Four of the games in that series were disturbing. The only ones that weren't were the shutouts. Adjustments have to be made. I wonder how much of the Islander playbook Ottawa employs in the series. There is a long list of things they can use.

Some people buy into the theory that having a tough first round series is a good thing as opposed to waltzing into the second with an easy one - somewhat like Ottawa had with Montreal.

New series, new challenges. Ottawa poses greater challenges in some areas and don't in others.
- Oneonta Penguin

You're right, 4 games were ugly. I didn't want to sound too negative, but that wasn't an anomaly yesterday.

That 1-3-1 the Isle was playing was a nightmare for the Pens. The thing I don't understand is we did a much better job against it in game 5 and then were completely back to old habits in game 6. It was mind boggling.

Adjustments have to be made for sure, I'm just a little concerned about our ability or willingness to make them.

You're right, 4 games were ugly. I didn't want to sound too negative, but that wasn't an anomaly yesterday.

That 1-3-1 the Isle was playing was a nightmare for the Pens. The thing I don't understand is we did a much better job against it in game 5 and then were completely back to old habits in game 6. It was mind boggling.

Adjustments have to be made for sure, I'm just a little concerned about our ability or willingness to make them.
- madmike71

I don't think you sound too negative when you speak of things that are obvious to many. No one would nail you on that. None of us liked the way those four games were played, even though two of them were wins. We all know we were fortunate to advance; so do the players and the head coach.

You're right, 4 games were ugly. I didn't want to sound too negative, but that wasn't an anomaly yesterday.

That 1-3-1 the Isle was playing was a nightmare for the Pens. The thing I don't understand is we did a much better job against it in game 5 and then were completely back to old habits in game 6. It was mind boggling.

Adjustments have to be made for sure, I'm just a little concerned about our ability or willingness to make them.
- madmike71

This week will be a new series, new opponent. Although the Isles played their hearts out, the truth is many of the Penguins problems were due to self inflicted wounds. If they remain patient and make the simple plays they made in game 5, they will be fine. I frankly expect the next series to be a lot more chippy than the Isles series was. Hopefully this team has learned to keep its cool.

Lucic is the key to Boston IMO. He sucked in all three meetings this year against Pittsburgh. He makes Boston either a very hard team to play, or an average team. Toronto scares me more than Boston.

I'm not overlooking Ottawa whatsoever - solid defense and great goaltending. I remember a team that won the Cup last year with that recipe. That said, Montreal was TERRIBLE. It's easily the weakest second seed I can remember in decades. There were games I saw that St. Cloud State could have taken care of the Canadians.
- Oneonta Penguin

Cannot believe how awesome the Red Wings are. Babcock is a freaking genious.

Cannot believe how awesome the Red Wings are. Babcock is a freaking genious.
- Sell My Monkey

Never count them out, that's for sure.

Wow the Bruins, Ducks, and Caps must all suck since they ae being pushed to the limit by lower seeds. They should fire their coach, trade their goalie and gut their overpaid rosters since they will just get creamed in the next round anyways...RIGHT???
- ryman1566

Didn't you know that the Penguins are the only team with a weakness?

Never count them out, that's for sure.
- Emperor Filonius

I have to admit, I counted them out. They barely made the play-offs and didn't look good for most of the year.

All the problems are with the coaching/leadership of the team not getting people up for bad teams. Been saying this for months, just look at how we played the Bs all season and montreal too, when they were still healthy and good mid season. After those wonderful highlights treat yourself to us playing Buffalo, Carolina and Fla ect. This team takes garbage teams too lightly and it happened first round, along with MaF having a career ruining playoffs, that made it look like the isles were able to keep up with us. Now that most of the garbage is eliminated they should comeout ready to play every game. The team that won the low scoring games against the Bs this year needs to be the team that shows up this round now that were playing a decent team. Were not going to play awful and still win against a real team, this isnt a team thats only in because they didnt have time to choke down the stretch this year like they have the last few. Ottawa is legit and have a real goalie and very snaeky offensive D men.

Side note Canadianson here, Ottawa tickets go on sale in less than an hour for the sens home games

New series new team... keep the same lines, play the hot goalie... let MAF sit until Vokun starts fumbling... you then have flower looking to prove something... flower had to exercise those first rd demons and couldnt he needed help....

We have a good situation of having a lefty and righty goalies. . Makes it harder to be consistent when playing against them.

Pens in 5. As long as Geno and Letang stop with the turnovers...

I miss the doom and gloom up in here.

I miss the doom and gloom up in here.
- BulliesPhan87

That's why I don't come around when we lose a game. Its mostly people ready to jump off the bridge or fire/cut everyone on the team and in management.

I miss the doom and gloom up in here.
- BulliesPhan87

Just wait until 5 minutes into game 1.


Where's MadCap? I want to know his feelings on the officiating going on in his series. From what I've seen the Caps look to be outplaying the Rangers, so I'm trying to figure out why they have a 26-14 PP advantage thus far.

New series new team... keep the same lines, play the hot goalie... let MAF sit until Vokun starts fumbling... you then have flower looking to prove something... flower had to exercise those first rd demons and couldnt he needed help....

We have a good situation of having a lefty and righty goalies. . Makes it harder to be consistent when playing against them.

