What's up with the Pens?

[SonofaBish]

It's been a nice and fun ride, but I think we're playing a better team this time and it shows. Fluery is inconsistant, malkin flat out stinks, just like last year when we needed him.

Mabey Ovechkin should get the MVP award, he looks like one. I'm glad we got to where we did. I never thought it was possible but deep down I knew this was an above average team and nothing more. No way we are going to pull this out. Rant done.

I don't know what game you're watching, but it must not be the same one as me.... Just because Malkin isn't scoring a ton of goals right now doesn't mean he stinks... I think Malkin has played very solid.... when he's on the ice, he's controlling the puck in the offensive zone and creating opportunities... he can't do anything about the fact that neither Sykora nor Feds has finished on any of the dozen opportunities that Malkin has set them up for.... Particularly last night, when Feds had a wide open net with a defenseman standing there wondering where the puck was, and he shot it off the side of the net.... ugh! And i think Geno is making a conserted effort to play smart hockey - remember last year when he was turning the puck over all the time at the blue line? Haven't seen much of that this year - he's playing smart and waiting for the opportunities... unfortunately he doesn't have a winger that can finish the opportunities that he creates.

2 things we need to win this series... 1.) the PP has to score and 2.) Fluery has to keep the puck out of the net. I've made it no secret that i've never liked Fluery at all, but I still root for him. He needs to stop a couple of those shots from Ovechkin... When there's no traffic in front, and you have a clear lane to stop the puck, it has to be stopped.... He's slow and letting in some goals that I don't think should be in...

Furthermore, how does the defense let that douche-bag get THAT wide open!?!?!?!?

[mr4teth]

Furthermore, how does the defense let that douche-bag get THAT wide open!?!?!?!?

They interfered/tripped Cook for douche-bags go ahead goal on the power play! ... I hate to be a baby but that was a HORRIBLE none call!

[John4cam]

I don't know what game you're watching, but it must not be the same one as me.... Just because Malkin isn't scoring a ton of goals right now doesn't mean he stinks... I think Malkin has played very solid.... when he's on the ice, he's controlling the puck in the offensive zone and creating opportunities... he can't do anything about the fact that neither Sykora nor Feds has finished on any of the dozen opportunities that Malkin has set them up for.... Particularly last night, when Feds had a wide open net with a defenseman standing there wondering where the puck was, and he shot it off the side of the net.... ugh! And i think Geno is making a conserted effort to play smart hockey - remember last year when he was turning the puck over all the time at the blue line? Haven't seen much of that this year - he's playing smart and waiting for the opportunities... unfortunately he doesn't have a winger that can finish the opportunities that he creates.

2 things we need to win this series... 1.) the PP has to score and 2.) Fluery has to keep the puck out of the net. I've made it no secret that i've never liked Fluery at all, but I still root for him. He needs to stop a couple of those shots from Ovechkin... When there's no traffic in front, and you have a clear lane to stop the puck, it has to be stopped.... He's slow and letting in some goals that I don't think should be in...

Furthermore, how does the defense let that douche-bag get THAT wide open!?!?!?!?

My comment was toward the pens vs caps series. So far Malkin looks non existant IMO.

I agree 100% about Fluery, he makes a remarkable save then the next wrist shot from long range blows right past him. You NEED great goal tending in the playoffs.

[SonofaBish]

My comment was toward the pens vs caps series. So far Malkin looks non existant IMO.

I agree 100% about Fluery, he makes a remarkable save then the next wrist shot from long range blows right past him. You NEED great goal tending in the playoffs.

Yes indeed - about Fleury

And i knew what you meant about Malkin - only because everyone hypes over when he doesn't score a ton of gaols... I mean the Caps series too... when he's on the ice, the pens are controlling the puck in the offensive zone and creating opportunities - but unfortunately they have not gone in.... his +/- isn't real hot right now, but he's been on the ice for a lot of teh real bone-headed goals that have been let in....

I think if we win both games at home, we can salvage this series.... Its making me sick that I feel we've outplayed Washington so far, and we've lost both games... its some real cause for concern

[SonofaBish]

They interfered/tripped Cook for douche-bags go ahead goal on the power play! ... I hate to be a baby but that was a HORRIBLE none call!

agreed!

