Home of the Penguins

Monday, April 28, 2008

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Game 2 roundup - Pens 2, Rangers 0

The Pens were able to put the Rangers in a bigger hole this afternoon, taking game 2 by the score of 2 - 0.

Marc Andre Fleury was the #1 star of this one, stopping all 26 shots the Rangers threw at him. This was Fleury's second shutout of this years playoffs and his career

Jordan Staal scored the game winner, a power play goal, at 13:55 of the second and Adam Hall chipped in an enpty netter on a wall rebound at 19:43 of the third.

The Rangers had an apparent goal disallowed when the referee blew the play dead as the puck was about to cross the goal line. This should make for interesting reading tomorrow in the New York papers as the have already been extremely critical of the officiating and this incident will not help. I agree it should have been a goal and that they whistle did blow earlier than most would, but once the whistle is blown the play is dead. No review, no second look.

What the competiting is reading

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

All this crying about whether Sid Crosby's drawing of a penalty from Marty Straka with 3:00 left to go in the 3rd is crap. First of all why did the Rangers put themselves in the situation that a Penguins power play goal in the third could be a game winner - the Rangers were up 3-0 in the second and blew the lead. And regardless of that, what Straka did was a penalty and should be called in each and every instance.

Today's Penguins Links

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Penguins Evolution

Therrien fed up with diving accusations

Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Bet in this pair

Better start is a priority for game 2

Friday, April 25, 2008

Game 1 roundup - Pens 5, Rangers 4

It was a tale of two halves. The first half of the game saw the Rangers build a 3-0 lead on the Pens, the second half it was all Penguins - storming back to take a 4-3 lead and eventually win the game in regulation, 5-4.

The turning point was at 3:37 of the second when Sean Avery of the Rangers scored the third goal. He celebrated wildly after the puck went into the net and even skated in front of the Pens bench celebrating. This woke the sleeping giant. The Pens played with more intensity from that point forward and shook off the rust that had accumulated during the 9 day layoff.

Note to Mr. Avery - next time you score a goal that puts your team up 3 - zip in a building that is not named Madison Square Garden, you might want to tone down that celebration a bit.

Pens goals by Ruutu, Dupuis, Hossa, Sykora and Malkin.

Ruutu and Dupuis scored 14 seconds apart in the second, Hossa and Sykora scored 20 seconds apart in the third and Malkin got the gamewinner on a Crosby slap shot deflection, a power play goal, at 18:19 of the third.

Much is going to be said tomorrow, in the New York media mostly, about how this was the Rangers game and they should have been able to close it out having the 3 - 0 lead but they got a little comfortable and allowed the Pens to get back in it. That was not the case. Pittsburgh was the team that looked a little too comfortable at the outset of the contest. When they finally got their skates under them, they were able to control the flow and momentum of the game and force the Rangers into a game that New York is not used to playing. This was the true reason for the comeback.

I must say...this looks to be a very entertaining series.

More to come tomorrow...

Gameday - 7pm tonight

Catch the game on Versus at 7pm tonight. Also on the X (WXDX 104.7) and here.

Gery Roberts will not be in the lineup tonight, however. He has decided that his groin is still a little tender and a couple more days rest will do it good...

Conference Finals

Eastern Conference:

(2) Pittsburgh vs. (6) Philadelphia
Pittsburgh wins series 4-1
1. 5/9/08 Penguins 4, Flyers 2 at Pittsburgh
2. 5/11/08 Penguins 4, Flyers 2 at Pittsburgh
3. 5/13/08 Penguins 4, Flyers 1 at Philadelphia
4. 5/15/08 Flyers 4, Penguins 2 at Philadelphia
5. 5/18/08 Penguins 6, Flyers 0 at Pittsburgh

Western Conference:

(1) Detroit vs. (5) Dallas
Detroit wins series 4-2
1. 5/8/08 Red wings 4, Stars 1 at Detroit
2. 5/10/08 Red Wings 2, Stars 1 at Detroit
3. 5/12/08 Red Wings 5, Stars 2 at Dallas
4. 5/14/08 Stars 3, Red Wings 1 at Dallas
5. 5/17/08 Stars 2, Red Wings 1 at Detroit
6. 5/19/08 Red Wings 4, Stars 1 at Dallas

What the opposition is reading

New York Times:

Penguins have more than the games top star

Penguins fans are certain to boo Jagr

Why stop now? I'd even go to Russia next season to do it if I had to!

New York Post:

Crosby Clampdown

The Matchups

Rangers in 7? Seriously? Well this is the same guy who picked the Devils in the first round...

Newsday.com

Rangers may have to beat Crosby and refs, too

Whatever...

