With the Flyers' half of our first monthly Predictions & Prophecies segment complete here at OBG, it's time to jump right into the Penguins half.
Here are your October Predictions & Prophecies for the Penguins:
Predictions
10/2 vs. Rangers: I trust that the Penguins and their fans will be feeling more than energetic when they celebrate their championship and raise their banner. The question is whether or not they'll be focused enough to channel that energy into the game. I've come to expect this sort of focus from the Penguins, but a summer of celebrating a Stanley Cup can change that. Penguins strike first, but Rangers make a hard-earned comeback, and win it 4-2.
10/3 at Islanders: I know I'm going out on a limb here, but with Crosby nursing an injury, two games in two nights will be a lot. The Penguins will get upended yet again, and I get the feeling this night will belong to the Islanders' number one overall pick, John Tavares. He gets his first NHL goal, and the Penguins lose 4-2 yet again.
10/7 vs. Coyotes: Nothing like a team in a massive financial pickle to get you back on your feet. A convincing 5-0 win for the Penguins.
10/8 at Flyers: The rivalry renewed! The Flyers are going to be driven to do anything they can towards amending their Game 6 embarrassment from the year before. This time, the Flyers take the lead and don't look back, taking this one 4-2.
10/10 at Maple Leafs: This one ends up being a close game that goes into shootout, with a 2-2 score. In the shootout, the Penguins take the extra point thanks to a clutch shot by Sidney Crosby. He's baaaaack......
10/12 at Senators: This isn't a good year to be a Senators fan, plain and simple. Marc-Andre Fleury earns his second shutout in four games. 3-0 is your final score.
10/14 at Hurricanes: The 'Canes are undoubtedly embarrassed after getting swept by the Penguins last year, and they have a lot of motivation to get some revenge. They turn the tides on the Penguins thanks to a gem of an effort in net by Cam Ward. Carolina wins it 4-1.
10/17 vs. Lightning: Wouldn't it be interesting if Anterro Niittymaki played in this one? Okay, maybe not, but in a blog about the Flyers and Penguins rivalry, it would pass as eyebrow-raising. That being said, let's assume Niitty plays. I still don't think the Lightning will win this one, even though it would make for a good story. Penguins take this one 6-1.
10/20 vs. Blues: The second game of this five-game home stand goes just about as well as the first. Penguins win again, 4-3.
10/23 vs. Panthers: A bit of an off night for the Penguins, as they get a bit too complacent after a couple strong outings. Panthers win it in overtime 4-3.
10/24 vs. Devils: Marc-Andre Fleury and Martin Brodeur have a brilliant goalie duel, but Fleury is able to edge his elder, and the Penguins win in overtime, 2-1.
10/28 vs. Canadiens: The brand spankin' new Canadiens look great, making for a blockbuster matchup that will be made even more interesting by Hal Gill's return to Pittsburgh. Canadiens take this one 5-3.
10/30 at Blue Jackets: It isn't a long trip to Columbus, so the flight home won't be a long one figuratively or literally after the Penguins take down the Jackets 5-1.
10/31 vs. Wild: Another homecoming, this time for Petr Sykora. He'll score a goal or two but the Penguins will still win by a final score of 3-2. They go into an early November road trip feeling upbeat...
Penguins' October Record: 8-5-1
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Prophecies:
Player of the Month: Evgeni Malkin
Player Most Likely to be Injured: Sergei Gonchar
Surprise Contributor of the Month: Ruslan Fedotenko
Disappointment of the Month: Sidney Crosby
Most Goals: Evgeni Malkin
Most Points: Evgeni Malkin
Goon of the Month: Matt Cooke
Penguins' Overall Monthly Grade: B-
Showing posts with label Predictions and Prophecies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Predictions and Prophecies. Show all posts
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Flyers' October Predictions & Prophecies
Well hockey fans, whether you believe it or not, the season starts tonight. It’s an earlier start than normal this season because of the Winter Olympics, and with September just finishing yesterday, it doesn’t feel like hockey season yet. However, I for one am certainly not complaining, and I’m eagerly excited for the start of Flyers hockey and Pitt hockey tomorrow, as well as indifferent about the start of Penguins hockey tomorrow.
Now, with the season kicking off tomorrow, it’s time to give out OBG’s first monthly Predictions & Prophecies entries. Predictions & Prophecies will include two parts- the first of which includes game-by-game predictions for the upcoming month (originally, the entire season was to be covered in a game-by-game format, but the idea of doing it one month at a time seems a bit more reasonable and less maddening for yours truly). These predictions will be oddly specific, to the point where having every one of them ending up correct would be even more impressive than me conjuring up the meaning of life, solving world hunger, and creating world peace by tomorrow night. That being said, I may be setting the bar a bit too high, but for the sake of entertainment, I’m going to sacrifice my dreams of becoming a prophet in the name of hockey blogging.
These previews will contain two separate posts- one for the Flyers, and one for the Penguins. The Flyers’ post will always come first (feel free to resurrect Sigmund Freud and have him analyze why I’m doing things that way), and every round of game predictions will be followed by a second part to the post, which will feature other predictions and assorted prophecies pertaining to the upcoming month (hence the name Predictions & Prophecies). They will also come without explanations, although I will happily respond to comments that ask for them, or comments that debate anything I predict or prophesize.
So, with no further ado, let’s kick off with the Flyers’ October Predictions & Prophecies!
Predictions
10/2 @ Hurricanes: Both working off new contracts, Ray Emery and Cam Ward look great, but the ‘Canes get the edge in overtime, by a final score of 3-2.
10/3 @ Devils: Emery continues to impress. The Flyers score early, and never look back. Flyers win it 4-2.
