Eastern Conference Final Canes vs Penguins

Carolina Hurricanes vs Pittsburgh Penguins Preview

Well in early February, who would have thought the Hurricanes and Penguins would both be in the Eastern Conference Finals? Both of these teams have shown in this playoff season, tremendous heart, character and a will to win to get to where they are currently. The Penguins first beat a very good Flyer team 4 games to 2. Then they spotted the red hot Capitals a 2-0 series lead before waking up. They also had a chance to win on home ice in Game 6, but fell when Chris Letang hit the crossbar. The Penguins then showed tremendous grit in smoking the Caps on their home ice 6-2 in Game 7. This Pittsburgh team has experience from last year making all the way to the Stanley Cup Final before losing to the Detroit Red Wings in 6. The Hurricanes were also struggling in February. They went on a tremendous run to finish the season (17-5-2). They then were in the fight of their lives vs the best goalie in the last 20 years in Martin Brodeur. The Cardiac Canes scored two goals in the last 1:29 to stun NJ in NJ in Game 7. Would they be able to bring the momentum to the Boston Series. Of course they did an even built a 3-1 series lead before struggling Games 5 and 6. They had to go against the Bruins who were 29-6-6 at home this season and were in overtime of Game 7. Of all people, public enemy number 1 to Bruins Fans, Scott Walker was able to deflect a rebound out of mid air of a Whitney Shot from the Right Wing to shock the Bruins faithful at the Garden.

This is the first time these two teams have ever met in the playoffs. Both have experience in recent memory of deep playoff runs and Stanley Cup wins. The Penguins have a tremendous set of forwards led by Sidney Crosby (12 goals and 9 assists), Evgeni Malkin (6 goals and 13 assists), Sergi Gonchar (2 goals and 10 assists) and old pro Bill Guerin who has chipped in with 5 goals and 4 assists. Their goaltending can be suspect at times with Marc-Andre Fleury, 8-5., 2.72 GAA and Save % .901. Fleury is better than people give him credit for however. He does seem to come up big in overtime and does make some spectacular saves as he did on Ovechkin in Game 6. Another player that goes under the radar for the Penguins is Jordan Staal, the younger brother of the Canes Eric Staal. Jordan scored 22 goals this season and so far in the playoffs has 5 pts. He is very capable of getting a big goal when called upon. The rest of the defense for the Pens are the very physical Brooks Orpik and the underrated Mark Eaton (4 goals) and Chris Letang (3 goals and 9 assists).

The Canes are led by Staal (9 goals and 4 assists), the white hot Jussi Jokinen (6 goals and 4 assists). Jokinens goals all seem to mean something as he has scored 3 of his goals that either tied the game late or were the game winners. The rest of the Canes offense has come from Sergei Samsonov (4 goals and 2 assists), scrappy Chad Larose (3 goals and 6 assists), Joni Pitkaken (7 assists) and Joe Corvo (1 goal and 5 assists). The Canes have some other underrated defenseman in Tim Gleason and Dennis Seidenberg. But the best player on the Canes and the main reason why they are still playing is goalie Cam Ward (8-6, 2.22 GAA and .927 save percentage). Cam is playing even better than he did when he won the Conn Smythe in 2006 leading the Canes to their first ever Championship.

Now like I have said a number of times I do not hide the fact that I am a huge Hurricanes fan. I have loved this team since they resided in Hartford in 1986. The win over Boston that I was lucky enough to attend was probably the best sporting event I have ever been to. I have tremendous respect for the Bruins as their fans are amazing and were so loud at that Game 7. The Bruins will be very good next year if they add to their defense I believe. The Penguins to me are going to be just too tough for my Canes to beat. I predict Pittsburgh to win this series in 6 games. My heart says the Canes in 7, another win on the road in Game 7 for the fairy tale playoff run to continue. The Canes will be game but the Pens with their up front talent will be just too much. However, if Cam Ward plays like he is capable and steals a game either Games 1 or 2 in Pitt, then the Canes are very capable of winning this series as well. You don't play series on Paper, you play them on the Ice. If believed all the experts the Canes would have lost to NJ in round 1 and then after than, they certainly would not have beaten Boston either, especially after having to win a Game 7 on the road. We shall see what happens but as long as we as hockey fans are all entertained it will be a fun ride. Thank you all for reading this, I really appreciate it very much.