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Man “Dis-”advantage?

 

During the holiday season, how could anyone look little Virginia in the eye and say, “Yes, there is a Santa Claus” when all we really, really, really wanted for Christmas was a power play, and he didn’t deliver? I don’t know about anyone else, but I wanted it just as badly as that bespectacled little boy in A Christmas Story craved, yearned, longed for that Red Rider BB gun.

Recent History…

I have had my share of frustration watching the Penguins’ power play over the past few seasons, but it finally reached the precipice of the point of no return on my sanity during the Sunday 5PM game against the Florida Panthers, when the Pens drew a juicy 4-minute penalty from Cory Stillman that would tick out the finish of the game. The Pens were down 4-2 at that point, but no worries, dude! We’ve seen it before with barely 2-minutes left when they work their collective magic to force an OT and increase their chances of a win or at least a coveted point for the effort.

I was hopeful. I was energized. Tons of time. Scads of time. If they got one in the first 2 minutes, there would still be the other 2 minutes to contend with and tie-up the game…at the very least. Am I right? Am I right?!! Like Charlie Brown, I believed that Lucy would not pull that blasted ball away at the last second and send me on my head for the umpteenth painful and humiliating time.

Lucy, you are a cold, cruel child.

Pop culture references aside, on the eve of the Calgary Flames game on Wednesday night, I no longer found it funny anymore. The Pittsburgh Penguins are a Stanley Cup-winning team with not only 2 “elite” players in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but a coveted 3-line deep and not too shabby 4th line team of solid players as well as two strong goaltenders. Yet they sat a befuddling 29th out of 30 (above only the Ottawa Senators) on the power play.

Here are some notable stats revealing that position prior to their road trip to western Canada:

• In 47 games, the Pens earned 196 power play opportunities, tied with the Dallas Stars who to that point played one less game than the Pens.
• In those 196 opportunities, they scored only 28 goals (14.3%).
• At home, they earned 98 opportunities over 23 games they hosted, scoring 18 goals (18.4%).
• On the road, they earned the other 98 opportunities over 24 games, scoring 10 goals (10.2%).

Maddening, isn’t it? With Crosby and Malkin in the points race, with Bill Guerin and Jordan Staal putting in improved and consistent offensive performances, these things beg the question of how? How is this possible?

It begins with a simple truth: in order to score, one must shoot.

Translation: The only chance of getting a puck in the goal is to send it in the direction of the goal.

That’s for starters, at the most basic level. The purpose of the power play is to score more easily because the team on the power play has the extra man. That’s the consequence of taking a penalty. Break a rule, commit an infraction, and the offender goes into the “sin bin” to serve his punishment, quaking in his skates, praying to the hockey gods that his transgression does not cost his team a goal.

As with fighting in hockey, power plays (at least successful ones) are designed as a deterrent, to control the nonsense because to commit a crime in the face of a team with an effective power play means there is  certainty of a high price to pay. There are consequences.

Conversely, an ineffective power play is no different than the parent who keeps threatening a consequence but never delivers. The result is an unruly child. There is no longer fear of committing penalties, of taking runs at guys, of chancing dirty and dangerous play because the chances are the offending team will be no worse off at the end of it. No one is shaking in his skates.

Teams awarded a power play are supposed to relish it, jump on it, put on their own form of additional punishment by taking it to the four poor slobs who drew first-watch guard duty in front of their stalwart netminder. These four guys are supposed to be run into the ice, rendered dead on their feet by the relentless barrage of shots as they bravely stand up under the seige. Moreso, this should be felt when staring across the ice at the likes of Malkin, Crosby, and Gonchar.

In short, the power play is not meant to be synonymous with a Saturday afternoon cotillion, and yet, the way the Pens have executed their power play for the better part of the last two seasons–a power play that four septagenarians on double-blades with walkers could defend, it seemed they were hell bent to fall on their own sword.

So, let’s look at the set-up.

The lead power play unit generally consists of Crosby, Malkin, and Gonchar as staples. Either Alex Goligoski or Kris Letang works opposite Gonchar, and Guerin generally serves as the third forward. But of late, the power play has comprised replacing Goligoski/Letang with Malkin on the left point, bringing Chris Kunitz (when healthy) or Matt Cooke up front. Gonchar runs the point, as he should. Crosby sets up on the right halfwall/circle opposite Malkin. Guerin trolls the front of the net with Cooke. The effect is an “umbrella” across the top near the blue line where Crosby, Gonchar, and Malkin connect the dots with passes.

It might work if the passes are quicker because again, the idea of shifting a puck laterally at speed forces the penalty-killers to have to shift back and forth, not unlike a squeeze play in baseball where a runner is trapped between bases, and the two field players toss quickly back and forth as the guy in the middle tries to find a way to either advance or get back to base. The effect of speed passing in alternately opposite directions on a power play is that after a while, the defenders get tired and no longer sync up with the passers, creating an opening for a shot. But if the passes are lackadaisical, PKers can follow it in sync all day long…and have.

The second problem is utilizing the slap shot too much. A slap shot requires a wind up. A wind up takes time and gives time to the defender to get in the shooting lane to block the shot. Snap shots require less wind up, but can deliver a pretty forceful shot, and there’s nothing wrong with a wrist-shot.

The third problem is with entering the zone. It’s a tricky thing because the forwards still have to time it with the puck-carrier so that they enter the zone with speed but do not commit an off-sides infraction. Still, the set-up and carry through neutral ice is entirely too slow. This was most starkly seen in the recent Penguins-Flyers game, and as painful as it is for me to admit that Philadelphia does anything better than Pittsburgh, they are the No. 1 power play in the league, and that bears some respect and some careful notetaking. Their set up and entry is fast, hard, and efficient on the stick of all people: the dreaded Scott Hartnell. If they lose the puck out of the attacking zone, they go get it, and they do so with controlled urgency.

