Not even going to try to be a gracious winner after the embarrassment of the sport that that series was. Frack the Sens & frack your Bond villain coach & frack your captain's bad Captain Morgan cosplaying playoff look.

Sens only had 4 shots in two periods of OT last night. Pens just really now how to bring it when it REALLY matters. They're not worried about the outcome of game 1's haha.

Not even going to try to be a gracious winner after the embarrassment of the sport that that series was. Frack the Sens & frack your Bond villain coach & frack your captain's bad Captain Morgan cosplaying playoff look.
- ScienceJesus

You can (frank) just about anything you want on the Senators...but do not (frank) Karlsson. Dude was a treat to watch

My brother was in Rome and said he stumbled in a Pittsburgh bar.

- all-pgh

Thats amazing. Ill be there for a few days in July and might have to check it out!

After getting no sleep Wednesday, I didn't get to watch a single second last night, I was asleep by 8 PM.

Congrats guys. Well-deserved victory, especially dealing with all of the injuries and slumps from key players. Getting Schultz back was huge.

I know the numbers may not bear it out, but I think thatNashville will be tougher to beat than Washington. Washington may have better "possession" numbers, but Nashville probably has the best defense in the league, a goalie playing some of his best hockey ever, and very underrated forwards.

I think the series is coin flip, but I give Pittsburgh the edge due to experience. A healthy Letang changes that, but I still they they pull it off in 7 games.
- jmatchett383

If both teams were being matched evenly, as far as health and overall physical condition after the tolls taken of the previous playoff series added up, I'd easily take the Pens in this series, but with the hard path the Pens had to take to get here and the comparably easy path the Preds have taken, It's definitely a toss up now.

But going by the Caps/Preds regular season numbers, Washington by far was the better of the two teams defensively, not even close. In fact; the Pens and Preds had pretty much the same GA and were middle of the pack. Also, Rinne against Pitt was .895 and a 4.17 GA. Murray against Nashville was .949 and 2.00 GA

I know playoffs are different, but not enough to throw regular season numbers out the window completely. They are what they are and neither team magically became something new and different because of the playoffs. Also, the Pens seem to have problems with the Anderson type goalie and through this season's playoffs and last season's, tends to make most Vezina caliber goalies look anything but.

I guess we'll We'll see how Rinne stacks up as compared to to Anderson, Bob and Holtby. It's not like he's been put though the shooting gallery like those guys have, or has seen the same level of skill putting pucks on his net as he will with the Penguins. The Pens were able to navigate a better Capitals defense an obnoxiously trapping Sens defense, and underrated but skilled Blue Jackets defense with Jones and Werenski.

I guess what I'm saying is: We'll see.

You can (frank) just about anything you want on the Senators...but do not (frank) Karlsson. Dude was a treat to watch
- YuenglingJagr

A great player to watch play but his Captain Morgan cosplay look made me mostly just want him to get hit in the face.

You can (frank) just about anything you want on the Senators...but do not (frank) Karlsson. Dude was a treat to watch
- YuenglingJagr

He really is. He's a top 3 in the world IMO.

He really is. He's a top 3 in the world IMO.
- MattStrat

Sid, McDavid, Karlsson in no particular order.

If both teams were being matched evenly, as far as health and overall physical condition after the tolls taken of the previous playoff series added up, I'd easily take the Pens in this series, but with the hard path the Pens had to take to get here and the comparably easy path the Preds have taken, It's definitely a toss up now.

But going by the Caps/Preds regular season numbers, Washington by far was the better of the two teams defensively, not even close. In fact; the Pens and Preds had pretty much the same GA and were middle of the pack. Also, Rinne against Pitt was .895 and a 4.17 GA. Murray against Nashville was .949 and 2.00 GA

I know playoffs are different, but not enough to throw regular season numbers out the window completely. They are what they are and neither team magically became something new and different because of the playoffs. Also, the Pens seem to have problems with the Anderson type goalie and through this season's playoffs and last season's, tends to make most Vezina caliber goalies look anything but.

I guess we'll We'll see how Rinne stacks up as compared to to Anderson, Bob and Holtby. It's not like he's been put though the shooting gallery like those guys have, or has seen the same level of skill putting pucks on his net as he will with the Penguins. The Pens were able to navigate a better Capitals defense an obnoxiously trapping Sens defense, and underrated but skilled Blue Jackets defense with Jones and Werenski.

I guess what I'm saying is: We'll see.
- NJPensfan

I think Nashville has had a tough playoff schedule. Blackhawks were not a bad team. Yes they've aged but still a tough out. Same with Blues and Anaheim. I don't think they've played anyone at the Capitals level. I also think Ottawa is a weak team, but had a hot goalie. The last few games of the Ottawa series we really tilted the ice. And in the 3rd period and two overtimes we really dominated Ottawa. I think our paths to the finals were about even. Their Quality of competition was high for all three rounds. We had the toughest and weakest opponent.

