ECF Game #2 GDT

[Vincanni 1]

Its getting difficult to gauge just how good the Pens are, the Canes overachieved to get where they are and have to be exhausted, but the Pens look spectacular against them. I'm thinking though their late game dominance breathes more life into my theory that Carolina just has nothing left at this point. Easily Malkin has been their biggest asset as he was a ghost last playoffs and now he's on fire, Crosby has also increased his play a bit, still hard to judge if that's enough to make up for losing Hossa as he was their best playoff performer last year.

I'd say they're about as good as they where last season, though better tested as last year they practically waltzed to the finals.

[Resetti 44]

Don't you remember how dominant Malkin was in the ECF's against PHI last season? Same thing....he played great and then magically he was "tired" against the Wings. I'm not saying it would happen again, but I do believe if either one of the Wings' top line or the PK start firing on all cylinders it should be a series win for the Wings. If both start clicking, the series will be over faster than it was last season.

Notice the word "should"....not "will".

Actually Malkin was dominant in the first two rounds of last year's playoffs and started to trail off against Philadelphia in the ECF after Mike Richards slammed him into the boards in one of the early games (I remember that hit lead to him being behind on the ensuing play, which ironically resulted in a breakaway where he scored on a slapshot). After that game, he became a shadow for the rest of the playoffs. I don't think that Malkin was anywhere near healthy by the time he was in the Finals last year.

[dat's sick 1,002]

I hate to admit it, but Malkin and Crosby have both improved since last year's playoffs; they are gonna be a load to handle if we advance and meet them in the finals.

Yep. Those two are what's scaring me about the Pens right now. Their team as a whole isn't impressive at all, and Fleury mixes great saves with soft goals, but the way Sid and Malkin are playing they can win games for their team all by themselves.

Although to be fair they haven't gone up against a defensive line like Franzen-Z-Cleary and d-men like Lids and Raffi in the playoffs. Far from it actually.

[Lovin Jiri Fischer 147]

I wonder what will happen when the Pens play a team that plays defense

[Guest Shoreline]

I wonder what will happen when the Pens play a team that plays defense

Rest assured the teams that makes it to the finals aren't exactly defensive stalwarts.

[Yak19 303]

The Ducks were our toughest competition, no other D even compares to that in the playoffs.

[brett 1,029]

NHL is definitely rigged if we go up against the pens again this year and they beat us. i dont care what you say

[Guest Shoreline]

NHL is definitely rigged if we go up against the pens again this year and they beat us. i dont care what you say

Even better that you don't care, because I'd mock every post I found that suggested this.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Actually Malkin was dominant in the first two rounds of last year's playoffs and started to trail off against Philadelphia in the ECF after Mike Richards slammed him into the boards in one of the early games (I remember that hit lead to him being behind on the ensuing play, which ironically resulted in a breakaway where he scored on a slapshot). After that game, he became a shadow for the rest of the playoffs. I don't think that Malkin was anywhere near healthy by the time he was in the Finals last year.

Based on what? Once the playoffs concluded nothing was documented of an injury for Malkin. All that was said was talk about Malkin stating that he was "tired" after Games 1 and 2. This is not meant to be arrogant, but one has to think he felt that was due to the Pens generating zero offense in Games 1 and 2. It makes more sense to think he was trying to save face, than for fans to assume he "wasn't the same" because he was checked into the boards earlier in the previous series.

[Zetterling 16]

NHL is definitely rigged if we go up against the pens again this year and they beat us. i dont care what you say

Yeah, it will be messed up. The Pens are like an over hyped Minnesota Wild with a little better offense.

[Nightfall 871]

NHL is definitely rigged if we go up against the pens again this year and they beat us. i dont care what you say

Probably about 50% of the Wings fans on this forum really believe that. It just makes me laugh.

As if the Pens will need help from the refs to beat the Wings. Lets put it this way, if the Wings lose to the Pens in the finals, the Wings will have no one to blame but themselves. The Pens are a good team, and they are driven to win the cup this year after losing out last season. They are a very hungry team, and the Wings are going to have to play their best hockey to win games.

There is no conspiracy. If you want to believe there is one to help yourself sleep at night, then do so.

[Guest Shoreline]

Yeah, it will be messed up. The Pens are like an over hyped Minnesota Wild with a little better offense.

Well, for being only slightly better than the Wild, they just lit up one of the best goalies in the playoffs in recent years for 7 goals. They are simply the real deal.

[TheOwl 77]

I have a horrible feeling deep inside my bones that the NHL will hand the Conn Symthe to Crosby even if the Wings win the Cup.

[Yak19 303]

I have a horrible feeling deep inside my bones that the NHL will hand the Conn Symthe to Crosby even if the Wings win the Cup.

As long as the Wings win the cup Crosby can get the vezina for all i care.

[egroen 384]

I have a horrible feeling deep inside my bones that the NHL will hand the Conn Symthe to Crosby even if the Wings win the Cup.

And even if Malkin outscores him...

[SuperNovaXll 124]

As long as the Wings win the cup Crosby can get the vezina for all i care.

Im with ya on that one!

[Resetti 44]

[/b]

Based on what? Once the playoffs concluded nothing was documented of an injury for Malkin. All that was said was talk about Malkin stating that he was "tired" after Games 1 and 2. This is not meant to be arrogant, but one has to think he felt that was due to the Pens generating zero offense in Games 1 and 2. It makes more sense to think he was trying to save face, than for fans to assume he "wasn't the same" because he was checked into the boards earlier in the previous series.