So what’s this team to do? Let me revisit two arguments I’ve made since last season:

1. Get Sid down on the goal line and off the right half wall! A guy with his speed and his hands in tight spaces is the perfect person to madden goalies and literally take out the trash on nearly every shot on net. Miles of footage exist where he has managed some amazing stick work in close, showing his almost superhuman hand-eye coordination. He’s an explosive player who can get the biscuit in the basket in the middle of a scrum before a goalie can bat one eye. Putting Sid on the right circle wastes his talent. It also causes him to fall into this semi-quarterback role where he will slow that puck down to a crawl and look everything over, thinking pass ahead of shot. That’s not his forte’. Additionally, while Malkin has improved as Gonchar’s other half on the point, he is not comfortable on the left side and cannot set-up for that killer one-timer that he can bury from the right side.
2. The Penguins have most arguably the toughest, shut-down 3rd line that manages a bucketload of points, especially this season. They run a sustained cycle in the offensive zone better than anybody while peppering the opposing goalie. This would serve a power play well in two ways. First, they still manage to get off several shots, which is sorely needed on the power play, AND, probably even more importantly, when they shoot, they still manage to be first on the puck to keep it in the offensive zone, rarely letting a puck take off past the Pens’ blueliners for a break the other way. Short-handed goals against the power play this year have become embarrassing. Utilizing the 3rd line this way would curtail that.

Of course, this second suggestion begs the question of what to do with Crosby and Malkin. Have them follow as the second unit. It’s not a demotion; it’s a brutally effective strategy, sending them in for the mercy-killing. If the Staal line manages to wear down a PK unit, a quick change bringing the Crosby-Malkin-Guerin line on has an excellent chance of resulting in a goal. Even strength, last season, the Staal line was followed by Crosby with Malkin and did result in goals against tired legs.

Do these suggestions bear out? YES! Guess what?

• In the game against the Calgary Flames, the Malkin-Crosby-Guerin line was out with Gonchar and Goligoski on the blue line. Both Guerin and Crosby were buzzing the goal line, driving Flames goalie Miika Kiprosoff to distraction. Gonchar took his characteristic slap shot and Guerin guided it in as both he and Crosby stood in front of the net. Perfect.
• In the game against the Edmonton Oilers, it was the second power play unit that got the job done, and that unit was 2/3 of the Staal line, comprising Staal and Cooke (who got the goal off Staal’s helper) and Ruslan Fedotenko (instead of Tyler Kennedy), supported by Kris Letang and Mark Eaton. They ran the cycle and broke down penalty killers and the goalie.
• In the recent game against the Islanders, the Pens scored their first 5-on-3 goal of the season with Malkin firing a one-timer from the right circle as Staal screened the goalie. In the same game, Bill Guerin scored a man-advantage goal with a new, but effective wrinkle: Crosby set up in the “box” area between the circles. He drew people to him when he got the puck, faked a close shot on his forehand, which froze the goalie, and flipped a quick backhand pass to Guerin, resulting in Guerin’s backhand goal in the open net behind Dwayne Roloson.

The good news seems to be that the Pens are coming around to these kinds of configurations, utilizing the strengths and talents of their players. What is worrisome is that it seems they are loathe to stick with it for very long. In one of their recent games, the Pens were ending a second period in the power play that would extend into the first 40 seconds or so of the third period. The first 1:20 at the end of the second period was strong with the Malkin-Crosby-Guerin scenario as the latter two ran the goal line and Gonch and Malkin alternated teeing up shots from their comfort zones. It was refreshing. Then the third period started, revealing Crosby on the right circle up high and Malkin on the left side. GEEZ OH MAN, BOYS, WHY?! And it went right back to that lazy, hazy, summer-breeze day.

The Penguins coaching staff needs to settle on the new formats and stick to them until they don’t work anymore. They have worked, and without a working power play, this team will be hard pressed to get far in the play offs, and that’s not acceptable for a team with the kind of individual talent and collective chemistry that this great bunch of hockey players has. They do seem to be working on it and getting comfortable with a few different looks, and as of their last win in which they scored on a power play, the Pens are 22-2 when they score at least one power play goal. All of this  gives the fans something to smile hopefully about.

Opening Salvos

The Pittsburgh Penguins opened their 2009-10 season with their first back-to-back set of games, and their double-dose of New York opponents were chomping at the bit to get at the Kings of the Hill.

A home-opener of cosmic proportions ensued with the raising of the Stanley Cup banner for the last time in the Igloo. It was electrifying. It was nostalgic. And there were many “snapshots” one could call memorable:

• the roar of the crowd when Max Talbot came on the ice, the Game 7 hero;
• the look of sheer pride on Mario’s face;
• the ovations for Crosby, Malkin, Staal, and Fleury;
• the table holding up under the weight of the many coveted trophies earned through blood, sweat, perhaps some tears, and a whole lot of heart, bruises, and teamwork, or
• maybe it was watching that banner make its slow ascent to the rafters.

It was all good. Then the games began…

Quick Recap…
It was time for the teams to start lining up, a la the 2009-10 schedule, to see who could be the first to hand a loss to the Penguins. In their 3-2 win over the New York Rangers, despite some early jitters, the team settled down and got to work, and it promised to be a physical game with the Pens recording 41 hits, 10 more than the Rangers, but the most memorable “hits” came from a beauty of a fight between heavy-weights Donald Brashear and Eric Godard. The standard had been set.

In the second game, closing the first of 16 scheduled back-to-back games in the Pens’ schedule, the New York Islanders came out like they meant business, and it was a slug-fest to the bitter shoot-out end with the Pens prevailing. Everything was rocking and rolling.

Maybe it was the distraction of the Phoenix Coyotes’ administrative problems. Maybe it was the Coyotes’ well-executed neutral zone trap that took away the boards off of which the Pens love to race. Maybe, it was just a hiccup. The bright spot in the Pens’ first unceremonious 3-0 home loss was Jordan Staal’s face-off prowess, winning an impressive 12 of 13 draws (92%). That was about all that Coach Dan Bylsma had to smile about, except he wasn’t smiling. On the bench, as Evgeni Malkin slammed his stick and Jordan Staal looked to the heavens for answers from the hockey gods, Bylsma stood behind the duo surveying the ice with a look of ultimate disapproval.

Whatever was said in the space of time between the end of that game and the start of the next, the team regrouped to take on the hated Philadelphia Flyers. The game did not disappoint…ok…well…maybe it disappointed the Flyers’ fans as the Pens emerged victorious, but the Pens were back on track,…except for this nasty new habit of committing a ton of penalties.

The game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who looked like a stronger team in the pre-season, displayed some of the Penguins’ abilities including a red-hot power play that notched 3 goals in their 5-2 win.

The Ottawa Senators were up next, and they exhibited signs of being a serious contender as Milan Michalek and Bill Guerin exchanged goals at the end of the 1st period within less than a minute of each other. That is until, Tyler Kennedy blazed 2 more goals past netminder Pascal Leclaire, and linemate Jordan Staal stuck the dagger in for his 3rd goal in 3 games, giving Pittsburgh a 4-1 win.

