Ryan Wilson: Pretty Darn Opportunistic Pretty Darn Opportunistic

Fist!

Unlike the first game, after period 1 this was the most even game of the series. Yes, the Pens made the most of their opportunities and yes, fleury stood tall.

But we should recognize, this might be one of the greatest offensive teams weve seen in the playoffs since 05-06. The defense is a patch work, but this offense is out of this world. C-M-K are all producing along with solid contributions from the supporting cast.

That Mike Sullivan reaction tho

Unlike the first game, after period 1 this was the most even game of the series. Yes, the Pens made the most of their opportunities and yes, fleury stood tall.

But we should recognize, this might be one of the greatest offensive teams weve seen in the playoffs since 05-06. The defense is a patch work, but this offense is out of this world. C-M-K are all producing along with solid contributions from the supporting cast.

That Mike Sullivan reaction tho
- DeflatedPucks

That was the big question. Could the Penguin forwards make up for the D. So far so good.

I agree with Gunner, I would get Streit in the lineup rather than bringing Rowney back. I liked the way Sullivan moved guys around after Hornie went down.

Must keep the pressure on for game 3, no let up. Break their backs with a win on Monday.

Sry rw I never bailed on maf. I flat out said he would be a difference maker in this series. A difference that Murray wouldn't haven't been. Murray's weaknesses are well scouted and i believe Washington would have eaten him alive this year. Murray wasn't going to have the same series against Washington this year he had last. Maf was and is still the only hope the pens have to win this series.

That was the big question. Could the Penguin forwards make up for the D. So far so good.

I agree with Gunner, I would get Streit in the lineup rather than bringing Rowney back. I liked the way Sullivan moved guys around after Hornie went down.
- madmike71

I would rather see Ruh than Streit....I want no part of him in these playoffs, especially against the Caps.

Must keep the pressure on for game 3, no let up. Break their backs with a win on Monday.
- Thorny

If ovechkin is serious about skipping the next season to play in Korea, this would be a very sad nhl sendoff

Pretty sure I've been saying Fleury has another run on him for about a year now.

The Flower -- diminished athleticism but with better technique?

Was Streit really that bad in his couple games worth of work?

I get the sense that Ryan Wilson would rather us be losing cause his fancy stats say we should be.

Hopefully Horns injury isn't serious. I would like Streit in the lineup as well. Hainsey hasn't played well.

MAF is playing as well as I've seen. His numbers on the road hasn't been great but he went into Washington and lead the Pens to victory. He's the main reason they are up 2-0 right now. Now it's time to take care of business at home.

Hainsey had his ear chopped in two if you watch him skating off. If he doesn't have a concussion he should be healthy enough to play.

Pens have a different game plan this year. This series looks alot like the CBJ one.
Sure the Pens were lucky to get out of the first 0-0, but great goalies do great things. Other than the first I see the Pens employing a defensive strategy that has almost eliminated second chances and I dont know if Ive seen one odd man rush against.

The Caps are throwing shots away. As soon as they enter the zone they see nothing bit legs and sticks and are under constant pressure. On the other end of the ice the Pens are picking apart the supposed super defense of the Caps. Odd man rushes all over the place, Kessel finding himself that open with that much time is a testement to that.

Pens have a different game plan this year. This series looks alot like the CBJ one.
Sure the Pens were lucky to get out of the first 0-0, but great goalies do great things. Other than the first I see the Pens employing a defensive strategy that has almost eliminated second chances and I dont know if Ive seen one odd man rush against.

The Caps are throwing shots away. As soon as they enter the zone they see nothing bit legs and sticks and are under constant pressure. On the other end of the ice the Pens are picking apart the supposed super defense of the Caps. Odd man rushes all over the place, Kessel finding himself that open with that much time is a testement to that.
- stackthepads

Their first periods have been bad but they have been able to overcome them. Still, they can't continue to get off to bad starts because it will eventually come back to bite them.

There's no way the Pens arnt in their heads now. Hopefully they can insert a dagger tomorrow.

With regards to Fleury we all know, or most of us anyway, that he is totally capable of playing like like this but we also know he can be by he polar opposite at times. So far , so so good.

There's no way the Pens arnt in their heads now. Hopefully they can insert a dagger tomorrow.

With regards to Fleury we all know, or most of us anyway, that he is totally capable of playing like like this but we also know he can be by he polar opposite at times. So far , so so good.
- MattStrat

With the way the Caps played in the first period in both games and to head into the first intermission without the lead had to be demoralizing for them.

The key for MAF is confidence and he's playing with that right now. Once he makes those early saves he becomes steady for most of the game. An early goal might have rattled him but he was able to stand tall early and it continued throughout the games.

Pretty sure I've been saying Fleury has another run on him for about a year now.
- Grinder47

This.. is true

This was the easiest series of the playoffs to call

There's no way the Pens arnt in their heads now. Hopefully they can insert a dagger tomorrow.

With regards to Fleury we all know, or most of us anyway, that he is totally capable of playing like like this but we also know he can be by he polar opposite at times. So far , so so good.
- MattStrat

Yeah the reports don't look good for the Caps. Trotz pulling Holtby prematurely, guys yelling at each other in the locker room. Seems like they've put a lot of pressure on themselves to finally beat the Pens. Reminds me of those two straight years where the Rangers were 100% in our heads, except with the Caps we've been holding real estate up there Crosby and Ovechkin's entire careers.

I doubt anyone predicted MAF would be this dominant but a whole lot of people predicted he was still a goalie with the ability to lead a team on a cup run.

Every game closer to the cup is one game closer to GMJR legitimately having to look at what kind of return Murray would bring back and compare that to the return for MAF. Even a strong MAF supported like myself recognizes Murray is damn awesome. But if they are sold on Jarry down the line and Murray brought back a return similar or better than Schneider's return GMJR would have to listen

Rutherford should have no issue trading Fleury in the off-season.

I doubt anyone predicted MAF would be this dominant but a whole lot of people predicted he was still a goalie with the ability to lead a team on a cup run.

Every game closer to the cup is one game closer to GMJR legitimately having to look at what kind of return Murray would bring back and compare that to the return for MAF. Even a strong MAF supported like myself recognizes Murray is damn awesome. But if they are sold on Jarry down the line and Murray brought back a return similar or better than Schneider's return GMJR would have to listen
- ChrisMS

I won't even begin to act like I thought Fleury would be playing like this. I honestly thought he'd collapse this team and I'm very happy to have been and continue to be wrong.