Playoff Time!!!!

Well the regular season has come to an end with the Pittsburgh Penguins finishing second in the Eastern Conference to the Montreal Canadiens. It was a season filled with obstacles that seemed impossible for the Penguins to overcome, for instance, the injuries to captain Sidney Crosby and starting goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, but they did, and they ended up winning the Atlantic Division. Since the Pens finished second they will be taking on the Ottawa Senators, a team that seemed to be "world beaters" in the beginning of the season and a team that was hoped to be avoided at least until the second round, in the first round. Although the Senators got off to a torrid start, they have really struggled since late November. The Senators troubles really came into focus when the Pens beat them on Thanksgiving Day in a shootout. After that game the Senators have not been anywhere near the team they were last season. The Senators have had the worst record in the NHL since January 1, 2008. They have been plagued with injuries as well losing two of their three star forwards at the same time. Not only have the Senators struggled with injuries, they have had some on and off ice problems with last season's starting goalie, Ray Emery. Just as things seemed to look a little brighter at the end of the tunnel for the Sens, Daniel Alfredsson and Mike Mike Fisher were both hit and injured in the Sens second to last game of the season against the Toronto Maple Leafs and have been virtually ruled out for the series against the Pens. This is a huge loss for the Sens which should benefit the Penguins and help them reach that coveted round two.

Key Players:

Pens: Evegeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, Marian Hossa, and especially Marc-Andre Fleury. Fleury will have to keep this current hot streak up into the playoffs in order for the Pens to go far and the Pens "Big Three" will have to produce some serious offence.

Sens: Dany Heatly, Jason Spezza, and Martin Gerber. Heatly has been nearly invisible when Daniel Alfredsson has been out of the lineup and Jason Spezza has been streaky this season and has had some injury trouble as well, so he will have to keep his head on a swivel at all times. Martin Gerber hasn't had any playoff runs worth getting worried over if you are a Pens fan, but he hasn't been bad this season, but as of late he has been struggling along with the rest of the Senators squad.

I will have my playoff predictions posted sometime tomorow evening because I will be in attendence of the Pirates game tomorow afternoon enjoying some time away from school. Lets Go Pens!!!!