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2016-2017 Pens----Still with 100% more Kessel

Ha, like I said before I am through with doubting what this team is capable of. They are more capable than any team in the league. Period. Weather you get the effort or not might be in question at times but when they decide to bring it, get the **** out of the way.

Even after the 2nd period I absolutely had no doubt they were going to win this game.
 
Preds in 6

They got this
 
So amazing how this team can look like pure ****, then throw the switch and take over the game. The young kids keep coming up big, and Malkin shows up. When they decide to play, they are the best team and it's not close. In Sully we continue to trust.
 
Djfan said:
I could have sworn that I saw a stat somewhere saying that Rinne has never beaten the Pens.

Anyone with help here?
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Here's Rinne's splits: http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/r/rinnepe01/splits/

What is telling here is his GAA vs the Pens is 3.57 with a 1-5-2 record in the regular season. That is horrid. The 3.57 is by far the largest GAA vs another team by a MILE. Calgary is next highest with a 2.86. Now in the playoffs he's 0-2 with a 4.0 GAA. Sad to think that the actual story here is Rinne is not performing in the Final vs the Pens, when he was the reason why his team is in the Final.

Another telling stat for goaltenders, is the propensity to let in loose goals, or goals they should have made the save on. This is where the Pens have separated themselves while playing 2 Veznia candidates in Bobrovsky and Holtby, then only to face the hottest goalie in the Eastern championships in Anderson. (Hard to believe it, but Anderson was the best of the 3 this playoffs, and he nearly stole the series). Holtby and Bob were giving up 1 loose goal per game. Holtby was the one that was the most visible. He was the reason why the pens hung in games they shouldn't have, and also was the reason why the Pens won. Playing the puck in the wrong situations. Puck going in after they touch it, having positing, yet the puck 'miraculously' finds a way in (think Guentzel's short side vs Rinne last night). Though Rinne is allowing 2 loose goals per game for these first 2 games. The Preds can't hope to hang in this series if it continues.

Conversely, the Pens goalies have been exceptional in minimizing loose goals. Fleury had one terrible game, where he let in 3 loose goals. Murray has one loose goal since he's returned. The goaltenders on our team really are not getting the attention they deserve, and they are the reason why the Pens keep advancing. It's also the reason why I like Murray more than Fleury (though I am a lifelong Fleury fan and own his jersey), Murray just doesn't make mistakes. He flows effortlessly post to post. His body positioning is masterful and reminds me of Brodeur in net. Keep in mind that body positioning is different than positioning. Body positioning is how the goalie stands, drops and moves, to close gaps, and keep their limbs open to make saves. Positioning is the angle the goalie makes with his body to take up as much net as possible on a shot. Murray's positioning is also exceptional. Last night the Preds were trying to pepper Murray, to make him give up a rebound for a score. Thing is, Murray was eating everything up, and the rebounds he was confidently controlling to the corners. He's 23, he's still a rookie, and he's already our best goalie IMHO, just wait till he gets a couple years of seasoning. No game is too big for this kid, and with the talent up front, this can be a dynasty team.

The Pens are clearly in Rinne's head. He will rethink that Guentzel goal as he had excellent positioning on that play, yet it still snuck in. He also has 2 own goals in 2 games off D players. As the Pens continue to improve, as they did last night, Rinne's game play should continue to be problematic for the Pred's chances to win a cup, and their only chance to win a cup, is if Rinne plays out of his mind. I just don't see that happening.
 
mightyguru said:
Has any other rookie ever won 2 of Lord Stanley's cups?
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I think Hextall was the last rookie to make a Stanley Cup. I'm pretty sure Murray would have the record since he would be a rookie with 2 Stanley cup wins if they get 2 more Ws.
 
Well, that's twice the Pens went on a scoring spurt. They can score quick and often when they get that opportunity. That ice sure opened up after Guentzel's 2nd goal.

The key to Sat is to get that first goal and will take the crowd out of it. If they give them any momentum, that crowd will go nuts. Will be worse than Ottawa and they gave them a huge boost.
 
Spike said:
Preds in 6

They got this
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giphy.gif
 
thesteelcity said:
Well, that's twice the Pens went on a scoring spurt. They can score quick and often when they get that opportunity. That ice sure opened up after Guentzel's 2nd goal.

The key to Sat is to get that first goal and will take the crowd out of it. If they give them any momentum, that crowd will go nuts. Will be worse than Ottawa and they gave them a huge boost.
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Even if they don't score, if Murray holds them through the first period I think it will start to swing the Pens way. Just need to steal one of two and come back home.
 
Cope said:
I think Hextall was the last rookie to make a Stanley Cup. I'm pretty sure Murray would have the record since he would be a rookie with 2 Stanley cup wins if they get 2 more Ws.
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I think Hexy may be the last non-winning team member to win the Conn Smythe. He was awesome, and changed the way that goaltenders approach the game at the pro level.

