Pens vs. Capitals preview
by mjsst61 on Apr 28, 2009 10:38 PM EDT
60 comments
Promoted from Fanposts (FrankD)
Well, well, well, after tonight's events, the Pittsburgh Penguins are going to go from eliminating the team that they hate the most to being matched up with the player that they hate the most. Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals will be the Penguins second round opponent in this postseason.
For 58 minutes it was looking like the Pens would be matched up with the Bruins until the Carolina Hurricanes scored two goals in less than a minute to eliminate the New Jersey Devils in Game 7 of their series.
The Capitals won the season series against the Penguins three games to one but that can be deceiving. Two of the Caps' wins came while Sergei Gonchar was out of the lineup and guys like Paul Bissonette, Chris Minard, Dustin Jeffrey, and Tim Wallace were playing on a regular basis. Also, the one win the Penguins got was with their current roster which includes Chris Kunitz and Bill Guerin.
The biggest question mark coming into this series for the Capitals is their goaltender, Simeon Varlamov. He was outstanding after replacing Jose Theodore in net in the series with the New York Rangers but this is the first significant action he has ever seen at the NHL level. The deeper he gets in the playoffs, logic would suggest that he would begin the rattle.
The Pens' biggest concern coming into this series has to be Alexander Ovechkin and Alexander Semin. Not only because of their point scoring capabilities but moreso because of their ability to get under the skin of the Penguins, especially Ovechkin. If he can succeed in getting the Penguins to play undisciplined hockey, which he's been known to do in the past, it could be a long series.
The key to the series for both teams, as always, will be special teams. The Capitals bring the second best power play in the NHL into this series against the Penguins' eighth best penalty kill. On the other hand, the Penguins will be bringing their 20th ranked power play against the Capitals' 17th ranked penalty kill. In other words, on paper, the special teams are somewhat evenly matched.
It's going to be a matter of who stays disciplined and doesn't take dumb penalties. Going in, the Caps have that edge since they were in the bottom ten in the league in penalty minutes. But that also means that they aren't likely to play the same physical style that gave the Pens some problems against the Flyers.
Even though the Capitals may have the edge on paper, how can you go against the Pens right now under Bylsma? No team in the East has them downright outmatched. Let's watch Bylsma go out there as the new official head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins and work his magic.
The content expressed in fanposts does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff here at Pensburgh.com. FanPosts are opinions expressed by fans of various teams throughout the league but may be more Pittsburgh-centric for obvious reasons.
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Pens in 6. Rookie goaltender against the two-headed monster? yeah… The Rook will be pulled eventually and Theo will do a better job but I think the damage will be done by then.
by Satanic on Apr 28, 2009 10:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Solid work. I’m really looking forward to this series.
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by FrankD on Apr 29, 2009 12:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
FrankD,
I really appreciate the promotion form fan posts. Thanks a lot.
"Get in the fast lane grandma, the bingo game is ready to roll" - The legendary Mike Lange
by mjsst61 on Apr 29, 2009 1:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Anytime.
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by FrankD on Apr 29, 2009 1:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
As one of the many fans who has been left without a team to root for after mine made a disappointing first round exit, I think I will now attach my hopes and dreams of playoff success to the Penguins (mostly because they are already my second favourite team but also because I find Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals really, really irritating and nothing would please me more than to see the Caps dispatched by their archrivals). Woo! Go Pittsburgh! Pens in six!
by kellyn on Apr 29, 2009 12:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
wow
this could be one of those matchups where every game will be an instant classic. i think that if the pens wingers like billy g, kunitz, satan, sykora get on the board it will be way to much for varlamov to handle. staals line can shut down just about anybody.
by oldtimehockey09 on Apr 29, 2009 1:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’d like Satan to get on board just as much as the next guy but I don’t think he’ll see much ice time. This is the chance for Sykora to make up for a poor first round.
