All I know is that Asham and Engelland did some b*tch slapping at the end of the game.
Really? From behind the refs? Wait until Simmonds isn't swollen from scoring with his face on Sunday, Hartnell is out there, Shelley dresses, and Rinaldo knows there's actually a point to scrapping with someone like Asham. Asham was real tough going after Schenn.
The Penguins have not played how they need to play in terms of defense for a number of games now. They are now (after today) at 2.67 goals against/game (17th overall in the league), but that number has gone up because of recent history. Their last 10 games: 6, 3, 5, 5, 2, 8, 1, 4, 3, 2. (3.9 per game. So, their average before the last 10 was quite a bit lower.) If they don't get this straightened out they will be eliminated in the first round. Interestingly, this has happened since Crosby's return. I'm not a coach, but I do watch every game, and I can see how they have been more sloppy on the back check, and more sloppy on passes that result in turnovers. Giving up 5 unanswered goals is just unacceptable for a team that was averaging close to only a couple goals against per game.
Crosby has been making blind passes in front of his own net on several occasions and they're lucky it hasn't hurt them. I get every Pens game and try to watch them because they're skilled, fast and entertaining to watch, but they do have a crybaby attitude when addressing the officials and it's evident in how the broadcasters call the game and cry the same sob story every night.
Every team is going to go through spells. The Flyers seemed to be getting really primed for a playoff romp with how Bryz was finally starting to play, but then the bone chip/fracture. Who knows what's going to happen there. I'm concerned about sending Bob out every night for the playoffs if Bryz isn't healed up, especially against the Pens. As much as both sides like to **** talk these games, realistic fans who actually know the game know that nothing is finished with these two teams until it's a 3 goal lead with less than 2 minutes to go and even then, you're still a bit nervous about how crazy things go with this rivalry, although at that point, you're ready to see a brawl.
I also haven't been happy about the post Crosby return power play. This is nothing against Sid, but is about what was working (pre his return) and what I've seen in the last few weeks. Before, they had Malkin, Neal, Kunitz, Sullivan, and LeTang on the power play. It was doing really well. Sullivan has been an absolute steal for the Penguins in his ability to stick handle and to more importantly orchestrate the power play. LeTang has great offensive ability yet is so fast he was able to get back to break up plays going the other way if needed. Lately however, they have been doing this 5 forwards on the power play and it has looked like sh_t. Not only have they been giving up a BUNCH of short handed odd-man rush situations, but they have been much less coordinated offensively while on the pp.
Agreed...saw it today with several opportunities where Fleury made saves. I think it's Crosby thinking he can make some ridiculous passes that aren't quite there yet, maybe it's chemistry, who knows.
I have Neal on my fantasy roster and he's been sick for the Pens. Scored today.
Third thing. I know LeTang played today and they lost, but there has been a huge correlation between LeTang playing and how the team performs...more so (IMHO) than Crosby or Malkin. Today was his (LeTang) first day back, but he didn't look like his normal self. I'm not sure what the situation was/is, since it was an undisclosed "lower body" injury.
He's a solid player and would love to have him on this side of the state for the right price (maybe, considering his proneness for injuries).
See, I managed to almost do this whole post without calling anyone on the Philadelphia team a b*tch. (Well, except for the first sentence.)
This is what's great about these teams playing each other...no matter what the lead or who jumps out early, it's never over until the clock has expired. I never turned the game off or away for a minute, even at 5-2, because I know how fast the Pens can put pucks in the net, especially with the power play.
I thought the Flyers had a good power play today with some nice tick tack toe passing/goals. Both teams are a blast to watch. I just wish some of the obvious stuff players like Crosby get away with didn't happen. It would be so much more enjoyable...I'm not saying the Flyers don't get away with things from time to time, but twice during the game, an argument could be made that the "C" on his sweater means "Can slash anyone with reckless abandon without penalty." He broke his own stick slashing a Flyer going through the neutral zone and then took two whacks at Giroux off a faceoff, knocking Giroux's stick out of his hands right in front of the official dropping the puck. Neither were called and both are the classic automatic calls. I also don't care for how he throws the body around, sometimes away from the play, and then looks at the ref with alligator tears after Schenn hits him after the whistle, which Crosby exaggerated into a Superman dive, another complaint people have.
If Crosby played the game the way Giroux does, I'd love him no matter what team he played for, in fact, even if he played more like Malkin and did less whining, he'd be fine.
I'm assuming you all who like the Pens absolutely hate Simmonds, almost as much as you hate Hartnell, like you hated Asham last year?
Also, what do you think of the leg on leg hit Vitale put on Grossmann?
How did you like Hartnell's impression of The Rock?
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