Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins Rested up for Game 1 – NHL Playoffs Update
After both teams won their respective series 4-1 in the 2013 National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins are well rested and ready to go at it when Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals comes around.
With over a week to rest, go over the next strategy and practice, both teams should be fresh and have no reasons for not being able to perform at their peak levels come Game 1.
Pittsburgh Penguins took down the Ottawa Senators in five games, as did the Boston Bruins with New York Rangers. Both teams will certainly be playing like they have never did before, but Boston has one edge over the Penguins and that is the fact they are
the most recent team of the two to have won the Stanley Cup championship.
“It's been productive,” Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby said. “We've prepared and rested up. We all know what is coming and we'll be ready for [Saturday].”
What will be really exciting and something to look forward to is a team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, which are mainly offensive players, going up against the Boston Bruins, who have defensemen dominating the scene.
Talking about Boston captain and top defenseman, Zdeno Chara, Crosby does seem to be a little hesitant going into the series and having to face him, especially considering his monstrous size and playing ability.
“I'm sure [Chara]'s going to get both of us,” Crosby added. “It seems he's always out there. He plays a lot of minutes. I wouldn't be surprised to see him play both of us, depending on situations.”
Boston will definitely be looking to quarantine Sidney Crosby as much as possible, especially since he is one of the few players in the NHL who can play under significant pressure and get the job done.
“Every team is pretty physical in the playoffs,” Crosby stated. “I think [Boston is] known for being a physical team, but there is only so many hits you can get in a game, opportunities to do it, so I'm sure they are not going to pass them up. With that
being said, I don't feel like other teams necessarily have either. I think that is just part of playing playoff hockey.”
In the NHL Playoffs thus far, Sidney Crosby has seven goals and eight assists to his name and should be looking to build on that when Pittsburgh and Boston meet for Game 1 on Saturday.
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