Let the Puck Drop! Official NHL Playoff Thread

[MMouse6937]

It certainly wasn't my intention to make anyone feel guilty or "bad" for supporting their team. I simply wanted to support my team in my way and doesn't happen to include ripping on the other teams. Perhaps that's not what was expected in this thread, but that's the way I chose to conduct myself.

For my DH and for Sarah, LET'S GO RED WINGS!

Oh baby, what a final series this is going to be! I think these two teams are about as evenly matched as any can be with the exception of the Wings having the advantage of experience and home ice. But none of that has seemed to matter to the Pens this season. Can't wait for it to start! See you all on Saturday!

Let's go Pens!!!

That was quite a game, once again back to total domination. Looking forward to Saturday's game, we'll see how it matches up!

LETS GO RED WINGS!!

[letsdoitagain]

Anyone can say what they will about the pens, flyers or whoever. Both the pens and the flyers were in pretty bad shape the past few years, neither one performing very well. I think its great that both pennsylvania teams have gone as far as they did. But, there can only be one winner, and after all the crying and whining and "we gave them that game they're not magic" comments from the flyers I was glad to see them embarrased in game 5. Maybe that will drive some of that smart mouth cockeyness out of them and they will perform up to their full potential next year and we can have a repeat of this year, next year.

Now, on the detroit. The steelers won there and so can the pen.

GO PENS!!!!!

[JPL]

Early on, when JPL was still actively involved in the thread, he and I were going back and forth ...

The going back and forth is all part of sports fun. My best friend is a Flyer Fan and when they got swept in 97 I sent him a card with pieces of a broom in it. When the Devils lost is 2001 he returned the favor with a box full of flour with the letters for the word Avalance cut out and mixed. I have friends who like all different teams and we always have a blast going back and forth all in good fun of course.

I have to say the style of Hockey played in the Western Conference really doesn't interest me all that much I am an Eastern Conference fan.
Although in the case of this year's final I quickly became a Red Wing Fan since I really can't stand the Penguins being from the same division and beating us out at the trade deadline for Hossa. I won;t even get into the kid gloves the league treats Crosby with.

So for the Finals I want to give out a rare

Let's Go Wings

[alphamommy]

As a Red Wings fan, I'm happy to be back in the finals.

What I'm dreading is listening to the hockey pundits on TV singing Crosby's praises when he and Henrik Zetterberg are tied for total points in the playoffs.

I hope we get Franzen back soon.

Here's to a good finals, and
LET's GO RED WINGS!!!

[julyjewel]

As a person from the Burgh, I am pulling for the Pens. I did watch The Red Wings/ Dallas game last night and I really don't know how the Stars made it that far.

I really don't think you can just single out certain players. the team has to work together for the greater good. Honestly, I feel the one player that should be appreciated the most on any team is the goalie!

Let's Go Pens!!!

[JPL]

Honestly, I feel the one player that should be appreciated the most on any team is the goalie!

So true and this is the position that the league ignores the most when promoting the game. Unless you are 50+ goal scorer you are worthless in the league's eyes.

[Jeff G]

As a fan of hockey in general this looks to be a great series final with the best two teams who seem evenly matched and bring a lot of intensity representing. This should be a great for the NHL too bringing a lot of casual fans like myself back to the game by having two teams with broad appeal. You have the up and coming Penguins with a ton of young talent & the feel good turn around story line taking on the Wings who are always there when it counts.

I hate to be a band wagon fan(I've had the same NFL & MLB favorites from the late 70's) but I'm going with the Penguins on this one. I live in Central Wisconsin where we get very limited NHL coverage making it hard to follow any single team. Most of the games I caught this year were on Sunday afternoons where it seemed NBC only covered the Penguins. From the games that were on both Malkin and Crosby played phenomenally and the rest of the team was fun to watch.

[barnaby]

You can say whatever you want about the Flyers.

The Penguins nearly moved out of Pittsburgh because no one went to the games.
That has never happened in Philadelphia.

[JPL]

This should be a great for the NHL too bringing a lot of casual fans like myself back to the game by having two teams with broad appeal.

