This Things I Believe… Finals Editiion

Before the hockey season ends, it's time for a Stanley Cup version of "This Things I Believe."

I think… "letting them play" is inherently not letting them play.

I've only watched two periods of the Stanley Cup finals – the third period of each game – but it was obvious the referees have put away the same whistles they continuously used all season. Don Cherry actually credited the officials with calling a good game yesterday. Don Cherry! It was the way he liked to see hockey officiated, and I can't say I completely disagree with him.

But it kills me – kills me – that this isn't more of a story. You can't just throw the rulebook out in the interest of making hockey more entertaining – where's the integrity of competition gone?

That's the equivalent of the UFC saying "ok, guys, anything goes… but once you get to a championship fight, there's no grapping on the ground because it's not fun to watch and slightly homoerotic."

In case you haven't been watching, here are the hard numbers: 3 penalties in Game 1, and 2 penalties (until the last 19 seconds) in Game 2. There is no way in hell another NHL team has had back-to-back games with only five penalties all season.

Penalty-free games greatly benefits Detroit. The Penguins power-play has been clicked at around 20%, while Detroit's penalty kill is at 73.3% - one of the worst marks of any team this post-season.

Sidenote: I've only been watching the Stanley Cup Finals in passing, but how did Greg Devorski miss Henrik Zetterberg's hand on the puck in the crease of Game 1? A terrible call by a truly retched referee.

I think… I am surprised the league didn't rescind Evgeni Malkin's instigator penalty before he left the ice.

The NHL waited until the next morning to circumvent its own stupid rule. You've got to hand it to a league that enforces its own rules only until they become a hindrance.

Considering all the anti-Crosby sentiment for being a baby, why isn't there more anti-Malkin sentiment? Crosby gets criticized for being a baby (fairly, in my opinion) but Malkin's just as bad.

I think… Detroit is so far ahead of the rest of the NHL it's unfair.

Consider the following about the Red Wings:

• Their starting goalie had a .887 sv% and a 3.09 GAA entering the post-season
  
• Their No. 1 defenseman (Nicklas Lidstrom) was injured their post-season, and their No. 2 defenseman (Brian Rafalski) missed considerable time.
  
• Their No. 1 center, Pavel Datsyuk, and leading scorer has gone MIA in the playoffs, scoring one goal in 13 games and missing the last five with an injury. He also looks like he's malnourished.
  
• They've had some inexcusable officiating decisions go against them (the Kronwall major, as well as the Hossa disallowed goal in a pivotal Game 3) yet seem to remain unaffected (to be fair, the officiating in Game 2 of Detroit/Chicago was so pro-Red Wings it hurt my head.)
  
• Chris Chelios has played in six games this playoffs.
  
• Three minor leaguers – Ville Leino, Darren Helm, and Justin Abdelkader – played 31 regular season games with Detroit this season. In the playoffs, they've played 32, and each has contributed at crucial times (and, may I add, outplayed the opponent's corresponding line).
  

With the exceptions of Chelios, Tomas Holmstrom, and perhaps Niklas Kronwall, Detroit is a likeable team. The system they've created is so far superior to the NHL it's almost unfair. The second they *start* to look relatively old, they bring up a Jonathan Ericcson type who looks like he's the next Nicklas Lidstrom.

They're the best by a wide margin (I'm not conceding Pittsburgh has lost, by the way, but it's not looking good).

I think… the Montreal Canadiens are making a mistake hiring Jacques Martin.

In case you haven't heard, the Habs are appointing Jacques Martin as their new head coach.

Once again, an NHL coach who has failed is awarded another job on a merit that I can't quite see. In 14 years behind the bench, Martin has one trip past the second round, and missed the playoffs in his last three seasons (in which he was also the general manager). Somehow this warrants a job in the NHL's best market.

To boot, his teams are notorious for playing a dreadfully boring style.

Sidenote: Martin has three years remaining on his contract with the Panthers. How did Montreal go about talking to him without being charged with tampering? I guess we'll find out later today…