By: Chris Nosek
One of the biggest surprises this year has been the Pittsburgh Penguins. Just about everyone had them finishing the season in the lottery conversation. Many were speculating where Crosby would be traded to when the trade deadline came around. Instead, they finished second in the Metropolitan Division and are now hosting the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round. This will certainly be a great matchup to watch.
The Peguins have a clear advantage when it comes to playoff and championship experience. Their trio of Crosby, Malkin, and Letang has won two Stanley Cups together, while Crosby and Malkin have three. Pittsburgh seems to have a perfect mix of youth in its lineup. They also have a goaltender, Stuart Skinner, who has been to back-to-back Stanley Cup finals. Meanwhile, the Flyers don’t have anyone who’s been to a Cup Final, let alone won a championship.
The Flyers have been able to scrap together all season, and Dan Vladar has been solid enough to keep them in every game he’s played. They’re too good to go down without a fight, and without taking a game or two. However, the 82-game regular season shows just how much better the Penguins are than the Flyers. Players like Crosby, Malkin, Karlsson, and Letang will help Ben Kindle and Egor Chinakov prepare for the matchup. In the end, the Penguins will prove to be too much, especially given their home ice advantage. Penguins should advance past this series.
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