Pens in 5. As long as Geno and Letang stop with the turnovers...
- nh4442

Some of the turnovers they have committed recently are mind boggling. They need to stop forcing it and use their teammates.

Some of the turnovers they have committed recently are mind boggling. They need to stop forcing it and use their teammates.
- kgrpitt

They need to use the (frank)ing boards. So simple.

They need to use the (frank)ing boards. So simple.
- canadianpenfan

Yup. That one that Letang turned over that lead to a goal he went to center ice? WTF? Go up the boards where i think Neal was wait for it.

Ultimately, I think the Isles series was great for the Pens. I think it was nice for this team to face some adversity so early. I think it will greatly benefit us. As for starting goalie in Game 1, at first I thought there is no way in hell we should go back to MAF for it, but the more I think about it...we will need him if we want to make a serious run at the cup, and the longer he sits out the more his confidence will diminish. I think if he can get in at home and play a solid game, it could help him get back to form. That being said, if that happens, he has to have a very very short leash.

Ultimately, I think the Isles series was great for the Pens. I think it was nice for this team to face some adversity so early. I think it will greatly benefit us. As for starting goalie in Game 1, at first I thought there is no way in hell we should go back to MAF for it, but the more I think about it...we will need him if we want to make a serious run at the cup, and the longer he sits out the more his confidence will diminish. I think if he can get in at home and play a solid game, it could help him get back to form. That being said, if that happens, he has to have a very very short leash.
- RekadarDJ

You can't (or should I say shouldn't) bench a guy that put 2 great/solid performances together. He may be the only reason we won the last game. If they play Fleury and he is on a short leash then he gets benched (which I think is inevitable) i think that hurts his confidence more. Tell you the truth I can careless about his confidence, he needs to grow up and realize he is in the NHL.

I think they play Vokoun but have him on a short leash.

That's why I don't come around when we lose a game. Its mostly people ready to jump off the bridge or fire/cut everyone on the team and in management.
- kgrpitt

Well that's a familiar story. I'm worried some Flyers fans actually went through with the whole 'bridge' thing, the Meltzer thread has been a relative ghost town.

Just wait until 5 minutes into game 1.


Where's MadCap? I want to know his feelings on the officiating going on in his series. From what I've seen the Caps look to be outplaying the Rangers, so I'm trying to figure out why they have a 26-14 PP advantage thus far.
- canadianpenfan

Maybe they can throw a hissy fit about the officiating like the Canucks.

Good news is that Ottawa isn't as fast and doesn't have as great of a transition game as the Islanders.

Bad news is, that they don't have Evgeni Nabokov in net.

However, Craig Anderson hasn't exactly been Craig Anderson against the Penguins.

In his career as a Senator, Anderson has a sv% of .924 & GAA of 2.42. Against the Pens in that same time period, his SV% is .898 & GAA is 3.32

Good news is that Ottawa isn't as fast and doesn't have as great of a transition game as the Islanders.

Bad news is, that they don't have Evgeni Nabokov in net.

However, Craig Anderson hasn't exactly been Craig Anderson against the Penguins.

In his career as a Senator, Anderson has a sv% of .924 & GAA of 2.42. Against the Pens in that same time period, his SV% is .898 & GAA is 3.32
- rival22

Rival digging deep with some good stats, nice.

Rival digging deep with some good stats, nice.
- Gunner Staal

Bored at work lol

He was better this season against them - .909 sv% / 2.61 GAA, but still markedly worse than his season total of .941 sv% / 1.69 GAA

He was better this season against them - .909 sv% / 2.61 GAA, but still markedly worse than his season total of .941 sv% / 1.69 GAA
- rival22

I wouldnt expect any cheapies like Nabokov was handing out but at the same time Anderson is not some kind of Patrick Roy or Dominik Hasek.

You can't (or should I say shouldn't) bench a guy that put 2 great/solid performances together. He may be the only reason we won the last game. If they play Fleury and he is on a short leash then he gets benched (which I think is inevitable) i think that hurts his confidence more. Tell you the truth I can careless about his confidence, he needs to grow up and realize he is in the NHL.

I think they play Vokoun but have him on a short leash.
- kgrpitt

Im with you...I guess I just have a soft spot for Flower. I guess its smart to ride Vokoun at this point. If he gets lit up and pulled during a game, that may be the better way for Fleury to get in and bounce back without as much pressure. It does suck how fragile his mental state seems.

Ultimately, I think the Isles series was great for the Pens. I think it was nice for this team to face some adversity so early. I think it will greatly benefit us. As for starting goalie in Game 1, at first I thought there is no way in hell we should go back to MAF for it, but the more I think about it...we will need him if we want to make a serious run at the cup, and the longer he sits out the more his confidence will diminish. I think if he can get in at home and play a solid game, it could help him get back to form. That being said, if that happens, he has to have a very very short leash.
- RekadarDJ

I don't know that this is necessicarily true. It's not like he's sitting alone in a dark closet. Think about how great TK has looked since being put back in the lineup. He's getting time to reflect on what went wrong and how he can improve. It's equally likely that starting Vokoun the next few games could give him more motivation to play sharper when he inevitably returns.

Vokoun starts Game 1. To me it's an obvious decision. He earned it.