Post Season Play, Part I

Series Tied 1-1

Recap:
Game 1: Penguins 3 – Senators 6

I did not watch most of Game 1. Three minutes into the first period the Senators scored twice, a telling indication that the rest of the evening was going to be an unmitigated disaster for the Penguins. Which, from all news accounts, is what happened as defense, offense and goal tending fell apart. I spent the evening reading instead, with J bringing me occasional updates.

Game 2: Penguins 4 – Senators 3

I did not plan on watching Game 2 either. Friends called and asked us to join them at the Carson Street Saloon for a collective playoff viewing experience. It turned out to be enormous fun and I won a t-shirt from one of the local radio stations.

Senators fans take on our fine tradition of booing players (well, one specific player) and “respectfully” boo Sidney Crosby every time he touches the puck. Minor whining ensues, but most admit that we bought it on ourselves and that booing is inevitable during a playoff run.

Emerick and Edzo interpret Armstrong's collision with Ray Emery as “accidental” and “unavoidable”. Penguins fans everywhere laugh as the collision was neither. It was classic Armstrong, repeatedly tweak on a more “sensitive” opponent until he snaps. This is not the first time he has knocked Emery around and will not be the last in this series or either player's career.

Not that I condone crashing a goalie, I don't. But Ray Emery is not above throwing down when he feels violated and Colby is well known, at least in Pittsburgh, for exploiting any kind of vulnerability that will push the player and his team off balance mentally. This, coupled with his willingness to actually throw a punch instead of hiding behind referees, is the reason why he is a popular player in Pittsburgh. He may not always win the fight, but he is always 100% in the game.

It was a completely different team on the ice last night. Although the Senators out shot the Penguins by a a significant margin, a tight defense and premier goal tending carried the team from behind into a win.

There is something magical about being a Penguins fan right now. Since I never expected the team to make it into the playoffs so soon, every additional game is a gift. I still think Ottawa will take the series in seven games, but I am excited nonetheless to have the opportunity to see such a high level of play from my team and expect them to do some damage to the Senators.