MDF- (1)Capitals vs (2) Penguins----Pens win 4-2-----

[midniteowl]

In the beginning, I was cheering for Crosby. Now, I'm pulling for that wonder kid goalie.

Go Murray Go

[blender]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

A Sharks-Pens Final seems like a given at this point.

A little early to call, I think. Certainly St. Louis has a decent shot, too.

Edit: Beat to it.

[calgaryblood]

I still think the Caps win. Caps will be up against the wall and pull out 3 straight wins. At least I hope.

[Canuck-Hater]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

I still think the Caps win. Caps will be up against the wall and pull out 3 straight wins. At least I hope.

Wouldn't that be something. Hoping they can pull it off but I have my doubts.

[Harju]

I think the Caps can get three straight but I am cheering for the Pens.

One thing that's struck me is how awful Kessel is. His main concern seems to be to avoid body contact. I've noticed that when he has the puck the Caps send two guys straight at him and he invariably makes an easy give away.

[RyZ]

This WAS core has never shown the resilience in the past to climb out of a hole like this and I doubt they have what it takes this time either. They may win game 5 back in Washington but thats as far as they go. 1 bounce the other way in game 1 and this could have been a 4-0 sweep.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Ovie looked pretty pissed at the end there. He was looking at someone, but I couldn't tell if it was Holtby or Webber. My guess is Webber...

Probably more than a little ticked off that in a critical OT Webber aimlessly swats a loose puck and directs it right to a Penguins shooter. At game speed the play looked harmless until he tipped it like that and you knew something bad was going to happen. Horrible play but stuff like this can happen in sudden death overtime.

[Rick M.]

I was very surprised that Cherry was denouncing the cheap shots directed at Crosby. "People pay a lot of money to see the star players play..."

[Galakanokis]

Washington seems to be going out of their way to be overly physical and it taking them off of their game. Pittsburgh just seems to be rolling with it. I hate all the diving that's going on though, I also hate the look for the refs on every god damn play.

I like the Pens to finish this quickly.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

I was very surprised that Cherry was denouncing the cheap shots directed at Crosby. "People pay a lot of money to see the star players play..."

While at the same time being totally fine with Letang running around railing people in the head.

[OutOfTheCube]

Haha, oh Mike Weber.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by RyZ

This WAS core has never shown the resilience in the past to climb out of a hole like this and I doubt they have what it takes this time either. They may win game 5 back in Washington but thats as far as they go. 1 bounce the other way in game 1 and this could have been a 4-0 sweep.

Fair. But I would also say 5 of the last 6 penguins goals have been lucky bounces... So it could have gone the other way too.

[IgiTang]

Quite honestly, this was the Caps year to take it all.

That roster has everything you need to succeed. The fact they are falling flat on thier face and being outplayed and can't beat Murray who is no doubt, now in the Caps players heads..

It may be time to be looking at changing up that core.

Backstrom has not been very good. Ovie has been underwhelming and Holtby is looking rattled.

Sure there have been some bad bounces, but the Caps have had chances and can't beat Murray..

Winning 3 straight is very unlikely and if the Caps can't do it this year, it maybe time to start changing out some pieces..

[Philly06Cup]

Originally Posted by IgiTang

Quite honestly, this was the Caps year to take it all.

That roster has everything you need to succeed. The fact they are falling flat on thier face and being outplayed and can't beat Murray who is no doubt, now in the Caps players heads..

It may be time to be looking at changing up that core.

Backstrom has not been very good. Ovie has been underwhelming and Holtby is looking rattled.

Sure there have been some bad bounces, but the Caps have had chances and can't beat Murray..

Winning 3 straight is very unlikely and if the Caps can't do it this year, it maybe time to start changing out some pieces..

That'd be quite the overreaction. Caps had one of the greatest regular seasons of all time. Playoffs are very small sample sizes, played against very good teams. Take this same roster and enter them into the playoffs 10 different times. Would they lose in the 2nd round 10 times? Would they lose to the Pens 10 times? I'd feel good about their chances every time.

[TheScorpion]

I hope Murray shuts out all of his remaining games so the Penguins will trade us Fleury.

[Gazza]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I hope Murray shuts out all of his remaining games so the Penguins will trade us Fleury.

I'd rather they trade Murray to the Flames.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Gazza

I'd rather they trade Murray to the Flames.

Hah, good luck.

[IgiTang]

Originally Posted by Philly06Cup

That'd be quite the overreaction. Caps had one of the greatest regular seasons of all time. Playoffs are very small sample sizes, played against very good teams. Take this same roster and enter them into the playoffs 10 different times. Would they lose in the 2nd round 10 times? Would they lose to the Pens 10 times? I'd feel good about their chances every time.

First of all, we are talking about the playoffs, where it matters. Regular season gets you a ticket, whether you finish #1 or #16.

Secondly, this Pittsburgh team is not the best team in the Playoffs, IMO. And the Caps are still having a real tough time.

Lastly, see the Stl.Blues. The Blues have been one of the better teams in the regular season over the last 5-7 years and have great regular seasons, to constantly crap the bed in the playoffs.

Over reaction, perhaps. But the proof is in the pudding so to speak. The Caps are either not as good as their regular season record suggested or they do not have the core personnel to step up when it counts in the playoffs.

The Caps have given up major assets in the last few years to make a long playoff push. They continuously retool alot of their depth, at some point you have to consider the core being the problem, not the complimentary players brought in to support the core.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by nik-

While at the same time being totally fine with Letang running around railing people in the head.

He justified that by saying Letang was a star who was also on the receiving end of cheap shots.

[CroFlames]

Remember when Vanbeisbrouck took the Panthers to the SCF?

Don't underestimate the power of a hot goalie in the playoffs. Murray is insane right now; and that's not the cap's fault.