Pittsburgh Penguins advance to Stanley Cup Finals

[McCartyFanForLife 17]

Don't think it hasn't already started on the Pens' boards, and you haven't even closed out your series yet. We each have our share of idiots.

Yes, but most of our fans aren't bandwagon fans. Our team wasn't threatened with bankruptcy. Just a slight difference.

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

I am scared to play Penguins, they are pretty good right now and hard to stop.

[yzefan 2]

I'm right there with ya. I don't know why, but I have a bad feeling about this series... ya know... assuming we play them

I hear ya.. im with you .. kinda like the hockey gods might be screwing with us. To much uncertainty with injuries... i dont know why but ya im really uneasy about this year..

[Theophany 110]

i think that analysis is wrong. i think detroit is probably deeper up front and on D. Osgood - meh. he's good when the D in front of him is good. he'll never be a goalie like brodeur or hasek in his prime but good enough to win.

i think though that the x-factor in all this is the pens desire to win. to me that's the biggest thing. you can have all the talent you want but heart > talent. i never predicted the pens would beat the wings but i do think they have a shot. i was not overwhelmed with the way detroit played in games 3-6 last year.

That explains why Ozzie replaced Hasek in one of his two Cup runs as 'the' goalie for the Wings. Definitely a s***ty goalie.

You're saying that the Wings don't have heart this year (or any year)? The Wings are the team I'd expect to have the most desire to win. Hossa has emerged as a big part of the team this year, and it's a well-known fact he came to Detroit to win a Cup. I'd expect the team that's won the most Cups in modern NHL history to know what it's like to get to the top, and have the most desire to get back there.

The Pens had Hossa last year getting huge goals to keep the Pens in it; they don't this year. There's not enough defense on the Pens lineup to take away the tremendous scoring potential that the Wings have. If the games turn into offensive battles (which they won't, the Wings' defense is too good for that to happen for more than a game), the Wings will easily outscore the Pens.

We have more weapons, we win.

(Keep in mind there's really no possible way to argue that the Wings have less defense or offense than the Pens; our GDif is exactly double the Pens.)

[DMAC 25 18]

hope they enjoy their eastern conference finals gear because thats all their gonna get

[Shaman 713]

yes malkin and crosby are playing lights out. hope they continue. (but we did win game 4 of the ecf without a goal from either one of them). as far as lack of depth, we have 2 players with 28 pts, your leading scorer has 19, we have 6 players with 10 or more points, you have 6 players with 10 or more points. we have 14 players with 5 or more points, you have 13 players with 5 or more points (i concede we have played more games) but im thinking that puts the depth comment to rest :-)...........with a g.a.a that is .5 behind you guys, would that make your D slighly better than average? :-) you got the inconsistent goaltending correct. actually we do roll 4 lines. our least played forward last night was tyler kennedy C with 9:38, which is more than 3 of your wingers played in your game 4, and he plays behind freakin crosby and malkin!!! where you bury us is +/-. we have too many guys with a minus for my taste.. hopefully they fix that. anyway,

good luck tonight.......see you saturday

.5 gaa is HUGE. Want to know how huge, lets use the Regular season as a sample set, the Pens had a 2.8 GAA per game, know what team was only allowing .5 more? the Islanders. .5 in Hockey is the difference between a SCF team and a team that is in the draft lottery. Just so you know.

[tommingthepuck96 1]

Am I the only person here a little nervous about Pittsburgh?

Injuries and an influx of bad calls against the wings are the only thing making me nervous. They do need atleast lidstrom back, but can do without pavs for a couple games.. Also I have trouble believing that the pens are somehow the least penalized team in the league.

Edited May 27, 2009 by tommingthepuck96

[C-TownWing 0]

I'm not making excuses. The Eastern Conference just had no depth this year (or in past years for that matter). The Flyers were a joke and were a waste of a playoff seed. Washington needed 7 games to beat the Rangers of all teams. The Canes scraped by the Devils and the Canadians had their bags packed before the series even started. I could go on, but it's pretty obvious. Basically whichever team decided to show up would win; this year it was the Penguins.

