Hooks Orpik from Pensburgh gives us a Penguins perspective

by DarrenM on Apr 13, 2010 10:00 AM EDT

You're no doubt tired of reading a bunch of biased ramblings from Senators fans, so we decided to offer our readers something completely different -- a bunch of biased ramblings from a Penguins fan! Hooks Orpik writes at our SB Nation affiliate site Pensburgh, and was kind enough to answer a few questions for us. Enjoy!

1) Why will the Pittsburgh Penguins win this playoff series?

Hooks: Because they're the two time defending Eastern Conference champs who know who to win this time of year, and expect to win this time of year. The Penguins are deeper and better at forward, defense and in goal than the Sens are on paper. Pittsburgh has better and more skill players, tougher grinders and, simply ought to be the better team. Factor in the home-ice advantage (where the Pens are 18-3 in the playoffs since 2008) and the scales are tipped to the Pens. Games, of course, aren't played on paper though.

2) Why will the Pittsburgh Penguins lose this playoff series?

Because Gary Roberts isn't around to torment Ottawa anymore. Kidding. Kind of. The Senators need Anton Volchenkov/Chris Phillips to absolutely shutdown Sidney Crosby, and hope that the clock hasn't struck midnight on Brian Elliott's pumpkin-turned-chariot. Ottawa probably needs guys like Mike Fisher and Chris Kelly to step up and not only play well but to chip in a few goals too. The knock on the Penguins all season long has been consistency, especially defensively. Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza will create their chances, but will they beat Marc-Andre Fleury? If they do, especially early in the series, and Elliott plays his heart out, the balance may just tip to Ottawa.

3) We know all about the skill of Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and Jordan Staal, but which unheralded player should the Senators watch out for?

Since the start of the 2008-09 season, Tyler Kennedy has 5 goals (but 0 assists) in five games that he's played against Ottawa, including 2 game-winners. TK seems to find all the holes in Ottawa's defense and has found a way to make them pay. He's a very "trigger-happy" player that likes to shoot the puck when he gets the chance, and even though he doesn't get any time on the PP, watch out for him anyways.

To throw out another name: Pascal Dupuis has arguably been the Pens best non-star forward since the Olympic break. He's fast, he works hard and he'll create chances. He doesn't always have the hands to finish the opportunities, but he'll be a Top 6 guy, and if he produces points it will be a very good sign for Pittsburgh's success this post-season.

4) Aside from the obvious Stanley Cup championship, what has changed most about the Penguins since the teams last met in the playoffs?

The general maturity level. The Pens were young but untested entering the 1st round of the 2008 playoffs, and their core (Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Fleury, Orpik, Letang, Gonchar, Talbot and Kennedy) has a lot more experience, and obviously success. When the Pens first played Ottawa in '07 they were humbled by frankly a better team that knew what they were doing. Now there can be no doubt that Pittsburgh knows what it takes to be successful this time of year, whereas the Sens obviously haven't been back since getting swept in '08.

Personnel changes have been made, guys have come and gone for both teams. It's no secret that Pittsburgh is built down the middle with Crosby-Malkin-Staal but they arguably are as deep as they ever have been with guys Chris Kunitz (effective when not injured), Bill Guerin (a 20 goal scorer) and Alexei Ponikarovsky (who hasn't stood out since being acquired last month) on the wings. Likewise defensively they are deep with good players, if not having any elite or "shutdown" players.

On top of all of that, after the first round of 2008, Marc-Andre Fleury's career playoff record was 5-4 (all coming against Ottawa). He's 26-14 since then, which is a lot of wins and a lot of games under his belt. The maturity and experience makes this version of the Penguins, from top to bottom, a completely different team from what Ottawa saw the last time around.

5) Final prediction for the series?

If someone predicts a 5 game series it doesn't really seem to honor the other team, as if you're only good enough to take one game. But I honestly, with no disrespect intended, will call Penguins in 5. Hey, they swept Ottawa last time with Crosby on one ankle, and Malkin, Staal and Fleury are only better than two years ago. Sorry, Elliott, but the clock's hit midnight and the defending champions are about to hit their stride.

Our thanks to Hooks for his time, and be sure to check out Pensburgh for additional coverage on the upcoming playoff series. We'll have our own opinions up today at 4pm EST.

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Comments

Great stuff, Darren

I hope he’s wrong!

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Apr 13, 2010 11:24 AM EDT reply actions

I hate the 'knows what it takes to be successful' crap

How to be successful: Be better than the other team.

by Graham MacAree on Apr 13, 2010 11:50 AM EDT reply actions

I have to disagree here..

I’ll try and not be biased.

Obviously Crosby-Malkin-Staal = success. Also a good depth of role players. This is a team to be reckoned with, and very capable of winning another Cup.

BUT Ottawa is perfectly capable of taking this series. The thing Ottawa posseses in spades is grit…this team can wear the opposition down physically with hard forechecking.

They can use this to their advantage against the Pens. The Penguins skilled players…Malkin, Ponikarovsky, Fedotenko, Gonchar, Letang…are soft.
But their gritty players…Kunitz, Dupuis, Talbot, Kennedy, Cooke etc are relatively small..most 6 feet and under.

So Fisher, Michalek, Kelly, Ruutu, Neil, Foligno, Winchester, Smith…Phillips, Volchenkov, Sutton, Carkner…an abundance of grit.

