Best of the West vs Beast of the East...

[ejs23]

and the East wins.

hard fought game both ways. OT wasn't enough so it they had to go 6 deep in a shootout... but the Pens beat the Ducks.

good chance we've just witnessed a preview of this season's Cup Finals.

[ncm7772]

Eh. Let's not sugar coat it!! Pens were badly outplayed. fleury keitbthecteam in the game. Something he needs to keep doing. Good battle and good win, though.

[ejs23]

Originally Posted by ncm7772

Eh. Let's not sugar coat it!! Pens were badly outplayed. fleury keitbthecteam in the game. Something he needs to keep doing. Good battle and good win, though.

i agree. but it was good to see them fight through and get the win instead of laying down and taking a beating.

and as for those who think it's a foregone conclusion that the west is better than the east... tonight should make them rethink that. the 2 tops teams met, the west was at home, it was a tough game... but the east won.

[jchic87]

I will respectfully disagree.. the West is still the conference to beat. You are making an assumption that Pitt would have won if the game continued in overtime because they won the shootout (which needs to be vanquished). I'll take Anaheim over Pitt in a seven game series, quite frankly I take most of the top teams in the West over most of the top teams in the East in any 7 game series. The reason Boston does so well in the playoffs is because they have a team set up to play playoff hockey. They check, play defense, and have generally solid goaltending. Pitt on the other hand has scoring, a goalie who needs a case of Depends come playoff time, no defense, and no ability to check. Generally you need three of the four qualities to do well in the playoffs out of Scoring, Defense, Checking, and Goaltending.

[Craig]

Originally Posted by ejs23

good chance we've just witnessed a preview of this season's Cup Finals.

Definitely both contenders, but I wouldn't bet on that for a few reasons:

1) Assuming both top their conference in the regular season, the last time two points leasers met in the Finals was 13 years ago.

2) I think the West is so deep that Anaheim could easily be eliminated by a few teams - the Blues, Blackhawks and Kings are all huge threats.

3) Since winning the Cup, the Pens seem to a great regular season team incapable of lifting their game in the playoffs. Goaltending is still a question mark come the spring.

Still, that was a game Pittsburgh needed after laying an egg in San Jose.

[k13]

Anaheim won't get far in the playoffs.

Just like the last few years.

[bigbensbff]

Originally Posted by k13

Anaheim won't get far in the playoffs.

Just like the last few years.

Neither will the Pens if they keep getting outshot like this. 79-38 over the last 2 games. Major defensive issues and very poor back checking. Need Martin back stat and I wouldn't hesitate to call up one of the young d men.

I'm seeing another 1st or 2nd round upset and hopefully a bylsma firing

[JoexBondo]

I'd be VERY scared of that team that's three points behind all of a sudden in the east....

[valleyofsun]

Ummm have u watched the blackhawks play the ducks or pens this year??

[BostonNut]

Originally Posted by JoexBondo

I'd be VERY scared of that team that's three points behind all of a sudden in the east....

Shhhhh.....I'm hoping the Pens are overlooking them again this year...

[k13]

Originally Posted by bigbensbff

Neither will the Pens if they keep getting outshot like this. 79-38 over the last 2 games. Major defensive issues and very poor back checking. Need Martin back stat and I wouldn't hesitate to call up one of the young d men.

I'm seeing another 1st or 2nd round upset and hopefully a bylsma firing

They still win like every game.

Playoffs anything can happen but they should make the conference finals again at least.

[ejs23]

Originally Posted by jchic87

I will respectfully disagree.. the West is still the conference to beat. You are making an assumption that Pitt would have won if the game continued in overtime because they won the shootout (which needs to be vanquished). I'll take Anaheim over Pitt in a seven game series, quite frankly I take most of the top teams in the West over most of the top teams in the East in any 7 game series. The reason Boston does so well in the playoffs is because they have a team set up to play playoff hockey. They check, play defense, and have generally solid goaltending. Pitt on the other hand has scoring, a goalie who needs a case of Depends come playoff time, no defense, and no ability to check. Generally you need three of the four qualities to do well in the playoffs out of Scoring, Defense, Checking, and Goaltending.

all good points. and i agree they have reasons to be worried about the playoffs.

but to be fair, they did beat the Ducks earlier this season as well... in regulation. and the Pens do have a winning record against the west. they have the 2nd most wins in the league and are tied, with Chicago, for the 3rd most points. they have the top scorer as well as another that's cracked the top 10. and while he definitely has had his issues in the playoff, Fleury is leading the league in wins. so there's plenty to be hopeful about as well.

Originally Posted by valleyofsun

Ummm have u watched the blackhawks play the ducks or pens this year??

i could be wrong, but i think the Ducks and Blackhawks played twice and they split games. so not sure what that proves. the did whip the Pens, in a snow storm, but they play their 2nd game later this month.

[preakness]

I like the Blues or Hawks coming out of the west

[MW Connection]

does anyone think the blackhawks can take the cup again this year?