Conference Semifinals

Eastern Conference:

(2) Pittsburgh vs. (5) New York Rangers
Pittsburgh wins series 4-1
1. 4/25/08 Penguins 5, Rangers 4 at Pittsburgh
2. 4/27/08 Penguins 2, Rangers 0 at Pittsburgh
3. 4/29/08 Penguins 5, Rangers 3 at New York
4. 5/1/08 Rangers 3, Penguins 0 at New York
5. 5/4/08 Penguins 3, Rangers 2 (OT) at Pittsburgh

(1) Montreal vs. (6) Philadelphia
Philadelphia wins series 4-1
1. 4/24/08 Canadiens 4, Flyers 3 (OT) at Montreal
2. 4/26/08 Flyers 4, Canadiens 2 at Montreal
3. 4/28/08 Flyers 3, Canadiens 2 at Philadelphia
4. 4/30/08 Flyers 4, Canadiens 2 at Philadelphia
5. 5/3/08 Flyers 6, Canadiens 4 at Montreal

Western Conference:

(1) Detroit vs. (6) Colorado
Detroit wins series 4-0
1. 4/24/08 Red Wings 4, Avalanche 3 at Detroit
2. 4/26/08 Red Wings 1, Avalanche 1 at Detroit
3. 4/29/08 Red Wings 4, Avalanche 3 at Colorado
4. 5/1/08 REd Wings 8, Avalanche 2 at Colorado

(2) San Jose vs. (5) Dallas
Dallas wins series 4-2
1. 4/25/08 Stars 3, Sharks 2 (OT) at San Jose
2. 4/27/08 Stars 5, Sharks 2 at San Jose
3. 4/29/08 Stars 2, Sharks 1 (OT) at Dallas
4. 4/30/08 Sharks 2, Stars 1 at Dallas
5. 5/2/08 Sharks 3, Stars 2 (OT) at San Jose
6. 5/4/08 Stars 2, Sharks 1 (4OT) at Dallas

Thursday, April 24, 2008

White Out for game 1

The Penguins are planning a "white out" for tomorrow night's game and will be handing out white t-shirts at the gates. Don't forget to put it on if you are going to the game tomorrow night!

See the Penguins announcement here

And a video featuring Pens players here

What the opposition is reading

NY Post:

Mightier than the Pens?

Rangers vs. Pens is real cros celebre

Jagr: Sid not in Mario's league

Cashing in on Avery punk act

Yahoo Sports:

What the hell is growing on Jagr's face?

Pens/Rangers Preview

Preview - Game one is tomorrow night at the Igloo and this town is fired up! And this is not the Ottawa Senators that are coming to town. This is a team that ended their first round series in 5 games against the Atlantic's second place team, the New Jersey Devils. This is a team that rivals the Penguins offensive production. This is a team that has stellar goaltending and rugged, veteran defensemen. The New York Rangers have all of the right keys in place to have a prolonged run through the playoffs. But so do the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In the regular season these two teams met 8 times. The record was 3-3-2 with the Rangers scoring 19 goals against the Pens and the Penguins scoring 20 against the Rangers. Pittsburgh won two at home and one away and dropped one each, home and away, in overtime. But the most relevant games, those occurring after January 1, has the Penguins in the advantage at 3-0-1.

The Penguins and Rangers have met in the playoffs four times with the Penguins winning all four series:

1996 - 2nd round - W 4-1
1992 - 2nd round - W 4-2
1991 - 2nd round - W 4-1
1989 - 1st round - W 4-0

Previous matchup have never gone more than 6.

What the Penguins need to do to win:

Goaltending - if M.A. Fleury can perform as well in this series as he did in the Ottawa series this is a given. If he struggles early the Therrien needs to make the move to Conklin. Fleury's head is clear and his confidence has to be sky high after his first career series win so don't look for him to be shaky from the start. This may be the one area that no one needs to worry about.

Offense - Continue what was started against the Sens. Get lots of pucks on net and get Lundqvuist moving east to west with crisp tape to tape passing and superior speed. Pittsburgh averaged 40.25 shots on goal in the first series. Whether this was a symptom of Ottawas porous defense or because the Pens offense exerted their will on the Sens, or some combination of each, this needs to continue for Pittsburgh to have success in this series. The same players will need to keep their performance at the high level in which they have and continue to camp out in front of the net to create traffic. Basically the Pens need to keep doing what they have been and the goal production will be there.

