The Guru Report: Video Killed the Literacy Star

by Hockey Guru

Sorry about the technical difficulties yesterday. I should have realized that there might have been some of you out there in the Guru Nation, who might make Jacques Demers look like an Honours English major. In stead, I expected you to read the actual script for the previous episode of The Guru Report.

Now that I have located the master tape [thanks, Spezzal Teams], you can now view the episode in its full HiDef glory, the way it was meant to be broadcast. So grab yourself some popcorn and curl up with your loved ones because...

It's time for the Guru Report:

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The Guru Report: So Osgood Isn't Manhandled Now?

Pittsburgh Penguins @ Detroit Red Wings

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Game 5

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Saturday, June 6th, 8:00 PM ET

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by Hockey Guru


How quickly we forget. It's amazing how the last impression we get sticks with us.

Going into the playoffs, Chris Osgood looked like an obvious flaw in Detroit's Perfect Machine. It was like the hot chick at the bar, who turns around to reveal a nose like Gonzo the Muppet - so close to perfection, but just not going to work out. Osgood was a glaring problem to experts like me, in Detroit's attempted Cup run this year. And not subtly, like Seinfeld's issue with "Man Hands".

But as the Wings rolled into the Cup Finals, and through Games 1 & 2, we changed our collective tune to:

"Osgood is the most underappreciated goalie ... Ozzie is the greatest clutch goalie ... "

Going back a few days, however, to immediately after Games 1 & 2 (which could have clearly gone either way ... a couple posts, a covered puck in the crease called for a penalty shot, a different bounce off the end boards, and this series could've been a Pittsburgh sweep), all of the experts, the Guru included (note the capital G - someone's a little full of themselves) were saying:

"Detroit is simply awesome ... this is over ... there's no way Pittsburgh or anyone could win 4 of 5 from Detroit ... too bad for hockey ... this had the makings of a great series ... imagine that Detroit is doing this without Datsyuk ... "

It was OVER.

Then, a tremendous second period effort by Fleury and Pittsburgh found themselves tied up midway through the third period in game 3. Capitalizing on their powerplay, Pittsburgh pulls out Game 3 and maybe, just MAYBE the experts again felt that this could become a series.

After a second consecutive 4-2 victory on Thursday night, Pittsburgh squares the series. Now all the experts jump from one bandwagon to the other:

"Detroit is just getting old ... Pittsburgh has all the momentum now ... Osgood is vulnerable ... "

Well, let the Guru now also re-align his own thoughts.

Pittsburgh was down 2-0 to Washington and roared back to a 3-2 lead and eventually blew Washington out in Game 7.

Pittsburgh seems healthy, particularly up front. I LOVE what Dan Bylsma is doing, playing Crosby and Malkin a ton (something that the Bruins failed to do, as their goal was to simply roll 4 lines, no matter what, in case the series contained 17 overtime periods, I guess). Now is the opportunity for star players to seize the moment. With Malkin and/or Crosby on the ice for two-thirds of the game, there is constant pressure applied to the opponent.

Detroit has focused so much on the matchups and awareness of those two, that they've lost a bit of focus on their own game. They've become reactive while Pittsburgh is being proactive. That's the difference in the series, right now.

Going into this Best-of-Three for the hardest trophy to win in all of sports, here's my current breakdown:

• Crosby and Malkin are close and they want it WAY more than anyone on Detroit.
  
  
• Detroit has drank from the Cup a lot and can't match the drive the leaders of Pittsburgh have right now.
  
  
• Fleury is more able to steal a game than Osgood, at this point. Although, we've learned never to write Ozzie off, this seems like a pretty clear advantage for Fleury.
  
  
• The Guru is leaning toward Pittsburgh (of course, his rooting interest in this series has been there all along and he may be getting carried away with the short memory syndrome).
  
  
• Pavel Datsyuk is a wild card - what kind of impact will he bring tonight?
  
  
• Will the home ice and line-matching ability make it easier for Detroit to get the matchups they want and focus on their own game more?
  
  
• Which way will the puck bounce tonight?
  
  
• Aren't we due for an overtime in this series soon?
  
  
• The schedule from here on out may favor Detroit a bit with the multiple days off between games the rest of the way
  

Peace to all those who read this post. Your comments, reactions and criticisms are wanted!

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The Guru Report: These Stanley Cup Finals Rock

by Hockey Guru


We are currently in the midst of the first Stanley Cup Finals in a number of years, that is clearly undecided, through the first four games. It's time for the Hockey Guru to post a few comments / random thoughts:

Is there really justice in the NHL? The suspension issues mentioned in several previous installments of The NHL Needs a Fix, prove the league's consistent inconsistency. That is, suspensions continue to be given not given in a bizarre, haphhazard manner.

While I am in agreement with the overturning of Malkin's suspension, how was Lucic's suspension justifiable? Moreso, how could Scott Walker not only avoid a suspension, but avoid an "automatic" suspension that required the league to overturn it? Lucic was suspended for the same infraction. It's foolish.

The Stanley Cup Finals may be teaching a lesson to the league offices. Let the players sort things out on the ice. The more the off ice officials back away, the more the game takes care of itself.

The on-ice officiating has been great. Not calling every ticky-tack "interference" allows the game to have some flow and not evolve into half-court basketball, with alternating powerplays rather than alternating possessions.

In Thursday night's Game 4, after Staal's shortie, The Igloo was ROCKING and play was fast and frantic. Have a look for yourself:



I commented to a friend that someone was going to score. It could have easily been Detroit, but play opened up and culminated in Sid's goal.

The action in this final series has been great. Unfortunately, there are only two or three games left.

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