Game 1
In Pittsburgh at 7pm
Listen live on WXDX.com.
NOTES
For starters, let's take a look at the lines
Dupuis - Crosby - Hossa
Malone - Malkin - Sykora
Ruutu - Staal - Kennedy
Roberts - Talbot - Laraque
Orpik - Gonchar
Whitney - Scuderi
Letang - Gill
Fleury
Conklin
Those first two lines look like a thing of beauty. Notice the presence of Orpik on line one. Some added muscle on an otherwise offensive line.
Letang will pair up with Gill and do what they do best - run the front of the net.
Now onto business...
As you've probably read, heard or seen this week, the Senators are without their captain Daniel Alfreddson. Unlike the Penguins, injuries hit the Senators in the playoffs, as they will also be without Mike Fisher and Chris Kelly.
You may have also witnessed one of the lowest of the lows in terms of journalism:
" Crosby's got a bad RIGHT ankle? How will it stand up to a two-hander? The Senators have to find out.
The Penguins obviously wanted Ottawa over the Broadstreet Bullies. The defending Eastern Conference champs should feel a great sense of disrespect. They should be insulted -- even more so than in being referred to as purse swingers -- and they should respond in kind."
Don Brennan - Ottawa Sun
Full article here.
Here is an article with subtle hints of disbelief from another writer at the same paper. Special thanks to Pensburgh user Stros. Bro for the find.
"It’s my left (ankle)," said Crosby, who reported that his ankle gave him no problems during Tuesday’s practice. "It wouldn’t be the first time something like that happens. Teams read injury reports. I’m sure if a guy has a bad shoulder you’re not going to ease up on him and not hit him and that’s typical.
Ottawa Sun
Note Don Brennan's misinformed "RIGHT ANKLE" statement. Get the facts straight toolbag.
Earlier in his career Sid suffered a dislocated shoulder but the team released it as a "lower body injury" for the same reason. Other players will go after him if they smell blood. Sid even mentioned that while playing with the shoulder pain, guys were hacking at his knees/ankles thinking they could aggravate the injury. Now he's just calling out the Senators - do your worst.
Get fired up. It's playoff hockey.