Pens Points: ECSF Game 1

Good morning one and all,

Given that we have so much new and original content specific to the current Pens matchup, Pens Points will be up on gamedays to allow a general discussion thread and also to calm the nerves down. There will of course be an actual game thread discussion as always.

*A really great story on John Hynes and Tom Fitzgerald following the NHL successes of Conor Sheary, Tom Kuhnhackl, Bryan Rust and Matt Murray with a glow of paternal pride. [NHL]

It looks like Brooks Orpik may be playing tonight after missing the last 3 games of the Caps-Flyers series. He is officially a game-time decision, but it's more likely than not. [Washington Post]

It will be more old-team familiarity on our side as well, as Eric Fehr is good and ready to face the Caps skating on Evgeni Malkin's wing of all places. He didn't land in a bad spot, did he? And he was a good soldier all year so go get 'em Fehrsy. [Penguins]

Conor Sheary missed two days of practice in a row. After the first Mike Sullivan called it a 'maintenance day", but like most people who aren't functioning unless they can worry about something, this is on top of my pile. [PPG]

Mike Sullivan is tired of all the Fleury questions; typically stoic, he said for the 1000th time "when there's something new to say, we'll say it". [Trib]

So the Ducks quacked their way out of the playoffs blowing yet another game 7. I actually picked the Preds as the first-round upset, though I was nervous about Pekka Rinne, who came through. So what do we take away from the Ducks' performance? [LA Times]

Obviously folks in Nashville are very happy and why not? Their team is finally good for real, and won the first game 7 in franchise history. [On The Forecheck]

In a weird scheduling snafu, the Isles and Bolts played their round 2 game before round 1 was actually finished for other teams. NHL is a total amateur hour but that's beside the point. Although Jack Capuano got a puck in the noggin and missed half the game, the Isles still won 5-3. [NBC Sports]

The Rangers kicked us out of the playoffs two straight years and I haven't seen 1% of the lamentations that are flowing in for King Henrik's wasted prime. Seriously, come on. He's probably in Italy shopping for new three-piece suits by now. [TSN]

But it is true that the Rangers window is getting smaller and smaller, and there are a lot of reasons to worry about their future. At least they have Dan Girardi signed for the next 75 years, amirite? [Vice Sports]

The Rangers are frustrated and uncertain, and if you look at Dan Boyle's glorious f-bomb tirade on break-up day, it makes sense in some ways. [Sporting News]

The only thing people in Canada still have left to talk about is who's going to win the draft lottery. I hear that teams north of the border have a really good chance. Of course Edmonton will win it. But who should win it? [Down Goes Brown]

Everyone has had Auston Matthews penciled in as the #1 pick for many months now. Don't look know, but Patrik Laine just won the Finnish Liiga playoff MVP honors and just might give Mathews a run for his money. [Sportsnet]

A black dude from St. Louis who never knew hockey existed accidentally stumbled upon Blues-Hawks game 7 on TV, decided to hilariously live-tweet his first impressions, and a viral internet sensation was born. [Puck Daddy]

Annnd NHL award finalists are starting to get announced. Jonathan Quick is a Vezina finalist, and Cory Schneider is not. That means Patty Kane is getting the Lady Byng, right? [In Goal Magazine]