Pittsburgh Penguins Thread

[doox 15]

No kidding. I love seeing Talbot get rewarded for the things he does game in, game out. Btw, did the VS guys make anything of Cowher sounding the pregame siren thingy? I never noticed if they did.

[Zach6668 513]

CBC had Cherry interview him like a minute before he did the siren, and it was pretty funny. Cherry asked him how be became a hockey fan, and he talks about growing up with the Hornets, and then watching the Pens in the 90s, then Cherry asks him if "they're" going to pull it out tonight (obviously talking about the Canes) and he goes on about all his Cane love. It was funny seeing him switch sides so easily.Pittsburgh born and raised, but lives in North Carolina now, lol.

[MapleLeafpoker 1,462]

Jeez. You know you're getting all the bounces when...

Thats funny you mention.....its really not sour grapes on my part, Pens have clearly been the MUCH better team, but wow, all the big bounces are going there way too it feels like.

[doox 15]

I've actually been at games where Cowher was in attendance with his daughter and wife, sitting with the rest of the fans in section C. What a traitor. I'm not sure why he wouldn't want to stay neutral for this series, knowing he'd be ruining a lot of goodwill that Pittsburgh still has towards him.

[Zach6668 513]

The Pens forecheck is unreal in this game.

[doox 15]

What a flip-flopping douche. Pick a ****ing team and stick with it. He just said he'd happily cheer for the Pens if the Canes get ousted.

[Zach6668 513]

Eric Staal has been a complete beast in this game. Can't fault him for anything going on tonight, he looks like the one of the few who still has the heart left to give this everything he has.

[Zach6668 513]

Great pressure by the Canes at the end there. About the last 3-4 minutes.

[doox 15]

I'm glad Cole is ok - seeing him, of all people, take a shot to the neck was scary.

[powerpoker 0]

I'm glad Cole is ok - seeing him, of all people, take a shot to the neck was scary.

No doubt, didnt even miss a shift.

[dEv~ 19]

Craig Adams, the last Hartford Whaler ever drafted just put the nail in the coffin on the Carolina Hurricanes.

[powerpoker 0]

Conference Champs!!!!!!! YES!!!!!!! 4 More Wins

[dEv~ 19]

Ah...not sure if I like seeing them touch that trophy.

[powerpoker 0]

Ah...not sure if I like seeing them touch that trophy.

Ya i thought that was kinda wierd to. Crosby just said, we didnt touch it last year and things didnt go as we planned so why not try something different. Meh i guess we will see.

[dEv~ 19]

Ya i thought that was kinda wierd to. Crosby just said, we didnt touch it last year and things didnt go as we planned so why not try something different. Meh i guess we will see.

Yep, I'm glad she asked him that question.

[Zach6668 513]

I was really surprised to see Sid touch it, then a few minutes later I figured it out. He confirmed it on CBC (and apparently VS) when he said he didn't like the results of not touching it last year. Heh. He's sorta superstitious.

[dEv~ 19]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09057/951841-150.stm

[Vertigo 0]

Superstition is gay. I hope Det/Chicago touches it too. Then it will completely invalidate that theory!

[dEv~ 19]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ER9elp4dsPM...player_embedded The GWG

[MapleLeafpoker 1,462]

Craig Adams, the last Hartford Whaler ever drafted just put the nail in the coffin on the Carolina Hurricanes.

geez, i didnt know that! what a hoof to the nuts. lol.great series guys. Im not sure I have seen a hotter team running on all engines so late in the playoffs. I was at a friends house tonight, and he just couldnt help saying "Wow. This might be the best final we will ever see....Wings vs Pens rematch, both teams on top of their game." while I quickly reminded him the Wings had not won yet, I couldnt help thinking he was probably right. All I would hope is that both teams are healthy and ready. Could really be amazing.

[Zach6668 513]

Agree, Arp. I think the Penguins have a lot better chance to win this year, than they did last. The experience from last year is absolutely essential. We won't see the Pens shut out in the first 2 games before they even know what hit them. Fleury won't be falling as he steps onto the ice this time. And so on.I honestly believe Sid and Geno are going to elevate their game even more in the Finals, and I think it'll be oh so tough to beat their determination.

[doox 15]

Ah...not sure if I like seeing them touch that trophy.