Nashville is going to be a tough opponent. Pretty much on par with Washington. They do have a huge weakness at center, though fisher is expected to play game 1. Always though the capitals had a bunch of #2 dman and great depth on defense with a really strong forward crew. Nashville has 4 guys who are #1 or #2 dmen with a weakness at center and not the same winger depth of Washington or Pittsburgh. Most of the time I'd take holtby over renne, but seems like Renne is playing better right now.

This series feels like a pick-em.

Sid, McDavid, Karlsson in no particular order.
- j.boyd919

Haha that would be my order.

Sid, McDavid, Karlsson in no particular order.
- j.boyd919

Agree with that. Karlsson really proved to me he's the games best defenseman this series.

Karlsson is a free agent in 2 years. He's already signed one big contract so he doesn't need to sign before free agency for financial security (injury risks). Could you imagine talking him into joining our aging core. We should still have 3 legit contender years left even without him at that point. Depending where the cap is at he could get 10-12 on the open market; would be pretty amazing if we could talk him into taking an undermarket deal to form an insane core. (by undermarket I mean something like 8/year).

Agree with that. Karlsson really proved to me he's the games best defenseman this series.

Karlsson is a free agent in 2 years. He's already signed one big contract so he doesn't need to sign before free agency for financial security (injury risks). Could you imagine talking him into joining our aging core. We should still have 3 legit contender years left even without him at that point. Depending where the cap is at he could get 10-12 on the open market; would be pretty amazing if we could talk him into taking an undermarket deal to form an insane core. (by undermarket I mean something like 8/year).
- sditulli

Dream on. He's probably a Sen for life.

Another free DK article today. Enjoy.

https://www.dkpittsburghs...wn-greater-toughness-one/

Dream on. He's probably a Sen for life.
- MattStrat

Why do you say that? They have a cheap owner. If Karlsson wants money he will get more in free agency. If he wants to win they want be the best choice. I couldn't name one reason for him to resign in Ottawa unless he just wants his deal locked in before free agency.

I don't even want to imagine the money he would get UFA. First $100 million contract? 12 years 110 million could be possible on Karlsson. Will be 28 when contract starts so someone might be willing to go that long.

Another free DK article today. Enjoy.

https://www.dkpittsburghs...wn-greater-toughness-one/
- NJPensfan

Article says we had possession for 65%? That seems high. But also Ottawa was +6 in power plays. Those two stats don't make any sense.

Das cool though. I'd probably appreciate traveling around Europe with my chick way more anyways, if it's something serious at least.
- j.boyd919

Yeah for sure. It is serious and I'm way better at that than being single. Also I have next to zero game. In a friend zone magnet because I'm a fun time to drink with (generally) but after I start boozing, I don't really care too much about anything else besides the next drink and flirting goes completely out the window. With the language bareee due to my broken Italian I would have had a major cold streak this year

Thats amazing. Ill be there for a few days in July and might have to check it out!
- MacPatty

Just Rome or Italy in general? Depending where you are I can give you some recommendations with varying degrees of authority.

Article says we had possession for 65%? That seems high. But also Ottawa was +6 in power plays. Those two stats don't make any sense.
- sditulli

The 65% actually seems correct but the "Plus-6" I think was a typo. Probably was intended to say -6.

The 65% actually seems correct but the "Plus-6" I think was a typo. Probably was intended to say -6.
- NJPensfan

No, it means ott was actually plus 6 on the PP. 6 more than the Pens. It was a statement of how even though the Pens had 2/3 of the possession, they somehow ended up on the short end of powerplays in the series. Whether or not that's accurate, I'm not sure. Could have sworn last night that they said on the broadcast (before the 1st Pens penalty) that penalties were even. And last night Ottawa was Plus 1 on the PP opportunities.

Just Rome or Italy in general? Depending where you are I can give you some recommendations with varying degrees of authority.
- Victoro311

I'm all over the place through Greece and Italy and would love any suggestions you have. I have a pretty good plan but there are always cool places you can only hear about from people who have been there.

3 days Greece mainland.
3 days Santorini.
3 days Amalfi Coast
3 days Florence
3 days Greve in Chianti
3 days Rome

Why do you say that? They have a cheap owner. If Karlsson wants money he will get more in free agency. If he wants to win they want be the best choice. I couldn't name one reason for him to resign in Ottawa unless he just wants his deal locked in before free agency.

I don't even want to imagine the money he would get UFA. First $100 million contract? 12 years 110 million could be possible on Karlsson. Will be 28 when contract starts so someone might be willing to go that long.
- sditulli

If for no other reason, he can get that 8th year on his contract if he stays in Ottawa. He can only get 7 as a UFA. So as long as Ottawa will pay him market value year-by-year (which I think even Melnyk would do, for EK particularly), I think he stays a Senator. Melnyk may be cheap, but he's also not stupid. Letting EK walk over a few million dollars per year is stupid.