Pittsburgh vs NY Islanders EC Quarterfinals

[evolver115]

v

It took until the very last minutes of the NHL's season to determine that these teams would meet in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The New York Islanders fell to the No. 8 seed when the Ottawa Senators defeated the Boston Bruins with a late goal in the final game of the season, Sunday night in Boston, to leapfrog past the idle Islanders.

The Pittsburgh Penguins, meanwhile, have occupied the top seed in the Eastern Conference for much of the season, putting together a solid, and often spectacular, campaign.

The dramatic turns of events that played out on TD Garden ice could not have been warmly greeted by the Islanders players. The excitement of returning to the playoffs for the first time in six years, and the possibility, of winning a series for the first time in two decades, has to be slightly tempered by the odds now faced. Certainly, the Islanders would have preferred to get the Bruins, the other possible opponent when the final game started.

Instead, it is the juggernaut out of Pittsburgh, which feasted on New York this season.

New York won the first game, in late January, by a 4-1 score, then dropped the next four -- including three in a three-week span -- by a combined score of 16-5.

To make matters worse, the Penguins seem to be getting healthy for the first time in a long time. Sidney Crosby, out with a fractured jaw, has been cleared to practice with the team and could be in for Game 1. Evgeni Malkin, James Neal and Paul Martin, all sidelined at some point in April, are already back in the lineup. Plus, the Penguins have added Jussi Jokinen to the fold since the last time these teams met on March 30.

Jokinen has five goals and nine points in nine games since coming to Pittsburgh in a trade from the Carolina Hurricanes. If everyone is healthy, he likely will be on the fourth line. Rookie Beau Bennett, who has 12 points in his past 19 games, might not even crack a healthy Penguins lineup.

Yes, the Penguins are deep and talented at forward. Crosby is practicing again, but his return remains unclear. Even without him, the Penguins might have the best set of forwards in the Eastern Conference; with him there is no debate.

When everyone is healthy, Crosby will likely center Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis -- each a 20-goal scorer this season. Malkin likely will skate between Iginla and Neal, which might be one of the top five trios in the League but would be the No. 2 line for Pittsburgh. Brandon Sutter would then center a third line with Morrow (12 points in 14 games since arriving from the Dallas Stars) and Matt Cooke, and the fourth unit has several possibilities. A skilled player like Bennett or Tyler Kennedy could be on the outside looking in.

It is a scary group on paper, but they will still have to prove they can all fit together.

John Tavares has established himself both as the face of the franchise and one of the top players in the sport. He likely will receive serious consideration for the Hart Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player after racking up 47 points in 48 games.

It was no secret Tavares had the skill to be an elite player in the League when the Islanders used the top pick at the 2009 NHL Draft for his services. But what separates Tavares from many is his drive. His desire to be the best player on the ice every single shift has rubbed off on his teammates, and is the main reason the Islanders are in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in six years.

Tavares, along with linemates Matt Moulson and Brad Boyes, lead an offense that improved as the season advanced. But New York's top trio combined for more than 100 points, led by Tavares, who finished third in the NHL with 28 goals.

Coach Jack Capuano deserves credit for showing patience with his club's second line, as it took time for Frans Nielsen, Josh Bailey and Kyle Okposo to start producing offensively. But once they got going, they were arguably New York's most consistent line during the final month of the regular season.

Michael Grabner, a finalist for the Calder Trophy in 2011, remains a threat every time he touches the puck because of his tremendous speed. If he gets hot, the Islanders will have three dangerous lines in the playoffs.

Free-agent acquisition Colin McDonald has been a nice complement for Matt Martin this season, and the gritty forwards have provided offense (they've combined for 11 goals) and a physical yet disciplined game.

GO PENS GO​

 

[evolver115]

12 hours from puck-drop. This day will drag......


No word on if Sid will be in the lineup, yet. I'm guessing he will be there

 

[evolver115]

Sid remains in the press box. Oh well

They have more than enough firepower to cover for him, but damn... was hoping he could have been in the lineup tonight.

 

[evolver115]

That was an ass-kicking of epic proportions. At no point did NY look prepared for the uptick in intensity of the playoffs. Fleury was outstanding. And that is a really great thing to see from him. Can't wait for Friday!

 

[evolver115]

Penguins' Crosby cleared to play tonight in Game 2 | TribLIVE

Sid is back in the lineup, but Neal and Orpik are out.

Drop the PUCK!! Let's Go Pens

 

[evolver115]

Series knotted up at 1 apiece. Game three in the Mausoleum will be pivotal.

Food for thought:

The Pens had the best road record in the eastern conference, this season. Also, they had the most regulation/overtime wins on the road this than any other team in the NHL.

Conversely, of all 16 teams currently in the post-season, the NY islanders had the fewest home wins, coming in with a losing record overall, at 10-11-3.

Disappointed that the Pens got outworked in game 2, but I'm hardly ready to start panicking. Lots of hockey to be played, yet.

 

[evolver115]

Well, that is the poorest effort I think I've ever seen from Marc-Andre Fleury in his playoff career. Up until game four, last night.. I thought the team wasn't doing him many favors, but last night Fleury was just giving up too many rebounds, and not making the easy save. Okposo's goal below the goal-line just can't happen.

I've always been a big supporter of Fleury's, but after last night, I just don't see how Bylsma can't give the game five start to Vokoun. Can't wait for Thursday's game so I can forget about the travesty that was game four.

 

[evolver115]

What a timely start that was for Tomas Vokoun. He came in last night and gave the guys in front of him some much needed confidence. What a huge win that was. Would have been real tough going down 3-2 and headed back to NY for a possible elimination, now the Isles are the ones who are on the brink.

Really think the absence of McDonald on the back-end for NY factored in heavily for game five.. as the game wore on, the inexperience among the New York defensemen began to surface (two break-away goals).

 

[evolver115]

That will do it! Who would have guessed Orpik would net the series equalizer?

I give a ton of credit to the Isles. They played with heart, and sometimes.. a lot of times ... more than Pittsburgh. In the end, they just didn't have quite enough talent. I think this will make the Pens a better team, going forward.

On to round two

 

[BigBlueNation111]

GO PENS!!!! Got to actually watch the game last night...well that and the nascar race!! lol

 

[evolver115]

GO PENS!!!! Got to actually watch the game last night...well that and the nascar race!! lol

Morning Blue

Tune in later this coming week. Pens and Sens is going to be bloody

 

[BigBlueNation111]

Morning Blue

Tune in later this coming week. Pens and Sens is going to be bloody

Ohh,i will bro!!