OT - ECF Game #1 - Pens vs Ottawa .......

[CCHS82]

I was concerned going into this series. Look, they are doing this all without their top Dman, who is one of the very best DMan in the league. Last night they had 5 regulars out. They have lost 3 of their top 6 defensemen to injuries, one came back last night but is obviously still banged up (Daley). Dumolin is really banged up. They didn't have two top 6 forwards last night.

They are battered. What worried me about playing CBJ then the Caps is will the Pens have anything left? That is what was unfair about the way these playoffs were seeded. Sure "you have to beat the best teams sometime" but if you were the far superior team during the regular season and your reward is playing the 3rd best team, then the best team, and your opponent was significantly below you, and their reward was playing the 7th best and then the 5th best team.........well guess who has had the easier route. Not making excuses, but it is what it is.

I am not sure the Pens have much in the tank. Just recapping last night, they looked like dead man skating......

So you're saying that perhaps the "excuse" for playing bad last night was because they had to endure a tougher two series to get here? Had
Nothing to do with playing in the finals last year? Wink wink.

 

[Revenge Of The Noise]

The key to that game was not so much that they have up the quick first goal but that the impressive spurt of good play they had immediately after it led to more decent chances than they had in the first two games... But they didn't capitalize and tie it. I actually think of they could have tied it they might have taken off. Instead once the Senators scored the second it was like deflating the tires. They were putrid after.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

So you're saying that perhaps the "excuse" for playing bad last night was because they had to endure a tougher two series to get here? Had
Nothing to do with playing in the finals last year? Wink wink.

So you don't think that matters? That it is a video game, every series is a reset. Nothing carries over? You are an idiot. Don't comment on hockey. Comment on NASCAR.

 

[CCHS82]

So you don't think that matters? That it is a video game, every series is a reset. Nothing carries over? You are an idiot. Don't comment on hockey. Comment on NASCAR.

So I'm an idiot because I have a different opinion than you? Doesn't say much for you my friend. Although I shouldn't be surprised after reading many of your football and basketball posts over the years.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

So I'm an idiot because I have a different opinion than you? Doesn't say much for you my friend. Although I shouldn't be surprised after reading many of your football and basketball posts over the years.

No. Because you are not accepting what is not just obvious, but there is serious empirical evidence to support. The Cup runs take their toll. Look at Tampa this year, they were in the Finals in 2015, made the conference finals in 2016 and missed the playoffs this year. They had some injuries, but man they are a good team. It takes a toll.

 

[CCHS82]

No. Because you are not accepting what is not just obvious, but there is serious empirical evidence to support. The Cup runs take their toll. Look at Tampa this year, they were in the Finals in 2015, made the conference finals in 2016 and missed the playoffs this year. They had some injuries, but man they are a good team. It takes a toll.

Keys to repeating as champions:
*Talent, Coaching, Injuries, Matchups.

*Before the CBA expired in 2004, teams would receive draft picks for free agents lost. This is no longer the case.
*Between 2005 and 2008, the age at which players could become free agents dropped from 31 to 27.

*Appearing in multiple SCFs did not seem to bother the following teams:
*Canadians and Isles of 1980s
*Oilers of the 80s.
*Pens in 91/92.
*Red Wings in 97/98.
*Devils in 2000/2001.
*Pens and Red Wings in 2008/2009.

For a football comparison, "empirically speaking", the last team to repeat as participants in the SB was the Seahawks in 2014/2015. Before that, it was the Patriots in 2004/2005.

Me thinks that your argument is hogwash. Ask the Pens the same question and they'll agree with me. Later!