Right up front, I do think the West is the better conference by a decent amount. Better teams at the top end and more depth. Just a few points though.

* I find it hard to hold playing the Canes in the ECF against the Pens when last year we got to play a worn-out Stars team that did a lot of the dirty work for us, taking out the Ducks and Sharks. Even this year, we've played the 7, 8 and 4 seeds. Playoff choker label aside, the Sharks would've been a damn tough series for us.

* I think we as a collective tend to overrate the Ducks just because they've given us our two stiffest playoff challenges since the Edmonton debacle. I think it's a bad matchup for us more than the Ducks being some kind of juggernaut. Where was all that Cup/playoff experience last year when they were losing in the first round? Where was that airtight defense this year when they were backing into the last playoff spot? They're a solid team that gives us matchup problems, but they also have zero depth and mediocre goaltending. And the Canes also won a recent Stanley Cup. Just sayin'

* I don't think the Flyers are any worse than the Blackhawks. Philly's top 6 are right there with anyone's, the goaltending isn't worse than Khabibulin/Huet, etc.

[xtrememachine1 795]

i think though that the x-factor in all this is the pens desire to win. to me that's the biggest thing. you can have all the talent you want but heart > talent. i never predicted the pens would beat the wings but i do think they have a shot.

I haven't agreed with a lot that you've posted, but I think you're 100% right here. The Pens have a lot of heart and hunger for the Cup this year. If they're going to win it, its going to be because they simply want it more. To do that guys like Guerin, Fedotenko, Satan, Talbot, Staal will have to play above their usual standards.

I'm not questioning Detroit's heart but a team that hasn't won the Cup will always be hungrier than a team that just did.

[BewareThePenguin 1]

The more I watch the Pens, the more I'm convinced that they're a two-man show. If you shut down Malkin, Crosby, or both.. they have nothing. Fleury can hold them in if he's having a good day.. otherwise, they're done.

Perhaps you haven't watched enough then?

Fedotenko's been a beast, Talbot's stepped up, so has Guerin, so has Scuderi. Last night Staal (the one on the Penguins) dominated the entire first period, and showed up his star brother.

Last year you did shut down Malkin and Crosby, and the series still came within a whisker of going the full seven.

Then again, Crosby hadn't done much that entire playoff series -- think it's safe to say he's improved this year.

We'll see -- provided the Red Wings take care of Chicago of course.

[Chris L 0]

I haven't agreed with a lot that you've posted, but I think you're 100% right here. The Pens have a lot of heart and hunger for the Cup this year. If they're going to win it, its going to be because they simply want it more. To do that guys like Guerin, Fedotenko, Satan, Talbot, Staal will have to play above their usual standards.

I'm not questioning Detroit's heart but a team that hasn't won the Cup will always be hungrier than a team that just did.

I think that stems, a lot, from Bill Gurein. He's the x-factor for the Pens. For us, its our health, we're beat to hell, and I can only hope our Wings have enough left in them for 5 more wins (counting tonight, of course)

[BewareThePenguin 1]

The Pens have not played a team like Detroit yet. They will think they will be invisible after doing so well with Detroit "struggling". They will be quite surprised the depth the west has to man-handle the Penguins in 5 games.

Agreed.

Nor have the Red Wings faced a team like the Pens yet, either. The Ducks, for all you want to pump them up, don't bring it like the Pens do scoring wise. Works both ways.

No doubt, though, having faced those big bad Western beasts like Columbus, the Red Wings should be primed.

[Shaman 713]

Agreed.

Nor have the Red Wings faced a team like the Pens yet, either. The Ducks, for all you want to pump them up, don't bring it like the Pens do scoring wise. Works both ways.

No doubt, though, having faced those big bad Western beasts like Columbus, the Red Wings should be primed.

Just like the beasts of the flyers and canes.

[Chris L 0]

Agreed.

Nor have the Red Wings faced a team like the Pens yet, either. The Ducks, for all you want to pump them up, don't bring it like the Pens do scoring wise. Works both ways.

No doubt, though, having faced those big bad Western beasts like Columbus, the Red Wings should be primed.

The Pens do have a few good scoring lines. They are very much improved over last year. They're getting points, here and there, from a few of the role-players and that bodes well for the Pens.

