You really think Orpik's absence tilts the series that much ?
- MadCap2008

Orlov has to be the guy coming back, right? I believe I read he played all 82 games during the regular season. Reading Weber's lack of foot speed is a concern. Think caps will go with a 3rd pairing or Chorning and Orlov? Or do they spread them out and try to get Carlson or Nisk to try to elevate their games?

Game day! Let's go boys!!

Just for my own piece of mind, but IIRC didn't everyone on this board agree that Letang deserved some type of punishment for that slash. And second, wasn't everyone expecting a much smaller suspension to Orpik, if he got one at all.

Just for my own piece of mind, but IIRC didn't everyone on this board agree that Letang deserved some type of punishment for that slash. And second, wasn't everyone expecting a much smaller suspension to Orpik, if he got one at all.
- Thunderbolt

Did Tanger slash someone??? He wouldn't do anything like that!!

I'm actually shocked & stunned Orpik got suspended. I'm also pretty surprised he did what he did to be completely honest! It was the cheapest of cheap shots but just so stupid!!! And, Maatta hasn't been playing that well, it might all go back to when that rumour surfaced about him not liking the young D getting time in the bigs when he was back with the Pens?? Thought he would 'teach' the young buck who is/was still the boss - (frank)ing terd!

Well let's see? The biggest one is you. And why do you talk about everything but letang being a dirty little punk female dog. All you bring up are things that happened years ago over and over again instead of just admitting letang is a punk. But that's cool you just keep defending him and crybaby and lurch it's really amusing. Go get a few more fosters you hypocrite.
- Bobd62

I love it when Letang gets away with hurting players esp rangers. I also love it when other teams get penalized for actions against us. Thats kind of part of being a fan of a team.

Well let's see? The biggest one is you. And why do you talk about everything but letang being a dirty little punk female dog. All you bring up are things that happened years ago over and over again instead of just admitting letang is a punk. But that's cool you just keep defending him and crybaby and lurch it's really amusing. Go get a few more fosters you hypocrite.
- Bobd62

Just dug this little gem up!

http://youtu.be/GYD2A4pvq-4

Orpik is such a weasel. Cheap shot on Maata and sucker punch on Letang, yet if ANYONE were to challenge him to a fight he would turtle. And Barry Trotz... speaking of weasels.... claiming Orpik isnt a dirty player... every single Pens fan and player knows he is and always has been.

Glad Orpik got 3 games but losing Maata is much worse. Yes, Maata wasnt playing his best but being out of the lineup with a concussion wont help him get back to game speed.

On a more positive note, Kris Letang is showing what I have said for a long time.... he is the best D man in the NHL. Doughty, Karlsson and Weber are great but Letang is showing that he is just on another level.

He has been the Pens best player so far in the playoffs and if they are going to make a cup run it will be because of him.

Also Sid is being matched with one of the best lines in hockey and is trying to hold them off the scoresheet. For a player that's use to scoring a ton of points to do that speaks volumes about this team. He's going to have to score points on the power play. Collectively ov line more talented then 87's

Orpik gets 3 games and that pos letang is still playing. Nice job by the nhl once again. You can't make this poop up.
- Bobd62

Your tears taste wonderful after Staal repeatedly smacked Crosby in the neck and head two years ago and got nothing. Take your whining somewhere else.

3 playoff games is steep IMO. I could see a fine, maybe 1. Worse things have happened that have gone without repercustions...maybe the conspiracy theory is true that the league wants the Pens to crush it so they can boost their value when they're sold.
- sammy87

Seriously? Where is that picture of the donkey? Its needed.

Also Sid is being matched with one of the best lines in hockey and is trying to hold them off the scoresheet. For a player that's used to scoring a ton of points to do that speaks volumes about this team. He's going to have to score points on the power play. Collectively ov line more talented then 87's
- dbell646

I don't think you will see those two lines matched up as much the next two games, as the Pens get the last change. That doesn't mean it wont happen, but I think if the Pens top line, can stay even with the Caps top line, then its advantage Pens. I think the MKF line and the HKB line is better than what the Caps 2nd and 3rd lines are bringing right now. If the Pens can get the 4th line scoring it got in the Rags series, this thing will be over fast. Holtby is played out of his mind last game, I think the Pens are going to need to get more than 2 past him tonight to win.

Well let's see? The biggest one is you. And why do you talk about everything but letang being a dirty little punk female dog. All you bring up are things that happened years ago over and over again instead of just admitting letang is a punk. But that's cool you just keep defending him and crybaby and lurch it's really amusing. Go get a few more fosters you hypocrite.
- Bobd62

Actually, if you go back and read the forums, I think most of us were surprised Letang didnt get a suspension and thought he deserved one. Unlike most of the douchebag Rangers fans who were proud of Staal repeatedly hitting Crosby in the head.

Should we have written to the team and insisted they bench him a few games as punishment since the league failed? Because you know, teams are always responsible for disciplining their players when the league doesnt. Case in point...nobody EVER.

So you want to talk hypocrites when you guys have Staal on your team? Go back to your own forum and QQ over there where somebody may give two poops.

Seriously? Where is that picture of the donkey? Its needed.
- thickman1178

Dude isn't even a Pens fan...Pens could win the cup in 4, and he would complain that they allowed too many goals....just how he is.

