Beating the Senators was very gratifying as the Sens were not an elite squad but one that had something to prove. They could be dangerous but I think in the end the biggest factors in the outcome of the series is of course the skill and leadership provided by Crosby and Malkin but more importantly I think is the playoff experience that the Pens have accumulated over the past 3 years. As everyone knows, this team has played a shit load of games in the past few years but seem to still be able to chug along.
The Sens have on their roster a couple of what I would call jerks in Chris Neil, Andy Sutton, and Daniel Alfredsson. Why are they jerks? Well Chris Neil is paid to be a jerk. Basically he's Darcy Tucker, or the Pen's version of Matt Cooke. Nothing wrong with that I guess but when you're on the other team you hate him, it's natural and It was pretty sweet to wipe the smile off his face. Andy Sutton as well is a jerk and it's also his job. A job he does well. He's physical and difficult to get around. Daniel Alfredsson is a jerk cause he's Ottawa's main man and he's got this jackass demeanor about him that Toronto fans have become used to. The fact that he didn't do too much in the series makes my day.
The Pens have some jerks as well but naturally we love them cause we're on their side. Matt Cooke is obviously our main agitator. Similar to Neil, he may be a jerk but he's also skilled which makes him dangerous. In fact, his skill was what got us 2 goals and the series clinchers in game 6. So, to Neil and the Sens... Suck it.
The Habs were thanked by every team in the East as well as every fan of the remaining said teams for ousting the overrated, under-prepared, and just downright stupid Washington Capitals. They just couldn't change their strategy against the Habs and kept driving the puck into the zone and firing a shot off the skate of whoever was in front of them. It's like watching a lemming hurl itself off a hill or a cliff. That being said, all credit must be given to the Habs for having heart, and to Halak for being solid between the pipes.
Last night however, the Pens dispelled the idea that Halak is unbeatable and that the Hab's will and determination would overpower any of the competition. The Pens put 5 by Halak before he got yanked. Despite coming out of the gate fast and putting a goal past Fleury, the Pen's resident moron. The Habs could not adjust to the obviously different strategy that the Pens brought in. But that's why you play playoff hockey, you never know what's going to happen. Especially with the idiotic monkey flopping around between the pipes for the Pens, it would be dangerous and stupid to underestimate the Canadiens. They will adjust. They were able to shut down Malkin and held Crosby without a goal. Let's not celebrate a trip to the East final yet people. Let's not forget we lost Jordan Staal for the foreseeable future. Staal is an absolute rock for the Pens. Extremely powerful boardwork, physical and defensively focused. Staal is a huge loss for the Pens as he was the defensive stalker for the Pens against the opponent's top line. I guess it's an eye for an eye sorta as Andrei Markov was also injured although I do not know the extent of his injuries.
Hopefully the Pens can continue to bring it on the ice Sunday afternoon at Mellon.
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