I was in the car at this point, and evidentally Borque loved the fact that they held up the trophy. Back when they first won it, they ran around giddy with it in their hands, so he definitely approved. It turned out pretty well for them in the SC Finals, too.

[Zach6668 513]

Yeah, Mario led a full parade around the ice when they won it in 1991.

[Zach6668 513]

The Pens got goals from Talbot, Fedotenko, Guerin, and Adams today. That's a real good sign heading into the Finals. Sid and Geno have a supporting cast this year, and they're a very deep team, all of a sudden. They'll give either Western team a real tough time.Line by line, this team stacks up pretty well against last year's team, that pushed Detroit to 6.Line 1:2008 - Dupuis - Crosby - Hossa2009 - Kunitz - Crosby - GuerinThe biggest problem with the 2008 line was Dupuis. He's a pretty good player, but he isn't even in the top 11 forwards on the 2009 team, which just goes to show how deep it is. Hossa is obviously a world class talent, but Dupuis was a bit of a weak link there, even though the line played quite well throughout their run. This year, Sid has two competent wingers on his line. Guerin has been a good finisher in these playoffs, having scored 7 goals in 17 games in the playoffs, as well as chipping in 7 assists. Kunitz is out there creating space, taking the man, forechecking hard, etc, and although his goal scoring has been very slow (1 goal), he's still chipped in with 11 assists, and has shown to be turning the corner in the Carolina series (5 points in 4 games).The biggest difference in this line though, is the man in the middle. Sidney Crosby had a great run in the playoffs last year, but he's already surpassed his production totals. In 17 games this year, he's got 14 goals and 14 assists. Through 20 last year, he had 27 points. The key though, is that he's 100% healthy right now, and he's got not only one more year of experience and maturing under his belt, he's got Finals experience to make him that much better, and that much more determined. Hossa is probably better by himself than Kunitz and Guerin, but the fact that Sid is just that much better this year, to me, makes this year's version of the top line better overall.Line 2:2008 - Malone - Malkin - Sykora2009 - Fedotenko - Malkin - TalbotThe loss of Malone here is a big one, but Fedotenko has stepped up admirably in his place, although he's not as gritty, nor as much of a physical presence. Fedotenko is looking like the clutch scorer from the Lightning's 04 cup run, and has matched Malone's goal total from 2008 in these playoffs already. Sykora played an integral part in this line last year, but like Dupuis, is relegated to watching from the pressbox. Inserting Max Talbot onto this line to do all of the dirty work has really freed up Geno and Feds to focus more of their attention towards scoring goals. Ruslan even said it himself, that with Talbot out there, instead of Syko, he doesn't have to worry so much defensively, and him and Geno have better chemistry at this point than Malkin and Sykora. In fact, Talbot's 4g, 3a are not that far behind Sykora's 6g, 3a performance last year, from a pure production standpoint, and that includes Talbot spending most of the first round on the 4th line.Talbot is really turning into a clutch playoff performer. He really seems to elevate his game in the playoffs, and his work on this line is opening up room for Feds and Malkin to do what they do best.Like Crosby, though, Malkin's the biggest improvement on this line. Malone and last year's Sykora are probably better than Fedotenko and Talbot on paper, but Geno's transformation this year makes this line so much better. Malkin raised his regular season game to the point where he captured the Art Ross trophy, and has carried his success over into the playoffs. He was downright dominant at times in the Carolina series, showing he can raise his game in the playoffs to a whole other level, following Crosby's lead on that one, and the two of them are tied for 1st in playoff scoring by a mile.Line 3:2008 - Ruutu - Staal - Kennedy2009 - Cooke - Staal - KennedyPretty simple here. Cooke > Ruutu, 2009 Staal > 2008 Staal, and 2009 Kennedy > 2008 Kennedy. The two young guys have added another year of experience. TK was a rookie last season, and has learned a lot, while Staal has improved in all areas after notching his 2nd career 20 goal season, and had career highs in assists and points. He's also improved defensively to the point where he's consistently out against the other team's best line, and doing a good job on them (Jeff Carter, Alex Semin, Eric Staal, to name a few). This line is cycling so well, and forcing their opponents top offensive players to play defense against them, not the other way around. They have the ability to contribute the odd goal as well.Line 4:2008 - Hall - Talbot - Roberts/Laraque2009 - Adams - Crosby/Malkin - SatanThis is where the biggest difference comes in. The Pens last year were not rolling 4 lines in the playoffs. Their lack of depth at forward really hurt them here. Hall was a very solid warrior, but he's no better than Craig Adams. Roberts and Laraque brought a physical presence, but would only get a few minutes in each game. Talbot was a good center for this line, though. The 2009 version is a hybrid; a system that I've never before seen in the NHL. The 4th line wingers, Adams and Satan are both solid. Very surprisingly, with respect to Satan, he learned that he needs to redevelop his game a bit to get back to the NHL, and he's worked hard on his defensive game and added a bit of physicality and a bit of grit. Admittedly, he's not a typical 4th line grinder, though.What makes it all work, is that the Penguins have the luxury of having the 2 best centers in the NHL (sorry Datsyuk). 2 centers who can log a ton of ice time if they need to, so they generally just rotate between Sid and Geno to center these 2. It creates a really interesting dynamic. This isn't a true 4th line. These guys aren't defensive specialists, with the exception perhaps of Adams. They are a 4th line that has potential to burn you offensively. Obviously any time Crosby or Malkin are on the ice, the thread to score is there, but Satan provides some skill, soft hands, and a nice shot, and Adams provides the grit for the line. These guys are getting 10-12 minutes per game, not the standard 3-6 minutes that a lot of teams give their 4th liners, and they've proved to be a very good option for Dan Bylsma.The thing that makes this all work though, is that Crosby and Malkin are NOT playing too much. They are still playing their normal 19-22 minutes per game, up slightly from the regular season, maybe. I sometimes hear criticism of those two for not killing penalties, but it doesn't make sense. If you're coaching them, and already have a handful of solid guys on the PK (Staal, Cooke, Adams, Talbot, Kunitz, etc), why waste their minutes in their own end? This maximizes their even strength and PP ice time, and it royally screws up any line matching that the opposite coach is trying to do, because Sid and Geno spend so much even strength time on the ice, and someone unpredictably, too, as you never really know when Disco Dan will throw out the 4th unit.Byslma can also through out Staal or Talbot if Crosby or Malkin need a rest, and still have an effective 3rd/4th style line.Defense 1:2008 - Gonchar - Orpik2009 - Gonchar - OrpikOrpik broke out in the playoffs last year, and has only improved upon that this year. Gonchar's health is maybe in question, but he's still 1 year more experienced than he was last year. At worst this year's is tied with 2008.Defense 2:2008 - Sydor/Letang - Whitney2009 - Letang - EatonLetang has had his breakout season after being a rookie last year, and is much much improved. Whitney might end up being a better defenseman down the line, but last year he regressed from his best season, and was also injured. Mark Eaton takes his spot and is a very good shut down guy to compliment Kris's offensive instincts. Eaton had a great rebound from 2 injury plagued seasons. The biggest key here, though is Letang's development. Last year he spent some time as a healthy scratch, and there's an absolutely zero percent chance that happens this year.Defense 3:2008 - Gill - Scuderi2009 - Gill - ScuderiGill is probably about the same, but Rob Scuderi has had a breakout playoffs, and is much better than he was last season. He's the Pens shutdown defenseman. Ovechkin scored a lot of goals in round 2, yes, but he would have scored 2 or 3 times as many if Scuderi wasn't on him. Definitely better this year than last.Defense 4:2008 - n/a2009 - BoucherIt's hard to talk down about the 7-defense strategy that Bylsma has used. Not only has it made the forwards more dynamic, since Sid and Geno are getting more even strength ice time, it's also taken a bit of a burden off of the defense. The playoffs are a long, tough road, and having 7 guys take the pain instead of 6 just might pay dividends down the road, late in the finals, or if there's a long overtime, etc. Boucher has been very good, as well, as he's helping out offensively, as well as being solid defensively, in somewhat limited minutes. His right handed shot provides a perfect LD for the 2nd PP unit, as well.Goaltending:Fleury has been great when the Pens have needed him, simple as that. Last year, he did have to steal some games on his own, but this season, outside of a couple games in the first round, he really hasn't had to. Probably a push in this category, but the extra experience Fleury got in the finals last year might push it to the 2009 side of the scale just slightly.

[Babying 613]

Zach? A lot of time on your hands?BTW, nice writeup.