Greetings from Pittsburgh

[KronwallCRUNCH 5]

The point isn't that Detroit "earned" the right to play the lowly Columbus squad, the point is they got the same kind of "pushover" opponent you're all ragging the Pens for drawing. Double standard, anyone?

The East is a much weaker conference than the West. If the Pens were in the West, they would have finished below SJ/Anaheim/Detroit for sure, and maybe another team or two. Don't compare apples to oranges.

[Ms_Hockey 0]

You are my hero lol

Lol. Thanks.

/Bow.

[Firehawk 305]

If I were a Pens fan I would probably hate HOssa as well, alot like how alot of Wings fans are pissed at Fedorov...except that motivation was for money, and ego, not to win a cup.

Edited May 26, 2009 by Firehawk

[sidthekid 0]

The East is a much weaker conference than the West. If the Pens were in the West, they would have finished below SJ/Anaheim/Detroit for sure, and maybe another team or two. Don't compare apples to oranges.

it doesn't matter which conference is stronger. all that matters is who is holding the cup at the end. last time i checked within the past 10 years, 4 cup winners were from the West and 4 from the East. i could careless how strong anaheim is unless they win the cup this year. you could have 8 strong western conference teams and 1 really strong eastern conference teams (and 7 bad ones)that beats the west winner.

[Stiffy 0]

If I were a Pens fan I would probably hate HOssa as well, alot like how alot of Wings fans are pissed at Fedorov...except that motivation was for money, and ego, not to win a cup.

Not quite. Hossa was a rental and not a permanent fixture. Federov was brought here as a babe (not to mention the Wings actually manage defection from the USSR!). Honestly, how long was Hossa a Penn? A few months? Why did they buy him in the first place? Hmmm, to win a Cup? Seems he did his part, but the rest of the team did not. So why the hell not go elsewhere?

No comparison. Losing Federov was like coming home from work with the house empty, dog gone and a nasty note from your wife telling you she left you for your best friend. Losing Hossa was like seeing a one night stand go on a date with someone else. Big deal. So he is basically a ****, but a betrayal? I don't think so.

[sidthekid 0]

That's not all you're saying. You came here to mix it up and talk smack. It's cool if you do, but don't cry foul later and act like that's not what you were doing. Why would we question our teams chances of winning? We want them to win... duh. Anyway.. the Red Wings have not only been successful for the last 15 years... get real. This is an original six franchise. Do some homework before you come here making false inflammatory statements. As for the empty seats... all the playoff games have been sold out... one more thing you didn't know..

who cares if playoff games are sold out? you could sell as many tickets as you want but the question is the stadium at full capacity on game day? people can buy tickets but not show up, etc. i see empty seats at the joe.

[xtrememachine1 795]

And "ugh" -- I think I understand the mercenary player concept, but Hossa also left Pittsburgh talking about going to Detroit 'cuz you know, he really really wanted to win a championship. Kind of a slap at your old team on your way out the door. So pardon me if I don't quite care for him anymore. Besides, like Detroit needs another top player, they don't have enough of them already.

Saying he wanted to go to the team with the best chance to win the Cup was probably a bad idea, but the Pens were clearly not as good as the Wings, they fit his style of play better, he knew Therrien was a crap coach, the Pens were losing free agents left and right because Crosby, Fleury and Malkin were or were about to eat up a ton of a space under the cap and if he signed with the Pens, they would essentially become the Lightning, a few big stars, no depth. It was the smart thing to do if he wants to win a Stanley Cup and I don't blame him for it.

[Firehawk 305]

who cares if playoff games are sold out? you could sell as many tickets as you want but the question is the stadium at full capacity on game day? people can buy tickets but not show up, etc. i see empty seats at the joe.

That's because people are waiting to use the 2 available bathrooms in the building LOL. Seriously.

[stactum 4]

it doesn't matter which conference is stronger. all that matters is who is holding the cup at the end. last time i checked within the past 10 years, 4 cup winners were from the West and 4 from the East. i could careless how strong anaheim is unless they win the cup this year. you could have 8 strong western conference teams and 1 really strong eastern conference teams (and 7 bad ones)that beats the west winner.

That is true, the only note here - when East won they played 8th seed from the West at least 3 times in recent history (05-06 Edmonton Oilers, 03-04 Calgary Flames, 02-03 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim)!

[KronwallCRUNCH 5]

it doesn't matter which conference is stronger. all that matters is who is holding the cup at the end.

Thanks for proving my point, now go back into your hole.

[Datsyerberger 279]

Good luck, Pens fans!

However, do I think they will win the cup?

No, now go away or I shall taunt you a second time!

Edited May 26, 2009 by Datsyerberger

[Rocket Queen 30 1]

who cares if playoff games are sold out? you could sell as many tickets as you want but the question is the stadium at full capacity on game day? people can buy tickets but not show up, etc. i see empty seats at the joe.

You care.. You're the one who brought it up... Have you ever been to JLA? Do you really think that people aren't in line at concession or for bathroom ever? Have you ever attended a professional sports event? Empty seats happen all the time. When you gotta go.. you gotta go.

[xtrememachine1 795]

That is true, the only note here - when East won they played 8th seed from the West at least 3 times in recent history (05-06 Edmonton Oilers, 03-04 Calgary Flames, 02-03 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim)!

PWNED

[Ms_Hockey 0]

That's because people are waiting to use the 2 available bathrooms in the building LOL. Seriously.

They really need to make the bathrooms bigger or something. Or have more than one in a ten mile radius.

[NomadFromKazoo 42]

The point isn't that Detroit "earned" the right to play the lowly Columbus squad, the point is they got the same kind of "pushover" opponent you're all ragging the Pens for drawing. Double standard, anyone?

