Pens/Bolts-Eastern Conference Finals

[torontoeers]

Undefeated after 2 periods streak this season now gone......no back-to-back losses since January streak now gone.......home ice advantage in the series now gone. Regrettably, the Bolts are getting better while the Pens simply are not. Killorn keeps killing them, Kucherov's slump is a distant memory, they can't keep that big ape Sustr off the damned board, and that little prick Tyler Johnson pulls a Kuhnhackl on the game winner.

Will also be interesting to see if HCMJ goes back to Murray for Game 6, because nothing I saw tonight from Flower gives me much confidence in him in a win-or-go-home road game. Also, I'll be interested to hear how much they feel as though they missed Daley.

Man o man...when they were up 2-0 I gotta admit I felt pretty good and even after they tied it I felt pretty much same. Still thought the Pens were showing enough energy to pull it out. When Kunitz scored the roof came off the joint!.....BUT...That Kucherov goal late honestly had me worried at that point. I agree CM Flower simply cannot let that Killorn goal in...I will say I was in favour of keeping Murray in the cage for game 5 but also realized the massive pressure was there to go with the starter, and thus I suppose I can't fault them for the decision. Had they started Murray and result was same ,I think the backlash is likely more...
As per Letang I agree with Ron. To my eyes he floated between looking solid to downright awful at times ZERO consistency. No Daley hurt and will continue to do so. One play with Maatta streaking in deep had me up outta my seat cheering, and 2 minutes later just a horrific giveway that Rust (I think) bailed him out on...no consistency there either.
One question fellas...how did Flower or the D look on that GWG? It was at the far end from us and as you can imagine as soon as the red light came on it was a mass exodus of disappointment and I haven't been able to watch the 'highlight' yet....

One more thing...I promise I'm done with CEC for this year lol...although perhaps the Pens are too unless they figure out a way to get it done down south on Tues...easier said than done at this point...however NOT impossible. Oh and who's between the pipes on Tues guys? Anyone with a gut feel on this one? I honestly think it's 50/50....

Arrrggh!!!!

 

[COOL MAN]

Man, few things in life remain worse than the morning after a major loss.

At least the public hanging (and I don't mean YOUR comments, t) of the top $30 million of their payroll is in full gear this morning. The one thing I will say this morning is that I just don't see this supposed superiority local media keeps selling us of the Pens roster.

I appreciate the fact Stamkos is out, though he probably never was even remotely as close to dressing this series as the TBL wanted to imply. But the loss of Bishop clearly is a full scale red herring given the way Vasilevskiy has played. Using Killorn's last night as the standard for a "bad goal" , has Vasilevsky given up a SINGLE "bad" goal in the first 5 games of this series ??

But with all the fairly justifiable complaints about Flower last night, the disappearing act of Sid and Letang (to me, Geno has done little thus far to inspire ANY confidence he can contribute in an appreciable way the rest of this series) was most troubling. Not that it matters, but Letang appears to have regressed SO much that I can't help but wonder if he's finally hit the wall physically.

As for Sid, your guess is as good as mine.....last night made it appear as though he was playing hurt or sick. Unfortunately, guys like Sid (in games like this) just don't earn credit for gutting it out. I sense the Bolts feel as though they have the Pens emotionally (and presumably physically) on the ropes; perhaps justifiably.

Of course, as has been the case in Game 4 of BOTH series, momentum is always one game away from flipping.

 

[COOL MAN]

The game winner definitely deflected in off Tyler Johnson's back, just like Kuhnhackl's goal earlier in the playoffs. Proved to me.....last night, at least.....the Lord was rooting for Tampa (at least late in the game).

 

[Euell]

Ugh. This one hurts boys. Letang was pure garbage and Fleury was shakey all game. And where was Sid? We've wasted two opportunities to get a stranglehold on this series. If Murray isn't in net Tuesday we have no chance. Guess we'll see what this team is made of fellas.

Each of the last two goals Letang was in the area doing nothing to help defend. While I was a proponent of playing MAF last night, I agree Murray should be in the net tomorrow night.

 

[Euell]

Undefeated after 2 periods streak this season now gone......no back-to-back losses since January streak now gone.......home ice advantage in the series now gone. Regrettably, the Bolts are getting better while the Pens simply are not. Killorn keeps killing them, Kucherov's slump is a distant memory, they can't keep that big ape Sustr off the damned board, and that little prick Tyler Johnson pulls a Kuhnhackl on the game winner.

Will also be interesting to see if HCMJ goes back to Murray for Game 6, because nothing I saw tonight from Flower gives me much confidence in him in a win-or-go-home road game. Also, I'll be interested to hear how much they feel as though they missed Daley.

I would play MM. Hopefully, the couple days break will have him playing like he was against Rangers and Craps.

