Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Will Eller
Playoff hockey.
No other sport comes close to the excitement that you will feel for the next two months. Playoff hockey takes you to record highs just to throw you to the depths of despair. Playoff hockey is here my friends, last season it was Unfinished Business for the Penguins. This season its time to repeat.
Its game one for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators tonight at the Mellon Arena. The title defense begins tonight, and it starts on home ice. The Pens will issue a white out for tonight's game as well as Mario's TV is on display at gate 3.
The keys to this series for the Penguins:
1.) Flipping the switch in order to play great hockey for 60+ minutes a night
2.) Goaltending - Fleury has the experience and Elliot doesn't the Pens must take advantage of this.
3.) Ottawa's defensive size vs. the Pens forwards.
One key question heading into the playoffs is who will be the odd man out for the Penguins. Eric Godard will be scratched for most every game unless we play Philadelphia, but after Godard who do you sit?
Rupp? - his size is key when trying to grind out playoff wins.
Adams? - is just awesome when killing penalties
Talbot? - the hero last year should be well rested for the playoffs
Fedotenko? - history shows this is when he plays his best
Tonight it seems they all play with Kunitz still recovering from injury. Kunitz did skate this morning with the team however did not skate consistently with one line. Also Matt Cooke must pass a concussion test in order to play tonight.
Your projected line ups for tonight.
Fedotenko-Malkin-Ponikarovsky
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Rupp-Talbot-Adams
Orpik-Letang
Leopold-Goligoski
My keys for tonight's game.
1.) Start early - Ride the emotion from the fans and get the first goal.
2.) PowerPlay - Mike Yeo can make or break the playoffs for the Pens.
3.) Goaltending - MAF has the experience to take over this game and series.
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