Here is my thought on the last two that fit e same theme over and over......Sid was great last night and the rest of the team sucked. Again zero secondary scoring. Geno doesn't appear to even have made the trip. Kessel spraying shots like a blind man with an AR 15. 62 sucks. Not much from 43, 7, 72, and 17. At least Archibald was noticeable in limited action. The entire defensive corp looked slow and out of position all night but to be fair, the forwards generally weren t supporting.
The Pens won the cup last year because of the depth within the 4 lines. This year, the same forwards don't seem to have any sense of urgency or even desire. That was a disgusting 2 game trip.
We knew....and if you didn't (and I don't mean you personally, OM), you were in a horrible state of denial.....coming into the Columbus series this wasn't remotely as good a team as the 2016 version. Speaking only for myself, I think it's an absolute miracle they're manuevered themselves within 2 wins of repeating.
I honestly can't figure Geno out, at least other than (IMO) the fact the Preds have successfully gotten under his skin......which is usually a
far more effective approach than trying to out-physical him. But as my redneck Southern pals say, he's been as useless thus far as tits on a boar hog. Not much more to say about Kessel than has already been said numerous times.
It was damned tough listening to NHLN Radio today; the network has totally fleed a Penguins ship they were never aboard to begin with, and which they now think is totally in flames. They feel the Preds badly outplayed them last night; maybe I wasn't watching as closely as I thought, but myself felt as though it was easily the most even game of the series.
But Gawd, do they all of a sudden love the city of Nashville. But why is it I find ir hard to believe they'd be creaming their jeans over Nashville if the opponent was Toronto, or Montreal, or Edmonton ?? They're already making fun of Pittsburgh, saying they can't compete with the Nashville enthusiasm; you'd
never hear these guys hanging their hometown out to dry in precisely the same way.
Meanwhile, am I the only one who feels the Finals are somewhat taking on the appearance of the Ottawa series ?? Sens carried play in the first 3 games, after which the Pens pretty much dominated (even though they lost 2 of the 4). Nashville carried the play in the first 2 games (with nothing to show for their efforts), while the Pens began to level the competitive ice in Nashville (also with nothing to show for their efforts).
But even though they've lost 2 straight, I think we're seeing a majorly better effort from the Pens than they put out in Games 1 & 2. For that reason, I'm generally positive about Game 5 if they can get competitive goaltending. Of course, it would help if the top of the roster started playing like it, while Nashville discovers a new Conor Sheary/Brian Rust type from the bottom of their roster seemingly every game.
I
do think the Preds are a fair distance better than Ottawa. And after winning last night.....which the Preds had to do.....the pressure does revert to the Pens to hold serve on Thursday. However, I still say that Rinne has to prove he's regained his confidence on the road.
