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"You're a boring old man"
Why Pittsburgh Should Win:
1. Pittsburgh is Built for Playoff Hockey
2. Pittsburgh is Built to Wear Down and Stifle Winger Dominant Teams like NJ
3. Pittsburgh is Deeper/Slightly Better at Forward
4. Green/Robinson Give Pittsburgh a Solid Coaching Advantage
5. Vezina Gives Pittsburgh a Decided Advantage in Net
1. Pittsburgh is Built for Playoff Hockey
- Beliveau is the best player in this series by a decent margin
- Beliveau is the greatest playoff performer by a small margin. (Smythe winner and would have at least 1 more in 56 had the award existed)
- Beliveau is the greatest leader of all time
- Keith (Smythe) is the best playoff performer by a decent margin and just marginally behind Seibert as best Dmen
- Vezina is the best overall and playoff goalie in this series. (Another who would have had at least 1 if award existed)
- Gainey was a Smythe winner in 79 and was said to have gotten consideration in 77 (Hockey Handbook)
- Olmstead/Beliveau, Gainey/Jarvis, and Shore/Lake were all real life duos on multiple title winners and they all peaked together
- Harris had an elite performance in the 1916 Cup finals (loss to Vezina)
- Jarvis and Westfall were both key secondary pieces on multiple Cup winners, locking down some of the greatest offensive stars of the day
- Kunitz seemingly raised his game far more often than not. Monster goals for Pittsburgh, none bigger than the game 7 ECF double OT winner vs Ottawa (scored both goals actually). Assisted on the Cup winner vs Nashville. Had another OT goal earlier in his career.
- Westwick is such a huge presence on the 4th line. HOF'er who was very strong in the SC challenges and playoff match ups. His record against the likes of Walsh, Phillips, Hall, Griffis, Patrick is fantastic. Absolute perfect player you want in a depth role in a Final, IMO.
- Cully Wilson was another guy who raised his game. Led Toronto with 3 goals in the 1914 Finals. Led Seattle with 4 assists in the 1917 Finals.
- Shore/Lake have the obvious chemistry and anchored the back end of a dynasty for Pete Green.
- Ivanov was best @ the 1964 Olympics
- Vezina has legendary calmness. Boucher called him the coolest man he ever met. Many sterling performances in big games. RARELY cited as being the reason Montreal lost in those games. Won the 1916 SC with a 1 goal against performance vs Portland in the decided game 5.
- Pittsburgh has the strongest playoff performer at every level (Top 6, Bottom 6, D, G)
- Green/Robinson gives Pittsburgh a decided advantage in crunch time
2. Pittsburgh is Built to Wear Down and Stifle Winger Dominant Teams like NJ
- Lafleur is going to be up against Gainey and Harris for the bulk of the series. Olmstead to a lesser degree and Kunitz rarely.
- There simply isn't going to be much room to breathe for NJ's best player. Moving him around doesn't really get him away from strong resistance.
- Not only is he up against A TON of defensive ability, he's going to get absolutely hammered in the process.
- His speed is nullified vs Gainey, Harris and the entire left side of the Pittsburgh D, Keith, Shore, Ivanov who are all great/elite skaters.
- Harris can play either side which adds value defensively w/match ups.
- Krutov is going up against Westfall and Russell for the bulk of the series and to less degree Balderis/Wilson.
- He's not going to have a physical advantage over Coulter or Lake certainly on the blue line.
- Consider Abel is already a below average C in a 40 team draft, with below average offense for a 1st line player
- Jarvis peaked as the best defensive C in the world and was among the best in the NHL for years.
- Add in Westwick and Beliveau and Pittsburgh is plenty capable of defending down the middle.
- Pittsburgh's 3rd line doesn't take penalties and 2 of the 3 players on the 4th line don't either (Kunitz/Westwick).
3. Pittsburgh is Deeper/Slightly Better at Forward
- I think the top 6 between both squads is razor thin. I have Pittsburgh ahead down the middle at 1C/2C and at 2LW.
- Pittsburgh does possess the best player on the 1st and 2nd lines IMO (Beliveau/Bowie).
- The best defensive player on both lines (Harris/Olmstead).
- Both 1st and 2nd lines of Pittsburgh has proven chemistry.
- Pittsburgh has a legendary level shutdown 3rd line that has a clearly defined role and was built for these exact moments/teams.
- More proven chemistry on the 3rd line and they can play any style of defensive hockey needed.
- Jarvis gives Pittsburgh a decided advantage in the dot and that is crucial especially special teams.
- Postseason AS player at LW, HOF at C, and 2 time postseason AS at RW on the 4th line for Pitt.
- All 3 who will make life absolutely miserable for NJ players, F and D alike.
- All 3 who have strong playoff resumes as well.
4. Green/Robinson Give Pittsburgh a Solid Coaching Advantage
- Green/Robinson simply have far more experience winning big games than Hitchcock/Johnson
- Green won multiple Cups in deciding game 5's (1920 and 1921)
- Robinson was cited as being THE reason (massive speech) New Jersey rallied from a 3-1 deficit vs Philly in 2000 en route to the Cup win.
- That Cup win, came against Ken Hitchock btw.
- Green's defensive brilliance, tactically, innovation wise, dwarfs even the defensive oriented Hitchock
- I'd clearly say that Green is a more adaptable coach.
- Pittsburgh has built a roster that Green can look up and down and see very, very few holes defensively speaking.
- Robinson brings added value to the blue line and special teams.
- His presence was incredibly impactful as noted by many former players.
5. Vezina Gives Pittsburgh a Decided Advantage in Net
- His longevity as goalie is elite
- His peak as a goalie is great
- Vezina was cited as THE reason Montreal won the Cup in 1924.
- Can strongly argue he was the best player on Montreal's 1916 Cup winner which he won with a 1 goal against performance in the deciding game 5.
- RARELY cited for playing poorly in the playoffs.
- Vezina is routinely cited and peer reviewed as unnaturally calm, impervious to excitement or pressure.
- He could move the puck (found a retro assist in a playoff game which is so damn cool given the time period) which was not common.
- Vezina was noted to be Montreal's spiritual leader and was extremely well respected.
- Vezina will lead Pittsburgh out of the tunnel and the last man out is none other than Jean Beliveau.
- Iron man