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rock_knutne
Apr 30, 2010 9:11pm
^^^^I agree, plus four of those goals came on the PP.
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rock_knutne
Apr 30, 2010 9:22pm
PP goal for Montreal, 5-3 Pens.
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rock_knutne
Apr 30, 2010 9:35pm
Billy Guerin with an empty netter and the Pens close this one out 6-3.
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rock_knutne
Apr 30, 2010 9:37pm
Pittsburgh takes game one with a great performance. They did everything well and made life hell for Montreal. No rest for the Habs either, game two this Sunday at 2PM.
Let's hope Jordan Staal isn't hurt too bad, any time missed by him is a huge blow to the Pens.
Let's hope Jordan Staal isn't hurt too bad, any time missed by him is a huge blow to the Pens.
ptown_trojans_1
Posts: 7,632
Apr 30, 2010 9:38pm
Nice game by the Pens. Pretty much as I expected.
Pens were great on the PP, which was the Habs strength last round.
I expect Halak to start game 2, and I'll be interested to see how Staal is doing.
Pens were great on the PP, which was the Habs strength last round.
I expect Halak to start game 2, and I'll be interested to see how Staal is doing.
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rock_knutne
Apr 30, 2010 9:39pm
Pens tied a franchise post season record with four PP goals tonight. A hot PP makes life much easier in the playoffs, they need to keep it up.
killer_ewok
Posts: 11,379
Apr 30, 2010 9:44pm
A very good start to the series for the Pens.
Non
Posts: 9,517
Apr 30, 2010 11:53pm
Pens are the better team clearly but they have to keep their foot on the gas.
Montreal didn't even play a good game and still hung around at 5-3. They do a good job countering when the other team relaxes. I think that's a concern for the Pens moving forward.
Montreal didn't even play a good game and still hung around at 5-3. They do a good job countering when the other team relaxes. I think that's a concern for the Pens moving forward.
Heretic
Posts: 18,820
May 1, 2010 12:28am
Great game by the Pens to take Halek out of his awesome "nothing gets past me" phase he dominated the faux-MVP's team with. I was a bit worried about this game because as good as that dude has been, I thought the short break would be beneficial to the Habs. He wouldn't have extra rest days to cool off and, with the Pens having two straight OT games (with one going 3 extra periods), it's not like they were infinitely more rested.
Pittsburgh exerted their will and simply outscored Montreal. Very nice to watch.
Pittsburgh exerted their will and simply outscored Montreal. Very nice to watch.
Non
Posts: 9,517
May 1, 2010 9:53am
a good sign for the Pens is how their peripheral players have stepped up over the last few games
Cooke and Guerin and Kunitz and Dupuis and Adams
towards the end of the regular season it was looking like Crosby would have to carry too much of the load but now we got mostly everyone on board
except for the injuries
Cooke and Guerin and Kunitz and Dupuis and Adams
towards the end of the regular season it was looking like Crosby would have to carry too much of the load but now we got mostly everyone on board
except for the injuries
S
Swamp Fox
Posts: 2,218
May 1, 2010 10:21am
I'm not really a fan of either team but there is something nostalgic about seeing the Canadiens advancing. It almost seems like a bit of the Original Six mystique has returned with the resurgence of the Habs. Being a Wings fan, I suppose I'm for the Canadiens here, but Detroit has to take care of business or the outcome of the Pittsburgh-Montreal series will become a moot point.
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rock_knutne
May 1, 2010 11:30am
^^^^^Resurgence? They barely made the playoffs and if they don't find an answer for the agressive Pens' forecheck this series will be over quick.
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rock_knutne
May 1, 2010 11:42am
Devastating blow for the Pens, Jordan Staal is lost for the rest of the year, severed tendon in his ankle and he had surgery last night:
http://kdka.com/sports/jordan.staal.surgery.2.1668417.html
This hurts the Penguins in a lot of ways, not only does he center what is arguably the best third line in hockey, his backchecking and PK skills will be sorely missed. Plus, Staal's line is normally matched against the opponent's number one unit.
http://kdka.com/sports/jordan.staal.surgery.2.1668417.html
This hurts the Penguins in a lot of ways, not only does he center what is arguably the best third line in hockey, his backchecking and PK skills will be sorely missed. Plus, Staal's line is normally matched against the opponent's number one unit.