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by FrankD on Apr 29, 2009 1:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
im trying to figure out why they dont dress both. it only seems logical to me to add a sniper presence on that third line. although niether satan or sykora has shown me much in the way of heads up d thus far in the playoffs.
by oldtimehockey09 on Apr 29, 2009 1:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree
Why not throw Satan and Sykie both out there? Additional scoring depth couldn’t hurt. I’m pumped for this series, we should see some crazy games. I still remember watching the game that Petr Nedved won in overtime….I was in like 5th grade and eventually my mom made me go to bed!
go pens!
by cyroose on Apr 29, 2009 2:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Throwing Satan and Sykora in there could backfire. You have the Crosby, Guerin, Kunitz line. Then the Malkin, Fedotenko, Satan/Sykora. If you dress both, who are you gonna sit? Craig Adams? That won’t work. Then you lose a penalty killer against the leagues second best power play. And what line do you play them on? Both on the Malkin line? If so, where do you put Fedotenko? Can’t put him on the third line. Only a mad man would break up the Staal, Kennedy, Cooke line. If you play Satan and Sykora you have to sit someone and there’s no one that anyone could make a case should be sitting besides those two.
"Get in the fast lane grandma, the bingo game is ready to roll" - The legendary Mike Lange
by mjsst61 on Apr 29, 2009 3:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
true
but you see it every year. the third line popping in a timely goal here and there in the playoffs can make the diff between going home and moving on. im more concerned with the lack of offensive production from the third liners. yes they have played brilliantly defensivly. i dont think i would even be thinking this if kunitz and stall got on the board every couple of games or so
by oldtimehockey09 on Apr 29, 2009 3:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
But what proof is there that Satan or Sykora will score a timely goal? Especially on the third line. Those guys aren’t going to find goals. They need set up. They won’t be set up for much playing on the third line.
"Get in the fast lane grandma, the bingo game is ready to roll" - The legendary Mike Lange
by mjsst61 on Apr 29, 2009 3:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
a lot of times when a guy gets a garbage goal it lights the spark. we’ve seen it all the time where a guy has been in a slump and he gets a bounce, then wham he goes on a tear. with the cycling that the third line does and the rebounds that were out there in the flyers seires , its bound to happen…sotp commenting i have to get back to work :P
by oldtimehockey09 on Apr 29, 2009 3:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well I have to get to sleep but I’ll leave with this. The third line was the best line in the Flyers series. The Capitals don’t have a whole lot of line depth. Our third line isn’t going to need to score a lot. Their job is going to be to shut down Ovie and Semin. Until those two start tearing us apart, we have to keep that third line together.
"Get in the fast lane grandma, the bingo game is ready to roll" - The legendary Mike Lange
by mjsst61 on Apr 29, 2009 3:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The third line has already been popping in timely goals. You could even say that the third line was the Pen’s best line in round one.
by PensFan024 on Apr 29, 2009 8:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
dude that was one of the best games i had ever seen. ahh the memories i was in high school for that one… amazing game
by oldtimehockey09 on Apr 29, 2009 3:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
underserved scrutiny
it dawned on my a little while ago while i was walking the floor of my job here that one of the big three is going to get unfairly crusified in the media when this is done. if AO is shut down (think that will happen) it will be said that he may just be a reg season performer or that he choked. If its malkin or sid that gets shut down it will be said that they cant take the pressure (more for geno then sid).
by oldtimehockey09 on Apr 29, 2009 1:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It’s going to be a ridiculous series. I can’t decide yet if this will be a matter of out-scoring with the likes of AO, Geno and Sid or out-saving with Fleury vs. Varlamov. I doubt we’ll see many 6-5, 5-4 or 7-6 games but I also wouldn’t be surprised by consistent 4-3, 3-2 etc. sort of wins.
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by FrankD on Apr 29, 2009 1:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
OV was almost invisible in the first round was was shutdown constantly by the Rangers. I watched most of the series and most of the time he looked selfish. Thats not me talking as a Pens fan but as a fan of the sport. If you can shutdown OV you still have some unsung heros on the caps team that you have to keep an eye on, namely Tom Poti, Tomas Fleischmann (i know only 1 point in the first round, but he’s still dangerous) and Brooks Laich. It will be a great series to say the least. Pens in 6.
Lifes rough, wear a helment
by lambofgad on Apr 29, 2009 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
im thinking every game will be a two goal differental. 3-1, 4-2, and so on. no the goalies will keep some games more interseting then they deserve to be. after seeing flower go bannannas in the first round against all of the flyers depth i woudnt be suprised to throw up two or three SO’s.
by oldtimehockey09 on Apr 29, 2009 1:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The fact is the NHL got what it wanted. It got it’s 3 biggest superstars in the same series. This is what the NHL needed. It’s what it wanted. It’s what it got. As much as I would love to see the Pens shut Ovie down and sweep the Caps, it’s not going to happen. This is going to be an amazing series but it will in the end come down to goaltending and I’ll take the flower over Varlamov any day of the week.
