[GDT] May 31, Game two of the Stanley Cup Finals!

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

The quality of chances aren't the same, and the Pens have been in offensive juggernaut mode.

People need to stop repeating this. The Pens are rolling over Nashville.

Lol.

Game 1 Malkin Goal - 5 on 3 that probably should have been a 5-on-4
Game 1 Sheary Goal - Preds 3rd pair have a 3rd-pair-ish meltdown. Full Credit to the Pens for capitalizing, but that's just typical home ice avantage.
Game 1 Bonino Goal - Literally an own goal in the truest sense. The Preds roll over themselves.
Game 1 Guentzal Goal - Absolutely softie. You have to get that, Rinne.
Game 2 Guentzal Goal - Goes right through Rinne. That's an awful goal.
Game 2 Guentzal Goal 2 - If that was Jon Gillies making that rebound in the AHL it would be considered a bad goal.
Game 2 Malkin Goal - Rush chance after a desperate pinch. That's the score creating this goal. Still stoppable with better goaltending, but yes it was great offense.
Game 2 Wilson Goal - Lulz. Weber plays that perfectly and the backpressure forward decides on creating a target to pinball off of.

If the Pens are "rolling over" the Preds, it's only insofar as the Preds are literally handing these last two games to them on a silver platter. I'm not trying to take away from the Pens here, but let's not pretend they're outplaying the Preds and the shot totals are misleading. There are about six or so of the eight goals score that they're looking at and thinking "wow... the Pens did nothing to earn that goal". And no, non-goal chances haven't been in Pittsburgh's favour; even if the Preds are struggling to generate great chances they're still getting some absolutely grade A chances. Penguins may as well be scoring off of dump-ins at the other end.

[JohnnyB]

It would have actually been interesting to see how the Pens and the Ducks matched up. The Pens are so good at never really getting into chippy stuff. Could the ######bag Ducks have gotten under their skin?

[erikk3]

Shaping up to be the worst SCF in recent memory

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[FireGilbert]

The series has been very even but the Pens greater playoff experience is showing. I fully expect Nashville to win game three at home and make it a series however.

[JohnnyB]

Yeah, I can't see this being a sweep. The Preds have been good and the Pens have had a little puck luck along with great goaltending and finishing. The series is actually still really close if the Preds can take game 3.

[Flamenspiel]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Lol.



If the Pens are "rolling over" the Preds, it's only insofar as the Preds are literally handing these last two games to them on a silver platter. I'm not trying to take away from the Pens here, but let's not pretend they're outplaying the Preds and the shot totals are misleading. There are about six or so of the eight goals score that they're looking at and thinking "wow... the Pens did nothing to earn that goal". And no, non-goal chances haven't been in Pittsburgh's favour; even if the Preds are struggling to generate great chances they're still getting some absolutely grade A chances. Penguins may as well be scoring off of dump-ins at the other end.

Ok, let's say you are right, what happens when the Penguins start playing well? The Preds looked good because they were pinching all over the place, the pens only had to raise there game a bit to begin exploiting Nashville's tactics. I am not saying they are out of it, but they have to play a balanced game to win against Pittsburg, and yes the goalie has to be much better.

[dino7c]

its probably been said but this reminds me a lot of Flames/Ducks round 1

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by dino7c

its probably been said but this reminds me a lot of Flames/Ducks round 1

I can see that, except Laviolette isn't mindlessly rolling three defense pairs. All his horses are playing 24+ minutes a game. Nashville's top four are all in that 24-28 minute range with Weber/Irwin around 8-10 - whereas Gulutzan pretty much threw our series away with our atrocious third pair clocking in around 13-15 (costly) minutes a game.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I can see that, except Laviolette isn't mindlessly rolling three defense pairs. All his horses are playing 24+ minutes a game. Nashville's top four are all in that 24-28 minute range with Weber/Irwin around 8-10 - whereas Gulutzan pretty much threw our series away with our atrocious third pair clocking in around 13-15 (costly) minutes a game.

well I was more talking about carrying much of the play but getting bad breaks and horrible goal tending

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by dino7c

well I was more talking about carrying much of the play but getting bad breaks and horrible goal tending

No, I got that, but more of our bad breaks were due to scrambling with our third pair out there than just bad breaks. Brodie-Stone and Gio-Hamilton weren't really out there for all that many so-called bad breaks. You could probably count up the goals our third pair singlehandedly cost us and it's no contest to even what Rinne has cost the Preds so far.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

People need to stop repeating this. The Pens are rolling over Nashville.

People need to stop repeating this. It's not true.

