Crosby and Company Come Alive

After Sidney Crosby, and the rest of the Penguins were nowhere to be found for the first two games of these Stanley Cup Finals, the young guns finally made an appearance. Sparked by Crosby’s two early goals and the gritty physical leadership of the crafty veteran Gary Roberts, the Penguins gave their hometown fans something to cheer about.

Detroit continued their torrid pace of secondary scoring, getting goals from both Johan Franzen and Mikael Samuelsson on the evening. However, it was the lack of finish by their top guns in Datsyuk and Zetterberg that spelled the difference in this game for Detroit.

One of my favorite playoff quotes held true tonight and it goes something like this:

” In the Stanley Cup Finals, the team whose best players are the best players will always win the game”

On this night, it was clearly Sidney Crosby who was the game’s best player as he came out with a vengeance in Game 3 after being called on the carpet for his illustrious performance thus far in the series.

Crosby’s Boring Interviews

Crosby pulled out every cliche in the book during his post-game interviews. Here is a sample of Crosby’s robotic interviewing skills.

We still have a ways to go,” Crosby said. “It is just going to get tougher from here.”

“We had to leave it all out there tonight,” [...] “It wasn’t easy, but it was a good one for us.”

“It wasn’t that the chances weren’t there, it’s just that finally one went in for us.

“It was a big game,” Crosby said. “Every one from here on is a must-win, so we have to be sure we play well.”

It’s no secret that I believe Crosby is good for the game and he is a well coached in his public address approach, but he has the personality of a dead moth.

I much prefer the broken english of Alexander Ovechkin, who was spotted during Game #3 speaking with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. When asked what he and Bettman were talking about, Ovechkin smiled and said:

“Raising the salary…getting more money”

Alexander then calmly continued by saying that he was really talking about the World Championships and life in general. At least he has a sense of humor.

On Malkin

Pierre Lebrun thought Malkin was “electric” in Game 3. I’m going to have to disagree with Pierre on this one. While Malkin was considerably better than he had been in the previous two games, it would be a stretch to call his performance “electric”. Lebrun point out not that Crosby carried the team on his back, which I will agree with (even though it was quite obvious). As much as I have said I am tired of all of the hype around Crosby, Sidney was by far the best player on the ice in this game.

Get Your Game 5 Tickets

Detroit fans, be sure to pick up your Stanley Cup Final tickets because Game 5 is coming your way and it should be a dandy!

Tired of All The Crosby Hype

Time for another “Bubba rant”.

Am I the only person alive who feels this way, or are other hockey fans getting sick and tired of the never-ending love-fest for Sidney Crosby? “Sid the Kid” this and “Crosby” that, it’s practically all you get to read about.

The hype started way back before the youngster was even drafted. It continued into his rookie year, (even though he didn’t earn rookie of the year honors), and now the over-kill has reached a crescendo of epic proportions.

This blogger has finally reached his breaking point.

Reading articles day after day which state things like “Crosby has his team in the Finals” makes me wonder if the rest of his team-mates feel slighted. The last time I checked, hockey was a team game. Did the other Penguins have nothing to do with getting the team into the Finals, or are they not worthy of mentioning in the same way?

The problem is, it doesn’t stop there.

There have been numerous articles written about how Crosby is the “Face of the NHL”, or is the “Future of the NHL”. Excuse me, but in my mind “the kid” might not even be the best player on his team, let alone the entire NHL.

Let’s put the hype aside for a moment and take a look at some facts.

During the regular season, Evgeni Malkin led the team in scoring with 47 goals and 106 points in 82 games. Crosby scored 24 goals and had 72 points in 53 games.

While Crosby had a bad ankle and missed several games because of the injury, Malkin still averaged more goals per games played (.57) than did Crosby (.45). Malkin’s shooting percentage was 17% while Crosby’s was 14%. Both averaged about the same amount of time on the ice per game, (21 minutes).

