And a healthy Detroit to finish the best of 3
- ryman1566

I don't fear Detroit like I used to. They are definitely formidable still though. I am still amazed we beat them in 2009.

I think St. Louis and Nashville would be great matchups.
- Gunner Staal

Not sold on Nashville, but St Louis would be my choice to best represent the West (followed by Vancouver, assuming health for Sedin, etc). Pitt-St Louis game in St Louis was, from what I saw of it, one of the most entertaining games of the season.

Not sold on Nashville, but St Louis would be my choice to best represent the West (followed by Vancouver, assuming health for Sedin, etc). Pitt-St Louis game in St Louis was, from what I saw of it, one of the most entertaining games of the season.
- MadCap2008

To piggy back off of our last blog, without MAF, the Pens don't come close to winning that game. He was outstanding that night.

Not sold on Nashville, but St Louis would be my choice to best represent the West (followed by Vancouver, assuming health for Sedin, etc). Pitt-St Louis game in St Louis was, from what I saw of it, one of the most entertaining games of the season.
- MadCap2008

Beginning of the season my brothers and I picked the teams we thought would be in the final. I picked St. Louis v Pittsburgh (obviously). If the blues can make it that would make my wallet very happy!!

1. Should the Pens stick with the Cooke-Crosby-Kennedy line? If not, what would you change?

I'd replace Cooke with Dupuis, since he and Sid always seem to have such nice chemistry. Cookie gets reunited with Staal with Sullivan on the wing for a very effective 3rd unit.

2. Who is the most irreplaceable player on the Penguins and why?

Fleury. They can survive losing one of the star skaters, but the dropoff on goal after MAF is staggering.

3. Are you confident having Brent Johnson and Brad Thiessen as the backup goalies? Who would you dress in the playoffs if both are healthy?

Johnson yes, Thiessen, no. Thiessen looks overmatched and wide eyed, even in the games he's won. He either isn't ready for the NHL or maybe just has enough competency to be a good AHL goalie and nothing more. Hopefully, we won't have to see him again until camp.

4. We talked about this Monday, but who are your three Vezina Finalists and winner? Can Marc-Andre Fleury win it if the Pens finish ahead of the Rangers for first place in the East?

Finalists: Henrik, MAF, Rinne. I hate to admit it, but Henrik probably deserves to win it, even if the Pens pass the blueshirts, unless hetotally collapses down the stretch.

5. Who will the Pens play in the first round of the playoffs? Which team presents the toughest matchup?

Buffalo. Toughest 1st round opponent would be the Caps, since OV finally seems to have decided to start playing. All this assumes they finish 1st. Obviously the Flyers are a tough opponent if they finish 4th.

Beginning of the season my brothers and I picked the teams we thought would be in the final. I picked St. Louis v Pittsburgh (obviously). If the blues can make it that would make my wallet very happy!!
- kgrpitt

All this finals talk is making mer nervous... its a long road... lets focus on them islanders tonight! 1 game at a time hahaha

All this finals talk is making mer nervous... its a long road... lets focus on them islanders tonight! 1 game at a time hahaha
- DaBurgh

Very true. Anything can happen as we have seen in the past. I am just getting excited for playoff hockey to start. I have watched a few games recently that have had playoff style hockey being played which gets be pumped up for the first round.

I think St. Louis and Nashville would be great matchups.
- Gunner Staal

St Louis and the Hitchcock inspired trap make me nervous.

Very true. Anything can happen as we have seen in the past. I am just getting excited for playoff hockey to start. I have watched a few games recently that have had playoff style hockey being played which gets be pumped up for the first round.
- kgrpitt

oh yeah, i will for sure be watching the caps v sabres tonight as far as playoff style hockey is concerned.... thats some fast paced hockey... im gonna say miller steals one... hes been on lately..

Ray Shero is going to be on Marek vs Wyshynski today (show is at 2PM).


http://sports.yahoo.com/b...erfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Ray Shero is going to be on Marek vs Wyshynski today (show is at 2PM).


http://sports.yahoo.com/b...erfeed&utm_medium=twitter
- rival22

Thanks. Good interview.

