Penguins beat Montreal at their own game.

It took all the way until the completion of Game 2 this time before everyone decided to start panicking as opposed to after Game 1 of the Ottawa series.  I just get the opinion that most folks in this city, judging by the callers on the talk shows and the letter writers, feel that the Penguins not only will win every series in four games but should.  Heck, a few of the callers seem to think there should be some way the Penguins can win in three.  Everyone needs to just calm down and realize two things.

1. The other team is made up of professional hockey players too, some of whom are quite good.

2. The Penguins have an excellent coaching staff that has proven they have the ability to make adjustments to their team’s style on the fly ...

Pens Regain Home Ice Advantage With Win in Montreal

To the Canadiens credit, they came out flying in the first period.  They were trying to take the energy of playing in front of the home crowd and turn it into an early advantage.  To the Penguins credit, they weathered the storm.  Pittsburgh was able to withstand the early pressure and keep the game tied at 0 going into the first intermission.

Crosby Celebrates Malkin's goal.

Unfortunately for Montreal, they were not able to keep the pace that they had set in the first period going for the next two periods.  That is when the Pens, having stuck to their game plan, took over the game.  The Canadiens got 7 shots in the first to the Pens 3.  Most of those were very good scoring chances.  In the second period, the Pens began to turn it on.  The outshot the Canadiens 13-3.  In the third the Pens outshot the Canadiens 9-8.  Many of those were during frenzied, desperate attempts to tie up the game.  In the second and third periods, time in the opponents offensive zone definitely went in the Pen’s favor.

...

My Mother’s a Good Cooking

Similar to my absence on the penguin poop, Malkin has been highly inconsistent during this year’s playoffs.  That will change during game 3 due to some fantastic soup cooking from Mrs. Malkin.  Aside from that, there is atleast one thing I would like to see changed before the pens head into Montreal.  Disco, please stop giving Fedotenko chances to prove he’s not worth his roster spot.  I know he was great in the playoffs last year, but enough is enough.  His penalty in game 2 was as costly as it gets, stealing away all of the pens momentum.  That said, I am actually glad the Penguins lost game 2, because every once in a while, it’s good for a team of this caliber to get a wake up call.  Too many people were overconfident going into this series, and the pens needed to see that if they don’t play their A game, they will not win.

...

Penguins Fail to End Series At Home Against Senators

Unfortunately, I did not get to watch the whole game as I had to work a particularly long day today.  I missed the first period.  From the point that I started watching until the end of regulation, I thought the Pens dominated.  The overtime period was a little bit different with the Senators showing more determination. Ottawa actually got some good goaltending and just a sh**load of blocked shots. In fact, the Senators had more blocked shots than they took shots on goal.  (46 Blocked shots – 44 Shots on goal)  You have to give Ottawa credit, they played well and showed a great deal of resolve.

...

Gameday Poop Game 5: Penguins vs Senators – The Elimination Game

The Penguins had a chance last year to eliminate both the Flyers and Capitals at Mellon Arena and both times they failed. Tonight the Penguins have a chance to eliminate the Ottawa Senators from this years playoffs by simply winning the game. The reward is probably what amounts to a week off. The Senators aren’t about to roll over and succumb, the Pens must continue to play with the desire that got them to this point.

Marc-Andre Fleury has had some good numbers since the first game when everyone ready to ship him off to Siberia. Here is how PenguinPoop writer Jean Pronovost thinks he stacks up against the other goaltenders in the playoffs so far: Fleury gives the Penguins a huge advantage over every other team

Sidney Crosby has flipped the switch and I have never seen him this driven before. Forget all the talk about being worn down from all the games, Captain Crosby should be one of the most worn down. Even though he has won the MVP, Art Ross, Stanley Cup & Gold Medal along with  a bunch of other awards and accolades, he is still 3 years short of what is considered the prime NHL performing ages of 25 to 29.

Somebody tell Jonathan Cheechoo that he is still listed as being in those prime ages. Over the last five years after having over 50 goals in one season, he has seen his goal scoring numbers dwindle 56-37-23-12 then only 5 this season and was sent down to the AHL and just called back up last game. He is only 29 years old!  Word on the street is he’ll be benched tonight after only one game back, and Donovan is in.  

Where are all the callups? With the Penguins AHL minor league team going down for the count, I would have thought the Pens would have called up more than just defenseman Deryk Engelland a guy who at 28 has only played in 9 NHL games to skate with the team.

Tyler Kennedy is listed as day to day with a lower body injury, he didn’t skate today and I would say that there is a less than 1% chance he will play tonight, I was impressed last game that after T.K. got hit and went down hard and was struggling to stand, when the puck got near him, he tried his best to get it to the front of the net. That’s why the Penguin team wins. Desire.