While Crosby was injured, Malkin stepped up and arguably was more of a force than Crosby had ever been. The team responded and played their best hockey of the year, (before the playoffs) during the superstar’s injury. Was the team trying to send a message to the rest of the NHL? Maybe, just maybe, they are not a one-man hockey team?

The battle for the Conn Smythe should be interesting. Will Crosby win it by default? He has a slim lead in the playoffs scoring race with 21 points while Malkin and Marian Hossa have 19 each.

Although, the surprise of the playoffs for me so far has been the outstanding play of Marc-Andre Fleury. He certainly has to be in the running.

Detroit has a few players who will be making a case for themselves as well. Henrik Zetterberg has 21 points while Pavel Datsyuk has 19. Nicklas Lidstrom is always a force on defense and Chris Osgood has been a rock between the pipes.

Any of them are as equally deserving as Crosby, at least so far.

I have a feeling that the Red Wings will be out to show the world that it might just be a bit too early to dub “the kid”, as the “Face of the NHL”.

More Stanley Cup News

It seems that the NHL had another brain-dead moment when they scheduled this series. The first three games between the Pens and Wings are on the same exact nights as the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs. That means that the Detroit Red Wings will be playing on the same nights as the Detroit Pistons play.

For instance, the Pistons will be playing at home tonight, the exact same time that the Red Wings are playing at home. The NBA set their times up first, so it’s hard to believe that the NHL couldn’t have been a bit more creative with their scheduling. Maybe they are required to do Versus’ bidding, regardless of other factors?

Would it be surprising to see a few empty seats at the Joe tonight as corporate executives who have over-lapping tickets make the tough choice of watching the Pistons game instead of the Wings? Not only that, but the NHL will be butting heads with the television coverage as well. If you are a Pistons fan in addition to being a Wings fan, which game will you watch?

Fans Vs. Versus

If you are just an “average joe” sports fan surfing the channels for something to watch tonight, are you more apt to watch the basketball playoffs on ABC TV, or watch hockey on Versus? Don’t think too hard before answering that question. Most of the “average joe’s” won’t even be able to find the hockey game.

While Versus is liable to do very well, (for them), as far as ratings go for this game, the overall ratings could be much better if things were handled properly and with better planning.

Right now the NHL has a huge opportunity to bring new fans into the sport because of this premier match-up between two of the most skilled, exciting teams in the league, yet it seems as if the people at the top of the league think small. As long as they continue to think small, the league will always remain a 2nd tier sport to most people who follow sports.

By the way just in case you haven’t heard, Sidney Crosby is the youngest Captain to ever play in a Stanley Cup Finals. I thought you might like to know that little tidbit before I sign off and go mow my yard.

Penguins To Play For Stanley Cup

It seemed inevitable that Pittsburgh’s young stars would one day help lead the club to the Stanley Cup final. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the rest of the Penguins made it a reality Sunday afternoon with a decisive Game 5 win to clinch the NHL’s Eastern Conference championship.

The Killer Instinct

The boys from Pittsburgh polished off their cross-state rivals in style with a 6-0 rout of the Flyers, who saw their Game 4 glimmer of hope quickly extinguished  by a remarkable performance from the Penguins slate of young superstars in Crosby, Staal, Malone, and Malkin.

Following Game 4, in which Sidney Crosby was clearly frustrated by the likes of Mike Richards and the Flyers obvious “rough and tumble” game plan, many questioned whether the Penguins had enough killer instinct.  The Penguins were called on the carpet prior to Game five and they responded with vigor.

Remember the Oilers?

It may be too early to compare this group of young stars to the like of the Edmonton Oilers of the mid-1980′s, but the similarities are there.  In fact, according to the Globe and Mail, Wayne Gretzky needed four NHL seasons. Mario Lemieux required seven. But Sidney Crosby was swifter than both No. 99 and No. 66. The Pittsburgh Penguins’ sensational 20-year-old captain has steered his team to a Stanley Cup final in only his third season.

