Bruins - Pens ECF

[beantownmaniac]

I not sure what to take on this series...but the bruins need vets on D not young guns. The Pens are a much deeper team than that Canucks team was. Also, don't mistake this squad as all flash no grit. Third and fourth lines have a lot of grit, will hit you, win board battles, still have scoring ability, etc. Rask will be the x-factor here. The Pens make good goalies look silly. Their offensive output isn't some fluke. A hot goalie could stop them. Also don't overlook Vokoun's stats just because he's old. His one loss was 2-1 in 2OTs. The Pens have the edge in offense, the Bruins in D (if healthy), and I call the net a draw based on postseason performance. This will be a battle.

I have to disagree on the defense aspect Pix. Those 3 may be young but have played as well as any veteran so far these playoffs, and I don't think they feel the pressure the vets feel. They're just excited to be there and want to play their asses off and have fun. Krug has been as good as any d-man on the Bruins during his time up. This series will be won by the team that makes the fewest mistakes from the forwards on down to the goalies. JMO

 

[elocomotive]

I think the Pens will win this series... but here is what I hope actually happens...

Vokoun cracks in spectacular and epic fashion, leaving the Pens no option but to play all the games in the series from game 3 on with a pulled goalie and an additional skater. There are 94 goals scored in the series after it's all over. In game 4, Crosby and Marchand collide heads with each other so hard that they both become good looking and both have concussions, ending both of their hockey careers. The Pens win the series in 7, but NHL officials discover a little known rule that if any team plays without a goalie for more than 150 minutes of the series, both teams are disqualified and cannot advance to the finals. Per rules, the Ottawa Senators are given a pass to the Cup Finals to play the Western Conference champion where they are beaten by the Sharks.

Sigh... a fella can dream...

 

[KennyBanyeah]

I think the Pens will win this series... but here is what I hope actually happens...

Vokoun cracks in spectacular and epic fashion, leaving the Pens no option but to play all the games in the series from game 3 on with a pulled goalie and an additional skater. There are 94 goals scored in the series after it's all over. In game 4, Crosby and Marchand collide heads with each other so hard that they both become good looking and both have concussions, ending both of their hockey careers. The Pens win the series in 7, but NHL officials discover a little known rule that if any team plays without a goalie for more than 150 minutes of the series, both teams are disqualified and cannot advance to the finals. Per rules, the Ottawa Senators are given a pass to the Cup Finals to play the Western Conference champion where they are beaten by the Sharks.

Sigh... a fella can dream...

 

[elocomotive]

Perfect response.

 

[BF4L]

I not sure what to take on this series...but the bruins need vets on D not young guns. The Pens are a much deeper team than that Canucks team was. Also, don't mistake this squad as all flash no grit. Third and fourth lines have a lot of grit, will hit you, win board battles, still have scoring ability, etc. Rask will be the x-factor here. The Pens make good goalies look silly. Their offensive output isn't some fluke. A hot goalie could stop them. Also don't overlook Vokoun's stats just because he's old. His one loss was 2-1 in 2OTs. The Pens have the edge in offense, the Bruins in D (if healthy), and I call the net a draw based on postseason performance. This will be a battle.

I agree with the bold.

If the Bruins play undisciplined hockey the Pens will eat them alive with that power play. Penguins have the 2nd most PP's in the playoffs and the Bruins have the least amount.

The Bruins need to make sure they play on top and physical. Hit them hard and often and always clean. Make Sid and Malkin pay a price every time they touch the puck.

TBH if they give the Pens 4-5 PP's per game and the Bruins 1 or 2 this series will be very hard for the Bruins to win.

 

[IPostedWhat]

 

[pixburgher66]

I have to disagree on the defense aspect Pix. Those 3 may be young but have played as well as any veteran so far these playoffs, and I don't think they feel the pressure the vets feel. They're just excited to be there and want to play their asses off and have fun. Krug has been as good as any d-man on the Bruins during his time up. This series will be won by the team that makes the fewest mistakes from the forwards on down to the goalies. JMO

They have been good, but who have they faced? Invisible Richards? Callahan? Moore? Arron Asham? My point is the talent, speed, and knowledge of player they're gonna face just increased. Talented doesn't always win out, but this will be the third series the Pens will face some young D on the back end. Three of your guys are rookies...not saying they aren't playing well, but this roster is a new test. Chara can't cover all the Pens dangerous players. The Bruins strength is on the bac side more than up front, and I tend to think this may be a mismatch for them. Time will tell, and the talent is most definitely on the roster. They can beat the Pens, no doubt.

 

[dare2be]

I want nothing more than the Pens to steamroll the Bruins. But I hardly ever get what I want.

 

[awaz]

pens lose their cool when the bruins get physical and significantly slow down the offense, bruins pick them apart in 5 games.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

I see Vokoun as the key to this series. Rask is the absolute #1 in Boston. There's no debate there. The B's D is excellent and the Pens O is equally excellent.

But if Vokoun shows even the slightest crack, the goalie controversy machine is going to climb to epic levels and is going to be a huge distraction. The worst thing that could happen (short of injuries of course) is Bylsma having to juggle back and forth between goalies and field a bunch of questions in each presser about who he's putting in goal from one game to the next.

 

[DevilishWon]

Who should I root against in this one?

 

[thedddd]

Who should I root against in this one?

The team in Black/Gold and White?

 

[dare2be]

Who should I root against in this one?

For the sake of the sanity of both teams' fanbases, root for the refs to call a good game.

 

[elocomotive]

So... this is awesome.

Pittsburgh bar bans sale of Sam Adams during Bruins series

 

[dare2be]

So... this is awesome.

Pittsburgh bar bans sale of Sam Adams during Bruins series

This made it awesomer:

(Ed. Note: People have been suggesting a ban on Heinz, but that's asinine because Hunts is terrible. It would be like banning oxygen.)

 

[dare2be]

BTW, this is a much better promotion than the one MAF ran during the first round against the Islanders when he gave out free shots.

 

[dash]

This made it awesomer:

No kidding, I'm surprised Hunts is still in business, it tastes awful.

 

[dare2be]

Saturday can't come soon enough..........................

 

[thedddd]

So... this is awesome.

Pittsburgh bar bans sale of Sam Adams during Bruins series

LOL good one. As long as they sell anything but Iron Shitty...

 

[pixburgher66]

This wait is terrrrrrible.