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

[canucksfan33]

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

haha lol about being the cooler bird

and ya, you should have gotten home ice for winning the presidents trophy

[onlybygrace]

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

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

yeah...isnt that the truth. *counting days till NHL 10*

[onlybygrace]

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

haha lol about being the cooler bird

and ya, you should have gotten home ice for winning the presidents trophy

well then im gonna go ahead and just blame bettman for that...

[onlybygrace]

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

Pens Handle Defending Champs In Convincing Fashion In Finals Opener

Pittsburgh 5, Anaheim 3
1 2 3 OT T Final PIT (1) 2 2 1 5 ANA (0) 1 1 1 3	, Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, CA

Shots PIT 26 ANA 22

Anaheim (AP)--

It would take until the Stanley Cup Finals for the Pittsburgh Penguins to finally open up a series with a victory as they would handle the Ducks with relative ease in a 5-3 victory tonight at Arrowhead Pond.

The scoring would start early for the Pens when Sidney Crosby would tally his first of two goals just 1:20 into the contest when a rebound would come to rest at his feet with J.S. Giguere down and out. Crosby would tap the puck home and would score again under 10 minutes later when a cross slot pass would deflect of Scott Neidermeyers stick and into the net for a 2-0 Penguins lead.

The Ducks would claw back into the game with a pair of goals from Jason King and Rob Niedermeyer, tying the game 2-2 at the midway point of the contest.

The deadlock would be short lived as Jordan Staal would tally his 9th goal of the post season just 2:59 later and Chris Kunitz would extend the Pens lead to 4-2, scoring just 1:42 after Staal sending the Pens into the second intermission leading by two goals while the shots were tied at 14-14.

In the third period the Ducks would attempt a comeback when Travis Moen would score his 6th playoff goal 14:14 into the frame pulling the Ducks to within one. The rally would be snuffed out when the Ducks would pull the goalie and cough the puck up to Pavel Bure, who would race towards the Ducks net as J.S. Giguere attempted to return to the net. Bure's shot would hit Giguere as he dove back into the crease a second or so too late as Bure's 11th marker of the postseason would seal the 1-0 series lead.

"That was as strange of a goal as you'll see...it should have an asterisk next to it since for all intents and purposes, that net was empty", said an upset Chris Pronger who felt that Bure's celebration was out of line considering the positioning of Giguere on the play.

The two teams face off once again as the Pens look to take a 2-0 lead heading back to Pittsburgh for games 3 and 4.

Key Stats

Crosby 2 Goals (10), Assist, 7 SOG
Kunitz Goal (6), Assist
Staal Goal (9)
Bure Goal (11), 5 SOG
Fleury 19/22

O'Donnell/Kondratiev 2 Assists
R. Neidermeyer Goal (1)
King Goal (1)
Moen Goal (6)
Giguere 21/26

[thrashman]

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

Nice start to the Finals. Sounds like that would have been quite a save by Giguere but good to see the Russian Rocket finish them off.

[onlybygrace]

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

Nice start to the Finals. Sounds like that would have been quite a save by Giguere but good to see the Russian Rocket finish them off.

It really was a cool goal.

[onlybygrace]

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

Defending Champs Tie Pens As Series Shifts To Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh 2, Anaheim 3
1 2 3 OT T Final PIT (1) 1 0 1 2 ANA (1) 2 1 0 3	, Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, CA

Shots PIT 28 ANA 25

Anaheim (AP)--

The Anaheim Ducks set the record straight tonight in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals:

They are serious about repeating as NHL Champs.

"We're here to win. If anyone thinks we are intimidated by these guys, they're nuts", said Anaheim's Chris Pronger when asked if the Ducks had the same fire as they had last season.

The Ducks would come out firing, outshooting the Pens 13-11 in the 1st period while striking first, taking a 1-0 lead on Corey Perry's 5th goal of the playoffs with the Ducks on the powerplay.

The Pens would tie the score a little over 6 minutes later when Jonathan Cheechoo would score off of Chris Pronger who was attempting to play goaltender while J.S. Giguere was sprawled out on the ice after the initial shot.

The deadlock would last just 28 seconds when Anaheim would strike again on Todd Bertuzzi's 5th playoff marker sending the Ducks into the 2nd period with a 2-1 lead.

Anaheim would strike for their third and final goal when Samuel Pahlsson would score 5:53 into the 2nd frame giving the Ducks a 3-1 lead.

The Pens would hit the post 3 times in the 3rd period while outshooting the Ducks 6-3. Chris Kunitz would pull the Pens to within a goal when he scored his 7th playoff goal on a breakaway with just 6:42 remaining in regulation.

The Ducks, with the win, even the series as it heads back to Pittsburgh where game 3 will commence in under 48 hours.

