Return of The Russian Rocket...But To WHO???

[onlybygrace]

Re: Return of The Russian Rocket...But To WHO???

Broduer Sustains Injury In Surprise Blow Out Of Devils; Bure Leads Pens To Victory

Pittsburgh 6, New Jersey 1
1 2 3 OT T Final PIT (1) 1 3 2 6 NJD (2) 0 1 0 1	, Prudential Center, New Rutherford, NJ

Shots PIT 27 NJ 20

New Jersey (AP)--

In a surprising turn of events, the face of a series destined to lead the Devils to the Stanley Cup Finals has changed...in a big way.

After he had given up just one goal in 153 minutes over the first two games, Martin Brodeur was lit up for 4 goals in just 26:43 in game 3 before leaving the contest with an undisclosed lower body injury after apparently pulling his groin on Bure's 2nd goal of the 2nd period.

The Pens were carried by Pavel Bure who tallied 2 goals and 2 assists on the evening, figuring on the first 4 goals, leading Pittsburgh to a 4-0 lead.

"I felt good...it feels good to come up big for us...they win...we are done...but we win and things are looking up...", said Bure of his 4 point performance that gives him 8 goals and 10 assists in 14 playoff games.

The Devils wouldn't get on board till the 16:54 mark of the 2nd frame, when Brian Gionta would tally his 6th playoff marker trimming the Pens lead to 4-1.

Evgeni Malkin would tally a pair of inconsequential markers in the 3rd period as the Pens would add insult to injury swinging the momentum in Pittsburghs favor heading into Game 4 just 48 hours from now in New Jersey.

The Devils announced in a post-game news conference that Martin Broduer is out indefinitely with the injury sustained in tonights contest.

"Its a tough loss...he was definitely leading us. Even with his poor performance tonight, we'd take him into battle any day against anyone", said Jamie Langenbrunner.

The Devils lead the series 2-1.

Key Stats

Bure 2 Goals (8), 2 Assists, 5 SOG
Sykora Goal (5), 2 Assists
Malkin 2 Goals (8)
Sydor Goal (1)
Crosby/Satan Assists
Fleury 21 saves on 22 shots

Gionta (6)
Madden/Elias Assists
Brodeur 12/16 in 26:43...out indefinitely with undisclosed lower body injury
Weekes 9/11 in 33:17
--------------------------------------------------

NHL News Wire--The Chase For Stanley

ANA 3
CHI 1
(Ducks lead 2-1)

[canucksfan33]

Re: Return of The Russian Rocket...But To WHO???

Ooh, Brodeur's hurt, looks like you can win this series now!

Good luck!

[onlybygrace]

Re: Return of The Russian Rocket...But To WHO???

Weekes Valiant Effort Comes Up Short In Game Four; Pens Tie Series At Two

Pittsburgh 4, New Jersey 1
1 2 3 OT T Final PIT (2) 1 1 2 4 NJD (2) 0 1 0 1	, Prudential Center, New Rutherford, NJ

Shots PIT 22 NJ 32

New Jersey (AP)--

With the rise and fall of New Jersey's goaltending taking center stage, Marc-Andre Fleury has flourished between the pipes for the Pittsburgh Penguins, once again shining as he stopped 31 of 32 shots on the evening in a 4-1 Pens win which will send the series back to Pittsburgh all knotted up at two games apiece.

Fleury has posted amazing numbers in the series with a GAA of 1.32 along side a save percentage of .949, stopping 113 of 119 shots.

"I'm just trying to lock in...not get down or think about mistakes...just letting my instincts play for me while I ride along", said Fleury of his heroic performance. In the last 120 minutes of play, Fleury has posted a save percentage of .963.

The Pens would get on the board first when Peter Sykora would shove a Pavel Bure rebound home just 6:01 into the first sending the Pens into the 2nd period tied 1-1.

The Devils would tie the game 3:22 into the 2nd when Jamie Langenbrunner would hit a streaking Dainuis Zubrus who would bury his 8th playoff marker before the Pens would reclaim the lead under 6 minutes later on a Jonathan Cheechoo lazer from the top of the left circle.

