PENS vs Montreal Canadiens Round 1 (Best Of Five)

[Jaded-Fan]

Thank you.

But we hope the Bruins get creamed in the 1st round and hate your team. I would argue the Bruins are the # 1 rival of this Pens squad.

I might argue with number one rival, but up there. It is however fairly safe to say that if Montreal were playing Boston very few here would be buying a Bruins jersey and joining the fan club.

It is also safe to say that if the Pens advance past the Bruins any Bruins' fans on the Pens' bandwagon now would fall completely off.

 

[Scandale du Jour]

We have WAYYYYYYYYYYY more talent.
We have WAYYYYYYYYYYY more winning experience.
We will be WELL rested.

I mean, if we lose to that shit team, we should be ashamed.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Treat this series, if it happens, like it's happening in October. Because for all intents and purposes, it is. Hockey's been on the shelf for 4 months by the time it starts, at the earliest. We seem to have our fair share of slow starts to seasons. It's a lot of "who the f*** knows" imo.

On paper? We should sweep them. In reality? Who knows?

 

[EightyOne]

I genuinely have no clue why people who just bitch and moan about the Penguins and make no indication that they like the Penguins post here regularly.

Hey, man, I like the pens

I just know that they like to sputter out the gate sometimes. They won't have much time to recover if they do here...

 

[Ugene Magic]

Treat this series, if it happens, like it's happening in October. Because for all intents and purposes, it is. Hockey's been on the shelf for 4 months by the time it starts, at the earliest. We seem to have our fair share of slow starts to seasons. It's a lot of "who the f*** knows" imo.

On paper? We should sweep them. In reality? Who knows?

In reality these games mean more off the start than the start of a regular season. Slow start could be catastrophic.

They simply can't take anything for granted. Margin for error just isn't there. They can't fall behind a single game. They do, and it only reinforces Montreal's fortitude to win more.

 

[BHD]

We have WAYYYYYYYYYYY more talent.
We have WAYYYYYYYYYYY more winning experience.
We will be WELL rested.

I mean, if we lose to that shit team, we should be ashamed.

I think the Pens should dispose of them. However, I'm preparing myself mentally for a letdown in Game 5.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

You know damned well the Penguins will at least let this sad-sack team take them to the absolute limit. Come on.

 

[Scandale du Jour]

I think the Pens should dispose of them. However, I'm preparing myself mentally for a letdown in Game 5.

And it will be shameful that a team that talented ended up losing to a team whose best forward is Tomas Tatar.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

If it were this I would be worried about the team being prepared.

Or this.

But I have faith in this having the team ready.

 

[Khelandros]

Treat this series, if it happens, like it's happening in October. Because for all intents and purposes, it is. Hockey's been on the shelf for 4 months by the time it starts, at the earliest. We seem to have our fair share of slow starts to seasons. It's a lot of "who the f*** knows" imo.

On paper? We should sweep them. In reality? Who knows?

Where does this "slow starts" bull shit come from? I feel sometimes like people are watching totally different teams.
2019-20
Oct 2 - Oct 18, 8 games
6-2
2018-19
Oct 2 - Oct 25, 8 games
5-1-2
2017-18
Oct 2 - Oct 20, 8 games
5-2-1
2016-17
Oct 2 - Oct 27, 8 games
5-2-1
2015-16
Oct 2 - Oct 25, 8 games
4-4
2014-15
Oct 2 - Oct 28, 8 games
5-2-1
2013-14
Oct 2 - Oct 20, 8 games
7-1
2012-13
Jan 13 - Feb 2, 8 games
5-3
2011-12
Oct 2 - Oct 19, 8 games
4-2-2
2010-11
Oct 2 - Oct 22, 8 games
5-3

There is 1 4-4 start in there, and it was during Bylsmas last season.

 

[HandshakeLine]

You know damned well the Penguins will at least let this sad-sack team take them to the absolute limit. Come on.

Can we go for a quadruple OT at some point in the series?

 

[HandshakeLine]

Where does this "slow starts" bull shit come from? I feel sometimes like people are watching totally different teams.
2019-20
Oct 2 - Oct 18, 8 games
6-2
2018-19
Oct 2 - Oct 25, 8 games
5-1-2
2017-18
Oct 2 - Oct 20, 8 games
5-2-1
2016-17
Oct 2 - Oct 27, 8 games
5-2-1
2015-16
Oct 2 - Oct 25, 8 games
4-4
2014-15
Oct 2 - Oct 28, 8 games
5-2-1
2013-14
Oct 2 - Oct 20, 8 games
7-1
2012-13
Jan 13 - Feb 2, 8 games
5-3
2011-12
Oct 2 - Oct 19, 8 games
4-2-2
2010-11
Oct 2 - Oct 22, 8 games
5-3

There is 1 4-4 start in there, and it was during Bylsmas last season.

