The stretch battle for the last spot in the East and the right to lose in 6 to Pitt

[BOSSMANPC]

Boss, just because the thread title says that teams are fighting for the right to lose to the Pens in 6, doesn't mean that team will exercise that right.

I understand that and was just making a comment because like I said in my post "I know it makes for good conversation but some people take it seriously (I saw it in a thread yesterday) a poster was confident his team would kick the other teams ass because they did all season long". It was directed to a few posters based on their comments.

If it came across as a lecture im sorry, it was just an opinion.

 

[Dacks]

I want the Pens to play the Senators so I can go to some games, but in terms of our chances, I'd rank it as follows:

Winnipeg
Rangers
Senators
Isles

Just how I think we match up well. Obviously anything can happen, but Penguins have had good success against the Rangers and Lundqvist (knock on wood) in the past, and their strengths aren't as dangerous to us as the Isles or Senators.

 

[thedddd]

WARNING WARNING WARNING.....

The playoffs starts a new season, a goalie can get hot (or cold) a team can get a couple good bounces and how often have we seen a so so player pick it up in the playoffs and become a scoring machine.

How often have we seen a team struggle on the PP or PK but the playoffs come and they turn it around. Anything can happen and be careful what you ask for. I know it makes for good conversation but some people take it seriously (I saw it in a thread yesterday) a poster was confident his team would kick the other teams ass because they did all season long.

I can remember a few years where the team the Sabres were playing in the playoffs had records that completely reversed after the series was over. You never know and like the old saying goes. Be careful what you ask for.....

BTW, I think a Chicago V Pittsburgh or Boston would be a good final.

Seriously I love the finals no matter who is in them. Yeah if the Penguins don't make it I will be upset but it will make the fans of 29 other teams happy.

 

[Gooch1034]

I am never one to get cocky about my teams. I know all too well that any team can get beat by any other team or run into a hot goalie(Halak). I do think the Pens "could" be beat, but after seeing what the current Pens team can do, I am real confident they will be around in round 3 at worst.

Ryan Miller was curing Leprosy(yes I was around then) last night but I just dont feel any goalie in the league could keep up play like he did for more than a game or 2 against this team.

Dont get me wrong. I am speaking more from my gut than my head. I shouldnt feel like this as a Pens fan. I just cant help how I feel about this team right now. I didnt expect them to be this successful with all the injuries but they just find ways to win and I just cant help feeling real good about their chances.

Long story longer, I really hope my gut is right because I am setting myself up for HUGE disappointment if I am wrong because I am usually extremely optimistic about things like this.

 

[mattola]

Oh yeah, Well the Sabres didn't lose ONE playoff game last year and odds are the wont this year as well. So there !!

and thats what we call a dynasty

 

[pixburgher66]

I've never been more confident in a Pens team. I don't wanna face the Isles or Caps early though...need to get battle tested first, and honestly those are the two most dangerous teams in the picture in my opinion.

 

[evolver115]

Having guys like Brenden Morrow, Jarome Iginla, Douglas Murray and Jussi Jokinen makes me think this current Pittsburgh team will be in the playoffs beyond round one.

I look at those first three names and just consider what they will bring to the table in a playoff series. After game one, whichever goal-tender/team they end up facing, one thing is certain.. the goalie will be sick and tired of Brenden Morrow. Having watched Morrow since he arrived short of the deadline makes me realize that over the course of a potential seven game series, he will be a guy that will wear down an opponent.

Iginla has already been an effective addition to the Pens power-play and 5v5. Finally having a legit right-handed shot on the PP is huge for Pittsburgh.

Much like Morrow, Douglas Murray has a style of play that will wear down an opponent in a playoff series.

The intangibles those three (Iginla,Murray,Morrow) bring, plus the fact that they are all here for the same reason, gives me a ton of optimism. As others have said, any team can be beat in the NHL playoffs, but I think the adds Shero made at the deadline will pay dividends in May.

 

[pixburgher66]

It also helps that those guys are hungry, and the team wants to win it for them. I know that the idea of winning it for a teammate gets overplayed occasionally, but man, if I looked down the bench at Iggy and Morrow, I'd wanna run through a wall for them. It's funny, those guys have been integral in holding this team together through injuries. What were once "over the top" trades, became simply necessary moves.

 

[Gooch1034]

It also helps that those guys are hungry, and the team wants to win it for them. I know that the idea of winning it for a teammate gets overplayed occasionally, but man, if I looked down the bench at Iggy and Morrow, I'd wanna run through a wall for them. It's funny, those guys have been integral in holding this team together through injuries. What were once "over the top" trades, became simply necessary moves.

Thats why I believe the argument about Crosby not winning MVP shouldnt be judged by the Pens winning without him because these new guys arrived right when Sid got injured. I doubt the Pens would have went .500 without Sid, Iggy, Morrow, JJ and Murray. Its all speculation but I think it should void the argument.

 

[dash]

Speaking of the East, I'd like to see a Hurricanes win and a Bolts win tonight.

K, thanks, bye.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I can always hope for a repeat performance of the last time the Isles & Pens met in the playoffs. In fact I don't think this Penguins team is as talented. The problem is the Isles don't have a Kasparaitis, Pilon & Malakhov in the lineup. Don't get me wrong Streit, Visnovsky & Hamonic are good, but this Isles team doesn't have the same physical pressence on the blueline.