FanNation

Draper wasn't concerned about their penalty kill performance, he was concerned about taking so many penalties. McCarty was their biggest culprit last night. If Franzen comes back, it'll likely be in place of McCarty for that reason.

Besides, Pittsburgh has to be more worried with Detroit's penalty kill than Detroit does. The Pens tend to get a little cute with the puck at times and every single one of Detroit's PKers will eat that garbage up. Zetterberg netted another shorty last night to seal the series.

RP-29 | 05/20/08, 08:39 AM

Too cute = Malkin making those blind cross ice passes. Philly made them pay and the Red Wings will certainly make them pay.

DurkDiggler | 05/20/08, 08:57 AM

I sure hope Franzen 1) comes back and 2) comes back with that same fire. You gotta like a team that just won a series finding things to correct already, the focus is on...

biminator | 05/20/08, 08:57 AM

-Mc Carty was just retaliating for the beating he was getting. He needs to instigate not retaliate. Be a little sand in their shorts, a rock in their jock, etc.

joefordnproud | 05/20/08, 09:20 AM

This should be an entertaining series if your a hockey fan at all. Both teams make you pay big time for any mistakes.Take a bad penalty and you'll probably be skating back to your bench with your head down.

Peter Goezinya | 05/20/08, 09:27 AM

Pittsburgh is not worried about Red Wings Penalty kill, let me tell you why. Crosby, Malkin, Malone, Hossa, Gonchar, Staal, Sykora, Hell I guess I even need to throw Hal Gill and Georges Laraquen ther too. Come on Red Wing fans

Toddmm5 | 05/20/08, 09:34 AM

everybody seems to want to hand the cup to detroit already, and we haven't even had game 1 yet. you all must be watching barry "san jose will win the cup, they are the most talented team out there" melrose. pittsburgh is going to surprise a lot of you so called "experts" in 6.

cowboys rule all | 05/20/08, 09:42 AM

Going to be a great series...whoever is better on the penalty kill probably will win the series because both teams' power plays are lethal!

DMitch | 05/20/08, 09:58 AM

Toddmm5, if Pittsburgh throws a collection of names on the ice as you suggest, they'll get buried. Championships aren't won by great players, they're won by great teams.

RP-29 | 05/20/08, 10:05 AM

Have you seen the highlites of the two series side by side. That Penguins and Flyers series looked wide open. I've only seen pieces of that series, but my god if there is that kind of room to move on open ice, the Penquines have no chance. I've never seen a series this far into the playoffs with so many uncontested shots on net as I've seen in the highlights of their series.

Q93 | 05/20/08, 10:13 AM

4 of those 6 penalties called were laughable and the Refs trying to give the Stars a chance...and the Stars are complaining about faceoffs?

Can't wait to see the Wings frustrate Crosby & Malkin and get in Fleury's kitchen.
Wings will raise the cup in 6.

Baun-ded | 05/20/08, 10:38 AM

Even with the Wings playing shorthanded the whole second period the stars could not get one by OZZIE.

joefordnproud | 05/20/08, 10:50 AM

You're watching highlights and thinking that's indicative of how the whole games have gone?

Red Wings have a great team, to be sure, but so do the Pens. Anyone who thinks they don't play as a team hasn't been paying attention since the LemieuxJagr era. There is a completely different aura about this team, and unlike those past superstars, Crosby, Malkin, Hossa, and Staal have no qualms at all about backchecking.

BBnG | 05/20/08, 11:06 AM

BBnG,
I agree about the back checking, this is certainly a different breed.
I still think Wings in 6, though Fleury has to control the rebounds. This isn't The rangers, and detroit will jump on them.

Spiny Norman | 05/20/08, 11:26 AM

The two best teams are in the finals. Bring it ON!!! Should be a dandy!

DCruiser | 05/20/08, 11:36 AM

Dcruiser-Check you fanmail.

Baun-ded | 05/20/08, 02:19 PM

Most dangerous place in sports. Kris Draper's face. Will someone please get him some plate mail.

Giantsfan56 | 05/20/08, 02:21 PM

if pittsburgh is going to win, they need to seriously reconsider the fancy play syndrome. the style was extremely effective with the lead footed teams they have faced, but they wings on a whole are a faster, more disciplined team. Certainly crosby is absolutely incredible player, but his unique ability to recover his own turnovers, a major strength, will be nullified by detroit's puck possession hockey. They are most certainly going to take Crosby and Malkin way out of their comfort zones. If the two can respond with enough grit to play ABC hockey without forcing chemistry, they will certainly give osgood a challenge. All in all, considering the wings stacked defense and disciplined two-way play will be too much for pittsburgh glitz to overcome. Pens will need a legendary perfomance out of crosby to make the series go beyond 5.

pjdk28 | 05/20/08, 02:25 PM

Pens in 6.

bostongm | 05/20/08, 02:59 PM

Either way this series turns out, it's going to be a great one. Two awesome teams going head to head for Lord Stanley's Cup. This should be a good one.

Go Wings!!!

NorVA (BS) Sports Fanatic | 05/20/08, 04:00 PM