I agree with you but I expect Hynes and Shero will have the Devils pumped up to play the Pens. No games for granted at this point.
- MacPatty

They can be as pumped up as they want... compare this team to the last 6 we've played, and they are not a comparison ESPECIALLY without Schneider in net.

Ducks are where they are due to that great run - 22 or 24 game with majority wins. I don't rate them quite yet. But in saying that all the teams I mentioned have bad games. I just hate the Pens dropping games due to feeble efforts (what appears to be feeble), & poop play (like all fans). If we get beat by the better team ok but that team better top 3 in the comp! Hopefully this season gets better & we become that team everyone is waiting a Sid & Geno led team is.

I'd say Dallas & Blues are hard to play teams for different reasons, not hard to beat.
- Aussiepenguin

You do realize that the 24 games is over 1/4th of the season, right? They're probably best team in hockey right now. They were well constructed to start the season, it's just that their shots weren't going in, and then the moves that they made by the deadline made them even better. They're favorites to win the West and are certainly a better team than the Black Hawks.

The Blues and Dallas are currently playing better hockey than and have more points than the Hawks. If you're not going to put them on your top echelon then the Hawks have no buisness there either. As you always like to say, past success means nothing in the present. I think you're just throwing the Hawks up there because of the number of Cups they've won recently.

They can be as pumped up as they want... compare this team to the last 6 we've played, and they are not a comparison ESPECIALLY without Schneider in net.
- Guile

Remember Calgary.

I hope the Pens come out of the locker room yelling that like Sam Houston and the boys yelled "Remember the Alamo!" before taking it to Santa Anna.

Remember Calgary.

I hope the Pens come out of the locker room yelling that like Sam Houston and the boys yelled "Remember the Alamo!" before taking it to Santa Anna.
- Victoro311

If this Pens team wants to be for real, we have to be able to handle these weaker teams easily. Its something we don't do anywhere close to as often as we should, and I want to see NJ just outclassed and embarrassed like we did to Arizona awhile back.

You do realize that the 24 games is over 1/4th of the season, right? They're probably best team in hockey right now. They were well constructed to start the season, it's just that their shots weren't going in, and then the moves that they made by the deadline made them even better. They're favorites to win the West and are certainly a better team than the Black Hawks.

The Blues and Dallas are currently playing better hockey than and have more points than the Hawks. If you're not going to put them on your top echelon then the Hawks have no buisness there either. As you always like to say, past success means nothing in the present. I think you're just throwing the Hawks up there because of the number of Cups they've won recently.
- Victoro311

I don't think the Hawks are near what they have been in the past seasons, & I wouldn't back against a first round exit for them. But in saying that, this season they found a way with Kane, Panarin & Crawford & led the west for a fair while.

It might sound crazy, but I think the Ducks are getting to the hard to beat stage (I nearly put them in actually), but they are still losing games they should be winning if they are the best in my opinion. It's an attitude that a lot of winning gives you. You could call it arrogance, but it does mean something & the Ducks due to their start are still a little fragile. The Pens have that fragility as well, but if they continue to win that will turn into arrogance (hopefully), which also breeds confidence.

I don't think the Hawks are near what they have been in the past seasons, & I wouldn't back against a first round exit for them. But in saying that, this season they found a way with Kane, Panarin & Crawford & led the west for a fair while.

It might sound crazy, but I think the Ducks are getting to the hard to beat stage (I nearly put them in actually), but they are still losing games they should be winning if they are the best in my opinion. It's an attitude that a lot of winning gives you. You could call it arrogance, but it does mean something & the Ducks due to their start are still a little fragile. The Pens have that fragility as well, but if they continue to win that will turn into arrogance (hopefully), which also breeds confidence.
- Aussiepenguin

I don't think arrogance is the right word. I think that breeds complacency more than confidence, which has been our issue for years.

What does everyone think about Crosby's chances at stealing the Hart from Kane? If Crosby and the Pens keep killing it and Kane and the Hawks dont get it together again I think Sid could pull off the upset.

I think this could be a year where the voters consider the total package rather than just points. If voters actually give credit to his defensive game along with the huge points total I think it is a no brainer Sid deserves to win it. Kane puts up points but does not contribute in other areas of the game.

What does everyone think about Crosby's chances at stealing the Hart from Kane? If Crosby and the Pens keep killing it and Kane and the Hawks dont get it together again I think Sid could pull off the upset.

I think this could be a year where the voters consider the total package rather than just points. If voters actually give credit to his defensive game along with the huge points total I think it is a no brainer Sid deserves to win it. Kane puts up points but does not contribute in other areas of the game.
- MacPatty

I doubt it. It'd be nice though.

What does everyone think about Crosby's chances at stealing the Hart from Kane? If Crosby and the Pens keep killing it and Kane and the Hawks dont get it together again I think Sid could pull off the upset.

I think this could be a year where the voters consider the total package rather than just points. If voters actually give credit to his defensive game along with the huge points total I think it is a no brainer Sid deserves to win it. Kane puts up points but does not contribute in other areas of the game.
- MacPatty

He'd have to pull within 4 or 5 points. Any further away and no point in even considering those thoughts.

Save Beau for an injury replacement.
- Emperor Filonius

as in, he gets injured instead of someone else? like a voodoo doll?

