What a glorious sports morning for those whose shrines are adorned in the Black and Gold. The Pittsburgh Penguins advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight season by demolishing the upstart Washington Capitals with a 6-2 margin. For those that missed the game, let me add that the lopsided score wasn't nearly indicative of how over matched and outplayed the Caps were.
For anyone who doubted just who the best player in the series, and in the NHL for that matter, is, well, it's pretty clear now. He wears an 87, and more importantly a "C". Sid Crosby was everything that a Conn Smythe candidate should be last night, as he spearheaded an early wave of high tempo/high skill hockey that was simply too much of a good thing for the Red Wave.
Although Crosby led an assault that any infantry general would be proud of, the signature play of the game (and series), was the highlight reel worthy snare that MAF pulled against Alex Ovechkin on a breakaway early in the contest. That save was the first puff of gas released from what became a rapidly deflating balloon, otherwise known as the Capitals' effort.
In the end, the true hero was coach Dan Bylsma, who simply had his team more focused and more determined for the supposedly epic struggle on enemy grounds. The Penguins' early onslaught not only silenced the hostile mob of red clad faithful, it actually stunned them. Just like the series clincher against the Flyers, Bylsma inspired his soldiers to play like killers, and the results were impressive. The fact that his team played at such a high tempo in an emotionally charged Game 7, without committing a single penalty, is a true statement to the poise that was displayed both on the ice and behind the bench.
It's truly amazing that in three short months Bylsma has steered this once floundering vessel from the purgatory of a missed playoffs to the warm waters of the final four.