"Get in the fast lane grandma, the bingo game is ready to roll" - The legendary Mike Lange
by mjsst61 on Apr 29, 2009 2:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
True Story
Tried and True Stanley Cup Final goalie vs. Rookie? I’ll take Marc-Andre FURY for sure! Pens in six.
go pens!
by cyroose on Apr 29, 2009 2:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dude, “Marc-Andre FURY” is the greatest thing I’ve read all day and I can’t wait to spread it around.
by Satanic on Apr 29, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No doubt. You gotta drop the Fury line. We tried coming up with a new nickname for him last month (other than the delicate nickname ‘Flower’) and pretty much decided on that one. Unleash the FURY
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by FrankD on Apr 29, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The marketing for this series is going to be out of control. NBC and Versus will fight to the death if this reaches a Game 7.
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by FrankD on Apr 29, 2009 3:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yep. too bad the national televised games cant be done on the big screens. thats kinda dumb if you ask me. but i dont live in the burgh anymore either
by oldtimehockey09 on Apr 29, 2009 3:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just got a glimpse of the schedule.
Game 1, Saturday at 1pm. NBC
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by FrankD on Apr 29, 2009 3:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
its not
a run to the cup without going through washington. im so amped for this thing right now not even funny. can hardley get my work done. /sigh
by oldtimehockey09 on Apr 29, 2009 3:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m willing to bet NBC will get it for the nationally televised aspect of it. I don’t know. I’d almost it rather be on Versus because is it just me or does NBC have absolutely no interest in broadcasting hockey?
"Get in the fast lane grandma, the bingo game is ready to roll" - The legendary Mike Lange
by mjsst61 on Apr 29, 2009 3:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Versus kinda cornered a deal before the playoffs kicked off. They’re trying to boost themselves as the go-to place for playoff hockey. Kinda like TNT for basketball.
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by FrankD on Apr 29, 2009 3:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t mind that. I do like to see hockey get national exposure but the way NBC just puts on a very lackluster presentation, it’s very unappealing.
"Get in the fast lane grandma, the bingo game is ready to roll" - The legendary Mike Lange
by mjsst61 on Apr 29, 2009 3:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it is, and i cant stand eddie o anymore.
by oldtimehockey09 on Apr 29, 2009 3:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s almost like every NBC broadcast is the first time anyone in the world is watching a hockey game. When they go over the fundamentals it’s kinda nauseating. I understand the point of it and all but it really is obnoxious
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by FrankD on Apr 29, 2009 3:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah no doubt. gawd i miss fsn pittsburgh/kbl. cant get it down here in the deep south. atleast i can get mike lange on the radio at the webiste
by oldtimehockey09 on Apr 29, 2009 3:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
sigh
just dated myself refering to fsn as KBL….
by oldtimehockey09 on Apr 29, 2009 3:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you pop in to one of our gameday threads someone will most likely hook you up with a video link.
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by FrankD on Apr 29, 2009 3:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
oh…sweet… hope they dont monitor internet usage here…
by oldtimehockey09 on Apr 29, 2009 3:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
well…tread carefully my friend. You can always use WXDX as your backup plan.
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by FrankD on Apr 29, 2009 3:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
nah, it takes a lot to get me fired. i’m the night shift head cheese for an aviation company. it takes an act of congress or castrophie to get me canned. the VP of production told me as long as i didnt show up drunk at this point, my job is fine…good to know!
by oldtimehockey09 on Apr 29, 2009 4:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just saw the schedule… CBC picked up the series… good news for us Canadians without cable…and for streamers.
by AngelaMc on Apr 29, 2009 8:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
true that. I’ve been using the CBC stream mainly because it has the least amount of lag.
Lifes rough, wear a helment
by lambofgad on Apr 29, 2009 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
over under
on how many time ovie goes nutziod and takes a run at geno. i say 3 per game, thus him getting some alone time in the sin bin and giving us a free trip to the conferance final
by oldtimehockey09 on Apr 29, 2009 3:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I would be very surprised to see Ovie do some dumb garbage like that in the playoffs. I think it’s more likely that he will do what he did the third time we played the Caps this year when him and Sid got into it. He won’t take blatant runs at guys but he’ll find ways to irritate.
