Who's Your Pick for the Stanley Cup?

[Jeepthrills]

Yep. Babcock made that abundantly clear yesterday in his ritual presser. We'll see if anything changes tonight, which I doubt.

Even worse tonight. Thankfully the Wings were able to overcome it. What a great series. Two outstanding teams, both with bright futures.

[ettsn]

Whelp, it's the Wings again. I didn't have a horse in this race, but it kinda bugged me seeing all those Thrashers on the Pens, so I 'spose I'm happy with the result...

[MrKadash]

Even worse tonight. Thankfully the Wings were able to overcome it. What a great series. Two outstanding teams, both with bright futures.

Congrats to the Wings.

The Penguins have some serious off-season issues to deal with. I don't see how they can afford Hossa, and four or five other players are at the end of their contract period. We'll see if they can keep the majority together.

[ERC7.5]

Was a great run. Lots of exciting hockey.... Is it next season yet?

Here is a message on Pittsburghs WPXI website from a Detroit fan to the fans of Pittsburgh. Pretty cool...

[golf_junkie27]

I'm not a huge hockey fan but I did watch some of the playoffs (NY Rangers) and the Stanley Cup Final. One thing I don't understand. Why, if Hossa had scored on that shot than went over Ozzie's glove, would it have not counted? I understand Emery's explanation but it seems irrational.

Are hockey loyalists fine with this rule or should it be more like basketball, where as long as the shot is taken before the buzzer goes off, it counts?

[Lemay427]

Im a hockey loyalist. There is no way they could take a rule on to allow goals that were shot before the buzzer and the puck was in the net after the buzzer. Unlike basketball, a puck can be redirected multiple times before it hits the net. This would get super confusing. Also, look at the goal that Fleury knocked in. There was a good 3-4 seconds when no one knew where the puck (except the ref) was. It would open a huge can of worms.

[ERC7.5]

I'm not a huge hockey fan but I did watch some of the playoffs (NY Rangers) and the Stanley Cup Final. One thing I don't understand. Why, if Hossa had scored on that shot than went over Ozzie's glove, would it have not counted? I understand Emery's explanation but it seems irrational.

Time would have been up prior to it crossing the line.

I'm not sure of the absolute reason but...in hockey, if they allow a shot, it is going to be at a level that it could be deflected by a skate, stick, glove, etc... In basketball, if the player gets the shot off prior to the clock reading 0:00, it will count if made. The ball is in the air and you can be somewhat sure that the ball won't be touched by another player.

[ERC7.5]

Also, look at the goal that Fleury knocked in. There was a good 3-4 seconds when no one knew where the puck (except the ref) was. It would open a huge can of worms.

That was it?! Seemed like a lot longer than 3-4 seconds! lol

Well put though... a lot better than my explanation...

[Jeepthrills]

Congrats to the Wings.

That is going to be tough. One of the things about drafting high for several years in a row is you get a lot of young talent. The problem is now that there is a salary cap, they can be tough to keep. I hope they can keep a solid core together. They have a strong young team. The Wings have excelled at geting guys late in the draft like Zetterberg, Datsyuk, etc. and balanced veterans with mid level guys and then filled in spots with young, cheaper players.

Was a great run. Lots of exciting hockey.... Is it next season yet?

Great article. Pittsburgh is clearly a knowledgeable and classy sports town. They showed a ton of class by staying and cheering. I would like to believe we would have done the same thing in Detroit. When the Steelers were playing in the Super Bowl a couple years ago, I found Steeler fans to be very similar to us here. Die hards that love their team, but love sports and respect tradition. I grew up a Steeler fan because in 1978 when I was 8 years old my soccer jersey was black and yellow and I was #12. When the 79 Super Bowl came around I naturally cheered for the team that matched my colors. I'm sure it helped that they won and that Bradshaw was one of the all time greats. Even now they are my team B. As a Lions fan you need a team B.

Im a hockey loyalist. There is no way they could take a rule on to allow goals that were shot

Great example with the deflections. I am willing to bet that if it had gone in, they would have counted it. They changed the rules on the fly all playoffs long. Why not one more time.

[Lemay427]

ya I think the refs just rewrite the rule book every shift.

[MrKadash]

Good synopsis of the Penguins off-season challenge to return as a force in the NHL next season:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08160/888294-61.stm

[ERC7.5]

Good synopsis of the Penguins off-season challenge to return as a force in the NHL next season:

I read that earlier today...pretty good breakdown. Does hockey have the shortest offseason of the 4 major sports (football/basketball/baseball/hockey)? From the champion being decided to to the start of the season (understanding that the length of the series involved is flexible)?

[iacas]

Time for a new thread on hockey, folks.