I'm gonna go 5-2 tonight Pens victory. Crosby, Cooke, Geno, Engelland, Staal

Stat that might only interest me

Carolina is 0 and 6 in shootouts, the only team not to win one this year so far.

Reading eks blog got me thinking. My second team is Minny and I was trying to figure out if they should blow it up or try to rebuild with a few key off season signing. They have 8 million in space this year and 18 next but they will have 13 guys to resign or fill their spots. They obviously have heatleys contract but other then that they don't have much in the way of bad contracts. I think they get a few key dmen and a healthy Backstrom and they are a playoff team.

Anyways back on track. We need to play at our level and not allow the Isle to bring us down. We jump on them early and don't allow them to to stay in the game as we did with the flyers last weekend. LGP!

i saw tangradi is playing on the 4th line tonight. is jeffery or park injured or something?

i saw tangradi is playing on the 4th line tonight. is jeffery or park injured or something?
- drummer829

Park hasn't played in a while... Thought he might get in with Vitale being out recently, but he hasn't.

Dustin Jeffrey has a season long case of the invisibles. Not sure if it's still the knee injury, or the missing the offseason/training camp because of it, but he has brought next to nothing to the lineup when he has been in.

Last game of the year is Philly....

What the F is with these damn 5 am (arvo) starts.... F'ing hate em....

On top of that the Pens are not great in arvo games anyway.

Park hasn't played in a while... Thought he might get in with Vitale being out recently, but he hasn't.

Dustin Jeffrey has a season long case of the invisibles. Not sure if it's still the knee injury, or the missing the offseason/training camp because of it, but he has brought next to nothing to the lineup when he has been in.
- rival22

Remember the season Malkin had after his surgery and Staal too, they didnt look quite the same.

This season with a full pre-season done fully the two of them look great.

Jeffery, obviously short of that pairs skill level would need next year to try and get to his potential. You see it there occasionally but very few flashed.

Plus the ACL he got was his third.....

Park hasn't played in a while... Thought he might get in with Vitale being out recently, but he hasn't.

Dustin Jeffrey has a season long case of the invisibles. Not sure if it's still the knee injury, or the missing the offseason/training camp because of it, but he has brought next to nothing to the lineup when he has been in.
- rival22

Not to be that guy but I believe Park played Sunday and Nashville. I didn't see the Ottawa game so I'm not sure about that one. Not that it matters because he only gets 5-8 minutes per game. ha

Jeffrey may take a half of a year or year to get back to where he was. Those knee injuries seem to be rough on player (ie: Malkin). Walshy beat me to it.

Last game of the year is Philly....

What the F is with these damn 5 am (arvo) starts.... F'ing hate em....

On top of that the Pens are not great in arvo games anyway.
- walshy66

Yeah. . . those 5 am games are brutal for me as well. . . .

I think we have played on every damn weekend since Christmas.

Not to be that guy but I believe Park played Sunday and Nashville. I didn't see the Ottawa game so I'm not sure about that one. Not that it matters because he only gets 5-8 minutes per game. ha

Jeffrey may take a half of a year or year to get back to where he was. Those knee injuries seem to be rough on player (ie: Malkin). Walshy beat me to it.
- kgrpitt

yeah sorry I have a gap before I train a client so though I would put my 2 cents in

Yeah. . . those 5 am games are brutal for me as well. . . .

I think we have played on every damn weekend since Christmas.
- kgrpitt

and it is on a Sunday for me too, so not like I can sleep in the next day.

I know the Pens rate well, but for christ sake, think of the players and the quality they put on the ice, yes I know I am being picky

Bryz with a fractured foot!

Bryz with a fractured foot!
- kgrpitt

I'd rather him just go back to playing like he was earlier in the year. A lot more entertaining.

ugh... I guess I'm not watching the game on TV tonight. Once again, MSG listings are wrong.