Go Up 2-0 in the Stanley Cup = Series Win 90% of the time
Teams that go up 2-0 in the Stanley Cup Final win the Stanley Cup 90% (44-5) of the time. The Penguins were one of the five teams to come back from being down 2-0, doing it in 2009.
THIS DATE IN 1992: @Penguins defeated CHI 6-5 in Game 4 to capture their second consecutive #StanleyCup championship pic.twitter.com/Zxjrufd8TP
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 1, 2016
The last time the Penguins went up 2-0 in a Stanley Cup Final was against Chicago in 1992 when they went on to sweep the Blackhawks.
The percentages obviously project that going up 2-0 tonight would be huge for the Penguins.
San Jose is 5-1 this postseason when following a loss. Many Sharks observers say San Jose’s performance in Game 1 might have been their worst performance of the playoffs, yet with under three minutes to play in Game 1 they were involved in a tie game.
Everyone is expecting a much better game from the Sharks tonight but what if Pittsburgh also finds another level?
Some key stats out of Game 1 in the Penguins’ favor that were very promising.
A 41-23 edge in 5 vs 5 scoring chances, 18-7 edge in high danger scoring chances. While they peppered Martin Jones with 41 shots, the quality of chances and shots is what matters.
Pittsburgh also produced against the Sharks top-2 pairings.
San Jose’s top shutdown pairing of Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Justin Braun were a minus-2. On Nick Bonino’s game winning goal, the Penguins scored against the D-pairing of Paul Martin – Brent Burns. Up to that point Paul Martin was one of the best players on the ice, having a dominant defensive night.
While there were expectations of Sidney Crosby going head-to-head vs the Pavelski line, Mike Sullivan is more interested in getting the HBK line against the Sharks top line.
Nick Bonino played nearly six minutes against Pavelski in Game 1 with the Penguins controlling possession on 58% of their shot attempts and producing One Goal For and zero against.
Sullivan said today one of the reasons he likes that matchup is because the HBK line has a combination of being “defensively responsible” and are also a threat “offensively.”
Joe Thornton remains a great player at age 36 but he doesn’t have the wheels of a 25 year old anymore. Going head-to-head with Carl Hagelin is a smart move from the Penguins end to make the Sharks top line play a skating game.
The Penguins neutralizing San José’s top line for long stretches will be a difficult task but there could be a major trickle down effect if the Bonino line can continue to hold their own or even get a slight edge like they did in Game 1.
The matchup in Game 1 opened the door for Sidney Crosby to go up against the Sharks third line more than expected, notably a rookie checking center in Chris Tierney who went against Crosby for 6:53 at even strength To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Somewhere Mike Johnston is thinking, “God I am dog shlt.”
Sam, you need to relax with all the thumbs down. You seem a little obsessed with thumbs downing people.
It’s a result of the PTSD from taking all the thumbs up the ass he used to get as a child!
Pretty sure thats called a French Hello
It’s that fat npl instead of pressing reply his fat finger is pressing on thumbs down
https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2224/2112760833_f6c7e9d210_b.jpg
I think he is molesting a young girl in that bar
Jay is French?
Hey npl how are you doing in the NHL bracket challenge
I heard you are doing good and same doing bad since he has no clue of hockey and only watches pens games
I agree. Thumbs up.
I didnt play sooo’ better than you
Yes you did fatso
God i love it when you talk dirty to me
San Jose shouldn’t be in the NHL. This Stanley Cup final is a disappointment and its SJ’s fault.
Hey Stan how are you doing with letang’s back to back game winner passes
To US born finishers? You suck all kinds of Dixon Cox at this man
Game winner passes! More like stretch passes…
What a great shot by Sheary. Tell em Sam.
Anyway Dusty can know what’s happening at gaydoggs bar?
http://i.makeagif.com/media/12-31-2013/wFYsEJ.gif
So well done
Americans once again proving to be clutch and Sam to be a moron.
Will see how your Americans will be clutch player at the WC this fall when they won’t have Canadians passing them the nice passes to score
The Pens are two wins away from the Stanley Cup and Sam is O for the season in the prediction/guarantee category haha
Accurate predictions are not in Sam’s department!
All these years of NOT trusting their youth. Glad they always had those pluggers, grinders and paycheck thieves in the lineup with their grit and leadership.
Well thanks to shero he trusted in Craig Adams
Sheary-ous skill.
Once again Canadians making the American look good
Don Cherry said Conor Sheary is the best player in the Stanley Cup Finals
He also said npl is a fat American PIG
Did he say that in all caps? OMG
Wooooooo…. Guys worried me with the effort early in OT. Great chatting by the captain to set that play. Smart play Letang… And Conor fucken Sheary baby, kids been dynamite since the scratch. Hey Sam, how awesome is Sheary?
