Head to head, Abel vs Bowie is a matchup I'd love. Abel would destroy Bowie - he's in the same range as Bowie offensively (IMO, Abel is slightly ahead, but either way it's close), while being miles ahead of him in all other aspects of the game.
Ugh, I couldn't resist just one more post. Heh.
Haha, i hear you. However,
How are you getting that matchup?
Doing that then puts Lafleur and Krutov against Harris and Russell. So again, your top scoring wingers are up against 2 players who were both in the conversation for best defensive F's of their time periods. This is precisely why Pittsburgh invested so heavily in defensive ability on the flanks. It is the perfect counter to a team that built their offensive focus on the flanks.
Then of course that gives Pittsburgh a juicy match up with Beliveau's line going against either Starshinov or Weiland.
Pete Green was obviously adept at moving players around to get the match ups he wanted (one of the coolest coaching intricacies on Green I found given the time period), like using multiple wingers, even on their off side to shadow opposing stars.
Pittsburgh's bottom 6 is such a big advantage in this series IMO.
The 3rd line does what it does at about the highest level you can get. Not only defensively but Gainey/Westfall are world class fore checkers and have all the attributes to make life miserable for the top 4 of NJ. Harris, Olmstead, Kunitz, Wilson, Westwick, Beliveau all have the same ability, to varying degrees.
Jarvis is such a critical advantage in terms of puck possession. Scotty Bowman spoke on this specifically in regards to Jarvis. Not just on the PK when we're in the Pitt zone, but in crucial moments, late in games, defensive/neutral ice. More often that not the puck is going back to Pitt D and 1 through 5 can move the puck via skating or passing.
Pitt's 4th line is such a key depth unit to point to.
Kunitz has multiple OT winners, including one of the greatest/most important goals in Pittsburgh hockey history. Being on 4 Cup winners in the modern era is extremely rare and Kunitz was an important depth player on each team. He has long had a rep as a gamer, he brings all the things you want in a 4th liner. Super smart, physical. He peaked as a postseason AS, though it was in the shortened 2012-13 season and he played w/ Sid until Sid got his jaw busted by Orpik (you cost Sid the Hart/Ross!! haha) with a month to go.
Westwick's HOF career was reconstructed by me and the biggest things to point to were his rep as the toughest/gamest pound for pound player in that era. He was as tough as Wolverine. He was good enough offensively to outscore Alf Smith twice and get within striking distance of Walsh one season. He was strong defensively. In the playoffs though, is where Westwick really shone. What he did in the SC challenges was very strong, and to do it against the likes of Phillips, Walsh, Hall, Griffis, Patrick, is even more impressive. Westwick outscored that group, over 17 games, cumulatively, 20-16. Ottawa going 13-3-1 in that span.
Cully Wilson literally led 2 major offensive categories in SCF's. Led Toronto with 3 goals in the 1914 Finals. Led Seattle with 4 assists in the 1917 Finals, both wins. And of course he brings legendary pest/goon abilities as well.
They are going to check the living heck out of NJ when they get the ice time and given their respective resumes, should be counted on to chip in some very timely offense, in likely crucial moments.
Throw in the proven chemistry on lines 1-3 and this is where Pittsburgh pulls out ahead of NJ at F IMO.