Penguins vs Red Wings round two. I really want to say the Pens will overcome last seasons finals loss and hoist the cup, but I just don't think I can say that. Fact i9s the Red wings are better than last season and I don't know for sure if the Penguins are.
What gives the Wings the edge is overall talent one through twenty on the roster. They are better on the blue line and will run four good lines out. So will the Pens though. I like the way that they have been playing of late which will give them a better chance.
1. Sid and Malkin are playing out of their mind
2. I just feel that experiencing the loss last season in the finals that the Pens are more prepared to take down the Wings this time around.
3. Fluery won't take a tumble taking the ice this time around.
4. Malkin won't disappear this time around.
If there was ever a time to win a series, it's now. The Wings are very beat up, Datsyuk won't play game one and just don't have the depth that the Pens do. Lindstrom is also hurt and if he misses anytime, then advantage Pens.
if the Pens stick to the plan, play up-tempo and attack for 60 minutes, then advantage Pens. They have to stay out of the box and capitalize on Power plays.
With all that, the Wings are the better team. The head says take the Wings again in 6.
BUT the best team doesn't always win and I just keep seeing this situation play out. Game 7 in overtime, a Marian Hossa turnover leads to a Crosby series winner. How sweet would it be for Hossa to be on the ice for the game winning goal (I still have a feeling he will score it though).
I'm not a guy that hates Hossa. I respect his decision to leave Pittsburgh and feel if he left to win a cup, he made the right choice, but it would still be sweet to see.
Time for the prediction. As much as the head says take the Wings in 6, the heart says Marc-Andre Fluery becomes a household name and is the reason the Pens will hoist the Cup, so all the wannabe hockey fans can get off his back for good.
My pick is the Penguins in 7.
Showing posts with label Evgeni Malkin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Evgeni Malkin. Show all posts
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Round 2 Thoughts- Evegeni Malkin Needs To Step Up
I can't count how many times I hear it during the playoffs, but the phrase "Your best Players have to be your best players" always seems to be true. Along with the Pens 2-0 hole, the team has to wonder if Evgeni Malkin will play like the elite player he is for the remainder of the playoffs. We have seen this disappearing act before, remember this time last season when Penguin Nation had nothing good to say about it's Russian superstar. Right on cue, it's happening again, like a little case of deja-vu.
Does Malkin need to step it up? Of course. That's the obvious. The team has other glaring weaknesses at the moment, so don't pile up on Geno just yet. He has 11 points in 8 playoff games so far, but my criticism of Malkin comes at the other end of the ice. He is a minus 3 right now and has not put forth the effort at the defensive end. Three times this series alone, he has been caught napping while his man went by him and crashed the net. All three instances resulted in goals. When Malkin dedicates himself at both ends of the ice, he is an unstoppable freight train. When he doesn't, he often just looks like a by standard just waiting for a breakout. This isn't hammering Malkin as much as it is the entire team. Fluery can't do it by himself. Things have to tighten up in their own end.
Another man who has come under a lot of heat after last night's game has been Sergei Gonchar. Something was wrong with him the last two games. He seemed to have no legs at all. I don't know if the heavy workload has caught up to him, but he is another that needs to up his game. Especially since Kris Letang, who I felt skated very well last night, looks to be lost for the series.
The powerplay scored twice last night, but in the end it was that same powerplay that cost them. With the score tied at 2, the Pens had a golden opportunity to take the lead, but a 2 minute powerplay in which they couldn't even maintain the offensive zone, much less get shots on goal changed the momentum. Malkin's penalty didn't help matter out either.
With everything to complain about, the Pens have a chance to take care of business at home and get right back in the series. They can start by crashing the net at every opportunity. Having the last change will help on Ovechkin as well. I have faith that they will. For that to happen though, Evgeni Malkin needs to become that freight train again and the Pens will be fine.
Does Malkin need to step it up? Of course. That's the obvious. The team has other glaring weaknesses at the moment, so don't pile up on Geno just yet. He has 11 points in 8 playoff games so far, but my criticism of Malkin comes at the other end of the ice. He is a minus 3 right now and has not put forth the effort at the defensive end. Three times this series alone, he has been caught napping while his man went by him and crashed the net. All three instances resulted in goals. When Malkin dedicates himself at both ends of the ice, he is an unstoppable freight train. When he doesn't, he often just looks like a by standard just waiting for a breakout. This isn't hammering Malkin as much as it is the entire team. Fluery can't do it by himself. Things have to tighten up in their own end.
