Who's Your Pick for the Stanley Cup?

[Big_M]

Both teams have multiple lines that can score. I tend to agree with "experience" being overrated. The only place it plays a big role is knowing when not to retaliate and maybe not getting too emotionally up or down when you are leading or trailing. Still, sometimes being young and not knowing any better can serve just as well. Based on the playoffs and regular season, the two best teams are still playing.

I tend to disagree about experience... look at how often teams that are comprised of mostly the same individuals will improve as they play more playoff hockey. Experience can certainly help, but it IS possible to succeed without it.

Also... I'm a little late as I have been in the process of moving, but three days ago I said the same thing to my father... I don't think that the two best teams remain. I would take Dallas or the Sharks over the Pens... no disrespect to the Pens, they are a great team, but the West was pretty stacked this year.

[justinp]

The Pittsburgh Post Gazette

WOW!! That's harsh. Is this the local media's way of trying to fire up the team with "bulletin board material"? I'm a diehard Pens fan and I'd love to see them win the cup this season but you have to admit it's been a pretty good ride even if they don't win another game. For the Post to rip in to them like this is a little over the line I think. This isn't Philly or Ottawa we are playing. Detroit didn't win the President's Trophy for no reason at all. They are the best team in the NHL and, unfortunately for us Pens fans, they have started this series on fire.

[Jeepthrills]

Also... I'm a little late as I have been in the process of moving, but three days ago I said the same thing to my father... I don't think that the two best teams remain. I would take Dallas or the Sharks over the Pens... no disrespect to the Pens, they are a great team, but the West was pretty stacked this year.

I should have been more clear when I said the two best teams. I meant the two best teams that could have played for the cup. If Dallas, Anaheim or San Jose were in the East they would have been right there with Detroit the President's Trophy. Right now the East is loaded with young talent and is clearly on the rise. However, they are not at the level the West is. I don't want to insult the Eastern Conference by calling it the JV, but there is a big difference between the two.

[ERC7.5]

WOW!! That's harsh. Is this the local media's way of trying to fire up the team with "bulletin board material"? I'm a diehard Pens fan and I'd love to see them win the cup this season but you have to admit it's been a pretty good ride even if they don't win another game. For the Post to rip in to them like this is a little over the line I think. This isn't Philly or Ottawa we are playing. Detroit didn't win the President's Trophy for no reason at all. They are the best team in the NHL and, unfortunately for us Pens fans, they have started this series on fire.

Yeah...I couldn't believe it when I started reading those articles. They are correct on some points but wow....it appears they're already set to run Malkin/Hossa/Malone/etc... out of town. That's tone the Pittsburgh fanbase though....losing sucks! lol

[iacas]

I should have been more clear when I said the two best teams. I meant the two best teams that could have played for the cup. If Dallas, Anaheim or San Jose were in the East they would have been right there with Detroit the President's Trophy. Right now the East is loaded with young talent and is clearly on the rise. However, they are not at the level the West is. I don't want to insult the Eastern Conference by calling it the JV, but there is a big difference between the two.

There's still a lot of hockey to be played. Pittsburgh hasn't played well, but they say a series doesn't start until a team wins on the road. I think you might be getting ahead of yourself.

Furthermore, the Pens had a pretty good record against the West this year, including a 7-1 romp over Dallas, IIRC. You're a fan of a Western team - you've mostly seen them this year. Of course you're going to think the West is great. I like not having much "inter-league" play, but at the same time, it leads to "comparisons" between the two when, really, you can't compare the two.

[Jeepthrills]

There's still a lot of hockey to be played. Pittsburgh hasn't played well, but they say a series doesn't start until a team wins on the road. I think you might be getting ahead of yourself.

I agree that it is not over yet. Pittsburgh has a ton of talent and they can score goals in bunches. I will stick with my original prediction of Detroit in 6, but obviously Wednesday night is the key. If Detroit wins that one, I don't see them making the same mistake they made with Dallas in Game 4. The first goal is huge. If the Pens can get the monkey off their back and score first it could change their entire demeanor. If Detroit scores a couple early then I think it will be a sweep.