 

[torontoeers]

Each of the last two goals Letang was in the area doing nothing to help defend. While I was a proponent of playing MAF last night, I agree Murray should be in the net tomorrow night.

I think it was the 2nd Pens goal where I saw Sid down low (where OM1 often likes to see him!) In the corner in front of us when he kicked it back to the point to Letang (I even said to the wife 'look here at this' lol) and with good traffic in front BOOM! A manufactured chance capitalized on....Unfortunately there were about a half dozen other incidents I was scratching my head at 58's play, in fact cursing it. Maybe CM's right and he's hit a wall here...and with no Daley it looked worse than ever this playoff...Yes I think Sully almost has to play Murray now but still not sure that will happen. Gut check time for all of them now...win or else!

 

[torontoeers]

The game winner definitely deflected in off Tyler Johnson's back, just like Kuhnhackl's goal earlier in the playoffs. Proved to me.....last night, at least.....the Lord was rooting for Tampa (at least late in the game).

Eeeesh! Sure seems that way doesn't it...

 

[COOL MAN]

Regarding who's in goal tomorrow night, this has obviously turned into HCMS's worst possible nightmare.

I suspect public outcry is already solidly back in Murray's favor. Though under the assumption Flower didn't run out of gas last night.....and after seeing only 25 SOG, that shouldn't have been the case......you have to think he'd play somewhat better tomorrow night, if for no other reason, because he'll simply be more used to seeing pucks from colors other than black and gold.

But I don't see how Sully doesn't go back to Murray; though speaking only for myself, I don't have confidence another change guarantees much of anything at a position seemingly growing weaker by the game. Maybe he figures you can't (or shouldn't) dump an elimination game in Murray's lap with a vet like Fleury (presumably) begging for a chance at redemption.

Meanwhile, perhaps the biggest killer to me was the fact that a few things actually went the Pens way last night; not one but two goals in the last minute of the period including Dumoulin's (in itself, a break) with nothing left the clock.......Maatta (I think) doesn't get penalized for that clean trip on the Bolts player after Letang's double-minor high stick.....and Fleury was hugely lucky not to have kicked Callahan's post-ringer back into his own net when it skidded down the goal line.

Meanwhile, just as there was more pressure on the Pens last night, the pressure now falls to the Bolts to close it out on home ice. Of course, they're playing better as a team, and have proven they can win coming from behind as much as two goals (which is a lot in the playoffs). But the Pens are now are expected to go down tomorrow just as Tampa was expected to lose Game 4 (and to a lesser extent, Game 5). Hopefully, the Pens can use the "Us vs. the World" approach which has worked so well for the Bolts over the last 3 days.

But,. assuming Vasilevskiy doesn't melt down, they Bolts are probably in a decent position even if they do lose tomorrow.......especially since they've already beaten the Pens twice in Pittsburgh in the past 6 days..

 

[COOL MAN]

Well, Rob Rossi fired a cheap-shot heat-seeker at the Penguins this morning; but while I admit I've grown to dislike Rossi much of the time since he left the Pens beat for the op-ed/byline role, I myself think he hits the target dead-on with this one......

Will it matter?

The turnaround orchestrated by coach Mike Sullivan. The improvements made by general manager Jim Rutherford. The MVP-form rediscovered by captain Sidney Crosby.

Prospects became regulars.

Veterans accepted different roles.

A proud (and at times arrogant) franchise that had been humbled by bottoming out only to rediscover its blue-collar roots and scoring identity in a glorious rise, the Penguins are once again where they've been too often.

Looking at elimination from the playoffs before the Stanley Cup Final. And if that happens for a seventh consecutive Pittsburgh spring, will anything that happened during a wonderful winter have mattered?

Really mattered?

It doesn't feel like it. A 4-3 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday night felt all too familiar from inside Consol Energy Center.

It didn't look good inside the Penguins dressing room afterward, either.

As reporters flocked to the stall of goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, his fellow members of the Penguins' so-called Big Four (Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang) were nowhere to be found.

Not for answers.

Not to protect their goalie.

Failing to show strength in a moment demonstrated their shameful lack of accountability and made it feel like a crisis.

If the Penguins lose in Game 6 at Tampa's Amalie Arena on Tuesday night, nobody — neither co-owner Mario Lemieux nor anybody who has paid hefty prices to watch his Penguins play over the past seven years — should forget that moment. In fact, it should be remembered as the moment when the three Penguins who make the most money left it up to the likes of Bryan Rust, Olli Maatta and Beau Bennett to explain another lousy playoff loss in the Crosby/Malkin/Letang era.

I know which Penguins I'll be looking at in Game 6.

As for Game 5, a lot of Penguins spent too much of it looking lost. Atop that list are Crosby and Letang.

