Round 2: (M1) Pittsburgh vs. (M2) New York

[pnjunction]

I've been saying for a while that Toews is probably my first pick.  Yeah Sid has the golden goal but Toews is just relentless out there shift after shift.

Being relentless shift after shift didn't prove all that effective in putting the puck in the net last year when the Hawks won the cup despite Toews only scoring 3 goals in 23 games. And it didn't do much for him the two years prior to that when he only had 3 goals and 8 points in two first round exits.

All good players have bad playoff series and Toews is no exception. Crosby has consistently been the better point producer and goal scorer in the playoffs.

I guess we would have to hammer out what we consider effective.  What I see is teams getting suffocated by Chicago who then scores timely goals to seal the win, Toews might not get the goals (his sh% was low single digits just like the excuse for Crosby this year) but he's a huge part of keeping the other team on their heels.

 

[Kin]

I guess we would have to hammer out what we consider effective.

Or how, in order to actually respond to the point being made, you can't just choose individual segments of a sentence to form an entirely different point.

 

[pnjunction]

I guess we would have to hammer out what we consider effective.

Or how, in order to actually respond to the point being made, you can't just choose individual segments of a sentence to form an entirely different point.

Well if you want to talk specifically about putting the puck in the net we can talk about how Toews last year and Crosby this year both have abysmal shot %.  I was just going a bit further and saying that even with his low sh% (and yes more help than Crosby got) Toews brought home the hardware.

I also remember stretches of the 2010 Olympics before the golden goal where Toews was bringing the best effort on the team by far.

 

[Bates]

I have my doubts that Malkin would bolt if he was traded from the City of Pittsburgh to any of the Southern California teams.  Now if it's Winnipeg then I see his point!!!

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Well if you want to talk specifically about putting the puck in the net we can talk about how Toews last year and Crosby this year both have abysmal shot %.  I was just going a bit further and saying that even with his low sh% (and yes more help than Crosby got) Toews brought home the hardware.

Well, his team brought home the hardware and Kane was judged to be most valuable to the team in winning the Cup.  It's not the NBA, one player does not a team or championship make.

 

[Kin]

Well if you want to talk specifically about putting the puck in the net we can talk about how Toews last year and Crosby this year both have abysmal shot %.

Except the criticism of Crosby is centered around an inability to score, not anything else. Crosby continued to put up points and Crosby continued to generate chances, they just weren't going in. He was pretty consistent in getting the puck into the other end and making the Rangers play defense.

So to fall back on "Yeah, but it's not all about putting the puck in the net" is not applying the same standard to both players. That's my point. If you're going to judge Crosby harshly because he has stretches where he's not super effective, it also applies to Toews.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Disappointed for Crosby.  Would have liked to see Pittsburgh in the Conference Final against whomever. 

Anyway, there are certainly going to be changes in the making for this Pittsburgh team.  Was watching TSN panel discussing the Penguins shortcomings and they definitely are weak on the defence, have unstable goaltending and harbour a general disorganization with their system of play.  They play like too many individuals and not as a consistent group.

Crosby's play was questioned and one mentioned that Crosby looked frustrated out there.  His defensive effort (lack of aiding/contributing defensively) was telling.  His overall play was, to say the least, puzzling.

Crosby obviously needs more protection for his line.  The Rangers constant handling of him showed that more than anything.

Byslma's coaching comes into question. No one would be surprised if even GM Ray Shero were let go.

It's going to be an interesting summer in Pittsburgh.