Pittsburgh Penguins 2009: Return of the Penguins

Sorry I missed last game - here is a little Star Wars comparison to the finals this year - its pretty accurate...lol

GO PENS

Pens respond at home 4-2

Thank God for Max Talbot




Mad Max did his best Mario Lemieux impression in the third period - total force. He hit he post, and looked like he was ona mission. He also scored the empty netter which is huge - especially against the Wings.

Honestly, I was a little worried after the second period - Detroit dominated ,and you just knew if they scored there was a very good chance they would win.

But Pittsburgh came out guns a blazing, and they earned a power play with their continuous pressure.


Gonchar finally did something other than give the puck away, and blasted a shot from the line for the winner.

It was nice to see Osgood give up weak goal (Letang) and look up to the heavens after a softie.



It seemed the breaks started going the way of the Pens, after getting away with 6 men on the ice for 20 seconds, and a few hit posts by the Wings.

About freaking time

Other notables:

Geno with 3 points and a huge blocked shot late in the third period when the game was in doubt ...another thing you won't see Ovechkin do.

Kunitz with 11 hits.....11 !

Cooke with 5 epic hits - momentum changers.

Letang with 2 big points - and to think he was almost replaced with Boucher before the game.

If the Pens can win the next game at home, they could actually have the momentum going back to Detroit....That's a pretty big if, but they're doing everything right - so it should be interesting.

13 down - 3 to go

GO PENS

Fleury is the Key

I've been thinking - how the hell do we beat the evil, robotic, methodically boring Red Wings?

I've looked back at other series in the past, and have found a common thread that has been present in all other Detroit playoff defeats in recent memory....

A hot goaltender

Basic answer? yes - but it holds true.....


I've been easy on Marc -Andre Fleury this series, he gave up two fluke goals and one bad goal in game two.

Not nearly good enough.

Then, I thought how many bad and/or fluky goals has Osgood given up so far- none. And he has made the huge saves when called upon.

There's the difference in the series so far - although its only 2 games in.

Cup winning goalies all have a few things in common - Does Fleury measure up?:

- above average goaltending (duh) (check)
- the ability to get hot and stay that way for extended periods of time (check)
- the ability to make the stops when needed (check - for the most part)
- do not give up soft goals (still working on that)

He'd better start acting like a Stanley Cup winning goalie - and fast.

The offense will come for Pittsburgh in this series - there have been too many bad bounces and hit goalposts - things will start to go our way.

Oh yea, and this:
Darren Millard on HockeyCentral claims his NHL sources said the league was unhappy with the officiating , or lack thereof for the first 2 games and the standards will be enforced more strictly tonight.

So Pens fans (myself included) can stop the bitching (as valid as it is), and see if we can run with the big dogs tonight.

And we will win - if Fluery does his job and keeps out the softies.

prediction: 5-3 Pens
Crosby will score - Abdelkader will not

GO PENS

WTF do we have to do??

Ok - this is where i bitch and whine - and if you're offended by strong language - leave.

What the fuck do we have to do to beat this team?

The Red Wings are obviously a great team, and its hard enough to beat them, but when you have to deal with different officiating than the rest of the year, AND the fact that the Red Wings seem to play with a different set of rules, they are pretty much unbeatable.

Thats right - unbeatable.

The Wings are MASTERS of interference and pick plays that unbelievably NEVER get called.

They are the best consistent cheaters I've ever seen - Stay classy Detroit.

Add to the mix 5 shots that have beaten "awesome" goalie Chris Osgood, and this gets ugly - fast.
It just seems the NHL is doing everything they can to fuck this up.

I'm even pissed about Geno being allowed to play game 3 after getting an instigating penalty late in the game - by NHL rules that is a 1 game suspension.

What is the point of having any rules if none of them are enforced....?

The Wings scored two goals immediately after blatant penalties were not called.

The one where Hossa hooked, then slashed and broke Dupuis stick was especially painful for every hockey fan who doesn't cheer for Detroit, and probably for a lot that do - they know they got away with one for sure.

That was the closest I've ever come to throwing a beer bottle at 85mph at my 62' TV.

I see now why Red Wings fans are so fucking smug and cocky - because their team gets way with shit no other team does.

Bylsma has taken the high road thus far, but I think he needs to unleash hell on the officials hardcore - take the fine, but at least you're getting heard. Don't go down without a fight.

We now see the true integrity of this league.

The NHL is trying to gain a following in the States, but if I was a new watcher, I would be turned off by the officiating and lack thereof.

Bettmen better do something about it

A high stick on Stall that was AMAZINGLY not called - it drew blood - should have been a 5 minute penalty - shocking


Don't see the puck anywhere


The Pens are doing everything they need to do to win this series - they could very easily be up 2-0 coming home.
Everybody seems to be bagging on Fleury, but in my opinion he has given up one bad goal in 2 games - I think he is outplaying Osgood who could easily have 7 goals against right now.

They've played two very good road games, but have nothing to show for it except for the media's retarded Crosby-Abdelkader scoring comparisons.

I have watched almost every game Evgeni Malkin has ever played, and I have NEVER seen him come close to loosing it like he did last night - this is how frustrated he and the rest of the team has become.
They used to fittingly call Pat Verbeek the "Little Ball of Hate" - well, last night I saw a big ball of hate going after Zetterburg...


Usually after a few Penguins losses, I, like every other Pens fan, can point out several things that need to be done to improve play - but this time I can only think of one - that's how well I think the Pens are playing right now.

