By Allan Muir, SI.com
1. Henrik Zetterberg, Red Wings: Not sure who picked the stars at the rink, but it's inconceivable that they overlooked the remarkable two-way performance of the Selke candidate, and likely Conn Smythe winner. While Zetterberg was held off the scoreboard and had an uncharacteristically rough night in the faceoff circle, he was a threat with the puck and magnificent defensively, especially on the two-man penalty kill in the third that essentially choked the life out of the Penguins.
2. Chris Osgood, Red Wings: He made just 21 stops on the night, seven fewer than the equally impressive Marc-Andre Fleury, but he gets the nod for letting in one fewer goal to seal the win for the Wings. Ozzie made a number of outstanding saves on the night, with none better than a pad stop of an Evgeni Malkin redirect from five feet out in the scrambly final moments of the contest.
3. Nick Lidstrom, Red Wings: The move he made prior to scoring Detroit's first goal, repositioning himself to set up both Ryan Malone and Sergei Gonchar as screens in front of Fleury, was a dynamic display of the levels of his hockey sense. He was omnipresent on the ice, topping the 28-minute mark, and his presence and positioning was key to the late success of Detroit's penalty kill.
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Good choices. Zetterberg especially has been an immense force. He and Datsuk have been asked to do it all. Offense, Defense, Penalty Kill and with long shift numbers. What a dynamite player.
And, he sc o o o o r es!
hockeyrules
Total Comments (3)
The 5 on 3 penalty kill was very telling. It was the Pens' top five players against two of Detroit's, and Z and Lidstrom came up big. Z may have won the Conn Smythe based upon that kill alone, though Osgood may have something to say about that in Game 5.
The Winged Wolverine
Total Comments (131)
how bout some love for the guy who scored the game-winner? but i don't have a problem with this, actually. the stars they picked at the rink were absurd.
texaswings
Total Comments (48)
Since the bar I was at shut off the broadcast as soon as the game was over (though I did get to see Crybaby Crosby try to go after Z), could someone tell me who the 3 Stars were at the rink?
Also, a thought as I was watching ESPN this morning: does anyone else find it funny that some of the kids at the Scripps National Spelling Bee had as much facial hair as Crosby?
The Winged Wolverine
Total Comments (131)
I think the three stars at the rink according to CBC were Zetterberg, Hossa, and Lidstrom in that order. I wouldn't say they were absurd picks but I'm glad to see Ozzie listed above. Yeah he doesn't see that many shots, and yeah he's been on some awesome teams. That said, he still makes the saves he needs to make and you don't get a GAA of 1.38 by accident
Phantom
Allen Park , MI
Total Comments (4)
but the stars at the rink were lidstrom, osgood, and hossa. zetterberg was not among them. an outrage, i say.
texaswings
Total Comments (48)
@texaswings- Thanks for the correction and I couldn't agree more regarding Zetterberg
Phantom
Allen Park , MI
Total Comments (4)
So all you Wings fans can put the issue to rest, the MVP has to go to Osgood. When the offense is controlling the puck and the D is playing lights out hockey, you have to defer to the goalie. When he has to face shots he makes the crucial saves. He's stopping the premier offense in the league. 0, 0, 3, and 1 goal allowed. Come on!!! Look at Fleury as my counterpoint. He gave up a goal from the point and a fluky backhander that fluttered in on him last night. Osgood has made those saves, Fleury hasn't. Let's just say, both teams have premier offenses and stellar defenses, who's made the difference - the goalie for the Wings! Damn you Osgood!
mikeinpittsburgh
Oakdale , PA
Total Comments (37)
well, it's premature to talk about this till they actually win, but sure, i could see it being osgood. i'm not among those who thinks you could prop up a sawhorse in net and the wings would still get by. it might have been buccigross on espn who said if it's a short series, osgood should get it, if not, perhaps zetterberg. honestly i've never seen a goalie (at least for the wings) look so calm in the net, and i think that's been his biggest strength by far. he just doesn't get rattled. hasek, even when he was great, was sort of a spaz back there.
even the bank shot goal he gave up was because he went for a really aggressive poke check and just missed it. not a play you try if you're not feeling pretty confident. just watching him in there, even i feel calm -- i know he's probably gonna make the initial save and not give up much on the rebound.
texaswings
Total Comments (48)
Zetterburg = MVP if Detroit wins.
BucksRule
Evansville , IN
Total Comments (26)
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