The islanders could very well sweep us again. They are a systemically sound and good defensive team. Barzal is amazing. Trots is indeed one of the best coaches in the nhl. What they don’t have though is the best goalie in the division, also varlomov was injured in last nights game too, they don’t have the one line that dominates our top line. And look at Boston’s stats vs any other team in the lg the last month. Boston has looked pretty much unstoppable while nyi has looked pretty pedestrian.
- 10inchTerror

They play the old NJ trap. The Pens have skilled players on all 4 lines and should be able to navigate through it as long as we don't do the dump and chase, we should be good. We may lose the series, but I would be absolutely stunned if we got swept.

3) players sticking to the coaching plan
4) Jarry playing to his capabilities
- Beatnic57

I'm not worried about Jarry and as far as #3 goes, there's always that concern, but I have more confidence in this group to stay on task than years past. While they loosened up a bit too much in the last four or five games, this team just seems more focused than the last few years.

We're finally, well hopefully, going to see this group with it's full roster playing. As long as they stay healthy, even with Geno at 50% ability, the four lines the Pens will have to roll is going to make life very difficult for the Islanders.

I'm not worried about Jarry and as far as #3 goes, there's always that concern, but I have more confidence in this group to stay on task than years past. While they loosened up a bit too much in the last four or five games, this team just seems more focused than the last few years.

We're finally, well hopefully, going to see this group with it's full roster playing. As long as they stay healthy, even with Geno at 50% ability, the four lines the Pens will have to roll is going to make life very difficult for the Islanders.
- Rinosaur

This is Jarry's 1st time as the #1 for a playoff series. I am cautiously optimistic....

This is Jarry's 1st time as the #1 for a playoff series. I am cautiously optimistic....
- Beatnic57

I think the only thing that could really derail Jarry's game is if the Pens allow the Isles to get in his face too frequently, but if that winds up being an issue for the Pens it doesn't really matter who's in net.

Boston outshot the Isles 16 to 4 in the 1st period last night...they wanted nothing to do with the Pens in the 1st round.

All this talk about who the Pens should or shouldn't want to play or avoid....no one talking about how the other teams might feel about facing the Pens, with the best home record in the league, in the first round.

Playoffs...anything can happen, including another Isles sweep, its not that far fetched haha. My main concern is Jarry, if he can continue strong play they should be good but it is his first playoffs.

Secondary concern: Trotz. Doesnt matter the team he has...he just worries me hahaha
- MattStrat

The Islanders home record is just as good as Pittsburgh's. On the road is a different story. Their record against Pittsburgh, Washington and Boston is 1-10-1. Pens need to win their home games.

Yeah exactly. The Isles very well could beat us. Hell, they could sweep us. But I think there’s a better chance of the Bruins sending us home in the first round than the Islanders. Feels like this isn’t a hot take but Grinder is more scared of Clutterbuck-Cizikas-Martin than he is Marchand-Bergeron-Pasternak so that’s basically the beginning and end of that debate with him.
- Victoro311

That B's line is arguably the best in the league, absolute kryptonite for Sid's line and you just know Sully would stubbornly match those lines against each other at home. B's would want that match up home or away because it works for them.

That Isles line....well, its playoff time and my head is getting worse...so I dont want to say much...but they've been a thorn in Pens side for quite some time.

The Islanders home record is just as good as Pittsburgh's. On the road is a different story. Their record against Pittsburgh, Washington and Boston is 1-10-1. Pens need to win their home games.
- Thunderbolt

Pens took two from the Islanders on the road. I agree, but the regular season is over and for ANY team to win in the playoffs they have to be able to win on the road.

My main concerns are:

1) Players staying healthy
2) Geno finding his form
- Rinosaur

Their health isnt a huge concern for me as they won the division with their health in the sh!tter all season haha.

Still think he's the best coach in the league. At the very least top 3.
- j.boyd919

He's #1 IMO.

The Islanders home record is just as good as Pittsburgh's. On the road is a different story. Their record against Pittsburgh, Washington and Boston is 1-10-1. Pens need to win their home games.
- Thunderbolt

Well...technically not quite as good but we wont get our panties in knots over 1 W/1 OTL hahah

In all seriousness though, this is going to be a hard series.

Too much jinxy sh!t being said around here....

Mike DeFabo
@MikeDeFabo
·
7m
Brandon Tanev is back in his familiar spot. Matheson full go with full shield:

Guentzel – Crosby – Rust
Zucker – Malkin – Kapanen
McCann – Carter – Gaudreau
ZAR – Blueger – Tanev

Dumoulin – Letang
Matheson – Ceci
Pettersson – Marino
Friedman – Ruhwedel

Let's get it on.

EDIT: Jarry is there, but DeSmith is not.

Too much jinxy sh!t being said around here....
- MattStrat

If only we were so powerful that what we type on message boards could affect the outcomes of games lol

Pens Inside Scoop@PensInsideScoop·5m
Tanev and Matheson both took part in rushes. Here is the Pens' workflow...

