Finals - Pens and Preds

Fred in Lynn

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Jan 3, 2013
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Cool. I'll swing a hockey stick at your knees after you throw a legal hit. You can slowly slide a water bottle across the ice at me. Deal?
If you swing like Ekbolm did when I'm wearing shin pads, you have yourself a deal.

Was the reason Olzcyk was in a tizzy over the water bottle because he believed someone's safety was in danger? Come on.
 

Greg29fan

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Jul 14, 2005
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I could have done without some of the extracurricular stuff but that was an all-career performance by 87 from the word go.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
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I could have done without some of the extracurricular stuff but that was an all-career performance by 87 from the word go.
Right off the opening face off- he grabbed that game and never let go. He's amazing.

Too bad he's such a douche.
 

McDrew

Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
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Apr 11, 2006
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In hindsight, I think the Crosby/Subban scrap should have been 2 each for holding and 2 extra to Crosby for roughing. Subban was absolutely holding Crosby to keep him from getting up, but that doesn't mean you get to slam someone's head into the ice repeatedly.

There is a double standard when it comes to Crosby. It sucks.
 

Greg29fan

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There is a double standard when it comes to Crosby. It sucks.
No, there isn't.

Just for one tiny, microscopic example - Subban punched him twice in the back of the head in game one sans penalty.

NHL officials are terrible - not in favor of anybody, they're just bad at their jobs.
 
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reggiecleveland

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Right off the opening face off- he grabbed that game and never let go. He's amazing.

Too bad he's such a douche.
Honestly can you explain this, other than playing for Pittsburgh and Canada?

I believe I wrote this somewhere else, but everybody in Canada knows somebody in the NHL. If you are third or fourth generation you have family in the NHL at some point. Crosby is right there with Orr and Howe in NGOAT (Nicest Guy) stories. He was nationally famous from the time he was 12. And had a target on his back from an earlier age. Every time I hear about him at public events they talk of other guys leaving early, demanding free stuff, being dicks in multiple ways. Crosby stories are boringly, blandly the same. He stayed late, signed everything, was shy but approachable. Stories from players say he works harder than anybody, will take on any role the team needs. Stories from players say he is tougher than his aw shucks persona. They almost universally consider him the best in the world. The worst thing I have heard is some older players saying he should retire because of his concussion problems.
 

MiracleOfO2704

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Jul 12, 2005
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I believe I wrote this somewhere else, but everybody in Canada knows somebody in the NHL. If you are third or fourth generation you have family in the NHL at some point. Crosby is right there with Orr and Howe in NGOAT (Nicest Guy) stories. He was nationally famous from the time he was 12. And had a target on his back from an earlier age. Every time I hear about him at public events they talk of other guys leaving early, demanding free stuff, being dicks in multiple ways. Crosby stories are boringly, blandly the same. He stayed late, signed everything, was shy but approachable. Stories from players say he works harder than anybody, will take on any role the team needs. Stories from players say he is tougher than his aw shucks persona. They almost universally consider him the best in the world. The worst thing I have heard is some older players saying he should retire because of his concussion problems.
I'll piggyback off this post, but knowing some of the locals in Halifax, I've asked about the three big, current Haligonian NHL players (Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, and Brad Marchand), and the common theme is that Crosby is the guy that comes home, takes care of the local community, does the little extra things. MacKinnon has apparently taken to Crosby (last winter, the two of them shot a Tim Hortons commercial for their trading card promotion, and they shot at a local Tims instead of a Toronto or Vancouver sound stage), all the way to the point they work out together in the offseason. Brad's the oddball, but some of that may be due to the Joe Colborne Theory, since his parents own a big construction company in Hammonds Plains.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
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Honestly can you explain this, other than playing for Pittsburgh and Canada?

I believe I wrote this somewhere else, but everybody in Canada knows somebody in the NHL. If you are third or fourth generation you have family in the NHL at some point. Crosby is right there with Orr and Howe in NGOAT (Nicest Guy) stories. He was nationally famous from the time he was 12. And had a target on his back from an earlier age. Every time I hear about him at public events they talk of other guys leaving early, demanding free stuff, being dicks in multiple ways. Crosby stories are boringly, blandly the same. He stayed late, signed everything, was shy but approachable. Stories from players say he works harder than anybody, will take on any role the team needs. Stories from players say he is tougher than his aw shucks persona. They almost universally consider him the best in the world. The worst thing I have heard is some older players saying he should retire because of his concussion problems.
Firstly, let me make clear I was referring to his actions on the ice, not off- Crosby has had to be Mr. Canada in a professional capacity since he was 12 freaking years old and has done it without controversy. He's had to do it while lacking Howe's presence, Orr's charm, or Gretzky's grace. He's fulfilled the role through humbleness, determination, and a keen awareness of his burden.

I recently had an email exchange with a Canadian friend of mine about what makes Crosby so elite- he doesn't always stand out with a particular dominant skill- he's not the fastest, doesn't have the best shot, isn't a pure playmaker (although he's as good as anyone in the game). His best traits (his backhand, the strength of his skating, and his IQ) are things that can go under appreciated by the average fan. I think Crosby has had to work harder than any of the other historically good players, and that may explain why he sometimes acts in ways I find douchey.

And I'm not even saying my characterization is fair. It's just how I see it as someone who comes from an old Massachusetts hockey family.

1. He whines all over the place- he whines at refs, he whines at opposing players in a faux-tough manner, and he whines to his teammates about things that go on; I find it a bit disconcerting from a captain. It's not his fault- he lacks that particular Canadian stoicism that Yzermans and Bergerons and Toews have. (In this regard, perhaps it's not surprising that Mario was his mentor/influence)

2. He's kind of a sneaky punk. He'll spear you in the nuts, he'll take advantage of a tied up opponent, he'll pull a hit and run in a crowd, etc. And he does it with either a smirk or a whine on his puss.

3&4 (dead on Reggie). Pittsburgh and Canada. Penguins took the Bruins colors, sucked and/or tanked into getting two generational talents (who share an appearance of petulance that is dislikable), and happily rostered human scum like Ulf and Matt Cooke. I know how Steelers fans view the Patriots, and they're not wrong. I think the inverse is true in hockey.

And Canada? Well, you'll get yours.
 

TFP

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Going to one of these games in Nashville would've been awesome.
One of my buddies at work lives in Nashville. He went to Game 4 and said it was the best sports experience of his life.
 

kenneycb

Hates Goose Island Beer; Loves Backdoor Play
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Dec 2, 2006
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Murray just got a piece of that Neal shot in front. Best chance of the night so far.

Which is followed by two chances from Pittsburgh and two saves by Ryan Ellis.
 

The Napkin

wise ass al kaprielian
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Preds should have had a goal and 2 iffy calls on the pens (pretty good embellishment on the first could have been called).
The NHL!
 

TFP

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It's called a check, Eddie.

Edit: He's still lobbying for a penalty on Thomas from 2011
I'm screaming at my tv saying it can't be interference if the guy has the fucking puck.

If he fell down, there was a case to be made for a trip though. But he didn't.
 

The Napkin

wise ass al kaprielian
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Yeah, that wasn't a penalty because he didn't go down. The slash and the stick hold that followed were though.
 

cshea

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Nov 15, 2006
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Watching it again, I think Rinne had zero intention of hitting Hagelin. Rinne just got so far out of position that he ended up in the way.

In a related story, Rinne scares the crap out of me.