SERIES 2: GAME 4: Pens at Sens

Scotiabank Place. 7:30. NBCSN

After a frustrating double-OT loss and two days off, it's game 4 in Ottawa tonight where the Pens still lead this series 2-1. This game is going to be a big one. With a win tonight, the Pens will be one more win from the Eastern Conference Finals. A loss will make this an even series, and probably cause another irrational Pens fan meltdown of some sort.

Rumor has it that Jokinen could be back in the line-up tonight. Jussi has been out since a knee-to-knee hit occurred with Reasoner during the first round. When asked about if he's playing tonight, Jussi said:

"Our lineup every day is a game-time decision. That's the coaches' decision. I just prepare the same way. You always prepare that you're going to play."

On the Sens' side, Stone will be replacing Conacher on the Spezza line. And everyone's favorite (sarcasm city), Neil, has been cleared to play in game 4. Yippee skippy.

LINES:
(subject to change)

 

Kunitz - Crosby - Dupuis

Iginla - Malkin - Neal

Cooke - Sutter - Kennedy

Bennett - Jokinen - Adams

 

Orpik - Martin

Niskanen - Letang

Murray - Eaton

 

#VokounaMatata

 

 

Michalek - Spezza - Stone

Silfverberg - Turris - Alfredsson

Smith - Zibanejad - Neil

Greening - Pageau - Condra

 

Methot - Karlsson

Cowen - Gonchar

Benoit - Phillips

 

Anderson

Stuff:

• In other series: Red Wings lead Blackhawks 2-1, Kings and Sharks are tied 2-2, Bruins lead Rangers 3-0.

Let's do this.
GO PENS!

Podcast City

8th installment of the Heyyyyy Fannnssss Podcast.

We "talk" about games 1, 2, and 3.

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Disappointment. Pens LOSE

 2

1

The guys over at Pensblog said it best.  "Can't really find the perfect word to describe this loss.  Terrible.  Stupid.  Disappointing.  Frustrating."  Those are all good words to describe this loss.  The Pens had a 1-0 lead.  They were on a power play with under 2 minutes to play.  Vokoun was playing lights out.  The defense was fantastic for the most part.  But one little brain fart is the different between the Pens having a chance to close this out Wednesday night and this potentially being 2-2 going back to Pittsburgh.  

This game was a goaltending clinic.  Craig Anderson and Tomas Vokoun had their balls in everyone's mouths.  They were matching each other save for save.  TK sniped one late in the 2nd to make it 1-0 Pens.  That lead stood until under 30 second left in the game when Daniel Alfredsson scored SHORT FUCKING HANDED to tie the game.  

We all love Geno here.  BUT.  He didn't mark Alfie going to the net.  Everyone watched the puck and Alfie was in all alone and deflected a sick pass from Milan Michalek past Tomas Vokoun to tie the game.  

After a scoreless first OT the Sens won it when Colin Greening beat Vokoun.  Vomit.

1. Colin Greening

2. Craig Anderson

3. Tomas Vokoun

Game 4 is Wednesday.

Go Pens

SERIES 2: GAME 3: Pens at Sens

Scotiabank Place. 7:30. NBCSN

Pens and Sens are in Ottawa tonight for Game 3. Joe Vitale was absent from the Pens morning skate so Tanner Glass took his spot in the line rushes. Spezza will be returning for Ottawa tonight.

 

LINES:

(subject to change)

Kunitz - Crosby - Dupuis
Neal - Malkin - Iginla
Morrow - Sutter - Cooke
Glass - Adams - Kennedy

 

Orpik - Martin
Niskanen - Letang
Murray - Eaton

 

Vokoun

 

 

 

 

Conacher - Spezza - Michalek
Silvferberg - Turris - Alfredsson
Smith - Zibanejad - Neil
Greening - Pageau - Condra

 

Methot - Karlsson
Phillips - Gonchar
Cowen - Gryba

 

Anderson

Stuff:

• Other series: Detroit beat Chicago yesterday, making the series an even 1-1. San Jose defeated L.A. to make the series 2-1 (in favor of the Kings).

Do it.
GO PENS.

SERIES 2: GAME 2: Pens vs. Sens

Consol Energy Center. 7:30. NBCSN

It's a hockey night in Pittsburgh for Game 2.

In the morning skates for the past 2 days, the Dupuis-Crosby-Iginla/Kunitz-Malkin-Neal lines have been switched back to Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis/Iginla-Malkin-Neal.

Also, Letang and Adams did not participate in this morning's skate so Eaton and Jokinen were practicing in their place. Both Letang and Adams practiced yesterday, no word on their absence today per Bylsma.

