good offensively, but defensifely, the edge to Gonchar, experience and solid.
Poti vs Letang, Poti has more experience, but Letang is younger(Poti does have experience), and probably overall better in both ends of the rink
Jurcina vs Gill. Both very physical players, Jurcina is terrible in his own end. Not sure if you watched the NYR and Caps series, he was a liability.
Eaton vs Pothier. Eaton is a solid defensemen, almost no offensive upside whatsoever, a good stay at home. Pothier, didn't play much this season, didn't look so good against the rangers.
Scuderi vs Erskine. Scuderi led the Pens this year(defense) in plus/minus. Solid in his own end. Trusted to move the puck quickly out of the zone. Erskine is also a stay at home, not as reliable.
Orpik vs Morrisonn. Orpik is physical, maybe slow, but likes to hit hard and likes to hit often. If he gets a piece of Semin or Backstrom, they might think twice of holding onto the puck. Morrisonn actually impressed me in the first series, this might go to him.
I know this is completely ridiculus (and perhaps a little biased), but it seems to me that almost every matchup goes the pens way (defensivly). Im not going to take into account the forwards, that would take far too long. Just on defense, i think most of us can agree that the Pens have the advantage? Not too mention many were on the team that went to the cup finals last year, that counts for something. In no way should this be an easy series for either team(playoff hockey should never be easy to begin with).
I Promise I didn't give her the STD, I'm not a sharing person. |
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n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2009 : 05:15:47
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Thrasher - your defence comparison is brutal. Not only do you do go through the comparison in a way that is hardly useable in any way for us as fans (do defencemen ever pair off against each other one-on-one?!?), I disagree with even most of those comparisons!
You'd take Gonchar over Green? At least this is close, but I'd have to go with Green. Gonchar has never been great defensively, and is slower now - people seem to assume Green is bad defensively because he is so amazing in the offensive end - it is the wrong assumption. I'll take the younger legs and Norris Trophy season, thanks.
Letang over Poti? Keep him! Letang better in his own end of the rink - are you joking? -7 is better than +3 in 52 games? I think Poti is unspectacular, but he is pretty consistent. Letang has a better physical presence. A draw, depending what you are looking for.
Eaton over Jurcina? lol I watched the Caps series - every game, in fact - Jurcina was their BEST defenceman, actually. He's huge, has a bit of offensive upside, and was a +4 in his first round series (only minus game was in a 2-1 loss). Eaton's ok - he's a big body, but rather ordinary otherwise. Without his last game in the series (a +4), he'd be a minus, as he finished up +3. I'll take Jurcina for sure here.
Some of your comparisons are apples to oranges, btw.(Scuderi/Erskine)
Not going to go through every comparison though, because what's the point? Defence plays as a team of two, and the key thing is the match-ups of top defensive pairing versus both team's top two lines.
I think both defences will have their hands full, no matter what.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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Guest9838
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Posted - 04/30/2009 : 05:36:47
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That defence comparison doesn't make any sense, you contradict yourself on the first two comparisons... The first you swing it pittsburgh's way because of experience, and the second you swing to Pittsburgh because of youth. I think they actually stack up pretty evenly. They both have a top 10 offensive defenceman, a decent secondary offensive option and then both have comparable depth/stay at home guys.
The forwards are a toss up again: Malkin/Crosby/Staal/Guerin/Kunitz/Sykora with supporting cast: Fedotenko/Kennedy/Cooke/Talbot/Dupuis/etc
oh ya Satan is waiting for his shot too...
vs
Ovechkin/Backstrom/Semin/Fedorov/Kozlov with supporting cast:
Fleischmann/Steckel/Bradley/Laich/Gordon/Fehr/Brashear
oh ya they have Nylander too (wow has he fallen, remember his pairing with Jagr... It's funny that both teams are carrying a player like this)
The way the top guys line up this battle might be won or lost by the supporting cast. One thing's for sure Bradley can't be the Caps best player again or they will lose. The better "team" will win. Meaning Ovechkin can't keep trying to beat a team on his own.
