The Pittsburgh Penguins are heading into Philadelphia to face the Flyers for the last game of the regular season Sunday afternoon, and it has become the most important game of the year for the boys from Pittsburgh.
I say this only because if the Penguins do lose the game in Philly, it might just be the beginning of the end of a spectacular season for the Penguins.
The Ottawa Senators just locked-up the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, meaning if the Penguins lost in Philadelphia, they would once again be matched up against the high-powered offense of the Ottawa Senators. I think we all remember how the series went last year between these two teams, and it could very well happen again as the Penguins went 1-1-0-2 this year against the Senators.
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On the other hand, if the Penguins manage to come out of Philly with a win, the Pens would take the East's top spot and would take on the Flyers in the first round. This would make a better series for the Penguins because they are just starting to play better hockey against the Flyers in the past three games against them.
Heading into the game Sunday afternoon, the Penguins are 3-4 against the Flyers, who at the first half of the season played very well against the Penguins, notably in an 8-2 beating on the Penguins in Philadelphia. Still, I firmly believe the Penguins have a better chance against the Flyers than the Senators, making game 82 of the regular season a big one for Pittsburgh.
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8 months ago
The Sens are not what they used to be anymore ... they might be best offense ever with the "three amigos" out there, but their goalie issue is following everywhere, even on the rink.
now, alfredsson may not be there for ur guys first game and second, that would give u a not-so-invincible Martin Gerber (blanked by tim thomas AND carey price) and a two guys (heatley-spezza) looking at each other knowing they are going to have to score them all.
I agree the last 8-2 win sounds scary, but remember, a 1-2 loss followed it. they knew they needed to win that game or at least the point, but they could not get to the OT.
Meanwhile, Chris Neil will have too much targets at once to disturb as there are Hossa-Malkin-Crosby at least to follow. ur defensemen will have to check over heatley-spezza-vermette, and u ll be just fine!
So take it easy, we'll meet ur young team in the second round.
8 months ago
Ottawa has lost Alfredsson and Mike Fisher for "weeks." Though, this doesn't take away from them being a potent offensive team (with the likes of Heatley, Spezza, Meszaros), it does dampen the mood a little. Chris Neil is about as overrated as Zigmund Palffy was when he came to the Pens last year to add a "veteran presence combined with goal scoring ability." Not saying that Neil doesn't do his job as an enforcer, but with the likes of Laraque, Roberts, Ruutu, and Malone on the ice, I don't think that any team in the league (with the possible exception of Anaheim) could completely man-handle the Pens as the case was at times last season. The year of experience under their belts combined with the one-for-all attitude that this team has displayed all season long should make for a long playoff run. But, you never can be sure, and can only say: Let's Go Pens.
8 months ago
None of this is to say that very few in Pittsburgh want to see a rematch between the Senators.
8 months ago
Funny - I thought it was universally acknowledged that Pit would rather play Ott than Phl. Phl is on the upswing, Ott downswing. Phl is healthy, Ott injured. Phl is physical and takes a toll even if Pitt wins, Ott is a finesse team. The only question is whether it would be worth tanking out the #1 seed to do it.
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