Pulled it back to 2-2 only to concede with 2 mins left, gutting, but we were really sloppy in that 2st period, didn't get pavelski involved enough, but it's our first ever game at this level, and we will have learnt if we can take it back to san Jose at 1-1, we can do it.
I thought SJ played very soft last night. I don't see a lot of the western games, but I was expecting a heavy game from them. Either they just didn't put the effort in, or the Pengiuns are just too fast for them. Hopefully it's the former, because that can be fixed.
Well, thank the lord for Martin Jones. Despite conceding three last night, he was pretty stellar (that right leg pad save saw plenty of action) and almost singlehandedly prevented it being an embarrassing night for the Sharks.
Not too concerned about what I saw from San Jose, we can play better than that and if we can split the opening two on the road then I think we're in a strong position taking it back to what is sure to be a rowdy Tank for games three and four.
Frankly after years of play-off heartbreak I'm just enjoying being in the Final with a chance to play for Lord Stanley's mug. And I'm taking credit for the Sharks being there because I started growing a beard for the first time in October. A long way to go to match Jumbo and Burnzie on the face fuzz front, but every little helps at this time of the season!
I didn't grow a playoff beard this year. In fact, for the first time in years I decided to shave every day - including weekends. If the Pens win the cup, I'm never growing a beard again
Sharks much more physical tonight. No goals yet but if the can keep it up they'll wear down the Penguins
I sure hope you're right. Sharks really have no right to have only lost those two games by a cumulative 5-3 score. Penguins utterly dominant for huge swathes of both games, only Martin Jones standing between the Pens and a hat full of goals.
Let's just hope San Jose can continue with the home form that's seen them go 7-2 in the Tank this postseason. They really need to pick up the next two and force a best-of-three. Go Sharks!
Long old trip West on only a couple of days' rest. Be interesting to see who copes with it better. Suspect the Sharks will come out and try to dominate - but I'm hoping the Pens score early and are then able to dictate play
Congratulations Leroy, I'm really happy for Big Fat Phil, after all the abuse from certain sections of the Toronto fan base and media he gets the last laugh today.
Was a long night! Got to bed for a couple of hours, woke up to watch it, then got about an hour's sleep before work
Pens have been on fire since January, so fully deserved. Kessel (aka Samwell Tarley) delivered on his potential - even saw him digging out pucks in his own end during this playoff run. He'll never be a two-way player, but they seem to have found a way to utilise him without him becoming a liability. I think the fact that the pressure is off him compared to in Toronto (where he was seen as the poster boy for the Laffs failures as a franchise and treated like a pariah by the Toronto media) has helped him a lot
Pleased they had Dupuis on the ice with the cup - massive player for the Pens over the years, and a travesty he's had to retire. Feel a little bit for the Sharks, but tbh, if it weren't for Jones they'd have lost 4-0. Interesting to see what happens on draft day, and I can see Geno being traded. The way the Pens play now doesn't suit him, and if they can find someone to take his salary, he could end up going
Yeah I agree on Malkin, can see his days being numbered there. But the boy has 2 Cups and is still a beast of a player so you'll definitely get a decent return if someone can take his salary.
Felling a bit sleepy this morning but it was worth it!!
I'd be sad to see Geno go as he can be an absolute beast on his day. The Pens need to do something about their top-heavy roster though. Having two elite centres and waifs and strays filling out the other lines when they are hard up against the salary cap has been a problem for a few seasons now.
I can see Fleury being traded too after Murray has turned out to be brilliant.
There's talk of Fleury to the Leafs, not sure how long he has left on his deal but it wouldn't surprise me as a short term option to be honest. We have plenty of cap space and if they don't see Bernier as a genuine starter then Fleury could work for a while.
Hands up, the better team won it, we could not live with the pens really over the 6 games, our power play was stopped so effectively we could not racket up enough points, we defended pretty well, but not well enough, gutted to have finally come so far and lose it, but we have got a taste for it and hope we can go for it again next time
Murray's form has been a blessing in more ways than one. Fleury has a bad play-off reputation and is also one of the high earners. Not sure if he has non trade clause or how much longer he has on contract, but he's no longer the first pick. So he could be on his way freeing up some salary spend.
Comments
Not too concerned about what I saw from San Jose, we can play better than that and if we can split the opening two on the road then I think we're in a strong position taking it back to what is sure to be a rowdy Tank for games three and four.
Frankly after years of play-off heartbreak I'm just enjoying being in the Final with a chance to play for Lord Stanley's mug. And I'm taking credit for the Sharks being there because I started growing a beard for the first time in October. A long way to go to match Jumbo and Burnzie on the face fuzz front, but every little helps at this time of the season!
Let's just hope San Jose can continue with the home form that's seen them go 7-2 in the Tank this postseason. They really need to pick up the next two and force a best-of-three. Go Sharks!
Well done the Pens.
Pens have been on fire since January, so fully deserved. Kessel (aka Samwell Tarley) delivered on his potential - even saw him digging out pucks in his own end during this playoff run. He'll never be a two-way player, but they seem to have found a way to utilise him without him becoming a liability. I think the fact that the pressure is off him compared to in Toronto (where he was seen as the poster boy for the Laffs failures as a franchise and treated like a pariah by the Toronto media) has helped him a lot
Pleased they had Dupuis on the ice with the cup - massive player for the Pens over the years, and a travesty he's had to retire. Feel a little bit for the Sharks, but tbh, if it weren't for Jones they'd have lost 4-0. Interesting to see what happens on draft day, and I can see Geno being traded. The way the Pens play now doesn't suit him, and if they can find someone to take his salary, he could end up going
I'd be sad to see Geno go as he can be an absolute beast on his day. The Pens need to do something about their top-heavy roster though. Having two elite centres and waifs and strays filling out the other lines when they are hard up against the salary cap has been a problem for a few seasons now.
I can see Fleury being traded too after Murray has turned out to be brilliant.