Goalies... the edge has to go to Fleury solely based on experience. Varlamov doesn't know what he's got coming. If he let's in 5 goals on 45 shots in game 1 we may see Theodore back, and that will suck.
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Thrasher
Rookie
Canada
155 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2009 : 08:38:14
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Your right Slozo, defencemen never go up against eachother. This was not meant to be a simulation of a one on one game. But it seems to me (and im a pens fan, over washington so i could be completely biased) the Pens just have more depth and talent on the back end. It may have been a weird way to show it, but i still believe after watching the Rangers play against them that i can see the washington defense having a extremely difficult time against the highly potent Pitt offense.
If you were a GM going into this series, which defensive core would you want? Keeping in mind that Pitt was in the finals last year. They know what to do. Washington was bounced early last year, so this is completely new to them. I'm not even saying Pens will win the series, i just think that the caps defense is probably the most suspect. And again, you right, always in pairs. But if Green is their best defencemen (by far and away from what i have seen), they might be in trouble. He logs huge minutes, between power play and 5 on 5. Was it just me, or did him and Ovechkin not look like themselves in game 7? Ovechkin tried to do way too much, good as he is, he just tired himself out by staying on the ice way too long. Green was being hit hard and hit often in the series, and it looked like it took its toll.
The only reason the Rangers got to a game 7 was because of Lunquist. Good goaltending. Pitt was decent enough goaltending, plus good defense and a highly skilled offense. If Washington plays like they did against the rangers, they will get stomped. Neither defense will completely shut down the other side, and im hoping this is a high scoring series. But i think if one defensive core is going to slow the opposing sides offense, it will be the Pens.
I Promise I didn't give her the STD, I'm not a sharing person. |
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Guest4627
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Posted - 04/30/2009 : 12:01:52
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| varlamov won championships in the russian curcuit |
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Sensfan101
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
500 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2009 : 13:16:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Guest2559
If Ovechkin doesn't play like he did in the first seies (LIKE A$$) then washingto will win. He needs to quit getting the blue line cutting across and taking that s***ty wrister that misses the net or gets blocked. He needs to drive to the net harder and pass more and they win the series. Also somebody in Washington please notice our buddy Kozlov out there he is god awful. Keep him off the ice.
So you want Ovechkin to stop shooting? just look at my profile signature. Ovechkin in my opinion wasn't that bad except in game sevan. Although Kozlov has never been good in the playoffs in case he scores any nice goals again.
You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take Wayne Gretzky |
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JOSHUACANADA
PickupHockey Veteran
Canada
2308 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2009 : 14:24:10
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This topic is flawed and all of the points suck. The only defensive minded player between both teams is Federov. Its going to be the team that plays with discipline that wins this series. It aint going to defense. I would like to see Theodore get another shot in this playoffs. The 1st 2 games that whole Washington team was still in spring hibernation.
Whoever gets there special teams out there the most is gonna win this series.
I say Washington in 6 |
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hanley6
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
674 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2009 : 21:54:23
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| for those of you who say Fleury has the edge over Varlamov because of experience, its crap, you cant base it on experience it must be based on performance. Performance is the key to success not experience you can play good one year and play like crap the next |
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Guest3385
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Posted - 05/03/2009 : 09:12:24
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| WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BABY! CAPS TAKE GAME 1! OVIE-1 SID-0 |
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Guest4631
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Posted - 05/03/2009 : 09:53:57
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| hanley you are right you have to compare the goalies on performance in the playoffs not experience. and the edge goes to fluery. as good as varlamov played in the first round. it was against a poor offensive team and he did not steal any of those games. fluery on the other hand stole 2 games for pitts in which they were out played by a good offensive team in the flyers. |
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hanley6
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
674 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2009 : 20:47:02
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| actually as far as performance goes the edge goes to Varlamov not Fleury. Varlamov 9 goals against in 7 games including the game against Pittsburgh. Varlamov made 11 more saves than Fleury and had 10 more shots on him than Fleury did, and Washington still won...Varlamov has been on fire all Playoff long, Fleury hasn't. |
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n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2009 : 06:12:40
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JoshuaCanada - topic is not flawed. I agree, both teams are built with offense in mind, and Federov may be the only defensive minded forward (although Fedetenko, Kennedy, and Backstrom might argue otherwise) - but isn't that the point of talking about the defence?