[laz2447]

Bish, I know you are not a Fleury fan...but honestly...and be realistic...who else would you rather have in net? No one would of said before this series started that Varlamov would be "out playing" Fleury. To be honest I am not so sure its being out played either...

The shot quality that the Pens have shown Varlamov is not that great in my opinion. When they do have great opportunities like you said, clank off the post or wide of the net...and when they are shooting the puck its wristers from 55'-60' away unscreened or just on poor angles. You see what happens when you are able to get the puck to him and force him to play a rebound...Crosby scores 3 goals!!! (Sure would be nice for Staal or Kunitz or Guerin to get a junk goal like that...)

The goal where Ovy torched him, you have a 50/50 shot on that one, and he NEVER should of be that wide open. (see mr4teth post a couple above lol)

Fleury is not to blame for this, nor is Crosby for not shooting the puck hard enough on that sprawling save in game one lol. Malkin should be producing more statisticly (goals and assists), but his play his not the reason they dropped the first two of the series. Some dumbass woman actually said its Gonchars fault the power play isn't working because he is moving too slow...well damn lady he plays the ENTIRE POWER PLAY EVERY DAMN TIME! After the first power play I would be moving slow too lol...check his ice time at the end of the game...get your ass out there and skate his ice time and take the body and throw your weight around like he does and see if your tired...just cause they are professional athletes doesnt mean that they dont get fatigued!

Washington is not the better team top to bottom, I will go so far as to say I know that for sure. But the Pens need to show it by getting some scoring from people not named Crosby. The occasional Eaton and Scuderi goal is nice, but more consistant scoring from your wings and that third line center who makes 4 mil a yr...I think his name is Staal??? :)

Whiteout game three...I hope the Pens fans who go actually give this team a home ice advantage coming home. I actually think the Pens fans of the all the teams left might provide the worst atmosphere for their team. Washingtons fans provide a great atmosphere, Detroit is always a great place to play, Carolina is great, Chicago is great...I just hope people don't jump ship to soon on this team.

LETS GO PENS!!!

[SonofaBish]

Bish, I know you are not a Fleury fan...but honestly...and be realistic...who else would you rather have in net? No one would of said before this series started that Varlamov would be "out playing" Fleury. To be honest I am not so sure its being out played either...

The shot quality that the Pens have shown Varlamov is not that great in my opinion. When they do have great opportunities like you said, clank off the post or wide of the net...and when they are shooting the puck its wristers from 55'-60' away unscreened or just on poor angles. You see what happens when you are able to get the puck to him and force him to play a rebound...Crosby scores 3 goals!!! (Sure would be nice for Staal or Kunitz or Guerin to get a junk goal like that...)

The goal where Ovy torched him, you have a 50/50 shot on that one, and he NEVER should of be that wide open. (see mr4teth post a couple above lol)

Fleury is not to blame for this, nor is Crosby for not shooting the puck hard enough on that sprawling save in game one lol. Malkin should be producing more statisticly (goals and assists), but his play his not the reason they dropped the first two of the series. Some dumbass woman actually said its Gonchars fault the power play isn't working because he is moving too slow...well damn lady he plays the ENTIRE POWER PLAY EVERY DAMN TIME! After the first power play I would be moving slow too lol...check his ice time at the end of the game...get your ass out there and skate his ice time and take the body and throw your weight around like he does and see if your tired...just cause they are professional athletes doesnt mean that they dont get fatigued!

Washington is not the better team top to bottom, I will go so far as to say I know that for sure. But the Pens need to show it by getting some scoring from people not named Crosby. The occasional Eaton and Scuderi goal is nice, but more consistant scoring from your wings and that third line center who makes 4 mil a yr...I think his name is Staal??? :)

Whiteout game three...I hope the Pens fans who go actually give this team a home ice advantage coming home. I actually think the Pens fans of the all the teams left might provide the worst atmosphere for their team. Washingtons fans provide a great atmosphere, Detroit is always a great place to play, Carolina is great, Chicago is great...I just hope people don't jump ship to soon on this team.

LETS GO PENS!!!

