Round One: Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh

Who will win - how many games - and why?

Pen's in 6... Replay of last year with Philly getting 1 more win.

Probably the most exciting series of the first round.

It's not an exact re-match, obviously, since Timonen's around, and Hossa, Malone, Whitney and Umberger have gone (Pittsburgh, of course, now has Kunitz and Guerin.

The Pens' D should have its hands full with a fully-emerged Carter, Richards, Briere (who does have good play-off numbers), a healthier Gagne, Lupul, Giroux, Hartnell et. all.

It goes without saying, though, that the Pens have some fire-power as well.

Ultimately it should come down to Martin Biron. He was respectable in the playoffs last year, but he's still regarded as the Flyers' achilles heal.

Granted, Fleury is not the most proven guy either but he was very good last year in the playoffs, and the Pens are smokin' hot under Bylsma.

Barring a superhuman effort from Biron, I think it'll be Pens in 6 or 7.

Goodness, this is going to be a lot of fun to watch. I like the Pens personally. I think they've got a decent handle on what has to be done. Philly's weakness is having to wait and see if Biron can shine for them. That could take a game or 2 to have a solid answer to - and by then it could be too late.

I don't like Fleury and think he can be beaten - especially by an aggressive team with loads of talent like Philly, but I think ultimately it'll be Crosby, Malkin and Gonchar that lead the Pens over Timonen, Carter, Richards.

Losing home ice hurts them...a lot IMO.

Pens in 7.

504Heater wrote:Goodness, this is going to be a lot of fun to watch. I like the Pens personally. I think they've got a decent handle on what has to be done. Philly's weakness is having to wait and see if Biron can shine for them. That could take a game or 2 to have a solid answer to - and by then it could be too late.

I don't like Fleury and think he can be beaten - especially by an aggressive team with loads of talent like Philly, but I think ultimately it'll be Crosby, Malkin and Gonchar that lead the Pens over Timonen, Carter, Richards.

Losing home ice hurts them...a lot IMO.

Pens in 7.

Thing is, you can give Crosby, Malkin and Gonchar the edge over Carter, Richards and Timonen, but then I think Briere, Gagne, Hartnell, Lupul, Giroux, Coburn etc. beat out Guerin, Staal, Letang, etc.

I think Philly might be better if goaltending is equal. Both Biron and Fleury are question marks, the reason I pick the Pens though is that I think Fleury is less of one.

asq2 wrote:
Thing is, you can give Crosby, Malkin and Gonchar the edge over Carter, Richards and Timonen, but then I think Briere, Gagne, Hartnell, Lupul, Giroux, Coburn etc. beat out Guerin, Staal, Letang, etc.

I think Philly might be better if goaltending is equal. Both Biron and Fleury are question marks, the reason I pick the Pens though is that I think Fleury is less of one.

I think the Pens have learned to be like the Caps and protect their goalie in every way possible. Fleury is...I have little love for him to be completely honest, I think he's horrendously overrated, but ultimately, I think Crosby and Malkin can outright take over a game in a blink of an eye. I have a lot of respect for them, whenever I watch and they set foot on the ice, the other team grimaces. Throw in a potentially nervous goalie and things could go the Pens way pretty quick.

I want a (bloody) good series though. :D:

The Penguins have their game in focus.

The talent on these two teams...wow.

Marty Biron?

Pens in 7, with home ice being the factor.

This one is going to be all about offence. No defence, no goaltending, just pure offence. Gagne, Briere and Carter vs Malkin and Crosby. Yikes, I am getting he shivers just anticipating watching this gem of a series.

Philly in 7

Pens in 6.

Philly in 6.

Pittsburgh in 6. They've got the experience (surprisingly) and they have a goalie who can steal a game.

If Biron can get going, it's PHL in 7, if not it's PITS in 5.

beedub wrote:This one is going to be all about offence. No defence, no goaltending, just pure offence. Gagne, Briere and Carter vs Malkin and Crosby. Yikes, I am getting he shivers just anticipating watching this gem of a series.

Philly in 7

Goaltending and defence win Stanley Cups.

Pens have just enough of the edge in both departments...and they have home ice.

And they are on a mission.

Pens in 6...too much talent for Philly to handle.

davetherave wrote:

beedub wrote:This one is going to be all about offence. No defence, no goaltending, just pure offence. Gagne, Briere and Carter vs Malkin and Crosby. Yikes, I am getting he shivers just anticipating watching this gem of a series.

Philly in 7

Goaltending and defence win Stanley Cups.

Pens have just enough of the edge in both departments...and they have home ice.

And they are on a mission.

Goaltending will not be a factor in this season, nor will defence. This will be true run and gun offensive hockey. High scores for all games.

Neither of these teams has good goaltending. Someone before said "Biron?". That's pretty accurate by my estimation, but I'd like to add "Fleury?"