So, the Heat have Wade, James, and Bosh, and the Pens have Crosby, Malkin, and Staal. I think there are certainly some similarities between the two sets of players. Let's get the two big differences out of the way immediately. Um, the Heat play basketball and get a lot more media attention, and the Pens play hockey and well don't get as much media attention (in this country anyway). Also, the Pens "Big Three" have won a championship, and the Heat, well, I'm sure you have probably heard by now.
Speaking of championships, I think that is the biggest similarity between these two groups. Both of the groups will be measured in terms of their championships that they have won. If you look at hockey, whether you are a fan of the Penguins or not, they have the best 1-2-3 punch in hockey today, and maybe ever. When you have that talent, the expectations are huge, especially when you have won before. In 08', we made the Cup Finals only to lose to Detroit. In 09', we avenged the prior year's defeat with a cup win. In 10, we lost in 7 games in the second round to Montreal. Last year we blew a 3-1 lead in the series to Tampa Bay, and had an early first round exit. 2010 could be blamed on fatigue, as the Pens played an extra half of a season of hockey from the playoffs. That year was the olympics as well. Last year, the Pens were stricken with injuries and were without the services of Crosby, Malkin, and Staal for much of the season. This season brought about new hope with the three being reunited.
I think these three are comparable to the Heat's Big Three based on performances. Malkin reminds me of Lebron - Flashy numbers, but not someone you think of in the clutch. In big moments, Malkin often disappears and gets kind of lost in the moment. Staal is like Bosh. He is a big man and consistent performer. He has shown clutch traits, and comes up with the occasional big game. He is also sound in both areas of the ice. Then there is Crosby. By deduction, you will realize I will relate him to Wade. The team will go as far as Crosby takes them. He is one of the transcedent players of our generation, and he is the one you think of as clutch (see Golden Goal in 2010, youngest Stanley Cup winning captain).
It is time for the big three to earn their paychecks. If the Pens go on to win today, and then ultimately on Tuesday. They would complete something only three other teams have done in the history of hockey. It sounds like something that would fit in Crosby's legacy, no? For a group of players measured on championships, a first-round exit does not sit well with anyone. Especially when there are no excuses this year. Think what would happen if the Heat lose to the Knicks in the first-round this year. If the Pens do go on to win today and win the series, one thing is for sure, look for 87 to be near the top of the stat line....
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Pen's Tee Times Delayed...
If you are like me, I thought the Pens were dead in this series. All of the strengths from the regular season started failing the Pens at the same time in the postseason ('cept scoring). A team that boasted the 3rd best PK in the NHL, and a goalie that won the 2nd most games, lost the first three games of the series in a variety of ways. Most of the reasons ultimately came back to team defense, special teams, and goaltending.
It seemed as though the Pens thought, "We have Sidney Crosby back in the lineup....now we don't have to play defense, and we will surely outscore all of our opponents...." As most of you know, it looked like this series was going to work that way. The Pens came out to an early 3-0 lead, and looked like they were going to cruise into the 2nd round. Unfortunately, they started playing like they were going to cruise into the 2nd round, and the Flyers have the horses, a nice mix of young talent and veteran leadership, to skate with these high-flying Pens. The first three games are history, and you know the results.
Glimpses of the meltdowns that occurred in the first three games started to show toward the end of the year. After the Pen's 11-game winning streak was snapped by none other than the Flyers on March 18, the Pens rebounded with an 8-4 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Only to follow that a few games later with an 8-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators. Sound familiar to anyone? The first three games of this series were a dreaded combination of poor PK, poor team defense, a lack of discipline, and a goalie in Marc-Andre Fleury, losing confidence because of the three prior points. At many other times in the regular season, our mediocre defense was bailed out by some sparkling saves from the now veteran netminder. Those same saves were absent in the first three games of this series.
Which leads me to last night's game where much of the same figured to happen. The first period featured 7 goals, with the Penguins clinging to a 4-3 lead. (Much of the same) The Flyer's three goals sounded familiar as well. All three were PP goals setup by a lack of focus and discipline from the Pens. Two of them should have been stopped by Fleury, and it looked as though we were in for deja vu all over again. Any Penguin's fan that felt good about being up 4-3 probably did not watch any of the series, as it seemed like any lead would not be safe.
However, let's give our guys a bit of credit. They are a proud bunch that have gone through tremendous adversity over the past couple of seasons. They came out in the second and third periods and played 'their' game. They cycled the puck. They got to the net. They agitated and irritated the Flyers. They got on the PP and scored 4 goals, and kept their own emotions in check. Fleury gained confidence each save he made, and finished the game with two shutout periods (his only other being Game 1, Period 1). They capitalized on shoddy defense and turnovers. Sound familiar? It should to most Pen's fans because it has been the Flyer's calling card for the first three games of the series.
If only for one game, the Pens looked like the Pens we all expected, and the Flyers looked like the Flyers we all expected. So, the series continues as fans wonder if this was an anomaly, or the beginning to something magical. The only two things for sure are that the team put their summer on hold for one more game, and with each goal, save, successful penalty-kill, and win, the team and their fanbase start believing in the ultimate goal that seemed so distant on Sunday afternoon....
It seemed as though the Pens thought, "We have Sidney Crosby back in the lineup....now we don't have to play defense, and we will surely outscore all of our opponents...." As most of you know, it looked like this series was going to work that way. The Pens came out to an early 3-0 lead, and looked like they were going to cruise into the 2nd round. Unfortunately, they started playing like they were going to cruise into the 2nd round, and the Flyers have the horses, a nice mix of young talent and veteran leadership, to skate with these high-flying Pens. The first three games are history, and you know the results.
Glimpses of the meltdowns that occurred in the first three games started to show toward the end of the year. After the Pen's 11-game winning streak was snapped by none other than the Flyers on March 18, the Pens rebounded with an 8-4 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Only to follow that a few games later with an 8-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators. Sound familiar to anyone? The first three games of this series were a dreaded combination of poor PK, poor team defense, a lack of discipline, and a goalie in Marc-Andre Fleury, losing confidence because of the three prior points. At many other times in the regular season, our mediocre defense was bailed out by some sparkling saves from the now veteran netminder. Those same saves were absent in the first three games of this series.
Which leads me to last night's game where much of the same figured to happen. The first period featured 7 goals, with the Penguins clinging to a 4-3 lead. (Much of the same) The Flyer's three goals sounded familiar as well. All three were PP goals setup by a lack of focus and discipline from the Pens. Two of them should have been stopped by Fleury, and it looked as though we were in for deja vu all over again. Any Penguin's fan that felt good about being up 4-3 probably did not watch any of the series, as it seemed like any lead would not be safe.
However, let's give our guys a bit of credit. They are a proud bunch that have gone through tremendous adversity over the past couple of seasons. They came out in the second and third periods and played 'their' game. They cycled the puck. They got to the net. They agitated and irritated the Flyers. They got on the PP and scored 4 goals, and kept their own emotions in check. Fleury gained confidence each save he made, and finished the game with two shutout periods (his only other being Game 1, Period 1). They capitalized on shoddy defense and turnovers. Sound familiar? It should to most Pen's fans because it has been the Flyer's calling card for the first three games of the series.
If only for one game, the Pens looked like the Pens we all expected, and the Flyers looked like the Flyers we all expected. So, the series continues as fans wonder if this was an anomaly, or the beginning to something magical. The only two things for sure are that the team put their summer on hold for one more game, and with each goal, save, successful penalty-kill, and win, the team and their fanbase start believing in the ultimate goal that seemed so distant on Sunday afternoon....
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