John Toperzer: Penguins Notes: Vokoun or Fleury? Pens do well to avoid Game 7 against Isles

Fleury he will be the one to lead us to the Cup. Vokoun provided exactly what this team needed in the 1st round. Fleury is the starter.

"If you enjoying reading newspapers from the city the Penguins play against, I suggest following the Ottawa Citizen for news information and the Ottawa Sun for well, tons and tons of vacuous nothingness."

This couldn't be any more true. Good lord the Ottawa Sun is a rag, yet people seem to think they are the voice of our city, and tend to jump all over fans as a result of their ridiculous coverage which is clearly meant to invoke emotions. It's kind of like saying The National Enquirer is the voice of the United States.

Very much looking forward to the challenge though, can't wait for the puck to drop- any ideas as to when this series might start? We looking at Wednesday?

John Toperzer: Penguins Notes: Vokoun or Fleury?
Pens do well to avoid Game 7 against Isles
- the-mitch-wilsons

By the way, if you're looking for Ottawa's coverage of the series, best bet online is to check here- http://www.sensextra.com - which is powered by the Ottawa Citizen.

Should be a great series..... GO SENS GO.......

What's up with Jokinen? I have him in the pool...

The fact that Vokoun is so much older than Fleury and just wants to be part of a winning team makes it easier for coach Bylsma to go back to the Flower without risk of offending the goalie that got him to Round 2.

If you are playing in the NHL and you get offended because of a coaches decision, especially as a goalie, you are probably in the wrong league. That said many goalies are strange birds (speaking from experience as one myself).

I think Vokoun gets the nod and the win. Probably only because I want to see him win a cup before Fleury gets at least 3 more with the team he has going forward. This might be Vokoun's last chance.

What's up with Jokinen? I have him in the pool...
- themaynia

Bad matchup with the Islanders speed

John Toperzer: Penguins Notes: Vokoun or Fleury?
Pens do well to avoid Game 7 against Isles
- the-mitch-wilsons

Fleury. I picked him on my pool.

Pittsburgh can play physical hockey. Ottawa has been built as a playoff team with an emphasis on size. Ottawa is a huge team, with a sprinkle of speed burners added in. They love to play the body,

Don't make the mistake of believing the Senators are a low scoring team. They were a top scoring team last year, they started out strong but struggled with scoring when Karlsson went down early this season.

Since Karlsson is back the Senators record is 7-1 and they are scoring 3.50 goals a game. This team has a lot going for it right now.

Fleury he will be the one to lead us to the Cup. Vokoun provided exactly what this team needed in the 1st round. Fleury is the starter.
- nbartley9

That's a good message to send to the rest of the team: Hard work and excellent play is rewarded by sitting on the bench.

By the way, if you're looking for Ottawa's coverage of the series, best bet online is to check here- http://www.sensextra.com - which is powered by the Ottawa Citizen.
- Jordo

Thanks! I'm almost out of my allotted Ottawa Sun page views.

Bad matchup with the Islanders speed
- Gunner Staal

So a healthy scratch? Who is replacing him in the lineup?

play the guy who's winning....simple.

That's a good message to send to the rest of the team: Hard work and excellent play is rewarded by sitting on the bench.
- jmatchett383

My thoughts exactly.

Vokoun advanced us to the second round with his play. This is "hot goalie" time. You ride Vokoun. A change now is foolish. Getting down to the Islanders in a game is one thing, its bigger versus Ottawa because it has a very good goalie. Can't allow the leaky goals anymore the rest of the way out. I have more confidence in Vokoun than Fleury.

So a healthy scratch? Who is replacing him in the lineup?
- themaynia

I believe one of Vitale or Kennedy replaced him. They had instant success so I am not sure if Jussi fits in the lineup yet. He did well for us in reg season so if someone gets hurt or screws up he may get a shot.

Per nhl.com the series starts tomorrow night at 7:30. Game 2 will be scheduled after tonight's winners are determined.

Sens goalie, Craig Anderson, can be beaten by tough left-handed shots and Neal matches up nicely against the netminder.

What the heck does that mean? If Anderson had that kind of weakness teams would have figured it out by now and dressed left handed only line ups?

Weak Sauce !

You simply don't sit the hot goalie. Keep going with Vokoun for now. Seeing MAF's numbers against the Sens is a a good sign though and he should be back in there if Vokoun stumbles. Benching him might have cleared his head but for now Vokoun should be the starter with the way he finished off the Islanders series.

play the guy who's winning....simple.
- BlowMonkey

Yep. Play Vokoun until he forces you to play Fleury.

Vokoun advanced us to the second round with his play. This is "hot goalie" time. You ride Vokoun. A change now is foolish. Getting down to the Islanders in a game is one thing, its bigger versus Ottawa because it has a very good goalie. Can't allow the leaky goals anymore the rest of the way out. I have more confidence in Vokoun than Fleury.
- Oneonta Penguin

You are going to deny that the TEAM played better those games Vokoun started?

The team believes in Fleury. We will not win a Cup without MAF.

The insertion of Kennedy's speed and tenacity was more important than Vokoun in net.

The first option should really just read:

-Marc-Andre Fleury, because I'm cheering for the Senators

Game 1 is tomorrow at 7:30?! I thought it would be Wednesday. Oh well. Let's rock 'n roll.

Yep. Play Vokoun until he forces you to play Fleury.
- Lahey

Absolutely agree with this. This is not about getting Fleury's confidence back...it's about winning 4 games against the Senators.

The 'body of work' by Fleury over the last few playoff seasons suggests that either he or his teammates (probably both) struggle to be consistent when he starts and in Fleury's case it creates some terrible save percentage and GA stats.

You just won the two biggest games of the season with your 'backup'...he's earned another start...and as long as he continues to earn them...you start him.