Is A Dynasty Possible?

Given the salary cap and the general business environment in today’s National Hockey League, it is unlikely that we will witness the type of dynasty that we saw from the Oilers, but this Pittsburgh Penguins team is looking more and more like a franchise of the future.  The Penguins seem to have risen from the brink of disaster – the franchise was in dire straits and looking to be sold, they are playing in the NHL’s oldest rink and barley being able to sell a season ticket.  Now, the youngsters are playing for the Lord Stanley’s holy grail.  If the Penguins are victorious in the next round, could their be a more fitting end to this magnificent story?

Flyers Battle Back

In typical Philadelphia hard-nosed hockey style, the Flyers managed to claw out a win at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Philadelphia Flyers avoided elimination, scoring three times in the first period in a 4-2 victory over the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference final at the Wachovia Center.

Pittsburgh spotted Philly a 3-0 lead that lasted until the third period when Jordan Staal and his Easton Stealth S17 took over! Staal managed to pot two goals in the final frame, both assisted by linemates Tyler Kennedy and Max Talbot, but it was too little too late for the Penguins. This was a gutsy performance turned in by Staal, who just returned from Thunder Bay after attending funeral services for his grandfather.

Where Were Crosby and Malkin?

Evgeni Malkin was a dominate force early in the series, but if you watched game four with your television muted, you would swear Malkin was in the press box with Gary Roberts and his flu bug!

Sidney Crosby had a decent game, but was mentally beaten by Mike Richards, who was successful in agitating Crosby almost from the drop of the puck. It was clear that Sid had lost his focus and was unable to dominate the play as he had in game three. A prudent fan will also notice that Crosby tends to whine to the officials more often and will get involved in unnecessary shoving matches after the whistle when he is mentally off of his game. There is no better evidence of this fact than watching the tape of last night’s game four.

Here is what Sidney had to say following the game:

“We really believed we’d come back here tonight,” said Penguins star Sidney Crosby, who was held pointless. “We came up a little short. But you never want to put yourself behind the eight ball like that.

Richards Plays Both Sides

I have been extremely impressed with the play adn the character of Mike Richards throughout these playoffs. He has had some very clutch performances offensively and game four proves that he can play just as well in a defensive role. What a great all around player!

Here is what fuels the fire for Richards:

“It is frustrating to hear Pittsburgh this and Pittsburgh that,” said Flyers captain Mike Richards. “We have a good team in here and we wanted to come out and prove it tonight.”

A class act and a great player.

Looking to Game Five

It will be interesting to see if the young Penguins can find their killer instinct and finish off the Flyers in game five, or if this was just the momentum boost that the Flyers needed to start a rally in this series.

Long Weekend Hockey Linkage

Sidney Crosby enjoyed his best and most demanding practice since injuring his right ankle, skating at full speed Monday and spinning off several of the gee-whiz passes that only an elite few NHL playmakers can make.

Peter Forsberg’s agent Don Baizley told CBCSports.ca Monday that “it’s unlikely Peter will return to the NHL this season.”

Just when you figured that things couldn’t get any worse concerning the health of this team, they did. The Carolina Hurricanes were in New Jersey for a special afternoon game with less than half of their regular roster available and some of their players on the ice feeling less than 100%.

Mickey Renaud, captain of the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League, died suddenly on Monday when he collapsed at his home and was transported to hospital without any vital signs.

The Red Wings Destroyed the Avalanche 4-0. Yes, destroys is a tough word to use against any team and Avs Talk doesn’t use it lightly.

Radim Vrbata scored a goal, assisted on two others and the Phoenix Coyotes defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-0 on Monday night for Wayne Gretzky’s 100th victory as coach.

A group of hockey players at an outdoor rink just east of Edmonton has finished the world’s longest game, breaking a record they set twice before.

The Oshawa Generals will retire Eric Lindros No. 88 when the OHL club hosts the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors on March 6. Lindros, a London, Ontario, native played for the Generals from 1989-1992 and lead the team to their last Memorial Cup in 1990. In 95 games played in a Generals uniform, Lindros scoring 97 goals and 216 points.