From watching the games last year, he suddenly disappeared in games following that particular game against Philadelphia. The Flyers made it a point to make things difficult for him and, whether it was that or something else, he just seemed slow everywhere he went on the ice. Obviously playing against a Red Wings defense that was shutting down the Penguins offense wouldn't make him look any faster or healthier (or less tired), but watching his play over the course of the playoffs formed the basis for thinking that something happened to him health-wise in the Eastern Conference Finals.

And a quick search on Google offered this less-than detailed article on Malkin's health: source

He may not have needed corrective surgery that tells everybody, "Yes, he was hurt all this time," but that doesn't mean he wasn't hurt. Based on what I saw in last year's playoffs, I don't think he was healthy by the time he was in the Cup Finals -- but then again, what hockey player is fully healthy at the end of a season?

[Glubki 17]

Meh...

Defense wins championships and they have since the Penguins last won the cup. Yes there have been a few mediocre exceptions but their goaltenders always stole the show.

Fleury doesn't scare me, their defense doesn't either. If they can get by Chicago and do so in no more than six games the Wings will get 5 days off or more. If they sweep they get eleven monotonous days off before June 4th and rust will their biggest concern.

Edited May 22, 2009 by Glubki

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

There goes the Cam Ward myth. I was getting tired of hearing how that guy is unbeatable in the POs.

Nice how he and Luongo both gave up 7 goals in a PO game.

Never thought I would say this - figuring Brodeur, Thomas, Nabby (cough choker), Luongo and others might make it this far, but Osgood is by far the best GT left in the POs.

Khabibulin is no wall

Ward is not as great as the analysts think (padding stats in the East)

Fleury is.. well Oz outplayed him last year sans game 5.

[Guest mindfly]

There goes the Cam Ward myth. I was getting tired of hearing how that guy is unbeatable in the POs.

Nice how he and Luongo both gave up 7 goals in a PO game.

Never thought I would say this - figuring Brodeur, Thomas, Nabby (cough choker), Luongo and others might make it this far, but Osgood is by far the best GT left in the POs.

Khabibulin is no wall

Ward is not as great as the analysts think (padding stats in the East)

Fleury is.. well Oz outplayed him last year sans game 5.

Place Osgood in any of those team and his numbers will turn out brutal, it's the team in front of osgood thats good, osgood is just a good goalie... if you put fleury or ward in the detroit net he would get 3-4SO 1.5GAA etc....

[UKWING 8]

I hope nobody's taking these guys lightly, should we meet up (mathematically/historically, there's about an 80% chance of it now). They look better than they did last year right now, we look worse. And that series was airtight after those first two games, as much as most don't see it.

Not to mention that rematches almost always favor the guy that lost the first time.

i am not sure i would say the pens look better than last year - IIRC they breezed through the east last year with a 12-2 record and won every home game. this year they struggled to get past the flyers and capitals and now they are just feasting on a fatigued and beat up canes team. their defence looked a helluva lot better last year too.

as for saying the series was airtight after the first 2 games - 3 of those 4 were in pittsburgh where they had won something like 18 straight games before playing the wings so you would expect those games to be tight. and in the other game at the joe the wings came out nervous as the Cup was within reach and fell behind 2-0 early before completely dominating the rest of the way.

it certainly won't be an easy series but i would be very confident of beating them again. the only thing that would scare me about the pens (much like the hawks) is their PP against our struggling PK.

i have said it before and i will say it again - the ducks are the best team the wings will play.

Edited May 22, 2009 by UKWING

[McCartyFanForLife 17]

Place Osgood in any of those team and his numbers will turn out brutal, it's the team in front of osgood thats good, osgood is just a good goalie... if you put fleury or ward in the detroit net he would get 3-4SO 1.5GAA etc....

That's not true. First of all, there's know way of knowing that because it can't be proven. Second, Fleury and Ward are goaltenders that need to make saves to get into a rhythm. Osgood has shown he can make saves even if he doesn't see a shot for a period or two.

[Jocke 53]

There goes the Cam Ward myth. I was getting tired of hearing how that guy is unbeatable in the POs.

Nice how he and Luongo both gave up 7 goals in a PO game.

Never thought I would say this - figuring Brodeur, Thomas, Nabby (cough choker), Luongo and others might make it this far, but Osgood is by far the best GT left in the POs.

Khabibulin is no wall

Ward is not as great as the analysts think (padding stats in the East)

Fleury is.. well Oz outplayed him last year sans game 5.

Actually I think Khabby goaltending has been outstanding, especially in game one where he killed a couple of really good power plays.

[dat's sick 1,002]

That's not true. First of all, there's know way of knowing that because it can't be proven. Second, Fleury and Ward are goaltenders that need to make saves to get into a rhythm. Osgood has shown he can make saves even if he doesn't see a shot for a period or two.

Please don't feed the troll.

[C-TownWing 0]

i have said it before and i will say it again - the ducks are the best team toughest matchup the wings will play.

Fixed that one

Pens last year vs. this year...sure the record's not as good, but they had much easier matchups last year--Sens team that was falling apart, same Flyers team they played this year and a Rangers team that's pretty well out of their league anywhere past the first round. The Caps are head-and-shoulders above any of that.

Thanks to the guy that reminded me about the Richards hit on Malkin. I knew Malkin was off before they played us, I just couldn't place it. Hurt or not isn't even really the point there, they didn't have the benefit of his production either way, and they do right now.

In all seriousness though, thanks to those of you arguing with me, the confidence is contagious. And I was absolutely convinced we were going to blow the 3-0 lead against Dallas last year, I'm not exactly hard to throw into a panic.