Iron Crotch

The Preds are the best team in the league in the 2nd period. This game isn't over.

Went back and re-watched the first penalty. Horquist just fell down. Wasn't even touched by Jarnkrok. Oof.

Thanks, NHL. Gotta make sure their poster child Crosby stays happy.

Nice dive there, Horny. (not the Neal call, the other one)

There's the NHL... taking steps to remove as much scoring as possible from the game. Urgh.

I hate these offside challenges. Right or wrong, it kills all of the momentum in the game.

Go out and take it! ...solid life advice. The Pittsburgh crowd is very tame compared to the crowds down here in Nashville. They're too used to winning, I think.

To change the mood in this thread, this is for the few around here who like the old school thrash...

My first (and maybe only?) chance to attend a Cup final in person. Nashville has gone hockey mad, so I expect a super-charged atmosphere in Bridgestone Arena for Game 3 and 4. Should be around 10,000 watching on the big screen outside of Bridgestone Arena for Game 1 in Pittsburgh tomorrow. Win or lose it was a great season for the Preds.

Laviolette is one of only four coaches in the history of the league to take three different teams to the Cup finals.

My take is they were calling the usual penalties in the Preds - Ducks series. The Pittsburgh - Ottawa series though looked like rugby on skates. That last game was ridiculous.

Over $1000 to even get into the arena for the games in Nashville. I've been to every home Preds playoff game over the past 8 years, but I'm half tempted to sell my seats for Game 3 or 4 since I could probably get around $4000 for the pair.

I think it would have ended far sooner if they'd have called even a few of the trips, slashes, interference, high sticks, .... The Pens are clearly the better all-around team... yet here we are...

Yeah, all of the NBC guys seem to want the Pens to win.

I doubt anyone in the hockey universe expects the Penguins to lose Game 7 at home... but strange things can happen in Game 7's, so who knows!

Ottawa hanging in there. That goal got the crowd fired up. I'm rooting for a Game 7 - Go Sens!

Before moving to Nashville I thought it'd be a bunch of country folks who didn't know when to cheer. I was wrong. Knowledge of the game is probably at 95-98% of what it is up north - they know the game well, but do miss a few subtleties that you'd only get if you grew up playing hockey. But, fan enthusiasm in Nashville is off the charts and the barn is always crazy loud. The arena was built for concerts, so the acoustics are better than any arena I've been to. And, the arena experience is second to none. The games are an event down here. For the first time in franchise history, the Preds sold out every home game this year. And, that's not because anyone really thought this team would make a Cup run. It's been a slow build down here and the love affair with the team and with the game has grown year-over-year. Took about 20 years to reach critical mass. The Cup run is just icing on the cake.

From my semi-drunk vantage point at the three Preds home games (blue line, front row, club level), Fowler was the Ducks' best defenseman this series. Really good passer. That was an insanely fun game to attend. Downtown Nashville was a giant party last night!

Unsubstantiated rumor down here is Fisher has a broken eye socket. I'd be surprised if he plays tonight. Without Johansen and Fisher, Pekka Rinne needs to stop everything like he did on Saturday. Go Preds!

Ottawa won a Cup before. The last was 1927. :flirt:

I've never been in an arena as electric as Bridgestone Arena during the playoffs. There is an energy in there that I've never seen before. Can't wait for Thursday's game!

Look for me in the crowd tomorrow night in Nashville. I'll be wearing yellow. ;)

Personally, I find ultra-defensive hockey to be ultra-boring. The team that gets a lucky bounce will win. I dunno...

The Ducks (especially Kessler & Perry) play a dirty game, but I also don't blame them. Refs tend to put away the whistles during the playoffs, so if stuff isn't getting called then why not push the boundaries of the rules?

They'll analyze the crap out of it, but the difference in this one IMHO was Pekka Rinne wasn't on his game. Let in 4 of the first 16 shots.