NHL Play Off Prediction thread

[AdmiralGarak]

The poll was compiled before the playoffs. The whole regular season was one long Crosby-bashing festival. An understandable backlash against all the hype he has received mixed with the fact that he spent nearly an entire season playing without a decent winger. Take a new poll now, and Crosby would rank a lot higher.

 

[Rob Hal]

I'll take "The Penis Mightier" in seven games, Alex.

lol... "Gussy it up however you want, Trebek... What matters is does it work?"

As for the topic at hand, I don't think that most players are biased by their personal opinions of other players' characters when judging their hockey skill. I suspect a lot of players have just as negative an opinion of OV as they do of Sidney. As an example of separating personal feelings from judgement of skill, I think most players would regard Pronger as an elite D in the league, while at the same time naming him as one of the NHL's dirtiest players (more apt a few years ago, but you get the point...).

Let's get something straight: Crosby and Ovechkin are great hockey players, and they are certainly the icons of the current era. However, they are not as far above the rest of the league as Gretzky and Lemieux were. You take that poll, and I guarantee that if you saw the actual numbers, you would see that there is not much difference between first and eight place. Those are all great players in the current NHL... and from season to season, anyone of them could be described as the 'best' in the league. For a span of multiple years in their careers, that could not be said of the company that surrounded Gretzky or Lemieux.

 

[Commander Vaughn]

Good win by the Wings tonight. This series is a long way from being over, but I'd much rather see Detroit up 2-0 than down 0-2.

 

[warriorsfan]

So, anyone care to revise their predictions now that the Wings are up 2-0? Or is everyone still confident in a Pens victory?

 

[Kirk's_Tights]

Ah yes, I'm two wins away from winning two bets and having the chance (yet again) to make fun of all my friends who like loser teams.


It's great being me.

 

[tomalak301]

So, anyone care to revise their predictions now that the Wings are up 2-0? Or is everyone still confident in a Pens victory?

I'm of the belief that the series doesn't really start until the home team loses a game. The Igloo should be rocking in games 3 and 4.

 

[scottydog]

So, anyone care to revise their predictions now that the Wings are up 2-0? Or is everyone still confident in a Pens victory?

The Pens were down two-zip to Washington, too, and then kicked butt. So it's far from over. Of course, they MUST win game 3 or the fat lady will sing.

 

[Kirk's_Tights]

So, anyone care to revise their predictions now that the Wings are up 2-0? Or is everyone still confident in a Pens victory?

The Pens were down two-zip to Washington, too, and then kicked butt. So it's far from over. Of course, they MUST win game 3 or the fat lady will sing.

Yeah but this is Detroit. We're WAY better than Washington.

 

[Garak]

Actually, right now he probably is the best player in hockey. The only guy you could argue who is better is Malkin, who coincidentally plays on the same team.

Sports Illustrated did a survey of the NHL players and asked them who they thought was the best player in the League. The only condition was that they couldn't vote for a teammate. Arguably, no one is in a better position to judge "who is the best player in the NHL" than the players themselves. So who were the Top 6 NHL players as voted on by the players themselves?

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1155624/index.htm

1 Ovechkin
2 Lidstrom
3 Malkin
4 Datsyuk
5 Iginla
6 Zetterberg

Sidney Crosby was tied for 8th.

Also notice that 3 of the Top 6 are Red Wings.

There was a players' poll that Crosby DID win however. ESPN polled the players and asked "who is the biggest complainer on the ice?" The winner: Sidney Crosby.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?page=0809playersurvey

Yeah, that means jack shit.

As of the time I wrote my post saying Crosby was probably the best player in the league, they'd just won the conference final and he had 28 points in 20 games, tied with Malkin for an overwhelming lead in the playoff scoring race, fresh off of being the 3rd highest scorer in the NHL in the regular season. So yeah, at that time he probably was the best player in the NHL - the stats speak for themselves - with only Malkin challenging him. Now, well, he's gotta pick it up.

 

[James Bond]

Okay, WTF is this shit?? I'm 2 games away from losing $100.

 

[Kirk's_Tights]

Okay, WTF is this shit?? I'm 2 games away from losing $100.

haha, I'm two games away from WINNING $100 and winning another bet in which the losing person has to wear the hat of the winner's team, take a picture and make it their profile picture on facebook until the NHL draft.


I'm so glad I wont have to buy a sissy Pens hat.

 

[tomalak301]

Only until the NHL Draft. Should have been until opening night.

 

[Commander Vaughn]

Okay, WTF is this shit?? I'm 2 games away from losing $100.

haha, I'm two games away from WINNING $100 and winning another bet in which the losing person has to wear the hat of the winner's team, take a picture and make it their profile picture on facebook until the NHL draft.


I'm so glad I wont have to buy a sissy Pens hat.

Don't jinx it by calling this too early!

Lots of hockey left to be played...

EDIT: Also, anyone catch the Pittsburgh favoritism demonstrated by the league when they did not enforce the mandatory one game ban on Malkin for starting that fight at the end of Game 2?

I think we all know who the NHL wants to win the Cup...

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Well, I'm sure it has to do with wanting better ratings over wanting specifically Pittsburgh to win, but same difference in the end.

As each game goes on, I get sadder and sadder. At least I'm more angry at the Pens right now, so a Red Wings victory will sting less.

 

[Kirk's_Tights]

Only until the NHL Draft. Should have been until opening night.

Yeah but it was my friend's idea so the least I could do is let him set it up his way since he'll be losing.

 

[AdmiralGarak]

I think we all know who the NHL wants to win the Cup...

Right about now, the Phoenix Coyotes or the Atlanta Thrashers I'm guessing.

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

EDIT: Also, anyone catch the Pittsburgh favoritism demonstrated by the league when they did not enforce the mandatory one game ban on Malkin for starting that fight at the end of Game 2?

It didn't meet the conditions of requiring a suspension - he wasn't sent out on the ice to "send a message" and it wasn't retaliation for a previous incident. It was a scrum that turned into a "fight" in which no punches were thrown and each player pulled and tugged on the other's jersey.

IF Scott Walker's sucker punch didn't draw a suspension, there's no way Malkin should be suspended.

I think we all know who the NHL wants to win the Cup...

Doesn't matter, nobody will watch it. NBC decided to show "I'm a Celebrity, get me out of here" on Thursday night.

 

[Jackson_Roykirk]

Even without Datsyuk, the Wings are just too good. Plus, Pittsburgh is making too many errors and had too many give-aways.

Well, let's hope the Pen's can win the next two at home to make this series into something respectable for the Penguins.

...and 4th hanson bro is correct -- Malkin was not sent out specifically to start a fight. Simply starting a fight at the end of a game does not meet the criteria for the mandatory suspension.

 

[scottydog]

2 games to 1 now. Go Pens Go! I think whoever wins the next game takes the series.

 

[Kirk's_Tights]

HOLY SHIT, I can't believe we just lost 4-2.