I tend to disagree about it being be good for the NHL. While it does feature their poster child superstar it doesn't have the large market appeal of other series in the past that helped Hockey gain some more casual fans. Crosby still isn't a household name like Gretzky and even Lemiuex were when they helped increase the fan base. I an going to predict below average ratings for this series.

[julyjewel]

The Penguins didn't almost leave because nobody went to the games. They were looking into other offers because they needed a new arena. There was no cooperation from anyone. The facility is outdated and they felt as if they didn't have the voice to change it. The Flyers have a brand new arena. Pittsburgh has struggled with getting the new arena. Now that the arena is being built, they are staying. It has absolutely nothing to do with attendance. Attendance was low for a few years because players kept coming and going. People don't want to watch a team that has no stability. I have voiced my

[kakn7294]

You can say whatever you want about the Flyers.

The Penguins nearly moved out of Pittsburgh because no one went to the games.
That has never happened in Philadelphia.

Actually, that's NOT at all the reason that they nearly moved out of Pittsburgh. The fans were going to games in droves - many, if not most, were sell-outs. The problem there was that Mario and the Pens wanted a new arena (admittedly well deserved too) but the city didn't want to foot the bill for it - kinda tough to justify spending money on a hockey arena when they are in debt. Fortunately, it all worked out and the Pens are sticking around.

Sorry julyjewel! Apparently, we were posting at the same time!

I do agree that this series should bring in some casual fans, especially here in Pittsburgh, but overall, I don't know that it's going to really bring any new fans to the sport. I do think it's going to be exciting and that we're going to see more finesse and skill than hard-hitting and penalties. Both teams have some talented players and both goalies are great - they don't get enough credit but goalies almost never do.

[PirateLover]

The problem with the direction the NHL is headed, is that they are so desperate for the casual audience that they are alienating the hardcore fans that stuck with them all these years. I agree with JPL, I don't think ratings will be all that great. Many fans are so frustrated by the blatant favoritism of Crosby by Bettman that they will certainly not be tuning in to watch the Penguins. And the Red Wings had trouble selling out their arena this post season, when they are supposed to be "Hockeytown USA." Yet this was clearly the desired matchup of the NHL from the beginning. I just don't get it.

[Ian]

Crosby still isn't a household name like Gretzky and even Lemiuex were when they helped increase the fan base.I an going to predict below average ratings for this series.

Totally agree on the ratings ... they'll be sub-standard for sure. Two small market teams, one with no national appeal.

As far as Crosby goes, I don't even think he's the best player in the NHL right now. I'd take Malkin over him any day, and maybe even Ovechkin.

Not to mention that Gretzky had more class in his little pinky toe than Crosby does in his whole body. I realize he's talented, but I think the NHL is backing the wrong horse if they're really looking for their next poster child. He's not a guy who's going to carry a lot of national appeal, because he's very petulant and standoffish.

[PirateLover]

The Flyers have a brand new arena. Pittsburgh has struggled with getting the new arena. Now that the arena is being built, they are staying. It has absolutely nothing to do with attendance. Attendance was low for a few years because players kept coming and going. People don't want to watch a team that has no stability. I have voiced my

I do agree it's time for the Pens to get a new arena, but to say the problems had nothing to do with attendance is not entirely true. The Flyers' arena is now 11 years old. It was paid for almost entirely by private financing. The only thing that came out of state dollars were adjustments to the local infrastructure. Consistent attendance throughout the years is what helped the Comcast-Spectacor company become so wealthy and powerful. Even though the Flyers had the worst record in their history last year, they were still among tops in attendance %. In the year before the lockout, Pittsburgh was almost dead last. Since then they have been steadily climbing. (These numbers are based on %, not just overall attendance since Mellon arena can't seat as many people as some newer arenas. If you just look at overall attendance they are much lower but this of course isn't their fault since they can only seat around 17,000 some standing). Because the Pens couldn't afford to finance the building on their own, they tried to basically blackmail the state into paying for it after the city said no by threating to be a phone call away from moving to Kansas City. The final deal included no taxpayer money, but I hope they don't get into trouble because according to Gov. Rendell, much of the legalized gambling revenue was factored into the financing, and at least around these parts many of the casinos are having a hard time breaking ground. However, with the young talent they have and all the merchandise they are now selling, the planned increase in parking fees and ticket prices and all of that stuff, they will probably make a lot more money in the upcoming years.

