Final Days of the 2011-12 Season (Penguins Edition)

Here we are, approaching the end of another NHL season.  From a Penguins perspective there has been a lot to talk about.  Just a few quick hits..

The New Matt Cooke

We were all skeptical, but the proof is in the pudding.  After leading the league in goals for the first week of the season, Cooke's play lulled as he tried to find his way and get comfortable with his promised rehabilitation.  With two games to go, Cooke has set a career high in goals (19), and added 19 assists (1 short of his career high) for a total of 38 points (4 short of his career high) while being assessed only 42 PIM (all minors) and nothing even close to supplementary discipline.  He has remained a key contributor to one of the top-ranked PKs in the league (88.0%, T-3rd).

Bottom line...  Off the ice, Matt Cooke has always been a good guy.  I'm glad he has found a way to be that guy on the ice.

The Return of Geno

After a couple of sub-par seasons, partly due to nagging knee and shoulder injuries, concluding with the early end to 2010-11 due to a horrific MCL and ACL tear suffered in a collision with Buffalo's Tyler Myers, Evgeni Malkin has bounced back in a big way.  Malkin trained harder in the off-season than even before.  He showed up for training camp nearly 100% recovered and ready to go.  After sitting out 7 games during the first month of the season due to lingering soreness in the surgically-repaired knee, Geno caught fire.

Malkin has looked every bit the player that won the Art Ross and led the league in playoff scoring in 2008-09, while carrying the Penguins to the Stanley Cup and winning the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP.  He has been a dominant force on the ice all season, leading the league in points (105) and shots (335) and has set a career high in goals (48).  Malkin is the odds-on favorite to take home the Hart Trophy (MVP) at the NHL Awards this summer.

The "Real Deal" James Neal

The 2011 trade deadline brought the Penguins James Neal (and Matt Niskanen) and, for a beloved return, Alex Kovalev.  Neal was the sure-thing, up-and-coming, projected 30+ goal scorer with a penchant for fading down the stretch.  Kovy was a no-risk, all-reward gamble; a desperate attempt at restoring some of the offense lost with injuries to Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby.  Both failed miserably.  Kovalev played his way right out of the NHL.  Neal scored 1 goal in 20 regular season games and 1 goal in 7 playoff games as the Penguins blew a 3-1 opening round series lead against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Neal had a lot to prove coming into this season.  He did not disappoint.  He scored the Penguins first goal of the season at 5:04 of the first period in the season opener at Vancouver and he never looked back.  Neal has set career highs across the board, including G (40, 4th in the NHL), A (41), P (81, T-5th), Power Play Goals (18, 1st) and S (329, 2nd).

Dupuis' Career Year

Quick...  Who has the longest points scoring streak in the NHL this year?  At 15 games and counting, the answer is...  Pascal Dupuis.  Along the way Dupuis has set career highs in G (24), A (33), P (57), +/- (17-T), GWG (8), and S (209).  He has been a key contributor in all situations, all over the ice, and up and down the lineup.

Crosby Watch

The waiting was finally over.  The Pens captain, Sidney Crosby finally returned from 10+ months of injury and speculation and misinformation and (let's face it) utter circus...  For 8 games...  Then it started all over again...  Now he is back again, scoring at a 1.7 points-per-game pace, ahead of the pace he was setting before going down with the now-infamous mild concussion in January 2011.

The NHL's Faceoff Rules

Dear NHL,

I'm starting to think this whole drop-the-puck-whether-they're-ready-or-not-on-faceoffs thing is wrong.  It looks stupid and creates chances out of artificial situations.  It feels about as phony as a shootout.  And we know the NHL would never do something as audacious as end games with something as phony as a shootout...  (Oh wait, nevermind.)

I mean, c'mon, you would never see a one-man tipoff in the NBA, would you?  It's silly and unprofessional.  I'd much rather see this kind of delay added to the list of face-off infractions which would lead to the center being ejected from the circle and a possible penalty for multiple infractions.

