Well - here we are - at home down 3 games to 2.
We have to win tonight to go back to Detroit which is in my opinion the hardest barn to play in. I really hope the Pens aren't thinking about game 7 quite yet. There is a game to win before that, and it isn't a gimme....unfortunately, nothing is easy with this Detroit team.
There is a lot of people that think this thing is over already - it's not.
I've often said that that Sid and Geno are really good players, but they will never be considered great until they win a Cup. They are two games away from that right now.
Thats not to say that if they don't win this series, they will never win a Cup - thats narrow minded. The core of this team is very young - some can't even legally drink in the States...
We have two of the best players in the world on this team. A lot of Pens fans still seem to think we need a Kovalchuk or Gaborik to win the Cup (or at least beat Detroit). This is false - our players just have to learn to take advantage of the situation they are in - thats it.
That comes with experience.
Win or lose, this team will be a Stanley Cup threat for as long as Sid, Geno and Fleury are on this team.
But...
...to win the Cup, we also need these players to have the games of their lives for the next two games.
Stanley Cup winning goalies are a special rare breed - some pretty much win it outright for their teams (Ward, Giguere) - and some are bit players that are a product of the machine in front of them (ahem - lookin' at you Osgood) - but none of that matters once they hoist the Cup.
Marc Andre Fleury is a really good young goalie. He has unfortunately shown a penchant for giving up weird goals at the worst times - too many to mention.
He has otherworldly reflexes and talent, but it looks to me like he hasn't mastered the mental toughness goalies need to take it to the next level consistently. There are flashes, but thats it.
If the Pens are going to win tonight or in game 7, Fleury is going to have to prove that he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Crosby and Malkin.
And speaking of Sid and Geno - they have to prove they have what it takes to beat a team that looks totally unbeatable at times.
This is what defines great legacies in the NHL.
This team is good enough - hopefully they can prove it to themselves, and the hockey world.
GO PENS
Just a comment - and I am not trying to compare teams or series...in 06 when the Oilers had their backs against the wall in Game 6 they went out and play the most beautiful dominating game against Fairyolina and beat them 4-0 to force a game 7. They fucking owned them. I then had my heart ripped out and stomped on (and I am still bitter to this day)...as much as I hate Sidney the Whiner I truly hope this does not happen to you...Malkin is a genius and I hope he is the difference maker - he is on another level and will look great in Oiler colors...
ReplyDeletethnx man - I don't think I could stand Detroit wrecking my summer again....
ReplyDeleteBTW - we are coming home for 3-4 days June 25 - we should get together and have a couple o beers.