The Pittsburgh Penguins didn't get off the best of starts in last night's Game 1 against the Detroit Red Wings. Goalie, Marc-Andre Fleury, stumbled and fell as he entered the ice and moments later the PA announcer introduced the Pens' captain as Steven Crosby! An innocent slip of the tounge? I doubt it. Great stuff!
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After his team was handed a crushing 4-0, Pittsburgh coach, Michel Therrien, said it was their worst performance yet in these playoffs but that it taught his team a lesson going into Game 2. That is sort of true. The Penguins did recieve a lesson, only it was given to them by the dominating Red Wings.
Experience is key in a cup final and the Wings have it in boatloads. The talented but inexperienced Pens don't have a whole lot of it at all and it showed. Why the immensely experienced Gary Roberts was a healthy scratch I have no idea, but I am fairly certain he will play in Game 2 and that he will show his young teammates what they have to do, that is to not back down.
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Once again Tomas Holmstrom was called for goaltender interference, even though he was outside the crease and he barely, if at all, touched Marc-Andre Fleury with the stick. Like one of the Wings said, "Had it been any other Detroit player, there'd been no call on thet play." I sure hope the officials will sit down and disscuss this problem in the summer because this is getting rediculous. The interference calling is anything but consistant. In fact, the only thing that is consistant is how Tomas Holmstrom plays his game.
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Even for a talented team, such as the Pittsburgh Penguins, it must be frustrating playing against a solid defense like the Red Wings. In a sea of red the opponent isn't given any room to create any real chances. The fact that Detroit keeps getting scoring support from other lines than the first doesn't make things any easier for the Penguins.
The first line, led by Henrik Zetterberg did a great job against the Crosby line, while Niklas Kronwall was solid once again delivering his usual hits. The open-ice hit on Ryan Malone was a beauty.
***
After his team was handed a crushing 4-0, Pittsburgh coach, Michel Therrien, said it was their worst performance yet in these playoffs but that it taught his team a lesson going into Game 2. That is sort of true. The Penguins did recieve a lesson, only it was given to them by the dominating Red Wings.
Experience is key in a cup final and the Wings have it in boatloads. The talented but inexperienced Pens don't have a whole lot of it at all and it showed. Why the immensely experienced Gary Roberts was a healthy scratch I have no idea, but I am fairly certain he will play in Game 2 and that he will show his young teammates what they have to do, that is to not back down.
***
Once again Tomas Holmstrom was called for goaltender interference, even though he was outside the crease and he barely, if at all, touched Marc-Andre Fleury with the stick. Like one of the Wings said, "Had it been any other Detroit player, there'd been no call on thet play." I sure hope the officials will sit down and disscuss this problem in the summer because this is getting rediculous. The interference calling is anything but consistant. In fact, the only thing that is consistant is how Tomas Holmstrom plays his game.
***
Even for a talented team, such as the Pittsburgh Penguins, it must be frustrating playing against a solid defense like the Red Wings. In a sea of red the opponent isn't given any room to create any real chances. The fact that Detroit keeps getting scoring support from other lines than the first doesn't make things any easier for the Penguins.
The first line, led by Henrik Zetterberg did a great job against the Crosby line, while Niklas Kronwall was solid once again delivering his usual hits. The open-ice hit on Ryan Malone was a beauty.
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