The display the Pittsburgh Penguins put on last night in game one of the Stanley Cup Finals, can be summed up with one word, disgraceful. But that would make for a short blog, so I will attempt to dissect their awful performance. Lets not take anything away from the master class the veteran Detroit Red Wings put on last night, but the Penguins didn't make it difficult on them either.
The Pens defense was overwhelmed by the fast forechecking Wings' forwards, who were continually winning the battles to the puck. A perfect example of this lead to the 2nd goal, when Hal Gill was out muscled by wings crease invader Tomas Holmstrom.
The Pens offense was nonexistent, they were pressured all night long by Lidstrom and Co. and were turning the puck over like it was going out of fashion. The Pens stars took the night off, from Crosby and Malkin being virtually invisible, to Jordan Staal uncharacteristically turning the puck over and going for an inopportune line change, that directly lead to the game's opening goal.
The game was put out of reach when the Red Wings scored their third goal early in the 3rd period, killing any possible comeback by the Penguins, not that they showed much sign of it anyway.
The only saving grace for the Penguins was the continued excellent two way performance of impending free agent, Marian Hossa. He has been a beast for the Penguins in the playoffs and with every passing performance, inching closer to persuading Penguins GM Ray Shero to pony up the cash, to re-sign him in the summer.
No one should be surprised by this performance, as the Penguins have made a habit of under performing in games ones of these playoffs. However, in the past they have gotten away with it, because the opposition were of lesser caliber. The Red Wings are on the same level as the Penguins and rightly punished them for their lackluster performance.
If the Penguins are going to compete for the Cup they must turn things around and come out firing on all cylinders in game two. It may be the homer in me, but I believe they will win game two and go on to win the series in 6. I believe although the Red Wings have the experience, over the long haul of the series, the Penguins have too much firepower and youthful exuberance for the aging Red wings and Chris Osgood to withstand.
1 comment:
I agree with Oz, the Pens are going to win the Stanley Cup... but Wings fans, don't worry, it will not be this spring.
Oz is correct in saying his beloved Pens were schooled Game 1, but remember fans of all sports teams... before one can graduate, schooling must take place.
The Wings will win because they are much better defensively. The Pens are good a puck control team, but the Wings are in a class of their own. I'm not saying that if Detroit has the puck 75% of the game, they will score 75% more often... or am I?
I say Zetterberg and Datsyuk > Crosby and Malkin, because they know how to play both ends of the ice. Others say that Crosby and Malkin are better because of their strength and speed, which in turn helps their defensive play.
Osgood may not be as talented as Fleury (so Pens fans say) but he definitely has the Stanley Cup experience... though I can remember Cam Ward back in the day saying Cup experience wasn't necessary. I beg to differ. Someone remind me, did he say this before or after the Canes won the Cup?
Wings take the first two games. Pens with game 3. Game 4 to the Wings.
Wings at home, in 5!!!
Pens not until 2010-2011... book it!!!
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