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Eastern Conference Final Bruins (4) vs Pens (1)

hockeyfan1

hockeyfan1

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Two of the East's remaining top teams meet in this much anticipated Conference Final.


Has Boston met it's match?  Or, vice versa?  The matchups on ice are intriguing -- Rask vs Vokoun/Fleury, Crosby vs Chara, Malkin vs Lucic, etc.


Many hockey pundits do not believe Pittsburgh will have it as easy as their decimation of the Senators in the previous series.  Remember, it was the New York Islanders that gave Pittsburgh plenty of fits back in the first round.


Secondly, as for Boston, they had a whale of trouble dispersing of the Maple Leafs in the first round (thanks to Toronto's "epic collapse" in Game 7), but, settled, and got the job done against an anemic Rangers offence in the second round.  Whether the Bruins were becoming fatigued or depleted on the defence corps by a slew of injuries to key players, Boston certainly showed no ill effects from any of this.  In fact, rookie d-man Torey Krug played quite admirably on the backline.


Both Boston and Pittsburgh have had similar series throughout their post season play, with one team each giving them both trouble (Leafs for the Bruins in 7 and in OT), and (Islanders for the Pens in Game 7 and in OT).  Plus, both teams have each encountered an easy opponent in another round (Rangers for the Bruins 4 games to 1 series win for Boston) and (Senators for the Penguins 4 games to 1 series win for Pittsburgh).


It's anyone's guess who'll take this Conference Final.  There may be one factor in favour of the Penguins -- Sidney Crosby.  No explanation required.
 
I think the Islanders giving the Pens a hard time in the first round had as much to do with Fleury playing horribly as anything else.

I fully expect the Pens to take the series in 6 at the most.
 
guess I'm the only one who'd rather see an all Original Six final? I want Boston and Chicago to win their respective series. frickin' whinin' Crosby. No thanks.
 
I suppose I'm mildly in the Pittsburgh camp because of all of the players in the playoffs who haven't won a cup I suppose I'd be pulling for Iginla to win one more than anyone else but, man, that's a pretty low-key rooting interest for the next two rounds.
 
Nik the Trik said:
I suppose I'm mildly in the Pittsburgh camp because of all of the players in the playoffs who haven't won a cup I suppose I'd be pulling for Iginla to win one more than anyone else but, man, that's a pretty low-key rooting interest for the next two rounds.
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That's exactly where I'm at, would be nice to see him win one but overall...meh. Hoping for some good hockey all around.
 
How the heck was that not interference on Marchand on the breakaway? He called that pick too.

Just as the comments before, there are reasons for not wanting to see either of the teams win.
 
Boston 3  Pittsburgh 0  Bruins lead series 1 game to 0.

Ughh!  What happened??!! These were supposed to be the "high-flying" Penguins, getting ready to slay the bear.  Apparently, Boston or rather David Krejci had other ideas.

With some sloppy Penguins defence alongside with undisciplined play, the Bruins found room to beat Pittsburgh goaltender Thomas Vokoun and take the series lead.

After Matt Cooke's cross-checking from behind hit on Boston d-man Adam McQuaid that incurred Cooke a penalty and a game misconduct along with it, and, after Boston's Brad Marchand's side-wise boarding hit on a "shaken" James Neal, the penalty parade began -- mostly on Pittsburgh's part.  Heck, even Evgeni Malkin engaged Boston's Patrice Bergeron to a fight. Sidney Crosby and Zdeno Chara yakking at each other.

Ahem, but that is no way to behave in a playoff game, Pittsburgh.
Don't tell that to Boston for the Bruins seemed to have found a way to get under the Penguins skin, so to speak.  Perhaps, but it was more of Pittsburgh's own undoing than anything else.

Boston's netminder Tukka Rask effectively shut the door on Pittsburgh big shooters and frustrating Pittsburgh's offence in general.


Source:  Sportsnet
 
while I didn't like some of the execution (man, these guys do a lot of clutch and grab and stickwork!), I was happy with the outcome  :D
 
Looks like Cooke avoided suspension, which surprised me a little. I wonder if it is because McQuaid looked him in the eye immediately before the play and chose not to protect himself? I don't know.

I thought Marchand's hit should have also been a major, though.

Pretty interesting game, though - if even one of those three posts goes in, maybe the energy in that game changes. Who knows, but I thought there was a lot of stickwork and interference in that game.

I hope the Pens win the next one to keep the series close and interesting.
 
Derk said:
Looks like Cooke avoided suspension, which surprised me a little. I wonder if it is because McQuaid looked him in the eye immediately before the play and chose not to protect himself? I don't know.
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Personally, I thought a major was too much.
 
Deebo said:
Derk said:
Looks like Cooke avoided suspension, which surprised me a little. I wonder if it is because McQuaid looked him in the eye immediately before the play and chose not to protect himself? I don't know.
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Personally, I thought a major was too much.
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Agreed.
 
Oh how I hate the Bruins... From Chara to Marchand to Kelly (who seems to never want to take gloves off when fighting) to Ference to Krecji. I hate em all.. Im not pens fan but really want Pittburgh here. Cant have the Bruins winning again.. Dont want to be part of their championship DVD with our collapse. Just want it go away
 
Boston Leaf said:
Oh how I hate the Bruins... From Chara to Marchand to Kelly (who seems to never want to take gloves off when fighting) to Ference to Krecji. I hate em all.. Im not pens fan but really want Pittburgh here. Cant have the Bruins winning again.. Dont want to be part of their championship DVD with our collapse. Just want it go away
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I feel for you. :)  Right on!
 
So much for Pittsburgh being the "Miami Heat" of hockey.

Down 3-1 in game 2, going back to Boston they'll be down 2-0 if they don't manage the comeback tonight.
 
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