Series Talk: Pens (1) vs. Isles (4) - 1st round

[KIRK]

Game intensity is different but 71's acceleration here is encouraging.

Acceleration wasn't so much the concern before. It's been his first step and starting and stopping. Once he starts to get a head of speed, he's seemed and still seems fine. The skating before he gets there . . . not so much.

 

[Tom Hanks]

 

[Ms Maggie]

Soooooooo ... this wouldn’t be the right place to ask if I should be concerned about the mole on my penis?

I'm confused.

Most likely not.

Unless you mean the burrowing rodent. In that case, concern is amply warranted.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Eh. Team can push back if they drop the 1st game. Couldn’t say that in prior years.

I gotta say, I’m much more excited about this team than I was last year or even in the first half of the season.

 

[tom_servo]

Good highlight package of the season so far.

 

[mpp9]

I gotta say, I’m much more excited about this team than I was last year or even in the first half of the season.

Core knows their time is running out. Coach made some quality adjustments this year. The defense is way more mobile. And the forward depth is as good as you can expect.

Bracing for the heartbreaking outcome of the team playing well but it not being good enough anymore.

 

[sovietsanta87]

I'm sorry by Greg Wyshneifjifjadski at ESPN has already stated:

Who are the top contenders for the Stanley Cup this season?

There's a clear top five for the Stanley Cup, both in public perception and in wagering odds: the Avalanche, Golden Knights, Maple Leafs, Lightning and Hurricanes.


The Maple Leafs? Really?

 

[Ryder71]

I'm sorry by Greg Wyshneifjifjadski at ESPN has already stated:

Who are the top contenders for the Stanley Cup this season?

There's a clear top five for the Stanley Cup, both in public perception and in wagering odds: the Avalanche, Golden Knights, Maple Leafs, Lightning and Hurricanes.


The Maple Leafs? Really?

Maple leafs should come out of the north. I think it has more to do with the division they come out of than anything else. I also don't see the Canes in the same realm as Vegas, Colorado or TB despite their record.

 

[Ryder71]

I see Boston and Pittsburgh as right below Vegas, the Avs and Lightning. One of these five will hoist the cup. Hopefully it's us.

 

[Bumpus]

Most likely not.

Unless you mean the burrowing rodent. In that case, concern is amply warranted.

Duly noted.

 

[chethejet]

The team that had a great year but not sure about how they do in the playoffs is Florida. They beat the snot out of TB and they bring some real physical play to the mix. This is the better playoff matchups in quite awhile. Pens or any team will have a tough road to go to win the cup.

 

[Andy99]

I see Boston and Pittsburgh as right below Vegas, the Avs and Lightning. One of these five will hoist the cup. Hopefully it's us.

Pens have more questions at goalie than those teams...I can’t put them in the top five because of that, along with Sully...he needs to show me he’s back to being a good tactician...if those go right and we don’t sustain significant injuries then we have a good chance

 

[Ryder71]

Pens have more questions at goalie than those teams...I can’t put them in the top five because of that, along with Sully...he needs to show me he’s back to being a good tactician...if those go right and we don’t sustain significant injuries then we have a good chance

Optimism from Andy, certainly rare but it's good to have even a modicum of optimism for the Pens this time of year.

 

[Tender Rip]

Acceleration wasn't so much the concern before. It's been his first step and starting and stopping. Once he starts to get a head of speed, he's seemed and still seems fine. The skating before he gets there . . . not so much.

... and that first step and revving up the old diesel does not describe the proces commonly described as ‘acceleration’?

Acceleration defines change in velocity. Not a gear change.

 

[Andy99]

Optimism from Andy, certainly rare but it's good to have even a modicum of optimism for the Pens this time of year.

of course I didn’t tell you that I don’t think they do it...lol...even if they get out of the East, the points reranking for the top four will likely mean they have to play Colorado...

 

[Pittsburgh1776]

... and that first step and revving up the old diesel does not describe the proces commonly described as ‘acceleration’?

Acceleration defines change in velocity. Not a gear change.

Agreed. He looked best on his third rep, he was moving quickly. I have no idea how it will translate to the intensity of the playoffs but he looked better than the last game he played.

 

[Peat]

of course I didn’t tell you that I don’t think they do it...lol...even if they get out of the East, the points reranking for the top four will likely mean they have to play Colorado...

Dunno about that. If Tampa come out of the South, or anyone other than Toronto comes out of the North, we wouldn't play Colorado (or Vegas) in the semis. That's, what, 50-50?

I think the realistic ideal, if we get that far, is for Colorado/Vegas, Toronto, us, and Tampa to come out of their divisions, at which point we get Toronto - not easy, but about as easy as you can ask for in the playoffs - and we let the heavyweight wear each other out before a final. A scenario where it'd be Colorado/Vegas, Us, Tampa, and some other Canadian team would be nearly as much fun as just hitting up Colorado/Vegas to begin with.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Toronto's a very good young team but I think this Pens team would beat them this year.

 

[metalan2]

For now it is. In Round 3 it's points percentage 1st vs 4th / 2nd vs 3rd

Divisions and geography will become irrelevant at that point.

So..third round the Penguins can play let's say the Wild or something?

 

[Andy99]

Dunno about that. If Tampa come out of the South, or anyone other than Toronto comes out of the North, we wouldn't play Colorado (or Vegas) in the semis. That's, what, 50-50?

I think the realistic ideal, if we get that far, is for Colorado/Vegas, Toronto, us, and Tampa to come out of their divisions, at which point we get Toronto - not easy, but about as easy as you can ask for in the playoffs - and we let the heavyweight wear each other out before a final. A scenario where it'd be Colorado/Vegas, Us, Tampa, and some other Canadian team would be nearly as much fun as just hitting up Colorado/Vegas to begin with.

if it’s Toronto and Carolina that come out, we’d play Colorado

 

[Sidgeni Malkby]

I see Boston and Pittsburgh as right below Vegas, the Avs and Lightning. One of these five will hoist the cup. Hopefully it's us.

If we can get out of our division, we’re winning it all!

 

[Peat]

if it’s Toronto and Carolina that come out, we’d play Colorado

Well yes, that was included in my post (albeit implied) But that's not really a certainty.

 

[Gurglesons]

I think if we get out of our division we are making it to the Cup.

 

[Tom Hanks]

I think if we get out of our division we are making it to the Cup.

At least to the semis anyway

 

[mpp9]

I think if we get out of our division we are making it to the Cup.

Literally just realized Tampa and Toronto are both below us in points. This postseason is gonna be wild.