Apologies for the blog-hopping-reply. Seems relevant to ongoing discussion ....
Nice for you and your son. Having said that, if you support anything Dallas, I have to politely ask you to turn in your Philly sports badge, sir.
Also, I don't like the team. I acknowledge they are good at what they do, but they were able to beat Avs because of the extreme drop off after the Mac line was off the ice. It was so transparent. If Casey Mittelstadt is your 2C in a playoff series ..well.......
And as far as EDM goes, their D is simply not good enough to withstand the pressure Stars put on them with their manic style of attack.
Strategically, they do a tremendous job forcing play towards the boards when the other team comes up ice. Time and again, you see EDM players throttled off, and being forced to dump and chase. EDM really misses a good puck moving Dman who is a threat to make a good pass or occasionally come up the ice himself.
Dump and chase is not the style Oilers were built to play. Stars hound the puck and are very good in cutting off lanes whenEDM does gain entry. I am disappointed at the failure to adapt by the Oilers. They are always going for the extra pass in close range, the extra deke. Draisatl in particular is having a poor series to my eyes (by his standards).
Then, when the Stars gain possession, they streak down hell for leather and seem to overwhelm the other D by rattling them with their relentless style of attack.
It is telling to me that the team they had the most trouble (VGK) is a veteran team with a big D. I am hoping Rangers win their own series, and can knock them out. Fox's leg is a concern; he just doesn't look himself. But NY is getting lots of scoring up and down the line up. Great goals by Alex LF. Goodrow is a playoff veteran who is flourishing.
Some of their D is a little small though, esp back end. But I still don't see Stars just hustling the blueshirts the way they have done to the skill teams of Avs and Oilers.
EDIT: Also, Shesterkin.
- PT21
Well...then there's this...I actually like the Blackhawks and Red Wings. I even like watching Boston. I am pulling for the NYR too this year, but I picked Dallas to win it all back in the spring. Still think Dallas is winning it all this year. I have always liked Dallas. Modano was excellent, and I have always thought of Dallas as a little brother to Philly.
And no, not turning in my Philly Fan Badge.