Respectfully yours,
--Jeff Eiben

PS - Outlawing all head shots, intent or no intent, would be a good idea.

PPS - Please get rid of the blackout rules for Gamecenter LIVE so I can get rid of my horribly overpriced television service.

PPPS - Please get rid of all blackout rules for the Atlanta area.  Haven't those poor people lost enough without being able to watch the next closest teams on CenterIce and Gamecenter???

Round 1 Recap, Round 2 Predictions

Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs has begun and I suppose I should continue my "analysis" and predictions, just for the hell of it.

But first, a look back at Round 1...

Eastern Conference

1. Washington Capitals def. 8. New York Rangers 4-1 - So the Caps had a bit more D than I gave them credit for.  Had not King Henrik and the Rangers collapsed in Game 4, I believe we see a different outcome.

2. Philadelphia Flyers def. 7. Buffalo Sabres 4-3 - Despite using three different goalies in the series, the Flyers proved to be the better team in Game 7.  I wonder if they even get that far if Mike Richards was where he should have been, in the locker room, at the end of Game 6.

3. Boston Bruins def. 6. Montreal Canadiens 4-3 - Nothing beats an OT in Game 7.  Credit to the Canadiens and Carey Price for almost pulling this one off.

5. Tampa Bay Lightning def. 4. Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 - Fleury did everything he could in Game 7, but without their Captain the Penguins offence just ran dry.

Western Conference

1. Vancouver Canucks def. 8. Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 - The Canucks had their foot on the Hawks throat after jumping out to a 3-0 series lead, but the Torres hit on Seabrook and the NHL's refusal to exercise logical discipline changed the entire complexion of the series.  The Canucks took every last second, and then some, in Game 7 OT to finish the job.

2. San Jose Sharks def. 7. Los Angeles Kings 4-2 - Entertaining series, but too many injuries for the Kings to come back from.

3. Detroit Red Wings def. 6. Phoenix Coyotes 4-0 - The winged wheel rolled over the desert dogs from the series' opening faceoff.

5. Nashville Predators def. 4. Anaheim Ducks 4-2 - The rise of Jordin Tootoo and the continued stellar play of Rinne in the pipes is enough to knock off the Ducks.

My record:
Method 1 ("Analysis") - 4-4
Method 2 ("Coin Flip") - 4-4

On to Round 2...  And now that I've proven that my "analysis" is just as good as flipping a coin, I'll spare you the coin flipping.

Eastern Conference

1. Washington Capitals vs. 5. Tampa Bay Lightning - The Penguins superior defence was unable to contain the Lightning's offence over the course of the series.  There's no doubt the Capitals have the offence to compete with the Lightning, but I still have many doubts about their defence and goaltending.  If this becomes a series of trading chance for chance the Lightning have the edge.  Lightning in six.

2. Philadelphia Flyers vs. 3. Boston Bruins - The goaltending edge is with the Bruins, by far.  I wouldn't be surprised if we see all three Flyer goalies again in this series.  And Chris Pronger looked anything but healthy in his return to action, turning his right hand away from any and all contact.  How long until it is re-injured?  The Bruins don't have the firepower up front like the Flyers do, so if Thomas falters it could be the difference in the series.  However, I see no reason to believe that will happen.  Bruins in six.

Western Conference

1. Vancouver Canucks vs. 5. Nashville Predators - Was the seven game series win against the Blackhawks a watershed moment for the Canucks?  Or will the emotion of the series be too much for the Canucks to overcome?  Luongo looked shellshocked after the Hawks finally came alive in the series but he rebounded well to win Game 7.  The Predators methodically beat the Ducks with opportunistic scoring and their usual sound defence and stellar goaltending.  In the end, I think the Sedins wake up and the Canucks take this series.  Canucks in five.

2. San Jose Sharks vs. 3. Detroit Red Wings - The next installment of a classic rivalry.  I, like many, keep wanting to count the Wings out but they just keep on going.  And the Sharks are perennial playoff underachievers, one series won't change that reputation.  Given those trends...  Wings in six.