EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL Pittsburgh v Ottawa

[sseagle]

Saturday, May 13, 6pm: Senators @ Penguins | NBC, Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports
Monday, May 15, 7pm: Senators @ Penguins | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
Wednesday, May 17, 7pm: Penguins @ Senators | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
Friday, May 19, 7pm: Penguins @ Senators | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
Sunday, May 21, 2pm: Senators @ Penguins | NBC, CBC, TVA Sports
Tuesday, May 23, 7pm: Penguins @ Senators | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
Thursday, May 25, 7pm: Senators @ Penguins | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports

[WaukeeBlues]

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2
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[Irish Blues]

1 @ Pittsburgh
2 @ Pittsburgh
3 @ Ottawa
4 @ Ottawa
5 @ Pittsburgh
6 @ Ottawa
7 @ Pittsburgh

[glen a richter]

Lundqvist > Fleury and the Sens dismantled Lundqvist. I wouldn't write them off in this series.

Senators in 6

[theohall]

Lundqvist > Fleury and the Sens dismantled Lundqvist. I wouldn't write them off in this series.

Senators in 6

Matt Murray is available again.

Rags don't have players like Malkin and Crosby.

Will be interesting to see those two vs Karlsson.

Were I the Penguins, I'd do my damnedest to ensure Crosby or Malkin is on the ice whenever Phaneuf is on the ice, because Phaneuf has been awful against 3rd and 4th liners.

Senators - keep Phanuef away from Crosby and Malkin.

[theohall]

I could be completely wrong, but Ottawa playing their defensive system for 2 and 1/2 periods likely allowed their forwards to be more rested for OT, which could be why Ryan was able to blast by them for the OT winner.

Pittsburgh, once they went down a goal, spent a ton of energy just trying to break that 1-3-1 to get chances.

[theohall]

Look at the faces of the Penguins players on the bench right now (3rd period). They are exhausted and the score is 0-0. Granted, the Penguins are getting the better of the chances, but it's taking a toll to earn those chances. This thing gets to OT and don't be surprised if Ottawa is again the faster team at that point.

[Irish Blues]

This feels like one of those games that goes past 1am and into the 4th OT before someone finally scores.

[gaijin]

Kessel with the lone goal late in the 3rd. Series tied 1-1 heading to Ottawa.

[theohall]

It looks like Boucher has decided Ottawa will just play defense and wait for Penguins mistakes to generate offense, unless the Senators get down a goal. Then, and only then, will the Senators open up their game at all. That's the way the first two games have played out.

[theohall]

Penguins looked like a beaten team in that 1st period.

[theohall]

Ottawa's experience is also beginning to pay off.

There were only 4 players for Ottawa 25 or younger on the roster for Game 3. All 5 of those players are in their 5th year in the NHL.

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, has 6 players in their 1st or 2nd year in the NHL in the bottom half of their lineup. Not having Kris Letang and Maata playing through an injury is hurting them on the back end. Their current defense is a bunch of 3 through 6 level guys. There isn't a #1 d-man for them to ride. While most of their defenseman are experienced, their isn't a top pairing among those playing. How bad is this? Top 5 ice time for the Penguins, 3 of them were forwards. Top 10 ice time - 7 were forwards.

Maata - 3rd
Dumoulin - 5th
Ron Hainsey - 8th

Just for comparison, the Blues had 4 defenseman leading in ice time every game.

The Penguins don't have a shut down defensive pairing. Winning faceoffs is how the Penguins are trying to play defense. It didn't work when the Senators won the faceoffs (Pittsburgh 35% Ottawa 65% in Game 3 - Sens were at 74% in the 1st period). The reason I say this is when Ottawa loses a draw, they usually back off into their 1-3-1. When they were winning draws, they attacked, which is what they did throughout most of the Game 3 1st period. Game 2 - Pens 62% Sens 38% and the Penguins controlled the play for basically the entire game. Game 1 - they were Pens 51 and Sens 49 and it wound up going to OT. Faceoffs are telling thus far in this series and with the Sens getting to pick matchups again in Game 4, it doesn't bode well for the Penguins. Yes, the Penguins have Crosby and Malkin who are capable of taking over a game any time. But can they take over a game with the beating they are taking and the Penguins lack of a #1 or #2 defenseman?

Fatigue may be playing a factor for the Penguins in terms of Games Played when one considers 6 Penguins (top end talent) were in the World Cup, most of their team played through the Finals last season, while Ottawa wasn't even in the playoffs and only had 1 guy in the World Cup (Karlsson). Senators are a more rested team.

[theohall]

And then Pittsburgh beats Ottawa at the "let's score goal off of mistakes and be patient otherwise" game.

[WaukeeBlues]

I think it's telling that as Crosby was fist pumping his guys as they were leaving the ice he looked creepily confident and calm. This team isn't worried at all going back for a game 7 in Pittsburgh. Justifiably so.

Ottawa should be embarrassed they can't sell out an elimination game 6 on home ice in the conference finals. That's insane. Regardless of the reasons I've heard ("It's like D.C. but smaller, nobody is from there its all transplants, the arena is too far away from downtown")

IT'S AN ELIMINATION GAME 6 IN THE CONFERENCE FINALS IN CANADA

[theohall]

I think it's telling that as Crosby was fist pumping his guys as they were leaving the ice he looked creepily confident and calm. This team isn't worried at all going back for a game 7 in Pittsburgh. Justifiably so.

Ottawa should be embarrassed they can't sell out an elimination game 6 on home ice in the conference finals. That's insane. Regardless of the reasons I've heard ("It's like D.C. but smaller, nobody is from there its all transplants, the arena is too far away from downtown")

IT'S AN ELIMINATION GAME 6 IN THE CONFERENCE FINALS IN CANADA

Plus it's spring time and not like weather would be an issue for getting to the game.

[theohall]

This line will come from the NHL in the near future

Pittsburgh Penguins Phil Kessel fined for embellishment

Wasn't called in the game. Blatant dive foe which the refs tagged the Senators with an interference minor. Still trying to figure out how Phanuef touches Kessel's shoulder and that turns into a forward superman dive with both legs in the air from Kessel as Phaneuf actually let go and was turning away before the superman pose. Horrible call which led to a PP goal for the Penguins in the 3rd period of a Game 7. Best refs my ass. Of course, NBC's Penguins bias was painfully heard with Eddie O. claiming "that's clearly interference" while no one on the crew points out how much of blatant dive it was, only that "the Senators claim it was a dive" Which it was.

[Irish Blues]

Officiating in the playoffs has been terrible at best. Tonight is no exception. It's difficult to watch, but what do you expect when the league lets its officials regularly ignore calling the rulebook and players adapt knowing they can do a ton of stuff and nothing is going to get called and plays get more dangerous as a result?