After posting a novel last night, the need to put you to sleep with a lengthy dissertation is not there tonight! So, random thoughts from the game tonite:
Anybody else notice how often Max Talbot delivers a timely goal, or other big time play just when the Pens seem to need it? His goal to tie it 3-3 tonite seemed to really start the motor for the Pens......They outscored the Canes 4-1 from that point.
How do you counter a two headed monster like Geno and Sid when they are both playing well? Malkin is now the playoff scoring leader with 25 points, with Sid second with 24. Malkins hat trick goal tonite was just plain SICK!!
Chris Kunitz really deserved that goal tonite......Despite the attention placed on the fact that he had not scored a playoff goal prior to tonite, he has been a big part of the Pens success.........he now has 10 points, with 9 assists........do you think that part of the reason Sid is on fire is the fact that Kunitz and Guerin are big time wingers who can help create plays with him? Do you think the Pens would be the same team without the simple, physical game that Kunitz brings? Look at the highligts and see how many nice set ups Kunitz has produced during the playoffs. The additions of Kunitz and Guerin to this team were HUGE! I love both of those guys.
Read last night's post and add the game tonite to the collection of memories the Pens are creating. This team just reponds when challenged, plain and simple. On that note, perhaps we thank Chad LaRose of the Canes to some extent. Geno dominated this game from the point in time he got into the scrum with LaRose.......when you play with fire Chad, you get burned my man.
If Jordan Staal ever learns how to FINISH, he will be the Messier type center everyone is projecting. He is clearly a great shut down center, and can play with a physical edge. He also gets great opportunities during a game to score, but just seems to miss the net, take an extra second to pull the trigger etc. He is a 20 plus goal scorer with that shortcoming. As he develops his touch, he could be a 30 plus goal scorer who can shut down the other teams top lines to boot. Not a bad package.
The atmosphere inside and outside of the arena is just plain awesome. As we left tonite I realized that the big screen out front now draws so many people they spill out into the steet......had to be more than 5,000 fans OUTSIDE the arena.
The Pens are up 2-0, but I still do not take this Canes team for granted. That said, the leadership of Crosby, the devestating explosiveness of Malkin, the depth of scoring from the supporting cast and the defense, plus the pure mental toughness of this team has that championship feel. Marc Andre Fleury needs to be better more consistently if they are to carry that trophy around.
Finally, if you are a newer fan to this sport, but enjoy other sports, how can you not fall in love with hockey? It requires you to win four best of seven series to be the Champs in a sport that is so fast, and physical. The winner will be tested relative to their talent, their depth, their guts, their mental toughness, their discipline and their will. They will play through broken bones, stitched up faces, teeth on the ice and will only win if their hearts are as strong as their talent and if they have every member of their team contribute and stand up for each other. Nothing else in sport compares.
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