by Brandt Corbin
When the puck gets dropped between Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh, one thing will be apparent right away Brooks Orpik will go head to head with Steven Stamkos. The amount of lee-way Orpik gets from the officials could be a make it or break it point in this series. The Penguins as a whole will try and make this a nasty hard fought series, will Tampa will want the compete opposite, not being built for a tougher series.
Despite having a goaltending edge, the Penguins have to make this series as low scoring as possible, it is highly unlikely Sidney Crosby will be back for round 1. Not including Crosby, the Pens only have 2 (20) goa scorers, then it they have Pascal Dupuis with only 16 goals. They will drive the net as hard as possible, seeking 2nd and 3rd chances, as they hack and whack at Dwayne Rolloson, the veteran will need to keep his cool, which he has a hard time doing.
Vincent Lecavlier will be a huge key to the series. If the Penguins manage to shut down Stamkos and Martin St.Louis, the Tampa captain has to step up and take the bull by the horns. If anything he has come on strong in the send half of the season. Same thing can be said for his linemates, Ryan Malone and Teddy Purcel have to be noticable and not take nights off.
When its all said and done, if James Neal 1 goal in 20 games as a Penguin, and Alexei Kovalev 2 goals in 19 games, do not start producing it could be a short series. Especially if Tampa's role players out score the Pens role players. Pittsburgh has the best defense end in this series, but they will have a tough time shutting down Stamkos & St.Louis. Both are in the top 5 of league scoring with 90 + points.
I see Pittsburgh having 1 chance in the series, that again is to pound and pound the smaller softer Lightning forward, but they have to do this while staying out of the penalty box. If this series goes to 7 games, I like Pittsburgh, because they have the expierence in the past couple of years unlike alot of Tampa.
But I like Tampa Bay in 6 games
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