The latest game against the Carolina Hurricanes promised to be a dogfight as these teams met for the first time since the playoffs when the Pens swept the ‘Canes. The stats looked about as even as they could be in just about every category through 2 periods of play. But Eric Staal did not seem himself on the ice. The ‘Canes tried the Coyotes’ trick of putting on the neutral zone trap and stacking bodies across their defensive blueline, but the Pens, better prepared than before, stuck to the plan and chipped away to force a shoot-out win. Ray Whitney was a force to be reckoned with, and Cam Ward put on just as much of goalie clinic at his end as Marc-Andre Fleury did at the other, denying Bill Guerin’s sure goal from what looked like inches.

What Needs to Change…
The biggest, most glaring anomaly emanating from the Penguins team that fans have come to know and love is the profusion of penalties. In the first 4 games alone, the Penguins committed 36 penalties for 92 minutes, which translates into over 4 periods of riding the sinner’s pine. Forty minutes consisted of 7 fighting majors (5 minutes) from Eric Godard, Craig Adams, Mike Rupp, and Jay McKee as well as 2 misconduct penalties of 10 minutes each for Jay McKee and Chris Kunitz. Those guys aside, Evgeni Malkin surprisingly led the way with the most penalties (6), followed by Sidney Crosby and Brooks Orpik, each with 4 apiece. This hardly showed the disciplined play for which the team had become known.

The Good News…
There’s a lot more on the positive side even at this early stage in the season. Continuing with the penalty situation, in the last 3 games, the Pens have whittled down their wreckless infractions by more than half with 17 penalties for a total of 43 minutes. Only 3 fighting majors (5 minutes each) committed by Godard, Adams, and Rupp. Malkin managed only one trip to the sin bin as did Crosby, and Orpik avoided it altogether. 

Face-offs–Clearly, the art of the draw has been discussed and worked on to the extent it can be in a non-real-game situation. Some set plays on the face-off have been incorporated, and with the vast improvement of the centers on the dot, puck wins have led to puck-possession and either some very good chances in the offensive zone or the ability to clear or transition out of the defensive zone. Of particular note among those taking the most draws:

• Sidney Crosby has won 88 out of 142 attempts (62.0%). He leads the league in the number of face-offs taken. His highest percentage so far came in the game against the Flyers where he won 21 of 24 (88%).
• Jordan Staal has won 53 out of 106 attempts (50.0%). His highest percentage came in the loss to Phoenix where he won 12 of 13 (92%).
• Craig Adams has won 37 of 70 for 52.8%.

Power Play–Really, the team is off to a decent start, picking up from where they left off in the playoffs. The Pens’ home power play conversion is 14.3% (2 home games), and their away conversion rate is 19.0% (5 games). Noticeably, they are moving the puck more swiftly, taking good shots, multiple shots, and getting one and sometimes two men in front of the net. Bill Guerin and Jordan Staal have both shared duties as the guy to set up on the netminder’s doorstep. Having Sergei Gonchar in the line-up from the get-go doesn’t hurt either, and he and Kris Letang continue to mesh from the blue line.

Penalty Kill–The Penguins have gotten off to a decent start with a respectable 84.6% kill percentage at home and 82.6% on someone else’s ice. As they reduce their time in the box, these stats should improve and break 90%. Bylsma continues to encourage the aggressive short-handed style with the likes of Staal and Cooke, Adams, Depuis, and even Crosby getting in on the fun.

Board Domination–In just seven games, the Penguins have notched 190 hits on opponents with a game high total so far of 41 hits at the expense of the New York Rangers. In the wrecking crew department, the team is averaging 27 hits a game from an average of 12 players per game. Chris Kunitz, Brooks Orpik, and Matt Cooke lead the way on a regular basis. And while hits are exciting to watch, the Pens are making a point of taking the body to separate man from puck and ultimately gain back possession. They are improving on that technique.

Protecting the Netminder–In blocked shots, the Pens are no less impressive. Through 7 games, they have blocked 127 shots, led by Jay McKee with 21 blocks and Brooks Orpik with 14. The team is averaging 18 blocked shots per game from an average of 9 players an outing. Speaking of netminding, Fleury looks like he only took a week off from the play-off form he was in this past spring. Already, he has made some spectacular point-blank robberies from opposing snipers. Most notably, he has improved on his puck movement. In the ‘Canes game, he looked extremely comfortable coming out of the safety of the crease to redirect play up ice, shortening the distance for his teammates, which saves legs. Particularly in this game, his play was reminiscent of Tom Barrasso during the Mario years, and that’s a very good thing.

Final Musings–The new acquisitions of McKee and Rupp have been good ones as they have clearly meshed quickly and easily into the Penguins’ system. They’ve chipped in with contributions in most areas of the game, making this team very deep and versatile through four lines of offense and three lines of defense. The scary thing about the Penguins is that they continue to get goal production from a wide range of players, not just from Malkin and Crosby. When this happens, it makes it very difficult for teams to strategize against them because literally every player on this team has to be considered a potential goal-scorer. So far, it’s been very exciting, especially with the team’s new record of 5 consecutive road wins. That kind of momentum is a confidence-booster, especially given the fact that they have a West Coast road trip coming up.

Pens’ Depth Nets 4-1 Win in Ottawa

While the Pittsburgh Penguins have excelled under the leadership and talent of Sidney Crosby, the offensive punch of Evgeni Malkin, and the stellar netminding of Marc-Andre Fleury, it is their depth that makes them a great hockey team.  That depth was on display and key to Monday night’s 4-1 win over Ottawa, preserving and extending the Penguins’ undefeated road record to 4-0.  While Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby were held without a point, the Penguins scoresheet contained 9 other players from the Penguins’ lineup to include Tyler Kennedy (2G), Jordan Staal (1G), Bill Guerin (1G), Craig Adams (2A), Chris Kunitz (1A), Mark Eaton (1A), Jay McKee (1A), Matt Cooke (1A) and Mike Rupp (1A).  For McKee and Rupp, it was their first point while donning the Penguins’ jersey.  Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 30 of 31 shots for an impressive 0.968 save percentage on the night.

