Playoff Hockey Thread part 2.

[littletonhockeycoach]

Wonder if this would even be a series if RyJo was playing. Preds have dominated play in both games without him.

Probably.... But Pens are missing Latang. At this moment, Murray is out performing RInne. That didn't happen in the previous 3 series for the Preds. (Althoughone shouldn't fault Rinne on the Guentzel goal.)

Whoops I guess I spoke too soon.....

 

[joshjull]

Of course.

 

[kirby11]

Guentzel OP

 

[joshjull]

Probably.... But Pens are missing Latang. At this moment, Murray is out performing RInne. That didn't happen in the previous 3 series for the Preds. (Althoughone shouldn't fault Rinne on the Guntzle goal.)

Whoops I guess I spoke too soon.....

Well aware Letang is out. Wasn't saying Preds are unfairly handicapped. I'm just amazed how much of the play @ ES they've controlled without him. Had he been in he would add the finish then badly need for all these chances.

 

[littletonhockeycoach]

Well aware Letang is out. Wasn't saying Preds are unfairly handicapped. I'm just amazed how much of the play @ ES they've controlled without him. Had he been in he would add the finish then badly need for all these chances.

Yeah, I agree. Pred's puck possession and fluid movement and control on offense is definitely superior to Pittsburg.

 

[kirby11]

Preds just can't catch a break.

Omg. Game over.

 

[littletonhockeycoach]

Wow, isn't that like the 2nd or 3rd goal that's gone in off Rinne's own guys?

Time for the Preds to head back to Nashville and get their head screwed back on straight.....

 

[joshjull]

The Pens resiliency with all the injuries combined with their finishing when needed has been impressive all playoffs.

 

[Buttons85]

Jeeeeeeeez. Good night, Rinne.

 

[dkollidas]

So basically, Bylsma came in, kept everything as it was, and won a cup.
Implemented his system, and Pittsburgh went the next five years (5 prime years of two of the best players in the game) without reaching the Stanley cup finals, only reaching the conference finals once.

Since letting him go, they've won one cup, and are about to be up 2-0 in the current finals series.

And people want to act like Bylsma wasn't the problem...

But wow, Pittsburgh really is good.

 

[kirby11]

Bettman is going to be disgustingly happy that the golden boy will get another cup

 

[Gras]

This makes me sad

 

[joshjull]

The Pens resiliency with all the injuries combined with their finishing when needed has been impressive all playoffs.

I would add the great goaltending from MAF and Murray for most of the playoffs to this as well.

 

[Gras]

Let them fight

 

[Montag DP]

So for the series so far, the shots are 61 - 38 in favor of Nashville, and goals are 9 - 4in favor of Pittsburgh.

 

[Sabretooth]

If Pittsburgh wins back to back Stanley Cups with Matt Murray standing on his head like he's doing this game... He's going to get paid like a king.

Would he be the only goaltender in history to win 2 stanley cups as a rookie? He's still technically a rookie this year because he didn't play enough last year.

 

[joshjull]

Would he be the only goaltender in history to win 2 stanley cups as a rookie? He's still technically a rookie this year because he didn't play enough last year.

I would imagine it's never happened before. It would be quite the oddity to be a rookie for two years in a row because you didn't play enough but still won the Cup twice.

 

[Sabre the Win]

Would he be the only goaltender in history to win 2 stanley cups as a rookie? He's still technically a rookie this year because he didn't play enough last year.

Wow I didn't even think about that scenario.. incredible if that happens

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Dryden came close winning the Conn Smythe in 70-71, then the Calder in 71-72 but Les Habs disappointed in the playoffs

 

[joshjull]

 

[La Cosa Nostra]

Congrats to the Pens. They are repeating, even though the Preds have been the better team. Nashville simply can't get past losing Johansen. At least Botterill gets what cup #3 on his resume? Hopefully he gets #4 while still here.

 

[rintinw]

If Pittsburgh wins back to back Stanley Cups with Matt Murray standing on his head like he's doing this game... He's going to get paid like a king.

Obviously. But only after next 3 seasons

 

[LaxSabre]

@PensInsideScoop - GOAL!! Guentzel!! 10 seconds into the 3rd!! #Pens lead 2-1!! #JakeFromStateFarm -SK
@PensInsideScoop - Guentzel's 12 playoff goals are 2nd-most ever by a rookie in NHL history (Dino Ciccarelli, 14) -SK

@PensInsideScoop - #Pens win 4-1!!! Guentzel with a pair of goals. Murray with 37 saves. Pittsburgh take 2-0 series lead in Cup Final -SK

@PR_NHL - Guentzel scored the game-winning goal for a 2nd straight game to set a rookie record for GWGs in a single postseason (5). #StanleyCup
@PR_NHL - Guentzel is 2nd rookie with consecutive GWGs in #StanleyCup Final since NHL took control of trophy in 1926-1927 (Roy Conacher - Games #3-#4-#5 in 1939).

 

[LaxSabre]

 

[brian_griffin]

So for the series so far, the shots are 61 - 38 in favor of Nashville, and goals are 9 - 4in favor of Pittsburgh.

Preds have controlled so much play and flow. But a goal every ~15 shots vs. a goal every 4.2 shots is crushing, whether it's from skill, luck, deflections off teammates, etc.

I've enjoyed the skill level, speed, intensity. Don't mind the chippiness. And MIke Milbury is a Royal jackass. Crown-wearing worthiness.