[Strange Brew]

What a find this Guentzel kid has been. Nearly a point a game in a half season and now 12 playoff goals. All as a 3rd round pick.

Drafting and developing a player like that is such gravy when you already have stars. That is how you win a Stanley Cup.

Flames take note.

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

What a find this Guentzel kid has been. Nearly a point a game in a half season and now 12 playoff goals. All as a 3rd round pick.

Drafting and developing a player like that is such gravy when you already have stars. That is how you win a Stanley Cup.

Flames take note.

He's ok I guess. He's no Keegan Kanzig.

[getbak]

Before the series, I saw a stat that this is something like the sixth or seventh time in NHL history that the defending Stanley Cup champion is playing a first-time finalist in the Final.

The defending champ has won every previous series and most were sweeps (the last time was 1998 when the Wings swept the Caps).

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Lol.

Game 1 Malkin Goal - 5 on 3 that probably should have been a 5-on-4
Game 1 Sheary Goal - Preds 3rd pair have a 3rd-pair-ish meltdown. Full Credit to the Pens for capitalizing, but that's just typical home ice avantage.
Game 1 Bonino Goal - Literally an own goal in the truest sense. The Preds roll over themselves.
Game 1 Guentzal Goal - Absolutely softie. You have to get that, Rinne.
Game 2 Guentzal Goal - Goes right through Rinne. That's an awful goal.
Game 2 Guentzal Goal 2 - If that was Jon Gillies making that rebound in the AHL it would be considered a bad goal.
Game 2 Malkin Goal - Rush chance after a desperate pinch. That's the score creating this goal. Still stoppable with better goaltending, but yes it was great offense.
Game 2 Wilson Goal - Lulz. Weber plays that perfectly and the backpressure forward decides on creating a target to pinball off of.

If the Pens are "rolling over" the Preds, it's only insofar as the Preds are literally handing these last two games to them on a silver platter. I'm not trying to take away from the Pens here, but let's not pretend they're outplaying the Preds and the shot totals are misleading. There are about six or so of the eight goals score that they're looking at and thinking "wow... the Pens did nothing to earn that goal". And no, non-goal chances haven't been in Pittsburgh's favour; even if the Preds are struggling to generate great chances they're still getting some absolutely grade A chances. Penguins may as well be scoring off of dump-ins at the other end.

They've out-scored the Preds 9-4 in two games and the bottom line is that they look like they've been there before while Nashville looks overwhelmed.

There are a handful of people here who keep trying to put forth the notion that Nashville has out-played Pittsburgh so far and it's ridiculous.

Pittsburgh is converting, and doing it when it matter most. They ran the score up in game one, fell asleep at the wheel and then turned it on when it mattered most late in the game to pull it out. In Game 2, they were all over the Preds. They deserve to be up 2-0 and the comments suggesting otherwise are just sour grapes.

[EldrickOnIce]

According to Marc Dumont (Habs eyes on the prize Writer) on radio this morning, Preds have given up 10 high danger scoring chances in the series. The Pens have scored on 8 of those 10.
Pretty easy to point finger at the problem... which doesn't include the Pens dominating anything except Rinne

[Freddy]

The Pens are playing the Preds like Ottawa did them. Clog up the neutral zone and capitalize on turnovers. Cherry is right, the Pens look like they're out of gas and in desperation mode. Full credit to them for winning the first 2 games, but Nashville looks like the much fresher team. I think this series goes the distance.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by dino7c

its probably been said but this reminds me a lot of Flames/Ducks round 1

That's a fair assessment. You can argue the only game of that series where the Ducks were the better team was game 4. The Flames were let down by their starting goaltender much like the Preds. Ducks capitalized on Flames meltdowns like stupid penalties and that awful five man line change much like the Predators melted down in the 1st period of game one and 3rd period last night that the Penguins capitalized on. Ducks benefitted by questionable instant replay no-goal and goal for as did the Penguins in game one. It just goes to show that it's all about goaltending and composure in the playoffs and if you don't have one or both it really doesn't matter if you outplay the opponent for large portions of the series. Maybe the loss of Ryan Johansen is too much for them to overcome but I don't think he would matter if Renne keeps playing like he has in the first two games.

[kevman]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

In Game 2, they were all over the Preds.

All over them like spending most of the first two periods hemmed in their zone? All over them like getting heavily outshot and out chanced in the first 40 despite having more powerplays?

By the way, here's last nights shot chart:


What little shots Pittsburgh does get Nashville has kept them to the outside.

To claim "they were all over the Preds" is simply false. Realistically the series lead flatters Pittsburgh.

[kukkudo]

At the end of the day Pens are up 2-0. Preds are going to need to win both at home I think.