Penguins-Rangers Predictions

Many websites and blogs have thorough breakdowns and analysis of the first round NHL playoff series between the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers. This isn't one of them. Instead, I posed five hard-hitting questions to hockey fans about the series. Here are your contestants:

• Alex of Everybody Loves You and the guy who created the annual Pittsburgh Guest Blogger Event.

• James Santelli who penned Everyone Expects the Penguins To Lose. Perfect. for Pittsburgh Magazine.

• Phil, one of the few people with a blog older than mine (though Phil's Occasional Musings is defunct at the moment).

• Josh of Josh's World. I'm going to win his fantasy baseball league this season.

• Brian of Blitzburgh Blog. Sure, he writes about the Steelers, but he is very well-rounded.

• Mike Darnay of PensBurgh. He organized a real Pens roundtable like I mentioned in the first sentence.

• Nicholas of PSAMP adjlkadf! (There's no need to write more.)

• Adam of The Pensblog, my favorite Pittsburgh Penguins blog.

• Sean of Sean's Ramblings. You're already here, so like my Facebook page!

1. Who will be the leading scorer in the series?

Alex: Does Gretzky still play for the Rangers? If so, him. If not, I'll go with Sidney Crosby.

James: I'll go the easy route and take Rick Nash, who scored a career-high 42 goals in the regular season. Also, how is Rick Nash only 30 years old? The dude has been around forever and he's still 30? I demand to know his secret.

Phil: Rick Nash

Josh: Already starting off with a tough question. By scorer do you mean goals or points? Do they say scoring points though? I am not sure. Rick Nash will score the most goals. I think Crosby has the most points. (Sean's note: I meant points.)

Brian: Mats Zuccarello so we have to learn how to spell his name.

Mike: Hopefully I'm wrong, but I'm gonna go with Derick Brassard. High chances to put up points in bunches while centering Rick Nash and Mats Zuccarello

Nicholas: Sid. He has to be a massive difference maker if the Pens are to have any chance. Or Geno. Basically any Penguin.

Adam: Leading scorer will be Rick Nash. No questions asked. It’s painful to not give Crosby or Malkin this title, but the Rangers might have the Pens on lockdown all series long.

Sean: Malkin

2. Game two of the Pens-Rangers series airs Saturday night on NBC. This means that Mike "Doc" Emrick will likely call the game. How many Pittsburgh Pirates references will Doc make?

Alex: Um...66!!!

James: Just the requisite one reference, perhaps to Andrew McCutchen. Though Lord knows he will be asking crew members to give him a score update on the Buccos during every commercial break.

Phil: Three, one in each period

Josh: 4

Brian: Just one. If the game were in Pittsburgh, two if you count a mention of PNC Park.

Mike: I hate the Pirates....so hopefully zero. but I'll go with two. (Sean's note: Hate the Pirates? What the what?)

Nicholas: Seriously, he'll have two at the very minimum. This is the playoffs, Sean.

Adam: Doc will make two Pirates references. It would’ve been driven up to 3 if the game was in Pittsburgh.

Sean: Once in regulation and once during each overtime if that happens.

3. Who will have a better series: Craig Adams or Tanner Glass?

Alex: Tanner Glass, because his first name reminds me of Full House.

James: Craig Adams. The dude's 38th birthday is April 26, which is when the teams will play Game 6. I know it's cliché, but the age-38 breakout season is real and it is spectacular.

Phil: Adams

Josh: Craig Adams...only because his kid spilled a drink on Lindsey at a game one time.

Brian: Glass for sure. He makes like three times what Craig Adams does, and I'm not sure if that says more about Craig Adams or Glen Sather.

Mike: Tanner Glass. simply on the grounds that Craig Adams had a total of 35 seconds of ice time in the final two games of the season.

