Battle Of Pennsylvania

Stanley Cup Finals

2007-06-05T11:28:00.000-04:00

So living in Ottawa I'm in the middle of the Stanley Cup craziness (Well gloom right now with the Sens down 3-1). It's quite interesting to see the path the Sens have taken. It's been a fairly easy road for them. I think their toughest opponent outside of Anaheim has been the Penguins.

I think that the Pens playing Ottawa was probably the best thing for them, it gave them a taste of what Playoff hockey was really about, playing against a great offensive team showed the Pens the determination it takes to play on that big of a stage. Yeah it would have been nice to see them win a bit more against Ottawa or even take the series but getting beaten like that will only strengthen the team for next year.

If Pittsburgh can bring in a stay at home defenseman who has some playoff experience and can shutdown top lines then they have a great shot next year.

Captain Crosby

2007-06-05T11:21:00.000-04:00

Well the time has finally come for Crosby to wear the C. I've talked with a lot of people and most seem to think he's to young. Myself, I say he is perfect. Age is only a number like Crosby said. Crosby is one of the most mature 19 year olds I have ever seen. He has all the talent and makings of a great player and Captain.

He has had some great influences as well. Recchi, Roberts, and the biggest of all Mario. All classy guys who give their 110% to their team. I see crosby leading like Yzerman. Very classy, step it up and sacrifice everything.

Crosby has the best mix of talent I have ever seen combined with a level head. He will go down as one of the greatest players and leaders of all-time when his career is over.

Well....

2007-04-20T19:25:00.000-04:00

The season is over. We had a massive improvement in ppints over last year.

Staal came through better than anyone had expected. He became the bestpenalty killer in the league. Tops in short-handed goals, tops in shooting percentage. He is my pick for Calder.

Malkin had a great season. Scored 85 points, could have had many more if not for a few blips during the year. Like Therrien told him though, you can't live in the shadows of Crosby, you have to be Evgeni Malkin and play like you can. Hopefully Malkin will learn from this year and keep improving.

Marc Andre-Fleury. Well he kept the team in there all season. He won a tonne of games for the team and had a retty good record. His skills have improved immensly he's not making nearly as many mistakes as we have seen in years past.

Ryan Whitney. This guy will be a #1 defenseman. I would say he can reach top 10 in the league. He is good defensively, well improved. Great offensive defenseman.

Sidney Crosby. What can you say that hasn't been said before. He won the Art Ross, probably the Hart but stiff competition there. He is the leader of this team, by his play on ice and in the media and locker room. He will wear the C next year. You can complain all you want about his talking to the ref 's but he is 19 and takes more crapthan any player in the league. He will settle down over time and become one of the greats.

Mark Recchi. The Recchi-ng Ball is amazing still. He has showed he can still play in the league. What he brought to this team is great. he picked up in the leader department where Mario left off.

But the MVP of the season for the Pittsburgh Penguins is none else than? (Can you guess?)

Mario Lemieux. This man is owed a debt of gratitude by all Penguins fans and hockey fans in General. Has there ever been such a Great Owner in the history of the NHL. I know i may be exagerating in that department but lets take a look at some of what he's done for the team financialwise. Full Career Timeline HERE

1984 - Mario Gets drafted, fan interest in Pittsburgh rebounds and the Team is saved financially by having him there. Wins Calder Cup.

In the 90's when the team was going through money issues again he defers his salary so that the team can pay the bills.

September of 99 Mario uses his deferred salary and other partners to buy the team from Bankruptcy, with well over $100 Million in principle debt.

Over the next few years Mario and Owners repay all the debt that was owed at the time of Purchase. In the early part of the 00's the Penguins actually turn a profit through some business moves and a poor product on ice.

2006/2007 Mario finally plays hardball with the Gov'ts and gets his arena that was promised to him when he bought the team. This process is more than any owner I think would have done to keep a team in one city. Most owners would have taken the KC deal and left on the first plane. But Mario and his Dedication to the City of Pittsburgh came through.

Well God Bless Mario. you are still my favorite of all time and may the Arena turn a good profit for you so that we can get a great team on the ice and keep the good young players we have now.

Sens & Fans Cocky

2007-04-18T14:54:00.000-04:00

Well Spezza the "wunderkid" who is a good passer but not much more, has set the tone for the Sens coming into this game thursday night.