The Pens would drive home the reality of an impending tied series when Miroslav Satan would ring a one-timer off the post before Eric Christensen would get an empty-net goal to seal the deal at 4-1.

The Pens, smelling blood, are anxious to get the Devils back on home ice where the Devils took a 2-0 series lead on the back of thier currently injured netminder.

Stay tuned.

Key Stats

Eaton 2 Assists
Sykora Goal (5)
Satan Goal (3)
Cheechoo Goal (4)
Christensen ENG (5)
Crosby/Bure Assists
Fleury 31/32

Zubrus Goal (8)
Parise/Langenbrunner Assists
Weekes 18/21

-------------------------------------------------

NHL News Wire--The Hunt For Stanley

ANA 6
CHI 3
(Ducks lead 3-1)

[shinderhizzle84]

Re: Return of The Russian Rocket...But To WHO???

awesome! You've finally gotten your big break!

Good luck now against a "valiant" Kevin Weekes.

I have his autograph!!

[onlybygrace]

Re: Return of The Russian Rocket...But To WHO???

outta curiosity...do you guys read the articles or just the stats and headlines??? just wondering.

[canucksfan33]

Re: Return of The Russian Rocket...But To WHO???

outta curiosity...do you guys read the articles or just the stats and headlines??? just wondering.

I read the articles.

[shinderhizzle84]

Re: Return of The Russian Rocket...But To WHO???

i read the articles, but not tonight, bc i'm pretty tired, and am also only keeping half of my attention on the boards right now.

But i usually do read them.

[onlybygrace]

Re: Return of The Russian Rocket...But To WHO???

kewl...just wondering...i guess i leave the option of reading to see what really happened and just scanning the main stats if you'd like...anywho...i have tests tomorrow...good night.

[onlybygrace]

Re: Return of The Russian Rocket...But To WHO???

Pens Take Charge In Game 5; Win 3-1

New Jersey 1, Pittsburgh 3
1 2 3 OT T Final NJD (2) 0 1 0 1 PIT (3) 0 1 2 3	, Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, PA

Shots NJ 22 PIT 27

Pittsburgh (AP)--

The red hot Marc-Andre Fleury and the Pittsburgh Penguins are a single victory away from the Stanley Cup Finals after defeating the New Jersey Devils, still without star goaltender Martin Broduer, in game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

The game would be scoreless until the Devils would tally on a goal by Patrik Elias 11:20 into the 2nd period. The Pens would answer back in a timely fashion when Pavel Bure would score 17:36 into the 2nd frame sending the contest to the 3rd period tied 1-1.

In the third period the game would get intense as both goaltenders would put on a hell of a show until Jonathan Cheechoo would dangle into the slot and roof a lazer wrister under the crossbar with just 7:08 left to go in regulation. Cheechoo would put the nail in the coffin with an empty-net goal with just 10 seconds remaining sending the series back to New Jersey with the Pens needing just one more win to taste the Stanley Cup Finals.

"We can taste it...we're on a roll and we'll keep doing the things that brought us this far", said Head Coach Mario Lemieux in light of the Pens turn of fortune after trailing the series 2-0 before Martin Brodeur was injured in a 6-1 Pens victory in Game 3.

Key Stats

Cheechoo 2 Goals (6), 3 SOG
Bure Goal (9) 5 SOG
Crosby/Staal Assists
Fleury 21 saves on 22 shots

Elias Goal (4)
Martin/Madden Assists
Weekes 24/26
-----------------------------------------------------

NHL News Wire--The Hunt For Stanley

CHI 3
ANA 2
(Ducks Lead 3-2)

[shinderhizzle84]

Re: Return of The Russian Rocket...But To WHO???

NICE!! haha big victory, lets hope you can eliminate them pesky devils tonight!

[onlybygrace]

Re: Return of The Russian Rocket...But To WHO???