The Penguins fell behind 1-0 at 15:59 of the first period after Milan Michalek took a pass from Jason Spezza and beat an acrobatic Marc-Andre Fleury with a very savvy play.  The Penguins, who have made an early habit of answering goals, came back quickly with a goal of their own just 39 seconds later.  Making an up ice drive with Sidney Crosby streaking towards the net, Bill Guerin fired a shot that rebounded off the boards, bounced off the twine and trickled back out in front of the net.  Guerin quickly dove around the defenseman and while his skates were airborne chipped the puck up over the shoulder of Pascal Leclaire Gordy Howe style.  It was a beauty of a goal for the 38-year old Guerin (soon to be 39).  Chris Kunitz and Mrk Eaton were credited with the assists on the play.  Shots were even at 9 in the first, and the Penguins were 0 for 1 on the powerplay and 1 for 1 on the kill. 

In the 2nd period, it was the Tyler Kennedy show as he netted 2-goals to put the Penguins up 3-1.  Kennedy’s first goal came from in close as he snuck the puck past Leclaire at 6:16.  Jay McKee and Craig Adams picked up the assists.  His second goal came at 18:02 on a blistering rocket from the point.  This time the assists were awarded to Matt Cooke and Craig Adams.  The Penguins outshot the Senators 10-8 in the period and both teams were 0 for 1 on the powerplay.

In the 3rd period, it was Jordan Staal getting his 3rd goal in 3-games as he took a turnover pass from Mike Rupp and buried it in the net behind Leclaire to make it 4-1.  The Penguins had a rash of penalties in the 3rd period, but managed to keep the Senators at bay with Marc-Andre Fleury turning aside all 14-shots on net in the period.  The Penguins managed 9-shots of their own in the period. 

 

Tyler Kennedy led the team with 6-shots and his 2-goals were his just rewards for his gritty effort.  Aside from netting his 3rd goal in as many games, Jordan Staal continued his mastery of the faceoff circle winning 9 of 15 (60%).  Sporting one of the team’s 3 black eyes, Craig Adams led the team with 4-hits, had 2 assists, 3 blocked shots and was a +3 on the night.  In my opinion, he was the team’s unsung hero of the night. 

Indeed, it is the Penguins’ depth that makes them a formidable force on the ice.  With three highly potent scoring lines, three offensively gifted defensemen, one of the league’s best shot blockers, and and outstanding goaltending duo, the Penguins are a triple threat of talent, depth, and grit.  They will finish up their road trip on Wednesday night in Carolina, where they will meet the Hurricanes for the first time since sweeping them in the Eastern Conference Finals.

TK Gets the GW in OT!

A little over a week after the Pittsburgh Penguins signed him to a new 2-year contract, Tyler Kennedy’s actions spoke volumes about the decision.  Kennedy scored the first goal in the Penguins’ season opener against the Ottawa Senators in Stockholm less than a minute into the game.  He followed up by stripping the puck from Jason Spezza and getting the game winning goal with less than a minute to go in sudden death overtime.  The goal averted a shootout and gave the Penguins a 4-3 win. 

Kennedy’s first goal was scored just 40 seconds into the 1st period from his sweet spot near the circle to the goaltender’s right.  Kennedy brought the puck around from behind the net, wheeled and fired, catching the inside of the net.  Jordan Staal assisted on the goal.  Midway through the period, the Senators tied it up on a goal by Shean Donovan at 9:13.  The Penguins squandered 5-powerplay chances in the 1st period, never seeming able to break through the Senators’ aggressive defensive style.  The period ended even in shots at 10 a side. 

In the 2nd period, Evgeni Malkin took advantage of his new role as a penalty killer.  With Brooks Orpik in the box, Malkin took advantage of a turnover in the neutral zone and skated it in to beat Martin Gerber and make it 2-1.  But the Penguins were unable to hold the lead as the Senators responded with goals by Dany Heatley at 12:15 (powerplay) and Jason Spezza at 17:55 (even strength).  The Penguins committed 4-penalties in the second, including two that resulted in 1:30 of a 2-man down disadvantage that carried into the 3rd.  The shots were again even at 12 per side.

In the 3rd, an unlikely hero managed to tie the game at 3-3.  Rob Scuderi took a beautiful cross-ice, tape-to-tape pass from Sidney Crosby and then beat Martin Gerber.  Miroslav Satan and Sidney Crosby picked up the assists.  The goal was just Scuderi’s 3rd career goal and his first in nearly 100-games.  The Senators pressed but were unable to get another goal, despite outshooting the Penguins 9-5 in the 3rd.

With 25-seconds left In the overtime period, Tyler Kennedy  stole the puck from a surging Jason Spezza at the Penguins blue line and took off down the ice.  He let a slapper go from near the boards that may have been deflected slightly on the way in, and beat Martin Gerber for the game winner. 

The teams will face off again on Sunday afternoon for the rematch in Stockholm before returning back to the United States on Monday.

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It’s Time for Hockey!

Just a couple short months after the Penguins lost in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals, a redesigned Pittsburgh Penguins’ team starts the long haul again as they open the season against the Ottawa Senators in Sockholm, Sweden, on Saturday afternoon.  While some of the faces have changed from last season, the desire to win hockey games and advance deep into the playoffs remains the same.  But before the season even gets underway, the Penguins have been blessed with more adversity in losing their top-2 defensemen for an extended period to injury and surgery.  Will it serve as a handicap to the team, or a catalyst for other players to step up and take on the mantle of responsibility?  Only time will tell, but if recent Penguins’ history is any guide, watch out! 

In accordance with modified league rules, the Penguins have trimmed their roster to 24-players for the first two games of the season which will be played in Sweden.  Typically the team roster would need to be cut to 23 by the start of the season, but the league has permitted an extra player for the 4-teams opening their season in Europe.  To get to 24, the Penguins announced today that forward Janne Pesonen has been assigned to the AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.  The development comes as a bit of surprise to some, as Pesonen put up 2-points (1G, 1A) in 3-preseason outings for the Penguins.  All in all, I have to agree with the move as Pesonen did not distinguish himself well enough to earn a top-2 line position, and he is not the type of player you want on your lower lines in my opinion.  Better to grow him in the AHL, and have him on ready call-up should one of the top-4 wingers get injured.  After the weekend games in Sweden, the Penguins will have to make one final cut to their roster to get to 23-personnel. 

