So both the cup champ and the President's Trophy teams from last year both don't make the playoffs this year. That's pretty unreal.
Look at this idiot comments...LOL Craig Custance@CraigCustance I think the Penguins will give the Rangers a series. Will be interesting to see how they play as underdogs rather than w/huge expectations. 4m
I think the Pens will view making the playoffs as a chance to take a deep breath and say okay we are in let's toss out all the crap play the last month or so. Plus you know they want to pay us back for last season. Ehrhoff will be back. Letang being out is a crusher though. They go 3 lines pretty solid (8 or 9 forwards deep). But their 4th line leaves a lot to be desired. Should be a series we totally control. The team we all wanted to play. But it wouldn't shock me if the Pens make it a little closer than you'd think. They do have those studs and would love to pay us back as they get a fresh start. Game 1 will be interesting to me. Their best shot to steal one at MSG IMO.
Anything is possible Step...LOL. If we lose a game don't flip out though.... Go Isles in SO...get that 2nd point and home ice.
I don't think he is crazy here. He is right...fresh start is how the Pens will view it, I promise you they are saying that right now. Everyone 0-0. And they usually have huge expectations on them with a lot of pressure. No doubt they can play free and loose for the 1st time in a long time. And we have the pressure and expectations on us. That is why I say game 1 is big for how the series will go. We come out and win it, especially if we do it in a comfortable fashion, I think we will win in 5. If they win game 1 though I think we have a series. Their best shot at MSG as I said.
My lord the Isles are a joke. Only word I can use really. 3-1 lead in the 3rd BLOWN. 4-3 lead late in the 3rd...BLOWN. 1-0 lead in the SO needed one more save from Halak...BLOWN. Just wow. I think the Caps roll them...I really do. 5 and 5 in the Met 1st round.
Quick take on the East (could change by Wednesday): Pitt/NYR - NYR in 5 NYI/Caps - Caps in 5 Sens/Habs - Habs in 6 (this could be 7) Wings/TB - TB in 6 That would set up a great 2nd round of Caps/NYR and TB/Habs. Best 1st round series to me will be the Sens and Habs. The others I feel pretty confident the higher seeds win in less than 7 games.
so you think the caps will roll over the isles but the pens might give us a series, since it is the fresh start for them.
When Rangers/Sens was a possibility, you had said Rangers in 5 at the most. But you think it'll take the Habs and the best goalie in the league this year 7? Cant see that at all. Habs roll them. I think TB/Wings has a much better chance of going 7, assuming Howard finds his game.
You guys are WAY over confident. I fully expect us to win. I think we will win in 5. But you guys with the sweep and acting as if the Pens are garbage need to slow down a little IMO. Anything can happen in the NHL playoffs. Sweeps are rare. The Pens have a ton of playoff experience. They have 2 studs. I like us A LOT, but this could be tighter than we think. I hope the team isn't this over confident.
I don't like anything about how the Habs finished the season. I also don't know what the story is with Pac. Is he healthy and ready for game 1? I like how the Sens finished the season as well. I'll stay with Habs in 6, but 7 wouldn't shock me. As for the Wings/TB series, maybe you are right. Maybe I overrate the Lightning and don't give enough credit to the Wings. I don't love the Wings this season. Don't love their goalie situation. Do love their coach and top players (if healthy) though. Could be 7...but I will stay with 6. And think the Ottawa/Montreal series will be closer.
How do you figure? I put them out there right away. I gave my call on each series. Because I said the Habs series could be 7 even though I predicted 6...LOL.
Comical stuff really. Hope I am wrong, but I think they get rolled by the Caps. Hate everything about how they finished the season. And when you play no D and have a questionable goalie, that is usually trouble in the NHL playoffs.
There does seem to be a bigger gap between the higher and lower seeds in the east this year than last year. No series seems to me too tough to call. Im sure it wont play out like that because it's the NHL playoffs, but on paper I think all 4 higher seeds will advance relatively easy. If I have to pick an upset, I go Wings. I am really not sold on TB. Remember, Bishop has ZERO playoff experience. He missed their whole series last year. TB also relies a lot on guys like Kucherov, Johnson and Palat, none of which are exactly playoff savvy vets. Wings know what they need to do. That's the only potential upset I see.
I think Ovi is the last guy you want skating around when you have D and goalie issues. The guy is a machine with a wrist shot better than a lot of slap shots.
I wouldn't discount Ottawa giving Montreal a heck of a series. Out West either Nashville or Chicago will be out in the first round. Yikes the victims of the matchup.
