It's On.....Congrats Blackhawks !

[Moon Beam]

It was on TSN - you don't get TSN?

We don't get TSN because it isn't in our minimal cable package.
I may go and watch it at my Mothers or head up to the bar for Friday nights game.
Wherever I end up you can be certain that I'll be sporting my old lace up Habs jersey.

[Jonny B]

I didn't think the Caps would advance, but goaltending didn't seem to be the problem. Instead, it was the offense that failed them. The Capitals played like lower-cases and screamed curse-ives all the way to the golf course.

I haven't been sold on the Devils for a few years now. I think when Brodeur gave up 2 goals in the final 2 minutes of a home-Game 7 last year, I knew that he was on the decline. A 3.00 GAA for this year's playoffs is a good indicator that the Devils should find another goaltender who can share time with Brodeur. Sharing time would give Brodeur more energy in the tank for future playoff runs.

And I'm never sold on the Sabres. Something always seems to go wrong with that team in the playoffs, regardless of who's goaltending or who's on the roster. In this case, they were just outworked.

How about them Penguins? The last standing high-seed in the Eastern Conference. I knew the eastern road to the Cup would go through the defending champs.

[Jonny B]

Three of my predicted teams for the conference finals remain, so I have to go with them.

Blackhawks over Canucks in 6. This is about the time when Luongo gets tired, isn't it? Canuck's penalty kill was dreadful against an overmatched Kings team; they better stay out of the box if they want any shot at advancing.

Sharks over Red Wings in 7. Nabokov isn't playing so hot for the Sharks. And Wings' goalie Jimmy Howard is bound to hit the rookie wall eventually. This will be a high-scoring series.

Pengiuns over Canadiens in 5. Montreal will be gassed after their thrilling comeback against the Caps. They'll take the first game on adrenaline alone. Then Crosby and co. will take advantage of their fatigue.

Flyers over Bruins in 5. The Bruins made several defensive mistakes against the Sabres and they were lucky Tuukka Rask was there to bail them out. (Heck, it's been like that for the B's all year.) Considering how few goals they score, at some point those defensive turnovers is gonna kill them. Bruins defeat themselves in several low-scoring grinders.

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

My predictions, the Red Wings will beat the Sharks. I think Jimmy Howard stays hot and rest of the wings' experience sees them through

Blackhawks over Canucks

Montreal over Pittsburgh - Halak is just super. I predict an upset here.

Flyers and Bruins - I dont know- Im a Flyers fan (for my sins) Id really like to see them pull it off. I just think they have too many injuries - Carter and Gagne, Laperriere. Could be up to the goalies Rask and Boucher.

[StevePerryHair]

Even though I couldn't see the game, I was very happy to see the score last night! Go Pens!!!!!!

[Moon Beam]

Even though I couldn't see the game, I was very happy to see the score last night! Go Pens!!!!!!

Even though I like you largely Lynn I pray the Penguins will "Puck Off"
in the next game.

[Triple S]

Even though I couldn't see the game, I was very happy to see the score last night! Go Pens!!!!!!

Even though I like you largely Lynn I pray the Penguins will "Puck Off"
in the next game.

Nice av, Moon Beam . Poor Habs kind of looked like they were out of steam last night - hope they can pick up the pace again.

[Moon Beam]

Nice av, Moon Beam . Poor Habs kind of looked like they were out of steam last night - hope they can pick up the pace again.

Thank you Triple S.
You inspired it actually, after seeing your Av yesterday I had to
have Hubby Bub snap that shot last night before the game.
I wasn't quite that smiley by the end of it all.

[Triple S]

Habs were a different team today - amazing they can find that strength after the schedule they've had. We're all tied up!

[Rockindeano]

LOL, I can't wait til Kim waddles back in here after the assraping the Hawks took at the hands of Vancouver. Who are the 8 dickoffs who voted Chicago to win it all?

[YoungJRNY]

Habs were a different team today - amazing they can find that strength after the schedule they've had. We're all tied up!

Strength? What strength? Getting out shot out the wazoo and getting dominated in your own zone pretty much for 40/60 minutes of game time?

