LETS GO PENS!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by ignatius

true.

though i do think the caps weren't coming together as a team or something.. they moved the puck pretty well but it was weird watching them... Montreal just closed off all the lanes and were just kind of directing the caps around the ice. halak made some great saves but a lot of them were just being in the right place and deflecting the puck. i think the caps knew they were gonna lose... they just weren't carrying themselves w/confidence.. even though they had a million shots on goal. i think they should have picked a fight in the first period regardless of how the game was going. they needed something 'more' .. even out of character.

anyway - should be an interesting 2nd round.

I agree they were lacking the usual team swagger they display and just looked panicked the whole game, squeezing the sticks into saw dust as they say. Montreal blocked 40 shots I think. I mean, during the regular season teams can go all the way to the all-star break not blocking that many shots and the Habs did it in one game! Incredible.

I'd love to see the Habs and Bruins make it through and renew that old rivalry but I still maintain the Flyers could surprise.

My picks:

SJ takes Detroit in 6*
Habs take Pens in 7
Flyers take Bruins in 7
Canucks take Hawks in 6

*(if SJ goes out again in 2nd round with this team. they should move!)

So Habs Vs Flyers for Eastern Conf and Nux Vs SJ for the West. From there, Habs Vs Canucks for the Cup! haha..Well, wishful thinking.

But as I said earlier, I don't think the East win the Cup this year. Even though The Caps won the Presidents Cup, it doesn't really accurately reflect their overall team strength compared to SJ, Vanc or even Detriot. The top teams in the east had a TON of scrub teams to feed on throughout the season. Toronto, Atlanta, Carolina, Tampa, NYI and the Rangers sucked most of the year. Shit, even the Pens and Flyers looked terrible for awhile there. Compare the Top 10 in the West compared to the Top 10 in the East and it's easy to see.

[tuRnitUpsuM]

Two different styles of Hockey.... West Conf vs East Conf.... East coast hockey is a grinding, hit em - check em -dump the puck and work the corners. It bodes well for Playoff Hockey. Where games are closer and tensions are high. West coast Hockey is very open... lots of high scoring games but lots of neutral zone mistakes (get too fancy).

Numbers never tell the whole story. The East came down to the last couple games before playoff standings were set. Even Toronto (who had one of the worst franchise seasons ever)... still beat quite a few Top teams (including West Conf) near the end.

But the Teams coming out of the West Conf look poised to make me a Liar.... i still think an East Conf team wins this year.

[slaves666]

Habs in 6.

[heyman]

Originally Posted by slaves666

Habs in 6.

Halak better bring his "a" game.. If he does, I still see the Pens winning series

4-3

Fleury is no slouch..


If he doesnt Pens win series 4-2

Pens have better defense and goaltending than Washington. Washington has never played as a team when it matters - oh yeah and Pens have Stanley Cup experience 2 years in a row.

[John Suitcase]

Didn't get to see the whole game tonight, but from what I saw, the Habs aren't going tom get it done, unless Halak gets back into a groove. The Pens offense is a bit different from Washington, and they made Montreal pay a bit. But they should adjust, the next game will be closer, though I think the Pens will win the series, 6 games, or so.

Detroit losing in SJ last night was predictable, but with the exception of that 90 second blitz in the 1st, Detroit looked very good, and could have easily won with a few bounces.

I don't see SJ beating the wings. Anything is possible, but to squeeze out a lucky win over a team that just came off a grinding 7 game series with less than 48 hours off doesn't bode well for them.

Philly will beat the Bruins. Pens/Flyers will be brutal.

I like Vancouver, and Chicago goaltending is a little suspect, but my gut is telling me Chicago will win it.

Wings/Chicago in the west, Wings in 6.

Pens/Flyers in the east, Pens in 7.

Wings win the cup!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by John Suitcase

Didn't get to see the whole game tonight, but from what I saw, the Habs aren't going tom get it done, unless Halak gets back into a groove. The Pens offense is a bit different from Washington, and they made Montreal pay a bit. But they should adjust, the next game will be closer, though I think the Pens will win the series, 6 games, or so.

Detroit losing in SJ last night was predictable, but with the exception of that 90 second blitz in the 1st, Detroit looked very good, and could have easily won with a few bounces.

