And after those two lines...good luck with this!!!!

You're right Crosby is definitely faster and more agile than Chara, but Chara's ability to use his stick effectively will give Crosby fits IMO. For a guy his size he does a tremendous job of hiding his stick and where he is going to go with it. Crosby is going to need to take advantage of the transition game against Chara because once they get bottled down near the goal Chara will use his size and stick.

Once Ference is healthy I think Bartkowski comes out of the lineup. I can't see a scenario where Krug comes out. He has finally sparked some life into a rather atrocious powerplay. His speed and awareness of when to jump into the play will lead to more offense out of the Bruins.

I'm really itching to get this series going.
- fudd1689

I'm curious to see the long term (7 game series) approach the Pens take with Chara.

During the reg season he was a target...Neal, Duper, Kunitz...they all hit Chara whenever possible.

I'd expect to see the same thing in game 1..and probably 2...but whether that works and how they adjust will be interesting.

I don't necessarily think Chara needs to be a target...but he definitely has been in the past few games they played.

Talking about leadership. 3 captains.

- Orpik44

I know both lines are doing well but I still feel iggy and kuni should switch lines...

Well, he's no Brent Burns but, yeah, he's got it going on.
- jmatchett383

Fixed

Do you miss Joe Corvo much?

Chara better be careful...somehow I can see him getting some tripping penalties due to lack of speed.
- Orpik44

That was one of the biggest blunders I've had to endure watching Corvo on this team. It was painful to watch last year.

I think both teams will be getting ample opportunities to score on the powerplay.

And after those two lines...good luck with this!!!!





- Killian

You are obsessed with him looking like a frog

You're right Crosby is definitely faster and more agile than Chara, but Chara's ability to use his stick effectively will give Crosby fits IMO. For a guy his size he does a tremendous job of hiding his stick and where he is going to go with it. Crosby is going to need to take advantage of the transition game against Chara because once they get bottled down near the goal Chara will use his size and stick.

Once Ference is healthy I think Bartkowski comes out of the lineup. I can't see a scenario where Krug comes out. He has finally sparked some life into a rather atrocious powerplay. His speed and awareness of when to jump into the play will lead to more offense out of the Bruins.

I'm really itching to get this series going.
- fudd1689

If Krug didn't score those four goals against the Rags, he would be the one coming out of the lineup. You had a guy that got shots through the Rags defense and on goal. That, he was very effective in doing versus the Rags. I wouldn't expect him to score four this series.

You are obsessed with him looking like a frog
- cap1681

lol, i just think it's funny. i just want everyone to think bullfrog when he nets a goal in game 2!

It's very easy for fans of opposing teams to find faults in Pittsburgh's game to automatically assume their team has the advantage going into a 7 game series..... As an objective Pens fan as I consider myself, I will be the first to say that I was fearful of the Islanders because their speed didn't match up well with the Pens style of play. Ottawa fans flocked here after the first round saying how Ottawa was just as fast and exponentially more physical of a team than the Isles were.... meanwhile I felt it was a great matchup for us and predicted the Pens in 5 or 6.

Yes, Boston's fourth line is playing very well right now but they were able to run circles around the likes of Kris Newbury, Derick Dorsett, and Michael Haley... however Pittsburgh has the depth to match Boston's fourth line and it will not be as easy with the likes of Joe Vitale, Jussi Jokinen, Brenden Morrow, Matt Cooke, Craig Adams, Beau Bennett, and Tyler Kennedy taking shifts against them.

I just don't see any where in the lineup where Boston has a distinct advantage... Not at forward, maybe slightly at defense but not as great a difference as between Pittsburgh's forwards and Boston's D men, and not in goal where Tuukka been decent despite 5 games against arguably the worst offense in the playoffs in the NYR.

I see this playing out similar to the Ottawa series.... 4 goals/game will be needed by either team to win this series IMO and I'm just not sure Boston has the offense to score like that consistently as well as shut down Pittsburgh........

Pens in 5 or 6

http://blogs.citizensvoic...tta-physicality-more-528/

WBS perspective on the new players.