[RBKSNIPZ]

Originally Posted by MW Connection

does anyone think the blackhawks can take the cup again this year?

It's gonna come down to match ups and who says who in the west. Anything can happen.

[223]

There are 3 teams in the West with over 200 goals. Chicago leads with 221 but the one that impresses me the most is St. Louis with 208 but they've only given up 143....and they've had Ryan Miller for 3-4 games maybe?

One of the biggest things about the West teams is that they play physical. Not just as a team but their top guys are typically the toughest to play against AND they're sound defensively.

Chicago does this perfectly. Skill guys who can do everything.

Boston played that style perfectly against Vancouver when they won and they do now but I wonder how much they'll miss Seguin. I like Loui Eriksson but he doesn't replace Segin's scoring. They lost another physical guy when Horton left and although they haven't given up many goals (141), I wonder if they'll be able to score enough against a team who doesn't give up many either.


Boston looks and plays like a team in the West. Pittsburgh is flashy and all but is Fleury better than Rask? Better than Quick or Miller? No.

[TASS]

Originally Posted by 223

There are 3 teams in the West with over 200 goals. Chicago leads with 221 but the one that impresses me the most is St. Louis with 208 but they've only given up 143....and they've had Ryan Miller for 3-4 games maybe?

One of the biggest things about the West teams is that they play physical. Not just as a team but their top guys are typically the toughest to play against AND they're sound defensively.

Chicago does this perfectly. Skill guys who can do everything.

Boston played that style perfectly against Vancouver when they won and they do now but I wonder how much they'll miss Seguin. I like Loui Eriksson but he doesn't replace Segin's scoring. They lost another physical guy when Horton left and although they haven't given up many goals (141), I wonder if they'll be able to score enough against a team who doesn't give up many either.


Boston looks and plays like a team in the West. Pittsburgh is flashy and all but is Fleury better than Rask? Better than Quick or Miller? No.

The Bruins are currently averaging 3.13 G/G vs. last season 2.65 G/G, the reason Seguin is gone is because he lacked the necessary physical game the Bruins play and was never the goal scorer they thought he would be in their system.

Iginla and Reilly Smith have done very well in filling those spots you mentioned, and with the recent resurgence of Eriksson and Soderberg this years team is a more prolific scoring team then last seasons!

[223]

Originally Posted by TASS

The Bruins are currently averaging 3.13 G/G vs. last season 2.65 G/G, the reason Seguin is gone is because he lacked the necessary physical game the Bruins play and was never the goal scorer they thought he would be in their system.

I thought they traded him due to immaturity and his propensity to party and chase skirts.

Originally Posted by TASS

Iginla and Reilly Smith have done very well in filling those spots you mentioned, and with the recent resurgence of Eriksson and Soderberg this years team is a more prolific scoring team then last seasons!

Is it enough when the teams they will potentially face in the West are just as good defensively but have more scoring themselves?

[BostonNut]

Have you heard of Brad Marchand?

Seguin was never going to be a Boston Bruin...he just never developed the tenacity and toughness required to play for this team.

Originally Posted by 223

I thought they traded him due to immaturity and his propensity to party and chase skirts.



Is it enough when the teams they will potentially face in the West are just as good defensively but have more scoring themselves?

[TASS]

Originally Posted by 223

I thought they traded him due to immaturity and his propensity to party and chase skirts.

That was the 'polite' answer when the deal was made, even though it seemed to be questioning his professionalism, but they were just avoiding calling him 'soft'


Is it enough when the teams they will potentially face in the West are just as good defensively but have more scoring themselves?

You need (4) sold lines in the playoffs with all contributing, right now I do feel the B's posses that makeup especially with the play of their 3rd line since the Olympic break, I do have concerns with their defense and can only hope Tuukka can be that difference maker!

[223]

Did they really put him in a hotel and hire security to keep him in there during the playoffs? Off on a tangent here. I actually like the guy but that's pretty funny.

[rippit]

In all honesty, I'd be shocked to see any team besides Boston come out of the east. I'd also say Boston would be the only eastern team with a chance at beating the best of the west in a seven game series. The way the Pens performed on their west coast trip only solidified that opinion - they were dominated in both games and were lucky to get the shootout win against Anaheim (and let's not even bring up the Stadium Series game).

That said, while Boston would have A CHANCE of knocking of the WC winner, it wouldn't be a very good chance. All of the WC powers play the same type of game as the Bruins - hitting, tight defense and good goaltending. The difference is that Anaheim, St. Louis, San Jose and Anaheim all have explosive offenses too. Boston doesn't measure up offensively with any of the western teams except the Kings - Boston actually has a better offense than the Kings, but that's moot since the Kings probably won't be the opponent. The ONLY reason the Bruins (or any eastern team) would have some chance of winning is because the WC champion will most likely have had to go through 3 series against the other powerhouses to get to the final. They could easily be bruised, battered, fatigued and injury-laden.

[rippit]

Whoops, I put Anaheim twice - one of those Anaheims should be a Chicago. I didn't edit it because I don't want someone to accuse me of changing what I said.