I'm done reading and posting in this blog for a while if all people are going to do is talk about getting rid of players and not the fact that THE PENS ARE IN THE 2ND ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS! The fact that the Penguins won their first round series is a HUGE monkey off the team's and coaching staff's back. I think the Pens come out with a renewed vigor in game one.
- cap1681

It's a joke...

Can't we let the playoffs play out and then in the offseason worry about offseason moves.

I swear, if Shero did what was asked for on these boards over the last few years, we'd have a different coach, and would be witout Letang, no Malkin, Martin, Dupuis, Kennedy (I can live with that one lol), Niskanen, Orpik & Fleury.

By a little, I believe you mean far and away superior, but that's for the stats guys to worry about. I admit the offense is better for the Pens, but you haven't played a team in the playoffs since the Red Wings with the defensive forward depth Ottawa has. Paul Maclean has taught them well. Players like Turris, Condra, and Pageau are tremendously underrated defensively, and our bottom 6 is much more potent and dangerous offensively than yours is.

This series is going to be about whether our forwards can contain your top-6 and who can win the bottom 6 scoring race, where I believe Ottawa has an advantage given the emergence of a large number of our rookies as legit NHLers. Should be a fun series, you likely will win, but I'm pretty confident this is going to go seven games.
- ahjnkn

And still you say we have the worst players in every position pretty much.

How about our 3rd line of Morrow/Sutter/Cooke? How about having depth with Jokinen/Kennedy/Bennett?

I know you are excited after beating a broken down team like the Canadiens but easy now...

If the Penguins continue to play in the second round the same way they played in the first, they likely won't be in the playoffs much longer.
- Kineada

I don't think they'll be as lazy as they were against the Islanders. At least we all hope Beating the Senators would heal a lot of issues this team had in the first round.

[quote=holycow_75]

Should've been more specific -- Preds averaged under three goals/game in playoffs in first round loss to San Jose Sharks.

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...&season=2007&leaguenm=NHL

No doubt Vokoun is just happy to be back in the playoffs.

Thanks for reading,
JT

By a little, I believe you mean far and away superior, but that's for the stats guys to worry about.
- ahjnkn

Yes. Let's look at some very basic stats from the regular season...

Penguins goals against: 119
Senators goals against: 104
Difference: 15 goals

I'd hesitate to call that "far and away superior", but hey, whatever rhetoric floats your boat.

Penguins goals for: 165
Senators goals for: 116
Difference: 49 goals

Well now, that's a little more along the lines of superior I'd say.

I'm done reading and posting in this blog for a while if all people are going to do is talk about getting rid of players and not the fact that THE PENS ARE IN THE 2ND ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS! The fact that the Penguins won their first round series is a HUGE monkey off the team's and coaching staff's back. I think the Pens come out with a renewed vigor in game one.
- cap1681

I don't blame you, but it's been going on all year in here. People wanted to fire the coach and trade everyone during a 15 game win streak for (frank) sakes.

Said it before and I'll say it again- spoiled.

Not to mention Letang has been on the ice for all but 5 goals we scored in round 1. Yea, that's easily replaceable, let's focus on a few bad passes and ignore the fact that he might be the most important player on the team.

But back to you, you will hardly be the only regular not to come here anymore because they're sick of reading this garbage, trust me. You should see my inbox...

wow...I agree you have a pretty good D but you are downgrading all of our d-men...mostly Martin, Orpik and Murray... Karlsson at "75%" is better than Letang? (even though he hasn't played great hockey so far in the post season).

Good chalenge for us. Should be a fun series as we match better against you guys than the Islanders speed. Pens in 5 or 6 games
- Orpik44

Karlsson "at 75%" is leading the Sens in ice time and is tied with Letang for the NHL lead in D scoring after what, I agree with you, was a horrible series for him. He will be better rested and have more of his timing back in the next round.

I may be downplaying Martin a bit, granted, but Orpik has seen a significant decline in his play the last few years and from what I've seen this season Murray is now too slow and lacks the mobility to be an effective playoff defender.

Also, I don't know how long it's been since you saw the Sens play but we're a pretty fast team, almost at the same level as the Isles. We just played the fastest team in the conference in Mtl and kept pace with them easily, while outscoring them 19-9 overall. Just warning ya, if the Pens lose, it will be because your D shat the bed and were too slow to keep up with us. Enjoy the series

It's a joke...

Can't we let the playoffs play out and then in the offseason worry about offseason moves.

