Most pundits are picking SJ, but most people are underrating the Pens IMO. I don't know if they think they are better, or more hoping Jumbo and Marleau go out and win at least one Cup.

The only thing I question is your thought on defense. I would take SJ's defensive pairs over our's. We have an edge on the third pair, but not in the first two.
- Oneonta Penguin

I just don't think the sharks def is better. But pens def is not better either

The thing is, using playoff stats of the teams they played is problematic because all, 1/2 or 1/3 of those stats are from the teams we are talking about. Of course the Sharks haven't played one of the top playoff defenses, because they have been destroying them. But those teams were among the tops of the large 82 game sample size that comes against a multitude of teams.

We can talk about the stats of the Sharks and the Pens over the playoffs because that is reflective of how they have played.

They have played all those types of teams, but they haven't played the Sharks, who are a combined version of all those teams, except they have to survive the better conference as well.
- IntotheTeal

The Predators gave up 18 goals in 7 games in round one.

The Blues gave up 20 goals in their series against the Blackhawks.

Neither team was putting on a defensive clinic before the Sharks played them.

You would think that a team "destroying" their opponents wouldn't have gone 7 and 6 games with their two previous opponents.

And an 82 game sample size is also misleading, like the majority of all stats. The Penguins are certainly not the same team now that they were in November.

Stats don't matter. The bottom line is how the matchups play out and who shows up, and the Penguins have consistently shown up throughout the playoffs, and they're a bear match up against.

http://youtu.be/GvozGpMu_p8

Let's be bad guys.
- Emperor Filonius

(frank) yes! The greatest show that never was! Joss is king!

I just don't think the sharks def is better. But pens def is not better either
- martox

I will take SJ's top two D pairings over our's. Their third is bad. That is where we have an advantage. Team defense, as in the forwards or are you talking blue liners?

Side note, 17 of 21 NHL pundits from NHL.com have chosen the Sharks. I scoff at the people who thinks SJ is being disrespected. Sounds like its the other way around and that is fine with me, considering everyone chose against us against Washington and a lot of people thought TB would beat us, so ...

Is it safe to say the Sharks goalie is the most average the Pens have faced? Because up till now we have played against some serious talent, Lundqvist, Holtby and Vaseleski.

I will take SJ's top two D pairings over our's. Their third is bad. That is where we have an advantage. Team defense, as in the forwards or are you talking blue liners?

Side note, 17 of 21 NHL pundits from NHL.com have chosen the Sharks. I scoff at the people who thinks SJ is being disrespected. Sounds like its the other way around and that is fine with me, considering everyone chose against us against Washington and a lot of people thought TB would beat us, so ...
- Oneonta Penguin

Some lackwit on NHL Unfiltered (Sirius) said that the Sharks would win in 5 because the Penguins have failed to show up consistently in the playoffs. Only two games that even come close to qualifying as not showing up were game 5 against the Capitals and game 5 against the Lightning, though of course ended up a tight 4-3 game in the third.

Never mind the 4-1 and 6-3 drubbings the Sharks have endured.

Is it safe to say the Sharks goalie is the most average the Pens have faced? Because up till now we have played against some serious talent, Lundqvist, Holtby and Vaseleski.
- powerhouse

Jones has played well. He's unlikely to forestall an onslaught the likes of which Holtby or Vasilevskiy faced.

Jones has played well. He's unlikely to forestall an onslaught the likes of which Holtby or Vasilevskiy faced.
- hardnosed

Sharks will only allow one of those when the Pens are on the brink. Otherwise there will be no onslaughts allowed.

This series is literally a coin flip

Jones has played well. He's unlikely to forestall an onslaught the likes of which Holtby or Vasilevskiy faced.
- hardnosed

I know, right? So is that going to change things? I think if we generate a lot of shots we will find he may be a weak link. Call me crazy.

Sharks will only allow one of those when the Pens are on the brink. Otherwise there will be no onslaughts allowed.
- IntotheTeal

Hopefully your team shares your delusions of grandeur.



Rangers, Capitals, and Lighting fans said that before those series started, too, that the Penguins wouldn't dominate puck possession and their goalie wouldn't be marooned inside a shooting gallery.

Penguins average 7 more shots a game than the Sharks during these playoffs. I would expect that to continue.

Sharks will only allow one of those when the Pens are on the brink. Otherwise there will be no onslaughts allowed.
- IntotheTeal

I really don't like people like you who overestimate your own team and vastly underestimate the opponent. This series will be really hard for both teams. If you are thinking anything else you are kidding yourself.
Pens in 6 or 7

I know, right? So is that going to change things? I think if we generate a lot of shots we will find he may be a weak link. Call me crazy.
- powerhouse

He, like the Sharks, has no idea what's coming.

Sharks will only allow one of those when the Pens are on the brink. Otherwise there will be no onslaughts allowed.
- IntotheTeal

Whatever you say champ. Awfully confident. I'm not sure you think the Pens have much ability to do anything based on your posts.

