Emrick said he believes the Penguins, the only former champion among this year's wild cards, could make a run if they pull together as they did in 2009. The Penguins played with five defensemen and without forward Evgeni Malkin at times in the final month of the season. "You're probably going to laugh given what has happened in the last two weeks or so, and the fact they are playing the Presidents' Trophy winner [New York Rangers] but Pittsburgh has struck me as a team that when you walk into the dressing room it seems like a different culture [recently]," Emrick said. "But I've gone back 42 years of doing this and I've seen changes in teams that do have potential [that is] unused. Sometimes transformations take place." The Penguins went 4-9-2 in the last 15 games of the regular season after going 39-18-10. Offense has been the biggest problem in the past two playoff exits. "But if [Pittsburgh wins] one of the two games in New York, they might start thinking a little more together than they have been in the games that we've seen down the stretch," Emrick said. "Anything is possible. Given the talent base they have, the Penguins would be my favorite among the four to really shock."
If they pull it together like they did SIX YEARS AGO...LOL. Sorry if I get humor out of this. He so dislikes the Rangers that he uses a Pens reference from SIX YEARS AGO. I have said all along that game 1 will tell me the big story in this series, so I don't think he is crazy saying if the Pens win one of the two games in NY they could get some positive vibes (to me game 1 is the game with the much better shot for them), but it is still funny to read how he talks about the Pens and calls out SIX YEARS AGO.
BTW...no Klein in game 1. Still day-to-day. Today is 5 weeks from the injury. Game 4, a week from today, is 6 weeks. I think he will be back sometime in that window. From games 2 to 4. He'll be back during that stretch, most likely game 3 or 4 IMO. Hunwick is fine against the Pens anyway (he is not Klein of course). If we make round 2 that is where we will really need Klein against the Isles/Caps. So take an extra few days now to be 100%. Get back for game 3 or 4, and away we go.
take...............with a grain of salt. Yeah, I'd expect him to be pulling for Pens. He does not, even his broadcasts, hide that he dislikes the Rangers. Objectivity? No sireeeeeeeee.
Yea, I was thinking about this the other day. If Klein isn't 100% and we're up 2-1, 3-1 etc, then just let him rest up more. No need to rush him back of we're winning. Gonna need him next round and beyond for sure.
The more I think about this series the more I think given Fleury's recent playoff meltdowns (although he was decent last year) + the Pens horrible defense + the Rangers team speed they are going to score 4 goals a game in this series and it's the best matchup of all the East playoff teams I think when this series is over the talk is going to be does Pitt trade Malkin for depth
Depth is always a question mark In the playoffs because who is to say that Pitts 3rd and 4th line won't steup up. Downie, Spaling, Lapierre, Sutter, Comeau, and Bennet all have playoff experience
That's a good line. Last year STL-Richards-Hags was our 2nd line... Hayes at this point is just as good or better than Richards
I think we win game one 3-1. We win game two 3-2. Game three the refs win 4-2. Game four we win 4-1. And then we close it out in game five 4-3.
The Rangers are the better team. If they play their game we shouldn't have to worry or make excuses about the refs.
Ugh...let's start pointing the finger at the refs before the series starts...pretty sad. The Rangers are the better team and they should win the series regardless of any bad calls they get.
All I know is that I already have stomach cramps with all the anticipation. Can't imagine what the players are going through. They'll respond much better than I would. Better teams don't always win these f'kn games.
