Ohio Chatter DEV

rock_knutne

Tuesday 7:30PM, Mellon Arena, broadcast on Versus and TSN2

The final game of four between these two and there's a goal scoring title on the line too. Would love to see Sid win the Rocket Richard Trophy and add to an already impressive haul of hardware.

Crosby hasn't had a win against OV this year. One would think this game is a preview of an eventual meeting in the playoffs.

GoPens

I'm going with a buddy who will be wearing an OV jersey (yea, sometimes I question my taste in friends). I've already warned him that I'm not bailing him out if he acts like a jerk.

Huge game for the Pens. They've got to keep getting points to stay ahead of Jersey.

Laley23

Ovi >>>>>> Cindy

He is the best two way player in the game and way more complete than Sid.

GoPens

Assvechkin a two way player??????:huh: I've heard it all now.

rock_knutne

^^^^^Don't take the bait. Obitchkin is one of the most selfish players I've ever seen and he thinks he's a tough guy too.........take that visor off if that's the case.

End of Line

OV a two-way player??????? LOL.

OV is one of the worst players in the game when it comes to defense. All he does is float around the blue line and cherry pick.

Heretic

Huge game for Pittsburgh. Depending on how the final games go, they could be in the 2-3 seed spot OR stuck around the 4 spot if the Devils finish in front of them in their division.

I'd rather have that potential series with Washington be in the conference finals than semis.

End of Line

^^^^That's a no brainer.

Laley23

lol, you all went for it

I was completely kidding and reverting to the thread on their (3rd) match-up a few weeks back. I dont think Ovi is anywhere close to a two way player.

In fact, with all bias included, I think the Wings have the top 2, two way players in Pav and Zetterberg.

End of Line

Laley23 wrote: lol, you all went for it

I was completely kidding and reverting to the thread on their (3rd) match-up a few weeks back. I dont think Ovi is anywhere close to a two way player.

In fact, with all bias included, I think the Wings have the top 2, two way players in Pav and Zetterberg.

You are right about Datsyuk being the best 2way player in the world. Zetterberg is top 5.

rock_knutne

game day

End of Line

Crosby vs. Ovbitchkin vs. Malkin

GoPens

Thanks for that. About to leave for a day in Pittsburgh and the game. The Igloo should be freakin' nuts tonight.

End of Line

^^^^^I love that video. Thursday's game will be rocking as well.

rock_knutne

1-0 Caps after one period of play. Semin gets the goal for Washington, he may be an ever bigger punk than Ovechkin.

rock_knutne

4-2 Caps after 2 periods. Poor goaltending from Fleury, he was pulled for Johnson but he gave up a cheap one too. Controversy near the end of the period, puck went over the line and in to the Caps goal but the refs say no goal because they blew the whistle.........looked and sounded very close IMO.

BTW, no Malkin, he was scratched after the warm up, feeling under the weather.

Non

Pens don't have enough offense right now to play Washington without Malkin.

rock_knutne

6-3 Caps final. Ovechkin scores a lucky goal off a won faceoff by Staal that deflected off the linesman and right to Ovechkin's stick, then to add insult to injury, he gets an empty netter. Crosby and Obitchkin are now tied for the league lead in goals.

rock_knutne

Non wrote: Pens don't have enough offense right now to play Washington without Malkin.

Don't get me wrong, they are a different animal when Malkin is in there but they made way too many mistakes tonight. Fleury flat out sucked and the defense keeps having trouble clearing the zone. Washington got all the breaks too, seems like the puck bounced right to them but that's hockey, it can be cruel at times.

I thought the Pens played with great intensity and were very physical. Washington is not a very disciplined team and their defense is suspect. I think the Pens can beat them in a seven game series, if they can get there.

Non

The effort is there but they're not playing sharp enough. Like you said, turnovers in the defensive zone and Fleury isn't locked in like he needs to be at this time.

Crosby is playing great. And Malkin came back Saturday with a dominant effort.

But it seems like they may need those two to carry them through the first round at least in terms of scoring.

Leopold is stepping up some offensively.

ptown_trojans_1

Non wrote: Pens don't have enough offense right now to play Washington without Malkin.

Agreed. I'll broaden it out: The East is just too weak on the offensive end to really stop the Caps. I see the Caps easily heading into the Eastern conference finals, and after a 5-6 game series, heading to the Cup finals.

No one in the East, outside NJ, offers a real threat, or has the offense to challenge them in a 7 game series.

thavoice

I dont know what the setup lookslike....but I see Caps/Devils in the finals if that is possible.

Obviouis the Pens wont be repeating or even gettig to the finals this year.

rock_knutne

ptown_trojans_1 wrote:Agreed. I'll broaden it out: The East is just too weak on the offensive end to really stop the Caps. I see the Caps easily heading into the Eastern conference finals, and after a 5-6 game series, heading to the Cup finals.

No one in the East, outside NJ, offers a real threat, or has the offense to challenge them in a 7 game series.

Just some numbers for you. Pittsburgh has thirteen players who have scored 10 goals or more this year and they rank 5th in the league in scoring. I would hardly say they don't have enough offense, they have more than enough to challenege anyone in the league.

New Jersey is a trapping team and will get exposed over a seven game series, unless Brodeur stands on his head. The Caps are suspect in goal, their defense is questionable and they are undisciplined. The only way the Caps get to the finals is if they can overwhelm teams offensively, that's not always the case in the playoffs.

IMO, the problem for the Pens lies at their own blue line were they either can't clear the zone or turn it over. They struggle to make the transition to offense lately. Goligoski has been terrible in this regard, Eaton and Letang have been struggling to clear the zone too. The other major factor has been goal tending, Fleury has let in some soft goals and that's not acceptable. I wouldn't count out the Pens just yet, they are the defending champs and they know what it takes to get it done.

The bottom line is, you're not going to win a Stanley Cup with average goal tending and a mistake prone defense, it just doesn't happen. I think Fleury can and will rebound but the defense scares me.

Non

I agree with that assessment.

Goligoski has some skill but is shaky with the puck under pressure and that leads to mistakes/turnovers.

Letang and Eaton are also mistake prone.

Leopold was a good addition because he moves the puck pretty good and also can join the attack.

Gonchar and Orpik are on the plus side.

But still that's only about half heading into the playoffs and with Fleury also not at his peak, I can't see them making a deep run.

rock_knutne

Non wrote: I agree with that assessment.

Goligoski has some skill but is shaky with the puck under pressure and that leads to mistakes/turnovers.

Letang and Eaton are also mistake prone.

Leopold was a good addition because he moves the puck pretty good and also can join the attack.

Gonchar and Orpik are on the plus side.

But still that's only about half heading into the playoffs and with Fleury also not at his peak, I can't see them making a deep run.

That's the one area that can change overnight, especially with Fleury. He's shown he can go on a long hot streak after a bad stretch in goal.

There's no doubt what so ever that they need to improve in a couple areas but in a seven game series, I give them a good chance against anyone in the league.

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Crosby vs Ovechkin.......Part 4