So, to start the season, the Penguins currently have 14 forwards, 7 defensemen and 3 goaltenders.  The roster includes forwards Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Saal, Petr Sykora, Miroslav Satan, Ruslan Fedotenko, Max Talbot, Pascal Dupuis, Tyler Kennedy, Matt Cooke, Eric Godard, Jeff Taffe, Bill Thomas and Paul Bissonnette.  The current defensive corps consists of Mark Eaton, Darryl Sydor, Hal Gill, Brooks Orpik, Rob Scuderi, Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski.  In net, the Penguins have kept goaltenders Marc-Andre Fleury, Dany Sabourin, and John Curry.  You can expect that the final cut next week will be a goaltender, likely John Curry.

What better way for the Penguins to start the season than a back-to-back matchup against the Ottawa Senators.   Last season, the Penguins avenged their 1st round exit of 2-seasons ago by sweeping the Senators and eliminating them during the 1st round of the playoffs.  As a result, a rivalry has developed between the two teams that the players are well aware of.   Coach Therrien noted, “we can’t ask for a better situation than to play a team that we have a rivalry with to make sure you are ready.”  The Senators will try to capitalize on the home town hero crowd advantage with native Swede Daniel Alfredsson.  Coming off from a shortened training camp and a successful pre-season in which they went 4-0-1, the Penguins are hoping for a strong start to the season this weekend in Stockholm. 

A new season, a new challenge, a new start……..it’s time for hockey!  Let’s Go Pens!

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Penguins Complete Sweep, Advance to Round 2

The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Ottawa Senators 3-1 on Wednesday night to complete a 4-game series sweep and became the first team to advance to round two of the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs.  For the Penguins it was sweet redemption for last year’s early exit in in the first round of the playoffs courtesy of these same Ottawa Senators.  This season, a more experienced, complete and confident Penguins team took full advantage of a wounded and struggling Ottawa as they outshot them 161-112 and outscored them 16-5 in 4-games.  The victory completed the first playoff series sweep for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 16-years, and its first playoff series win since 2001.  The last sweep came in 1992 as the Penguins swept Boston and then Chicago enroute to its second consecutive Stanley Cup victory.

There was no scoring in the 1st period despite the Penguins 14-5 domination in shots.  The Penguins were afforded one power play opportunity in the period, but failed to convert.  Marian Hossa notched 7 of the Penguins’ shots on goal for the period. 

In the 2nd period, the Penguins got on the board early as they converted on a power play opportunity at 1:40.  Evgeni Malkin collected his own rebound after Martin Gerber stopped his shot on a Sidney Crosby cross-crease pass and tapped the puck in on his second attempt.  It was Malkin’s 2nd goal of the series and 7th point.  Sergei Gonchar and Sidney Crosby picked up the assists.  Then at 10:31, Cory Stillman beat Marc-Andre Fleury to tie it up.  Wayne Redden and Anton Volchenkov were credited with the assists.  At 15:28, the Penguins regained the lead on an even strength goal by Jarkko Ruutu, his first of the playoffs.  Tyler Kennedy caught Ruutu with an up ice pass that almost gave him a clean breakaway.  With Senators’ defenseman Brian Lee tying him up as he drove to the net, Ruutu quickly spun around to the backhand and slipped the puck through Gerber’s five-hole to make it 2-1.  Kennedy had the only assist on the play.  Late in the period, Antoine Vermette had a tying goal disallowed as the video reply clearly showed that he put the puck into the net off his skate with a distinct kicking motion.  The Penguins again outshot the Senators 16-8 and went 1-for-3 on the power play.  The Penguins killed off a lone hooking penalty to Ryan Malone. 

In the 3rd period, the Senators pressed to stay alive but came up short.  The Penguins offensive effort let up as the Senators outshot them 9-4, but it wasn’t enough to make the difference in the game.  At 19:52 with Gerber pulled from the net for the extra attacker, Sidney Crosby took advantage of a turnover and shot the puck into the empty net from mid-ice to seal the game and the series.

• VIDEO:  Video Highlights
• PHOTOS:  In-Game Photos
• NHL OFFICIAL:  Game Rosters
• NHL OFFICIAL:  Game Summary
• NHL OFFICIAL:  Boxscore
• NHL OFFICIAL:  Play-by-Play

The Penguins’ stars more than lived up to expectations in this 4-game series.  Leading the pack was Captain Sidney Crosby who put up 8-points (2G, 6A).  On his heels was Evgeni Malkin with 7-points (2G, 5A).  Ryan Malone (2G, 3A) and Marian Hossa (1G, 4A) each put up 5-points, Petr Sykora (3G) added 3-points, and Sergei Gonchar (1G, 1A) had 2-points.  Marc-Andre Fleury let in just 5-goals on 112-shots for an incredible 0.955 save percentage and 1.26 goals against average.  Just as importantly, the Penguins found contributions from the lower lines as well with Jarkko Ruutu (1G, 1A), Max Talbot (1G, 1A), Gary Roberts (2G), and Jordan Staal (1G) all contributing. 

The Penguins will now get a lengthy rest while the other first round series play out.  The Penguins will face off against one of Boston, New Jersey or the New York Rangers next, depending upon how the series’ play out.  If Boston can overcome their 3-1 defecit and beat Montreal, the Penguins would meet them in the 2nd round.  Otherwise, the Penguins will play the winner of the New Jersey Devils/New York Rangers series.  Regardless of who they meet, the Penguins will maintain the home ice advantage.  The series will begin sometime next week.

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Penguins Take 3-0 Series Lead

The Pittsburgh Penguins continued their march through round one of the playoffs as they beat an inspired Ottawa Senators team 4-1 on Monday night to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the series.  Despite the emotional lift of getting Daniel Alfredsson back in the lineup, putting forth their best effort of the series, and scoring first, the Ottawa Senators gave up 2-quick goals early in the 3rd and fell to the Penguins on their own ice.  With the win, the Penguins have earned the opportunity to sweep the series with a win on Wednesday night, and reverse their first round fortunes of last post-season. 

In the 1st period, the Ottawa Senators came out as expected in front of their home crowd with a lot of emotion and energy.  That emotion was fueled by the earlier than expected return of Daniel Alfredsson to the Senators lineup.  While reportedly recovering from a lower body injury (suspected torn MCL), Alfredsson’s presence and puck handling abilities served to inspire his teammates as they put forth the best offensive effort seen so far in this series.  While there were no goals scored in the 1st period, the Senators outshot the Penguins 14-12.  The Penguins went 0-for-2 on the power play in the period and successfully killed off the only penalty (Talbot, goaltender interference). 