It won’t be easy, and the Sens need to work their arses off…but it’s possible.

by GelatinousMutantCoconut on Apr 13, 2010 12:06 PM EDT reply actions

I think Hooks would admit it's possible

Just unlikely. I think it’s possible the Sens win this thing, but I definitely think the odds are against it.

Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.

by DarrenM on Apr 13, 2010 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

It's hard not to be biased

I think Hooks is underestimating the Senators a little bit. I feel that people want to just label the team as soft because that has been their reputation for so long. But this is not a team that’s going to roll over. I hope the Penguins underestimate them as well. I think that teams who feel they can simply “turn it on” for the playoffs are the easiest to upset… after all, the Sens of years past were always one of those teams.

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Apr 13, 2010 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe I do under-estimate the Sens a little. Phillips/Volchenkov are a great pairing, but they can’t eliminate Crosby AND Malkin at the same time.

And I neve really called Ottawa soft, if anything I don’t think they have the guns to keep up on the scoreboard.

Pensburgh.com

"Don't matter who did what to who at this point. Fact is, we went to war and there ain't no turnin' back. I mean, s---, it's what war is, you know? Once you in it, you in it. If it's a lie, then we fight on that lie. But we gotta fight."

by Hooks Orpik on Apr 13, 2010 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Very true

But the task of eliminating Malkin will fall almost completely on Andy Sutton’s (large) shoulders.

And you’re certainly right that firepower is a question for this team. It was the “tougher grinders” comment that I was referring to.

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Apr 13, 2010 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions

my synapse of game 1...

Sutton/Volchenkov lays a destructive hit on Cooke. Cooke gets all pissy and starts sending cheap shots to the likes of kharlson. Carkner caves in Cookes face.
Pens get angry, but can’t produce because our tough D is shutting them down, and our grit is getting to them. Ruutu will be so far under malkin’s skin he’ll need a shoe-horn to get back out. Meanwhile our first line is making good opportunities, and our 3rd line is out playing theirs.
Comes down to goaltending, and they definitly have the upper hand there.

by High Priest of Alfie on Apr 13, 2010 12:24 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Penguin fans always like to tout that sweep, but they always seem to forget Alfie was injured for I think the first 2 games, then tried to be Superman and miraculously come back from injury early. Alfie is the engine that makes the Sens go. By rights almost anyone knows that 2008 team shouldn’t have made the playoffs and were just lucky the season wasn’t a week longer.

If the Sens can execute their forecheck and play smart physical hockey against the Pens I see no reason Ottawa can’t win this series. When the Sens play like that there are few teams in the league that can cope as they pretty much smother you. The obvious problem is the Sens have had very inconsistent efforts this season, either being red hot or stone cold for stretches.

by modsuperstar on Apr 13, 2010 12:26 PM EDT reply actions

I know, that's why I won't count them out even if they go down 3

Once this team gets hot, who knows how long it could last.

Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.

by DarrenM on Apr 13, 2010 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Coconut is right.

This series is gonna be gritty right off the bat. This is gonna come down to 3rd and 4th lines.

Ruutu is gonna be a menace.

Fisher and Kelly, to some extent, both need to have a good series for us to win.

I dunno though guys, I’m worried!

by oldmonk on Apr 13, 2010 12:32 PM EDT reply actions

We are so screwed

by Jeff Sullivan on Apr 13, 2010 12:32 PM EDT reply actions

Sat it ain't so, Jeff...

www.silversevensens.com

by Peter Raaymakers on Apr 13, 2010 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

NEGATIVE NANCY

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Apr 13, 2010 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions

boooooooooooooooo!

by superjarvo on Apr 13, 2010 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I was worried about the 4-seed at first.

Then I realized Pittsburgh would play Ottawa. Just kidding, guys. =]

Ottawa’s fourth line scares me. That, and Jason Spezza. Other than that, I’m not overly concerned.

I’ll give Ottawa one more than Hooks though: Pens in 6.

by docciavelli on Apr 13, 2010 1:11 PM EDT reply actions

We need more bias here!

Not this ‘realism’ crap!

GOTTA BELIEVE FOLKS!! YA GOTTA!!

by AAZZ on Apr 13, 2010 2:04 PM EDT reply actions

Sens are taking it, 100%

Huuuge series from Kelly, Alfie, Spezz and the Fish.

by oldmonk on Apr 13, 2010 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Wait until you see our predictions

www.silversevensens.com

by Peter Raaymakers on Apr 13, 2010 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Prediction #1

Malkin is a little bitch.

by oldmonk on Apr 13, 2010 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

rec'd

by GelatinousMutantCoconut on Apr 13, 2010 5:02 PM EDT reply actions

To be honest with you, I think its the pens that need to be scared…..sure they have a good top line but thats practically where it ends…..ottawa is the deepest team in the league.

by alfie4PM on Apr 13, 2010 11:49 PM EDT reply actions

That's ridiculous

Ottawa is not the deepest team in the league, and the Pens have quite the balanced scoring attack.

I think what the Pens ought to be afraid of is the truculence and belligerence that Ottawa brings. The style of forecheck and defensive coverage Clouston pushes for will annoy the shit out of Pittsburgh skaters and take a physical toll if the series goes long.

by LeTigre on Apr 14, 2010 2:52 AM EDT up reply actions