Game 6 Pre-Game
Tonight is another chance of a lifetime for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Stanley Cup Final has taken a bit of an odd turn since the Penguins Game 5 loss. There was such a buildup in the city Thursday night and confidence that they were going to end it, I don’t think we’ll see that type of buildup again, even if the series goes to a seventh game Wednesday night.
For the Sharks, they’ve been the inferior team that’s been chasing the series from the start and for the first time all series, a win tonight in Game 6 to stave off elimination again would put all of the pressure on the Penguins.
Pittsburgh’s resurgence into arguably hockey’s best team over the last three months will likely have many thinking that the opportunity over the next three to four years will be there to win multiple Cups.
Remember those expectations?
The championship window has reopened big time, but as the Penguins learned following 2009, nothing is guaranteed.
Pittsburgh had gone seven years between reaching the Stanley Cup Final, 2009 and now 2016. While it seems unlikely, this could be the last time in the Sidney Crosby era that the Penguins reach the Cup Final.
You just never know.
Bet Detroit thought they had another Stanley Cup run in them after 2009 with their core and the best coach in hockey behind their bench.
After winning the Stanley Cup in 2008 and losing to Pittsburgh in 2009, Detroit’s window with Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk just entering their early 30’s and Nicklas Lidstrom as the games most dominant defenseman still looked wide open for the next couple seasons following their 2009 Cup Final loss where they let Pittsburgh become just the 5th team in NHL history to come back from an 0-2 deficit.
They have never got back to the conference finals since 2009.
Detroit was a better hockey team than the Penguins in 09. They didn’t get the job done in a major missed opportunity.
The Penguins are clearly the better team vs the Sharks and have put themselves in great position with three ties to close out the series, 0-for-1 so far.
From Pittsburgh’s end you need to get the job done because the championship window is certainly reopened but the Stanley Cup isn’t viewed as the toughest trophy in sports to win for no reason.
These opportunities don’t come around often even when you have a generational talent on your roster like the Penguins have in Sidney Crosby.
The Murray narrative
The media is all over Matt Murray heading into Game 6 tonight and the pressure is amped up on him.
Murray was certainly outplayed in Game 5 and a big reason the Penguins loss, while Martin Jones was the reason the Sharks won.
Yet, we live in world where many have short memories.
Anyone remember Game 4?
The Penguins won 3-1 with Murray stopping 23 of 24 shots in posting a .958 save percentage. His counterpart Martin Jones allowed 3 goals on 20 shots, giving up a soft opening goal to Ian Cole.
There’s a love fest with Martin Jones right now and it was only a game ago where he had the type of performance Murray had in Game 5.
Murray’s biggest problem has been some inconsistency popping up in his game by letting in a soft goal and the low shot totals have played into this narrative that his game has drastically tailed off.
It really hasn’t tailed off.
In the Penguins taking a 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final, Murray posted a combined .938 save percentage in the two wins, including a .955 save percentage in a Game 2 overtime win.
This was coming off two elimination game wins vs the Lightning in Games 6 and 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals by posting a combined save percentage of .936 in those wins.
Some of the media and pundits will tell you that Murray’s play has been a problem since Game 3 vs the Capitals in Round 2.
Anyone remember his Game 4 performance vs the Capitals? Stopped 34 of 36 shots in a 3-2 overtime win. Or the Game 6 clinching win, stopping 36 of 39 shots.
Maybe this only happens in Pittsburgh where the Penguins are up 3-2 in the Stanley Cup Final and on Friday talk show hosts were blaming Mike Sullivan for not starting Marc Andre Fleury at the start of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Nonetheless, the low shot totals have led to Murray not getting enough credit for wins and a lot of blame when the Penguins’ lose.
Conn Smythe’s Sidney Crosby’s to lose?
18 Members of the media will vote on the Conn Smythe. Each voter puts down three players.
The race for now is a two-man race.
To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Fuck you Sam, fuck you yoda… Put it to rest for one night. The guys won, that’s why we are all here. Enjoy it. Nothing else matters right now. Woooooooooooo
Woooooo! Cup champs! Fun stuff!