10/6 vs. Capitals: That whole goalie situation the Capitals have doesn’t look too promising, but Alexander the Great is always a threat. He and the Capitals win in a shootout, 4-3.
10/8 vs. Penguins: This will be a slobber knocker no doubt, and tensions will be at a boil. However, the Flyers are thirsty for revenge, and are wiser from their past experience. Flyers win 5-2.
10/10 vs. Ducks: Welcome back to Philly Joffery Lupul! It’s a good reunion, and Lupul will be at his best without a doubt. Chris Pronger will have trouble playing tough against his old teammates. Flyers strike first, but Ducks unleash a flurry of offense with four straight tallies, and they win it 4-2.
10/16 @ Panthers: Panthers look pretty bad without Jay Bouwmeester. Flyers win 3-1.
10/22 vs. Bruins: Only three games over a twelve day span? How the heck does that happen? Having only played one game since the 10th, the Flyers are cold against one of the league’s best teams, who also happen to be their eventual Winter Classic opponents. Bruins win it 6-1.
10/24 vs. Panthers: Flyers make up for the previous game, and the Panthers continue a dreadful start to the season. The Flyers’ offense continues a strong start, leading to a 5-2 victory.
10/25 vs. Sharks: A blockbuster matchup that lives up to the hype. In the end, the Sharks best the Flyers (as has often been the case over the last few years) in a shootout, 2-1.
10/27 @ Capitals: Capitals continue their quest for revenge against the Flyers. They meet success in this quest, beating the Flyers on national television for the second time in the month of October, by a score of 5-2.
10/31 vs. Hurricanes: Chris Pronger wears a scary costume for Halloween- his jersey. What could be more appropriate for Halloween than a giant dressed in orange and black? Flyers win this one, 3-1.
Flyers’ October Record: 6-2-3
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Prophecies
Player of the Month: Jeff Carter
Player Most Likely to be Injured: Daniel Briere
Surprise Contributor of the Month: Mika Pyorala
Disappointment of the Month: Mike Richards
Most Goals: Jeff Carter
Most Points: Jeff Carter
Goon of the Month: Chris Pronger
Overall Monthly Grade: C+
Now, with the season kicking off tomorrow, it’s time to give out OBG’s first monthly Predictions & Prophecies entries. Predictions & Prophecies will include two parts- the first of which includes game-by-game predictions for the upcoming month (originally, the entire season was to be covered in a game-by-game format, but the idea of doing it one month at a time seems a bit more reasonable and less maddening for yours truly). These predictions will be oddly specific, to the point where having every one of them ending up correct would be even more impressive than me conjuring up the meaning of life, solving world hunger, and creating world peace by tomorrow night. That being said, I may be setting the bar a bit too high, but for the sake of entertainment, I’m going to sacrifice my dreams of becoming a prophet in the name of hockey blogging.
These previews will contain two separate posts- one for the Flyers, and one for the Penguins. The Flyers’ post will always come first (feel free to resurrect Sigmund Freud and have him analyze why I’m doing things that way), and every round of game predictions will be followed by a second part to the post, which will feature other predictions and assorted prophecies pertaining to the upcoming month (hence the name Predictions & Prophecies). They will also come without explanations, although I will happily respond to comments that ask for them, or comments that debate anything I predict or prophesize.
So, with no further ado, let’s kick off with the Flyers’ October Predictions & Prophecies!
Predictions
10/2 @ Hurricanes: Both working off new contracts, Ray Emery and Cam Ward look great, but the ‘Canes get the edge in overtime, by a final score of 3-2.
10/3 @ Devils: Emery continues to impress. The Flyers score early, and never look back. Flyers win it 4-2.
10/6 vs. Capitals: That whole goalie situation the Capitals have doesn’t look too promising, but Alexander the Great is always a threat. He and the Capitals win in a shootout, 4-3.
10/8 vs. Penguins: This will be a slobber knocker no doubt, and tensions will be at a boil. However, the Flyers are thirsty for revenge, and are wiser from their past experience. Flyers win 5-2.
10/10 vs. Ducks: Welcome back to Philly Joffery Lupul! It’s a good reunion, and Lupul will be at his best without a doubt. Chris Pronger will have trouble playing tough against his old teammates. Flyers strike first, but Ducks unleash a flurry of offense with four straight tallies, and they win it 4-2.
10/16 @ Panthers: Panthers look pretty bad without Jay Bouwmeester. Flyers win 3-1.
10/22 vs. Bruins: Only three games over a twelve day span? How the heck does that happen? Having only played one game since the 10th, the Flyers are cold against one of the league’s best teams, who also happen to be their eventual Winter Classic opponents. Bruins win it 6-1.
10/24 vs. Panthers: Flyers make up for the previous game, and the Panthers continue a dreadful start to the season. The Flyers’ offense continues a strong start, leading to a 5-2 victory.
10/25 vs. Sharks: A blockbuster matchup that lives up to the hype. In the end, the Sharks best the Flyers (as has often been the case over the last few years) in a shootout, 2-1.
10/27 @ Capitals: Capitals continue their quest for revenge against the Flyers. They meet success in this quest, beating the Flyers on national television for the second time in the month of October, by a score of 5-2.
10/31 vs. Hurricanes: Chris Pronger wears a scary costume for Halloween- his jersey. What could be more appropriate for Halloween than a giant dressed in orange and black? Flyers win this one, 3-1.
Flyers’ October Record: 6-2-3
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Prophecies
Player of the Month: Jeff Carter
Player Most Likely to be Injured: Daniel Briere
Surprise Contributor of the Month: Mika Pyorala
Disappointment of the Month: Mike Richards
Most Goals: Jeff Carter
Most Points: Jeff Carter
Goon of the Month: Chris Pronger
Overall Monthly Grade: C+
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