The Confluence
It’s not officially over for Senators, but it might as well be
by Tony on 04/21/10 at 10:58 AM ET
Comments (16)
I’m not what one would call a smack-talker, just not my nature.
And sure, it’s possible that the Senators could come back, take three straight from the Penguins and send the defending champs home.
I’m sorry, but that dog ain’t huntin’. This one is all over but the shouting.
The Penguins are pretty close to running on all cylinders now, although I wasn’t crazy about how they relaxed after sprinting to a 4-0 lead. That really reminded me of several games last season, when they would get a big lead then get lackadaisical, letting the opponent back into the game.
Was that due to Andy Sutton’s hit? Who the hell knows, perhaps it was just one helluva coincidence. Whatever the reason, since the early stages of Game Two, the Penguins have been head and shoulders above the Senators, and it should only take one more game to solidify that and send the Sens packing.
It’s been an all-around solid performance getting the Penguins to this 3-1 series lead. Sidney Crosby’s performance is blatantly obvious. Although we’ve said this several times in the past, is it possible he’s now playing the best hockey of his career? Evgeni Malkin, who admittedly has had his spells of doing figure 8’s in the defensive zone this series, is firing lasers into the net on the powerplay. Even the much-maligned Max Talbot, who I’ve criticized here a few times this season, has taken it to another level now that the playoffs have started.
While the offense is getting the lion’s share of the glory, the defense has done an admirable job as well. They’re keeping the Sens’ forwards, particularly Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza, along the boards, thereby reducing the amount of good scoring opportunities. Put it this way, when your top line contains Jarkko Ruutu and Chris Neil, that can’t be good.
That said, let me say the pre-requisite “anything can happen”, and it starts Thursday night for Game Five.
But if the Penguins play anywhere close to how they’ve been playing the last three games, they’ll be shaking hands at the end of this one.
Filed in: | The Confluence | Permalink
Tags: NHL-Hockey, Ottawa+Senators, Pittsburgh+Penguins,
Comments
No, been listening to ‘Burgh sports radio all morning, no update yet….
Posted by Tony from Virginia Beach, VA on 04/21/10 at 11:04 AM ET
Gogo has been a surprise to me…seems like for the most part he is starting to play like he did at the beginning of the year…and not the Gogo we saw when he returned from injury.
I also found it funny…living in Ottawa…hearing the pundits and the Sens talk about being able to frustrate and get into the heads of Sid & Geno… well it seems like its the other way around… as it seemed the Pens are in Neil’s head among others (what a moron - say what you want about Cooke…but at the very least he doest take blatent penalties when the games matter, nor when his team is turning momentum in their favor)
Posted by samsaidhey on 04/21/10 at 11:12 AM ET
Spezza and Alfredsson, save for last night only once the Sens went down 4-0, have been garbage. This series would probably be more of a contest if the Sens were healthy, but their top lines have been horrible. Neil’s penalty after he scored was the best. How do you take that penalty there and get to see the ice anytime after that? Also, the video of the Pens bench mocking him as he left was classic. Honestly, the game should have never been as close as it was.
I agree about Gogo. He has been fantastic this series as well. Though, outside of a couple bad performances in Game 1, the whole team is playing well right now.
Posted by pens fan in baltimore on 04/21/10 at 11:27 AM ET
Gogo plays well when he remembers to use his skating as a weapon. He’s been doing that in this series. He’s been skating out of checks and using his speed to get the breakout going. It’s when he’s passive and acts like a “normal” defenseman that he has problems.
Even the much-maligned Max Talbot, who I’ve criticized here a few times this season, has taken it to another level now that the playoffs have started.
Max is a big-game hunter, there’s just no way around it. I was confident with the way he played the last few weeks of the season that he’d be playoff ready.
All the things he does well become more important in the playoffs.
The thing I realized last night that I’ve overlooked is the fact that Max has an uncanny ability to read Geno and stay onside, more than Feds or Dupuis who are always skating in while Malkin does his patented swoop. Max stays put, then gets his feet moving. Underrated thing, but it keeps that line plugging and keeps the whistle silent.
Posted by HNBCTB on 04/21/10 at 11:28 AM ET
$13 million, 23% of payroll, on the injured list for Ottawa, and that’s definitely been a factor, even though a healthy team would still have been outmatched.
Also can’t believe that after Don Cherry points out the diving squads going on (to be fair, a great failed dive by Carcillo too), Dupuis goes for his whoop-see-doodle dive last night.
Far too much bull by the Pens in the series. Far too much because they should still have won without any of it.
Posted by anonymouss on 04/21/10 at 11:33 AM ET
Even the much-maligned Max Talbot, who I’ve criticized here a few times this season, has taken it to another level now that the playoffs have started.
Also got Tenk in the bullpen waiting for his usual playoff run.
That said, let me say the pre-requisite “anything can happen”
Noooo! Fukc that Tony. Tell it’s Over with a capital O.
Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 04/21/10 at 11:37 AM ET
There’s very little to suggest that Ottawa can turn this around and duplicate Pittsburghs three wins in a row. Of course, they could underestimate them on Thursday and lose the game with a fatal shift in momentum, but it doesn’t seem likely.
Given the longevity of past seasons, a swift ending in five would be nice.
Posted by Moq from Denmark on 04/21/10 at 11:57 AM ET
That said, let me say the pre-requisite “anything can happen”
Noooo! Fukc that Tony. Tell it’s Over with a capital O.
No, come on, have some respect and class in success and defeat, it’s not over yet.
Posted by Nathan from BC on 04/21/10 at 12:00 PM ET
No, come on, have some respect and class in success and defeat, it’s not over yet.
Definitely not over yet.
Posted by JMK on 04/21/10 at 12:15 PM ET
I said it was over a couple times in the 2nd period last night…and then the Senators kept getting 5 on 3’s and goals.
It’s up to the Senators. If they play hockey, they’re still alive.
If Clouston allows it to become the Neil and Ruutu WWE show, they’re toast.
Posted by HNBCTB on 04/21/10 at 12:24 PM ET
Glad to see that the Penguins finally seem to have found that switch! The great thing is that they could still ratchet their game up even more, and I’m sure they’ll have to against a better opponent.
That said, I have to get this in while a Canadian team is still in the mix. Has anyone else noticed the Bell ad on the board that grows a playoff beard over the course of the game? In the first period, its clean shaven (and looks a lot like Crosby), in the second period there’s stubble, and in the third it’s a full beard. Can anyone tell me how they’re doing that? Is it TV graphics, or are they somehow changing out a fathead-like decal every period? I’ve noticed it in both the Pens/Ott and Caps/Mon games.
Posted by penguinsfan on 04/21/10 at 12:58 PM ET
TK twisted His Knee when he went into the Boards
Posted by Evilpens on 04/21/10 at 01:06 PM ET
No, come on, have some respect and class in success and defeat, it’s not over yet.
Maybe not, I was kidding ( 
), should’ve used wink.
Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 04/21/10 at 01:58 PM ET
Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 04/21/10 at 01:58 PM ET
Ha, I secretly said to myself inside my head very quietly and quickly after game two: “Series over. 4-1.”
Posted by Nathan from BC on 04/21/10 at 02:17 PM ET
Shit. I feel stupid now. I need to acknowledge my jinx. Acknowledged.
Posted by Nathan from BC on 04/21/10 at 02:21 PM ET
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A win Thursday would be huge. Get some rest and then hope the other series all go 7. Hopefully the Pens can bury them right away. Any word on Kennedy? I don’t think the VS announcers even touched on it last night.
Posted by pens fan in baltimore on 04/21/10 at 11:02 AM ET