SERIES 2: GAME 1: Pens vs. Sens

Consol Energy Center. 7:30. NBCSN

On to the next one... The Penguins are taking on the Ottawa Senators in round 2. In regular season, the Pens won all three meetings; Jan. 27th: 2-1 in shootout, Feb. 13th: 4-2, Apr. 22nd: 3-1. Game 1, clean slate, let's do this.

A big factor to this series is going to be goaltending. Anderson had a killer SV% at .950 and a 1.80 GAA against the Habs and the Pens have now decided to start Vokoun tonight, who successfully stopped 66 of 69 shots he faced in back to back wins over the Isles. #VokounaMatata.

Karlsson will finally be playing against the Pens for the first time since his injury, so of course, the Cooke debacle will probably be shoved down everyone's throats for the 2,147,242,924th time. The good thing is that Karlsson appears to be completely over the entire situation, via Twitter, so maybe the media will finally give it a rest. (Don't hold your breath)

Also, Melnyk is still a douche, no surprise there.

Series Schedule:

• GM 1 – Tuesday, May 14th – 7:30 @ CEC - NBCSN
• GM 2 – Friday, May 17th – 7:30 @ CEC - NBCSN
• GM 3 – Sunday, May 19th – 7:30 @ Scotiabank Place - NBCSN
• GM 4 – Wednesday, May 22nd – 7:30 @ Scotiabank Place - NBCSN
• GM 5* – Friday, May 24th – 7:30 @ CEC - NBCSN
• GM 6* – Sunday, May 26th – TBD @ Scotiabank Place - TBD
• GM 7* – Tuesday, May 28th – TBD @ CEC -TBD

*if necessary

 

LINES:

Dupuis - Crosby - Iginla

Neal - Malkin - Kunitz

Morrow - Sutter - Cooke

Adams - Vitale - Kennedy

 

Orpik - Martin

Letang - Niskanen

Murray - Engelland

 

Vokoun

Conacher - Turris - Alfredsson

Michalek - Zibanejad - Silfverberg

Kassian - Smith - Neil

Greening - Pageau - Condra

 

Methot - Karlsson

Phillips - Gonchar

Cowen - Gryba

 

Anderson

 

Team Injuries: PIT - none, OTT - Spezza

Stuff:

• Crosby has been named a finalist for the Masterton tophy. The other two finalists are Josh Harding (Wild) and Adam McQuaid (Bruins).
• This will be the 4th time in 7 years that the Pens and Sens have met in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Sens won the first playoff meeting (4-1) in 2007. Pens swept the Sens in 2008 and won 4-2 in 2010.
• The other match-ups for round 2 are Blackhawks-Red Wings, Kings-Sharks, and Bruins-Rangers.

Buckle up, baby.
GO PENS.