Non
Posts: 9,517
Apr 7, 2010 1:30pm
I think they have enough right now to win the first series.
They'll have to feed off of that and get some momentum going for the second round against the Devils or Capitals.
They'll have to feed off of that and get some momentum going for the second round against the Devils or Capitals.
T
thavoice
Posts: 14,376
Apr 7, 2010 1:33pm
I think our best hope..as pens fans...is that they team can "flip the switch" and fix some of those minor things come playoff time. typically you cannot do that in sports but maybe in the postseason, when games typically are closer and not as wide open, that they will be able to shore up a few things.
The talent is there. The winning attitude is there. This team is good enough to be hoisting the Cup in June.
The team has more balance scoring I believe than last year. That can be a great thing especially in the playoffs where matchups are paramount. Geno needs to have another very good postseason. Of course Id take last years numbers but that aint happening. THe more lines they can roll out there and score other than Sids probably will be teh difference.
The talent is there. The winning attitude is there. This team is good enough to be hoisting the Cup in June.
The team has more balance scoring I believe than last year. That can be a great thing especially in the playoffs where matchups are paramount. Geno needs to have another very good postseason. Of course Id take last years numbers but that aint happening. THe more lines they can roll out there and score other than Sids probably will be teh difference.
End of Line
Posts: 6,867
Apr 7, 2010 1:35pm
Had to DVR the game. I must say, that with how Crosby played last night he showed the world he was the better player. OV scored a gift of a PP goal. Then ofcourse he's out there with an empty net, hovering in the neutral zone what a suprise :rolleyes:.
I still believe that if these two meet in the playoffs the Pens will get the better of them, history shows it.
I still believe that if these two meet in the playoffs the Pens will get the better of them, history shows it.
Strapping Young Lad
Posts: 2,453
Apr 7, 2010 1:58pm
I had to smile when OV got the empty netter to tie the race b/c I knew there'd be some whiny crybabying going on in PGH. What 's a forward doing in the neutral zone when thats where the puck is anyhow......
You guys make me laugh.....
You guys make me laugh.....
R
rock_knutne
Apr 7, 2010 2:07pm
What's laughable is a Sabres fan coming on a Pens thread and talking shit.........hysterical! Go post on the Buffalo thread, oh that's right, there isn't one to post on........I wonder why that is?Strapping Young Lad wrote: I had to smile when OV got the empty netter to tie the race b/c I knew there'd be some whiny crybabying going on in PGH. What 's a forward doing in the neutral zone when thats where the puck is anyhow......
You guys make me laugh.....
Strapping Young Lad
Posts: 2,453
Apr 7, 2010 3:47pm
Probably b/c Pittsburgh is right next to Ohio and a ton of their fans live in Ohio, therfore post on this board. Or maybe it's b/c Buffalo is a basement dwelling team w/ no popular players.
also this isn't only a Pens thread. It's a Washington thread too and I'll pretty much post on any board I want until they tell me I can't....
also this isn't only a Pens thread. It's a Washington thread too and I'll pretty much post on any board I want until they tell me I can't....
Automatik
Posts: 14,632
Apr 7, 2010 3:52pm
Thats the norm on sites like this.rock_knutne wrote:What's laughable is a Sabres fan coming on a Pens thread and talking shit.........hysterical! Go post on the Buffalo thread, oh that's right, there isn't one to post on........I wonder why that is?Strapping Young Lad wrote: I had to smile when OV got the empty netter to tie the race b/c I knew there'd be some whiny crybabying going on in PGH. What 's a forward doing in the neutral zone when thats where the puck is anyhow......
You guys make me laugh.....
"My team is terrible, so lets talk shit on one that is actually good."
Hell....Clowns fans have been doing it since the beginning of time.
Strapping Young Lad
Posts: 2,453
Apr 7, 2010 3:56pm
also the norm to call everyone out then cry, cry, cry, when someone gets the best of you. See last night's game and the posts that follow.