But the Wings have, when this deep in the playoffs, always gotten production out of their role-players. I think we are facing a team similar in many ways to the Pens right now. Granted, Fleury is 10 times the goalie right now that any goalie the Hawks can bring, but then we've already faced and ripped up two wonderkind goalies this year. Mason and Hiller were ruined by us.

Its going to come down to defense, as usual, in the SCF. Both teams have excellent production from their offense, I'd give a slight edge to the Wings because they spread it around a bit more than the Pens. Goaltending, right now, I'd say is even. Ozzie has been awesome for us and Fleury has had some mind boggling stops this year. But in Defense, we've got the better over-all corps than the Pens. Provided we get Lids back and he's healty. If not, its a coin toss for both teams.

(edited for grammar, not that I'm good at it, but it was bad enough for me to see it)

Edited May 27, 2009 by Chris L

[xtrememachine1 795]

Perhaps you haven't watched enough then?

Fedotenko's been a beast, Talbot's stepped up, so has Guerin, so has Scuderi. Last night Staal (the one on the Penguins) dominated the entire first period, and showed up his star brother.

Last year you did shut down Malkin and Crosby, and the series still came within a whisker of going the full seven.

Then again, Crosby hadn't done much that entire playoff series -- think it's safe to say he's improved this year.

We'll see -- provided the Red Wings take care of Chicago of course.

I've watched the Pens all year and you're right, they're not a two man show, they're a three man show. Crosby, Malkin and Fleury. Fedotenko isn't good despite his strong play as of late, Talbot is awful offensively, Guerin comes and goes. Scuderi has been good defensively, can't argue that.

Yes, the series went whisker of going the full seven, but it was also 34 seconds away from being wrapped up in 5. How soon we forget.

Edited May 27, 2009 by xtrememachine1

[xtrememachine1 795]

Nor have the Red Wings faced a team like the Pens yet, either. The Ducks, for all you want to pump them up, don't bring it like the Pens do scoring wise. Works both ways.

This was the same argument last year. "Yeah, the Pens haven't seen a defense like the Wings, but the WINGS haven't seen an OFFENSE like OURS!" You would think living in a city with the Steelers, you would know that DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS. I said it last year, I'll say it again this year. The Wings have a great defense and will prevent Crosby and Malkin from dominating the way they have. The Pens need Crosby and Malkin to play like they did against Washington and Carolina and it isn't going to happen.

[Firehawk 305]

Could you imagine if Crosby wins the cup this year on OUR ice? It would be horrible enough to lose to the Pens, but to watch Crosby of all players, take and hoist the cup on our ice would be criminal...

[titanium2 867]

This was the same argument last year. "Yeah, the Pens haven't seen a defense like the Wings, but the WINGS haven't seen an OFFENSE like OURS!" You would think living in a city with the Steelers, you would know that DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS. I said it last year, I'll say it again this year. The Wings have a great defense and will prevent Crosby and Malkin from dominating the way they have. The Pens need Crosby and Malkin to play like they did against Washington and Carolina and it isn't going to happen.

Different year.

Sid and Geno are better.

The Red Wings defense in comparison to last year... not so much.

[Firehawk 305]

This was the same argument last year. "Yeah, the Pens haven't seen a defense like the Wings, but the WINGS haven't seen an OFFENSE like OURS!" You would think living in a city with the Steelers, you would know that DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS. I said it last year, I'll say it again this year. The Wings have a great defense and will prevent Crosby and Malkin from dominating the way they have. The Pens need Crosby and Malkin to play like they did against Washington and Carolina and it isn't going to happen.

You should go back to the thread a year ago and find all of the stuff Pens fans were saying before the series started, such as what was just said. List them out and see how many are exactly the same as this year.

[Ms_Hockey 0]

This thread should be titled "Crosby and Malkin advance to the Stanley Cup Finals".

[Shaman 713]

This thread should be titled "Crosby and Malkin and Bettman advance to the Stanley Cup Finals".