The Penguins' top line, anchored by Crosby, couldn't have come up smaller in a bigger moment. In a series tied 2-2, Game 5 winners usually become the victors.

So, yeah, the Penguins needed better from Crosby and winger Patric Hornqvist, who were on the ice for a team-worst 18 shot attempts against at 5-on-5 play.

Hornqvist, at least, appears to be working with a left hand limited by injury. The top line's left winger for Game 5, the oft-injured Bennett, had 13 shots attempted go against him.

But Bennett hadn't played in these playoffs before Game 5.

What was Crosby's excuse? What will be the reason Crosby couldn't get the Penguins back to the Cup Final this time?

If the Penguins don't rally to play for the Cup for the first time since winning it in 2009, somebody somewhere — in Pittsburgh, and if not, certainly in his native Canada — is going to absolve Crosby of responsibility for the loss.

Somebody always does.

The argument will probably be that Crosby scored winning goals in Games 2 and 3 against the Lightning.

Great. Awesome.

Where was he in Game 5? And what in the name of Bobby Orr was Letang doing most of Sunday night?

With fellow defenseman Trevor Daley out because of a broken ankle, Letang needed to match his MVP-level that he was providing most of these playoffs. He fell far below that high bar.

Perhaps the best skating defenseman in the NHL spent a lot of time standing around. When Letang didn't, he was lunging aimlessly and leaving Fleury exposed.

Fleury deserves to be cut some slack only because he hadn't played a full game since March 31. Still, the Penguins' franchise goalie needed to make a couple more saves than he did once Sullivan turned Fleury's team back over to him.

​

At least Fleury had something to say after the Penguins' blew leads of 2-0 and 3-2 and for the first time failed to win a game they entered the third period leading.

Malkin, who centered the Penguins' most effective line in Game 5, could have offered a few words for his guys.

But he, as did Crosby and Letang, fled the scene.

Maybe it looked too familiar.

It does from this view.

The Penguins are on the verge of another postseason disappointment. That it might happen in Round 3 shouldn't matter.

What did CEO David Morehouse say a couple of years ago? Something about his franchise needing to contend consistently for the Cup?

It has to play for it to do that.

Maybe the Penguins should be playing for more than their playoff lives in Game 6?

How about the Pittsburgh futures of all the guys making the big money?
​

 

[Original Mountaineer1]

Let's be honest, the first three TB goals were really nice shots/plays. Granted you could say MAF should have been higher in his stance on the first goal but give the shooter credit as he hit a 16 sq inch hole at the top corner. Murray gave up a similar one earlier in the playoffs. The second goal was just bad defense by Letang. A 2 on 2 and the pass gets through to the goal scorer.....can't happen. MAF took the shooter and came out to get the angle. Once the pass connected, he was toast. Goal three was a tremendous individual effort coupled with the luck of the rebound going straight onto his stick. That wrap around isn't very easy....shades of Lemieux and the long reach. Goal four was puck-luck. On the other hand, Kessel was back to catching.....waiting......shooting. That cost the Pens two glorious opportunities. (actually one sat on the paint) Kunitz had 3 chances along with a goal. Rust pushed a potential breakaway too far ahead of himself to take advantage of his chance. But as Milbury or Jones said last night, the stars for TB scored and the stars for the Pens didn't. In fact I can't even remember Sid's 2 shots that were registered. (-3 and 4 shots the last 2 games for Sid). Geno.... maybe time to move him and that pains me to type simply because somewhere in that guy is greatness.

I know a lot of folks are hot with Sully for inserting MAF. Sure he was rusty but I can't say he lost the game for the team. I don't see Murray making any of the saves except the first. If you want to criticize Sully, criticize him for the insane decision to insert the walking dead in Bennett. He was invisible and added nothing. Somehow he was awarded 11 + minutes of ice. I don't get that at all. I am sure he hurt himself removing his skates or stepping into the shower.

 

[Original Mountaineer1]

Well, Rob Rossi fired a cheap-shot heat-seeker at the Penguins this morning; but while I admit I've grown to dislike Rossi much of the time since he left the Pens beat for the op-ed/byline role, I myself think he hits the target dead-on with this one......

QUOTE]

He seems to be the only writer that has the intestinal fortitude to ever question Sid and his disappearing act

 

[Euell]

We can go back and forth all day about who should be in net. I really am okay either way, although I lean toward starting MM in TB tomorrow night. I think there are two things we would probably all agree on: The power play needs to improve and if EM and SC were playing the caliber of hockey they are capable of the Pens would be sitting in Pittsburgh right now awaiting the winner of St. Louis and San Jose. I watch the games and I find a lot of things frustrating (e.g: lazy defensive plays, sloppy passes, stupid penalties, failure to clear the puck from the defensive zone), but what DRIVES ME CRAZY is when they have a power play and will go for what seems like a full minute and fail to shoot the puck because they are passing it back and forth looking for the perfect shot or when they receive the pass and are going to shoot-taking too long to get the shot off allowing the defender to get in the shooting zone or the goalie to set up to get the save.
I heard one of the announcers last night (maybe Eddie O.) saying the pp even looked poor in practice working against their own team.
Let's go to TB and steal one on their ice, regain the home-ice advantage, keep Toronteers in Canada, put 40-50 shots on Vazilevskiy, and win this thing!

