The pre-game storyline hype for tonight are mostly about Marian Hossa scoring 2 goals in another game 4 and that Pavel Datsyuk practiced with his team yesterday. Will Datsyuk play in Game 4 or will they keep him out until Game 5? Will Hossa continue his Game 4 – 2 goal production? If Datsyuk does play will he take some of the defensive pressure off of Henrik Zetterberg who has been shadowing Crosby for three games?
Ya gotta luv the drama surrounding all this stuff.
Overlooked in all this hoopla is the play of Kris Letang. I have to believe that the rumors that floated around before Game 3 about Phillippe Boucher replacing Letang was total misdirection drama just like the…
… Datsyuk stuff and Hossa stuff is today.
Letang is the best defenseman on either side… that’s right, on either side. Not many will say this but he is playing better than Gonchar and better than Lidstrom.
Each game this kid gets better and better. He skates faster than both and is as raw talented as both of them, if not more so. He hits harder than both of them… and he has all-around played better than both of them in this series. Besides his speed, pure skating ability, and hard checking that has been put on display… his breakout passes are on the money and he actually wins almost all of the battles for loose pucks. Game by game he has shown tremendous improvement in his over all play which also includes consistently covering-up for others’ mistakes. This kid is experienced at lifting Championship Trophys for a reason. He’s just that good.
We are watching a superstar in the making here and that’s why the Boucher replacing Letang in the lineup was a joke on media. We seldom hear his name mentioned as one of our CORE Players. You have now… and I’m selecting him as my difference maker in Game 4.
Pens 6 — Wings 1
This is DR Hook… carry on
So the rumor is now that Pavel Datsyuk is ready to go for Game 5. Whatta YINZERS think the miracle cure was that he wasn’t able to go last night? And don’t any of YINZ come back with any of that crap about a steroid connection with those WASHCAP players either!
Brian Rafalski was pushed aside by Jordan Staal and the Wings defenseman couldn`t do a thing to stop the powerful blonde bomber on that great short handed goal. Wings get Staaled, Letanged, Malkinized and stopped by Fleury, as Captain Crosby get`s his playoff leading 15th goal. Now that Mr. Kennedy… Kennedy, has joined in the all the fun, I`m feeling pretty good that our wizard of CROS will beat their wizard of OS and the Penguins will be ready Saturday night to give it the ultimate battle for truth, justice and the American way. Wooooo!
Jordan Staal is a horse. We tend to forget that he’s still not a legal drinking age (here)… I LOL at some of these hockey reports from HF, TSN, etc. that play down the Penguins prospects base. Even though I think our prospects are better than most think… when your main-team has Crosby, Staal, Malkin, Fleury, Talbot, Kennedy, Letang and Fleury and aren’t considered in these prospect reports which makes the entire rating system pretty much bogus. Shero and staff are doing an excellent job even though we did give some youth and picks away to acquire Hossa.
“Wings get Staaled, Letanged, Malkinized and stopped by Fleury, as Captain Crosby get`s his playoff leading 15th goal”
You should write our headlines for us.
WRITE THIS DOWN: Marian Hossa is a Stanley CUP JINX.
I wrote it down and marked that I heard it from you first.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
It isn’t over yet but the facts show that Hossa (so far) is doing the same playoff choke job he did in Atlanta and Ottawa. He’s only scored goals in 3 of the 20 games! So has Staal and we were a little concerned about that! Mark Eaton’s scored in 4! Could he be a JINX? Could be. ;o)
The entire Detroit defense was asleep at the switch otherwise we might be talking more about Scuderi’s braincramp giveaway. The only reason why Lidstrom’s weak play last night didn’t stand out was because Rafalski got beat so many times. We keep hearing about Detroit’s strong defense and their “team” defense is good but it’s not that their defensemen are so special.
You didn’t hear Lidstrom’s name all night. I think the Detroit defense was great. Seems like they are on the decline. Especially, last night. I truly believe it is the Pens time. No matter what the score is, the Pens don’t give up. It is awesome to watch. I will take one braincramp to the way he has been playing.
Even the Detroit Boards are saying that we are not the same team they faced last year.
GO PENZ!
Here we go . . . There are now allegations coming out of the Detroit Red Wings dressing room led by Hossa claiming that the too many men on the ice (no call) was bogus. That he and other Red Wings say Dennis LaRue knew it and was telling Eaton to get off. I think these WINGS are getting worn down. Datsyuk better play after all that hype about him being ready, eh.
As to Letang he’s the best in the finals so far. It sure isn’t Lindstrom. But things change. I’m looking for those old WINGS to lose a few feathers trying to keep up. The are falling, one by one. Now comes allegations like the ref is fixing games. Too much. We are the ones down 1 – 2 not the other way around.
There are a lot of hockey fans that never see the talent emerging until it’s over. Letang is awesome. he does it all. Good defense, muking the puck out of corners, great outlet passes, very heads-up coming up ice, and while I’ll agree he hesitates sometimes too long shoot the puck—– he just doesn’t shoot it into a player like some others do. Letang in this series is outplaying Lindstrom and Gonchar. The Lindstrom fans would never admit this (go figure that, eh) and others will point to Gonchars power play maturity. Letang is still only 21 years old. Like I said some people see it early than others. Good (and gutsy)post Hook.
NO WAY IS LeTANG BETTER THAN LIDSTROM
In what way is Lidstrom better than Letang? Clutching and Grabbing? Closer to retirement? Olympic Diving? Eating Swedish Fish? Going senile? (Since he can’t remember Bylsma.) Oh wait, he does remember him? “I think he was a hard-nosed player and he was out there killing penalties,” Lidstrom said. “That’s pretty much what I remember of him.”
GO PENZ!
PENZRGR8 YOUR COMMENT DOESN’T MAKE ANY SENSE
GO RED WINGS
I was just commenting on some things that Lidstrom is better than Letang in.
No way better than Lidstrom? He was (once again)last night, Bubba. Watch close because that calm poise of the Red Wings is about to implode. Old players and tired legs.
If it’s all the same with you, I’ll stick with the guy who had the game winning goal last game. Though I do believe Letang is getting better, he needs to learn how to one time the puck.
This rumour you talk about, the only place I’ve seen it was MS forecheck and she was the same person that said Dupuis was replacing Fedetenko in another game. I think she may be duping you and this board. I hope stu wasn’t right.
I think Krundle already mentioned Letang as a “CORE” player in the “birth of a dynasty article” or something like that so I have now twice, but I do hope Letang is a difference maker tonight. GO PENS.
No worry about Datsyuk———- we’ve got Momma Malkin’s home made BEETSOUP.
It’s about time someone here took notice of him. I second the Pens 6 Red Wings 1
No question, Letang has totally stepped up his game. Can’t hurt playing on the same team as Gonch!
Two many four factors for WHOOSA to score tonight! Especially, when 44 knocks him out.
If Letang is that excited about holding up a small cup, I can’t wait to see how excited he will be when he holds the Stanley Cup.
GO PENZ!
May the 4’s be with them——— go Pens!