Pens change tone of the series, Sid gets in puck on

The Penguins answered all the critics(present party included) showed heart, strength, and some of that athletic ability that came so highly touted. “Sid the Kid” scored two and the Pens were in control from the second period on. The Red Wings were unable to simply enforce their will as the had in the two previous games, and found themselves playing from behind for the first time, which made all the difference. Without the added pressure the Pens spread the Ice got some opportunities close to the net and took advantage of their speed. Now, it seems Detroit has some health concerns and the mo’ is clearly going to be in black/gold/white in game 4. Has this series taken a turn in Pittsburgh’s direction or is this just an aberration?

In Detroit the Penguins were bottled up, playing from behind, and unable to spread things out and take advantage of their speed and skill. Part of the reason why they are unbeaten at home in the playoffs is because they usually have the lead, which is exactly their key to success, but in order to do that you have to score, something the Pens have not done in the first two games. Ok, enough of the obvious, what can they do to change the mo’ in game 3? In a word, get “dirty”. The Penguins have to find a way to create more traffic in front of Osgood or get him to go side-to-side. To do that, of course, they'll have to get possession of the puck for more than a nanosecond. The challenge will be in trying to disrupt Osgood without drawing penalties as they did twice in Game 2 with Ryan Malone and Petr Sykora both drawing goaltender-interference calls. Therrien thought both were questionable and accused Osgood of diving. When they are playing from ahead they are a different team and can exploit their advantages they will need to do so in order to hold serve, if not, this will be a 4 game series.

Flyers' luck catches up with them, Red Wings look to burn out stars

Losing to the Pens on "fourth-line" forward Max Talbot's goal midway through the the third period might haunt the Flyers all summer. In a 2-2 tie game Pittsburgh got a a goal from a player who had missed the previous three games because of a broken foot. This was the type of luck that was on the Flyers side in the two previous series but has switched jerseys in the Conference Finals. Now they must hold serve at home but the pressure is on as everyone realizes one more lost and it is all but over. The Penguins on the other hand are 8-0 at home, and will be tough to beat in a game 5 or 7. Also on the hot seat are the Dallas stars who are also down 2-0 to the Red Wings, and facing extinction. The Stars power play looks better but for this series to turn, the Stars are going to need to convert with regularity. Also, they will need to get Detroit out of their comfort zone and put them in positions that they haven’t seen before. Lastly, Ribeiro has to play with Osgood. He’ll be a little fired up after the melee in the final seconds of game 2 and a hot goalie and make up for a multitude of deficiencies. Does either team have the mettle to come back and win 4 of the next 5?

Although it took 4OT’s and they didn’t go quietly the San Jose Sharks would have to consider this season a disappointment after a 4-2 series loss to the Dallas Stars. It was their third straight year in which they have lost a second round series and many fans as well as hockey pundits (ie; Barry Melrose who had the Sharks winning the cup), who consider the Sharks the NHL’s most talented collection of mediocrity, with consistent regular season play(2nd best record this year), and a talented lineup, yet they have not made it to the Conference Finals since 2004. Is this a coaching issue? What will it take for the Sharks to leave the small tank and make it to the big waters?

The NHL reaches it's version of the Frozen Four

In an NHL postseason that has been unpredictable the obvious choice when trying to pick the finals is to take the top seeds left, and of the final four remaining clubs that does look like a safe bet but many have been wrong thus far. The Top seed Canadians are gone, as are the #2 seeded Sharks, leaving us with Detroit(1) in the West, and Pittsburgh(2) in the east. Although they would be our choice as well, we wouldn’t put anything past the Flyers who continue to play well and upset all in their path. Dallas simply presented a style that the Sharks couldn’t handle and put them in an abyss they could not find their way out of. This is an opportunity for the NHL to get some of their fan base back and make some new ones as this should be and exciting “Frozen Four” and if the favs drop a game on their home ice look out. With all of that said we think the Wings and the Pens have too much to deal with and will set the hockey world back on it’s axis with 4-2 wins and set up a great final. Let us know if you agree here or in the NHL chat rooms.

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Wow! Despite a great 3rd period comeback the Flyers held on to beat the Canadians at home and take a 2-1 lead going into game 4. I think everyone watching thought they were going to score on the last power play, late in the 3rd, but Philly held tough.
The great series between the top-seed Canadians and the lowest seed left in the tournament #6 Flyers, continues as the stage moves to Philly for game 3, tied at a game a piece after Philly put a nick in the armor of favs in game 2. The 4-2 made Montreal stand up and take notice that they must get a split on the road or face a mountain of momentum that will be going against them. They have been consistent all year and we look for them to bounce back and but the universe in order taking at least one on the road.
The stars are shining so bright in San Jose that that the sharks in area have begun migrating to warmer waters for summer vacation. After a 5-2 drubbing in game 2 to take a 2-0 lead BACK HOME to Dallas, the sleeper pick to win the whole thing is all but done. The Shark defense has been non existent in giving up 8 goals in two games while scoring only 4. A major overhaul will be necessary if they have any hopes of salvaging this series and a 49-win season.

Unlike the afore mention favorites, the Red Wings are looking like the team with the best record in Western Conference after a 5-1 blowout in game 2 and a 2-0 series lead. They simply look too big, too strong, and too motivated for the Avalanche. Colorado might need to shake some things up as they head home and try to hold serve.
Pittsburgh also looked good while holding serve at home in their 2-0 series lead vs. the NYR. Somehow this looks like a series that will change with the venue. The Rangers are a different club on their home ice and, even though they are a 5-seed, look for them to send a message back to Sid the Kid and Pens in game 3.