Kate

maybe, just maybe could those people possibly be wrong?

(I'm sorry if this has already been brought up, but Sykora is my favorite player and I feel as if I have to mention this too)
In case you didn't catch it....Petr Sykora laid down on the ice, sacrificed his body and blocked a shot. Who knows...that shot could have turned into the goal that killed the Penguins. Instead, the Penguins won and Sykora was left with a broken foot.

Being a huge Sykora fan I wanted to see him come into game 6 and score that big goal. Petrs a sniper. I wanted to see one get past Osgood. BUT to me, blocking that shot is the biggest thing he's done for the team since his Triple OT goal in Game 5 of the 2008 SCFs.

This same story could be said for many different players. I just felt like using Sykora was a good example. He sacrificed himself for the team and broke his leg. (Tough luck actually...I was hoping to atleast see him play one more in a Penguin sweater)

So is hockey all about scoring? Is the point of our beloved game only to put the puck in the net? Staying with the Sykora example...I was talking about it right after it happened and that person told me they would have rather seen him score one instead. Scoring goals is more important than blocking a shot.

What are the small things in our great sport that are sometimes the biggest? Give stories, examples, whatever.
Sorry for all the rambling...for the actualy question just read the last line of the nonsense above. :P
Defenders of the Cup - I know. I have NO idea why I wrote leg. Oh well.

KillswitchProudPenguinfan

Great point about Sykora... I saw him do that as well! Scuderi might get the most credit for what he did on the defensive end on Tuesday, but it was a total team effort! You can tell, the Penguins were determined to not put us, (The Penguin Home Crowd), through that again, of seeing Detroit carry the cup around in front of us. Even though the job isn't done and they want more, that's what popped out in my mind.

This is getting off-topic but, even Letang was GREAT on the defensive end Tuesday, I saw him poke-check the puck away from Detroit forwards to end scoring threats. Gonchar got aggressive and took away lanes, which ended scoring threats too... great stuff by our OD!

Anyway, to answer your question, no goals aren't everything. The fact that there were only 3 goals in Game 6, in a 60 minute period of time says it all in my mind. Which you know what that means, 3 seconds out of of the 60 minutes, a goal was scored.

I say, the most important things are what people do to KEEP it OUT of the net, not when it goes in. Since you used the example of getting down and blocking a shot, I'll use another example and say, knowing you're going to get plowed into the boards, or just get crushed either way, but still get the puck out of your zone... just to end a scoring threat. Plenty of examples though you could name.

DefendersoftheCup

Broken foot, not leg.

KimmyWillnotbackdown

Well scoring is how games are won on paper. But as someone that plays I know it is the little things that lead to the defining goal.Blocking shots , making the break out pass, keeping the puck in the zone , knocking it out. Each is very important. I still think a defenseman should get a save credit when he bails out a goalie

GoIslespart2

If Pittsburgh wins, will he finally be able to celebrate on the ice with the team? Doesn't even seem like he'll be there at teh game much less lift the Cup ... seeing as he was knocked out early in the game when NEw Jersey won the Cup in 2000...

GoACanes87

yeah Sykora had a great block in the game, as did Zetterberg and Scuderi
Unfortunately, most fans just look for scoring, rather than great defensive playsOffense gets all the glory, but Defense wins games

AndrewH

Hockey players screening shots or blocking shots is an amazing thing that isn't offered in many sports out there. Consider a baseball player getting a fastball inside and charging the mound. If that was a hockey player, he'd put his face in front of the ball just to get on first.

In another example, Aaron Rowand made an amazing catch for the Phillies a few years ago, but ran into the outfield wall, breaking his nose. He missed three games, and everybody in Philadelphia praised how tough he was to put his face on the line for that play. Remember Malone last year had a slapshot to the face, breaking his nose, and coming back after three minutes? Three games to three minutes.

I love hockey, I love the hard work and sacrifice, I love the give all attitude.

What Sykora did was something special, but there is a downside there. Consider if that was Malkin. He blocks the shot, breaks his foot and misses the rest of the game and series. For the Penguins, it would be devastating. As much as I love the sacrifice, I would rather give up the slapshot than have our leading scorer out for the most important two games of the season. So, although it took a lot of guts by Sykora, and was the right play at the time, in hindsight I'd rather not see him lay out there. I'd rather have him for the end of the game and, if he would have played, game 7. Good play, bad luck.

aamans

If hockey were all about scoring, the games would all have All-Star Game scores, like 14-12.

Some of the best games I've ever seen are 1-0 defensive battles, full of great saves and scrappy defense.

HeyBen

you make a fantastic point. there is so much more to the game that putting rubber in the back of the net. every shift can have a fantastic play or plays within it. I have so much respect for the guys that play solid D and have nothing to show for it. blocking shots, poke checks, body checks, good passes, ect, the list can go on forever. if not for the little things, the goal scorers would never have a chance to put pucks in the net. I cant stand it when people on hockey teams I play for brag about how they lead in goals or assists when its the other players who get them the puck in the first place. the stat sheet isn't everything, any monkey can goal hang. without the grinders and simple solid play makers they would be nothing