I don't think you will see those two lines matched up as much the next two games, as the Pens get the last change. That doesn't mean it wont happen, but I think if the Pens top line, can stay even with the Caps top line, then its advantage Pens. I think the MKF line and the HKB line is better than what the Caps 2nd and 3rd lines are bringing right now. If the Pens can get the 4th line scoring it got in the Rags series, this thing will be over fast. Holtby is played out of his mind last game, I think the Pens are going to need to get more than 2 past him tonight to win.
- Thorny

Yea it's going to be interesting to see what sully does with the last change. I'd imagine he gets Sid away from that line but you never know. Sully might be thinking hey go play them even and we will win this series.

On a more positive note, Kris Letang is showing what I have said for a long time.... he is the best D man in the NHL. Doughty, Karlsson and Weber are great but Letang is showing that he is just on another level.

He has been the Pens best player so far in the playoffs and if they are going to make a cup run it will be because of him.
- MacPatty

Gotta disagree with you. Karlsson had a much better season than Letang did on a non-playoff team. Tanger should have got the nod over Doughty, but this year the winner should be Karlsson in a landslide.

Can't believe no one has commented on it but I'm still spinning in circles trying to figure out how that was called tripping on letang when he got the penalty that led to the tieing ppg. It looked like a great clean physical defensive play. I didn't see any foot or stick action on the legs. That call got me much more worked up and angry than the orpik or Wilson hit. Then when they score on the ensuing power play I was online looking for a phone number to the nhl officiating management lol.

Dude isn't even a Pens fan...Pens could win the cup in 4, and he would complain that they allowed too many goals....just how he is.
- Thorny

Yeah, Im beginning to think hes actually a fan of another team with an alt account that comes here just to troll. That or he's losing his mind. I get talking trades and hating certain players but conspiracy theories about your own team?

Can't believe no one has commented on it but I'm still spinning in circles trying to figure out how that was called tripping on letang when he got the penalty that led to the tieing ppg. It looked like a great clean physical defensive play. I didn't see any foot or stick action on the legs. That call got me much more worked up and angry than the orpik or Wilson hit. Then when they score on the ensuing power play I was online looking for a phone number to the nhl officiating management lol.
- bochangs

I'm still flabbergasted as that one, but it's the NHL's old "officiate the score, not the game" philosophy in full-effect.

Can't believe no one has commented on it but I'm still spinning in circles trying to figure out how that was called tripping on letang when he got the penalty that led to the tieing ppg. It looked like a great clean physical defensive play. I didn't see any foot or stick action on the legs. That call got me much more worked up and angry than the orpik or Wilson hit. Then when they score on the ensuing power play I was online looking for a phone number to the nhl officiating management lol.
- bochangs

Everyone knew the Caps were getting the next PP, if the Pens player even looked at a Caps player wrong it was coming. That is one of the many problems with NHL refs, they try and "even" things out...when in reality, the Caps deserved every single one of those penalties called against them an a few more. It was one of the things I really despise about NHL officials, anyone who follows hockey usually knows when a penalty is coming. It was a poop call, the ref knew it was a poop call...but he was going to call it anyways because the Pens had like 5 PP in a row.

Yea it's going to be interesting to see what sully does with the last change. I'd imagine he gets Sid away from that line but you never know. Sully might be thinking hey go play them even and we will win this series.
- dbell646

HCMJ would do that with the Sid line a lot, and I can understand the concept, but sometimes you need to give Sid the advantage in matchups too. I think if its a one goal game in the 3rd and the Pens are trying to protect the lead, then yeah, I have no issues with running Sids line out there each time against Ovie. The more you make them play defense, the less of a chance of them scoring.

Yea it's going to be interesting to see what sully does with the last change. I'd imagine he gets Sid away from that line but you never know. Sully might be thinking hey go play them even and we will win this series.
- dbell646

what would you do? Change something that was working or keep the status quo & accept Sid may not score but he will help the other lines score? Or change his line to 'weaker' opposition & hope the points arrive???

what would you do? Change something that was working or keep the status quo & accept Sid may not score but he will help the other lines score? Or change his line to 'weaker' opposition & hope the points arrive???
- Aussiepenguin

I think the score and the flow of the game plays into that. If the Pens are winning, I think you will see Sid matched against Ovie more..if the Pens are down, I think he will try and get away from it. If the Pens are having a rough go offensively and need a pick me up, I think he will get away from the matchup. I do believe if Sid and Ovie cancel each other out, Pens have a much better chance at winning the series than the Caps.

Hypothetically if we use last change to get Crosby away from the Ovechkin/Backstrom unit, who do we send out against them to shut them down. Ovechkin has been invisible all series and I want to keep it that way. If Ovi heats up this is a completely different series. I certainly wouldn't throw out the Malkin or Kessel units. Malkin's been pretty prone to turnovers lately and an untimely turnover to Ovi could mean the game. The Kessel unit is at its best when it's harassing lesser competition and overwhelming them with a lethal forecheck. Is Kuhnhackl-Cullen-Rust talented enough to keep Ovechkin in check?

We don't have Jordan Staal anymore. Crosby IS our shut down center right now. I'd keep matching him up against Ovechkin/Backstrom.