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rock_knutne
May 1, 2010 11:51am
With Staal gone the lines would look like this IMO:
First line: Crosby, Guerin, Kunitz
Second line: Malkin, Ponikarovsky, Fedotenko
Third line: Talbot, Cooke, Kennedy
Fourth line: Adams, Dupuis, Rupp
Bylsma may want to play one of his Wikes-Barre prospects like Chris Connor (who saw action in the Ottawa series), Mark Letestu, Eric Tangradi or Nick Johnson.
First line: Crosby, Guerin, Kunitz
Second line: Malkin, Ponikarovsky, Fedotenko
Third line: Talbot, Cooke, Kennedy
Fourth line: Adams, Dupuis, Rupp
Bylsma may want to play one of his Wikes-Barre prospects like Chris Connor (who saw action in the Ottawa series), Mark Letestu, Eric Tangradi or Nick Johnson.
ptown_trojans_1
Posts: 7,632
May 1, 2010 1:55pm
Ouch. That complicates things for the Pens. I can still see them in the Cup Finals, but the road just got a lot harder.
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rock_knutne
May 1, 2010 2:21pm
Listeing to the radio and they had a statement from Bylsma after practice today at South Pointe. Bylsma said Staal is day to day.........I hope he's right but it sounds like he's trying to keep the Habs on their toes with that news.
End of Line
Posts: 6,867
May 1, 2010 2:39pm
If Letestu is on the taxi squad, he'll take over the third line.
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rock_knutne
May 1, 2010 3:09pm
^^^^^Radio saying Craig Adams will step up and center that third line. I think Talbot should go there, leave the fourth line alone and put Fedotenko out with Malkin.
End of Line
Posts: 6,867
May 1, 2010 3:25pm
^^^^Leave Feds in the press box.
Kunitz-Crosby-Guerin
Dupuis-Malkin-Talbot
Cooke-Letestu-Kennedy(Will play in game 2)
Rupp-Adams-Poni
Kunitz-Crosby-Guerin
Dupuis-Malkin-Talbot
Cooke-Letestu-Kennedy(Will play in game 2)
Rupp-Adams-Poni
Non
Posts: 9,517
May 1, 2010 4:10pm
that eases the blow, getting Kennedy back on the third line
my cousin has an extra ticket for Game 2 so I'll be heading down
I think it will be a tough one, though
Montreal will come back with a better overall effort
my cousin has an extra ticket for Game 2 so I'll be heading down
I think it will be a tough one, though
Montreal will come back with a better overall effort
End of Line
Posts: 6,867
May 1, 2010 4:12pm
As long as Feds stays away from Sid and Geno's line I'll be happy.
GoPens
Posts: 2,339
May 1, 2010 5:54pm
Hope to see ya there Non. They're telling people to leave early because the Pittsburgh Marathon, Pitt graduation and the Pens game all happening Sunday morning/afternoon. I'm leaving around 10:30.Non wrote: that eases the blow, getting Kennedy back on the third line
my cousin has an extra ticket for Game 2 so I'll be heading down
I think it will be a tough one, though
Montreal will come back with a better overall effort
Non
Posts: 9,517
May 1, 2010 7:28pm
yeah wow
knew about the marathon but not all that other stuff
we're leaving around 11
knew about the marathon but not all that other stuff
we're leaving around 11
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rock_knutne
May 2, 2010 9:09am
Update on Staal, Bylsma calls his injury a "laceration" and doesn'r rule out a return in this series:
http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=527810&navid=DL|PIT|home
http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=527810&navid=DL|PIT|home
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rock_knutne
May 2, 2010 2:05pm
Game time!