If Krug didn't score those four goals against the Rags, he would be the one coming out of the lineup. You had a guy that got shots through the Rags defense and on goal. That, he was very effective in doing versus the Rags. I wouldn't expect him to score four this series.
- Oneonta Penguin

It's not even so much the goal scoring with Krug, it's his overall confidence and poise when handling the puck. He knows when to attack and when to stay back. I certainly don't expect him to score 4 goals this series, but if he can move the puck effectively at even strength as well as PP situations, it will open up scoring avenues for other players.

It's very easy for fans of opposing teams to find faults in Pittsburgh's game to automatically assume their team has the advantage going into a 7 game series..... As an objective Pens fan as I consider myself, I will be the first to say that I was fearful of the Islanders because their speed didn't match up well with the Pens style of play. Ottawa fans flocked here after the first round saying how Ottawa was just as fast and exponentially more physical of a team than the Isles were.... meanwhile I felt it was a great matchup for us and predicted the Pens in 5 or 6.

Yes, Boston's fourth line is playing very well right now but they were able to run circles around the likes of Kris Newbury, Derick Dorsett, and Michael Haley... however Pittsburgh has the depth to match Boston's fourth line and it will not be as easy with the likes of Joe Vitale, Jussi Jokinen, Brenden Morrow, Matt Cooke, Craig Adams, Beau Bennett, and Tyler Kennedy taking shifts against them.

I just don't see any where in the lineup where Boston has a distinct advantage... Not at forward, maybe slightly at defense but not as great a difference as between Pittsburgh's forwards and Boston's D men, and not in goal where Tuukka been decent despite 5 games against arguably the worst offense in the playoffs in the NYR.

I see this playing out similar to the Ottawa series.... 4 goals/game will be needed by either team to win this series IMO and I'm just not sure Boston has the offense to score like that consistently as well as shut down Pittsburgh........

Pens in 5 or 6
- Yonk1216

Well said Yonk!

You're right Crosby is definitely faster and more agile than Chara, but Chara's ability to use his stick effectively will give Crosby fits IMO. For a guy his size he does a tremendous job of hiding his stick and where he is going to go with it. Crosby is going to need to take advantage of the transition game against Chara because once they get bottled down near the goal Chara will use his size and stick.

Once Ference is healthy I think Bartkowski comes out of the lineup. I can't see a scenario where Krug comes out. He has finally sparked some life into a rather atrocious powerplay. His speed and awareness of when to jump into the play will lead to more offense out of the Bruins.

I'm really itching to get this series going.
- fudd1689

It should start around the Fourth of July. I hope.

The long break gives my nerves a chance to settle down at least. lol

lol, i just think it's funny. i just want everyone to think bullfrog when he nets a goal in game 2!
- Killian

Those two should never be apart while on the ice.

You are obsessed with him looking like a frog
- cap1681

True. But unfortunately for Boston, they need to worry more about that Malkin guy and the Sid dude.

Also, another key matchup:

Sidney Crosby vs. a playoff beard vs Tyler Seguin vs a playoff beard

He's actually sort of growing one. But there's a large sorta-circular patch of his left cheek that's fighting hard to join the rest.
- jmatchett383

- Orpik44

you forgot...after "us" is supposed to be "ribbit"

LET'S GO PENS!!!

Orpik, I'm having a hard time understanding alot of what you're saying, please use more pictures.

Orpik, I'm having a hard time understanding alot of what you're saying, please use more pictures.
- canadianpenfan

You are finally getting to that point?

Orpik, I'm having a hard time understanding alot of what you're saying, please use more pictures.
- canadianpenfan

You know...every read is a lot more interesting with some pics to ilustrate it haha

So we'll have to wait until saturday to watch a hockey game? Why hold on for so long?...not good.

LET'S GO PENS!!!
- Killian

That's the spirit!!

You are finally getting to that point?





- Oneonta Penguin

Fixed.

You know...every read is a lot more interesting with some pics to ilustrate it haha

So we'll have to wait until saturday to watch a hockey game? Why hold on for so long?...not good.
- Orpik44

Yeah Orpik's posts are like porn...Nobody just wants to read the story...there's gotta be pics to go with it

Yeah Orpik's posts are like porn...Nobody just wants to read the story...there's gotta be pics to go with it
- Killian

hahaha

exactly!