Vokoun has confirmed that he will be starting in net tonight. He has 3 straight wins so far so here's to hoping for another tonight! #VokounaMatata and #twerkinforTomas continues!

LINES:

(Subject to change)

Kunitz - Crosby - Dupuis
Iginla - Malkin - Neal
Morrow - Sutter - Cooke
Adams - Vitale - Kennedy

 

Martin - Orpik
Letang - Niskanen
Murray - Engelland

 

Vokoun

 

 

Conacher - Turris - Alfredsson
Michalek - Zibanejad - Silfverberg
Kassian - Smith - Neil
Greening - Pageau - Condra

 

Methot - Karlsson
Phillips - Gonchar
Cowen - Gryba

 

Anderson

Stuff:

• Spezza is eying to return to the Sens line-up for Game 3.
• In other series: Blackhawks lead 1-0 over Red Wings, Kings lead 2-0 over Sharks, Bruins lead 1-0 over Rangers.
• NHL Awards: Boudreau (Ducks), MacLean (Senators) and Quenneville (Blackhawks) are finalists for the Adams trophy. Kane (Blackhawks), Moulson (Islanders) and St. Louis (Lighting) are finalists for the Lady Byng. Bergeron (Bruins), Datsyuk (Red Wings) and Toews (Blackhawks) are finalists for the Selke. Finalists for the GM of the Year are Bergevin (Canadiens), Murray (Ducks) and Shero (Penguins, obviously).

Do it.
GO PENS.

Also, for a little giggle, this video has been showed on boths penguins.NHL.com and NHL.com. Malkin was featured as an answer on Jeopardy...

Nice try, buddy.

Malkamania. Pens WIN.

1

4

Malkin had his best game of the playoffs.  Pens open up Round 2 with a win and lead the series 1-0.  Game 5 is Friday. Recap below.

The game started out with Consol jammed up then with an amazing rendition of O Canada and the Star Spangled Banner by Jeff Jimerson.  The Pens came out of the gates flying.  One minute in, Kyle Turris decided he was going to hit Dupuis in the face with his stick, sent the Pens to an early Powerplay.  The first unit was everywhere and forced Craig Anderson to make 3 huge saves.  Malkin stayed out with the second unit.  Brenden Morrow dished to Geno who made a beautiful pass back to Paul Martin.  Morrow screened Anderson and the puck went in.  What a shot.  The Redemption Tour continues.

Two minutes later, Colin Greening scored one of the shittiest goals ever. Trade Vokoun right? Anyways 1-1.
Malkin-Kunitz-Neal went to work on the forecheck.  Neal stripped some dude and gave the puck to Kunitz, who fed Malkin for a slam dunk. 2-1.

Tyler Kennedy sat on Zibenejad and took a penalty, killed.  Gryba was called for a hold later but Malkin negated that by taking a penalty. Period ended 2-1 Pens.

Halfway through the second, James Neal took his first penalty of the night, but the Pens killed it.  Ottawa pretty much controlled play during the period, but Vokoun and the Penguins defense did a good job not allowing anything to happen.  Big thing to take away from this period is that the defense were on every rebound and they boxed out the front of the net. Cory Conacher decided to hold Chris Kunitz which led to the Penguins 3rd powerplay of the night.  Kunitz then slams home a pass from Iginla and Letang to make it 3-1, Crosby made an underrated pass leading to the goal.

There were a few penalties exchanged in the 3rd, but both were killed.  Erik Karlsson bought a call by basically forgetting how to skate and James Neal went to the box for the 2nd time.  Karma would come back to bite Karlsson in the ass.  Karlsson pinched horribly, Dion Pheaneuf like on the Powerplay, which sprung Dupuis and Cooke to a 2 on 1 shorthanded with Gonch as the defenseman.  Dupuis sniped Anderson top shelf, 4-1 Pens. 

The game pretty much was over at that point.  James Neal hit Karlsson to knock him down to take another penalty.  Game.

Three to go.

1. Evgeni Malkin

2. Tomas Vokoun

3. Chris Kunitz

Stuff:

- Evgeni Malkin solid all around game, best game of playoffs by him.

- Vokoun was strong all night

- Pens defense played a thousand times better than Islanders series.

- 2/4 on Powerplay, killed all 5 powerplays by Ottawa.

- Chris Neil still sucks.

- Orpik and Gryba collided at the blueline at one point, Gryba might have a concussion, no idea.

- Penguins had 40 hits

Game 2 Friday at 7:30 on NBCSN

Go Pens.

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One word can describe this podcast.  Disaster.  You should be rewarded if you listen to the whole thing.

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