It's all good. My 2nd team is Edmonton

I'd consider trading for a guy called Eberle..
- Orpik44

Haha well, we'd need alot more than Maata for Eberle. But I wouldn't shy away from PRV traded there even though I really like him.

I think we'd like quality over quantity + I believe Shero would ask for a Top 9 forward on the package. Somebody who could play right away for us.
Anyway, I don't think we'll be trading him anytime soon.
- Orpik44

Just like last playoffs, we don't need any scoring help. I wouldn't send any other defenseman unless its an obvious win for the pens. Pouliot could be similar to Martin, Harrington our next Orpik, and Mattaa will be a solid 2 way D man. I'd say move Letang to wing, he spends more time there than at D

Boston doesn't panic being down 1-0, they keep playing their system, now when it gets down below ten minutes in the third and they are down by a goal or two you'll start seeing them take chances.
- Rayven

I know, I know what panic mode feels like with the Bruins. We've beaten them 3 times this year It's never easy to be down in those kind of tight games. |The SJ and LA series was a good example of how it feels.....

Pens just need to get one behind Rask, and I think they will relax a bit and do their thing. 4-1 Pens tonight.

Four of the Pens current top 6 are 32+ years old, and only one is of the top 6 is signed past next season (Martin). And who knows what happens with Letang's contract situation.

There could most definitely be room on the blue line for Maatta if he pans out.
- rival22

* "when" he pans out.

Just like last playoffs, we don't need any scoring help. I wouldn't send any other defenseman unless its an obvious win for the pens. Pouliot could be similar to Martin, Harrington our next Orpik, and Mattaa will be a solid 2 way D man. I'd say move Letang to wing, he spends more time there than at D
- drummer829

Our D will be like: Girardi (Harrington)/ Shattenkirk (Pouliot) and two Despres' (Maatta and the original one).

Edit: Maatta would be like Sami Salo I guess.

Pens just need to get one behind Rask, and I think they will relax a bit and do their thing. 4-1 Pens tonight.
- Emperor Filonius

Simple as that

I do think we'll score 4 tonight, which should be enough to grab a win.

That's the thought.

Boston got lucky we weren't able to score on the first 10 mins of the game after the blitz we made. Had we scored, the game would be totally different.
- Orpik44

YW

YW
- hscesq

What's up referee? Just wanted you to know I didn't appreciate the ban you awarded to me. That was a bad bad call. Now let's move on. What's your prediction for tonight? 4-2 Pens IMO

I'm still taking losing game 1 in that fashion is a blessing in disguise.

The Isles made us realize the playoffs started.

Ottawa made us think we are unbeatable.

Boston is showing us that 60 minutes of hockey is required every game to advance to the Finals.

I think the Penguins adjust their mindset and play accordingly.

What's up referee? Just wanted you to know I didn't appreciate the ban you awarded to me. That was a bad bad call. Now let's move on. What's your prediction for tonight? 4-2 Pens IMO
- Orpik44

you DEF didn't deserve that ban.

* "when" he pans out.
- canadianpenfan

interesting thing, i was listening to the Fan yesterday, and they had a guy who is a beat writer up in Wilkes-Barrre. He was talking about Maatta, Pouliot, and Harrington, and said he was surprised by a few things.

He talked about how Harrington is a much better skater and puck handler then people think. He also seems to have a extremely high hockey IQ, making all the right plays on D when he needed to.

He talked about how Pouliot is a lot bigger then everyone thinks. He compared him to being built like Kris Letang right now.

As for Maatta, he said that he is the complete package. He said he can't see Maatta being in AHL for very long.

Interesting stuff from down on the farm.

Pens had a big layoff, they won't put up a stinker again, not that last game was that bad, too many open nets missed. This game is on Vokoun, Crosby and Malkin to have superior games. Vokoun's starting job is on the line, not that he has played poorly, I just have this feeling.... Crosby and Malkin will respond with a big performance... They have to, they always do.

interesting thing, i was listening to the Fan yesterday, and they had a guy who is a beat writer up in Wilkes-Barrre. He was talking about Maatta, Pouliot, and Harrington, and said he was surprised by a few things.

He talked about how Harrington is a much better skater and puck handler then people think. He also seems to have a extremely high hockey IQ, making all the right plays on D when he needed to.

He talked about how Pouliot is a lot bigger then everyone thinks. He compared him to being built like Kris Letang right now.

As for Maatta, he said that he is the complete package. He said he can't see Maatta being in AHL for very long.

Interesting stuff from down on the farm.
- cap1681

Nice to hear that. I for one thought Pouliot was a lot smaller in height/size. I've heard about Harrington's high hockey IQ before. He's very important to our furture. As for Maatta, I've heard he's as good as Despres but with a higher offensive upside. Nice! Pure gold

you DEF didn't deserve that ban.
- Killian

Good on Claude Julien for being honest:

Julien shared his thoughts on the Cooke check and the players' responsibility not to put themselves in vulnerable positions where they might get hurt on similar plays.

"And I've said it before, and I'm certainly not going to change my mind because it happened to one of our players, but I've always said that we have to educate our players to not put themselves in vulnerable positions," Julien said. "And I'm not talking necessarily about last night, I'm talking about those kind of things that are happening and right now. Because the rule says you can't hit somebody from behind. Sometimes we take advantage of that rule, and it's dangerous.

"And in order to make our game better, I think it's gotta come from both sides. Players gotta understand that there's somebody coming and don't put yourself in vulnerable position. But the player hitting, have to be aware of it. And I've been an advocate of that a long time and I still believe in it.

