EC SF (4) Pittsburgh vs. (8) Halak

[mister_mcgoo]

So true mcgoo...while i agree it will be tougher I think and definitely hope it wont be a "walk in the park" like everyone is predicting

Oh it will be very tough, I have no delusions about that but I think the Habs have perfected that frustrating checking style and if they can start to get into the heads of the Pens big guns the way they did to the Caps (and of course if Halak plays lights out) they have as good a shot of upsetting as anyone. We've got the speed to hang with them, it will be a more interesting matchup than anyone thinks

[Rusty Pickles]

this diving competition should be interesting. French judge picks Crosby.

Go Halaks.

[Zorro]

I am saying Montreal wins this round. Washington is better then Pittsburgh this year. Ottawa is horrible and they won two games against Pittsburgh. Montreal beat a great team.

Montreal wins this series.. Just so they can play the Bruins..

[wpggrown]

Pittsburgh loves playing in Canada, and guys like Talbot, Dupuis, Fleury and Crosby especially like playing in MTL.. Pittsburgh will win this series. Price will be back in for a game. Crosby 13 points, Cammalleri 4.

[mister_mcgoo]

this diving competition should be interesting. French judge picks Crosby.

Go Halaks.

no dude, you forget, the 'Crosby rulebook' is missing some of those pages, they won't call any of that

[doulos]

I am very happy (even though my playoff pools disagree with me) that Montreal beat the Capitals.

But the Penguins are not a shoot first team like the Capitals. They were able to block SO many shots because the Capitals don't have a game plan outside of 'shoot the puck'

The Penguins have a better leader, better goaltending, better team play and better defensive play.

I would not be surprised to see the Penguins sweep the Habs.

That being said I am personally hoping for an EXCELLENT series here and if Montreal could win that would be AWESOME!

[playmaker26]

Penguins in 5.

[Zorro]

Montreal in 6

[angus]

Puck drop a little over six hours away. Who does Pittsburgh match up against Cammalleri and Plekanec?

[duballstar014]

Puck drop a little over six hours away. Who does Pittsburgh match up against Cammalleri and Plekanec?

The Staal line with Orpik on the back end?

[mister_mcgoo]

I was looking to the regular season records for some ideas of how they will matchup, here is how it played out

PIT was 3-1 vs MTL (not great)

but then I dug a little deeper and

WAS was 4-0 vs PIT (and we beat WAS...hmmmm)

and finally to fill out the matrix WAS and MTL this reg season were 2-2

I do think PIT matches up against us much better and they've unfortunately had days to study tape and identify why we succeeded against the Caps. Martin better be ready to adapt his gameplan on the fly because the Pens are better coached than the Caps and have an actual gameplan. Keeping it close is all we need to do.

[Chuk]

Unless Crosby and Malkin decide to stay along the boards adn limit themselves to 1 moove a game, Montreal better have a new plan.
Honestly I think that Gonchar on the PP is going to make the most difference just being able to avoid the "blockers".
I would be thrilled to see Halak put on another show as great goaltending always makes the playoffs better and there is nothing like pressure to see what superstars are made of.

[duballstar014]

Montreal - just break someone's ankle. Bobby Clarke would be proud.

[mister_mcgoo]

Montreal - just break someone's ankle. Bobby Clarke would be proud.

you got anyone in particular in mind dub?

[fungchen3]

If Malkin or Crosby leaves the series on a stretcher I will be very happy.