With two high-powered offences, you have to talk about who can shut down the other team's top lines. If Washington can shut down Crosby and Malkin, they win easily. If Pittsburgh can shut down Ovechkin and Semin, they win easily. It's only been one game, so we'll see after three or four if there is an edge there. Myself, based on what I have seen in the playoffs so far, I give Washington the edge for defence. But like I said, it's pretty close to a coin flip.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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4809 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2009 : 04:45:49
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Uh-oh . . . you woke up Ovechkin! lol
Seriously guys, have you ever in your life seen a playoff game where two of the biggest stars in the game are pitted against each other and they both get a hattrick?!? It's almost as if it was Hollywood scripted . . .
One observation of note: Crosby's second and third goals
If Crosby is the player the Pens have standing in front of the net to swat in rebounds, take abuse in front of the net, and tip in shots from the perimeter, the Pens are in trouble. I thought that's why they had Kunitz playing with him . . . anyways, garbage goals or not, he was certainly bringing it last night, as was Ovechkin.
Awesome game, can't wait for game 3.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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Guest3385
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Posted - 05/05/2009 : 07:53:03
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| Ovechkin is proving he's better than Crosby, just like I said he would. |
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Matt_Roberts85
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
936 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2009 : 08:11:27
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They both scored 3 goals last night, and crosby has more goals in the playoffs so far. How does that make ovechkin better? If David Steckel doesnt score a goal last night this very easily could have been a pens victory.
Amazing game, one of the most exciting ive seen in a while. I hope Pitt takes the next 2 at home, and push this series all the way to 7.
Has anyone seen Evgeni Malkin...? MVP? I think not. He may of had more points than Crosby, but we all know who the REAL MVP of the pens is.
OV is taking the Hart anyways.
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E". |
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Matt_Roberts85
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
936 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2009 : 09:40:42
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Not making excuses here, I just want to hear what you guys think:
Is it just me, or were they 3 terrible/missed calls that absolutley cost the pens the game?
First, the Letang penalty. He got all puck and the refs blew the call, i can't remember if Wash scored on the pp but I think they did.
Ov's DIVE. I couldn't beleive my eyes, OV blatantly dived at centre ice and the ref just put his hand up because OV was on the ice holding his face. Nothing even came close to his face.
On OV's 2nd goal, Matt Cooke was blatantly tripped while trying to get out and get into Ov's shooting lane. If cooke had of got out there he could have tipped or blocked the shot, or cause OV to make a different play. Or there would have been a pens PP. It was an obvious call.
Im sure there are a couple plays for pitt than could have gone washingtons way, but these ones really stuck out like sore thumbs for me. I don't have a rooting interest, Im a leafs fan, but I saw alot of home ice calls.
what do you guys think? are these legitimate gripes, or just crosby-esque complaints (hehe, just kidding, I like Sid. Hes only 21...thats f***ing scary, wait until this guy and Ov are like 28)
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E". |
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deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2009 : 09:47:54
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Matt Roberts - you say watched the game, yet, you compare only the stats of Crosby and Ovechkin (an incredible 3 goals each in a tight game, unbelievable stuff) and say they are "even".
1. It has been argued that Sid the Kid is a better 'team player' and a 'leader', always putting team ahead of personal stats. Thus, when he scores a hattrick with three goals where he's on the doorstep, and his team loses, shouldn't that be a knock against him?