"We've got to digest this one. But definitely going into the next game we want to bury them," Senators center Jason Spezza said.

Spezza who doesn't have a defensive bone in his body got the first goal last night in Circus fashion. I bet you the Ottawa fans will say he meant to do it but that was the bigggest BS goal of the year. Then he blows the play on the Penguins goal.

As for the series so far. Jordan Staal for me has stolen the show. We expect a lot from Crosby and he delivers so it is special but to see how Staal has played as an 18 year old is something else. The kid is in my mind the best penalty killer in this series, he's got great skills and sense on the Ice. Plus Don Cherry loves the kid so that says something. I vote for Staal to get rookie of the Year.

Malkin, where has he been so far. Geno, you need to play hockey, don't live in Crosby's shadows, you have great talent. Lets see it. I want to see a goal or 2 assists from you tomorrow night.

Penguins defense, WTF kind of zone clearing passes are those. This is the worst I've seen you all year, you look like little grandma's at times trying to clear the zone. Pick it up guys and lets take this series back.

I got a lunch at a fancy restaurant waiting on the outcome of the series!

PS.:

2007-04-17T22:44:00.000-04:00

Note to Ray Shero:

Sign Gary Roberts next year. The Sens and Leafs were to stupid to do it and you've made some great moves. This one will be for the best. If not I'll eat 1 Millionth of his salary for you.

Also sign/trade for a defensive defenseman that hasn't played for the Ottawa Senators unless his name is Chris Phillips. I think thats obvious to.

Oh yeah, also sign Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal to lifetime "DiPietro" contracts when they come up. Let Malkin go if you can't afford him.

Well......

2007-04-17T22:42:00.000-04:00

Well WTF, It's been a battle but barring a major Miracle The Sens will move on to round 2.

I think Pittsburgh has the team if they can find that stride they had on the 18 game point streak. But I've never seen them this incompetent at moving the puck out of their own end. It's bloody pathetic. They are lolly-gagging the thing out of their own end. Putting Novice level passes out.

Oh well I still pray that they will win this series but it's been a great building year for them and it Ain't over yet.

Booing of the Canadian Anthem

2007-04-16T14:01:00.000-04:00

Such a classless display by a select few in Pittsburgh during the Canadian Anthem during Game 1.

Here is a good article I read about it CLICK HERE

Hmmmm

2007-04-16T10:30:00.000-04:00

Well another lackluster performance by the defense. I haven't seen them play this bad all year. After a decent game Saturday, they come out with this yesterday?

The big issues are that they simply can't clear their own end. Not sure what the solution is but Therrien needs to address it before we think of moving on. As for the good points, we are playing a good 20 Mins a game which seems to be keeping us in the games but come on guys.

I live here in Ottawa but all I'm hearing is the hit Armstrong laid on Eaves. If you're playing in the NHL and you skate around the net or anywhere with your head down you are going to get hit sometime. Armstrong is a good hitter and will take those chances when he gets them. Also a bit hypocritical of Sens fans, they need to take a look back at Chris Neil's hit on Chris Drury who had his head down.

I predict that the Pens will come out with a strong performance Tuesday night and beat the Sens 4-1

UPDATE
Go check out Battle Of Ontario (Link at the Side) They are all whinning (3 or 4 posts) about the hit being dirty. Come on people. It was a clean hit. Are you saying we have to let the little princesses go who skate with their head down? What you going to remove the boards if they start skating into them with their heads down?

Game 1

2007-04-13T16:07:00.000-04:00

Yes posting a bit late but having to deal with the barrage of Sens fans here at work and my friends is a tough thing to do.

Thoughts: Fleury got off to a shaky start but he made some huge stops. The goals he let in early were a result of some of the worst defensive play I've seen from the Pens this year. The rest of the team looked as young as they are. I don't think you can fault them for that. they have a lot of inexperienced players on the team.

On the Ottawa Side, well they played the best game I think I've seen them play, with the exception of Ray Emery. Emery wasn't tested much but when he did get a few shots he looked a bit shaky, giving off massive rebounds like he always does (Why hasn't anyone picked up on this? am I imagining this?) But their forwards and Defense played a good game, shutting down the neutral zone and such.