Don't get me wrong - i'm not saying its Fleury's fault... I think he's played OK, but i think there's some stops he shoudl have made ... then again, I don't know how people loose track of Douche-nozzle so much.... I mean, on a powerplay, why don't you just stay on his hip and make it a 4 on 3 essentially... ? maybe that sounds rediculous, but SOMETHING has to be done to keep him from being all by himself on the ice...

We're getting next to no scoring other than Crosby and they're getting almost no scoring without Ovechkin.. the series has to be won by the guys that aren't getting talked about.....

And i stick by my claim that Malkin has played well... he's not lighting up the scoresheet (1 assist in each game) but he's playing very well imho.... he's not going to get on the scoresheet if his linemates keep sucking balls, and he can't score goals if he's got to spend every second down on the boards digging pucks out because his linemates can't help out there either....

The PP is another friggin story... they all need to get their heads outta their a$$es... I think maybe the problem is that they seem too predictable on the PP... ya know, that backdoor pass that was getting sooooooo old at the beginnign of the season (Crosby to Whitney) would really look good right about now... And as damn good as Geno is on the half-wall on the PP, he really does good down low screening the goalie and deflecting shots.... I think ever since Kunitz got a couple goals when he first came here, they gave up on putting Geno down low - but i'm wondering if an occasional mix-up wouldnt help... not that he needs to be there every time, but some different looks might be what the doctor ordered.

[laz2447]

"We're getting next to no scoring other than Crosby and they're getting almost no scoring without Ovechkin.. the series has to be won by the guys that aren't getting talked about....."

That is dead on right there.

Someone, anyone, not named Sidney Crosby please score a goal!!!

It is not from a lack of decent chances from time to time either. I know earlier I said I was not thrilled with shot selection at times, and I'm not. But there has been enough posts, open nets, and quality looks for guys to get the puck past Varlamov and its just not getting past him.

[madmaxin22]

the last ove goal was weak and fleury knows he should have had it, but he should have never gotten the puck off to begin with

Cooke totally F*d up on that powerplay. at the drop of the puck he went for the puck instead of spinning off and covering ovechkin, so he had no one near him...

and on the GW ove goal, gonchar was on him, STEP UP AND HIT HIM or make a move for the puck. dont just skate backwards 2 feet from him and let him shoot the puck.

OVE is not scared to Lay malkin out and smash him, but not one penguin will take a serious run on him and try to actually lay a good hit.... things better change alot in game 3 or bye bye playoffs

[laz2447]

and on the GW ove goal, gonchar was on him, STEP UP AND HIT HIM or make a move for the puck. dont just skate backwards 2 feet from him and let him shoot the puck.

That's not Gonchars game at all. If he would of knocked the puck away from Ovechkin everyone would said how great of a play it was. But since Ovechkin was able to stick handle past or around him enough to get the shot off, Gonchar is the goat I guess.

Thats another hindsight is 20/20 thing if you ask me.

Now if it was Orpik, or Scuderi and they didn't step up and try and take him out of the play with the their body than I could see it being frustrating or upsetting. But Gonchar played it how he would always play that situation I think.

[madmaxin22]

That's not Gonchars game at all.

Come on, its the playoffs, letting him skate in all the way from center ice without even getting close to him... BS... it isnt crosby's game to be down 2 feet from the goal grinding it out whacking pucks in but he was... BECAUSE ITS THE PLAYOFFS, you put in the extra effort even if its something u dont usually do

[mxracer652]

Cooke was semi-interfered with, but as was pointed out, he was heading towards the dot and not the D.

Wsh runs that set play off of every opening PP faceoff. You'd think Disco Dan would line the wing up wide and just sprint to the D when the puck drops.

[SonofaBish]

One more thing to point out....

To this point, Crosby has been spectacular in thep playoffs with faceoffs... but he didn't win a single faceoff yesterday that meant anything. Anytime we were on teh PP, at the end of the game.. any of the faceoffs that it would have been HUGE to win, he didn't win... not sure if you can blame him or just give credit to Washington, but its an overlooked factor that means a lot

[2001GTTT]

im hoping a home game will help to bring back the fire a little.