2. Ovechkin clearly got more scoring chances, had some hits, and was a presence throughout the game. Hard to say that Crosby wasn't also playing great onbviously, but it wasn't the same level (if you watched the game without the Crosby blinders on, that is).
3. Crosby's hattrick goal happened at a time that made it too late to be of consequence, on a 6 on 4 in the dying seconds (a penalty, I might add, that was totally incongruent with the stick on face non-call to Varlamov later). Ovechkin's second and third goals were the go-ahead (at the time) and insurance (later GWG) goal, far more important to the team.
Not to take away anything from Crosby - he had an excellent game - but Ovechkin's was better on this night.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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Antroman
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
537 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2009 : 12:05:44
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| I think If I was much younger and a new Dad I would definitely want Sidney to be my Son's role model, however, I think I would also want my Son to play more like Ovechkin does. Not possible? I guess not, but it does bring up an intersting conversation. I truely believe they are number 1A and 1B and because neither of them is a Leaf I really do not care who is A and who is B. The fact is they are both great!!!! Awesome game last night, not as good as watching the Bruins clobber the Habs, but hey, you can't have everything. |
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pensfan17
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
330 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2009 : 13:20:56
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| How is scoring with 31 seconds left to bring the game within one insignificant? 31 seconds is plenty of time to score a goal(well if you can win a faceoff). |
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Bozonator
Top Prospect
57 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2009 : 18:00:12
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| I really felt as if the Pens didn't play well defensively at all. They left Ovechkin open for two one-timers. In this series, they have been even. Each have similar stats and minutes ad have an anwser for what the other does. Boy is it ever fun to watch! |
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hanley6
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
674 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2009 : 20:48:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Matt_Roberts85
Not making excuses here, I just want to hear what you guys think:
Is it just me, or were they 3 terrible/missed calls that absolutley cost the pens the game?
First, the Letang penalty. He got all puck and the refs blew the call, i can't remember if Wash scored on the pp but I think they did.
Ov's DIVE. I couldn't beleive my eyes, OV blatantly dived at centre ice and the ref just put his hand up because OV was on the ice holding his face. Nothing even came close to his face.
On OV's 2nd goal, Matt Cooke was blatantly tripped while trying to get out and get into Ov's shooting lane. If cooke had of got out there he could have tipped or blocked the shot, or cause OV to make a different play. Or there would have been a pens PP. It was an obvious call.
Im sure there are a couple plays for pitt than could have gone washingtons way, but these ones really stuck out like sore thumbs for me. I don't have a rooting interest, Im a leafs fan, but I saw alot of home ice calls.
what do you guys think? are these legitimate gripes, or just crosby-esque complaints (hehe, just kidding, I like Sid. Hes only 21...thats f***ing scary, wait until this guy and Ov are like 28)
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E".
Ovechkins dive either way should have been a penalty, he didn't have the puck and he still got smoked... he just wasn't hit in the face... Ovechkin did that because he was mocking sid the kid |
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Guest9244
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Posted - 05/06/2009 : 06:27:32
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| what about the cross check to the head of the caps goalie in the final minutes that was left uncall ... there was few calls that could of went washingtons way also so its funny how people blame the refs alot of time. |
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n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 07:07:14
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I thought the play that people are calling "Ovechkin's dive" looked funny to me as well . . . but knowing that he doesn't dive from what I've observed, I give him the benefit of the doubt. Frankly, I haven't seen a shot of the incident that clearly shows he didn't get contact in the face region.
The Varlomov high stick, however, is clear - should have been a penalty, and since it wasn't, should have been more than a fine (should have been a one-gamer in my mind). But clearly, the goalies are fair game this playoffs - Anaheim/Detroit is one of the worst for it, but every team has done it and gotten away with it to a large degree, and Washington/Pittsburgh is no exception.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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Matt_Roberts85
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
936 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 07:07:20
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alright alright, I wasnt watching with Crosby blinders on (im just trying to support the canadian kid, everyone is on the OV bandwagon) I just wanted to see what you guys thought about a couple things in the game.