Nicholas: I cannot recognize any player on any non-Pens team, even if they formerly donned the Black and Gold, so Craig Adams, of course. Adams catches his heat, most of the time rightly, but his work on the penalty kill and his willingness to block the heaviest of shots translates so well to the playoffs. Tanner Glass...who cares what that guy does?

Adam: Neither will have a better series than the other. It is impossible. Both are the worst things to happen. Gotta ride with Craig Adams now, though, so I’ll say Tanner Glass is gonna be awful.

Sean: None of the above.



4. When the Penguins last won the Stanley Cup, the team won nearly every time coach Dan Bylsma got a Qdoba burrito. What will be Coach Mike Johnston's lucky food?

Alex: Isaly's Chipped Chopped Ham.

James: I would pay money to see Johnston go to town on a bucket of hot wings from Quaker Steak & Lube, so let's go with that.

Phil: Smiley cookie from Eat 'n Park. (I haven't been to Pittsburgh proper in about 5 years, and I have no idea where anyone eats. I always go to Eat 'n Park if I find one.)

Josh: I am thinking double cheeseburgers from Steak 'n Shake.

Brian: Mike Johnston doesn't eat. He's a weird puppet-mannequin possessed by the soul of a bored librarian.

Mike: Well, we know HCMJ and his wife love tapas restaurants. so...one of the local ones in town. take your pick.

Nicholas: Mmmmm anything peanut butter. Or hummus. I'm just going to list every food that I love. Ice cream.

Adam: Hopefully Mike Johnston’s lucky food will be wings from Big Shot Bob’s House of Wings. Pens need wingers.

Sean: Smiley cookie. Even if this doesn't work, you can't be upset while eating a Smiley cookie.

5. Final prediction: Who will win the series and in how many games?

Alex: #pensin7

James: Rangers in 7

Phil: Rangers in 6, and I feel like that's optimistic. I'm rooting for the Pens but I'm not getting my hopes up.

Josh: I hate to be negative, but the Rangers in 6.

Brian: Rangers in 3, have you seen the Penguins lately? Jeez.

Mike: Rangers....in 6.

Nicholas: Pens in 7. I refuse to pick against them despite how gigantic the Rangers look right now.

Adam: The Rangers will win this series in 6 games. Here’s my bailout clause: If this somehow gets to 7 games, the Pens win it.

Sean: Pens in 7. Why not? (And then the Islanders will win the next series.)

Let's Go Pens!

Sean's Take On The News

Although I'm a little busy these days, I do my best to keep us with current events and the news. Therefore, I have some thoughts about recent events.

- Mississippi governor Haley Barbour announced that he will not run for President because he lacked the necessary "absolute fire in the belly" to run. In reality, most people surveyed about his candidacy couldn't get past the fact that a man was named Haley. (Alternate joke: He repeatedly walked up to camp fires and fireplaces and instructed the fire to "get in my belly." This turned out to be unsuccessful.)

- The FAA fired a third controller for falling asleep on the job. All three must be new parents.

- Will & Kate's wedding (Do I really need a link for this? I didn't think so.) - It would be ironic if it rains on Friday. There may also be 10,000 spoons at the reception when all guests need is a knife.

- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (or Medevdev according to Express) hints that he won't pursue re-election. I think he would make a perfect Dancing With the Stars contestant.





I'd love for him to say "I must break you" to the judges.

- The Pittsburgh Penguins meet the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight in game seven of the series. The winner advances to the next round while the loser goes home. Someone make sure that Pens coach Dan Bylsma has a burrito!

2009-2010 Pittsburgh Penguins Predictions

It seems like the Penguins were raising the Stanley Cup only yesterday, yet the NHL regular season starts tonight. Yes, really. I’m being serious. Anyway, I asked some of my favorite writers/bloggers/people who follow the Penguins their thoughts about the 2009-2010 Penguins season. Before we begin, allow me to introduce the panel.

