6 replies to this topic

[Dark Knight]

Please post your thoughts, pictures and comments on tonight's game in this thread.

Pittsburgh at Carolina

[Thind06]

If Carolina doesn't wake up this series is over....
They have no answer for Crosby or Malkin

[DropThePuck]

TSN's Ice Chips

Forwards Scott Walker, Erik Cole and Tuomo Ruutu all missed practice on Monday, but should be ready to play tonight in Game 4. Ruutu, according to coach Paul Maurice is more 'day-to-day'. Ruutu suffered a leg injury in Game 1, missed Game 2 and only logged under eight minutes of ice time in Game 3. - Post Gazette

Martin Havlat returned in Game 4 for the Blackhawks, and played just under eight minutes in the game. It's unclear if he'll skate tomorrow with the team, but he hasn't skated much all year so they will likely wait until Wednesday to decide on his status. Coach Joel Quenneville wasn't very clear on the status of Nikolai Khabibulin either. Quenneville would like him to get some work on Tuesday but won't rule him out for a Game 5 return. - TSN

Forward Pavel Datsyuk who missed the last two games because of a foot injury that he suffered in Game 2, and Defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom who missed Game 4 because of a lower-body injury are both 'day-to-day' according to coach Mike Babcock and will could return on Wednesday. Kris Draper who has a groin injury is not expected to suit up. - Detroit Free Press

Evgeni Malkin has been on fire against the Hurricanes, scoring six goals in the three games of the series. - TSN

[Always Mighty]

Well, Ward has given up a really soft goal, and Crosby has a beautiful assist and the Pens have a 3-1 lead late in the 2nd. I smell a sweep coming.

[Always Mighty]

And the Canes are done.

[DropThePuck]

Not sure why NHL.com hasn't posted the scoring yet ... here's what I've pieced together from Yahoo!

4 - Ruslan Fedotenko 6 (Philippe Boucher, Max Talbot) 8:21 in 1st; Max Talbot 4 (Miroslav Satan) 18:31 in 1st; Bill Guerin 7 (Sidney Crosby) 12:10 in 2nd; Craig Adams 3 (empty net) (Sidney Crosby, Max Talbot) 18:50 in 3rd
1 - Eric Staal 10 (Erik Cole, Sergei Samsonov) 1:36 in 1st

It was a disappointing way for Carolina to end the season. The Hurricanes rallied after a midseason coaching change to make the playoffs, then won seven-game series against New Jersey and Boston -- capturing both Game 7s on the road. But they had no answer for the Penguins' up-tempo style of play and aggressive forecheck, which forced Carolina's defense into numerous errors -- nor were they able to do much against Malkin and Crosby.
...
Blysma became the eighth coach to take over a team during the season and reach the Stanley Cup Final in the same season. The last to do it was Larry Robinson in 2000 with the New Jersey Devils.

<NHL.com recap>

Bucking years of superstitious belief, Crosby happily pulled the Prince of Wales Trophy out of the hands of NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and posed for pictures holding the trophy -- even calling alternate captains Sergei Gonchar and Evgeni Malkin to join in.

<link>



Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby, center, Evgeni Malkin (71), of Russia, and Sergei Gonchar, of Russia, pose with the Prince of Wales Trophy following the Penguins' 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference finals in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, May 26, 2009.
(AP Photo/Karl B. DeBlaker)


Jordan Staal #12 of the Pittsburgh Penguins is congratulated by his brother Eric Staal #12 of the Carolina Hurricanes after the Penguins 4-1 win in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Championship Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs at RBC Center on May 26, 2009 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)


Carolina Hurricanes' Sergei Samsonov (14), from Russia, and Joni Pitkanen (25), from Finland, pressure Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby during the third period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference finals in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, May 26, 2009.
(AP Photo/Jim Bounds)


Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Staal (12) and Erik Cole (26) battle with Pittsburgh Penguins' Rob Scuderi (4), Mark Eaton (7) and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) during the third period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference finals in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, May 26, 2009.
(AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

[QuacksMeUp]

Congratulations Kunie! (wish you were going to the Finals with your old Duck mates, but hey! Glad you get another run at the Cup, you definitely deserve it).