 

[WVU82]

So, I leave for a long weekend up 2-1 and I come back and we're down 3-2.

The mojo needs changed...


ESPN Stats & Info ‏
When teams are tied 2-2 in a best-of-7 Stanley Cup Playoffs series,
the winner of Game 5 has won 290 out of 371 series (78.2%)

 

[torontoeers]

From what I hear the netminder for tomorrow will be named this eve? Anyone?

 

[torontoeers]

So, I leave for a long weekend up 2-1 and I come back and we're down 3-2.

The mojo needs changed...


ESPN Stats & Info ‏
When teams are tied 2-2 in a best-of-7 Stanley Cup Playoffs series,
the winner of Game 5 has won 290 out of 371 series (78.2%)

I will take the blame on this one '82...they simply don't win when ole torontoeers shows up...the mojo WILL change. Even on the shuttle on way to the game almost the entire bus is loaded with Pens fans from Toronto? !? WTF? I told them of my bad luck and they were like 'oh no! Dude! I don't like this mojo!' (In jest of course) lol...keep us Canucks out of CEC if you know what's good for you lol....good news is I'm back on terra firma at home with the others, who also made the same one night turnaround from here, (I'd say bout at least a dozen who were also staying at the Sheraton), which now brings the mojo back! When I watch from my living room good things happen!
Looking forward to tomorrow eve...get it done Pens!!!

 

[COOL MAN]

From what I hear the netminder for tomorrow will be named this eve? Anyone?

Everything I heard today indicated HCMS would make his goal announcement tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, Geno apparently faced the music today......well, sort of......and (more or less) said he's got confidence in his team and expects to play Game 7 in Pittsburgh. From what I can tell, it wasn't any kind of Messier-like call shot; just a guy stating what he felt (or hoped) would happen.

Sid was apparently persona non grata today, though Letang was quoted as admitting while he "has to be better", his -4 has had little effect on him or his hothead attitude. He was apparently quick to he couch his comments by saying sometimes he "gets a plus, and didn't do anything". Thanks a bunch for that shot of humility, Kris......

I couldn't deal with the morning shows on NHLN, and I only turned it on this afternoon when I hit the road for, of all places, Charleston WV. Scott Laughlin and Boomer Gordon went light on the cheap-shots which I'm sure were in evidence (especially) on Gord Stellick and Craig Simpson's early morning show. Boomer Gordon actually (and surprisingly) took Rob Rossi to task for his piece.

Other developments; the Hampton Inn in Charleston.....my temporary home the next two nights.....is not carrying NBCSN on their cable lineup; so if I'm to watch Game 6, it's going to be somewhere other than my hotel room. Unfortunately, the State Capital isn't exactly the hottest hockey market in this hemisphere. So, even if I found a place with TV's, most (or all) of them will likely be welded to the NBA playoffs (or MLB)..

So assuming I can't find any streaming broadcast.....and if anyone is aware of one, please let me know......I might be stuck with listening to Mike Lange and The Old Two-Niner on the Web. Of course, maybe getting my eyes off the team will help.

 

[COOL MAN]

Let's be honest, the first three TB goals were really nice shots/plays. Granted you could say MAF should have been higher in his stance on the first goal but give the shooter credit as he hit a 16 sq inch hole at the top corner. Murray gave up a similar one earlier in the playoffs. The second goal was just bad defense by Letang. A 2 on 2 and the pass gets through to the goal scorer.....can't happen. MAF took the shooter and came out to get the angle. Once the pass connected, he was toast. Goal three was a tremendous individual effort coupled with the luck of the rebound going straight onto his stick. That wrap around isn't very easy....shades of Lemieux and the long reach. Goal four was puck-luck. On the other hand, Kessel was back to catching.....waiting......shooting. That cost the Pens two glorious opportunities. (actually one sat on the paint) Kunitz had 3 chances along with a goal. Rust pushed a potential breakaway too far ahead of himself to take advantage of his chance. But as Milbury or Jones said last night, the stars for TB scored and the stars for the Pens didn't. In fact I can't even remember Sid's 2 shots that were registered. (-3 and 4 shots the last 2 games for Sid). Geno.... maybe time to move him and that pains me to type simply because somewhere in that guy is greatness.