Fixed

[BewareThePenguin 1]

This was the same argument last year. "Yeah, the Pens haven't seen a defense like the Wings, but the WINGS haven't seen an OFFENSE like OURS!" You would think living in a city with the Steelers, you would know that DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS. I said it last year, I'll say it again this year. The Wings have a great defense and will prevent Crosby and Malkin from dominating the way they have. The Pens need Crosby and Malkin to play like they did against Washington and Carolina and it isn't going to happen.

Yes, living in Football Town USA, I know the game -- and it's defense and QUARTERBACKING that wins championships. You want to play the analogy game, the Steelers defense broke down in the 4th quarter of the Bowl, and depended on Roethlisberger to pull it out.

The Pens do need their two superstars, no doubt -- it remains to be seen if they can be stopped. Not saying Detroit can't, but Sid and Geno are playing at a whole different level than they did last year. If they even contribute half of what they did vs. Carolina and Washington, the Pens will be tough to stop.

Again, this assumes Detroit goes to the finals.

[chrisdetroit 189]

Could you imagine if Crosby wins the cup this year on OUR ice? It would be horrible enough to lose to the Pens, but to watch Crosby of all players, take and hoist the cup on our ice would be criminal...

Can you image if the Wings win the cup this year and they clinch it on the Pens ice.

Just image Hossa skating around Mellon Arena with the cup held over his head in a Red Wings Jersey.

Wow! would that ever piss off the Pens fans. That would be sweeeeeeeeeeet

[xtrememachine1 795]

Yes, living in Football Town USA, I know the game -- and it's defense and QUARTERBACKING that wins championships. You want to play the analogy game, the Steelers defense broke down in the 4th quarter of the Bowl, and depended on Roethlisberger to pull it out.

The Pens do need their two superstars, no doubt -- it remains to be seen if they can be stopped. Not saying Detroit can't, but Sid and Geno are playing at a whole different level than they did last year. If they even contribute half of what they did vs. Carolina and Washington, the Pens will be tough to stop.

Again, this assumes Detroit goes to the finals.

Without getting into a "Why the Steelers won the Super Bowl" discussion on a Red Wings forum... Larry Fitzgerald had 1 catch for 11 yards going into the 4th quarter. James Harrison intercepts on the goaline and runs 100 yards for a TD. Defense wins championships

Crosby and Malkin are, of course, getting better, but what everyone else is failing to mention is that so are Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Hossa, Franzen, Kronwall, Cleary, Filppula, Hudler, etc. The Pens aren't the only team getting better. If Crosby and Malkin only do half what they did against Carolina and Washington, the Pens will lose.

My only concern going into these Finals is the health of the team. Datsyuk being out is bad, but manageable I think. If Nick Lidstrom is out or very limited, I think it will be very tough for Detroit to win.

[talex 1]

Although I would prefer to wait until we actually win the west, I will bite and add my 2 cents into this.

The Pens look to me to be about the same as last year with Malkin stepping up, but w/o Hossa. Gill will be a force again.

There is simply no way for the Wings to be fully healed by this weekend (assuming the SCF starts this weekend) and given that it will be a great series.

If both teams were 100% healthy I would say Wings possibly in a sweep but with the currently banged up group I think the playing field will be much more level with the Pens a year wiser, I say Malkin playing better leaves them about the same because of the loss of Hossa. I believe Detroit got stronger with the addition of Hossa. The Pens have not seen a team like Detroit yet in the Playoffs with a solid D and an equal if not more dangerous offense, but the Wings have not seen an Offense like the Pens yet either (although Chicago is very simular, they are not the same).

Depending on the depth and severity of the injuries this could be one for the ages, alot more than we are aware of the Wings could drop this one, less than our worst fears (most likely) this will be a great series, not significant injuries at all I say the Wings have a real chance at a sweep.

It will be exciting to watch if it comes to these 2 teams and I believe the 2 best teams in the NHL will be representing their respective divisions.

As far as the teams that both have played thus far, I think the Ducks were the best of the bunch, the Canes were just out of gas for the Pens series and were seriously out classed when it came to energy, not meant to take away from the Pens series victory, it's just a fact.

Congrats to the Pens and Goooooooooo Wings!!!!!!!

Edited May 27, 2009 by talex