...

The Kings would have been steam-rolled. Can't say the same about Chicago, but I suspect Pittsburgh would have broken down Chicago's defense over the course of 7 games.

I'm alright with Crosby getting the Conn Smythe. I think you could say it was a genuine toss-up on who deserved it and Crosby won out for being the guy who led the team to this win not only this season, but seasons leading up to it. Pittsburgh was just pretty damn impressive this series, and I'm far from a fan. What's the take-away? Speed? Goal-tending? Coaching? They made a heavy weight SJ team look stupid and lucky. Murray was killer in net, but their D game was very supportive. The Penguin's possession game was enviable and every line looked like a threat. What do the Sabres need to beat that?

A better period, but still not enough for SJ.

SJ is not playing a winning game, much like most of this series. They better "make adjustments"!

How about the D and J present a wish-list with some detail so we can recommend an area to focus on? That's better than the scatter-shot method.

We owned a double in Parkside. I hated living and owning in the city. Services stink, the police are slow, the people are rude and/or scary. But Delaware Park is one of the most awesome parks in the country, and I've hung out at a lot of parks. If fishing and bike-riding are your things, you can always drive into the city when necessary, but have your things right there at any time in the Northern Burbs.

This is diss appointing. I thought this would be a series, weighted slightly in SJ's favour. Instead, we have this.

What you two should do is drive around areas you like, have a pad, pen and a cellphone with you. Most people will just put a for-rent sign out. Take your time and don't compromise on finding something cool. You can also find a "Bee" publication in whatever area that interests you. There are still old school owner-occupied landlords who won't use Craig's. Yeah, people fish the creek and the river. You also have several active rinks in this area with easy access to the ones farther out. Not to keep tooting the Northtowns horn, but we don't get hit with the same winter weather the Southtowns get, and the services in the Tonawandas are very good. Plus, we have FIOS.

OMG, don't settle for a complex. There are tons of great legacy two-unit houses around here that have the old, cozy charm. The Parkside neighborhood in the city. Probably not a lot of off street parking options, though, but living near the park is the only place to live in the city, IMHO. My first choice would be in Kenmore on the blocks between Elmwood and Delaware. Great, big old doubles with a genuine neighborhood feel. Rents will be well below $1k for much more space. I would also look around the city of Tonawanda for even lower rent, but an area with a lot of character. The river and creek bike paths are totally worth it, and you have easy access to the 290. There are similar doubles in the neighborhoods flanking Main St. in Williamsville, but I suspect they're harder to find and at the top of your budget.

That shot launched off a Pens' skate, but it was still pretty.

Great third.

It only works to Risto's advantage if he signs a bridge contract. Even a bridge contract will be lucrative. Then he cashes in for the term and the big bucks. Meanwhile, GMTM gets to play the short-term fat contract card he wants to (i assume he has someone in mind since he talked about it) and in the interim the cap goes up so we can afford to give Risto the kitchen sink at the right time. If this is the way it plays out, Risto gets his due, and is a loyal team guy in doing it this way.

No ducking needed, that's a good one. Actually, then you can say whatever the team does, the principle metric it should address is puck possession. Yes? I would assume possession begets all other positive stats. Have Stamkos possession stats been posted in this thread? I guess I should look...

Not picking on you TB (GED...giggle), but your comment sparked a thought: it seems this time of year, every year, we're talking about what the exceptions to the norm are for the teams in the big dance. Maybe one of you focused people with the time will find the point interesting enough to dig up the info, but I think it would be interesting to collate those exceptions over the past 10 years or so. The hypothesis being that there's the accepted way it ought to be done, then there is the way the winners have done it. And that, there really is no particular formula that transcends each season; that the end result ultimately winds up being best described as "chemistry". ... or "alchemy".

Which teams are they that might be a good fit but need to dump salary? Any chance we could take on a salary dumped player from a team desperate for Stamkos and win the deal?

Boo.

Lets see if the momentum shifts.

I heard that going in, but didn't expect to see them play such a dominant game, especially in the finals.

Anyone here honestly see the Pens playing like this before the playoffs?

Agreed. Murray is too much of a real-world GM to not have a long-term plan. I would be willing to bet my Jeep he already knows what his initial RFA offers to Jack and Sam will be. I don't think Stamkos comes here unless Stamkos wants to come here and make it work. No way Murray over pays for someone not willing to play ball - if Stamkos agreed (in writing) that he's willing to play wing and willing NOT to be captain, then Murray might stretch the budget a little to get him here, but, otherwise Murray has the balls to walk away.

I wouldn't touch it.

Honestly, SJ is better than either of these teams.

Damn, talk about letting them play. Are we taking bets on this going to OT?

I don't want Pittsburgh to win.

is the Blues home crowd booing the team?