Who would ever do that? Flower wilts in the play-offs. His D hangs him out to dry half the time... Sound familiar?
- FlyersGrace

i heard he gave himself a concussion from slamming his head on his stick last night...

j/k

Funny story.. I was at the bar with a bunch of guys from my team... Both the Islanders and Sens win (like I had hoped) and when they scored the go ahead goal (Isles) and GWG (Sens) I went nuts... The bartender comes over and says to me "So how much did you put down on these games" My answer? "NONE"

I was so pumped last night
- jak521

i gave a good fist pump when the sens tied the game...almost equal to that if i were watching a flyers game. was genuinely happy. cripes, i hate muntreal. feel bad for budai though. tough spot to be put in.

Who would ever do that? Flower wilts in the play-offs. His D hangs him out to dry half the time... Sound familiar?
- FlyersGrace

he's given up 40 goals in his last 10 playoff games.

he's given up 40 goals in his last 10 playoff games.
- hammarby31

... but with the series tied at 2 this is a panic move. Where do they go from here win or lose?

... but with the series tied at 2 this is a panic move. Where do they go from here win or lose?
- mayorofangrytown

not sure it's a panic move. it might be the only move. they've got a strong body of poopty evidence against him right now. if vokoun can steady things they let him roll until he loses a game or plays badly. MAF is capable of playing a solid game. canes won in 2006 with the platoon. even bryz helped the ducks win a cup with a handful of excellent games early in the 07 playoffs.

... but with the series tied at 2 this is a panic move. Where do they go from here win or lose?
- mayorofangrytown

thats the best part of it. on top of everything else, now the pens have a goaltending controversy courtesy of one D. Bylsma.

... but with the series tied at 2 this is a panic move. Where do they go from here win or lose?
- mayorofangrytown

Bylsma is in a quandary.

If he doesn't make this move and they lose Game 5 on home ice, he gets second guessed.

If they lose Game 5 on home ice with Vokoun, he gets second guessed for not sticking with the guy that got him there.

Seems like Pens fans like the move.

I think changing out the goalie was the only move for Bylsma at this point with the hope that Pittsburgh plays a more 2 way game with Vokoun in there.

... but with the series tied at 2 this is a panic move. Where do they go from here win or lose?
- mayorofangrytown

Fleury was a big part of the implosion the Pens had against Montreal in 2010. He was awful in three of Pittsburgh's four losses to Tampa in 2011, and was awful against the Flyers last year. He has been pretty bad the last three games in this series against the Islanders, and the way he misplayed two of those goals last night was as awful as you will ever see from an NHL goalie.

The switch to Vokoun is not a panic move at this point. It's a necessity.

Fleury was a big part of the implosion the Pens had against Montreal in 2010. He was awful in three of Pittsburgh's four losses to Tampa in 2011, and was awful against the Flyers last year. He has been pretty bad the last three games in this series against the Islanders, and the way he misplayed two of those goals last night was as awful as you will ever see from an NHL goalie.

The switch to Vokoun is not a panic move at this point. It's a necessity.
- bmeltzer

I honestly cant think of another goalie who systematically crumbled as bad as Fleury has in the playoffs.

He lets in so many of those "at his feet" or fluky bounce goals... its unfathomable

i gave a good fist pump when the sens tied the game...almost equal to that if i were watching a flyers game. was genuinely happy. cripes, i hate muntreal. feel bad for budai though. tough spot to be put in.
- hammarby31

Yeah that's unreal, especially in a playoff game where getting in that flow is essential.

... but with the series tied at 2 this is a panic move. Where do they go from here win or lose?
- mayorofangrytown

If they don't make a move, they're dead in the water.

They're tied 2-2, in a series they were expected to dominate and win in 4 or 5 games at most. This is 3 straight years where their goaltending has been subpar in the playoffs.

