Game 7 Recap: Pens dismantle the Caps 6-2, advance to the Eastern Conference Finals

Fleury needs a breather, and a bath to wash the stink of that series off him. He wasn’t dreadful, but the flower is awesome in the playoffs, and that series he was ordinary.

It’s too bad the series ended with a lopsided game, otherwise it would be remembered as one of the all-time greats. A game 7 letdown by the Caps pretty much ruins that.

Nice recap, Hooks. I also appreciated your posts on Japers’. Always nice to show the world that true Pens fans are respectable and classy.

Much, much respect to the Capitals. They played in the most entertaining series of hockey I’ve ever seen, and I’m 27. Sorry to see them fall in what was certainly not their best game. They’ll be back and better next year, and for years to come.

It’s true, I must eat my hat a bit calling out Craig Adams in my breakdown of Game 7. The guy scored a big goal for us tonight. I was also critical of Staal and he got one as well. I should keep picking on players, I guess. :)

I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see No. 55 take Game 1 or 2 off. The guy looked like he was playing on heart and little else, but it made his part on the first goal all that more satisfying. It was nice to see him and AO make nice at the end. Well played, sir, well played.

Onward to the Conference Finals!

Beautiful… MAF’s save on OV in the first three minutes… was a deciding factor in how this game could have gone. Crosby… nuff said, exceptional. They all wanted it… they got it…. Gonchar being back, even less than 100 %, was a fabulous boost. Adams scored… really, wonderful, so happy that they are all on board this cruise we call " Lord Stanley you Belong to Us" Yes yes I know… many more games to come, but putting it out htere doesn’t hurt : )

Also i think even the most heartless and angry AO hater would have taken a second look at the discussion b/w him and sarge. It took a lot of class to appologize to him and my hats off for that. I also thought the caps fans both on here and in the building tonight showed a whole lotta class as well, being run out of thier own building, giving a standing ovation to thier team for a hard fought game rather then booing them off the ice. This was a great series showcasing the best young talent in the nhl. yes chicago, anaheim, and other teams in the playoffs have that but thier marketing machines are running full bore like the pens or the caps are.

Salivating for some of your words on Puck Daddy detailing the demise of the Caps this year. Any chance you could incorporate some of Daryl Reaugh’s series quotes? Like how Varlamov let in Egyptian Cotton Soft Goals, and was “Leaky like a tea bag”?

Great series guys. Congratulations, the better team won. The series probably deserved a more closely contested game 7 but my heart and everything in my apartment are probably better off for the way it went down. See you around.

Actually, it was kinda underwhelming for all the hype leading up to it…but great anyways.

It’s great to see hockey getting some much love from everyone. Again, Pens lead off sportscenter and even during their review of the Pirates game they mentioned the hockey game a couple times.

I watched the game down at the Arena. More people were there than at the Pirates game.

LET’S GO PENS!!!

Congratulations to the Pens. I’m really happy that Adams finally got that monkey off his back. I didn’t want to call it because I hate being wrong and feeling foolish, but a couple games ago I got the feeling a score off his stick was on its way. He was getting chances all series, and he finally made it happen tonight. WOO!

Adams is an example of what I really like about Ray Shero. He makes the big moves to pull in goal scorers like Marian Hossa and Bill Guerin last year and this year, but he’s also always on the lookout for solid role players, too.

 Dupuis was a good addition, and he will make his presence felt once Bylsma switches back to 6 D-men. Zigomanis got hurt, but I thought he did well when he was healthy. Now we have Adams, a guy who fills the same role as Dupuis, but seems to do it a little better. He also has the experience that comes with winning a Cup.

He may not always score, but it’s that grinding style of his that creates chances, and the best way to keep the other team from scoring is by keeping the puck in their end, which Adams does magnificently.

Fantastic series overall…

“Crosby’s 15 points in a single series is a record for post-lockout play, if you’re into that type of thing”

Hooks I thought Crosby “only” had 13 points this series.

I can’t really add anything to that. The Pens just played their best game of the season in their biggest game of the season; can’t really ask for more than that. I don’t know what’s being said in that locker room or what kind of practices Bylsma is running, but for God sakes don’t change a thing. Last night was just a tour de force in how to execute your game in a must-win situation.

I will give Ovechkin credit for his monster series (and for being gracious in defeat at the end), and I think Varlamov has a great future ahead of him. But I have to buck the conventional wisdom here and say that the Caps are not quite ready for prime time. It’s reasonable to argue that Ovechkin’s stellar play, Varlamov’s play in his first 11 playoff games, and the weakness of the Southeast division papered over some serious flaws that became obvious in game 7. Not that they can’t get to the next level, but their current group just didn’t have the will to win last night.

As a long-time Pens & Stillers’ fan relocated to Southern Indiana, I’m glad I found this place. Everyone here seems knowledgeable and respectful, even the fans of other teams. I don’t have VS., so until last night I had to listen to the Pens’ radio feed online. I found the stream of the VS feed linked here, so thanks for that! (Although I definately enjoy listening to Mike and Bourque, I’d much rather watch what’s happening.)

Once in a while in this crazy world where wrong is called right and up is called down there is justice.
The arrogant, whining Capitals-from the front office to their left wing who gets away with charging star players on opposing teams on a regular basis- got their just comeuppance when the Penguins crushed and humiliated the team that was too busy congratulating themselves for “slaying the dragon” to bother showing up for the final game of their series.

Thanks for keeping the non-myth of the obnoxious PBurgh fan alive! Tell me that you would have been so placid had every game’s Penalties been called in the Caps favor.
Boudreau complained once, after a OT game in which the penalties were 7-2 and two Pens’ interference penalties may have contributed to Malkin’s OT breakaway & PP.

Some PBurgh “fan” perspective-
In 1979 I believe I attended a Cowboys-Steelers Super Bowl rooting for the Cowboys to get crushed. About half way through the first half, entirely because of the impossibly drunk/obnoxious Steeler fans, I switched sides. That’s part of the reason Caps fans hate the Pens & Flyers.
When you lose, lick your wounds and move on. When you win be happy and classy. That’s all we ask.

And be thankful that Langway was not on the 2009 Capitals, or Crosby would have lost at least one limb and probably his hearing while languishing at the side of the net.