Sorry OM, we're going to have to agree to disagree on Goal 1......

My opinion is that Killorn wasn't even attempting to score a goal, but rather simply get something on the net for some kind of rebound (or mistake by the Pens defense). In my estimation, an almost unbelievably bad GA by Fleury; and worse, one that gave the Bolts oxygen when the Pens had them on the ropes.

For the record......and not that you asked.....I still don't think who plays goal tomorrow night makes that much difference; though I still believe Flower (If he plays) will be better than he was last night.....which could be good enough.

 

[Original Mountaineer1]

Sorry OM, we're going to have to agree to disagree on Goal 1......

My opinion is that Killorn wasn't even attempting to score a goal, but rather simply get something on the net for some kind of rebound (or mistake by the Pens defense). In my estimation, an almost unbelievably bad GA by Fleury; and worse, one that gave the Bolts oxygen when the Pens had them on the ropes.

For the record......and not that you asked.....I still don't think who plays goal tomorrow night makes that much difference; though I still believe Flower (If he plays) will be better than he was last night.....which could be good enough.

As you probably know, not only did Rossi take shots at the Pens but DK Dejan Kovecevic tore into 29, 58, 71, and 87 Monday. I for one like it. Maybe it will light a fire under their collective butts.

 

[Original Mountaineer1]

Interesting stat. Games 2 and 3 Sid had 12 shots on goal total and scored in each game. In games 1, 4, and 5 he took 6 total (2 in each) and didn't score. He took 14 in six games against the Caps with no goals. I have to wonder what makes this guy tick. He has to know that the more he is engaged, the more he shoots, and the more he scores. In addition, his teammates respond. Yet for some reason, he drives this conversation each playoff season with what appears to be pure apathy.

 

[WVU82]

Pens Inside Scoop‏
Pens lines:
Sheary-Crosby-Hornqvist
Kunitz-Malkin-Rust
Hagelin-Bonino-Kessel
Kuhnhackl-Cullen-Fehr

Pens D-pairs:
Dumoulin-Letang
Maatta-Lovejoy
Cole-Schultz
Pouliot-Oleksy

Power play units at skate →
1st group: Crosby-Hornqvist-Kessel-Letang-Malkin
2nd group: Bonino-Dumoulin-Kunitz-Schultz-Sheary

 

[torontoeers]

Well, Rob Rossi fired a cheap-shot heat-seeker at the Penguins this morning; but while I admit I've grown to dislike Rossi much of the time since he left the Pens beat for the op-ed/byline role, I myself think he hits the target dead-on with this one......

Will it matter?

The turnaround orchestrated by coach Mike Sullivan. The improvements made by general manager Jim Rutherford. The MVP-form rediscovered by captain Sidney Crosby.

Prospects became regulars.

Veterans accepted different roles.

A proud (and at times arrogant) franchise that had been humbled by bottoming out only to rediscover its blue-collar roots and scoring identity in a glorious rise, the Penguins are once again where they've been too often.

Looking at elimination from the playoffs before the Stanley Cup Final. And if that happens for a seventh consecutive Pittsburgh spring, will anything that happened during a wonderful winter have mattered?

Really mattered?

It doesn't feel like it. A 4-3 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday night felt all too familiar from inside Consol Energy Center.

It didn't look good inside the Penguins dressing room afterward, either.

As reporters flocked to the stall of goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, his fellow members of the Penguins' so-called Big Four (Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang) were nowhere to be found.

Not for answers.

Not to protect their goalie.

Failing to show strength in a moment demonstrated their shameful lack of accountability and made it feel like a crisis.

If the Penguins lose in Game 6 at Tampa's Amalie Arena on Tuesday night, nobody — neither co-owner Mario Lemieux nor anybody who has paid hefty prices to watch his Penguins play over the past seven years — should forget that moment. In fact, it should be remembered as the moment when the three Penguins who make the most money left it up to the likes of Bryan Rust, Olli Maatta and Beau Bennett to explain another lousy playoff loss in the Crosby/Malkin/Letang era.

I know which Penguins I'll be looking at in Game 6.

As for Game 5, a lot of Penguins spent too much of it looking lost. Atop that list are Crosby and Letang.

The Penguins' top line, anchored by Crosby, couldn't have come up smaller in a bigger moment. In a series tied 2-2, Game 5 winners usually become the victors.

So, yeah, the Penguins needed better from Crosby and winger Patric Hornqvist, who were on the ice for a team-worst 18 shot attempts against at 5-on-5 play.

Hornqvist, at least, appears to be working with a left hand limited by injury. The top line's left winger for Game 5, the oft-injured Bennett, had 13 shots attempted go against him.

But Bennett hadn't played in these playoffs before Game 5.