Still a limited player that’s what TK is on sid’s line
What a pass by letang and master plan by sid all TK had to do is shoot
Dont forget the shot was amazing. Tell me the shot was amazing
Well deserved win.
Hahaha Sheary!
Sam is an idiot!
Still not skating… Pens are in a bit of trouble here unless they recall they have to skate
Put one in for Nikita!!!!!
Crosby for pens and Ward for sharks
Hidden vigorish
Where did these -1s come from? Stan, npl, gaydogg?
Gaydogg has a stanchion for you.
Going with Kessel for the winner.
Just like don cherry said pens don’t cover their points
From one dumb Canadien to another.
Don cherry died 8 years ago
His suits have more life than him
Go watch your Milbury and the other jackasss JR
Don’t be mad cuz you suck a dead man’s wiener
They didn’t cover in game one either and despite Cherrys ranting the Sharks shot a lot from the point, they were all good due to blocks… One made it through so change it all up cuz the coach that couldn’t win with a superstar team in 70s Boston said so
Lovejoy with a classic regular season lovejoy stupid play… Time and space, end around to the Sharks for pressure anyway. Dumb fucken play… Guys been solid but those plays can’t be made
Anyone else beside Sam just shlt themselves there?
Time for Tom Kuhnhackl to step up
Sat on it for the first half of the period… That’s what you get!
Sitting on leads is not their forte.
Dammit fleury
BONINO!BONINO!BONINO!BONINO!BONINO!BONINO!BONINO!BONINO!BONINO!BONINO!BONINO!BONINO!BONINO!BONINO!BONINO!
Sheary looks good
Another game fleury could’ve played and won for pens
Games not over.
Eric Hartzell could have won this game.
Id be shltting my pants with you right now if fleury was in net.
Weird Infiniti commercial
How can their PP continue to be this ineffective?
Letang
Sutter would have buried that himself, hahaha
https://media.giphy.com/media/yHIEn1In0z31K/giphy.gif
So good!
What I don’t understand is how a PP specialist continues to lead the team, widely, in 5v5 goals and points
lol love it
Murray needs to get the goal posts gold plated after this game.
Murrays wrap around plays are fucking terrifying
Little concerned that our fourth isn’t the factor in the series as predicted
This PP is pissing me off… They need to start clicking here
Kessel might be the worst stick handler on the team. Why do they drop pass to him?
Cuz he is the best goal scorer on the team?
Sam gave a thumbs down to this… After the playoff goal leader for the pens scored another goal lmao
I don’t know what’s miserable to watch sheary dragging crosby’s line down or Npl dragging this site’s Reputation down
Sheary has been fine so far, early bobble on a play but he’s hardly dragging down the line
They are creating pressure, chances and Hornqvist is pissing the world off
http://i.giphy.com/3sV6yZJTk2WFq.gif
http://www.lhebdodustmaurice.com/ugc/photos/biz/webusers/Photo%20Blogue0_b304cf9850e74de6aeb2df77830bfa53.jpg
SJ must still be working through shit early… No way the Pens are making them look a little quiet to start game two, just ask the media lol
Don cherry with 4 Canadian goalies here in the finals
I saw the twinkle in Zak’s eye. He looks ready. Get him in there coach!
Hot dog cart pic or bar pic sam?
Bar. The hot dog cart will bring that annoying fat fuckk here
You owe us a pic of hotdog water
Rust?
Looks like TDBenny lit a fire under D’s ass!
What you espect when bandwagons like sam gaydogg stan post clowns on not hokey hear
Stanch, think Malkin turns it on tonight #umbrance
Stan thinks malkin’s dumb penalty taking streak will be over tonight
Is that another one of his one trick pony tricks?
Riveting
Come on Sam, at least share a thought while your hear giving out the thumbs.
Not sure if anyone noticed because it was a very under the radar happening in the TIOPS world but the Pens making the SCF brought on the return of Eric. He showed up, predicated the 2 biggest guys in Fehr & Kuhnkackl would make an impact in Game 1 and then disappeared like a fart in the wind after both were basically invisible, once again crushing his dream that size matters in hockey.
Remember when Sam told us “Sid dusn’t much playoff score because other teams top line. he seas while. lazy Russian gets other teams bottom 6”. Those were the days.
#samknew
Can you imagine how much space Martin St. Louis would have created for Sid?
NIPPLE
Lol what did u say here?