Ovechkin is lucky, doesn't play hard, etc. etc.
Ovechkin is lucky, doesn't play hard, etc. etc.
Automatik
Posts: 14,632
Apr 7, 2010 4:00pm
You don't see me crying. Washington is the better team right now, its pretty easy to figure out.
Why so obsessed with Pittsburgh sports?
Why so obsessed with Pittsburgh sports?
Strapping Young Lad
Posts: 2,453
Apr 7, 2010 4:01pm
Sounds like the same haterade that everyone else is accused of drinking....
Strapping Young Lad
Posts: 2,453
Apr 7, 2010 4:01pm
Because that's the market I live in. Sorry I didn't get your permission to post here first. Blow me.
Automatik
Posts: 14,632
Apr 7, 2010 4:12pm
Post where ever you like. Just a heads up...if makes you look like a douche to constantly bash a team when yours is actually terrible. Like I said before....reeks of jealousy.
Strapping Young Lad
Posts: 2,453
Apr 7, 2010 4:21pm
Thanks for the "heads up", buddy. I know you are only concerned with my best interests. However, it may suprise you to know that I'm not concerned what my annonymous internet personality reeks of....
Thanks for allowing me to post where I'd like though. That's big of you.....
Thanks for allowing me to post where I'd like though. That's big of you.....
R
rock_knutne
Apr 7, 2010 5:04pm
Buffalo is actually pretty good this year, it's just that the Pens have owned them head to head. I can understand your pain.
G
GeneralsIcer89
Posts: 281
Apr 7, 2010 5:12pm
Sorry if this goes waaaaaaaay back to the first few posts in the thread, but how is Ovie not a two-way player? He is +43. He has 48 goals. One doesn't have a +/- rating like that without being responsible defensively.
R
rock_knutne
Apr 7, 2010 5:16pm
Strapping Young Lad wrote: Blow me.
That would never happen but I'm sure someone that's even willing to would want a meal and not a snack.
R
rock_knutne
Apr 7, 2010 5:19pm
He's not a two way player period! He plays zero defense, doesn't back check and is as selfish as they come. I would hope the leading goal scorer playing on a teams top line that deosn't kill penalties would be a plus player. But, as I've said before, plus/minus is not the tell all of a great player.GeneralsIcer89 wrote: Sorry if this goes waaaaaaaay back to the first few posts in the thread, but how is Ovie not a two-way player? He is +43. He has 48 goals. One doesn't have a +/- rating like that without being responsible defensively.
Strapping Young Lad
Posts: 2,453
Apr 7, 2010 5:19pm
He is the better player. It's just the PGH fans here are the same "jealous haters" that they accuse everyone else of being....GeneralsIcer89 wrote: Sorry if this goes waaaaaaaay back to the first few posts in the thread, but how is Ovie not a two-way player? He is +43. He has 48 goals. One doesn't have a +/- rating like that without being responsible defensively.
G
GeneralsIcer89
Posts: 281
Apr 7, 2010 5:21pm
Agreed that it isn't the tell-all, but if his line isn't giving up goals, then they have to be doing something right. It isn't like Washington has much in the way of goaltending.rock_knutne wrote:He's not a two way player period! He plays zero defense, doesn't back check and is as selfish as they come. I would hope the leading goal scorer playing on a teams top line that deosn't kill penalties would be a plus player. But, as I've said before, plus/minus is not the tell all of a great player.GeneralsIcer89 wrote: Sorry if this goes waaaaaaaay back to the first few posts in the thread, but how is Ovie not a two-way player? He is +43. He has 48 goals. One doesn't have a +/- rating like that without being responsible defensively.
Strapping Young Lad
Posts: 2,453
Apr 7, 2010 5:29pm
Nobody plays defense except for Crosby. C'mon everyone knows that....