The first goal against Fluery was one that got away, one who saw one of our top defenseman standing right in front of the net doing nothing, the 2nd one was shot in midair, and the 3rd one was a one on one shot after the Pens spent 17 minutes in the Habs zone. Halak played a good game, but there was 15 solid shots blocked. There were NO rebounds for the Pens to feed off of and couldn't get any angle's for the puck to trickle in, even though they had 39 shots on goal.

Good game by the Habs and the scoreboard says they deserve it. But I haven't seen one team get dominated the entire game the way the Habs did and still walk out winners of 3-1. The Pens will get to Halak, guaranteed, and with 40 shots, more than one will find it's way into the net.

NOTE: In the past 93 games in all of Pittsburgh's history going into Montreal, we have won 16 of them. That's alarming. We need to take game 3 and just find a way to set ourselves in position to grab rebounds and give Halak something actually challenging to stop.

[Rockindeano]

Habs were a different team today - amazing they can find that strength after the schedule they've had. We're all tied up!

Strength? What strength? Getting out shot out the wazoo and getting dominated in your own zone pretty much for 40/60 minutes of game time?

I think she was referring to the fact that the Habs had only a single day off between the Washington series and the start of the Pittsburgh series.

The first goal against Fluery was one that got away, one who saw one of our top defenseman standing right in front of the net doing nothing, the 2nd one was shot in midair, and the 3rd one was a one on one shot after the Pens spent 17 minutes in the Habs zone. Halak played a good game, but there was 15 solid shots blocked. There were NO rebounds for the Pens to feed off of and couldn't get any angle's for the puck to trickle in, even though they had 39 shots on goal.

I watched this game and I gotta tell ya YoungJRNY, the Pens had a ton of shots, but when you look at chances, real scoring opportunities, they were few and far between. Montreal collapses so well to the slot and crease that it makes getting shots through from the point difficult and even more tough to get rebounds; that is if Halak even allows them. he was on tonight.

Good game by the Habs and the scoreboard says they deserve it. But I haven't seen one team get dominated the entire game the way the Habs did and still walk out winners of 3-1.

I didn't see it that way at all. I saw PGH just throwing shots up, but they weren't quality chances. I saw Pittsburgh take a lot of bad penalties and too many as well.

The Pens will get to Halak, guaranteed, and with 40 shots, more than one will find it's way into the net.

You better hope so. The Molson Centre is a tough place to play. I still see MTL winning in 6 or 7, because of goaltending. Fleury sucks.

[Triple S]

Habs were a different team today - amazing they can find that strength after the schedule they've had. We're all tied up!

Strength? What strength? Getting out shot out the wazoo and getting dominated in your own zone pretty much for 40/60 minutes of game time?

I think she was referring to the fact that the Habs had only a single day off between the Washington series and the start of the Pittsburgh series.

Exactly what I meant - had to travel right after the Washington series, looked dead tired in game 1, then had to play at a ridiculous time today. No other team has had it quite that tough in these playoffs.

[Rockindeano]

Habs were a different team today - amazing they can find that strength after the schedule they've had. We're all tied up!

Strength? What strength? Getting out shot out the wazoo and getting dominated in your own zone pretty much for 40/60 minutes of game time?

I think she was referring to the fact that the Habs had only a single day off between the Washington series and the start of the Pittsburgh series.

Exactly what I meant - had to travel right after the Washington series, looked dead tired in game 1, then had to play at a ridiculous time today. No other team has had to go through that.

Well don't A) get the 8th seed, and B), end your series in 5 or 6, like Vancouver did, and get 5 days off then watch as they kick the shit out of Chicago...That series will be over in 6.

[Maui Tom]

Deano...I'm a casual fan...your opinion of Pavelski? That good or on some ungodly playoff run?

[Rockindeano]

Deano...I'm a casual fan...your opinion of Pavelski? That good or on some ungodly playoff run?

I follow the sport religiously, and Pavelski is a pro's pro, but IMHO, right now he is hotter than good; meaning I think he is playing better than he really is, but his numbers are awesome. he knows he's hot and he is shooting it from everywhere. The guy I want to beat the shit out of is Setaguchi. He fakes more injuries/penalties than an NBA player.