Guentzel-Crosby-Rust
Zucker-Malkin-Kapanen
McCann-Carter-Gaudreau
Aston-Reese—Blueger-Tanev

Dumoulin-Letang
Matheson-Ceci
Pettersson-Marino

Rodrigues skated.

Pens took two from the Islanders on the road. I agree, but the regular season is over and for ANY team to win in the playoffs they have to be able to win on the road.
- Rinosaur

The key is going to be the first two games. Pens win those two and keep the Isles confidence low, I like our chances. Split and it's a long series.

I don't believe in jinxes and between the Islanders and Bruins I would take the Islanders because they are the less bad matchup. The Pens won their first game in Boston in eight years last month.

Of course, the series could easily go either way. The Islanders' trapping system has often proved difficult for the Pens in the past and they do have the best coach in the league. Some differences between the teams this time from two years ago is that the Pens have a very effective third line at the moment and Anders Lee is out. They have not looked as good with him out.

The Pens have to go into this series thinking defense first and not taking unnecessary risks. Their offense will probably be a bit out of sync after being off for a week and the first round usually favors toughness and defense anyway.

Too much jinxy sh!t being said around here....
- MattStrat

Not seeing anyone on here saying the Isles stink or that we’re gonna crush them. Just the objective fact that the Bruins are better and have played us better this year. We absolutely daddied the Isles in the regular season. We struggled against the Bruins even during their lethargic stretch of the regular season.

The regular season means nothing now and Trotz will likely outcoach Sullivan to at least some degree, but give me the team with less talent and doesn’t have the line that has shut down Sid for years on end. The Isles’ checking line is good and did kill us in 2019, but their overall sample against Sid and Malkin isn’t nearly as immaculate as the Bergeron meat grinder.

I don't believe in jinxes and between the Islanders and Bruins I would take the Islanders because they are the less bad matchup. The Pens won their first game in Boston in eight years last month.

Of course, the series could easily go either way. The Islanders' trapping system has often proved difficult for the Pens in the past and they do have the best coach in the league. Some differences between the teams this time from two years ago is that the Pens have a very effective third line at the moment and Anders Lee is out. They have not looked as good with him out.

The Pens have to go into this series thinking defense first and not taking unnecessary risks. Their offense will probably be a bit out of sync after being off for a week and the first round usually favors toughness and defense anyway.
- PghPens668771

Yeah exactly. The Isles very well could beat us. Hell, they could sweep us. But I think there’s a better chance of the Bruins sending us home in the first round than the Islanders. Feels like this isn’t a hot take but Grinder is more scared of Clutterbuck-Cizikas-Martin than he is Marchand-Bergeron-Pasternak so that’s basically the beginning and end of that debate with him.
- Victoro311

History kind of shows that line is very well capable of shutting down sids line. Trots is already masterminding 2-1 victories. I’d rather the pens play Boston or Washington. Those teams are a bit looser defensively.

Just watched 3 of the games from last playoff series and it was interesting seeing Trotz intentionally match his 4th line against pens top line to start periods or end of periods.

Pens D can’t be scared of getting hit as 3 isles goals came directly off pens D not willing to take a hit when it was dumped in. (Pettersson on 2 and Letang on 1) 2 of the goals look embarrassingly bad on hearing the footsteps. Hopefully they are more ready this time for the dump and crash from more then just that line. Isles will be playing to keep the games close so 1 goal a game is gonna be massive like those 3 goals were.

I don't believe in jinxes and between the Islanders and Bruins I would take the Islanders because they are the less bad matchup. The Pens won their first game in Boston in eight years last month.

Of course, the series could easily go either way. The Islanders' trapping system has often proved difficult for the Pens in the past and they do have the best coach in the league. Some differences between the teams this time from two years ago is that the Pens have a very effective third line at the moment and Anders Lee is out. They have not looked as good with him out.

The Pens have to go into this series thinking defense first and not taking unnecessary risks. Their offense will probably be a bit out of sync after being off for a week and the first round usually favors toughness and defense anyway.
- PghPens668771

The Islanders were flying high two years ago, it was their first playoff game in a couple years. They also played a game at Nassau Coliseum, again something they hadn't done in years. Catching them in the first round that year was the absolute worst time to play them.

Sullivan is a bit of the problem with playing the Islanders too. He won’t look at matchups and try to get guys in good spots. He pretty much always just rolls his lines.

That B's line is arguably the best in the league, absolute kryptonite for Sid's line and you just know Sully would stubbornly match those lines against each other at home. B's would want that match up home or away because it works for them.

That Isles line....well, its playoff time and my head is getting worse...so I dont want to say much...but they've been a thorn in Pens side for quite some time.
- MattStrat

In a logical world the Blueger line should always play against the other teams best offensive line.

Pens Inside Scoop@PensInsideScoop·5m
Tanev and Matheson both took part in rushes. Here is the Pens' workflow...

Guentzel-Crosby-Rust
Zucker-Malkin-Kapanen
McCann-Carter-Gaudreau
Aston-Reese—Blueger-Tanev

Dumoulin-Letang
Matheson-Ceci
Pettersson-Marino

Rodrigues skated.
- Thunderbolt

Those are the best looking lines I’ve seen in years.