Um...no...the point is we crushed our cream puff 4-0 and you went 6 and 7 games against yours. You really didn't get that? How is that possible?

[Snazzy 0]

Dear Pens fans,

Please riddle me this. How does your team intend on shutting down 3 and 1/2 strong scoring lines and 4 scoring defensemen?

Detroit allows on average 2 goals against, while Pens allow 3 goals against. Detroit Scores on average 3.8 goals per game.

Detroit has two minus players = -3 (and one of those minus players is Chelios). While Pittsburgh 8 players that = -20 combined. Not too mention Penguins + players have very unimpressive numbers.

I'm genuinely interested in your thoughts on this.

[KronwallCRUNCH 5]

Dear Pens fans,

Please riddle me this. How does your team intend on shutting down 3 and 1/2 strong scoring lines and 4 scoring defensemen?

Detroit allows on average 2 goals against, while Pens allow 3 goals against. Detroit Scores on average 3.8 goals per game.

Detroit has two minus players = -3 (and one of those minus players is Chelios). While Pittsburgh 8 players that = -20 combined. Not too mention Penguins + players have very unimpressive numbers.

I'm genuinely interested in your thoughts on this.

The same way they said they would last year. Duh.

[Snazzy 0]

The same way they said they would last year. Duh.

I have a feeling their reply will be: "Numbers and statistics are irrelevant. This is a new series and +/- and GAA means nothing!". Then they'll continue jumping around like Richard Simmons boasting about how good their "Crosby and Malkin are in '09 playoffs. They are the two bestest players in the whole wide world--because they have the bestest goals and points stats in the league--they are simply unstoppable, their numbers don't lie." Lol!

Edited May 26, 2009 by Snazzy

[Husker BigGuy 0]

It's a sincere question, just how the Pens will attack the Wings in ways that we haven't already watched. Anaheim jammed the ice with a powerful, sound-skating line, and often kept it close with physical play, but in the end got physically matched, and outskated and outshot.

The Hawks are stretching the ice, and trying to outskate the Wings, and trying to match in physical play. They are actually failing at both, and getting seriously whipped.

I'm not sure how you beat the Red Wings 4 of 7 unless maybe a couple more guys go down. At this point, I think the Wings could win sometimes even without Osgood.

I'd REALLY like to know who Pens fans think is sufficient firepower and defense to win a series.

I know very little about the Penguins. All I hear about is Crosby and Malkin. There is no way any two guys beat the Red Wings.

[reggiedunlop 0]

how dare people from pittsburgh think they can win ha ha.

sorry, didnt have time to find a richard simmons picture.

hope to see you in the finals...... good luck

[Zion 93]

Malkin scares me.

As long as Fleury doesn't heat up, the Penguins do not.

[Coffey77 0]

Malkin scares me.

As long as Fleury doesn't heat up, the Penguins do not.

Fleury is the last person you need to be worried about. Throughout the playoffs, he has been the Pens weak point. He lets up the flukiest goals and his rebound control is absoutely atrocious.

Granted, when he gets going, he can be a great goalie. But no one ever knows with him. He is very streaky.

[xtrememachine1 795]

I know very little about the Penguins. All I hear about is Crosby and Malkin. There is no way any two guys beat the Red Wings.

I know a lot about the Pens. They have a franchise goalie that can play phenomenal one night then give up 4 softies the next. If he could stay consistently on his game he'd be one of the best in the league. Their top line is Crosby, Kunitz and Guerin. Crosby finally has a complete line, but I don't think its better than last year when they had Hossa with Sid. Malkin is basically on a line by himself this year. Instead of Sykora and Malone, he has Fedotenko and Talbot/Satan. All three of them (Fed, Talbot, Satan) are lousy with the exception of a big goal here and there from Fedetenko and Satan. Jordan Staal is the third line and is supposed to be the shutdown guy, although the Pens put him on Ovechkin in round two and Ovie killed him. The fourth line is a bunch of warm bodies used to fill out a lineup. Lately, its been Craig Adams, Satan and Crosby (11 forwards, 7 defensemen)

The defense is okay, but none of them are complete. Gonchar is great offensively, but mediocre at best on defense. Scuderi is a pretty good shutdown defenseman, but is a nightmare when he has to move the puck. As long as they're in the right role, they're fine, but if someone gets caught out of place, like say Hal Gill in too deep, anyone can blow right past him.

Crosby, Malkin and, to some extent, Fleury have been carrying the team, but they're no where near being as deep as they were last year and any Pens fan that tells you otherwise is lying to himself.

[titanium2 867]

Fleury is the last person you need to be worried about. Throughout the playoffs, he has been the Pens weak point. He lets up the flukiest goals and his rebound control is absoutely atrocious.

Granted, when he gets going, he can be a great goalie. But no one ever knows with him. He is very streaky.

Question.

What kind of effect has Dan Bylsma had on the team? And how? Did he just set Sid and Geno free from MT's trap system or is he a great motivator or both...?

[Coffey77 0]

Question.

What kind of effect has Dan Bylsma had on the team? And how? Did he just set Sid and Geno free from MT's trap system or is he a great motivator or both...?

I think people enjoying playing for him a lot more. We play a free, agressive style now that I think the players really enjoy. He is very laid back( I've never seen him yell or show any sign of emotion). With Therrien, he yelled a ton and ripped the players apart some times. I think they just got tired of him. From what I hear, Bylsma is a jokester in the locker room and has a lot of fun with the guys. He could be of the great up and coming coaches.

This was his first year ever headcoaching. He started in the AHL. After the final game in the AHL, he told his players that he was hired to the NHL( He hadn't told anybody yet, and it wasn't public new yet). Apparently, they gave him a standing ovation in the locker room and were all cheering and clapping...So it seems that his players really respect him and enjoy the style that he wants his teams to play.