I don't see SJ beating the wings. Anything is possible, but to squeeze out a lucky win over a team that just came off a grinding 7 game series with less than 48 hours off doesn't bode well for them.

Philly will beat the Bruins. Pens/Flyers will be brutal.

I like Vancouver, and Chicago goaltending is a little suspect, but my gut is telling me Chicago will win it.

Wings/Chicago in the west, Wings in 6.

Pens/Flyers in the east, Pens in 7.

Wings win the cup!

This is what I love about the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and why it is w/o question the greatest championship series in all of sports - and I'm a HARDCORE NFL Fan

Good insight and what it says to me the most, is none of us have a F****** clue! I love the intangibles, the surprises and the dark horses. Any team in a best of 7 can win, period. This is one of the few sports where coaching is the make or break. Sure, it's up to the players in the end, but the coaching and line matching is so huge, that I don't think the layman fan really gets it. Case in point, Habs Vs Pens. Pens simply dominated the game on several levels and 'put it into Halak's head he could be beat.' Halak let in 2 goals on just 6 shots in the first, yet can't be faulted! Pens played the screen to perfection - something the ill-fated Caps just couldn't muster. This is something 2 consecutive trips to the Cup final teaches you. Even with this horrible save %, Halak can't be faulted but you KNOW the Pens are in his head. He is no longer ''unbeatable'' and (based on this one game at least) simply average. That in it's self is a huge win for the Pens.

So this is where the coaching comes into play. The adjustment. I'd be absolutely shocked if the Pens have their way with the Habs in the next game. I'd bet the house that it'll be much closer, and the Habs may well get the split due to adjustments. the coaching staff is going to be making adjustments, there is no doubt about it!

Detroit losing in SJ last night was predictable, but with the exception of that 90 second blitz in the 1st, Detroit looked very good, and could have easily won with a few bounces.

Really? I thought they looked flat as shit and plain tired. SJ had major jump but are lucky to have got away with the win. Detriot is going to be coming WAY harder in game 2 so the snake bitten Sharks better ****ing adjust or they're done. In fact, I think it's key that they hold the Wings off from getting the split. If they do, I think they wrap in 6 or less. If they don't, it's a long series...

Philly Bruins should be a wicked brawl. Really looking forward to this one but still think Flyers prevail.

These are happy days for NHL fans..

[rmx16]

Tough loss for my boyz today, after that comeback I'm bummed...

[3lbMike]

Most of the sports analyst here in Pgh constantly preach that the Pens are built to win 7 game series... It's hard to argue given thier post season performance the past two seasons....

I like the Pens in 5; 6 against the Bruins; then a SC final against Chicago where we will once again prevent Hossa from touching the elusive cup.

Wishful thinking anyway...

[Baz]

Woah

Vancouver sure looked ready tonight. I hope they realize that they're going to see a different team on Monday. But seeing we've already parked their starting goalie, it's a damn fine start.

[John Suitcase]

Didn't see the game tonight, but it sounds like Chicago's goalie issues are starting to become major.

The Bruins played hard today, they deserved the win. Best OT I've seen in a long time!

I still think the Flyers will prevail, but it's looking like a great series!

Wings/Sharks game 1, I thought the sharks looked ok, but when the Wings were working together, they were all over them. Unfortunately (for a wings fan!) they didn't have it for all 60 minutes. Even so, they nearly pulled it out.

[djanthonyw]

Every time I glance over at this thread title it appears to say "LETS GO PENIS!"

[ignatius]

Originally Posted by djanthonyw

Every time I glance over at this thread title it appears to say "LETS GO PENIS!"

paging Dr Freud...

[ignatius]

doesn't look good flyers fans.
doesn't look good detroit fans.

crazy though... both series are fun to watch and lot's of action/hits etc. just seems to go one teams way each night.

[drmmrboy]

Originally Posted by ignatius

doesn't look good flyers fans.
doesn't look good detroit fans.

crazy though... both series are fun to watch and lot's of action/hits etc. just seems to go one teams way each night.

ouch....

[John Suitcase]

SJ V RedWings has been tough to watch!

The 1st game I thought the wings played well, but had a little lapse in the 1st.