Atta boy… We should let it go… At least for a day. They fucken did it man. Woooooooooooo
Toews vs Crosby? What!
Amazing. I’m sure glad
I never said they couldn’t win with this team. And that it needed to be torn down.
Nope… When you boast some of the top talent in their position u don’t blow it up… You wait till you find the guy to get the best out of them. Sullivan wins the Jack Adams next year? 😉
Brad Boyes! Sam!!!
09-and 16 game winners were French Canadians what’s your take on that
That you wanted Brad Boyes. And a retired guy. And it makes me laugh.
#blowitup
#toosmalltowin
#needmoregrit
#murraywinsconnsmythe
#yodaknew
Lol… So good some of these
Let’s see in bennett gets injured from hoisting the cup
I just heard. Carey price injured himself watching the cup celebration. Tough break Montreal. 1993
I surely won’t complain but it does kinda suck that they made nationality more important than performance. Sid played well but Kessel and Letang were more deserving.
Poor chubby got snubbed from all star games, from WC and now conn Smythe
I’m sure he doesn’t care. The team knows who the real MVP was.
The team knew it’s sid just like I said last time
Yep. Same way I feel. Enjoy the lifetime achievement award. It’s like Scorsese winning for The Departed. Still got the cup.
Hey Stan and npl how do you feel 09 and 16 game winners were scored by French Canadians
Surprised?
Remember Stan when same said watch Crosby wins it is not Kessel
It still should have been Kessel but I’m not mad
Sid made his line dangerous despite horny and sheary are not good finishers
Exactly. Who cares. What I do know is Kessel has a cup. Brad Boyes does not.
Remember when you wanted Brad Boyes? You idiot! Martin St. Louis!
Guy had a big game… Bunch of game winners. While Kessel was my pick I’m fine with how he performed this series
He still suckss Stan
Crosbyyyyyyyyyyy
Crosby
Jewwwwwww
Parade is on !!!!
Conn smthe…st bleury for having his ass on the bench! The prophecy has been fulfilled! I love it! Cup champs!
Sid and letang suckedd tonight Mr Stan and npl
I wonder if there will be fans asleep when pens hoist the cup
Sheary is getting way too much time out there. Double shift malkin and run your stars into the ground.
Ahaha Kessel can’t breath and malkin taps him saying take it easy.
Lol he tries hard to win
Guess Kuni is even… He did make the back check play to shut off ward
Malkin and Letang imo are the two best players for us tonight
Crosby has been dynamite too
Agree thumbs up
Sid been amazing all series but average American fans only watch the stats just ask Stan and npl
If you take sid out that lineup horny and sheary are garbage thank to sid that line is always dangerous every shift. They don’t have natural finishers that line
We need the bar pic
20 more minutes. Lets hope Murray doesn’t shit the bed in the turd.
Should Jones win the conn Smythe just like Hextall did back then
If it don’t go seven you’re stupid for bringing it up… Also Giguere did it in 03 you fucking idiot. Fuckface
Net was as wide as Sam’s butthoIe. Maybe thats why he didnt want to score?
Wiiiiiiiide open net. Great job Kunitz.
Was it as wide open as your mouth or asss
A lot wider.
As wide as yo mamas gap on MLK in any big city in the US at about 3 AM Friday night! Fuckface
What a waste of 9.5m
I think Kunitz’s 4 year deal was worth a little more than that.
Malkin was perfect on that play and set up Kunitz for a tap in fuckface. That’s 100% on Canadian born Kunitz. God you suck at watching the game
He had an empty net tap in… You’re fucken dumb. Everyone on earth other than you can’t understand why Kunitz passed it back… Fuckface
Fuck Kunitz… That’s Unfucking acceptable. What a dumb cunt
So stupid. Omg
Need your Canadians to try and score when the net is wide open.
Gotta give Murray credit, he’s doing a much better job of staying big and using his size when dealing with players/pucks that come from below the goalline.
Betterish. First instinct is to go low.