I swear, if Shero did what was asked for on these boards over the last few years, we'd have a different coach, and would be witout Letang, no Malkin, Martin, Dupuis, Kennedy (I can live with that one lol), Niskanen, Orpik & Fleury.
- rival22

It's starting to get annoying. I, for one, am pretty confident going into this series. The Penguins have yet to play their best hockey, and still won a playoff series.

It's starting to get annoying. I, for one, am pretty confident going into this series. The Penguins have yet to play their best hockey, and still won a playoff series.
- cap1681

The time to play our best hockey has come. We'll be ready for the "Mighty Senators".

I don't blame you, but it's been going on all year in here. People wanted to fire the coach and trade everyone during a 15 game win streak for (frank) sakes.

Said it before and I'll say it again- spoiled.

Not to mention Letang has been on the ice for all but 5 goals we scored in round 1. Yea, that's easily replaceable, let's focus on a few bad passes and ignore the fact that he might be the most important player on the team.

But back to you, you will hardly be the only regular not to come here anymore because they're sick of reading this garbage, trust me. You should see my inbox...
- canadianpenfan

I can only imagine.

Yes. Let's look at some very basic stats from the regular season...

Penguins goals against: 119
Senators goals against: 104
Difference: 15 goals

I'd hesitate to call that "far and away superior", but hey, whatever rhetoric floats your boat.

Penguins goals for: 165
Senators goals for: 116
Difference: 49 goals

Well now, that's a little more along the lines of superior I'd say.
- Kineada

They are talking like they are the best team in the NHL right now...after beating a broken down Montreal team..

We shall see..

I don't blame you, but it's been going on all year in here. People wanted to fire the coach and trade everyone during a 15 game win streak for (frank) sakes.

Said it before and I'll say it again- spoiled.

Not to mention Letang has been on the ice for all but 5 goals we scored in round 1. Yea, that's easily replaceable, let's focus on a few bad passes and ignore the fact that he might be the most important player on the team.

But back to you, you will hardly be the only regular not to come here anymore because they're sick of reading this garbage, trust me. You should see my inbox...
- canadianpenfan

Letang has made some mistakes and bad decisions that have made me yell obscenities at the TV.

But, his positives outweigh the negatives by a LARGE margin:

In the first round of the playoffs, he is second in defensemen scoring, and:

3rd in league for playoff ice time per game, and 1:30 more than any other Penguin player
3rd most SH time for defensemen on the Pens
3rd most PP time overall on the Pens

Great... we trade him... Who picks up the ice time? Orpik is getting older, Niskanen gets exposed with an elevated role, Despres is promising, but still a gamble (and not nearly as talented offensively).

The salary cap implications of resigning him are a legitimate discussion this summer, but trading him just to trade him is moronic.

They are talking like they are the best team in the NHL right now...after beating a broken down Montreal team..

We shall see..
- Orpik44

I'm all for hyping up the home team, but that guy is being quite a bit silly with his worthless player versus player comparisons and his assessment of both teams' offensive output and defensive capabilities with literally no statistics or facts to back them up.

I don't blame you, but it's been going on all year in here. People wanted to fire the coach and trade everyone during a 15 game win streak for (frank) sakes.

Said it before and I'll say it again- spoiled.

Not to mention Letang has been on the ice for all but 5 goals we scored in round 1. Yea, that's easily replaceable, let's focus on a few bad passes and ignore the fact that he might be the most important player on the team.

But back to you, you will hardly be the only regular not to come here anymore because they're sick of reading this garbage, trust me. You should see my inbox...
- canadianpenfan

Always bring the conversation back to be about you.....gesh get a grip.

I agree, obviously I don't drop by as much cause lack of . . . well lack of any sort of sanity.

Always bring the conversation back to be about you.....gesh get a grip.

I agree, obviously I don't drop by as much cause lack of . . . well lack of any sort of sanity.
- kgrpitt

Why should I be the only one in here with one?

Also, I'm not sure how much sanity was in here when you did come more but it's much worse now.

Why should I be the only one in here with one?

Also, I'm not sure how much sanity was in here when you did come more but it's much worse now.
- canadianpenfan

Valid point.

All I know is I am pumped to still be watching meaningful hockey in May. Even tho this season doesn't count according to flyer people here because it was only half a season.

Tampa- No Sid or Geno, Habs- Freak Goaltending by Halak, Philly- bed pooping
- nbartley9

Tampa, we blew a 3-1 lead champ without Sid and Geno. The penalty kill sucked and some leaky goals went in.