Penguins Defeat Devils To Claim Eastern Conference Title

Pittsburgh 3, New Jersey 1
1 2 3 OT T Final PIT (4) 1 1 1 3 NJD (2) 0 1 0 1	, Prudential Center, Newrutherford, NJ

Shots PIT 22 NJ 25

New Jersey (AP)--

In a series that looked to be going the Devils way just 4 games ago, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Marc-Andre Fleury have come away with a seemingly unlikely series win due to some great fortune depending on your perspective.

The loss of Martin Broduer by the Devils really only set the stage for an unlikely hero to show the hockey world that he still has the skills to play on the worlds grandest frozen stage. Kevin Weekes stopped 70 of the 79 shots he faced in the series, some of them in highlight reel fashion.

"I did what I could...I know the fans would have loved Marty to play and so would I for the good of the team. But I left it all out on the ice and thats all I can do or say", said Weekes of his admirable effort in the series.

"He was extremely competitive...I had no idea we would have such a tough time with him", said Pavel Bure who leads the Pens going into the Stanley Cup Finals with 10 goals and 11 assists in 17 games.

The Pens would get on the board first in game six when Pavel Bure would score his 4th goal of the series on a breakaway 17:15 into the frame.

The Devils would answer back just 2 minutes into the 2nd period when Dainuis Zubrus would tally his 9th goal of the post season on a breakaway of his own tying the contest at 1-1.

The Pens would take the lead heading into the 3rd period when Chris Kunitz would dangle through the New Jersey defense and beat a diving Weekes with a wrister giving the Pens a 2-1 lead that would be emphasised by an Evgeni Malkin empty net goal late in the 3rd, sealing the Pens birth to the Stanley Cup Finals where they will take on the winner of the Ducks/Hawks series, currently led 3-2 by Anaheim.

"We're ready...we've persevered and I honestly thing nothing can get us down. We could go down 3-0 and still have the same fight we've had all along", said Sidney Crosby who is second on the Pens in scoring with 8 goals and 10 assists this postseason.

Key Stats

Bure Goal (10)
Kunitz Goal (5)
Malkin Goal (9)
Crosby/Letang Assists
Fleury 24/25

Zubrus Goal (9)
Langenbrunner Assist
Weekes 19/21

---------------------------------------------

NHL News Wire--The Hunt For Stanley

The 1st seeds from both the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference will meet in the Stanley Cup Finals as the Presidents Trophy Winning Pittsburgh Penguins will face the Anaheim Ducks.

ANA 3
CHI 2
(Ducks win Western Conference Finals in 6)

[onlybygrace]

Re: Return of The Russian Rocket...But To WHO???

Stanley Cup Finals Preview

(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (1) Anaheim Ducks

Key Stats
Anaheim 4th in PK in postseason (90.2%)
Pens lead NHL in post season GPG (3.71) and GAA (2.00)

Playoff Leaders Anaheim (19 Games Played)
Weight 4g, 22a, 26 pts
Getzlaf 6g, 13 a, 19 pts
Schneider 12g, 6 a, 18 pts
Pronger 7g, 10a, 17 pts
Giguere 12-5-2, 2.51 GAA

Playoff Leaders Pittsburgh (17 Games)
Bure 10g, 11a, 21 pts
Crosby 8g, 10a, 18 pts
Malkin 9g, 4a, 13 pts
Staal 8g, 4a, 12 pts
Fleury 12-3-2, 1.90 GAA, .917 SV %

Prediction

Pens in 6

Game ON!!!

[shinderhizzle84]

Re: Return of The Russian Rocket...But To WHO???

the two powerhouses of each conference!!!!

good luck, OBG.

Remember--you're the cooler bird!

[onlybygrace]

Re: Return of The Russian Rocket...But To WHO???

the two powerhouses of each conference!!!!

good luck, OBG.

Remember--you're the cooler bird!

i actually laughed at that...

...also...the game gave the Ducks home ice...doesnt the Pres trophy winner get home ice all throughout?

[shinderhizzle84]

Re: Return of The Russian Rocket...But To WHO???

i actually laughed at that...

...also...the game gave the Ducks home ice...doesnt the Pres trophy winner get home ice all throughout?

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure the NHL reseeds or something...

but like I said, I'm not sure.

Maybe it's just another part of 2k's failness