GameDay Poop: The Pittsburgh Penguins vs Carolina Hurricanes – Preview

The Penguins need to come out firing on all cylinders, the Capitals series was too close for comfort and to beat the Carolina Hurricanes, the Penguins need to take the Canes seriously and not look ahead to a rematch with Detroit.  Carolina has won two series in the last minutes of game seven in both and the Penguins must play to keep them out of game seven.

The Hurricanes have won their last 6 playoff rounds and they are an experienced, well coached team of crafty, hustling veterans and must be treated as such. They earned their way to this round and are just a hungry as the Penguins are to make it to the next.

Jordan Staal has a family? Did you know that Jordan Staal has an older brother that plays in the NHL? If amazingly somehow you didn’t before, you will know by the time the series is over. You will know the sod farm they worked on, which one the parents are rooting for and will see family pictures out the wazoo. To help get you through this we are including a link to the Staal Brothers Drinking Game: click here:  “OFFICIAL STAAL BROTHER DRINKING GAME RULES”

Brooks Orpik hit Eric Cole, Really? Another thing you will hear about a zillion times is the hit that Brooks Orpik put on Eric Cole. It was not a clean hit, but Cole saw it coming and tried to duck under it. Orpik was suspended, Cole was injured and did not come back until two games before his team won the cup, they later had a fight over it, it’s over and done, or is it? “I’m always going to have thoughts about it, for sure,” Cole just said in an interview

The Mystery that is Colin Campbell: During last series Scott Walker of the Hurricanes was deemed by the referee of a game to be the instigator in an altercation in the final five minutes of a game when he sucker punched Bruins defenseman Aaron Ward. An automatic suspension right? Wrong! Colin Campbell, the NHL’s Sheriff and the same guy who never said a word about Ovechkin’s dirty hit, overturned the suspension and Scotty Walker played on. In Walkers defense, a few seconds before he sucker punched the Bruin’s Aaron Ward, Ward drilled Walkers team mate Matthew Cullen with a vicious elbow to the head.

Fleury vs Ward: Many people are saying the game could come down to the two goaltenders, don’t believe it. The Penguins fire power and defensive ability has been refined while playing through two of the roughest teams in the Eastern Conference. The numbers lie and this series will prove it. It’s Fleury’s 9.01 save percentage against Cam Ward’s 9.27 save percentage. But this time Ward is the one facing the firepower of two of the top 3 scorers in the NHL post season.

Recognize any of these people?  This group was spotted with their girlfriends at a Pirate game over the weekend? I see girls with signs at the arena asking Jordan Staal if he has a girlfriend. Looks to me like maybe he does.  Who’s that guy on the cell phone on the top right hand side?

You lost me at nothing! Raleigh, Carolina resident Bill Cowher has been seen ringing the Hurricane warning at the opening of Canes games and hanging around with Ron Francis.  “I tell you what, I’ve got a better feel for the Hurricane team right now, to be honest with you, than I do for the Penguin team.” Cowher said.  Born and raised in Munhall and long time Pittsburgh Steeler coach Bill Cowher has been silent about which team he’s rooting for.  A Pittsburgh fan would never be silent.  If he doesn’t speak up and claim to be rooting for the Penguins, he should never bother stepping foot in Pittsburgh again.

Penguins Fab Five:  Penguins  recalled 5  players from the WBS Penguins, the five players include forwards Dustin Jeffrey, Christopher Minard and Jeff Taffe, defenseman Ben Lovejoy and goaltender John Curry.  What about Janne Pesonen?

Quick Quotes:
Eric Staal: “I’m due for a really big game”
Jordan Staal: “So am I, I’m going to break out in this series like crazy.”

Game 1 is at 7:30PM tonight and can be seen in high definition at both the Igloo and on VERSUS