Ryan Wilson: It's a battle between gold to see who wins silver It's a battle between gold to see who wins silver

Wish this was a game day : /

With the lag time between rounds 3 and 4 and the two day break between Games 2 and 3 of the SCF, I probably will only miss the first two games

A couple of questions:

1. No news on Hornqvist?

2. As per Ek's article, can MAF waive his NMC and make it possible to protect Murray and leave MAF available? It is a risk but isn't it possible that MAF gets passed over and the Pens keep both?

3. How does Wes McCaully get the finals after this s hit show he put out there in the Pens-Sens series!?!?!

4. Can the NHL be any more ridiculous.

think the longer rest between games def helps the Pens this year. I really hope Horn can get back and play, and if he is ready...who comes out now? Sheary had a good game, Wilson has played well, Rowney has played really well too. I mean, its a great problem to have, but do you even think about sitting Hags? I think you let Sheary stay in the lineup, maybe take out Wilson? I don't know.

think the longer rest between games def helps the Pens this year. I really hope Horn can get back and play, and if he is ready...who comes out now? Sheary had a good game, Wilson has played well, Rowney has played really well too. I mean, its a great problem to have, but do you even think about sitting Hags? I think you let Sheary stay in the lineup, maybe take out Wilson? I don't know.
- Thorny

I'm a Hagelin fan but at this point I take Rowney over Hags all day.

A couple of questions:

1. No news on Hornqvist?

2. As per Ek's article, can MAF waiver his NMC and make it possible to protect Murray and leave MAF available? It is a risk but isn't it possible that MAF gets passed over and the Pens keep both?

3. Does Wes McCaully get the finals after this s hit show he put out there in the Pens-Sens series!?!?!

4. Can the NHL be any more ridiculous.
- Doogs

This baffles me, how in the world does this happen. Wasn't he the guy who gave the Pens like 100 Penalty Minutes against the Red Wings on national TV last year? As for number 2, I don't think MAF could stomach being the backup again, and if he wants to be a starter somewhere else, you do everything you can to do that for him.

I'm a Hagelin fan but at this point I take Rowney over Hags all day.
- Doogs

I don't know, its a difficult choice, but i trust HCMS and whatever he decides

I don't know, its a difficult choice, but i trust HCMS and whatever he decides
- Thorny

^This

And I'm glad it's not my call.

"I don't know, its a difficult choice, but i trust HCMS and whatever he decides"

That is why I am not one to complain or second guess any Penguin decisions. Sully has been absolutely magic knowing when to: switch goalies, change up line combos (pre game and in game), healthy scratch a guy and then insert him back into the line up. Sully is making all the right decisions "in the moment" and has this whole team clicking on HEART

So no one has an issue with hainsey still playing and getting the minutes he has been getting? I hate streit but I even think he is an improvement over hainsey. Don't get me wrong I love that we are winning but just think a slight change there and we get even better.

Nice write up RW. I'm really hoping Sid and Geno get into Rinne's head fast. He seems like the kind of goalie that that can happen to. Ryan makes another good point about the Preds last opponent. I think that series goes 7 if Gibson stays healthy. I still give the win to the Preds but it would have been closer.

I'm a Hagelin fan but at this point I take Rowney over Hags all day.
- Doogs

The Preds can really skate. This may dictate who plays. Give me Ruhwedel over Hainsey.

The Preds can really skate. This may dictate who plays. Give me Ruhwedel over Hainsey.
- madmike71

Don't think any of us would take issue with this but it ain't happening. He wasn't bad against the Sens because they never really fore checked hard. He'll show his true self against the Preds,

Hainsey is my only stain on Sullivan... I think it's been miraculous the Pens have won some of these games with him leading in ice time.

NHL.com goalie break down. This goes with what I said about having a weak glove hand, it's not the always the initial save that causes many to think MM has a weak glove. It is his ability to control pucks in his glove. Like others have said, An NHL player with time can beat any goalie glove side.

"Matt Murray: Glove for rebounds, under blocker to score: Though the glove side wasn't a problem during Murray's first full season in the NHL, some of the 30 rebound goals came off plays when he got a piece of the puck but wasn't able to control a shot high to the glove side."

He still is absolutely my choice to start in the SCF.

The Preds can really skate. This may dictate who plays. Give me Ruhwedel over Hainsey.
- madmike71

I'm not going to get into the 'pace' a team has, as that argument will attract unwanted attention!

But let's leave shots out of it (again arguing against stupidity is well, stupid), are the Preds a good skating team? Can they out skate the Pens? Are they as capable running the ice as the Pens are?

My question is also whether or not the Preds have faced an opposition like the Pens so far these playoffs?

Have to laugh again at all the Pens hate especially the Matt Cooke comments because he's playing now is he??

I've seen plenty of James Neal comments up until now. How strange 3 months ago James Neal is a dirt bag cheap shot artist, but now the comments directed at Pens fans about being cheap shot artists are ALL Matt Cooke material.

Who does James Neal play for again? Hmmmmmmm...................

So are those same fools supporting the Preds over the Pens - because it's the team that cheap shots not the player??

I'm a Hagelin fan but at this point I take Rowney over Hags all day.
- Doogs

Honestly, I'm happy if Shags gets taken in the expansion. Hopefully we get another cup with him but his 4m per the next 2 isnt going to get us what we can with another player in my opinion. I could be wrong, because he can fly!

Jarnkrok is the best center for the Preds, not Fisher, but that doesn't change anything you're writing. Think slight edge for the Penguins but it will be a close one for sure.

Nice write up RW. I'm really hoping Sid and Geno get into Rinne's head fast. He seems like the kind of goalie that that can happen to. Ryan makes another good point about the Preds last opponent. I think that series goes 7 if Gibson stays healthy. I still give the win to the Preds but it would have been closer.
- Thorny87

It's hard to say for sure .... But even though the preds won the clinching game 6-3 they had two goals on the first four shots in the first period of game and two empty netters to finish it. . The ducks massively outplayed them that game. Probably would of went to 7 if Gibson was playing.... And anything can happen I game 7.

Its way too quiet for the day before the finals

guentzel playing on cullens line aka the 4th line at practice

guentzel playing on cullens line aka the 4th line at practice
- martox

the kid has still played well. He's just not finding the back of the net. He had at least 4 posts in the last series. Maybe Sully is thinking a shift away from top pairings might get his confidence back. Who's with Sid?

guentzel playing on cullens line aka the 4th line at practice
- martox

I figured he was due for a demotion... but wouldn't that mean Sheary gets bumped up? I know he finally had a good game... but its not like Guentz played bad without scoring. He was still driving possession and play