By a little, I believe you mean far and away superior, but that's for the stats guys to worry about. I admit the offense is better for the Pens, but you haven't played a team in the playoffs since the Red Wings with the defensive forward depth Ottawa has. Paul Maclean has taught them well. Players like Turris, Condra, and Pageau are tremendously underrated defensively, and our bottom 6 is much more potent and dangerous offensively than yours is.

This series is going to be about whether our forwards can contain your top-6 and who can win the bottom 6 scoring race, where I believe Ottawa has an advantage given the emergence of a large number of our rookies as legit NHLers. Should be a fun series, you likely will win, but I'm pretty confident this is going to go seven games.
- ahjnkn

Not an ounce of bias in this guy at all.

Tampa, we blew a 3-1 lead champ without Sid and Geno. The penalty kill sucked and some leaky goals went in.
- Oneonta Penguin

The Pens were also like 1 for 20 on the PP that series. It wasn't Fleury's fault, especially game 7

Edit: They were 1 for 35

Yes. Let's look at some very basic stats from the regular season...

Penguins goals against: 119
Senators goals against: 104
Difference: 15 goals

I'd hesitate to call that "far and away superior", but hey, whatever rhetoric floats your boat.

Penguins goals for: 165
Senators goals for: 116
Difference: 49 goals

Well now, that's a little more along the lines of superior I'd say.
- Kineada

Stats without context are meaningless and you know it. For most of the season, Ottawa was playing without their first line center (Spezza), first line LW (Michalek), our #1 and #3 dmen, and our starting goalie. So our defensive record was accomplished largely by riding our backup and third string goalies and using 14 rookies in our starting lineup. For the offense, the players that were out long term were responsible for 40% of our goals in 2011-12. Add 40% to Ottawa's goal total for this year and you would end up with 162 goals for this year. Not so superior anymore, is it??

Karlsson "at 75%" is leading the Sens in ice time and is tied with Letang for the NHL lead in D scoring after what, I agree with you, was a horrible series for him. He will be better rested and have more of his timing back in the next round.

I may be downplaying Martin a bit, granted, but Orpik has seen a significant decline in his play the last few years and from what I've seen this season Murray is now too slow and lacks the mobility to be an effective playoff defender.

Also, I don't know how long it's been since you saw the Sens play but we're a pretty fast team, almost at the same level as the Isles. We just played the fastest team in the conference in Mtl and kept pace with them easily, while outscoring them 19-9 overall. Just warning ya, if the Pens lose, it will be because your D shat the bed and were too slow to keep up with us. Enjoy the series
- ahjnkn

Montreal, the fastest team in the league? LOL. Please. You played Montreal who was injured; undisciplined and terrible the entire series. The Islanders are a lambrogini compared to the midget Canadians in speed, skill and transition.

You might be speedier than in recent years compared to other Ottawa teams, but you pale in comparison to what we just played. Not a knock either. Tone it down a tad.

Your last graph is a joke.

This is how I break this series down:

Coaching- Ottawa by a slim margin

Defense- Ottawa by a slim margin

Goaltending- Ottawa by a healthy margin

Offense- Pittsburgh by a wide margin

Special Teams- Pittsburgh

Intangibles/experience- Pittsburgh

If Anderson plays great and Ottawa stays out of the box they could win in short order. If The Pens goalies play well and Andersson is mediocre as he has been the last few years against Pittsburgh the Pens could win rather quickly.

I think we see a little of both and my prediction is Pens in 7.

But they need to bring the effort for more than 2 games this series and I think they will.

Not an ounce of bias in this guy at all.
- Sell My Monkey

None, just facts...

Spamming this board is gonna be sooooooooooooooooooooooooo much fun!! You guys respond to any slight so hilariously, it never gets old AND there's always a legitimate counter argument. Keep underestimating us Hens guys, that always works out for the team that does it.

None, just facts...

Spamming this board is gonna be sooooooooooooooooooooooooo much fun!! You guys respond to any slight so hilariously, it never gets old AND there's always a legitimate counter argument. Keep underestimating us Hens guys, that always works out for the team that does it.
- ahjnkn

Probably not as much fun as you think it will be.

Probably not as much fun as you think it will be.
- canadianpenfan

It's going to be a long series in here. I'm amazed the Ottawa CSI team hasn't shown up yet.