Another man who has come under a lot of heat after last night's game has been Sergei Gonchar. Something was wrong with him the last two games. He seemed to have no legs at all. I don't know if the heavy workload has caught up to him, but he is another that needs to up his game. Especially since Kris Letang, who I felt skated very well last night, looks to be lost for the series.
The powerplay scored twice last night, but in the end it was that same powerplay that cost them. With the score tied at 2, the Pens had a golden opportunity to take the lead, but a 2 minute powerplay in which they couldn't even maintain the offensive zone, much less get shots on goal changed the momentum. Malkin's penalty didn't help matter out either.
With everything to complain about, the Pens have a chance to take care of business at home and get right back in the series. They can start by crashing the net at every opportunity. Having the last change will help on Ovechkin as well. I have faith that they will. For that to happen though, Evgeni Malkin needs to become that freight train again and the Pens will be fine.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Pens Notebook- Pens Drop Interim Label from Dan Bylsma
After dispatching of the Flyers in 6 games (like I said), the Pens are waiting to see who their second round opponent will be. While being idle for a few days, the team stayed in the news today by removing the interim label on head coach Dan Bylsma. Was this the right move ? Absolutely. Is the timing right? Absolutely.
All Bylsma has done is take a team that was dead in the water and lead them to the second round of the playoffs. If the coaching change wasn't made, the Pens very well could have missed the playoffs all together. His very impressive record of 22-5-4 (including playoffs) should be all the convincing the Pens needed to offer him the full-time job.
However, what if the Pens blew the 3-1 series lead to the Flyers? It's very odd to see a coach make lineup changes with a commanding series lead. If everything backfired and the Pens would have dropped the series, do you think the Pens would have given him the job?
Other Notes
- Defensemen Sergei Gonchar is second among all players in the playoff in ice time per game. His injury may have been a blessing as his legs should be very fresh.
- Don't overlook the job that Sidney Crosby did in the face off circle against the Flyers. Winning nearly 64% of his draws, Crosby has shown just how much he has worked on every aspect of his already dominant game.
- Evgeni Malkin leads the team in scoring with 9pts, followed by Crosby with 8 and Gonchar with 5.
- One guy that won't get talked about enough is Tyler Kennedy. I thought he played much better than the 3 pts he accumulated. Kennedy also had 2 game winning goals in the series.
-Finally, talk all the trash on him that you want, but the reason the Pens are advancing is the play of Marc-Andre Fluery. Outside of game 5 he was tremendous. After the 3 goals in game 6, if Fluery doesn't shut the door, the Pens probably lose the game.
All Bylsma has done is take a team that was dead in the water and lead them to the second round of the playoffs. If the coaching change wasn't made, the Pens very well could have missed the playoffs all together. His very impressive record of 22-5-4 (including playoffs) should be all the convincing the Pens needed to offer him the full-time job.
However, what if the Pens blew the 3-1 series lead to the Flyers? It's very odd to see a coach make lineup changes with a commanding series lead. If everything backfired and the Pens would have dropped the series, do you think the Pens would have given him the job?
Other Notes
- Defensemen Sergei Gonchar is second among all players in the playoff in ice time per game. His injury may have been a blessing as his legs should be very fresh.
- Don't overlook the job that Sidney Crosby did in the face off circle against the Flyers. Winning nearly 64% of his draws, Crosby has shown just how much he has worked on every aspect of his already dominant game.
- Evgeni Malkin leads the team in scoring with 9pts, followed by Crosby with 8 and Gonchar with 5.
- One guy that won't get talked about enough is Tyler Kennedy. I thought he played much better than the 3 pts he accumulated. Kennedy also had 2 game winning goals in the series.
-Finally, talk all the trash on him that you want, but the reason the Pens are advancing is the play of Marc-Andre Fluery. Outside of game 5 he was tremendous. After the 3 goals in game 6, if Fluery doesn't shut the door, the Pens probably lose the game.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)