I really don't like people like you who overestimate your own team and vastly underestimate the opponent. This series will be really hard for both teams. If you are thinking anything else you are kidding yourself.
Pens in 6 or 7
- martox

But he's read the chicken entrails at Delphi and is just sure that a mighty kingdom will fall, like Croesus.

Hopefully your team shares your delusions of grandeur.



Rangers, Capitals, and Lighting fans said that before those series started, too, that the Penguins wouldn't dominate puck possession and their goalie wouldn't be marooned inside a shooting gallery.

Penguins average 7 more shots a game than the Sharks during these playoffs. I would expect that to continue.
- hardnosed

Did you not see the first stat the blogger included? Sharks are a top 5 possession team, the 3 teams they have dominated were also top 5, the team they will play, is the other. Seems like you don't know what the Pens are getting into.

The Pens are probably the team I would fear to play the most in the East, but the West is just the better conference, and has been for 20 years.

Like the Sharks are going to have to work hard, as they did in the other 3 series. It's not a gimme, and I think it will go to 6. I just think the Sharks are the better overall team and have an edge in many of the key matchups.

I wouldn't say I'm overconfident, but I am confident based on what I have seen.

But he's read the chicken entrails at Delphi and is just sure that a mighty kingdom will fall, like Croesus.
- hardnosed

It seems the media and Shark fans believe the Sharks defense will stifle the Pens offense on all four lines. It seems we may have heard that somewhere before? I feel pretty confident that is unlikely.

I get the sense that everyone in the country is rooting for the sharks.
- pensfan024

Sharks might be the team I'd be the least upset losing too, out of every team that made the postseason. Thorton and Marleau have put in their dues and then some, and then SOME MORE.

Rangers... only for Lunqvist, would be another who deserves a damn cup for years of excellence.


Oh... and of course, I think nearly all of us still like Paul Martin here.


edit: Guess that is a good bit misleading in my intentions. Players who overall, have been a class act, get my good graces. Lundqvist has had some tantrums this season, but the team this year failed him. Ovechkin for example, is an utter waste of life for what he does off the ice to the people of that city and his tremendous disrespect for handicap people. He will never deserve a Cup in my mind.

Did you not see the first stat the blogger included? Sharks are a top 5 possession team, the 3 teams they have dominated were also top 5, the team they will play, is the other. Seems like you don't know what the Pens are getting into.

The Pens are probably the team I would fear to play the most in the East, but the West is just the better conference, and has been for 20 years.

Like the Sharks are going to have to work hard, as they did in the other 3 series. It's not a gimme, and I think it will go to 6. I just think the Sharks are the better overall team and have an edge in many of the key matchups.

I wouldn't say I'm overconfident, but I am confident based on what I have seen.
- IntotheTeal

Your previous posts reek of over confident and cockiness.

Fact is no one knows how this will all unfold. I'm not overlooking or downplaying the Sharks, they're a great team. You'd be wise to do to the same of the Pens.

When the Pens absolutely need to win they're extremely hard to beat. Extremely.

I wonder the amount of pressure Jumbo Joe and Co must feel to win this given their age and how they've never made it this far before.

This series is literally a coin flip
- rangerdanger94

Every series is undecided until they play the games.

One thing that I haven't heard mention is how good both of these teams are on the road. San Jose's road record is phenomenal and that is quite an accomplishment considering the travel they have to endure. The Pens are going to have to steal a game at home to win this series. Seriously though that is quite a feat.

Did you not see the first stat the blogger included? Sharks are a top 5 possession team, the 3 teams they have dominated were also top 5, the team they will play, is the other. Seems like you don't know what the Pens are getting into.

The Pens are probably the team I would fear to play the most in the East, but the West is just the better conference, and has been for 20 years.

Like the Sharks are going to have to work hard, as they did in the other 3 series. It's not a gimme, and I think it will go to 6. I just think the Sharks are the better overall team and have an edge in many of the key matchups.

I wouldn't say I'm overconfident, but I am confident based on what I have seen.
- IntotheTeal

I honestly could care less about possession. The Lightning got dominated in terms of possession numbers and yet they had a 3-2 series lead. I care about the relentless, suffocating top to bottom speed of the Penguins, something unmatched by any other current NHL team. And I give the Sharks respect - you're giving the Penguins none.

And the Penguins don't have to play the other conference, and they don't have to play the Red Wings or Avalanche from a decade and a half ago. They only have to play the Sharks and Chokin' Joe Thornton.

Malkin will be a beast in this series
- holeinone

They say that every game.

Some lackwit on NHL Unfiltered (Sirius) said that the Sharks would win in 5 because the Penguins have failed to show up consistently in the playoffs. Only two games that even come close to qualifying as not showing up were game 5 against the Capitals and game 5 against the Lightning, though of course ended up a tight 4-3 game in the third.

Never mind the 4-1 and 6-3 drubbings the Sharks have endured.
- hardnosed

Sports writers are constantly trying to justify their existence.

If the clock strikes midnight on Murray...it could be a short series.

Teams are pretty even, it should be a great series. Thornton and Marleau are going to be balls to the wall.