In the 2nd, it looked like the Senators would gain the momentum as they scored an even strength goal at 1:11 to take the early lead.  Nick Foligno took a bouncing pass from Jason Spezza, chipped it between the legs of a wandering Ryan Whitney and then beat Marc-Andre Fleury five-hole with a quick wrister.  The lead did not last long, however, as the Penguins bounced back with an even strength goal of their own at 5:39 from Max Talbot.  Marian Hossa moved the puck up the ice to Pascal Dupuis who hit Talbot breaking into the zone.  Talbot moved the puck to his backhand and slipped the puck between the open pads of Martin Gerber to tie it up 1-1.  The Penguins edged the Senators 14-13 in shots in the period, but failed to convert on two man advantage opportunities.     

In the 3rd period, the Penguins re-asserted their dominance in the series as they outshot the Senators 12-7 and scored 3-goals, including 2 in the first minute and a half of the period that broke the spirit of the Ottawa Senators.  Just 12-seconds into the period, Sidney Crosby busted in on a 2-on-1 break and snapped the puck past Martin Gerber stick side.  Marian Hossa and Rob Scuderi picked up the assists on the play.  Then, at 1:30, Jordan Staal chipped a Tyler Kennedy pass up over the the shoulder of Martin Gerber to make it 3-1.  Jarkko Ruutu picked up the other assist.  Finally, at 8:55, Marian Hossa collected a loose puck from a scrum in front of Gerber and deposited it into the net.  The power play goal was assisted by Sidney Crosby and Ryan Malone, and was Hossa’s first post-season goal in 4-years.  The Penguins were 1-for-3 on the power play and succesfully killed off their only short-handed situation.   

• VIDEO:  Game Highlights
• PHOTOS:  In-Game Photos
• NHL OFFICIAL:  Game Rosters
• NHL OFFICIAL:  Game Summary
• NHL OFFICIAL:  Boxscore
• NHL OFFICIAL:  Play-by-Play

Max Talbot (1G), Sidney Crosby (1G, 1A), Jordan Staal (1G) and Marian Hossa (1G, 2A) all picked up their first goals of the post-season, and Marc-Andre Fleury was again spectacular in goal stopping 33-of-34 shots.  Evgeni Malkin failed to figure in the scoresheet despite another strong performance.  Gary Roberts did not play due to a groin injury and was replaced by Adam Hall in the lineup.  The Penguins did a tremendous job of handling the pressure of going down 1-0 on their opponents ice, and continued to play their system largely to perfection.  Through 3-games in the series, the Penguins have outshot the Senators 127-90 and have outscored them 13-4.  Marc-Andre Fleury has a 0.956 save percentage and 1.33 GAA in the series. 

The Penguins meet the Senators again in Ottawa on Wednesday night where they will try to finish up the series on the road and make it a clean sweep.   

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Penguins Beat Senators 5-3, Lead Series 2-0

The Pittsburgh Penguins exploded for 54-shots against the Ottawa Senators, but it took 2-goals in the last 1:02 of regulation to break a 3-3 tie and give the Penguins the win and a 2-0 series lead.  Pittsburgh looked to be in complete control of the game and the series as they scored 3-unanswered goals through the first 30-minutes, but the Ottawa Senators finally bounced back with 3-unanswered goals of their own to tie the game and almost send it into overtime.  A late high-sticking call against the Senators would be the difference, however, as the Penguins capitalized on the man-advantage to break the tie and get the game winner.

In the 1st period, the Penguins offensively dominated the Senators and outshot them 20-8, but Martin Gerber stopped 19 of 20 to keep his team in the game.  The Penguins goal came at 16:10 on a 5-on-3 power play blast by Sergei Gonchar from near the blue line that rose up above Gerber’s shoulder and into the corner of the net.  Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin picked up the assists on the play with Gary Roberts providing a solid screen in front of Gerber.  The Penguins were 1-for-3 on the power play in the first.

In the 2nd period, the Penguins power play struck again at 5:22 to make it 2-0.  Petr Sykora tipped in a hard pass across the goal mouth from Evgeni Malkin at the half wall to beat Gerber.  Sidney Crosby had the other assist.  Then at 10:52, Sykora scored again on a another hard cross-ice pass from Evgeni Malkin to put the Penguins up 3-0.  The play was set up by Ryan Malone as he pressured the Sens to keep the puck in the zone.  But 38-seconds later, Ottawa got on the board on a simple tip-in by Shean Donovan that eluded Marc-Andre Fleury.  Chris Neal and Mike Commodore were credited with the assists.  Then at 16:11, Ottawa struck on the power play as Tyler Kennedy sat for a hooking call.  Cory Stillman beat Fleury with a wrister from 9ft out to make it 3-2.  Dany Heatley and Andrej Meszaros got the assists on the play.  The Penguins outshot the  Senators 20-11 in the 2nd, and were 1-for-2 on both the power play and the penalty kill. 

In the 3rd period, the Ottawa Senators found a way to tie it up as Cody Bass threw a wrister past Fluery to make it 3-3.  Randy Robitaille and Mike Commodore assisted on the equalizer.  But with just 1:14 left in a game that looked like it would be heading to overtime, Martin LaPointe’s stick got up into the eye of Jarkko Ruutu and sent him tumbling to the ice with a bit of salesmanship for a legitimate penalty.  Playing with the man advantage, Ryan Malone picked up the rebound from a Marian Hossa shot and quickly maneuvered behind the net to stuff in a wraparound and make it 4-3 with 1:02 left in the game.  The Penguins then kept the Senators hemmed in their own end so that Martin Gerber couldn’t get off the ice until there was just 9-seconds left in the game.  The Penguins then sealed the deal with an empty net goal by Ryan Malone at 19:53 to send the crowd into a frenzy.  Marian Hossa and Sidney Crosby got the assists on the final goal.   

