[jeffc]

Have to agree with that one. The Pens are not a bad team, and Crosby is an exceptional player, but they really did not have the depth to beat Detroit. One good player cannot carry a whole team to victory, especially over a team with the depth and talent and experience as the Red Wings.
The officiating was very bad this year at the Finals, almost as bad some NFL officials! Although most non-calls and some called penalties did not result in game changers, some did.

I'm not sure Malkin even belongs in the NHL; I know Tablot does not - spearing a player on his knees with the point of stick, knocking him over after the game was clearly over!. Sure, Malkin can score, and has talent, but his temperement reminds me mostly of the 70's-era Flyers (who spent more time fighting than playing).

Still, it was an interesting series to watch (it's fun for the fans when a series goes all 7 games). We'll see what happens now that Crosby was given his Stanley Cup and Mario is placated. Oh . . . and the Wings handled it all with class, and I think Babcock (Wing's coach) is the best in the league . . . right up until he lame excused the loss as "ran out of gas". C'mon! Game 7 of the Stanley Cup playoff? Your team does not run out of gas! It's what the players have been playing for all their lives, the chance to win back to back championships. That is really rare, and proves any previous win was no fluke! You dig down deep and pull out a win.

Ran out of gas, my eye!

[PennsylvaniaMom]

I think they did “run out of gas.” They seemed flat...almost like all they would have to do was show up at the Joe and collect the Cup.

Geno NOT NHL worthy??? Ya gots to be kidding!

[Ditto]

I'm not sure Malkin even belongs in the NHL.

You have my vote for most absurd comment of the decade.

[rintense]

Rad about Lindstrom getting ‘speared’ in the testicles and having surgery for fix it? And he PLAYED???? Now that’s a man.

[Betis70]

>>I’m not sure Malkin even belongs in the NHL;

Dumbest thing I’ve read on a FR thread.

[jeffc]

Let me clarify something. It might help y'all out (but I doubt it for some . . . ).
Here's what I said in context . . .

I'm not sure Malkin even belongs in the NHL; I know Tablot does not - spearing a player on his knees with the point of stick, knocking him over after the game was clearly over!. Sure, Malkin can score, and has talent, but his temperment reminds me mostly of the 70's-era Flyers (who spent more time fighting than playing).

The point I was trying to make (for those of you born after the mid-70's) was that up until the mid-70's Flyers, hockey was played by people of real caliber, not fighters. The 70's Flyers changed that (preceded by some on the early 70's Bruins - Derek Sanderson, anyone?) and began winning.
Remember the old joke "I went to a fight last night, and a hockey game broke out"? Well, as I remember it, eventually things got out of hand as all teams hired "skating guns" to protect their players, and this is why the rules were changed to what they are today - to get back to and reflect the real talent it takes to play hockey.
I do not appreciate the underhandedness displayed in a lot of games, by anyone - the slashing at ankles, the face "washing", etc. To me, it's not hockey and it's not what I want to see.

Sure, I'm a Wings fan, and I was disappointed to see them lose. But I won't blame it on the officials or "cheating" by the Pens (which I saw none of, including the 21 seconds of a 7 man team - no pro team would cheat in such a blatant way).

No, the Pens won, fair and square. The Cup is theirs. I hope this win helps some of their less-mature players grow up some more.

[Alberta's Child]

I'm not sure Malkin even belongs in the NHL.

I'm not even a Pittsburgh fan, and I'm laughing my @ss off at this one. The NHL's leading scorer in 2008-09 and the leading scorer in the Stanley Cup playoffs doesn't belong in the NHL?! ROFLOL.