Key Stats

Kunitz Goal (7) Assist
Cheechoo Goal (7), SHG
Bure 5 SOG
Fleury 22/25

Bertuzzi Goal (5)
Perry Goal (5)
Pahlsson Goal (3)
Weight/Getzlaf Assists
Giguere 26/28

[onlybygrace]

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

Pens Take Rocket Ride Into Series Lead

Anaheim 2, Pittsburgh 6
1 2 3 OT T Final ANA (1) 1 0 1 2 PIT (2) 0 5 1 6	, Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, PA

Shots ANA 28 PIT 32

Pittsburgh (AP)--

The defining moments of this game were painfully obvious to Ducks fans and gloriously entoxicating to the fans of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

After the Ducks had taken a 1-0 lead into the 2nd period on a goal by Doug Weight, Pavel Bure would score twice in the first 29 seconds of the 2nd period giving the Pens as instant lead and the momentum they would need to score 3 more 2nd period goals. Sidney Crosby and George Laraque would also score in the next 4:30 as the Pens lit J.S. Giguere up for 4 goals in a little over 6 minutes, but it wasn't until Jordan Staal would score the 5th goal of the period that Giguere would be yanked in favor of Ilya Bryzgalov.

By that time it was too late as the Pens would roll to a 6-2 victory as Todd Bertuzzi and Mike Grier would both score 3rd period markers.

The Pens, with the blowout lead, have taken a 2-1 series lead into Game 4.

The Anaheim Ducks announced after the disappointing loss that J.S. Giguere has been benched in favor of Ilya Bryzgalov who will start Game 4.

Key Stats

Crosby Goal (11), 2 Assists
Bure 2 Goals (13), 7 SOG
Eaton/Sydor 2 Assists
Staal Goal (10)
Laraque Goal (1)
Grier Goal (2)
Fleury 26/28

Giguere 20/25 in 34:43
Bryzgalov 6/7 in 24:43
Weight Goal (5)
Bertuzzi Goal (6)
Moen/Getzlaf Assists

[onlybygrace]

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

Pens Take Commanding 3-1 Series Lead

Anaheim 2, Pittsburgh 5
1 2 3 OT T Final ANA (1) 1 1 0 2 PIT (3) 2 0 3 5	, Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, PA

Shots ANA 24 PIT 35

The Pittsburgh Penguins are just one victory away from winning their first Stanley Cup since 1992 as they now hold a commanding 3-1 series lead over the defending champion Ducks of Anaheim.

The scoring would start early tonight when Pavel Bure would score his 14th goal of the postseason just 1:13 into the contest. The Ducks would answer right by just 2 minutes later when Martin Rucinsky would tie the game at 1 with his 4th playoff marker. Chris Kunitz would benifit from some great passing by Evgeni Malkin and Miroslav Satan, scoring his 8th goal of the post season before the end of the 1st to give the Pens a 2-1 lead heading into the second period.

The Ducks would tie the score heading into the 3rd, getting the lone goal of the 2nd period on a shot by Ryan Getzlaf that would hit both posts before hitting Marc-Andre Fleury's skate and crossing the line for a 2-2 draw after 40 minutes of play.

"We knew going into the third that it was win now or go to Anaheim tied at two...so we came out as strong as possible", said Mike Grier who scored twice in the 3rd period, once on an empty net, as the Pens would dominate the frame, outshooting the Ducks 15-4 en route to a 5-2 victory and 3-1 series lead.

The Ducks will fight for their playoff lives less than 48 hours from now as the series shifts back to Anaheim.

Key Stats

Letang Goal (1) 2 Assists
Grier 2 Goals (4)
Kunitz Goal (8)
Bure Goal (14)
Staal/Malkin/Cheechoo Assists
Fleury 22/24

Rucinsky Goal (4) Assist
Getzlaf Goal (7)
Pronger Assist
Bryzgalov 30/34

[onlybygrace]

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

Bryzgalov Shuts Out Pens In Game 5 Victory

Pittsburgh 0, Anaheim 2
1 2 3 OT T Final PIT (3) 0 0 0 0 ANA (2) 1 1 0 2	, Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, CA

Shots PIT 31 ANA 28

Anaheim (AP)--

The Ducks are still alive.

Ilya Brzgalov was dominant tonight in a 2-0 shut out victory for the Ducks in game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Ducks would get goals from Todd Bertuzzi in the 1st and Ryan Getzlaf in the 2nd as the Ducks live to fight another day, facing elimination on home ice in game 5 before a standing-room only crowd of 20,767.

The Pens would press hard for the Stanley Cup clinching victory but would be repeatedly shut down by Bryzgalov.

"Very frustrating game...but hey, we still have the lead and are heading back home. It would seem more exciting that way to win in front of our home fans", said Sidney Crosby, trying to stay optimistic about the loss.

