NHL Playoffs: Eastern Conference Finals: Metro (#2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs Atlantic (#2) Tampa Bay Lightning

[SkyHigh30]

8 minutes ago, Polaris922 said:

And of course I have to give away my game one tickets!  Damn you NHL scheduling!  

Give away? Wut? I would think you could get a pretty penny and awful quick for them.

[pilldoc]

8 minutes ago, Hockey Junkie said:

Blues over Sharks.    Tampa over Pittsburgh in 7

 

The HJ curse which means Sharks vs Pens in Stanley Cup Finals.!

[B21]

Bolts in 6. 

[SpikeDDS]

On May 11, 2016 at 0:23 PM, JagerMeister said:

Just eliminate the penguins please.

I'm with you at heart, but not with my money. I don't see TBL stopping the Pens.

 

Unfortunately.

[SpikeDDS]

12 hours ago, JagerMeister said:

Great minds think alike....

 

Psychopathic minds also think very much alike.

And psychopathic minds think that they are great minds. In fact, they think alike that way.

 

Hmmmm.

[ruxpin]

13 hours ago, JagerMeister said:

Psychopathic minds also think very much alike.

 

Just because you think the other people on your ward think like you doesn't mean they're actually there.  

[AJgoal]

Penguins could put Zatkoff in net and still win this handily. Pens in 4.

[TropicalFruitGirl26]

5 hours ago, AJgoal said:

Penguins could put Zatkoff in net and still win this handily. Pens in 4.

 

Yet they won't DARE replace Murray with Fleury....go figure...

[FD19372]

On 5/11/2016 at 0:23 PM, JagerMeister said:

Just eliminate  sweep the penguins please.

Better yet.

[JagerMeister]

Just now, FD19372 said:

Better yet.

Nah, I want the penguins to take it to game 7.

 

 

Just to have them lose in the longest overtime in NHL history.

[pilldoc]

21 minutes ago, JagerMeister said:

Just to have them lose in the longest overtime in NHL history

 

LOL .. turnover by Crosby and the GWG scored my Matt Carle! 

[SpikeDDS]

1 hour ago, FD19372 said:

Better yet.

Well let's see...Ben Bishop taken off the ice on a stretcher...Tyler Johnson assisted off the ice after a knee-to-knee collision...yeah, that sweep might now go the way you want it!

[pilldoc]

and barring some type of miracle it looks like the Bolts will make a statement and take Game #1.  Going up 3-0 probably silenced that crowd early on. 

[SkyHigh30]

Even with Ben Bishop taken off the Penguins looked really sluggish.

[nossagog]

10 hours ago, SkyHigh30 said:

Even with Ben Bishop taken off the Penguins looked really sluggish.

Yeah they definitely did not use much speed last night.  The early 5 minute kill on the Callahan major was key though, score one or two there and it could have been a different story.  Lots of puck movement with the Bolts pressure, but no one wanted to take the shot. 

[J0e Th0rnton]

Bishop AND Johnson knocked out of the game? And Stamkos is still out?

 

 

What is the prognosis on these guys?

[AJgoal]

Johnson came back. Bishop is officially day to day. Stamkos can play within days of coming off blood thinners. Strahlman could be back any game.

[OccamsRazor]

10 hours ago, AJgoal said:

Johnson came back. Bishop is officially day to day. Stamkos can play within days of coming off blood thinners. Strahlman could be back any game.

 

 

That is amazing. He is lucky it looked bad.

 

 

 

Losing him would be huge.

[OccamsRazor]

What was Bishop's injury?? His knee??

 

 

[notfondajane]

On 5/11/2016 at 4:09 PM, JagerMeister said:

There he goes he goes again. Classic Jane.

The Pens are working on a trading him to the Panthers after we win the cup! Yes he sit on the bench while we win it all!

[Polaris922]

Pens really looked slow and out of sync. Bolts exploited mistakes.  Bring on game 2.  

[mojo1917]

i think Tampa is the first team in the tournament the Pens have seen that can skate with them.

Even though the Caps were bigger, they were not as fast, i still think i give the skating edge to the Pens top to bottom, but Tampa has some burners too,  your guys should be able to adjust.

I also think the Boyle Callahan Paquette line is one of the better 3rd lines in the league,  The Caps didn't go that deep, there was a considerable drop off talent wise in the bottom 6 .

Should be an entertaining series.

[Puck_Pun]

Lightning had speed yes, but they were also smarter with the puck, which helped them get it into the back of the net.

[TropicalFruitGirl26]

Ben Bishop is considered 'day to day'....pseudo good news at best.

I mean, yes, it IS good news that he isn't "Out of the playoffs", but it also means the Bolts best plan as if Andrei Vasilevskiy will be the one in net moving forward until Bishop is actually back.

 

From the Tampa Bay times:

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/lightning/ben-bishop-considered-day-to-day/2277373

 

Also, from the hockeywriters, Anton Stralman is considered day to day as well, and could return as soon as Game 2, though nothing definitive has been said.

http://thehockeywriters.com/anton-stralman-a-possibility-for-game-2/

 

Bolts already got JT Brown back during the Game 1 win, though he wasn't a huge factor in the game. I give him a bit of time to get up to game speed. At his best, Brown is a major pest, a big hitter, and a guy who is just a problem for the opposing goalie by hanging around the crease. He also has some underrated speed and a bit of a scoring touch if left with opportunities.

 

Stamkos, obviously is the big piece everyone is waiting on, and with good reason.

But to be honest, at this point in time, while having Stammer back would be a boost, I think Anton Stralman would provide the most positive reinforcement.

With Strals back, the Bolts defense, can go back to its regular pairings, Hedman can get his regular defense partner back.....plus the PP may get a boost as Stralman usually is the QB on that.

He brings very good skating with good offensive instincts, while still playing a responsible and tough brand of defense.....something that would be very useful against a skill laden team like the Penguins.

 

We will see come tomorrow night.

[hf101]

Bishop seen walking to the podium without a limp even.