[Maui Tom]

Deano...I'm a casual fan...your opinion of Pavelski? That good or on some ungodly playoff run?

I follow the sport religiously, and Pavelski is a pro's pro, but IMHO, right now he is hotter than good; meaning I think he is playing better than he really is, but his numbers are awesome. he knows he's hot and he is shooting it from everywhere. The guy I want to beat the shit out of is Setaguchi. He fakes more injuries/penalties than an NBA player.

kinda figured,,,after Caps/Habs nothing is over til it's over...Playoff hockey kicks the shit out of playoff NBA....

[Moon Beam]

Strength? What strength? Getting out shot out the wazoo and getting dominated in your own zone pretty much for 40/60 minutes of game time?

The first goal against Fluery was one that got away, one who saw one of our top defenseman standing right in front of the net doing nothing, the 2nd one was shot in midair, and the 3rd one was a one on one shot after the Pens spent 17 minutes in the Habs zone. Halak played a good game, but there was 15 solid shots blocked. There were NO rebounds for the Pens to feed off of and couldn't get any angle's for the puck to trickle in, even though they had 39 shots on goal.

I missed the first 20 minutes yesterday but was able to watch
all of the second and third periods.
Happy I am that The Canadiens won but feel they were extremely lucky.
Though they played stronger as time ticked away, Pittsburgh applied more pressure
and looked sure of themselves.
For certain had it not been for Halak I think the outcome would have been
more like game one.

YoungJRNY you know I could make a list of reasons why The Habs
haven't been hockey heroes in this head to head but it just screams of sour say so's.

[YoungJRNY]

Strength? What strength? Getting out shot out the wazoo and getting dominated in your own zone pretty much for 40/60 minutes of game time?

The first goal against Fluery was one that got away, one who saw one of our top defenseman standing right in front of the net doing nothing, the 2nd one was shot in midair, and the 3rd one was a one on one shot after the Pens spent 17 minutes in the Habs zone. Halak played a good game, but there was 15 solid shots blocked. There were NO rebounds for the Pens to feed off of and couldn't get any angle's for the puck to trickle in, even though they had 39 shots on goal.

I missed the first 20 minutes yesterday but was able to watch
all of the second and third periods.
Happy I am that The Canadiens won but feel they were extremely lucky.
Though they played stronger as time ticked away, Pittsburgh applied more pressure
and looked sure of themselves.
For certain had it not been for Halak I think the outcome would have been
more like game one.

YoungJRNY you know I could make a list of reasons why The Habs
haven't been hockey heroes in this head to head but it just screams of sour say so's.

It really doesn't matter what happens far and few in between what each team is doing when your goalie is simply on fire and pretty much doing their best impression of a brick wall. Outstanding goaltending in the playoffs can single handily take a team very far and very deep into their quest. This is what the Penguins thrived off of last year and it is certainly what the Habs have been feeding on and it's a great formula, esp handling the series against the Caps the way they did being down 3-1. That's impressive and marks the Canadians as one of the scariest underdogs left in the playoffs.

Playing one of the two best teams back to back can whiplash a team as it is. Montreal had to go through Washington, and then come back within 2 days to play a differently run Pens team but just as dominant in every other way on the road. Even though I think the Pens are a FAR more better team than the Habs, I think the Habs can make some noise within their 2 games at home, which is a very tough place to play, esp for Pittsburgh during the coarse of their history.


If the Pens play like they did in the past 2 games, I'm not worrying, but giving a team confidence going into their place, esp when they didn't play well but find themselves believing and a series tied 1-1, anything can happen from here on out.

[Rockindeano]

We're off and running again...2-0 after 5 minutes. I hope I didn't just jinx my BC boys.

[Triple S]

Well don't A) get the 8th seed, and B), end your series in 5 or 6, like Vancouver did, and get 5 days off then watch as they kick the shit out of Chicago...That series will be over in 6.