Also big shout out to Michel Therrien for pulling the goalie with 4 minutes left and having a 6 on 3. That takes guts but it was the right thing to do with being behind 3 or 4 goals at the time.

Pens will win 5-4 on Saturday. I will be there.

Game tonight

2007-04-11T14:27:00.000-04:00

Well I think this will be one hell of a series. I wouldn't bet against either team losing at home but if the Pens can steal one in Ottawa the series is theirs. I still say Pens in 6.

There is no doubt that Ottawa is the favorite but they are expected to win no matter what the Ottawa coach says. Murray says that Ottawa is the Underdog in this series. The Penguins have 10 regulars who have never played in a NHL playoff Game. The Sens have 2, though one is Brian McGratton who won't play in the playoffs even though the Sens are in. Who should be the Underdog?

Going to try to go to the Hotel here in Ottawa to see if I can meet some of the Penguins, seems weird to me that a 24 year old "Idolizes" a 19 year old who makes more money in 1 year than I will make my entire life. But Crosby is a god.

NHL Draft Order

2007-04-10T14:04:00.000-04:00

Wow it's not only the Penguins who get screwed out of the first pick. The Chicago BlackHawks with an 8.1% to get the first Overall pick screwing our State Rival Flyers out of the first pick.

This system needs to change. I can see some of the reasons for it, teams tanking the season to get first round pick. Pittsburgh was accused of that by Jersey who were trying hard but couldn't seem to do it to get Mario Lemieux (AKA God)

To see the Draft Order go to nhl.com

Stanley Cup Odds

2007-04-10T13:47:00.000-04:00

I'm not for or against betting so use this link for the Odds only.

Pittsburgh is sitting at an 8-1 odd of winning the Cup. Pretty good, Buffalo is at a 7-2.

I will be at the games here in Ottawa and will try and get some Pics up after the game.

Playoff Predictions

2007-04-10T13:25:00.000-04:00

OK Here are my Predictions:
Det 4 Vs Cal 3: Both great teams. If Hasek can play like he can I don't see Calgary's offense getting a lot of goals here.

Ana 4 Vs Min 2: Anaheim is to strong a team, they will come out of the west.

Van 4 Vs Dal 2: Luongo, Luongo, Luongo is what this series will come down to.

Nsh 4 Vs SJ 2: Nashville has a good team, so does San Jose, Home Ice will decide this one early on with Nashville taking the last game in San Jose.

Buf 4 Vs NYI 1: Buffalo is the best team in the Playoffs. I say they will win the Cup. Isles don't have a chance without DiPietro.

NJ 4 Vs TB 1: Tampa has a great offense but their goaltending and defense are horrible. Plus Jersey has the greatest goalie to ever play.

ATL 3 Vs NYR 4: Both teams have good goalies and high Power offense. With Avery's play of late I give the edge to the Rangers.

Ott 2 Vs Pit 4: Now for the best series of the Playoffs. If Pittsburgh can play like they have and can plus elevate their game a little they will do some damage in the playoffs. The experience does play a factor in the later rounds but I think they'll survive the first round on Talent alone. Ottawa is a great team and can't be counted out. They have the Offense & Defense, I'm still out to Lunch on Emery.

Penguins Playoff hopes

2007-04-07T18:23:00.000-04:00

So the Penguins need to win tonight to have a chance for home Ice advantage, BUT the Sens have to get a OTL or a plain loss as well. It'll be interesting to see what happens. Both teams are playing non-playoff teams so those teams will be playing spoiler roles.

I'm predicting a 4-2 win for the Penguins and a 3-2 loss in OT for Ottawa. Boston has always had Ottawas number this year except for 1 or 2 games.

On another note, here's hoping for Toronto to win in Regulation and the Islanders to lose tomorrow so Toronto and the Habs make it in.

Hello Everyone

2007-04-07T18:20:00.000-04:00

OK I had to create a new address as one blogger who created a site called battleofpennsylvania.blogspot.com couldn't give me Admin and I couldn't do anything with it.

If you are interested in blogging as a member of this site give me an email at chevimpala@gmail.com Looking to get a few Penguins and a few Flyers bloggers going here. I'm a huge Penguins fan.