What was Crosby's excuse? What will be the reason Crosby couldn't get the Penguins back to the Cup Final this time?

If the Penguins don't rally to play for the Cup for the first time since winning it in 2009, somebody somewhere — in Pittsburgh, and if not, certainly in his native Canada — is going to absolve Crosby of responsibility for the loss.

Somebody always does.

The argument will probably be that Crosby scored winning goals in Games 2 and 3 against the Lightning.

Great. Awesome.

Where was he in Game 5? And what in the name of Bobby Orr was Letang doing most of Sunday night?

With fellow defenseman Trevor Daley out because of a broken ankle, Letang needed to match his MVP-level that he was providing most of these playoffs. He fell far below that high bar.

Perhaps the best skating defenseman in the NHL spent a lot of time standing around. When Letang didn't, he was lunging aimlessly and leaving Fleury exposed.

Fleury deserves to be cut some slack only because he hadn't played a full game since March 31. Still, the Penguins' franchise goalie needed to make a couple more saves than he did once Sullivan turned Fleury's team back over to him.

​

At least Fleury had something to say after the Penguins' blew leads of 2-0 and 3-2 and for the first time failed to win a game they entered the third period leading.

Malkin, who centered the Penguins' most effective line in Game 5, could have offered a few words for his guys.

But he, as did Crosby and Letang, fled the scene.

Maybe it looked too familiar.

It does from this view.

The Penguins are on the verge of another postseason disappointment. That it might happen in Round 3 shouldn't matter.

What did CEO David Morehouse say a couple of years ago? Something about his franchise needing to contend consistently for the Cup?

It has to play for it to do that.

Maybe the Penguins should be playing for more than their playoff lives in Game 6?

How about the Pittsburgh futures of all the guys making the big money?​

Been thinkin on this one over the last day or so fellas...I'll be truthful...I largely know Rossi from a hole in the ground other than as I recall about a month ago he tried to diagnose MAF's injury for all without using a stethoscope....getting summarily roasted in the process...I have no idea how he is with the x's and o's you guys would know more than I on that account but something tells me he's simply another ink stained wretch, that nobody really likes...perhaps I'm off base there...so now since that's outta the way a couple things...

I think Rob needs to take a trip to Canada and really discover how the majority of the great unwashed masses feel on Sid....I would wager my mortgage on the the fact that most here hold Crosby to a higher degree of responsibility than anywhere. You see...we're KNOWN for eating our own...trust me on this one...the list is long there. When he's played international and isn't scoring? Let the lynch mob mentality begin...'Where is he? He's no Captain! Why doesn't he say something? !? Do something!'....and then when it FINALLY happens he can be the parade leader...for roughly a day!
Sid is not Mario, Gretzky,Yzerman, Ovi or anyone else he's Sid as maddening as that can be some games...

Am I reading
Rossi's petulant 'game winner 2 & 3 Great Amazing' comment the right way? I think I am...He doesn't want those goals I assume? ...yes where were these guys game 5? Who knows....Where was Toews (the media's darling boy) in game 7 this year? The recently cup winning Toews...hmmm?.... He's the man!!! Isn't he??? Don't hear Robbie yip yapping bout that...

If I come off as the flag waving Crosby defender that's fine, however I do know like the rest of you gents do, he can be better...and I expect better. Game 5 I didn't think he sucked but he certainly didn't have his best game...I liked the play he made on the 2nd goal and other than that I was looking for more....he has both shown up and also disappeared before...I'd like to think he'll show tonight even if not on the score ledger then in a useful capacity to win the game.

Now.... the fact the Captain and Geno,Letang were not present after the game to pick up for their mate between the pipes? I agree whole heartedly with Rossi there. It was irresponsible and quite frankly gutless...I expect better there too...the Captain needs to be present to answer a few questions I don't care what mood he's in.

Maybe Rossi would be better served moving to Washington? He would have plenty of cannon fodder over there....

Rant over....Get it done Pens!

 

[WVRON]

Pens Inside Scoop‏
Pens lines:
Sheary-Crosby-Hornqvist
Kunitz-Malkin-Rust
Hagelin-Bonino-Kessel
Kuhnhackl-Cullen-Fehr

Pens D-pairs:
Dumoulin-Letang
Maatta-Lovejoy
Cole-Schultz
Pouliot-Oleksy

Power play units at skate →
1st group: Crosby-Hornqvist-Kessel-Letang-Malkin
2nd group: Bonino-Dumoulin-Kunitz-Schultz-Sheary

Pens gonna win boys! This team has been too resilient since Sully took over to go out with three straight losses. Hopefully Tanger keeps his cool and gets back to his game from the Caps series. Also, Captain Crosby needs to LEAD his team tonight! I'd love to see a lot of Sid and Geno together as well as those guys getting a shift or two with Hags and PK. Time to unleash holy hell!! LET'S GO PENS!!!