Remember Calgary.

I hope the Pens come out of the locker room yelling that like Sam Houston and the boys yelled "Remember the Alamo!" before taking it to Santa Anna.
- Victoro311

You do know how that story ends, right? lol

He'd have to pull within 4 or 5 points. Any further away and no point in even considering those thoughts.
- Guile

Those people voting for Kane would be the same ones who argued that Sid couldn't be MVP with a teammate like Malkin.

Crosby's second half has been as impressive as Kane's first IMO and a lot of it has been without Geno.

as in, he gets injured instead of someone else? like a voodoo doll?
- YuenglingJagr

We'd have Geno in the lineup now then

Those people voting for Kane would be the same ones who argued that Sid couldn't be MVP with a teammate like Malkin.

Crosby's second half has been as impressive as Kane's first IMO and a lot of it has been without Geno.
- Yonk1216

I don't argue that, but MVP is still primarily to whoever gets the most points. It has to be close for other factors to come in.

We'd have Geno in the lineup now then
- Guile

[sarcasm]Yeah but then the Pens wouldn't go on this winning streak[/sarcasm]

Those people voting for Kane would be the same ones who argued that Sid couldn't be MVP with a teammate like Malkin.

Crosby's second half has been as impressive as Kane's first IMO and a lot of it has been without Geno.
- Yonk1216

Is Kanes 2nd half better then Crosby's 1st? I'm not following Kane or the scoring race to closely.

[sarcasm]Yeah but then the Pens wouldn't go on this winning streak
- YuenglingJagr[/sarcasm]

Is that sarcasm I'm sensing?

Is Kanes 2nd half better then Crosby's 1st? I'm not following Kane or the scoring race to closely.
- dbell646

You do watch Penguin games, and read these blogs... Crosby has the most point in the 2nd half of the season. So no, Kane's is not better, and he has been a weak finisher to the regular season overall in his career as well.

So if Kane would go really cold (possible with Chicago slumping lately) and Crosby heats up a bit more, this could become a real discussion. But for now its a waste of time, Crosby simply isn't close enough in points to matter.


edit: Chicago has 8 games left, we have ten. Kane is up on Crosby by 16 points.

Crosby goes 2 points a game to finish out, Kane has .5 points a game. They both tie for point lead at 96 points. In that scenario, Crosby wins and its not even close (end of the season usually has a bigger weight in the votes).

Version two... Kane gets 7 in his last 8 games. Crosby gets... 14 points. Kane ends with 99, Crosby at 90. Kane should win by default.

Version two is the more likely way they will finish the season, and I just don't see Crosby catching him, or Kane going ice cold enough to cripple his chances.

You do watch Penguin games, and read these blogs... Crosby has the most point in the 2nd half of the season. So no, Kane's is not better, and he has been a weak finisher to the regular season overall in his career as well.

So if Kane would go really cold (possible with Chicago slumping lately) and Crosby heats up a bit more, this could become a real discussion. But for now its a waste of time, Crosby simply isn't close enough in points to matter.
- Guile

[/reading comprehension]

You do watch Penguin games, and read these blogs... Crosby has the most point in the 2nd half of the season. So no, Kane's is not better, and he has been a weak finisher to the regular season overall in his career as well.

So if Kane would go really cold (possible with Chicago slumping lately) and Crosby heats up a bit more, this could become a real discussion. But for now its a waste of time, Crosby simply isn't close enough in points to matter.
- Guile

Yes I do watch the pens but I also know Kane has a pretty sizeable lead so was Crosby's 2nd not as impressive as Kane's 1st or was Kanes 2nd more impressive then Crosby's 1st. One of them has to explain the point difference right?

Yes I do watch the pens but I also know Kane has a pretty sizeable lead so was Crosby's 2nd not as impressive as Kane's 1st or was Kanes 2nd more impressive then Crosby's 1st. One of them has to explain the point difference right?
- dbell646

Kane's 1st more impressive than Crosby's 2nd (so far, Crosby's 2nd isn't over), but Crosby's 1st was utterly terrible.

However, the 2nd half and final quarter have always weighed more in the voting. If you recall Letang and Crosby both losing out of MVP/Norris when ending a season injured, but tieing for the point leads at their positions.

You do know how that story ends, right? lol
- YuenglingJagr

Yeah. Sam Houston and the boys decimated Santa Anna's army in under 18 minutes and Texas earned its independence and was shortly there after annexed by the United States. Don't (frank) with a history major, bro.

I don't think arrogance is the right word. I think that breeds complacency more than confidence, which has been our issue for years.
- Victoro311

Good teams that win have arrogance, especially when they win the cup. We haven't had the team to win the cup for a few years for a few reasons, & approaching the playoffs I'd say fragility more than complacency killed us.

This year there is no arrogance yet because the team is just starting to get it together, definitely no complacency but confidence (winning from behind fighting hard), is growing & the 'fragility' is being replaced. As I said I hope we come out hard & strong against the Devils & are dominant like a very good team 'should' be this time of year.

as in, he gets injured instead of someone else? like a voodoo doll?
- YuenglingJagr

How much cap does a player like that take up?

You do know how that story ends, right? lol
- YuenglingJagr

I was laughing with you until Vic corrected us both.