Just like Sam… And his mama
I wonder how Murray will look next season when team in front of him doesn’t block as many as shots like they are doing in the playoffs. Because we all know come playoffs players sacrifice their bodies more imagine with all that and you see all kind of soft goals
Pervert
If fleury played this 2016 playoffs and did these goals media would’ve bashed him and say he needs to be gone. Yet Murray does the same and gets into conn Smythe discussion why because he is young and is in the finals?
First off as a 22 year old he will continue to progress you dumb fucking cunt. Plus how do you know they won’t block as many shots? This is Sullivans style… Will they be relieving him? Fuckface!
They will you clown but in playoffs players sacrifice more
And the opposition don’t play as hard either so it all comes out even Steven… Fuckface
Kris mother fucken Letang baby
He looked awesome for 30 seconds there. Finally!!
Nice play by Horny taking two guys out of the play
This when you need your Canadian boys. When it really matters
Lol game 6? I mean, better late than never i guess.
Another great goal given up by Murray!!
Don’t worry team will be there to Bail him out and give him the W that he doesn’t deserve
Couture had a beautiful toe drag 20 feet out. Great move.
FRAUD
And that shultz suckss
How long until Yoda is on this sote every fn day shltting on Saint Blurray?
Trade fleury
Murray ready for 60+ games next season
This is frightening… Murray is looking very 22 in the last couple games
Kuhnhackl needs to bury those. Tell em Sam.
Ever time I see those Discovery commercials about fraud protection I think about Yoda and Sam, Sam is obviously the moron who thinks it’s frog protection.
Every time I watch bar rescue I think of gaydogg and his arrogant bar going down with debts
John’s a cool guy.
Jones transforming into Patrick Roy after letting in a shit goal.
1-0 lead on the road after 1. I’ll take it!
Keep playing the D they played in the 1st and this game is over.
Ha! Sharks Russian with the 1st penalty
Hes Lithuanian. Fucken idiot.
Got any hotdog gadgets?
Neeed that YouTube Russian guy with the hot dog gagets
Zubrus isn’t a Russian you quebecqueer
The right guys look like they are going for the pens… Just need some goals
Bad luck NPL is here
Malkin is due to a dumb penalty he played two flawless games
Shut up fuckface… Go wink at your balls
Sam sucks. Go pens.
You shouldn’t be here you should be with your gay friends conferring them after the Florida shootings back to back 2 days in a row
Don’t worry Murray the team is once again there to bail you out from the misery. Much like the all 2016 playoffs
You guys think we’ll see some bandwagon fans fall asleep when pens hoist the cup
Let’s go pens! 5-1 win tonight!
Is it blown up yet?
Face it, if st bleury wasn’t on the roster and if he wasn’t the patron saint of Pgh, the city would be in love with murray. #fuckface
The city already is in love with Murray, the game hasn’t won shit at any level of play yet and there’s already been a Matt Murray Blvd. Clueless doesn’t even do you justice anymore.
Yet gordie howe hasn’t that yet
Anybody ask Benny how the buccos are doing lately?
Crosby definately deserves the Conn Smythe. He’s been a scoring machine since the 1st game of the playoffs.
A machine, still behind Kessel, Malkin and Bones in points I believe. Played well, still dont feel he deserves it over kessel
I was joking. Take the numbers off the jersey’s and you wouldn’t know the difference between him and Matt Cullen.
Lol-hard to tell these days, when reading these things.
Crosby goes out and owns the circle and adds two or three goals in a winning effort then so be it. Without that Kessel should run with it.
Unfortunately Crosby is a Canadian hero and Kessel is an American that many in Canada ran out of the country, with majority of the voters being Canadian there’s no denying it’s Crosby’s to lose whether he’s the most deserving or not.
The writers could screw both guys if jones has another phenom game in a loss
Jones wasn’t even a consideration before the other night. Conn Smythe is a playoff body of work not 2 or 3 games
Well, now I know why Depaoli has so many spelling and grammar mistakes….he’s trying to type articles with Matt Murray’s dick in his mouth. One at a time D!
#fuckface
DePaoli’s identify revealed…he’s Yoda!
Glad we were able to reveal his identify. Hopefully Murray will be able to identity his weaknesses and not let in any softies.
I’m not depaoli. I am yoda
How many will the pens need to score to bail out MM tonight?
Go Pens!