Agreed. Don't have a problem with people thinking Rinne is better than Howard at all. It's the ones who say "it's not even close" that bother me....especially when their main reasoning is that Howard is playing on the vaunted Red Wings and Rinne is carrying his team. That's just not true at all. Sure Howard IS on a good team but last I looked the Preds had two top 10 defensemen playing in front of Rinne and the Preds are not shabby in the least bit. Howard was the main reason the Wings were able to make the playoffs two seasons ago so to say he can't carry a team is false. He was bad last year (no excuses) but is the main reason this year that the defense looks so improved.
What's the difference in the Preds fans pimping their goalie and the Red Wings fans talking about how their offense can score at will? The obvious implication is that it is miles ahead of the Predators, when the numbers just don't back that up? It's the playoffs, and we watched Rinne play like a god last year against Vancouver, so of course we think the Preds have the advantage there. You guys are fans of your team, and we are fans of ours. It is what it is.
What's the difference in the Preds fans pimping their goalie and the Red Wings fans talking about how their offense can score at will? The obvious implication is that it is miles ahead of the Predators, when the numbers just don't back that up? It's the playoffs, and we watched Rinne play like a god last year against Vancouver, so of course we think the Preds have the advantage there. You guys are fans of your team, and we are fans of ours. It is what it is.
Well that's silly as well. The Wings have averaged like 2 goals a game over the past month and been abysmal on offense.
They were both dominant in their 2nd round series last year.
Rinne against Vancouver: 177 saves on 190 shots (31.6 per game).... .932
Howard against San Jose: 228 saves on 246 shots (35.1 per game).... .927
I'll take the underdog roll any day if Wings fans want to claim to be better than us, let them claim away. Then when their jaws hit the floor, I'll be there to say "I told ya so"
What are the chances the Wilson gets into the lineup sometime in this series?
I guess it just depends on injuries/need. If a bottom six winger gets injured we have Yip, Tootoo, Smith, Halischuk, and Wilson to all plug into a bottom six winger role. I'd say his chances aren't great, but the possibility certainly exists. Maybe a little higher than 20%
I don't think anyone has said Howard is dogmeat or that he's anything less than a great goaltender. I just don't think he's in the "elite" tier of guys like Rinne, Lundqvist, Quick, etc. You can argue about the amount of advantage goaltending is for the Predators in this series, but I don't think you can pretend that it washes.
I hope more fans realize what a treat this series should be. Really looking forward to this one. A darn shame one of these great teams has to go out in the first round. I suspect it's going to take a lot of effort to win this one, and whoever does win it (especially if it is the Wings) is going to be decidedly more spent than some of the other teams moving on to the second round.
Let's go Preds!! I think the difference will come down to the defenses game both physical and offensively.. Rinne is the better goalie but come playoff time I don't see either goalie fgiving up bad goals
Pekka Rinne has been pretty bad lately. He had a shutout in his last start but in the 14 games prior to that put up a 2.88 GAA with a .902 S%. Hopefully he's getting tired
Pekka Rinne has been pretty bad lately. He had a shutout in his last start but in the 14 games prior to that put up a 2.88 GAA with a .902 S%. Hopefully he's getting tired
I doubt it. Rinne is a work horse. He thrives on playing a ton of games in a season.
Part of it has to do with a couple of really bad games he had or the team had (Edmonton, Pittsburgh). Part of it has to do with a 14 game block being an incredibly small sample size for a goaltender. You can take a 14 game block for any goaltender and their numbers will likely look awful compared to their season stats, or they will look awesome.
Take Howard's last 14 games for instance. His SV% was .899, and his GAA was 2.52.
I doubt it. Rinne is a work horse. He thrives on playing a ton of games in a season.
Part of it has to do with a couple of really bad games he had or the team had (Edmonton, Pittsburgh). Part of it has to do with a 14 game block being an incredibly small sample size for a goaltender. You can take a 14 game block for any goaltender and their numbers will likely look awful compared to their season stats, or they will look awesome.
Take Howard's last 14 games for instance. His SV% was .899, and his GAA was 2.52.
Difference. Last 14 games of Howards (dating all the way back to the end of janurary...yea 14ish games since janurary) were on and off 3 different injuries, and playing in front of an AHL team when he came back. can you really compare? One...hardly played/injured (14 games in a 2 month period). The other just had a bad 14 game stretch, but clearly wasn't injured.
Difference. Last 14 games of Howards (dating all the way back to the end of janurary...yea 14ish games since jauraury) were on and off 3 different injuries, and playing in front of an AHL team when he came back. can you really compare? One...hardly played/injured. The other just had a bad 14 game stretch, but clearly wasn't injured.
Well, my point was that Howard's last 14 games are not indicative of how he is going to play in the play offs just like Rinne's last 14 are not indicative of how he will play.
Well, my point was that Howard's last 14 games are not indicative of how he is going to play in the play offs just like Rinne's last 14 are not indicative of how he will play.
This series is even on paper but this series comes down to 2 things
#1 Ryan Suter: Which teams is he playing for?? The team he is currently signed with or the one he's signing with come July??? Advantage Wings Suter wants out and a Wings victory gives him the excuse to skip town. "I'm taking my talents to 8 mile" or "it's not about the money" enjoy the Diva Detroit
#2 The Refs does the Wings get 42 PP's like the last time these 2 played in a series?? Advantage Wings: Easy call here NHL and NBC need ratings so Wings in 5 with a huge advantage of meaningful PP's Yeah there will be some make-up calls late in games with the Wings leading 5-1 to make it look even but there is no way in Hell the Preds get a few early or meaningful PP's.
This series is even on paper but this series comes down to 3 things
#1 Ryan Suter: Which teams is he playing for?? The team he is currently signed with or the one he's signing with come July??? Advantage Wings Suter wants out and a Wings victory gives him the excuse to skip town. "I'm taking my talents to 8 mile" or "it's not about the money" enjoy the Diva Detroit
#2 The Refs does the Wings get 42 PP's like the last time these 2 played in a series?? Advantage Wings: Easy call here NHL and NBC need ratings so Wings in 5 with a huge advantage of meaningful PP's Yeah there will be some make-up calls late in games with the Wings leading 5-1 to make it look even but there is no way in Hell the Preds get a few early or meaningful PP's.
This series is even on paper but this series comes down to 2 things
#1 Ryan Suter: Which teams is he playing for?? The team he is currently signed with or the one he's signing with come July??? Advantage Wings Suter wants out and a Wings victory gives him the excuse to skip town. "I'm taking my talents to 8 mile" or "it's not about the money" enjoy the Diva Detroit
#2 The Refs does the Wings get 42 PP's like the last time these 2 played in a series?? Advantage Wings: Easy call here NHL and NBC need ratings so Wings in 5 with a huge advantage of meaningful PP's Yeah there will be some make-up calls late in games with the Wings leading 5-1 to make it look even but there is no way in Hell the Preds get a few early or meaningful PP's.
