where were all these pens fans after game 2?
- Vukota

Hey now, I came in and doffed my cap to you guys after that disaster (on our part)

Your guys have been very impressive this far.

On a different note, not sure if anyone saw the video fro Shannahan explaining the suspension on Gryba but I've lost any confidence on Shanny as the NHL Director of Player Safety at this point.

In the video he basically said, it was technically a legal hit, made illegal since the principle point of contact was the head....he goes on to say
However, Gryba's route is not correct and we do not feel that he makes enough of a full body check for this hit not to qualify as an illegal check to the head. In our view, in attempting this very difficult check, Gryba does not hit squarely enough through the body. Eller's head is the principal point of contact and the subsequent contact to Eller's right shoulder is secondary."

"The pass that Eller received just prior to the check is completely irrelevant to whether Gryba delivers a reckless, illegal check to the head."

Now let me say this, it was a SCARY hit that had folks gasping with concern. The vision we were left in of Eller lying face down in a puddle of blood was horrifyinig. That said, Shannahan totally obsolves Eller and the player who passed the puck to him saying their actions had nothing to do with hit itself....WHAT?
I played defense for many years (more than I care to admit) and did so against some damn big and fast teams, and I knew a hell of a lot better than to lead a player up the middle like that with the other team waiting at the blueline. The pass not only led Eller leaning forward for the puck, but Eller's reaching for the pass moved him forward in such a way that left him totally vulnerable.

What disappoints me with Shanny is that his suspension sounds like a matter of the ends justifying the means. If I'm playing forward like Eller and a pass is sent to me like that, I'm probably reaching to tip it out of the zone rather than trying to receive it. Why? Because I know damn well I'm going to be taking a nap if I try to receive it like that. Players are no longer being left with a personal responsability to their own safety...

No problem there. You guys have a couple of pretty good fans who come in here and have daily conversations with us which is great. I just don't see how anyone thinks they're going to enter another teams blog and convince the fanbase that the call was warranted. It's beating a dead horse from both sides.
- keaner17

Because you're wrong...

I hear you though.

I personally was pissed off that the Penguins let another lead slip in a playoff game by taking their foot off the Islanders throat. I hate the prevent defense. Why change what was working?
- Ben37

You aren't playing the prevent defense when one of your most veteran players makes a 100 foot blind cross ice pass to no one when up 2 goals...

WOW i totally missed all of that..the thought of a fight over words said on a site that makes up fictional trade rumors is pretty brilliant though.. you could make a movie about that
- NYI78

Let's hope not...I think he's a fry or two short of a happy meal

Because you're wrong...

I hear you though.
- Doogs

I was here and gave congrats. Check.
- Doogs

Not directed at you I know a couple of you were I'm talking about the mature ones who on only show up after a win

On a different note, not sure if anyone saw the video fro Shannahan explaining the suspension on Gryba but I've lost any confidence on Shanny as the NHL Director of Player Safety at this point.

In the video he basically said, it was technically a legal hit, made illegal since the principle point of contact was the head....he goes on to say
However, Gryba's route is not correct and we do not feel that he makes enough of a full body check for this hit not to qualify as an illegal check to the head. In our view, in attempting this very difficult check, Gryba does not hit squarely enough through the body. Eller's head is the principal point of contact and the subsequent contact to Eller's right shoulder is secondary."

"The pass that Eller received just prior to the check is completely irrelevant to whether Gryba delivers a reckless, illegal check to the head."

Now let me say this, it was a SCARY hit that had folks gasping with concern. The vision we were left in of Eller lying face down in a puddle of blood was horrifyinig. That said, Shannahan totally obsolves Eller and the player who passed the puck to him saying their actions had nothing to do with hit itself....WHAT?
I played defense for many years (more than I care to admit) and did so against some damn big and fast teams, and I knew a hell of a lot better than to lead a player up the middle like that with the other team waiting at the blueline. The pass not only led Eller leaning forward for the puck, but Eller's reaching for the pass moved him forward in such a way that left him totally vulnerable.

What disappoints me with Shanny is that his suspension sounds like a matter of the ends justifying the means. If I'm playing forward like Eller and a pass is sent to me like that, I'm probably reaching to tip it out of the zone rather than trying to receive it. Why? Because I know damn well I'm going to be taking a nap if I try to receive it like that. Players are no longer being left with a personal responsability to their own safety...
- keaner17

Amen. The principal point of contact was the shoulder. It was ugly, but hitting the ice face first is what did the damage. Eller got drilled because he put himself in position to get drilled. End of story.

Hey now, I came in and doffed my cap to you guys after that disaster (on our part)

Your guys have been very impressive this far.
- Emperor Filonius

I never considered you a troll

Coincidence? Conspiracy? Maybe. But you can’t deny that the stars in the league, especially THE brightest star in the league will ALWAYS get the call FOR him and not AGAINST him. There’s no official NHL memo on it, it’s just the way it is.

THE brightest stars in the league create and draw penalties by forcing the opponents to use illegal tactics to slow them down. I believe the term for the isles move on crosby is the can opener. foot behind players leg, pulling upper body from behind.

in unrelated...related Isles news Nino has been a BEAST for the swiss team in the world championships
- NYI78

Good..means his trade value is still high...

Yes, all the rules have always been called to the letter in playoff ot over the years

I suppose I'm just enjoying the irony of fanhood here. Most fans know it's typically got to be more than just a marginal call to tilt a game in OT, but in this case you have plenty of paid analysts saying it was a soft call along with some of your own fans. Still, if the Pens got called for the prior hook on Streit, I'm sure we'd see a river of tears on here leaking from your blog.

