Yinzers,
There is a universe of topics I could talk about today, and I am going to cover them all. Today’s post is a long one, So get comfortable. Next week is the playoffs and next Sunday may be my last edition of Playoff Pen Zen…
No reason to hold back… Time to give it everything I got…
In times of the playoffs, it is imperative to fire up the spirit of your team. The Penguins will have their “win one for the Gipper” speeches in the locker room; they will have playoff montage videos, and highlight reels of the Senators games. They will be pumped up and ready for the playoffs. However, the fans need to be too. The bloggers, the youtubers, the superstitious, the people that have Charlie signs on their cubicles at work, the people that have their Gary Roberts for President poster still up, the fans that waive their terrible towel, wear their never washed jersey, and those who will shave on last time today… This is for you.
But I will need some help… Cue the music Tom Hedden!!!
They say that Steel Melts at 2400 degrees Fahrenheit
As Hockey Fans, In terms of our jobs, that’s how hot we need to become
Bloggers: Write your 15-page playoff preview
Youtubers: Grab your Hans Zimmer mix and create a the greatest playoff push video you can
Photoshoppers: Make every Senator picture you have feature gold clubs in their hands
Female Fans: Put your V-Necks in the drawer and bring your jerseys out (They look better on you anyway)
Male Fans: Prepare to not have a date for 2 months because your playoff beard is going to look terrible.
Alas, Remember: You are doing this for your REAL Lady.
Mellon Arena is having her final stand
She has hosted hockey before you were born
And She deserves all of your support
Make her proud as fans
So her legacy will never be forgotten
It is time for us to unite once more!
It is time to honor your superstitions
It is time to make fun of Capitals fans
It is time to send vulgar text messages to your friends
It is time for the playoffs.
The Penguins are Ready. Are you?
The Analysis:
The series that will ensue will be the 4. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. the 5. Ottawa Senators. A series that is all too familiar in the Crosby and Malkin era. This series will emerge as the 3rd time we have played the Senators in 4 years. Both teams have won a respective series and both teams have won 2 games against each other this season. The scores and series tell a different story though. The Senators won their playoff series 4-1 against the Penguins, and the year after the Penguins beat the Senators 4-0 in the first round of the playoffs. This year the Senators have won 2 games against the Pens: 6-2 and 4-1. While the Pens have defeated the Senators twice this seasons by margins of: 8-2 and 4-1. Don’t expect these scores to be any different. Both teams have fire power in their lineups and play hard nosed gritty hockey. This series will be won on the boards.
X Factors:
Ottawa: Chris Kelly. One player for the Senators that will need be the difference maker for the Senators against the Penguins. In the games that Ottawa has won, his name has appeared quite frequently and has been known at the man to take the Pens down.
Pittsburgh: Marc-Andre Fleury. The Flower has to be bigger now that ever for the Penguins. He has looked shaky this season and has the Penguins faithful scratching their heads wondering when Fleury will step up again. Perhaps most notably, Fleury has been the difference maker in the games against Ottawa. The Games the Penguins have won, he has had an exceptional save percentage. In one of games that the Penguins have lost, he was pulled. The Flower has to be the difference maker for the Pens
Final Draw:
In the grand scheme of things, no team is riding any sort of momentum. They are coming into the playoffs flat. Due to this, it is a clean slate for one team to really shine. However, the Senators lost one of their better forwards, Alexei Kovalev to an ACL injury and will miss the playoffs. Add that with an unproven goalie who has been looking sub-par lately, and it may be a short playoff run for the Sens. Perhaps the games will be closer, but I think the Pens will start taking momentum in this series…
Verdict: Penguins in 5 games.
Top 3 unlikely scenarios: Senators will get swept if…
3. Disco Dan: It was all a conspiracy…
I seem to recall a game early in the season where the Penguins beat the Blues 5-1. It was the greatest I have ever seen the Pens play. They recorded a staggering 43 shots on goal, 20 in the first period. Marc-Andre Fleury was spectacular and almost ever Penguins contributed to their dominant win against St. Louis. Add that win to the Penguins 7-3 thrashing over the Islanders when Mellon was having their final season game, and I am smelling conspiracy. Perhaps Disco Dan realized how incredible this team really was early on in the year and had them back off as the regular season continued. Giving hope to the Devils and the Capitals. If the Penguins were nonchalantly carrying out the rest of the season, and then come out firing on all cylanders in the playoffs… God help us all…
2. Sparta Steve makes a return!
Note: Ottawa lost 4-0 in that series…
1. Penguins Re-Sign Gary Roberts.
As a Maple Leaf or a Penguins. Gary Roberts was known as a Slayer of the Senators…
The Grand Finale…
So that is all Yinzers… I hope you have enjoyed the Pen Zen Playoff Preview Spectacular… I hope everyone enjoys the games and I hope we will all be having a bit of champagne out of a big silver cup when it’s all said and done. Players of the Penguins, give the competition hell. It is time to defend Mellon Arena’s honor and play with no fear. Your fans will be behind you every step of the way. It’s a new game now, time to enter an entirely different stratosphere. LET’S GO PENS!
Bring the Noise…
-The Professor.
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