"As far as the Cooke situation, I think the referees had to call that. And you see his head going into the boards and numbers on numbers. Had to be called. Whether it's a 2, whether it's a 5, I'm not going to dispute that. But more than that I think they had to make the call, and I don't know what the decision, whether it's been made or whether it's going to be made.

"I'll be honest with you, I have no issues if he's not suspended because I'm not convinced it's a suspendable thing, but I'm certainly not going to say that the referees didn't make the right decision, because I think they did in assessing the penalty.
http://www.boston.com/spo.../06/bruins_reflect_1.html

Good on Claude Julien for being honest:

Julien shared his thoughts on the Cooke check and the players' responsibility not to put themselves in vulnerable positions where they might get hurt on similar plays.

"And I've said it before, and I'm certainly not going to change my mind because it happened to one of our players, but I've always said that we have to educate our players to not put themselves in vulnerable positions," Julien said. "And I'm not talking necessarily about last night, I'm talking about those kind of things that are happening and right now. Because the rule says you can't hit somebody from behind. Sometimes we take advantage of that rule, and it's dangerous.

"And in order to make our game better, I think it's gotta come from both sides. Players gotta understand that there's somebody coming and don't put yourself in vulnerable position. But the player hitting, have to be aware of it. And I've been an advocate of that a long time and I still believe in it.

"As far as the Cooke situation, I think the referees had to call that. And you see his head going into the boards and numbers on numbers. Had to be called. Whether it's a 2, whether it's a 5, I'm not going to dispute that. But more than that I think they had to make the call, and I don't know what the decision, whether it's been made or whether it's going to be made.

"I'll be honest with you, I have no issues if he's not suspended because I'm not convinced it's a suspendable thing, but I'm certainly not going to say that the referees didn't make the right decision, because I think they did in assessing the penalty.
http://www.boston.com/spo.../06/bruins_reflect_1.html
- rival22

Could you have imagined if this same hit took place against the Rangers with Torts behind the bench. Complete opposite of what Julien said, but laced with expletives

Good on Claude Julien for being honest:

Julien shared his thoughts on the Cooke check and the players' responsibility not to put themselves in vulnerable positions where they might get hurt on similar plays.

"And I've said it before, and I'm certainly not going to change my mind because it happened to one of our players, but I've always said that we have to educate our players to not put themselves in vulnerable positions," Julien said. "And I'm not talking necessarily about last night, I'm talking about those kind of things that are happening and right now. Because the rule says you can't hit somebody from behind. Sometimes we take advantage of that rule, and it's dangerous.

"And in order to make our game better, I think it's gotta come from both sides. Players gotta understand that there's somebody coming and don't put yourself in vulnerable position. But the player hitting, have to be aware of it. And I've been an advocate of that a long time and I still believe in it.

"As far as the Cooke situation, I think the referees had to call that. And you see his head going into the boards and numbers on numbers. Had to be called. Whether it's a 2, whether it's a 5, I'm not going to dispute that. But more than that I think they had to make the call, and I don't know what the decision, whether it's been made or whether it's going to be made.

"I'll be honest with you, I have no issues if he's not suspended because I'm not convinced it's a suspendable thing, but I'm certainly not going to say that the referees didn't make the right decision, because I think they did in assessing the penalty.
http://www.boston.com/spo.../06/bruins_reflect_1.html
- rival22

What did he say about Marchand's penalty? I don't think the reporter was allowed to ask that question I guess

Could you have imagined if this same hit took place against the Rangers with Torts behind the bench. Complete opposite of what Julien said, but laced with expletives
- cap1681

He'd start with "most arrogant organization in the league"...ending with "ask their two f'n' whining stars".

What did he say about Marchand's penalty? I don't think the reporter was allowed to ask that question I guess
- Orpik44

dude every one knows it was a penalty, and most will agree if you tossed cooke they should have tossed Marchand, but they didn't. That was last game, we have a game to play tonight, just fahget about it.

dude every one knows it was a penalty, and most will agree if you tossed cooke they should have tossed Marchand, but they didn't. That was last game, we have a game to play tonight, just fahget about it.
- Rayven

Let's move on and hope for a good game from the refs

interesting thing, i was listening to the Fan yesterday, and they had a guy who is a beat writer up in Wilkes-Barrre. He was talking about Maatta, Pouliot, and Harrington, and said he was surprised by a few things.

He talked about how Harrington is a much better skater and puck handler then people think. He also seems to have a extremely high hockey IQ, making all the right plays on D when he needed to.

He talked about how Pouliot is a lot bigger then everyone thinks. He compared him to being built like Kris Letang right now.

As for Maatta, he said that he is the complete package. He said he can't see Maatta being in AHL for very long.

Interesting stuff from down on the farm.
- cap1681

How good must Tampa's AHL squad be if they took these guys out 4 games to 1 (and 7-0 in the deciding game)

Let's move on and hope for a good game from the refs
- Orpik44

I can get on board with this

How good must Tampa's AHL squad be if they took these guys out 4 games to 1 (and 7-0 in the deciding game)
- MadCap2008

I smell some irony in here

Give us Kuznetsov and we don't talk about this anymore

Nice to hear that. I for one thought Pouliot was a lot smaller in height/size. I've heard about Harrington's high hockey IQ before. He's very important to our furture. As for Maatta, I've heard he's as good as Despres but with a higher offensive upside. Nice! Pure gold
- Orpik44

All I've heard about was how smart Harrington is, and it says a lot when he was named the captain for Canada. Still today I hear how everyone was surprised that Maatta went so late in the 1st. I truly think the pens were set on picking an offenseman but there was no way they could let a D man with top 2 potential go that late in the draft