The series will now shift back to Mellon Arena for game 6.

Key Stats

Bure, 5 SOG
Fleury 22/24

Bertuzzi Goal (7)
Getzlaf Goal (8)
S. Neidermeyer/Rucinsky Assists
Bryzgalov 31/31

[derrickthomas58]

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

C'mon man!! Close it out!!!

[onlybygrace]

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

Ducks Quacking Pens Code; Force Game 7

Anaheim 4, Pittsburgh 3
1 2 3 OT T Final ANA (3) 1 1 2 4 PIT (3) 1 2 0 3	, Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, PA

Shots ANA 26 PIT 33

Pittsburgh (AP)--

The Pittsburgh Penquins are melting down.

After holding a 3-1 series lead, the Pens find themselves headed back to Anaheim for an epic Game 7 against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Ducks.

The scoring in game 6 would start with Anaheim getting on the board first on a Brad May goal, his 1st of the post season at the 12:17 mark of the 1st frame. The Pens would tie the contest just 2:01 later when Pavel Bure would score one of the greatest goals of the season for the Pens when he would tally on a wrap around immediately after being denied on a breakaway by Ilya Bryzgalov. The score would stay tied 1-1 heading into the 2nd frame.

The Pens would control the 2nd period, scoring twice on a Sidney Crosby rebound and a goal by Chris Kunitz while the Ducks would remain in the hunt, getting Rob Niedermeyer's 2nd playoff marker, sending the Ducks into the 3rd trailing 3-2.

The Ducks would make their move early in the 3rd period getting goals at 2:57 and 5:13 from Travis Moen and Martin Rucinsky as the Ducks force what should be an epic Game 7 in Anaheim two days from now.

"Its all on the line for both teams. We're gonna be completely prepared to give them all we've got left in Anaheim", said Pens head coach Mario Lemieux.

Key Stats

Crosby Goal (12) Assist
Kunitz Goal (9)
Bure Goal (15)
Fleury 22/26

R. Niedermeyer Goal (2)
Rucinsky Goal (5)
Moen Goal (7)
May Goal (1)
Bryzgalov 30/33

[onlybygrace]

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

Pens Win Stanley Cup; Bure Dominates Game 7

Pittsburgh 4, Anaheim 3
1 2 3 OT T Final PIT (4) 2 2 0 4 ANA (3) 0 2 1 3	, Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, CA

Shots PIT 25 ANA 23

Anaheim (AP)--

It took seven games, but the Pittsburgh Penguins have won the Stanley Cup over the defending champion Anaheim Ducks.

The Ducks would suffer a meltdown of massive proportions in Game 7, as the Pens would roar to a 4-0 lead after the first 35 minutes of play getting a pair of goals from Pavel Bure as well as markers from Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal.

The Ducks would turn the tide after a change of goaltenders late in the 2nd period when Samuel Pahlsson would score twice in just 15 seconds to pull the Ducks to within just two of tying the Pens.

Todd Bertuzzi would score early in the 3rd giving the Ducks nearly an entire period to even the score and force OT, but Marc-Andre Fleury would have none of it as he would hold the fort, earning the Pens their first Stanley Cup since they were led to the promised land in 1992 by current head coach Mario Lemieux.

"Its fantastic to win this thing...no matter if you are on the ice or behind the bench, its really special. This is expecially nice because of kids like Sidney, Evgeni, and Jordan who've dreamed of this their entire lifes", said Lemieux of his 3rd Stanley Cup.

Before the Cup was awarded, the NHL crowned Pavel Bure as the Conn Smythe winner as he tallied 17 goals, 7 during the Finals, and 13 assists during the Pens 24 game run to the prize.

"Its an unforgetable feeling. I came close in 1994, but close leaves you scarred...this is just...I don't know...like a healing or something", remarked Bure who scored 16 goals in the Canucks playoff season of 1994.

The Pens will now reign as the Stanley Cup Champions till the big dance next season where a new winner will be crowned. Until then, let the kids dream.

"We want another one. This is so much better than I thought it would be", said Sidney Crosby who was 2nd on the team with 27 playoff points.

Key Stats

Bure 2 Goals (17) Assist
Crosby Goal (13) Assist
Sykora 2 Assists
Staal Goal (11)
Fleury 20/23

Pahlsson 2 Goal (5)
Bertuzzi Goal (8)
R&S Neidermeyer Assists
Bryzgalov 12/16 in 35:14
Giguere 9/9 in 24:46

[derrickthomas58]

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

Nice job winning the Cup!! This dynasty is great. I hope Bure has enough in the tank for another season!!!

[GoldenJet]

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

YES, GO PENS GO!!! The Russia Rocket strikes again. Captain Crosby is in the house!!! WOOOOOTT!!!

Ahem, good job...