[laz2447]

Come on, its the playoffs, letting him skate in all the way from center ice without even getting close to him... BS... it isnt crosby's game to be down 2 feet from the goal grinding it out whacking pucks in but he was... BECAUSE ITS THE PLAYOFFS, you put in the extra effort even if its something u dont usually do

You say its not Crosbys' game to be 2 feet from the goal, but on his first goal on the power play he is exactly where he is supposed to be in that formation. Gonchar shot it, rebound dropped right in front and Crosby jammed it home like he is supposed to do. He didnt do anything other than finish the play like any player in that position is supposed to do.

On the second goal, Kunitz and Crosby crossed in front of Varlamov to try and screen him, Guerin let it go, Crosby got the put back. Right where he was supposed to be. If Guerin didn't let the shot go I assume he was going to continue down the boards, Crosby would of skated back into the slot and been looking for a feed from Guerin for a one wrist shot, or they would of started a cycle with Kunitz, or any other of a number of things. Again, nothing he wouldn't and hasn't done night in and night out before.

On the third goal, again Crosby was right where he is supposed to be on the power play. No different than the first goal. His persistance, finishing skill, and stick/eye cordination is to be noted here, but his positioning and playing of the puck is routine.

And as far as Gonchar needing to step up and throw the body and hit someone? How about Eaton not putting his fellow d-man in a one on one situation. All game long you heard about how concerned the coaches and players were about getting in one on one match-ups with the Caps, and bingo look what happens. Ovechkin gets into open space again, seperates himself from the four, count them four Penguins in the neutral zone, and he is off to the races in a one on one with Gonchar.

I hear what your saying, step up and hit him. I agree with you if its a player who always steps up and hits people, and in that situation they lay back and let the person walk in on them. But Gonchar did what he always does, he tried to play the puck and it didn't work out.

Am I the biggest Sergei Gonchar appologists known to man? You better f'n believe it!

Not trying to get you all fired up bro, just trying to justify my stance on the situation.

[madmaxin22]

Getting fired about for talking penguins?? pssssh... im not saying gonchar is a bum.. he is gifted, and i hope he retires here, but when you do nothing but screen your goalie on the play, maybe he should have done something else. Im not saying that he had to lay all 200lbs into ovecheckin but come on, get in his F*ing way at least instead of just skating backwards like a puss. i dont care if he does it all season, this is the playoffs and all the small things add up to a loss. Right now there are 3 or 4 guys playing hard game in and game out and if they dont start sticking a guy up OVie's butt, they are done for.

[John4cam]

One more thing to point out....

To this point, Crosby has been spectacular in thep playoffs with faceoffs... but he didn't win a single faceoff yesterday that meant anything. Anytime we were on teh PP, at the end of the game.. any of the faceoffs that it would have been HUGE to win, he didn't win... not sure if you can blame him or just give credit to Washington, but its an overlooked factor that means a lot

Adding something to this as well is the horrible passing when exiting our Zone. All these sloppy passes lead to turnovers and sometimes break aways that lead to great scoring chances for the craps.

One thing that can be said is both teams have been guilty of this regularly in the past two games.

[fork5o]

good points made.
im still really frustrated.

i def agree that gonch needed to step up and engage with ovechkin on that play. like was said, i dont care what kinda dman you are, you body up on that situation and let the help come. its the playoffs.

as for the sloppy passes, i was watching the game online yesterday through the canadian feed and they said the pens were complaining about the ice condition both intermissions. dont know if they said anything on vs. its doesnt make sense to me for wash to do that, much like philthy did. it seems like it would hurt them almost as much as us.

[Shorty429]

ok. here's my pens experience that happened yesterday.

I get the alerts through that number (32623) and they sent out a text yesterday saying the game was sold out and it was being shown on the trib tron and that the 1749th student to text hat trick back would win 4 tickets to tonight game. So i texted back and the said i won! i was so excited. Then i got a text saying it was a computer malfunction and that i didn't actually win. At this point i'm pissed cuz i got all excited to go to the game. Then i get a phone call from a guy on behalf of the pens apologizing. They're sending me 2 tickets to a regular season game next year and a care package! Not as good as some playoff tickets but i'm anxioius to see what's in the package. And i have my first tickets to a game next year! lol

LET'S GO PENS!!!

[94svtcobra]

already down 1 zip, damn