Slozo - The only thing that really matters in the end is how many you put in the net. OV was a little better in that game overall, but they both had the same amount of goals. If 1 other penguin scores a goal than it doesn't matter if OV was skating hard, or throwing his body around a bit. They would have cancelled each other out.
OV is more noticable out there on the ice yes, he had lots of shots and a couple good hits, but he also gives the puck away and isn't a backchecking centre like Sid is. Every time Sid is in his own zone he is supporting his dmen and helping start the breakout. OV is always up by the redline. Its great when he gets the puck there, but if washington cant clear the zone than he isnt helping out much.
How does scoring 3 goals on the doorstep become a knock on crosby? His teammates should take a hint if anything. That was an inspiring performance by Sid, he scored the opening goal of the game AGAIN, yet his teammated failed to respond and help him lead the charge.
All in all, this is one of the best duels the NHL could have hoped for and I cant wait for tonights game. If pitt loses tonight, than i think its safe to say its over. (no duh, right?)
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E". |
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deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 07:21:29
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Again - like the criticisms of Mike Green's lack of defence, I find that saying Ovechkin doesn't backcheck to be somewhat untrue. He does not hang around every time at the edge of his own zone waiting for a break-out pass, that's unfair - yes, he does do it, but not every time. He does backcheck, especially when he is going for a big hit on the boards to take away the puck. The way everyone talks about here, it would seem he only makes his hits in the neutral or offensive zones, and that's simply not true.
I wouldn't say garbage goals from two feet away are a "knock" on Crosby, but it does diminish the amount of skill required to get a goal. Like I said, I was nitpicking - 3 goals is 3 goals, but if I have to put one above the other, I choose the accurate snipes on the rush over the mad scramble/swatting at a puck four times in the air goal.
For Pittsburgh's success, however, Crosby should not be the one standing in front of the net getting rebounds - he needs to be their highly skilled playmaking centre, not the second coming of Dino Cicarelli. This is where Pens fans SHOULD be worried, not rejoicing over Crosby's hattrick. Malkin needs to produce, and Kunitz or Guerin should be doing the dirty work up front while Crosby cycles.
I see Crosby getting worn out, because Pittsburgh isn't playing the team game like they need to.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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Matt_Roberts85
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
936 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 12:10:11
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Well, if Crosby wasnt going to the net and trying to score, people would critisize him by saying hes a p**** or hes too soft. He is doing everything he can to win games for his team, even if it means getting his nose dirty and I think thats a good thing. The other guys are trying to do the same thing, but varlamov has their numbers.
Malkin, Guerin, Kunitz, Fedotenko, these guys aren't producing. But then, where is Semin? Kozlov? Backstrom? Mike Green has been terrible.
This truly has been Crosby vs Ovechkin, except that OV has had enough help to win games.
As far as OV backchecking is concerned, your right about what you said. Ov does come back a bit to deliver some hits, but Im trying to get at the fact that they have different roles. Since crosby plays centre, he has a greater responsability to stay back and help his d break out. Which makes him more valuable at both ends of the ice.
Crosby wont get worn out, are you kidding me? This kid is a fitness freak, and is just entering the prime of his career. Ditto for OV. These guys could play hockey 24/7/365. If you ask me, they are just getting started. One of these 2 will be in the cup final. I sure hope its the canadian kid.
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E". |
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Guest1204
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Posted - 05/06/2009 : 19:43:14
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| You go ahead and take your snipes. and we will keep working harder than you and getting your "garbage" goals. garbage is banking it off the goaltender(backstrom) and getting such a lucky bounce(ovechkin). the one thing that showed in game 3 is what we all have known.. the penguins work harder than the capitals every single nite |
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Washington vs Pittsburgh 