That might be what I was thinking of in regards to Sim...I searched for some highlights and is a feisty little bastard.
- Jsaquella

Ahhh remember this classic:

http://metashopper.com/jonsim/sim.htm

Ahhh remember this classic:

http://metashopper.com/jonsim/sim.htm


- exlund

If they don't make a move, they're dead in the water.

They're tied 2-2, in a series they were expected to dominate and win in 4 or 5 games at most. This is 3 straight years where their goaltending has been subpar in the playoffs.
- Jsaquella

and yet only now with this last horrendous performance is there a loud swell of "fluery sucks" out there in the world. he's steadily been building a case over the last few years. even his #s in 08 when they lost to detroit are better than in 09 when they won. i wasn't kidding about the amnesty potential. they need to seriously consider it.

Bylsma is in a quandary.

If he doesn't make this move and they lose Game 5 on home ice, he gets second guessed.

If they lose Game 5 on home ice with Vokoun, he gets second guessed for not sticking with the guy that got him there.

Seems like Pens fans like the move.

I think changing out the goalie was the only move for Bylsma at this point with the hope that Pittsburgh plays a more 2 way game with Vokoun in there.
- johndewar

Bylsma has to make this move. It can't get any worse. Who cares about MAF's feelings or his mental state in later rounds. Can't win the cup w/o getting out of round 1.

vokoun gets the start. right call. and i love the panic in the 'burgh.

If they don't make a move, they're dead in the water.

They're tied 2-2, in a series they were expected to dominate and win in 4 or 5 games at most. This is 3 straight years where their goaltending has been subpar in the playoffs.
- Jsaquella

Vokoun can't be your long term answer in the playoffs. It's not like you've gone to the young guy here. This isn't a Ward for Gerber move.

Bylsma has to make this move. It can't get any worse. Who cares about MAF's feelings or his mental state in later rounds. Can't win the cup w/o getting out of round 1.
- flyguy12

I agree with your point, but the funny thing is, as bad as MAF flubbed on some of these, the other Penguin players on the ice have some work to do too.

I don't think this Islander team is going to be intimidated by Pittsburgh's talent at this point, so Pittsburgh needs to play a hard, honest game from here on out or they can feel free to make tee times.

Vokoun can't be your long term answer in the playoffs. It's not like you've gone to the young guy here. This isn't a Ward for Gerber move.
- mayorofangrytown

Well, since 2009, MAF hasn't posted a save % over .891 in the playoffs. Even if Vokoun is not the long term answer, it's becoming blatantly obvious that Fleury isn't any kind of answer.

Bylsma is in a quandary.

If he doesn't make this move and they lose Game 5 on home ice, he gets second guessed.

If they lose Game 5 on home ice with Vokoun, he gets second guessed for not sticking with the guy that got him there.

Seems like Pens fans like the move.

I think changing out the goalie was the only move for Bylsma at this point with the hope that Pittsburgh plays a more 2 way game with Vokoun in there.
- johndewar

I don't think there's any quandary. He won't get second guessed for playing his backup when his starter has shown an inability to play. Even if they lose with Vokoun, everyone will know that he had to choose Vokoun over Fluery. If there's one lesson to be learned from Fluery it's never to choose a goalie 1st overall.

Well, since 2009, MAF hasn't posted a save % over .891 in the playoffs. Even if Vokoun is not the long term answer, it's becoming blatantly obvious that Fleury isn't any kind of answer.
- Jsaquella

They do desperately need a win. Here's hoping it all blows up in their face.

They do desperately need a win. Here's hoping it all blows up in their face.
- mayorofangrytown

Agreed.

We could discuss the Doc Halladay surgery timetable
- Jsaquella

Would rather discuss mid round draft possibilities

Would rather discuss mid round draft possibilities
- ob18

Actually, two local weathermen tweeted that they had similar surgeries and felt great afterward....who knew that Hurricane Schwartz was on a pitch count?

They do desperately need a win. Here's hoping it all blows up in their face.
- mayorofangrytown

Can't get enough of that moment.