 

[Original Mountaineer1]

Been thinkin on this one over the last day or so fellas...I'll be truthful...I largely know Rossi from a hole in the ground other than as I recall about a month ago he tried to diagnose MAF's injury for all without using a stethoscope....getting summarily roasted in the process...I have no idea how he is with the x's and o's you guys would know more than I on that account but something tells me he's simply another ink stained wretch, that nobody really likes...perhaps I'm off base there...so now since that's outta the way a couple things...

I think Rob needs to take a trip to Canada and really discover how the majority of the great unwashed masses feel on Sid....I would wager my mortgage on the the fact that most here hold Crosby to a higher degree of responsibility than anywhere. You see...we're KNOWN for eating our own...trust me on this one...the list is long there. When he's played international and isn't scoring? Let the lynch mob mentality begin...'Where is he? He's no Captain! Why doesn't he say something? !? Do something!'....and then when it FINALLY happens he can be the parade leader...for roughly a day!
Sid is not Mario, Gretzky,Yzerman, Ovi or anyone else he's Sid as maddening as that can be some games...

Am I reading
Rossi's petulant 'game winner 2 & 3 Great Amazing' comment the right way? I think I am...He doesn't want those goals I assume? ...yes where were these guys game 5? Who knows....Where was Toews (the media's darling boy) in game 7 this year? The recently cup winning Toews...hmmm?.... He's the man!!! Isn't he??? Don't hear Robbie yip yapping bout that...

If I come off as the flag waving Crosby defender that's fine, however I do know like the rest of you gents do, he can be better...and I expect better. Game 5 I didn't think he sucked but he certainly didn't have his best game...I liked the play he made on the 2nd goal and other than that I was looking for more....he has both shown up and also disappeared before...I'd like to think he'll show tonight even if not on the score ledger then in a useful capacity to win the game.

Now.... the fact the Captain and Geno,Letang were not present after the game to pick up for their mate between the pipes? I agree whole heartedly with Rossi there. It was irresponsible and quite frankly gutless...I expect better there too...the Captain needs to be present to answer a few questions I don't care what mood he's in.

Maybe Rossi would be better served moving to Washington? He would have plenty of cannon fodder over there....

Rant over....Get it done Pens!

Just random thoughts here.... At times I question whether my expectations of Crosby and Geno are realistic. It is hard to be objective really. We all witnessed the times when both carried the Pens on their backs. We have seen both Sid and Geno dominate in the playoffs. Sid's first 4 years in the playoffs he averaged 1.3 ppg. Last four playoff years 0.87; a substantial ppg drop. During those same four yrs, Geno went from 1.18 to .89 ppg. It is hard to understand why as they are both now in the prime of their careers and the supporting casts are relatively similar. In the last 2 yrs, I believe both Sid and Geno have had a single multiple goal game....in 21 total playoff games. Interestingly both score goals in the regular season at a 46-47% of games played. In the last 4 playoff yrs, both have scored goals in around 30% of the games. In their first 4 years of playoff hockey, both scored at relatively the same pace as their career numbers 47-49%. They play on different lines so it is hard to believe that the checking is the reason. Teams usually don't have two shut down defensive pairings. Even in games 1 and 5 when the Pens had the last change, Sid and Geno were quiet. Makes no sense and the reason I get frustrated by their play. It really appears at times that either can look completely disinterested.

Oh well. Let's win game 6

 

[WVU82]

 

[torontoeers]

Just random thoughts here.... At times I question whether my expectations of Crosby and Geno are realistic. It is hard to be objective really. We all witnessed the times when both carried the Pens on their backs. We have seen both Sid and Geno dominate in the playoffs. Sid's first 4 years in the playoffs he averaged 1.3 ppg. Last four playoff years 0.87; a substantial ppg drop. During those same four yrs, Geno went from 1.18 to .89 ppg. It is hard to understand why as they are both now in the prime of their careers and the supporting casts are relatively similar. In the last 2 yrs, I believe both Sid and Geno have had a single multiple goal game....in 21 total playoff games. Interestingly both score goals in the regular season at a 46-47% of games played. In the last 4 playoff yrs, both have scored goals in around 30% of the games. In their first 4 years of playoff hockey, both scored at relatively the same pace as their career numbers 47-49%. They play on different lines so it is hard to believe that the checking is the reason. Teams usually don't have two shut down defensive pairings. Even in games 1 and 5 when the Pens had the last change, Sid and Geno were quiet. Makes no sense and the reason I get frustrated by their play. It really appears at times that either can look completely disinterested.