* Sean Leahy of Yahoo!'s Puck Daddy
* Bob Smizik of the Post-Gazette's Bob Smizik Blog
* Vince from Pesonen and the Pens
* Damian of Pens Universe
* Hooks Orpik of PensBurgh
* Pat of Igloo Dreams
* Seth Rorabaugh - Empty Netters
* Jeff - He's the biggest Penguins fan I know
* Sean of Sean's Ramblings (that's me)

1. Evgeni Malkin's stats (goals, assists, points, other?)

Leahy - 41 goals, 74 assists, 125 points, another Art Ross Trophy and three total Russian models bagged.
Smizik - 31-70--105
Vince - Well I initially had Janne set to put up 72G 60A (132pts), and Janne is about 10% better than Malkin (1 Malkin = .9 Janne's) so that would mean that Malkin would put up around 119 points, so we'll say 50 Goals and 69 Assists.

Damian - 103 - 46 goals 58 assists.
Hooks - 36 goals, 80 assists = 116 points (Crosby throws up 42 goals, 78 assists and wins the scoring title though)
Pat - 40 Goals, 78 Assists, 1 boarding penalty after he gets sick of Ovechkin and 3 blown tires (not as much as he used to blow out when he was a rookie).
Seth - Not to be generic but 40-60-100
Jeff - 53g, 80a, 133p (Crosby: 44g, 92a, 136p; Ovechkin: 70g, 57a, 127p)
Sean - 43 goals, 79 assists = 122 points and a second Art Ross Trophy.

2. Number of Eric Godard penalty minutes.



Leahy - I can see Godard's appearances drop a bit and after last season's 171 PIM's, I think he'll crush enough skulls to warrant 145 PIM's.
Smizik - 215
Vince - 20... He'll be moved by the 12th game when they realize that Mike Rupp has the same physicality and more of an offensive upsides.
Damian - 193 PM's.
Hooks - 120 PIMs....Not many, I see Rupp and even Biz Nasty stealing a lot of Godard's limited minutes and nights in the lineup
Pat - None - he took Orpik's Crazy Eyes training this summer and no one will go near him this season.
Seth - 156
Jeff - 171 (haha... he's had this many the past 2 seasons)
Sean - 135

3. Who will lead the team in blocked shots?

Leahy - If he can stay healthy, Jay McKee will rule this category.
Smizik - Jay McKee
Vince - Marc-Andre Fleury
Damian - Jay McKee, no questions no how. He serves no other purpose, well...
Hooks - Jay McKee leads the team in blocked shots by far, even when he misses 15 games from an injury he got by blocking a shot.
Pat - Fleury better stop the most shots from the other team! But seriously, you'd be dumb not to say McKee, so I'll say he gets hurt and Mark Eaton leads the team.
Seth - Mark Eaton. He'll take over as the shutdown defender.
Jeff - Mark Eaton
Sean - Mark Eaton (but not this Mark Eaton)



4. Bill Guerin: The greatest player to wear #13 in Pittsburgh history?

Leahy - Charlie Simmer was pretty darn good in his career, but only spent one year in the 'Burgh. Billy G was a key component of the team last year and I think a full year of him alongside Sid will be fruitful.

Smizik - I think Dan Marino has a teensy edge on Guerin. I'd put Guerin tied for second with Nate McLouth, just ahead of Chico Lind.

Vince - Danny Marino not only put up stud like numbers when he played for Pitt, but he did all that while snorting enough coke to have him fall to 27th in the draft and being passed up by his hometown team who was currently being led by the likes of Cliff Stoudt and Mark Malone. Seriously, look at all the jokes drafted before him. He musta been king of the rails... Sorry Billy G, gotta give the props to the hometown boy.

Damian - To be as up front as possible, I don't recall another #13, let alone the best. But my memory is in fact be limited. I blame the children, and lack of information on the internet.

Hooks - Dad scored
Pat - I thought only numbers 66 and up mattered for forwards in Pittsburgh...
Seth - There's not a lot of competition for the number (only three other players have worn it in team history) so I guess you could say it is Guerin. But special consideration should be given to Charlie Simmer simply because he was married to 1981 Playmate of the Year, Terri Welles.