• VIDEO:  Game Highlights
• VIDEO:  Post-Game Press Conference w/Coach Therrien
• VIDEO:  Post-Game Locker Rooom Interviews w/Ryan Malone, Jarkko Ruutu, Pascal Dupuis, Sidney Crosby, Petr Sykora,
• PHOTOS:  In-Game Photos
• AUDIO:  Mike Lange Highlights
• AUDIO:  Rink-Rat Report
• AUDIO:  Post-Game Hotline
• NHL OFFICIAL:  Rosters
• NHL OFFICIAL:  Game Summary
• NHL OFFICIAL:  Boxscore
• NHL OFFICIAL:  Play-by-Play

Evgeni Malkin was a beast on the loose tonight, getting 3-assists and 8-shots on goal, including a couple of breakaways in which he drew two non-calls by the referees.  Malkin now has 6-points (1G, 5A) in 2-games.  He clearly made the difference in the game tonight.  Sidney Crosby somewhat quietly racked up 4-assists on the game for his first points of the playoffs.  Ryan Malone picked up 3-points (2G, 1A) and Petr Sykora continued his torrid play with 2-goals.  Marian Hossa contributed with 2-assists.  Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 27-of-30 shots on net, but it was Martin Gerber with 49-saves on 54-shots that had the better night in net.  The Penguins seemed to fall back on their heels just a bit late in the 3rd before getting the late power play advantage, giving the Senators their first glimpse of any hope in the series after the Penguins had played with such confidence and dominance through the first 4.5 periods of playoff hockey.   But the Penguins continued to play their system and were not rattled by the pressure.  The Penguins outshot the Senators 14-11 in the final frame and were 1-for-1 on the power play.

With the win, the Penguins take an important 2-0 series lead to Ottawa on Monday with a chance to go up 3-0.  The Senators will likely look to build some momentum on their inspired play in the latter half of tonight’s game, as they managed to pick themselves and nearly got a chance to steal one in Pittsburgh.  The Penguins will be looking to tighten up their game and prevent the Senators from getting a taste of any Penguins blood.

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Penguins Beat Senators 4-0

The Pittsburgh Penguins won Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoff series against Ottawa Senators decisively by shutting them out 4-0.  Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was perfect in net, turning aside all 26 shots by the Senators.  Wiley veteran Gary Roberts playing in just his 2nd game since returning from a 42-game hiaitus with a broken leg, scored twice and led the Penguins in setting the tone for the rest of the series.  Evgeni Malkin extended his dominating play into the post season by notching 3-points (1G, 2A), and fueling the Penguins’ offense.       

It only took a little over a minute for the Penguins to prove that this series will not be a repeat of last season’s first round matchup.  With the 4th line scrumming all around the Ottawa net, Gary Roberts quickly posted himself in front of Martin Gerber and backhanded a shot past him to make it 1-0.  Georges Laraque and Max Talbot got the assists on the play.  Then at 12:28, Evgeni Malkin chipped a puck up the boards past a Senator and broke in 2-on-1 with Petr Sykora.  Malkin made a beautiful cross-ice pass to Sykora who buried it perfectly into the open side of the net to make it 2-0.  The Penguins outshot the Senators 10-8 in the 1st period, were 0-for-1 on the power play, and killed off their only penalty.

In the 2nd period, the Penguins poured it on but failed to score despite outshooting the Senators 15-10.  Late in the period, Marc-Andre Fleury gave Martin Lapointe a little stick to the back of the legs that Lapointe took exception to.  As play was called, Lapointe turned around and confronted Fleury with a shove.  Seeing the action, Max Talbot came flying in on Lapointe.  Talbot was assessed a double-minor roughing, while Lapointe only took a 2-minute call.  Despite getting 3-opportunities on the power play, including nearly a minute of 5-on-3, the Senators failed to crack the Penguins defense or solve Marc-Andre Fleury.  The Penguins missed on 2-man advantage opportunities in the 2nd period. 

In the 3rd period, the Penguins again outshot the Senators 10-8 and converted twice, including a power play goal.  The Senators had their chances as the Penguins got in some penalty trouble that gave Ottawa a 50-second 5-on-3 opportunity.  But they failed to take advantage of the golden opportunity they were given.  The Penguins put the game out of reach with their 3rd goal which came at even strength as Evgeni Malkin dominated the offensive zone, moving the puck to Ryan Malone and Ryan Whitney before taking a feed back from Whitney.  The pass hit Malkin’s skate, but he quickly kicked it to his stick and lifted it over the shoulder of Gerber to ignite the crowd and make it 3-0.  At 16:35, Wayne Redden took a swipe at Sidney Crosby as he was battling at the side of the Senators net.  Crosby battled back before being pulled off by two Senator players, clearing the way for Ryan Whitney to come in and put the hurt on a jersey-headed Wayne Redden.  Redden and Whitney took 5 for fighting, while Crosby and Dupuis each took roughing calls (Dupuis got a double-minor).  Dean McAmmond also got a double minor along with Wayne Redden.  When the dust settled, the result was a 2-minute powerplay for the Penguins.  This time, the Penguins converted as Marian Hossa passed the puck to Evgeni Malkin, who threw the puck across the goal mouth and off Gary Roberts skate into the net at 18:25.  With 12-seconds left in the game, Gary Roberts put a hit from behind that angered Cody Bass and a scrum ensued.  Roberts picked up 16-penalty minutes in the fracas (boarding, roughing, unsportsmanlike and a game misconduct).  Cody Bass and Chris Neil each got 2-minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct.  But it was inconsequential as the Penguins skated away to a 4-0 game 1 victory.

• VIDEO:  Game Highlights
• VIDEO:  Post-Game Press Conference w/Coach Therrien
• VIDEO:  Post-Game Interviews w/Gary Roberts, Sidney Crosby, Marc-Andre Fleury, Ryan Whitney, Jarkko Ruutu, and Max Talbot
• PHOTOS:  In-Game Photos
• AUDIO:  Mike Lange Highlights
• AUDIO:  Post-Game Rink Rat Report
• AUDIO:  Post-Game Hotline
• NHL OFFICIAL:  Game Rosters
• NHL OFFICIAL:  Game Summary
• NHL OFFICIAL:  Boxscore
• NHL OFFICIAL:  Play-by-Play

The win gives the Penguins a 1-0 lead in the best of 7 series with Ottawa.  Marc-Andre Fleury turned aside 26-shots for his first career playoff shutout, and his 2nd career playoff win as he was named the game’s first star.  He is now 11-2-1 since returning from the high ankle sprain injury.  Gary Roberts scored twice, his first goals since scoring twice on Dec 23rd against Boston, as he played tonight in just his 2nd game back after missing 42-games with a broken leg.  He was named the game’s 2nd star.  Evgeni Malkin’s 3-points earned him the game’s 3rd star.  Ottawa, already suffering from injuries, lost defenseman Anton Volchenkov early in the 2nd period after he was cut in the forehead by a Malkin slap shot.  He didn’t return to the game, and there was a delay as blood had to be cleaned from the playing surface.