LOL - yes, I know - in any case they still seemed to get the worst of the scheduling. You know there is a (remote) possibility it could be a Vancouver/Montreal final - now that would be fun (and I believe the first all-Canadian final since my beloved Flames beat my almost-equally beloved Canadiens in '89?)

[bluejeangirl76]

LOL, I can't wait til Kim waddles back in here after the assraping the Hawks took at the hands of Vancouver. Who are the 8 dickoffs who voted Chicago to win it all?

I don't waddle, fuckbucket.

[Moon Beam]

We're off and running again...2-0 after 5 minutes. I hope I didn't just jinx my BC boys.

Just couldn't silence yourself till the end eh Sir.
Damn you Dean'o it's all your fault they fell flat last night.

[StevePerryHair]

Way to go Pens!! What a great game! The Habs played hard and it was a tough game. Fleury was awesome tonight!!!

[YoungJRNY]

Way to go Pens!! What a great game! The Habs played hard and it was a tough game. Fleury was awesome tonight!!!

Flower made 3 Stanley Cup saves tonight, absolutely spectacular. If Fluery keeps playing like the way he is now and seeing that puck as a beach ball, the Pens control their own destiny. Man, this game was VERY fast, but yet, so damn sloppy the first two periods. They virtually played the same game and it was the matter of one team making the first mistake.

Seemed like both teams were playing too fast and their minds were faster than their sticks. The Pens settled down in the 3rd and finally played their game then pretty much smothered the Canadians from that point forward. Good shutout win, hard fought. I certainly respect the Habs, they got one helluva team and they are playing better than what their skill level is set to.

[Rockindeano]

Way to go Pens!! What a great game! The Habs played hard and it was a tough game. Fleury was awesome tonight!!!

The Pens are a really classy hockey club. Danny Bylsma through the roster to Matt Cooke. I still think Montreal has a shot here, but more importantly Lynn, if the Pens get to the finals, I believe all the Western teams all will have home ice advantage; maybe not the Wings, but I know Vancouver, Chicago and San Jose all had more points than the Pens. Also, the Pens, in addition to playing 4 on the road, will have to travel a long ways if they draw VAN or SJ. Those are looonnng flights. My guess would be that all 4 west teams would be favoured over the Pens, but we all know how much that means, right? Good luck to you Lynny. You need to get Melissa into it so you can road trips together to see the games.

[StevePerryHair]

Way to go Pens!! What a great game! The Habs played hard and it was a tough game. Fleury was awesome tonight!!!

The Pens are a really classy hockey club. Danny Bylsma through the roster to Matt Cooke. I still think Montreal has a shot here, but more importantly Lynn, if the Pens get to the finals, I believe all the Western teams all will have home ice advantage; maybe not the Wings, but I know Vancouver, Chicago and San Jose all had more points than the Pens. Also, the Pens, in addition to playing 4 on the road, will have to travel a long ways if they draw VAN or SJ. Those are looonnng flights. My guess would be that all 4 west teams would be favoured over the Pens, but we all know how much that means, right? Good luck to you Lynny. You need to get Melissa into it so you can road trips together to see the games.

thanks!! I hope they get to finals!! I know it's going to be a tough road, but they could do it!! I told Melissa next season I am dragging her with my girls to watch the Pens play in Tampa!!!

[Jonny B]

Though I picked the Pens to repeat, there are two glaring problems that could stop them from going all the way:

1.) Pens are a completely different team when Crosby's on the bench. The opponent has scored close to 70% of their goals against Pittsburgh when Crosby's not on the ice. The +/- rating of the top line vs. the rest of the team is close to +25 better as well. Though scoring is about even across the board, the lower lines aren't always getting the job done down low.
2.) I've never been sold on Fleury. He has the lowest save% of the remaining goaltenders (.897.) Yes, he got a shutout in his last game, but it was on only 18 shots. If the Pens go cold at any point and they give up too many shots, I think Fleury could potentially get exposed...his only saving grace has been making the timely saves at the end of games that make people forget about his early mistakes.

[Behshad]

Way to go Franzen. He's saving redwings ass tonite. 4 goals in the first period by him , wings are 5-0 going into 2nd period.

[Triple S]

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