Oh well. Let's win game 6

And I hear ya 100% on those thoughts...that is a pretty precipitous drop off...I don't know if it is the systems coaches are now employing across the league which do their damdest to strangle just about any O creativity out of the game imo, the past injuries (although I personally would not use that as the #1 excuse since both of them look to be just as healthy as ever) , or a lack of desire....I honestly hope it's not the latter because that would just be a damn shame...
Then we look at arguably one of the top D men in the entire league and some nights he looks brilliant and the next he is as Ron eluded to a complete hothead...58 is truly baffling some nights! Maybe he wants it so bad he lets his emotions get the best of him? Or he simply gets a case of the stupids...either way he needs to cool it and realise the rest of his bench is relying on him...especially the now unfortunately injured Daley...I would LOVE to see the Pens win one for him! ....and when you go up and down the roster who is producing the most through the playoff? The hot dog eater lol! The guy we (me especially lol) were on all year long!

I think CM mentioned he could see them come out flying tonight...I hope he's right...however right now methinks he's searching high and low for a TV in Charleston showing the game! Find that tv COOLMAN....and hopefully we all like what we see tonight!

Bring it back home boys for a game 7...come too far now to have it end!
LET'S GO PENS!!!!!

 

[torontoeers]

We can go back and forth all day about who should be in net. I really am okay either way, although I lean toward starting MM in TB tomorrow night. I think there are two things we would probably all agree on: The power play needs to improve and if EM and SC were playing the caliber of hockey they are capable of the Pens would be sitting in Pittsburgh right now awaiting the winner of St. Louis and San Jose. I watch the games and I find a lot of things frustrating (e.g: lazy defensive plays, sloppy passes, stupid penalties, failure to clear the puck from the defensive zone), but what DRIVES ME CRAZY is when they have a power play and will go for what seems like a full minute and fail to shoot the puck because they are passing it back and forth looking for the perfect shot or when they receive the pass and are going to shoot-taking too long to get the shot off allowing the defender to get in the shooting zone or the goalie to set up to get the save.
I heard one of the announcers last night (maybe Eddie O.) saying the pp even looked poor in practice working against their own team.
Let's go to TB and steal one on their ice, regain the home-ice advantage, keep Toronteers in Canada, put 40-50 shots on Vazilevskiy, and win this thing!

And YES...this is my biggest pet peeve as well Euell...SHOOT THE DAMNED PUCK ALREADY!

Buckle up! Let's hope this is an enjoyable ride tonight!

Oh btw! I decided to bring back 2 tall boy cases of Yeungling and was well under my 48 hour window to do so...said to the lovely wife 'let's be honest here and claim it pay the duty'....Border guard says 'where ya been and what do you have to declare?' Me 'in Pittsburgh for a hockey game and a couple cases of beer'.....to wit ''Get outta here fella, you had a rough night! Let's Go Pens!' Lmao...I $hit you not...perfect!

 

[WVU82]

 

[COOL MAN]

6 minutes before determining if I can actually receive a streaming broadcast on the NBC Live Extra connection......ray:

 

[torontoeers]

6 minutes before determining if I can actually receive a streaming broadcast on the NBC Live Extra connection......ray:

Thoughts and prayers with you sir!!!

 

[COOL MAN]

Well, I've got Doc and Edzo talking on a surprisingly good streaming screen with no buffering (yet)......this broadcast has 3 hours to go, but so far no complaints. If this streaming proposition holds together reasonably, I'm about as lucky as I can get.

Would be curious to know the time lag with this broadcast versus that on the tube......which has it's own lag while being transmitted from the arena to the satellites, back down to earth to our local cable outlet (or Dish or Direct TV dishes), and then onto our respective TV's.

 

[COOL MAN]

Hey t, who's working the broadcast booth in Canada tonight......and is it on Rogers or CBC ???

 

[torontoeers]

HOLD THE FORT #30!!!!!! Bend if you want...but don't break lol!

 

[torontoeers]

Hey t, who's working the broadcast booth in Canada tonight......and is it on Rogers or CBC ???

All of the semi's have been on the CBC feed thus far...I am suspecting it's Hughson and Simpson again...I don't mind Simpson so much Hughson can be well...you know...Gimmie Bob or Chris Cuthbert anyday....

 

[torontoeers]

GSUS...Anyone else see that one comin after the save at the other end???

 

[torontoeers]

Offside!!!

 

[torontoeers]

YES! We got away with one there HUGE!!!

 

[COOL MAN]

Offside!!!

Probably, but perhaps not distinct enough to overturn the goal

 

[COOL MAN]

Probably, but perhaps not distinct enough to overturn the goal

I think it took some balls to make that call, even though it probably was correct

 

[COOL MAN]

So, we get the first big break......now, can we capitalize ??

 

[WVU82]

that someone noticed the offsides at all is amazing...

looking at the gif now...