Defense - Gonchar and Orpik were able to shut down the top line of the Senators, holding that line to only 1 assist (even strength) in the series. As much as I would like to think they will be able to do this again going up against the Jagr line, it's not going to happen. Jagr is bigger and better than Heatly or Spezza and much more dangerous when he has the puck. His linemates, Straka and Drury, are both very capable with the puck and have played with Jagr much of the season so they are all familiar with each other. If the Pens defense can minimize the chances that this line gets then Pittsburgh will have a pretty good shot at getting out of this series in 5 or 6.

Role Players - By now every hockey fan in the world has seen or heard of what Rangers forward and all around agitator, Sean Avery, did to the Devils goalie Brodeur in the first round. Avery will continue being the jackass that he is and will make every attempt to get under the skin of the Penguins. That's his job and he does it well. Pittsburgh will have to ignore his antics to neutralize him, since his mouth, not his offensive prowess, is his most potent weapon. On the other hand, the return of Gary Roberts will have an immediate impact on the psyche of the team and guys like Ruutu and Laraque will be needed to enforce any liberties taken on the Pens skilled forwards by the Rangers.

Intangibles - Home ice advantage has not been all that important in this years playoffs, but should be more so in the second and later rounds. Winning game one was the most important factor from the quarterfinals, with the team that won game one moving on in six of eight series. That will probably remain the same throughout the semifinals as well. Pittsburgh needs to take game 1 and game 2 would be nice as well. Having a 2-0 lead going to New York for games 3 and 4 will give them a huge confidence boost and the Rangers will have second thoughts about their ability to pull off the win.

My Prediction - Pens in 6.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Bring on the Rangers!

Washington lost in OT tonight so the Pens will face the Rangers in round 2. The first game of the series will be Friday night at the Igloo.

Schedule:

Friday 4/25 @ Pittsburgh 7pm (VS)
Sunday 4/27 @ Pittsburgh 2pm (NBC)
Tuesday 4/29 @ New York 7pm (FSN)
Thursday 5/1 @ New York 7pm (VS)
Sunday 5/4 @ Pittsburgh 2pm* (NBC)
Monday 5/5 @ New York 7pm* (FSN)
Wednesday 5/7 @ Pittsburgh TBA*

* if necessary

Penguins Second Round Opponent Update

With Montreal's 5-0 trouncing of the Boston Bruins last night and Washington remaining alive in the playoffs with a win over the Flyers, we will have to wait until tonight to learn who the Pens second round opponent will be. We do know that it will be either the Capitals or the New York Rangers. If the Caps win game 7 against the Flyers tonight it will be the Caps, otherwise it will be the Rangers.

My thoughts...bring on the Caps!!!!

Monday, April 21, 2008

Today's Penguins Links

From the Pittsburgh Post Gazette:

Gonchar gets defensive with critics

From the Pittsburgh Tribune Review:

Gary Roberts will be available for game 1

From ESPN.com:

Crosby and Ovechkin plyaoff bound (video)

Penguins Second Round Opponent

It could be known tonight who the Pens will play in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Here is what could possibly happen:

- If Boston wins then Pittsburgh will play Boston.

- If Montreal wins and Washington wins game 7 tomorrow night then Pittsburgh will play Washington.

- If Montreal wins and Washington does not win the series then Pittsburgh will play the New York Rangers.

- There is no possibility that Pittsburgh will play Philadelphia in this round.

Once the opponent is known check back for a series analysis.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Why the Penguins beat the Senators

In case you've been wondering...

Goaltending - first and foremost, Marc Andre Fleury was outstanding in net. He gave up only 5 goals in the four games against the Sens to post a 1.26 GAA and a SV% of .955 and a shutout. He only have up more than one goal in game 2 where he gave up 3. Fleury is my pick for MVP of the series.

Special Teams - The Pens were 6 of 23(26.1%) on the power play and held Ottawa to 1 goal on 13(92.3%) penalty kills. Nuff said.

Defense - Pittsburgh defensemen allowed only 5 Ottawa goals in the series. Of those 5, four occurred in the second period and only one in the third. Ottawa did not score a goal in the first period of any game in the series. Pens defensemen were able to get to the puck before the Senators forwards could and were able to get the puck up the ice and out of the defensive zone without much problem.

The matchup of Brooks Orpick and Sergei Gonchar, who were primarily paired up against Ottawas first line, held that line to no even strength goals. This is the same line that accounted for nearly half of Ottawa's goals in the regular season.

Offense - The Pens scored goals when they needed to. And even when they didn't need to. In fact they pretty much scored whenever they wanted to.

Role Players - the third and fourth liners contributed to the overall success of the team by chipping in a bunch of goals and controlling the tempo of the game when they were on the ice.

Coaching - Bryan Murray did all he could to motivate his players. Too bad it wasn't enough. Not sure that this bunch of players could have been motivated at all. They looked like they knew they would be beaten from the opening face-off of game one.