EQF (1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs (8) New York Islanders (Penguins win 4-2).

[GoIggy]

Originally Posted by wittynickname

I really, really hate this claim. When Malkin was at his inarguable best last season, easily the best he's ever played in his career (while flanked by a 40 goal scorer), he still wasn't close to Sid. When Sid returned last season, playing with inferior wingers, at less than 100% he was still better PPG-wise than Malkin, despite the incredible season Malkin was having. And Sid is better defensively, better on faceoffs, more disciplined in general. Malkin is an incredible player, but he's just not at Sid's level, not even at his best.

Look at Neal's numbers without Geno. Geno in 09' cup run was amazing, and he actually plays good defense.

I'm the biggest Sid fan there is, and I'd take Sid 10 times out of 10 because the guy is a freak and every time he touches the ice he's at his absolute best while Malkin can be a headcase at time, but when he's in his "beast mode" he's pretty ridiculous. Both of their "best years" match up pretty well with each other. I would take Sid at his best over Geno, but its not a huge margin.. When you take into consideration that Geno usually isn't at his best it become a wide margin

[Locke]

Originally Posted by pylon

I would like to take this moment to let everyone know that I have Crosby in the CP Playoff Pool.

Thanks for your time.

I hate you. I wasnt even there to profit off of free beer.

Just.....hate. That is all.

[GoIggy]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

Cooke gets a penalty for what? I feel bad for him, he didn't do anything. Islander player takes off his gloves and Cooke didnt retaliate at all.

Haha, I can't remember if this was you I said it to earlier or not but its CONSTANT Cooke getting BS penalties. I just accept it now, got exhausting getting upset over it lol

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Originally Posted by GoIggy

Haha, I can't remember if this was you I said it to earlier or not but its CONSTANT Cooke getting BS penalties. I just accept it now, got exhausting getting upset over it lol

Meh, Cooke deserves any random penalties he gets

[wittynickname]

Originally Posted by GoIggy

Look at Neal's numbers without Geno. Geno in 09' cup run was amazing, and he actually plays good defense.

I'm the biggest Sid fan there is, and I'd take Sid 10 times out of 10 because the guy is a freak and every time he touches the ice he's at his absolute best while Malkin can be a headcase at time, but when he's in his "beast mode" he's pretty ridiculous. Both of their "best years" match up pretty well with each other. I would take Sid at his best over Geno, but its not a huge margin.. When you take into consideration that Geno usually isn't at his best it become a wide margin

With regards to Neal--he needs a talented center. Be it Malkin or Brad Richards, he always performs best with a strong playmaking center. Given that he had about 5 periods on Sid's wing, I'm not going to say he wouldn't score well on that wing as well, given time to develop chemistry. I can't say Richards is in the same realm as Malkin, but Neal did just fine with him. Neal is a typical goal-scoring winger, of course he's best with an elite center, opposed to say, Brandon Sutter.

Malkin is close to Sid offensively, and that's about it. Sid is more responsible in every other aspect of the game. Malkin can rarely win a faceoff if his life depended on it. Sid has worked on that until he's a very respectable faceoff man--I have a hard time believing Malkin has even attempted to work on that, given how awful he still is at it. Where they really, really differ is how they play when they're off their game. Sid when not scoring is still winning faceoffs, playing responsibly, still making an effort. When things aren't going well for Geno, he's completely and totally off his game. He takes bad penalties, he can't win faceoffs, he makes bad passes, he looks disinterested.

[GoIggy]

Originally Posted by M*A*S*H 4077

Meh, Cooke deserves any random penalties he gets

He really has changed / textbook clean these days since the mandatory shrink time and threats from Shero / Mario, but I can't argue his past obviously

[GoIggy]

Originally Posted by wittynickname

With regards to Neal--he needs a talented center. Be it Malkin or Brad Richards, he always performs best with a strong playmaking center. Given that he had about 5 periods on Sid's wing, I'm not going to say he wouldn't score well on that wing as well, given time to develop chemistry. I can't say Richards is in the same realm as Malkin, but Neal did just fine with him. Neal is a typical goal-scoring winger, of course he's best with an elite center, opposed to say, Brandon Sutter.

Malkin is close to Sid offensively, and that's about it. Sid is more responsible in every other aspect of the game. Malkin can rarely win a faceoff if his life depended on it. Sid has worked on that until he's a very respectable faceoff man--I have a hard time believing Malkin has even attempted to work on that, given how awful he still is at it. Where they really, really differ is how they play when they're off their game. Sid when not scoring is still winning faceoffs, playing responsibly, still making an effort. When things aren't going well for Geno, he's completely and totally off his game. He takes bad penalties, he can't win faceoffs, he makes bad passes, he looks disinterested.

Geno actually CAN be a good 2-way player, but he always has the bad turnovers. Other than that, yea not much argument from me... Still happy we have both

[Captain_Obvious]

It's really pretty simple:

When Malkin is at his best, he's on Crosby's level as one of the best in the world.

Problem is, he's not consistently at that level, where as Crosby is.

Thus, while Malkin is an incredible player... Crosby > Malkin for that very simple reason.

[Sakari]

Friggen hell, Iggy, 2 assists on the night. Again.

[Captain_Obvious]

^ Iggy with 4 points in 4 periods and if I'm not mistaken leads the league in playoff scoring as of this moment.

[Igottago]

Okposo looked like a young Iggy in that fight. Landed some nice shots.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Okposo looked like a young Iggy in that fight. Landed some nice shots.

Lol you mean he looked like a young Iggy because he's black?

[moon]

Not sure why Iginla gets a penalty and not Streit.

No problem with the Iginla call but why a no call on the crosscheck right before that?

[JurassicTunga12]

Martin ties the game

3-3

[Machiavelli]

Wow, tied game...

[Skaloper]

Nice to see the Isles making it interesting!

[expatflame]

Go Islanders!

[Brannigans Law]

Good for the Islanders. They could lose game 1 by 40 goals it's still 1 game. Squeek out this game and it's home ice for them.

[GirlySports]

that whole sequence showed what's wrong with NHL officiating.

That's a cross-check on Crosby.. probably wasn't called cause the Pens were already on the PP (situational reffing) and then Iginla hits the guy and gets called for boarding (when Streit didn't even hit the boards). Retaliation penalty for a non-foul?

Now the Isles tie the game when really they should have been down 5-on-3.

[thymebalm]

Originally Posted by expatflame

Go Islanders!

No doubt. Watching Iginla lead the playoff scoring race is cute and everything, but give me that 26th pick!