More good games tonight... I'm really not as disappointed as I was last year that the Penguins got eliminated. Tampa was just a better team. I am sort of pulling for them or Boston now in the 2nd round, but more Boston... I like Tampa I just don't know that, after they actually had trouble with Pittsburgh, that they can compete with a team like Washington who have grit, depth, and scoring talent... The lack of a power play for us killed our chances of moving on. Washington, in theory, shouldn't have that same disability hampering them.
Boston I like... I think they just needed to get past their first round and they're going to be a much stronger team, and could really give Philly fits.
I'm bummed, but they got a standing O from the fans after the game because they never should've been where they were in the first place. I'd have liked to have seen that power play change though, and I'm irked Bylsma didn't seem to want to do a whole lot of shifting around here. Regardless, I think every team in the west right now is pretty superior. Not a lot in the East matches up well.
And absolutely, Roloson was playing well, but I think their defensive play was every bit as big as anything Roloson was doing. Our offensive talent was non-existant though, and the lack of Cooke was huge. I brought that up to some local reporters, and they all agreed. He's maybe the best penalty killer on the team aside from Fleury... He's also a potent offensive threat, and the Cooke/Staal/Kennedy line was maybe our best going into the playoffs (without Malkin/Crosby). *shrugs* That hurt bigtime.
I'm going to be bummed that Kovalev won't be here to play with Malkin/Crosby. He isn't the player he was when he was here last, but he's still got the hands, and I'd have liked to have seen him with Malkin. I think that could've brought a lot of life to his game (and Malkin's as well). Fortunately he was basically a freebie for the playoffs... And who knows, maybe he likes it here. I guess he owns a home here or something, and was happy to be back, so maybe he'll want to see how next season pans out.