The Penguins and Senators return to Mellon Arena on Friday night for game 2 of the series. 

 

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Round 1 Playoff Preview: Penguins vs Senators

The first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs will start on Wednesday, April 9th, with the Pittsburgh Penguins (47-27-8) facing off against the Ottawa Senators (43-31-8).  While we saw the same first round matchup last year with Ottawa winning 4-1 before advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals, don’t expect a replay of last year’s series.  A lot has changed in the course of a year and the now healthy and confident Pittsburgh Penguins team seem poised to take advantage of a wounded, less confident Ottawa team and make a much deeper run into the playoffs. 

After getting off to a slow start on the season, the Pittsburgh Penguins turned their season around after an emotional 6-5 overtime shootout win against the Ottawa Senators on Thanksgiving Day.  The Penguins went into that game 8-11-2 at the bottom of the Atlantic Division against the Eastern Conference leading Senators.  After that game, the Penguins went 38-16-6 to win the Atlantic Division.  The Senators started their season on fire going 16-4-0 before meeting up with the Penguins on Thanksgiving.  After that overtime loss to the Penguins, the Senators went 27-27-7, plummeting from 1st in the Eastern Conference to 7th, and nearly missing the playoffs. 

So what has changed from last season for the Penguins?  First, the Penguins players have matured as individuals and as a team.  Unlike last season, the young Penguins now know first hand what to expect in a playoff series.  They do not have to rely upon veteran players like Gary Roberts to try and explain what to expect in the playoffs.  Much more than that, the Penguins have matured as a team throughout the season as they have dealt with and overcome adversity.  The Penguins dealt with the loss of their #1 goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury for over 2-months, their #1 player and league MVP Sidney Crosby for over 2-months, their wiley veteran Gary Roberts for nearly 3-months, and a number of other key players that missed games with various injuries.  Despite it all, the resilient young Penguins finished on top of the Atlantic Division, clinching their first division title in 10-years.  They also came 2-points shy of claiming the #1 spot atop the Eastern Conference. 

Another change for the Penguins is the upgrades made to the lineup.  Most notable among them was the NHL’s top-rated winger Marian Hossa from the Atlanta Thrashers.  The creative, prolific scorer was acquired to complement Sidney Crosby on the team’s top line, allowing team MVP Evgeni Malkin to continue to center the hottest 2nd line in the NHL.  Along with Hossa, the Penguins acquired more speed on wing with Pascal Dupuis and a burly, tough defenseman in Hal Gill.  The Penguins trade deals were arguably a significant net positive for the team.  Additionally, the Penguins found a gem in third-string goaltender Ty Conklin, who stepped in and more than filled the shoes of Marc-Andre Fleury during his absence.  His outstanding play makes him a very formidable backup to Fleury as the Penguins enter the playoffs.  Through it all, the Penguins maintained that intangible element of chemistry that is the hallmark of all great sports teams. 

Aside from the maturity gained and the changes to the Penguins lineup, several players on the team are having career years.  Evgeni Malkin has been sizzling hot in the latter half of the season and finished second in league scoring with 106-points (47G, 59A).  Linemate Ryan Malone has come into his own this year by besting his previous career stats with 51-points (27G, 24A), and becoming a real force in front of the net.  Veteran Petr Sykora turned in his best performance in 7-years with 63-points (28G, 35A).  Veteran defenseman Sergei Gonchar had his second best season and finished second in league defenseman scoring behind Niklas Lidstrom with 65-points (12G, 53A).  Goaltender Ty Conklingave an MVP-worthy performance by going 18-8-5, with a league 2nd best 0.923 save percentage and 2.51 GAA.  And despite an injury shortened season, Marc-Andre Fleury has been phenomenal going 19-10-2, with a career best and league 5th best 0.921 save percentage and 2.33 GAA.  Fleury has been 10-2-1 in his 13-starts after returning from injury.   

For the Senators, it has been a much different story.  At the beginning of the season, the Senators were a team poised to run away with the top seed in the East.  By the end of the season, they had to battle to stay in the playoff picture.  Things got so bad in the second half of the season that general manager Bryan Murray fired head coach John Paddock on February 27 and placed himself behind the bench.  Murray had been the head coach of Ottawa during their Stanley Cup finals run last season.  Murray’s presence did little to rouse the failing Senators who went just 7-9-2 in the remaining games and nearly fell out of playoff contention in the tight Eastern Conference. 

Heading into the playoffs, the Senators are dealing with additional adversity as top line winger and Captain Daniel Alfredsson is expected to miss the first round with knee and neck injuries.  The loss of Alfredsson could be a fatal blow to the Senators who depend upon him for his excellent two-way play.  In addition to losing Alfredsson, the Senators will also be playing without centerman Mike Fisher who will also miss the opening series with a knee injury.  Another challenge for the Senators is their tenuous goaltending situation.  Ray Emery went just 12-13-4 with a 3.13 GAA this season as he lost the starting job to veteran Martin Gerber. Emery’s lackluster play was underscored by disciplinary issues as he showed up late for practice several times andwas fined as a result.  Martin Gerber finished the season 30-18-4 with a 2.72 GAA and .910 save percentage, but has failed to keep the team in games as their performance has faded. 

While the Senators won the season series against the Penguins (3-0-1), the Penguins now clearly hold the upper hand in this post-season matchup.  The Penguins are playing as a team with confidence and are now nearly 100% healthy.  The Senators have lost their early season confidence and will be playing with critical elements of their lineup missing.  With special teams being a swing factor in the playoffs, the Penguins hold the advantage with a power play that is one of the most lethal in the league while the Senators have significantly struggled on the penalty kill.  In net, the Penguins goaltending situation is rock solid, while the Senators goaltending has been tenuous.  The Penguins have a huge 15-2-3 home record since January 1st, outscoring their opponents 80-42.  The Senators have gone 8-13-2 on the road in the same timeframe, and have been outscored by their opponents 80-61.  It would seem to follow that home ice should play heavily in the favor of the Penguins. 

After reviewing all of the factors, I am projecting that the Penguins will win the series handily in 5-games. 

UPDATED 9 Apr 08 – Video Links:

• VIDEO:  Coach Therrien Pre-Game Press Conference
• VIDEO:  Post-Practice Crosby Scrum 
• VIDEO:  Inside the Locker Room

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