Then Pens have a great nucleus with Crosby, Malkin, Staal and Fleury. Hossa is likely gone and it will be tough to resign Malkin when he comes up because someone will throw a ton of money at him. There was a great article about a week ago in The Hockey News about the team's future. I hope they can keep up the winning. I like some of these guys when they are not playing the Wings. For the next few days I hope they don't score a goal and give up a ton, but otherwise I would like to see Crosby achieve great things.

[Big_M]

There's still a lot of hockey to be played. Pittsburgh hasn't played well, but they say a series doesn't start until a team wins on the road. I think you might be getting ahead of yourself.

I have watched quite a few East games this year, and jeepthrills may have as well... as here in the Detroit area we get CBC (w/ hockey night in Canada). I watched Toronto and Montreal play a few of the eastern teams just so I COULD see the likes of Crosby, Malkin, Ovechkin, and others. It is more difficult to compare with the lopsided schedule, but I will stick to the notion that the West was a better conference this year. It is early, the Pens might have some fight left in them, but I think the Wings are a better team, and I also think Dallas and San Jose were likely better than the Pens this year. This is just my opinion based on players, stats, and the few oberservations I have made watching hockey this year... obviously not everyone will agree. I DO think it is possible to compare conferences though... few would disagree that between 96-02 the West was dominant. They played a different style of hockey from the East, but today much has changed. The trap has evolved... the game has gotten faster... dump and chase hockey is a last resort... etc. I think the entire game has changed pretty drastically in the past 10 years, and for a while the West was ahead of the curve... the East has now caught up, but this year the the powerhouse teams all seemed to be Western teams for whatever reason.

[gogolfing]

No it is not over yet, but history is not on their side. Heard on the local sports radio this morning that teams that have gone up 2-0 in the Cup final are 30-1 over history. The only team to come back from 2-0 was the 1971 Habs.

[Jeepthrills]

No it is not over yet, but history is not on their side. Heard on the local sports radio this morning that teams that have gone up 2-0 in the Cup final are 30-1 over history. The only team to come back from 2-0 was the 1971 Habs.

I believe the 1942 Leafs came back from 3-0 in the Finals to beat the Wings.

[iacas]

No it is not over yet, but history is not on their side. Heard on the local sports radio this morning that teams that have gone up 2-0 in the Cup final are 30-1 over history. The only team to come back from 2-0 was the 1971 Habs.

ESPN just said that three teams have done it of the 30 to go down 2-0, and two of them did it against Detroit.

[Matt P]

ESPN just said that three teams have done it of the 30 to go down 2-0, and two of them did it against Detroit.

ESPN also said that Les Miles was going to be the new head football coach for Michigan.....

. But I agree, it is a new series, but the Pens need to hold serve at home and steal one on the road. They have made it interesting.

[Jeepthrills]

The Pens played well last night. They did a good job of controling the play for the last few minutes of the 1st and most of the second. Detroit made too many mistakes against a good team that was playing with some desperation. You might get away with that against the Columbus Blue Jackets, but not in the Cup Finals. It should make for an interesting game 4.

[clubmaker15]

detroit red wings -ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Big_M]

ESPN just said that three teams have done it of the 30 to go down 2-0, and two of them did it against Detroit.

Let's not get too caught up in meaningless historical statistics... THIS Detroit team will not loose after going up 2-0. Still, it will be an interesting game 4... the Pens will now have both desperation and hope, but if Detroit can show up for all 60 minutes that shouldn't matter... it'll be 3-1 going back to the Joe.

[MrKadash]

I don't think the Pens will have desperation as a mindset at all. They played well in game 3, and are home where they seem to excel. If they execute, they win. But if the Wings execute better....

[CG031]

Detroit will take this in six. I don't think Fleury is quite good enough for them to win it.

[JJR8588]

would of like to seen my NJ devils win but we all know that didn't happen

[MrKadash]

Thanks Evgeni Malkin for showing up this series, you might as well sit out game 5. Hats off to the Red Wings defense... stifling.