Jeff - Tough one because we had Charlie Simmer, but I will go with Bill Guerin.
Sean - Definitely Dan Marino and not just because I would rather see him wear Isotoner gloves than see Bill Guerin naked in ESPN the Magazine.

5. Will this be the year that Sidney Crosby's playoff beard looks like an actual beard?



Leahy - I think he's better off using beard clippings from Max Talbot.
Smizik - No, 2015
Vince - Tim Hortons doesn't put enough hormones in their food... So unless he switches over to McDonalds or Wendy's for the majority of his food, I'm gonna have to say no.
Damian - Absolutely not. Crosby is like me with the baby-face syndrome. He will have nothing substantive till about the age of 25.
Hooks - Still the envy of 14 year old Mexican boys everywhere.
Pat - Heck no. He may never be able to grow a beard. I have a buddy who is in his 30s and doesn't have to shave for nearly a month. We pay attention to Sid's beard more for the comedy value. The screaming masses really want to know if Evgeni can grow one.
Seth - No. 2035.
Jeff - Haha... no.
Sean - Um, no.

6. Season prediction (please include the number of team points and place in the standings) and any other thoughts.

Leahy - 1st in the Atlantic, 2nd in the Prince of Wales Conference, and a record of 47-25-10-104 pts
Smizik - 43-29-10---96, 4th in conference
Vince - We'll get 97 points and end up in 4th place, meanwhile the Washington Capitals will win the east and think they are the best team ever cause they dominate in regular season hockey then in the first round they will be eliminated by NJ, NYR or Philly. We will go back to the cup and beat Chicago in Pittsburgh in 6 games.

Meanwhile across the seas Janne Pesonen will put up 49 goals and 62 assists in their 56 game season, not only helping the AK BARS recapture the Gagarin cup, but also helping Finland upset both Canada and USSR in the Olympics for the Gold. This will lead to him being signed to a 1-way contract to the NHL for the 2010 season where he will win hart, lady byng, selke, masterson, pearson, ross, richard, and lester patrick trophies, but his team will be eliminated from the playoffs by the Penguins on their way to #3.

Damian - I said it here, I'll say it again. The Pens are the favorite for the division. Though they didn't take the division last year (yet won the Cup), and had a strong advantage the year before (yet didn't win the Cup), I think they will once again show themselves approved this year and take the Atlantic again. Staal, Crosby, Malkin, and Fleury are 21, 22, 23, 24 respectively, that's a core do absolutely die for. And with 2 Stanley Cup appearances at such young ages, they can only get better individually and collectively.

Hooks - 102 points, 1st in the Atlantic (2nd in the East)....playoffs are a crapshoot, anything could happen but they should be in good shape for another run if the health holds up

Pat - This is the season they have a strong, steady and consistent regular season followed by an excellent post-season. I'll say first in the conference (112 pts) and straight through to the Cup.

Seth - I hate predictions so I don't endorse this in any way. 47-25-10. 104 points. Second place in the Eastern Conference.

Jeff - 52-23-7, 111pts, 1st in Eastern Conference.

Sean - 99 points; 4th in the conference. Plus, Coach Dan Bylsma will eat many burritos.



Feel free to add your own predictions in the comments section below. Go Pens!

Buy Dan a Burrito and Get His Dog One Too

This is the quote Mike Lange should use if the Penguins win the Stanley Cup on Friday night. If you haven’t heard or read about this, Pittsburgh’s Head Coach Dan Bylsma eats an Ancho Chile Pork BBQ Burrito at Qdoba before Penguins home games. Qdoba franchise owner Chad Brooks believes Bylsma is 20-1 when eating his lucky burrito (not including Tuesday night’s game six victory). Yahoo's Puck Daddy has much more about the burrito superstition, but someone needs to make sure that HCDB gets his burrito in Detroit on Friday!