Pittsburgh/Philly is probably coming our way if we beat the Caps unless we get lucky and Florida wins. After that, you're probably looking at the Rangers. Then the Blues, Canucks, etc. in the cup final.
It's going to be tough. Especially the 2nd round if we make it there.
You don't enjoy the fruits of your labour as much without a little adversity.
I think it's gonna come in the form of Pittsburg second round.
I'll tell ya this, it gonna feel good beating them!
It's hard to win it once. Doing so twice in a row is exponentially more difficult. Last year they were essentially healthy to start the playoffs and things fell perfectly for them. This year, they're missing key players and they're banged up. How it breaks for them is yet to be seen, but the road this year certainly looks more challenging than last year.
A repeat of the Cup hasn't happened in a while now. It will be very very tough for the B's to repeat, but I believe they have the talent and character to do it. If they want it as bad as they did last year then they will repeat, barring any major injuries.
It's going to be a mofo this year. Just about all potential opponents are better and healthier than last year, in some cases much better, esp. in the East. We'll probably have to deal with combinations of skill and strength in forwards (Crosby, Malkin, Ovie, etc) that we largely avoided last year. Watching the Pens in that first period yesterday was especially sobering. They lost because they took their foot off the pedal (and the Flyers are the type of team that will make you pay for that), but if they keep that foot on the pedal.... jeepers creepers.
So no matter how you slice it, we will face ridiculous amounts of adversity. There will be no sweeps like we had with the Flyers. We'll be down a game or two or even three. We'll have backs against the wall, and stare into the abyss, repeatedly. We're sure to have casualties esp. if we play the likes of Pitt, NYR, or St. Louis.
The Cup will be a harder prize to attain than last year, I have no doubt. But a sweet sweet prize for that very reason. And they can do it.
i wouldn't write off the Panthers. If they win (which i picked them to do in 7) then we play them in the SF (assuming we beat WASH and NYR beats Ott) and would be an easier match up than Philly/Pitt, but still a tough one. that would at least make it a little easier than a very tough SF
It's going to be a mofo this year. Just about all potential opponents are better and healthier than last year, in some cases much better, esp. in the East. We'll probably have to deal with combinations of skill and strength in forwards (Crosby, Malkin, Ovie, etc) that we largely avoided last year. Watching the Pens in that first period yesterday was especially sobering. They lost because they took their foot off the pedal (and the Flyers are the type of team that will make you pay for that), but if they keep that foot on the pedal.... jeepers creepers.
So no matter how you slice it, we will face ridiculous amounts of adversity. There will be no sweeps like we had with the Flyers. We'll be down a game or two or even three. We'll have backs against the wall, and stare into the abyss, repeatedly. We're sure to have casualties esp. if we play the likes of Pitt, NYR, or St. Louis.
The Cup will be a harder prize to attain than last year, I have no doubt. But a sweet sweet prize for that very reason. And they can do it.
I beg to differ about the Pens last night!
They started strong by hitting everybody and getting a couple of lucky bounces....especially the Dupuis goal....
But after the midterm of the 2nd period, the game was all Flyers.
For the 3rd and OT, they got outshot 13-5.
The Flyers are actually a very dangerous team when late in games and they will ourmuscle the Pens every game late in the 3rd periods as they got more depth and and are stronger on the lines 2-3-4.
The Pens defense after Letang/Orpik/Niskanen is some what weak....even Martin.
i wouldn't write off the Panthers. If they win (which i picked them to do in 7) then we play them in the SF (assuming we beat WASH and NYR beats Ott) and would be an easier match up than Philly/Pitt, but still a tough one. that would at least make it a little easier than a very tough SF
If the Rangers and Panthers win... Then we play the winners of Pitt/Philly.
You don't enjoy the fruits of your labour as much without a little adversity.
I think it's gonna come in the form of Pittsburg second round.
I'll tell ya this, it gonna feel good beating them!
They started strong by hitting everybody and getting a couple of lucky bounces....especially the Dupuis goal....
But after the midterm of the 2nd period, the game was all Flyers.
For the 3rd and OT, they got outshot 13-5.
Are you sure we "differ" on the Pens? I specifically said I was talking about the Pens in the first period.... fully cognizant of the fact that the Flyers took over afterward.
I imagine this team will have to go through some EXTREME adversity to repeat this year.
Where is it going to come from?
Will it be another injury?
A really tough opponent?
Some tough losses?
Being down in a series like last year?
Will Thomas falter?
Where will the adversity necessary to push us through come from?
Thoughts?
Will Thomas falter??? Hmm, highly unlikely, one day we`ll fully accept the fact that Timmy is an absolute clutch goalie.
Does he let in softies?? Sure he does, show me a goalie out there who doesn`t. Until a guy like a Lundqvist actually wins something, if the finals are starting today and I need to pick my starter, it`s TT ahead of the field
Don't forget how difficult it was last year with 3 of 4 series going 7 games. B's were only 3 games short of the max number of playoff games.
How could this year be MORE difficult? Sure, this year's potential opponents could be difficult matchups, but last year's were, too ... especially considering the holes the B's had to climb out of against the odds.
