And.....it is the CAPS!!! CAPS LOCK!!!!

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Should be an epic battle. Going to be a lot of fun. Lotsa drama. Good for hockey. Not good for my blood pressure.

I expect both teams to bring it. I am just hoping guys like specifically Malkin and Letang don't get too wound up and get involved with trying to even up hits. Have the same mentality, skate away.

Can't wait.

 

[pittengineer75]

Should be a great series and completely agree for not matching hit-for-hit. If I'm the Pens, I continue with there speed game and let the Caps try and be overaggressive in the hitting department to make mistakes that free up shooters for scoring chances or putting Caps in the box.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

Washington is exceptional and the odds-on favorite to win the whole thing. However, Pittsburgh is a very tough matchup for them and I fully expect the Penguins' team speed to give Washington's defenders a lot of trouble.

I think this is going to be a great series. I agree that the key for Pittsburgh will be to stay out of the box. If the Pens can stay out of penalty trouble and gets good goaltending, I think they have a heck of a chance to win that series.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

I love Fans that think "CAPS" are a Lock to win it all, but the PENguins can Bushwhack them just as well too!

Of course when I get upset, I gel "CAPS Lock Jaw" too, why I chose "CAPtain" in my handle.

Go PENS & Beat CAPS!

 

[ratking17]

Great series on paper. Caps not as scary offensively as some make out, but their goalie is better than people give credit to. If the pens can escape these games without major injuries because ovenchicken decides to board and charge everyone, then the Pens win in 6.

 

[andypappas]

Pens in 6. Another choke job by Ovechkin

 

[88Pitt88]

If we are smart and stay out of the sin bin we should win this series. Caps and Flyers were fairly even in goals in 5 on 5 situations, even tho the Caps had way more shots on goal. Caps had a ton of power play goals. We can outskate them 5 on 5 so we just need to be smart and avoid stupid penalties.

 

[pitt-girl]

Any idea when the series starts?

 

[andypappas]

Nothing has been decided on when the series starts, but I am thinking it won't start till Thursday at the earliest

 

[PhPanther1]

Probably thursday. I can't see them waiting till Saturday to start. Friday is not an option as Bieber is at the Verizon Center.

They won't announce till all of rd1 is over.

 

[PhPanther1]

I'll wait to predict anything till I hear the status of Fleury.

 

[ratking17]

Murray very well might be better than Flower. I have no issues with either in goal for the pens.

 

[pitt-girl]

I'll wait to predict anything till I hear the status of Fleury.

JMO - but I think Fleury is out for the season.

 

[pittengineer75]

JMO - but I think Fleury is out for the season.

Yeah, him not dressing is a clear indicator that there is more there post-concussion. I think they will ride Murray at this point.

 

[Piranha]

Probably thursday. I can't see them waiting till Saturday to start. Friday is not an option as Bieber is at the Verizon Center.

They won't announce till all of rd1 is over.

You have the possibility of a game 7 being played Wed night, so if that happens then Sat would make sense. If the series ends before then, Th. is a decent possibility.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

That is an interesting debate on the MAF vs Murray debate if both are healthy. I don't think Murray is one of those "flash in the pans" that happen every few playoff series. Afterall, the kid set an AHL record last year for shut outs. In the upcoming World Cup of Hockey, he was named the starting goalie for the under 23 "North America" entry in that event. That is pretty heady stuff.

Then again...these are the Caps and the pressure will grow and I don't think Murray was that sharp in Game 5.

But I would ride Murray right now. Why? Here's my scenario of why to continue with Murray. Say MAF is pronounced ready for Game 1. So you play him, and the Pens lose 5-3, and while you can blame it on rust, you are down 1-0. So in faith, you put him out there in Game 2, and maybe he is still rusty or a bit shaken and plays "OK", but you lose 4-3. Now you are down 0-2 and likely with the impetus to go back to Murray. That's a lot of pressure, plus it is not the best for MAF's confidence as now the questions come back from previous playoff runs.

I saw go with Murray and if he has a bad game, then perfect opportunity to bring in MAF.

 

[Pitt79]

Pens in 6. Another choke job by Ovechkin

Ovie's never been past round 2, Pens lead the all time playoff series vs. the Caps 7-1. History suggests the Pens win. But who knows?

 

[wbrpanther]

Should be an epic battle. Going to be a lot of fun. Lotsa drama. Good for hockey. Not good for my blood pressure.

I expect both teams to bring it. I am just hoping guys like specifically Malkin and Letang don't get too wound up and get involved with trying to even up hits. Have the same mentality, skate away.

Can't wait.

The Pens are playing a suffocating fast forerchecking game the likes I have never seen them play before. And they have acquired the players to do it. If the Pens played this way from day one no one would be talking about the Caps as the best team in hockey because the Pens are the best team in hockey right now. Barring a rash of injuries it's the Pens in 6.

 

[wbrpanther]

That is an interesting debate on the MAF vs Murray debate if both are healthy. I don't think Murray is one of those "flash in the pans" that happen every few playoff series. Afterall, the kid set an AHL record last year for shut outs. In the upcoming World Cup of Hockey, he was named the starting goalie for the under 23 "North America" entry in that event. That is pretty heady stuff.

Then again...these are the Caps and the pressure will grow and I don't think Murray was that sharp in Game 5.

But I would ride Murray right now. Why? Here's my scenario of why to continue with Murray. Say MAF is pronounced ready for Game 1. So you play him, and the Pens lose 5-3, and while you can blame it on rust, you are down 1-0. So in faith, you put him out there in Game 2, and maybe he is still rusty or a bit shaken and plays "OK", but you lose 4-3. Now you are down 0-2 and likely with the impetus to go back to Murray. That's a lot of pressure, plus it is not the best for MAF's confidence as now the questions come back from previous playoff runs.

I saw go with Murray and if he has a bad game, then perfect opportunity to bring in MAF.

First off the Flower may very well be still suffering from the effects of the concussion. That being said I think even with a healthy Flower you ride the hot goalie as long as he is hot and if or when he cools bring on the Flower.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

Holtby is exceptional and he will be the best goaltender we face this postseason - including the guy we just beat.

However, I just think Pittsburgh is likely going to control the neutral zone with its overwhelming team speed. That speed advantage was very obvious in our late regular season games with the Caps and I see no reason why that won't continue in the playoffs.

Washington will try to lean on Pittsburgh and you can bet your bottom dollar that Ovechkin or that Wilson kid are going to do something completely asinine that will hurt one of our players. Would you be surprised if they ran Murray? I certainly wouldn't be surprised by that at all.

However, at the end of the day you need to have the puck to score and I just don't think the Caps are going to have the puck nearly as much as Pittsburgh will have the puck. That means that Holtby needs to dramatically outplay Murray or Fleury for them to win and I just don't see that as being very likely at all.

Pittsburgh in six games.