Just out of curiosity, why an 8-game sample size? I'm honestly curious.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Can we go for a quadruple OT at some point in the series?

Well yeah... in a 0-0 game five, of course!

Although again... I mean... shootouts or... ?

 

[Khelandros]

Just out of curiosity, why an 8-game sample size?

Two weeks into this season put it at 8 games. 2 weeks is usually a Playoff series, so just kept the 8 games. Probably could have dumped it down to 7, hindsight.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Two weeks into this season put it at 8 games. 2 weeks is usually a Playoff series, so just kept the 8 games. Probably could have dumped it down to 7, hindsight.

Ah, cool. That makes sense.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Well yeah... in a 0-0 game five, of course!

Although again... I mean... shootouts or... ?

No, no, it needs to be stupider. Like the first game, and then we drop the next two because we stayed up past our bedtimes.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

No, no, it needs to be stupider. Like the first game, and then we drop the next two because we stayed up past our bedtimes.

Yeah actually that would make sense.

"WE WOULDA BEEN JUST FINE IF IT WEREN'T FOR THAT PESKY QUAD OT GAME 1"

 

[BHD]

And it will be shameful that a team that talented ended up losing to a team whose best forward is Tomas Tatar.

They're similar to the Rangers that year. Their lineup leans towards depth more than top end talent. The Penguins, though, have the players to send over the boards.

 

[Gurglesons]

They're similar to the Rangers that year. Their lineup leans towards depth more than top end talent. The Penguins, though, have the players to send over the boards.

Nah. That Rangers D was really good. Montreal’s D f***ing sucks.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Two weeks into this season put it at 8 games. 2 weeks is usually a Playoff series, so just kept the 8 games. Probably could have dumped it down to 7, hindsight.

But this isn't your normal playoff round of play and is reduced to 5 games.

2019/2020 = 3-2 They actually started off down 2-1 in the first three games.
2018/2019 = 5-1 with 3 OT's with one going to SO
2017/2018 = 3-2 with the first game going to OT
2016/2017 = 5-1 with three OT's and with one going to SO.
2015/2016 = 2-3 with three straight losses to start
2014/2015 = 3-2 pretty straight forward
2013/2014 = 4-1 pretty straight forward
2012/2013 = Jan. start 3-2 with final game going to SO

I'm not going any further, but this proves they are up and down with starts, some low scoring and also requiring OT/SO.

Taking into the 5 game scenario your list is misleading.

 

[Gurglesons]

But this isn't your normal playoff round of play and is reduced to 5 games.

2019/2020 = 3-2 They actually started off down 2-1 in the first three games.
2018/2019 = 5-1 with 3 OT's with one going to SO
2017/2018 = 3-2 with the first game going to OT
2016/2017 = 5-1 with three OT's and with one going to SO.
2015/2016 = 2-3 with three straight losses to start
2014/2015 = 3-2 pretty straight forward
2013/2014 = 4-1 pretty straight forward
2012/2013 = Jan. start 3-2 with final game going to SO

I'm not going any further, but this proves they are up and down with starts, some low scoring and also requiring OT/SO.

Taking into the 5 game scenario your list is misleading.

So they would win the series every year but one?

 

[HandshakeLine]

Goddamn, I think the play-in is still so stupid.

 

[Ugene Magic]

So they would win the series every year but one?

This is/was not the point.

The point is that their play wasn't so one-sided that you can/can't come to the conclusion they'd automatically win.

 

[BHD]

Nah. That Rangers D was really good. Montreal’s D f***ing sucks.

I was talking about forwards. But yes, the Rangers’ defense was sneaky good. Montreal’s defense might be able to hold up.

 

[Peat]

There is 1 4-4 start in there, and it was during Bylsmas last season.

You missed the one in Johnston's last season as well.



That said, I'm not sure how much stock I'd put in how the team comes out of the gate for an 82 game season with relatively little pressure and how they do straight into a play-off series. Very different scenarios. Maybe we get a little rattled by an unlucky game or Montreal going nuts, the pressure gets to us, things go wrong. Maybe Sid and Geno come out full effort, full focus and it's over very quickly. My money is more towards the latter, but hard to be sure. I don't think anyone can be sure yet.

I do know our best game beats their best game most times though, even with bad luck, even with Price standing on his head.