It's just a shame it came down to something like that when the 5x5 play was so good.
- keaner17

Isles PK, Defense, and Nabby have to be better. Having said this it is a little cheap to win on the PP in the playoffs in OT on that call. If the Isles win then next game in the similar fasion I will be happy but still post that they won on a cheap call. You need to really earn it 5-5 when in OT in the playoffs. I hate to see a PP in OT even during the regular season.

So the Isles play a hard-fought tough loss OT Thriller and you dedicate half your blog crying still about the Isles moving 25 minutes away to Brooklyn.


- latorrem1

this

He slashed him in the face FROM THE BENCH. That's assault brotha.
- nbartley9

Don't start that, Brotha!!!! If that's assault then Matt Cooke would be in jail right now!!!!!!

Good..means his trade value is still high...
- kear20

I'm all for a Nino deal for a Ryan or Beriner. Have to think some type of impact move will be made this offseason.

I'm all for a Nino deal for a Ryan or Beriner. Have to think some type of impact move will be made this offseason.
- ses111

I dunno, even though Boyes had a decent game yesterday, it sure would have been nice having Bailey Tavares Nino going instead.

It's a 50/50 call for sure...but there's no way you can say it's not a penalty. 50/50 in that sometimes they call those and sometimes they don't.

The Isles don't need to beat the officials (there were 4 power plays for the Pens and 3 for the Isles...EDIT which brings the series total to 11 for each team...hardly a conspiracy )...they (Strait) need to be in better position defensively in that case.

What you can say is that the officials maybe need to do a better job of making more consistent calls...BUT you can say that ALL OF THE TIME.

It's tough in that situation...but the truth is, if Strait could have stayed in a better position and driven his shoulder into Crosby from the side or front, instead of obviously reaching and grabbing him, then there wouldn't have been a penalty.

When you are right in front of the official...and you reach out and grab a guy's shoulder...after he obviously beat you (positionally)...seriously...you have to expect a penalty.
- icedog97

it was a 50/50 call and if it were during the regular season...FINE, id be ok with it.

this is the playoffs!! the nhl playoffs were these penalties are usually pretty blatant.. then add on that its overtime!!! are you (frank)ing kidding me with that weak call!!! nothing is ever called in overtime ESPECIALLY not a call that is 50/50 during the regular season...what a load of poop.

then on top of that the amount of non-calls that happened before...unreal!!!

i never believed in the nhl/nbc penguins bias until yesterday...its hard to ignore at this point...what a disaster!

I never considered you a troll
- Vukota

Poor call, nope. That call is made 11 times out of 10. It was a penalty. Sid helped sell it. I have a rough time thinking the reaction of Islander fans if that were Tavaras with the puck in a similar situation. They would be crying bloody murder for a penalty. Tavaras gets that call as well. Anyone who says otherwise needs a reality check.
- Oneonta Penguin

it happened to jt and the rest of the team throughout the game...not in overtime when only other fans start watching.

I am a Leafs Fan, and I love to watch him play hockey. He has not whined in 3 years, so let it go. If Striet did not kick the right, trailing foot out from under him ( watch the reply ) it does not get called. But it did.

The Isles played so well, and with so much heart. Great game. Poor call, but not Sid'd fault it was called. Watched the entire game, failed to see Sid whine one time.
- bixll

this is all I'm going to say, because this is the most ridiculous title I've ever seen.

54.1 Holding – Any action by a player that retards the progress of an opposing player whether or not he is in possession of the puck.
54.2 Minor Penalty - A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player who holds an opponent by using his hands, arms or legs.
A player is permitted to use his arm in a strength move, by blocking his opponent, provided he has body position and is not using his hands in a holding manner, when doing so.

He lost defensive position on Crosby and was defending from behind. Therefore he lost body position. He used his free hand and stick hand, both on Crosby's shoulder from behind. Therefore retarding the progress of an opposing player and using his hands in a holding manner.

You might not like the call, but it had all the qualities of a textbook hold. Body position lost, defending from behind, and TWO hands on the shoulder from behind.

You honestly think in overtime, Crosby beats his man and has a chance to go to the net and score to end the game, that he'd dive and run the risk of the Isles going the other way and scoring? Crosby was trying to get to the net and score, that's what's on your mind in OT. Get hard to the net and try to create a scoring chance. Diving, not getting the call and running the risk of the Isles taking off on an odd man rush is the last thing you'd want to do.

Good luck the rest of the way, I will admit you have deserved better, and Bylsma is the worst playoff coach year after year.
- shinoix

everyone knows the rules.....theyre just not consistant

Poor call, nope. That call is made 11 times out of 10 on anyone but a Penguins player. It was a penalty. Sid helped sell it. I have a rough time thinking the reaction of Islander fans if that were Tavaras with the puck in a similar situation. They would be crying bloody murder for a penalty. Tavaras gets that call as well. Anyone who says otherwise needs a reality check.
- Oneonta Penguin

Fixed

Really it comes down to special teams. When the Islanders PP is going 0-3 and the Penguins go 3-4 chances are the Penguins are going to win. Marginal call or not.
- Ben37

very true

I never considered you a troll
- Vukota

He was one of the 'decent' ones I was referring to...

I dunno, even though Boyes had a decent game yesterday, it sure would have been nice having Bailey Tavares Nino going instead.
- keaner17

I still cannot believe the big hit by Boyes on the JT goal. Bailey,JT, and Nino sounds sweet. It would be nice to see what Nino could do playing with real talent. You have to think thoough Nino would have to be included to bring back a big piece.