End of Line
Posts: 6,867
Apr 7, 2010 6:19pm
+/- is one of the worthless stats out there.
ptown_trojans_1
Posts: 7,632
Apr 7, 2010 6:37pm
Yes, the Pens are defending champs, but let's face it, the Caps have dominated the East this year and no one has really come close to their offensive firepower. Looking over this year, I seriously do not see any real challenges for the Caps. Now, I know the playoffs are a different, but based on this year, no one in the East can touch the Caps in a 7 game series.rock_knutne wrote:Just some numbers for you. Pittsburgh has thirteen players who have scored 10 goals or more this year and they rank 5th in the league in scoring. I would hardly say they don't have enough offense, they have more than enough to challenege anyone in the league.ptown_trojans_1 wrote:Agreed. I'll broaden it out: The East is just too weak on the offensive end to really stop the Caps. I see the Caps easily heading into the Eastern conference finals, and after a 5-6 game series, heading to the Cup finals.
No one in the East, outside NJ, offers a real threat, or has the offense to challenge them in a 7 game series.
New Jersey is a trapping team and will get exposed over a seven game series, unless Brodeur stands on his head. The Caps are suspect in goal, their defense is questionable and they are undisciplined. The only way the Caps get to the finals is if they can overwhelm teams offensively, that's not always the case in the playoffs.
IMO, the problem for the Pens lies at their own blue line were they either can't clear the zone or turn it over. They struggle to make the transition to offense lately. Goligoski has been terrible in this regard, Eaton and Letang have been struggling to clear the zone too. The other major factor has been goal tending, Fleury has let in some soft goals and that's not acceptable. I wouldn't count out the Pens just yet, they are the defending champs and they know what it takes to get it done.
The bottom line is, you're not going to win a Stanley Cup with average goal tending and a mistake prone defense, it just doesn't happen. I think Fleury can and will rebound but the defense scares me.
Now, I don't see the Caps winning the cup, no way. Defenses in West are simply too good.
ptown_trojans_1
Posts: 7,632
Apr 7, 2010 6:41pm
Maybe I'm bias, cause I see all the Caps game, but he does check a lot and delivers some good hits to people. No, he is not a great defender, but he is a good one.rock_knutne wrote:He's not a two way player period! He plays zero defense, doesn't back check and is as selfish as they come. I would hope the leading goal scorer playing on a teams top line that deosn't kill penalties would be a plus player. But, as I've said before, plus/minus is not the tell all of a great player.GeneralsIcer89 wrote: Sorry if this goes waaaaaaaay back to the first few posts in the thread, but how is Ovie not a two-way player? He is +43. He has 48 goals. One doesn't have a +/- rating like that without being responsible defensively.
The Caps as a whole are pretty average on defense, and it shows in the scoreboard as the average games are 4-3.
R
rock_knutne
Apr 7, 2010 7:47pm
You mean leave his feet and deliver cheap shots? Ovechkin is a punk and eventually someone's going to cut him in half.ptown_trojans_1 wrote:Maybe I'm bias, cause I see all the Caps game, but he does check a lot and delivers some good hits to people. No, he is not a great defender, but he is a good one.rock_knutne wrote:He's not a two way player period! He plays zero defense, doesn't back check and is as selfish as they come. I would hope the leading goal scorer playing on a teams top line that deosn't kill penalties would be a plus player. But, as I've said before, plus/minus is not the tell all of a great player.GeneralsIcer89 wrote: Sorry if this goes waaaaaaaay back to the first few posts in the thread, but how is Ovie not a two-way player? He is +43. He has 48 goals. One doesn't have a +/- rating like that without being responsible defensively.
The Caps as a whole are pretty average on defense, and it shows in the scoreboard as the average games are 4-3.
Sorry, we can agree to disagree, Ovechkin has zero concept of defending or backchecking, none what so ever.
R
rock_knutne
Apr 7, 2010 7:48pm
That's right and don't you forget it "strap"!Strapping Young Lad wrote: Nobody plays defense except for Crosby. C'mon everyone knows that....