Here is the lineup the Penguins practiced with this morning:

Kunitz-Crosby-Guerin
Dupuis-Malkin-Ponikarovsky
Cooke-Staal-Fedotenko
Rupp-Talbot-Adams

I would question adding Fedotenko who has the worst plus/minus to the Pens checking third line, the line that the Penguins try to line up against the other teams top line, but seriously why question coach Bylsma. We need to start a WWBD – What Would Bylsma Do campaign.

Did you know coach Dan Bylsma has written 4 books? Dan along with his father wrote four books to help kids get better at sports and he runs a hockey camp in Minnesota where they call him “Hockey Dan” You can read more about that here: Hockey Dan!

The Ottawa Senators fans have already written their team off. Here are some quotes from Ottawa Senators blogs: Sens Underground “We’re afraid the fat lady is about to sing.” the Sixth Sens: “Start writing the eulogy. Ottawa is toast.” Canucnik: “Next Year!” Black Aces: “Nightmare Goaltending Sinks Ottawa, Likely For Good This Time” Personally I’m the guy that thinks we can still win losing 6-2 with 30 seconds left. It drives my wife crazy.

Wait Sens fans don’t slit those wrists just yet, I found one Senators Blog that’s holding out hope, you could say a true Senators fan: Duff from Another Ottawa Senators Blog: “I know there is one more game and I’m not about to jump ship” Wow, could he rub it in if he’s right. I hope he’s not.

I know I shouldn’t look ahead but… The Eastern Conference playoff race is panning out with all four teams taking a 3-1 lead in their respective  series. If this plays out, the Pens will play ...

Penguins Have to Make Some Changes

The Stanley Cup Playoffs 2010 are underway.  Four games were played on Wednesday night.  The only road team to lose, the Red Wings, was the one most likely to win.  All four games were decided by one goal.  Does this mean that San Jose, Detroit, New Jersey, and Pittsburgh are all going to lose in the first round?  Probably not. 

Our concern is the Penguins.  They opened the playoffs with one of their worst games of the season.  Most fans want to put the entire loss on Fleury.  He had a big hand in it.  He wasn’t the only culprit on the ice.  As bad as the team played, they still could have won the game if the goaltending was better.  It will be better on Friday. 

There are a few changes that I would like to see in the way the lines are configured.  ...

Gameday Poop: Game 1 – Pittsburgh Penguins vs Ottawa Senators

Three years ago the Penguins were ousted from the playoffs in the first round by the Senators 4-1.  Two years ago in the playoffs the Penguins swept the Senators out of the playoffs 4-0 in a series that was the biggest turning point for the young Penguins and signaled that the Penguins were ready to challenge for the Stanley Cup.  Tonight Pittsburgh starts a series against Ottawa that will once again show if they’ve got it or they don’t.

It feels like just yesterday the Penguins were in the playoffs and it also seems like it took forever for the playoffs to get here. The Penguins have 16 games they need to win for all the glory and I would appreciate it if they would do it without giving me a heart attack like they almost did last year. 

The Penguin’s fans have a few questions they want answered and the main one is are the Pens ready to compete at the level they did last year? Everyone is wondering if Fleury is the same goaltender he was, if the defense without Hal Gill and Rob Scuderi is going to be able to cut it and if the team has enough energy in them after back to back runs to do it a third time.

Things the Penguins need to do to be successful this year in the playoffs.

• Mark Andre Fleury needs to cover his angles. Fleury has been out of position since the Olympic break, and it shows in his numbers.
• Kris Letang needs some target practice. If you think Letang’s team worst shooting percentage is bad, keep in mind the shooting percentage only keeps track of his shots that are on net. Letang also needs pass better, he is not setting up his team mates for one timers on the powerplay.
• Goligoski needs to become the player he was 2 years ago when he led the WBS baby Penguins to the Championship by leading the team in points even though he’s a defenseman.
• The Powerplay needs to keep moving and shooting. It’s looking better, but it’s not there yet.
• Crosby needs to play every game like he does when the Penguins are down a goal at the end of a game & Malkin needs to stay injury free.
• The rest of the team needs to “flick the switch” and become that gritty shot blocking forechecking team they’ve been in the playoffs the last two years.
• They need to hoist the Cup at the Igloo for once!

Here is the guestimated Penguins lineup for tonight’s game:

Dupuis-Crosby-Guerin
Fedotenko-Malkin-Ponikarovsky
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Rupp-Talbot-Adams

Kunitz & Cooke are last minute gametime decisions.  Orpik will be playing.

The Penguins management is putting into place all the goodies they had last year. The giant screen will be outside the Igloo, hide your flask as once again alcohol is prohibited. Make sure to wear your white Pens jersey the first two games as they are calling for “whiteouts” and will be handing out t-shirts and the Pens version of the terrible towel to all fans with a ticket.

The Penguins should just give up now! WhatifSports.com ran a simulation 2000 times and has the Capitals winning the Cup over the Blackhawks in 6 games.  You can view it here: “Pens Lose Second round“. It gives the Penguins not a 15% chance but a .15% chance of winning the Cup. Fear not though, they predicted last year that ...