Stanley Cup Playoffs: Ottawa Senators vs Pittsburgh Penguins

• rock_knutne

  Final score, 7-4 Pittsburgh
• rock_knutne

  Automatik wrote: Typical loser actions by the Sens there. Cooke to the box? What a joke.

  Smart move by Bylsma to keep Crosby, Malkin and Gonchar off the ice in the final minutes. You knew Ottawa was going to goon it up to send a message. There was a message sent but it was by the Pens as they dominated this game.
• rock_knutne

  Gonchar barely played in the last 8 or so minutes of the game, good move to keep "Sarge" fresh.
• Non

  

  if the Sens were getting beat at Pittsburgh and were going back home it might be different, but losing two straight at home you can pretty much flush that message down the toilet
• rock_knutne

  ^^^^Yep
• rock_knutne

  Another final score of note, the Flyers beat the Devils 4-1 to take a commanding 3 games to 1 lead in that series. Philly holds on the Pens would avoid Washington until the conference finals, that's if both teams make it that far.
• sonofsam

  

  rock_knutne wrote: Another final score of note, the Flyers beat the Devils 4-1 to take a commanding 3 games to 1 lead in that series. Philly holds on the Pens would avoid Washington until the conference finals, that's if both teams make it that far.

  The Pens have a bit of tweaking to do (mainly a little bit of defensive work and goal tending) but if they keep up this pace and style of play, Lord Stanley is going to remain in his rightful place.
• Non

  

  long way to go but the Pens seem like they're gaining steam which they absolutely needed to do
  
  not only win the opening round but get stronger going into the second round
• sonofsam

  

  Thats what I am hoping for... Some of the play has been sloppy, but last year they looked like they were doing everything they could to win... this year it seems like they know what it takes to win. Hopefully they get the kinks worked out and finish the job.
• Non

  

  Sarge and Malkin came back too close to the start of the playoffs, so there wasn't enough time for the team overall to find the right chemistry
  
  and Fleury was struggling
  
  and the defense was making too many turnovers
  
  the effort was there but the sharpness of play and attention to detail was seriously lacking
  
  it definitely seems like they're coming on
  
  this is not the same Ottawa team that rolled over a couple of years ago, they played well in Game 1 and for the most part have battled hard as a team, the Pens have been forced to take it to another level and they've done that particularly these last two on the road
• sonofsam

  

  Non wrote: Sarge and Malkin came back too close to the start of the playoffs, so there wasn't enough time for the team overall to find the right chemistry
  
  and Fleury was struggling
  
  and the defense was making too many turnovers
  
  the effort was there but the sharpness of play and attention to detail was seriously lacking
  
  it definitely seems like they're coming on
  
  this is not the same Ottawa team that rolled over a couple of years ago, they played well in Game 1 and for the most part have battled hard as a team, the Pens have been forced to take it to another level and they've done that particularly these last two on the road

  I agree with everything you have said, including the part about Ottawa not being the same team from 2 years ago, but they are still not good enough to play with the Pens when the Pens are on their game. Their only hope was to do exactly what they did in game 1 and hope that the Pens struggled to find their game being down in the series... Luckily that wasn't the case and the Pens have all but put the final nail in the coffin for Ottawa. My only concern is that the "goon" tactics do not show their ugly faces in game 5 and get someone hurt.
• rock_knutne

  ^^^^Ottawa won't goon it up in game 5, they need to win and putting the Pens on the PP will hurt them. Also, if the Pens have the game wrapped up, there's no message to send because the series will be over. Hopefully Ottawa's coach, Cory Clouson respects that code of honor.
• End of Line

  

  I had to watch the game went I got home from work (3am), all I have to say is that the Pens DOMINATED the Sens for the first period and a half then all hell broke loose.
  
  As for what happened at the end of the game.........Neil and Ruutu are a joke! Staal came in a facewashed Neil because he cross checked Gogo right in the back, then all of a sudden Ruutu just starts punching Cooke in the face for no reason, what a joke.
• End of Line

  

  Game 5 tonight. The Pens can fianlly clinch a series at home for once tonight.
• THE4RINGZ

  

  Just saw on my Pens Twitter that there are still tickets available for tonight's game.
• rock_knutne

  Tyler Kennedy is out with an injury, Fedotenko will replace him on the third line.
• End of Line

  

  ^^^^^He needs to be on the 4th line.
  
  With TFK out this is how I would roll lines:
  
  Kunitz-Crosby-Guerin
  Poni-Malkin-Superstar
  Cooke-Gronk-Dupuis
  Rupp-Adams-FedEx
  
  Orpik-Gonch
  Eaton-Letang
  McKee-Gogo
• rock_knutne

  ^^^^^^Radio said Fedotenko was practicing with Staal and Cooke, which doesn't mean anything because Bylsma likes to mix and match his lines.
• End of Line

  

  As long as he stays off of Geno's line I'll be happy.
• rock_knutne

  2-1 Ottawa after a period of play. Pittsburgh looked sloppy and sluggish for the first 15 minute of the period but kicked in to gear late drawing a PP and cashing in. Pens open the second period with well over a minute on another PP.
• rock_knutne

  2-2 after two periods. Pens score late on a Kunitz goal that was originally disallowed but after review it was deemed a good goal.
• rock_knutne

  Score of interest, Philly up 3-0 in NJ after two periods. The Devils are toast!
• rock_knutne

  Crosby with a huge goal to put the Pens ahead 3-2!
• rock_knutne

  Regin scores again for Ottawa, game tied at 3 a piece.
• rock_knutne

  Some bad calls by the refs both ways late in this game. Swallow those whistles and let the players decide this game.