This is a common sight unfortunatly:


I don't recall any Penguins camped out in front of Osgood, and that has to happen - Kunitz - thats why we traded to get you (one of the reasons, anyway)

I'm pretty sure this is the first productive thing Gonchar has done this series - FUCK

Call it what you will - bitching, whining, whatever - it is what it is.

But if the Red wings are going to win the Cup, can't we at least have everybody play by the same rules - you know the ones that are supposed to be enforced FOR BOTH FUCKING TEAMS?

We can still win this series - the bounces will start going our way, and I think we can go back to Detroit tied at 2 - then its anyones series.

SCF Game 1: Good to be Lucky

And I mean lucky.

As per any real sports fan, after I watched Detroit beat Pittsburgh in Game one of the Stanley Cup Final, I read the game recaps from various NHL internet sites to see different peoples take on the same thing I watched.....

I think I may have watched a different game than everyone else last night.

I've consistently been reading how Detroit "overwhelmed" the Pens on the "strength" of Chris Osgood's goaltending.

Bullshit

Pittsburgh outplayed Detroit in their own building - they played an awesome road game - but the hockey gods were not smiling on Pittsburgh, as Osgood was VERY fortunate last night.


I'm not going to whine about the puck being covered on Osgood's back in the crease - he's just lucky it LANDED ON HIS BACK, and not the back of the net.
Pittsburgh had several spectacular chances, but the puck just seemed to always roll off their sticks...


Another thing thats burns me is the fact the Osgood was awarded the 1st star of the game .

GGRRRR


Osgood DID make a great save on a Malkin breakaway shot that was going top shelf - so I will give him credit on that for sure.

Again, luck is with the Wings in the way Mr. Fleury is putting pucks into the net himself, in shades of last years finals. The Wings only scored one legitimate goal, and that was by a fourth liner I've never heard of.
He's better figure out the boards or whatever the hell is troubling him and he better do it fast.
The Pens could have very easily won this game 4-1....



Pittsburgh could still take home ice advantage in this series with a victory tonight.

If they play the same game as last night, they will win.

A few notes:

- The faceoffs have got to get better - 30% is unnacepateble - I don't care if its on the road.
- I hate to say bench Gill, but the Wings are taking advantage of his slowness, and it will burn us.
- This Wings team looks beatable - probably because Hart trophy candidate Datsyuk is injured - we have to capitalize on this asap.
- Last night was the first time in the Penguins' last 11 games they didn't score in the third period.
- Game 1 winner has won 54 of 69 finals series since 1939.
- Gonchar HAS GOT TO STOP TRYING TO PASS THROUGH RED WINGS.... he must of gave the puck away 20 times - you're a veteran ... act like it..... !!@#^%@^@%^%$^#$%!
- It was awesome to see Orpik destroy Hossa in a clean brutal open ice hit.

I still think Pittsburgh can and will win this series - but they have to win tonight. I picked the Pens to win this series in 5 - I think it can still happen.

It is a must win situation already - thats how this Wings team rolls.

Again - apologies for not posting much - I'm studying for exams, and it is pretty much taking up all of my time - will post when I can.

GO PENS

Pens sweep Canes - Bring on Detroit (again)

You kinda just knew Pittsburgh was going to win this one.

Carolina had the look of someone that's been beaten up pretty good, but you just wonder if there's one good punch left in him.

In this case.....no

Carolina came out strong, and slipped one by Marc-Andre, but every time the Canes pressed after that, Fleury was there to answer the call.
Strong game by Talbot with 3 points - one was of the fluke variety, but we'll take them all.
Geno had is multi-point game streak broken at six - two sort of Gretzky's record of 8..very impressive indeed.

After the game Crosby touched and picked up the Prince Of Wales trophy after not even touching it at all last year...I'm glad he did. Mario picked it up both times they won the trophy, and of course Pitt won the cup both years.

At the beginning of the playoffs I wanted someone to knock Detroit out, but now I'm happy the Pens will get to face the best in the league - and hopefully win the Cup in front of Mr. Hossa


Short post tonight - have to study.

more to come 12 down - 4 to go

GO PENS

Malkin and Crosby shine - Pens up 2 - 0

Well - so much for Cam Ward's game 2 winning streak - Pittsburgh blew that out of the water thnx to Sid and Geno.
Both played better than usual (if possible) and seemed to be playing their own game against each other to see who could play better.

The Pens started the scoring, but the Canes answered Pittsburgh's first two goals with quick ones of their own, and scored to take a 3-2 lead after one period.

The Pens came out flying in the second, which resulted in a goal from "superstar" Max Talbot, with a nice feed from Geno.
Kunitz finally got off the playoff shneid scoring a nice goal with 7 seconds left in the period.
It was Kunitz's first goal in 24 games
Glad we don't have to hear about that little stat anymore..


Staal (Jordan) seemed to have a lot of chances, but I can't wait until he actually get some confidence in his offensive abilities and scores with a little regularity.

The third period was Geno time
The game was in doubt, and he took over the game - with extreme prejudice
The goal he scored - his third of the game - was a goal we will see in highlights for years to come.



Unreal

When I see Malkin play, I sometimes see Mario (the highest compliment you can give) and sometimes I see Jagr out there....

Unreal

The was some rough stuff at the end of the game - the Canes were trying to win something tonight
And guess what - Mr Miroslav Satan even fought!!!

And did well.


I like you as a player Mr. Sykora, but if Miro is gonna mix it up like this, you're not going to see the ice for the rest of the playoffs unless there is an injury.

Nice to see Satan has saved his best hockey for the playoffs.

The Pens have done their job, and won the first two games at home. Now they have to win at least one game in Carolina, and the series is very much in hand.

10 down - 6 to go

GO PENS