dallas vs blues

[Johnsfolly]

Ham - I can't "like" your post since I don't want to admit that the Pens chances to win tonight without Letang are bad. They do need more powerplay production. Murray stopped a lot of shots, but that can't last through two or more games. Winning more faceoffs would also help. The Pens have to get ahead early and like you said score 4 or 5 to stay in front of the Caps. I am wearing my lucky Penguins shirt and my playoff beard is getting full. Not that I am superstitious.

Oh yeah the Blues are looking good in their series.

[Ham]

Looking at the stats sheet, The Faceoff wins were nearly equal, but down the stretch when the Pens took icing after icing calls, it seemed the Caps won most of them and got decent scoring chances way too often. They really stressed me out in that last three minutes.

Heck, I'm so superstitious that I think the Pens might do better if I don't watch.

[jpb2187]

12 hours ago, Ham said:

 

As much as I hate it, I expect a Pens loss tonight. Without Maata and Letang, I expect the Caps to fill up the net.

Going to OT, it's a toss up at this point Ham. Good luck. 

[Ham]

I'm one happy,happy, happy Pens fan. Very impressed with the effort that the Pens dialed up tonight.

Murray frequently lets in a soft goal early and then shuts the door pretty hard. I never would have expected him to be the hot goalie that stole a series for his team, but he's been key. If he had played this well in Game One, the series would be over.

it takes four wins to move on and getting #4 may prove very difficult, but I love their chances. Look forward to seeing Letang back on the ice. I hope he has the best game of his career. 

 

[Johnsfolly]

The way that Murray is playing makes a return by Fleury really unlikely at least in this series with the Caps. I was impressed with the Pens fight through most of the game. However, I did feel that the Caps had the edge in the third in terms of their level of intensity. The Pens picked it up in OT. Now its time to see if they can stay aggressive and not let the Caps up now that they are down. A big night by Daley. Looking to see what Letang can bring when he returns. 

[marcus]

maybe you should start a pens caps thread ....big win by the pens though fleury sure did looked pissed off on the bench though i dont think hes gonna start for the rest of the playoffs 

[Ham]

Hard to find the negative in Murray's success, but I will. I've been a Fleury defender for a long time. I felt like he got made into the scape goat when they were ravaged by injuries going into the playoffs. He has been really solid since that one bad playoff run. I watch his win totals rise and him inch into a Top 20 all time goaltender and if he can stay in Pittsburgh and keep getting 60 starts a season, he will be a Top 10 all time goaltender in 3 years.

BUT professional sports are a business and Fleury's $5 million a year may get him replaced by younger and less expensive Matt Murray. Expansion draft target.

[Johnsfolly]

Marcus - You are probably right about a Pens v Caps thread instead of hijacking this one. Would take too much effort.

[marcus]

series all tied up looks like best of 3 now go blues!

[Johnsfolly]

I watched the overtime. I was fairly tired at that point possibly due to my old age or from watching the Pens / Caps overtime game the night before, I was happy about the short overtime period, but disappointed about the outcome of the Dallas goal. Thank goodness I'm not a fan of the Predators. Though I do think they have one of best logos in the league.