Now that Peter Forsberg is out of the running, many NHL teams will go to Plan B, a plan that includes other viable trade options like Mats Sundin and Marian Hossa.

Michigan remained atop the Division I men’s poll Monday, after a sweep of Lake Superior State. The Wolverines held their ground, but the identity of the No. 2 team tailing them changed. North Dakota rose into the second position, picking up the other two first-place nods in the wake of two wins over Denver.

Jim makes heads turn as he drives his Flyers pride everywhere he goes. Definitely a formidable candidate for the “Flyers’ Greatest Fan” title!

Quote of the Week: Canucks and Beyond

…As the ref stopped play to indicate Stortini’s upcoming 2-minute detention, he looked around with the bewildered air of a 14 year old kid having just been busted for reading dad’s Playboy collection… while knowing that it was only minutes earlier that he’d been randomly setting houses on fire all over the neighborhood.  It was as if to say, “Huh?? You’re seriously busting me for THIS?”

He had a point. Stortini went through that first period like a serial killer building a criminal resume.  Finally nailing him for that slash was something like dropping Al Capone for tax evasion—and not nearly as rewarding as just pistol whipping him would’ve been.

Ovechkin Versus Crosby…Revisited

Why would Alexander Ovechkin be sick if hearing about Sidney Crosby?

I don’t know…maybe because Crosby makes millions of dollars in endorsement contracts that he gets because he is “Canada’s golden boy” and Ovechkin has …wait for it…that’s right his very own blog!

Crosby gets the benefit of playing with seasoned National Hockey league scorers such as Mark Recchi and Petr Sykora, while Ovechkin plays with Chris Clark and…some other guy. By the way, Chris Clark has a whopping 168 points in 439 NHL Games.

Crosby has graced the cover of countless magazines, has his own line of Reebok clothing and is the face of Tim Horton’s and the Tim Bits hockey program.Ovechkin is sponsored by CCM and is known for introducing a blue tinted Oakley visor.

It’s not necessarily about which player is better because, like Lemieux and Gretzky, they are different players. Ovechkin should lead the league in shots on net and will undoubtedly be a more physical player over the course of his career than will Crosby.

Crosby has become known for his work ethic and intensity.
Crosby may be a slightly better playmaker than Ovechkin, but it is difficult to judge because the supporting casts are so different.

When Versus decided to feature a player to develop a television special on for the opening of the 2007-2008 season, the natural choice was Sidney Crosby.

Of course, there were some who thought that featuring one player was not the appropriate course of action and that a special featuring a variety of talented young players would have better served a marketing purpose for the National Hockey League.

Developing a strategy featuring a multitude of young talent in the NHL would certainly evoke attention from more of the markets that the League wants to penetrate.For instance, adding featurettes of Toews and Kane would certainly target the

Chicago market effectively. A series of features that could be broadcast in the local markets of each team would likely be a very costly endeavor, but could help to cement relationships with the local fans.

I have to admit that Crosby does a great job with the media, especially in keeping a “politician’s” neutral stance. However, this robotic style of answering questions leads to an almost emotionless and sometimes false appearance to his answers.

I would love to see players take a more passionate role in the media. However, I am certain that this will never happen because players often get crucified for speaking their minds. It is unfortunate that players feel the need to be politically correct and take a neutral stance in the media instead of speaking their minds.

I’m not saying that Ovechkin speaks his mind on all issues, but if you have ever seen one of his interviews, they are always entertaining. Ovechkin is entertaining and passionate in his views of the game and, even in his broken English, will crack the odd joke.

Not to mention the antics he displayed after Hole In One that was caught on tape at last year’s Capitals golf tournament.

The National Hockey League went to great lengths last year to make the players appear as “real people” in their Game On campaign, so why not encourage the players to continue this strategy in the daily media?