"Get in the fast lane grandma, the bingo game is ready to roll" - The legendary Mike Lange
by mjsst61 on Apr 29, 2009 3:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i dont know, i wouldnt put it past the jaws (gold finger bond movie) look-a-like
by oldtimehockey09 on Apr 29, 2009 3:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Why cant Malkin be a man and take the first run at Ovie?
He is bigger…I dont understand why everyone cry’s about ovie’s Hits on Malkin.
by SA-Town on Apr 29, 2009 7:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It has nothing to do with Malkin not being a man. Malkin doesn’t shy away from contact and doesn’t seem to fear Ocho. It’s just that Malkin prefers to stay in postition and make the smart hockey play instead of going out of position and taking what would be whistled as a charge if it were not someone of Ocho or Sids caliber. Oh, what will the refs do with their whistles in this series too many superstars.
by PensFan024 on Apr 29, 2009 8:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Amen
I’m tired of everyone making a big deal out of big hits and fights… Geno knows how to handle himself, and will get back at anyone who hits him (including AO) with either a good hit or on the scoreboard.
For our team, I would rather see a smart positional play than a dumb hit that leaves you out of position. If AO wants to take runs at guys, I say bring it on, but I’d put my money on Kunitz slamming him into the boards within minutes of game one
go pens!
by cyroose on Apr 29, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yepper
i think if kunitz, brooks and gill get to some of the caps early they may be able to get them out of thier game. get them to start taking dumb penalties
by oldtimehockey09 on Apr 29, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
A guy I work with put the over/under at 15 minutes for the first Kunitz-on-Ovechkin hit. I took the under, but you have to remember that the Caps have home ice, so Boudreau may not want Ovechkin on the ice at the same time Kunitz is, and he’ll get that choice.
Pittsburgh Black And Gold -- So new, it still smells like paint!
by JustinM on May 1, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
oh i have no issue with him trying to take a run at malkin. just gets him out of position, and if he makes a habit of it then it shows the pens have gotten under his skin. i wouldnt nessecarily call some of the posts crying. just observations. he has shown a propensity to leave his assignment to take a run at geno. again the more he does it the more times someone else is open
by oldtimehockey09 on Apr 29, 2009 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The rites of spring
Here we go again. It used to be back in the day that every spring it would be Pens-Caps. Who could forget that 4ot thriller back in 1996 when Peter Nedved finally scored the game winner or the two times when the Pens were down 3-1(‘92,’95) and came back to win the series.
This will be awesome!!!
Geek of the Steelers nation!!!
by steelthunder75 on Apr 29, 2009 8:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I remember that one. I was a zombie in school the next day. Here’s to another crazy series.
And hey, thanks for signing up and joining Pensburgh. Check out our Steelers blog while you’re at it.
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by FrankD on Apr 29, 2009 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's gonna get ugly.
I like how so far everyone I’ve heard blog about this is considering this to be a less physical game than the previous Flyers game. I highly doubt that. Yeah the Flyers had a grudge, but AO hates Sid and he and Geno aren’t exactly best buddies either. Expect this series to be mean and dirty. I just hope AO slips up on a hit and spends a few minutes in the box so we get some power play moments.
by Hockey'syoungergun on Apr 30, 2009 11:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If that’s the case, then I really hope our power play can make the most of those opportunities.
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by FrankD on Apr 30, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
does everyone forget
all the hate that has existed between these two before both teams hit the bottom of the barrell. i know its going to get ugly and cheap. see the link for a flashback
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuJaaVEg_EA&feature=player_embedded
by oldtimehockey09 on May 1, 2009 12:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That’s why I want to see more of Petr Sykora in this series. I’ve seen him perform on the powerplay time and again. We just need to push him in every time AO or some other Cap heads to the box and we’ll be looking fine. Just remember the caps lost a player for 6 games for one of their penalties and another has been accused of BITING a rangers player. This is a team that plays dirty and if we’re lucky they’ll pay for it.
by Hockey'syoungergun on Apr 30, 2009 8:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Pens vs Caps
When Cindy comes down to Washington I sure hope she wears a pretty dress so she can go dancing
by duckyjim on May 1, 2009 12:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Luckily for us the input from other Caps fans here still keeps the fan base looking mildly intelligent. Luckily for Caps fans we’re not judging them based on your comments.
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by FrankD on May 1, 2009 1:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ah huck! i will savior the moment he ices this set much like i did when he iced the flyers, smilin like a butchers dog.
by oldtimehockey09 on May 1, 2009 1:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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