Correction: JS Giguere, of the less than Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, was the last player on a losing team with the Conn Smythe in 2003. Hextall was the 2nd last.
 
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Again, Pens were outplayed for 2 periods. Then, bam!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3 (and almost 4) goals in just 3 minutes or so. This team is as talented as any and that is why they won game 1 and 2. They have definitely been outplayed/hustled for most of the 2 games.

Nashville will be a very hostile environment. They are 7-1 at home in the playoffs. If the refs allow the extremely dirty play of Nashville to continue, this series is going to get ugly. They tried to hurt Crosby so many times last night I lost count. Even the announcers commented on it. One dude on the Preds bench slashed Crosby while he was on the ice. No 5 minute major for boarding Cullen. It took 4 cross checks in a row for them to call 1 cross check. There were countless elbows, forearms and cross checks to Crosby's head and neck. They easily could have called 5 and really 10 more penalties on the Preds last night. As I said, if they let this **** go, this is going to get ugly. The Pens must retaliate. That is where most of our penalties came from last night (retaliation). The Pens definitely need a goon for next year. So far, they just let Crosby and others get beat on play after play.

We absolutely need to get 1 win in Nashville but it won't be as easy as many seem to think. They have outplayed us but our talent has won the day with some quick bursts and with basically poor goal tending on their part. Pecker can still come up big and shut us down. Win 1 in Nashville and we should take this. Lose both and this series probably goes 7.
 
I will concede that the Pens were outplayed in Game one. Badly so. I thought game 2 was very even, although I would give the Preds a slight edge based on zone time. Aside from that, the Pens played even at least, scored in a quick spurt in the 3rd. I think they will split in Nashville. What happens after that? I don't know.
 
I think the first period was a wash. Pens had some good spurts of cycling. The faceoffs were horrendous though. Second period went to the preds and the 3rd was obviously the pens.
I hope people who wanted guentzel to be scratched can lay off now. He has been one of the most consistent players. With some better bounces he could have had 5+ more points in the OTT series and that is being conservative. The pucks just were not going in for anyone that series.
I would like to see maatta out. He has had a couple his games, but overall seems like he is flat out getting beat alot. Some people think he has been our best defensemen, but i really don't see that.
The PP is still poor. At times they can't even get it set up
 
TDX27 said:
Again, Pens were outplayed for 2 periods. Then, bam!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3 (and almost 4) goals in just 3 minutes or so. This team is as talented as any and that is why they won game 1 and 2. They have definitely been outplayed/hustled for most of the 2 games.

Nashville will be a very hostile environment. They are 7-1 at home in the playoffs. If the refs allow the extremely dirty play of Nashville to continue, this series is going to get ugly. They tried to hurt Crosby so many times last night I lost count. Even the announcers commented on it. One dude on the Preds bench slashed Crosby while he was on the ice. No 5 minute major for boarding Cullen. It took 4 cross checks in a row for them to call 1 cross check. There were countless elbows, forearms and cross checks to Crosby's head and neck. They easily could have called 5 and really 10 more penalties on the Preds last night. As I said, if they let this **** go, this is going to get ugly. The Pens must retaliate. That is where most of our penalties came from last night (retaliation). The Pens definitely need a goon for next year. So far, they just let Crosby and others get beat on play after play.

.
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The officiating was atrocious. Preds should've been in the box 18 times. The penalty on Malkin was a joke. They watched Guentzel get punched right in the face and didn't call it. Subban is a dirty mf'er too, going after Sid's head.
 
Maatta has been great in spurts and awful in spurts. I would sit him in favor of Ruhwedel. At least Chad has some speed in his game. Wonder if the Pens regret giving Olli all that money.
 
i'm gonna do my best not to complain about any player performance or who should be playing or sitting. They are up 2-0 and have a 9-4 goal advantage. They are scoring and keeping the Preds off the scoreboard. Not too much more we can ask. Sure, there are improvements to be made, but I'm not worried. Playing in Nashville will be tough, but this team has seen it all and played in hostile arenas. It comes down to Rinne for them. He has to steal a game at home for them to have life. I know he's been really good to get to the Final, but he needs confidence back. The Pens are on the verge of breaking him. Withstand the first 10 minutes and get a few past him, the dam will burst.
 
I'm just going to keep bitching it seems to work for me.This team has overwhelming firepower when it decides to crank it up. I am immensely enjoying the moment.Just 2 wins away from glory.
 
IndySteel said:
POS Subban guaranteed a game 3 win and said he'd be all over Sid. I hope the Pens sweep those cheapshot ********.
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**** Subban


All the Pens need to do is play their game. If they do, Nashville will look like the 16th seeded team they are.
Nashville can keep their catfish. The Pens will keep the cup.

I'll say this, if the Pens win on saturday. And I have confidence that they will.
Series is over. Even if Nashville goes on to win the following game 4. Pens in 5
 
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