2nd, they had way too many penalties (some were bad calls, but come on)

3rd game, they just blew it.

But all in all, they're just not playing championship hockey, and SJ is playing well.

Not sure Jimmy Howard is the go-to guy in goal. I think he's good, but you need great to win these days. Wings haven't had a great goaltender since maybe Mike Vernon.

Philly is getting beat. I thought they'd step up, but Boston seems to just dominate every aspect of the game.

Pens/Habs is the best series going now!

[marty lester]

Originally Posted by ignatius

doesn't look good flyers fans.
doesn't look good detroit fans.

crazy though... both series are fun to watch and lot's of action/hits etc. just seems to go one teams way each night.

flyers are toast. hartnell is worse than dead weight out there. parent looks like a high-school player amongst men. oh well...see you next year...

[rmx16]

Originally Posted by marty lester

flyers are toast. hartnell is worse than dead weight out there. parent looks like a high-school player amongst men. oh well...see you next year...

Hartnellfuuck,JVRfuuck Were done My 17 year old plays better D then Parent I miss Lappythumbsup

[John Suitcase]

Fun watching the Wings last night, but they have this game every series. Game 7 against Coyotes, Game 5 in last year's finals, and many many more in the past. The bad thing is they usually come back and lose the next game!

Habs are playing way above their heads, great to watch!

Chicago looking better, SJ/Chicago would be a good series, I think.

I'm starting to think the East may repeat. Bruins look really good right now, can they take the winner of Habs/Pens?

[rmx16]

Great game last night(I was there) Gagne in OT Were not done yetthumbsup

Marty
Do you get a chance to the HBO doc on the " Broad Street Bullies"?

NHL Network Online - Philadelphia Flyers: HBO's Broad Street Bullies trailer

If your a Flyers fan and a old school hockey guy like me you will love it

Peace

GO FLYERS...

[marty lester]

Originally Posted by rmx16

Great game last night(I was there) Gagne in OT Were not done yetthumbsup

Marty
Do you get a chance to the HBO doc on the " Broad Street Bullies"?

NHL Network Online - Philadelphia Flyers: HBO's Broad Street Bullies trailer

If your a Flyers fan and a old school hockey guy like me you will love it

Peace

GO FLYERS...

holy crap. that's all i can say. Gagne!

i haven't seen it yet, but i'm going to DVR it next time it plays...thanks for the heads-up.

p.s. i'm jealous you got to be there!

see you monday!

m.

[ignatius]

Originally Posted by marty lester

holy crap. that's all i can say. Gagne!

for real! 2 goals today.. so far!

philly is hanging in there (more like kicking ass) maybe got a 2nd wind?

[rmx16]

Originally Posted by ignatius

for real! 2 goals today.. so far!

philly is hanging in there (more like kicking ass) maybe got a 2nd wind?

thumbsupthumbsupthumbsup

[lpkyer]

God, thank you for Michael Cammalleri
Habs in 7.

[marty lester]

Originally Posted by rmx16

thumbsupthumbsupthumbsup

holy crap! game 6...here we come!

[slipstream]

I'd love to see the Canadiens beat Pit! The Habs have been gritty and outworking the talented Penguins....not to mention Halak has been outstanding (gross understatement).

[ignatius]

Originally Posted by slipstream

The Habs have been gritty and outworking the talented Penguins....not to mention Halak has been outstanding (gross understatement).

their forechecking has been amazing in the past two games. they are working hard but halak has saved them in some of those onslaughts of shots... but they've ben resilient and sticking to their game and gritty as hell.

if halak stays solid like this the canadiens have a lot to look forward to.

the pens almost took yesterdays game though.. those 3 rings off the post were a sign of how things have gone MTL's way when it really mattered most.

anyway.. i'm stoked to see a GAME 7!!!! gonna be intense.

[rmx16]

Originally Posted by marty lester

holy crap! game 6...here we come!

Boston's in OUR HOUSE tonight. South Philly will be rock'n tonight

Peace

[ignatius]

goodnight PENS. 3-0 start of the 2nd. if they come back it'll be a miracle.

MTL is in the moment and playing some inspired hockey.

[slipstream]

Nice of the Pens to show up. Go Habs!!

[Unsound]

They are partying in the streets!