[MMouse6937]

Not to mention that Gretzky had more class in his little pinky toe than Crosby does in his whole body. I realize he's talented, but I think the NHL is backing the wrong horse if they're really looking for their next poster child. He's not a guy who's going to carry a lot of national appeal, because he's very petulant and standoffish.

I'm not saying that I disagree with your point that Crosby is not the next ambassador for the NHL, but I think your comparison to Gretz is way off. Gretsky is one of the least classy "post" players I have ever seen. Not only did his comments during the Olympics regarding Canada and the US (when his wife is american, his kids are american, and he made the majority of his millions in the american market), but his scandal in Phoenix in which he stated he didn't know what his wife was doing, has severly limited his credibility. My DH was a diehard Rangers fan back in Kazoo's day and he could care less now if he dropped off the face of the earth. He was classy as a player, but he's a blowhard now and certainly not an ambassador for hockey or the NHL in my opinion.

[Jeff G]

I hang around with a large group of hockey families. Some are die hards for the NHL while many others are like me, just casual viewers. Of the casual viewers that I know most are really excited to see this series and plan to watch. For myself, if a large market team like Dallas or NY was in the cup series I wouldn't tune in to watch but because of the way the NHL does hype up Crosby and the fact that the times I've tuned in and watched him I've witnessed many way above average plays I'll be tuning in. I can't believe viewership will be down, the NHL has their poster boy in the finals which attracts fans like me. As for small markets, doesn't Detroit have one of the largest fan bases in the entire NHL? From what I remember they are one of the leagues most marketable teams.

I can't stand the NBA but when Jordan was working his magic I tuned in to see it just because he was so fun to watch. Since he retired I don't think I've watched a single playoff game. There are many who do the same in golf and Tiger. My guess is with all the hype Crosby gets there are going to be many like me who tune in this year and many more years just to witness him just because of the hype he gets.

[barnaby]

People don't want to watch a team that has no stability.

Flyers had run there in the 90s with no stabilty or playoffs and played in an old building.


People still came to the games though.
Flyers have never once been mentioned to be leaving the city. The fans always show up at the rink and supoprt their team.

Can't say the same for other teams like the Pens or Devils.

And just for the record, I picked the Penguins to win the Cup before the playoffs started and still think they will.

[MMouse6937]

As for small markets, doesn't Detroit have one of the largest fan bases in the entire NHL? From what I remember they are one of the leagues most marketable teams.

Exactly, thank you, Detroit has one of the biggest fan bases of any team in the league. Not only in Detroit but as you see no matter where they play there are droves of Wings fans in the stands. In Colorado it was hard to tell by fan reaction whether the Avs or the Wings had scored there were that many fans in the stands. It's like no other hockey city I've visited or lived in, it's everywhere, not just with hockey fans, but the city bleeds it. Really stunning to me actually.

I'm ready for the series, I think it's going to be interesting, it's a pretty even match up. I think the Wings have a little more depth, but the Pens have some great players and a terrific goalie. I have always said Osgood (Osbad) can go either way and it can change in a heartbeat. Let's drop the puck!

[JPL]

My guess is with all the hype Crosby gets there are going to be many like me who tune in this year and many more years just to witness him just because of the hype he gets.

The difference is Jordan and Tiger became household names like Gretzky did for hockey. My mother know very little about hockey but she knows who Wayne Gretzky is. Mention Sidney Crosby and she wouldn't have a clue. His name has not hit the main stream just yet and quite honestly I'm not sure it will.

[barnaby]

The difference is Jordan and Tiger became household names like Gretzky did for hockey. My mother know very little about hockey but she knows who Wayne Gretzky is. Mention Sidney Crosby and she wouldn't have a clue. His name has not hit the main stream just yet and quite honestly I'm not sure it will.

I think that is moreso because the NHL is not as popular as it was during the Gretsky and Lemiuex years.