When Pittsburgh tries to muscle up, it's almost always to their detriment.

I don't know what it is about that team when they try to play that way.
- johndewar

There is an immaturity in their game that comes from the Captain all the way down.

There is an immaturity in their game that comes from the Captain all the way down.
- MBFlyerfan

I think you're not wrong about that.

Even Malkin falls into it.

When Pittsburgh tries to muscle up, it's almost always to their detriment.

I don't know what it is about that team when they try to play that way.
- johndewar

They get tight because they know they've lit a fuse and they don't like to get hit so they have their head on a swivel and they lose a step which is their advantage on most teams. Getting that quick burst up ice.

Funny, I just happened to read that article last night too. Could be a decent 3rd round pick up.
- TrentKlatt

Another good article about the kid.... apparently he's got a impressive track record of buckling down, putting in the work, and achieving his goals... the kind of player who will probably exceed his physical/skill potential because he's got off-ice discipline and focus in spades.

There is an immaturity in their game that comes from the Captain all the way down.
- MBFlyerfan

They brought in Iginla and Morrow to try to settle that down but they've been doing it for three years now and a couple months of those guys isn't going to fix it.

They brought in Iginla and Morrow to try to settle that down but they've been doing it for three years now and a couple months of those guys isn't going to fix it.
- mayorofangrytown

Re-acquire Billy Guerin?

There is an immaturity in their game that comes from the Captain all the way down.
- MBFlyerfan

Yeah, their train goes off the rails pretty easily with the right provocation.

Malkin is probably the worst culprit... he already prone to retaliatory nonsense and less-than-perfect D coverage to begin with... when he's PO'd, he completely loses focus and he becomes a real liability to take a bad penalty or blow a critical coverage.

They brought in Iginla and Morrow to try to settle that down but they've been doing it for three years now and a couple months of those guys isn't going to fix it.
- mayorofangrytown

Its Crosby's room.

Yeah, their train goes off the rails pretty easily with the right provocation.

Malkin is probably the worst culprit... he already prone to retaliatory nonsense and less-than-perfect D coverage to begin with... when he's PO'd, he completely loses focus and he becomes a real liability to take a bad penalty or blow a critical coverage.
- Tomahawk

mr slewfoot himself ? ... nooooo, really ?

I've seen the Pens play solid defense under Bylsma in the past. They just seem to lose thier focus at times. There has to be a comittment.
- MJL

Pitts also allows themselves to be too easily thrown off their game by physical play. Boston is doing this to perfection.
- MBFlyerfan

I agree with both points.

mr slewfoot himself ? ... nooooo, really ?
- MrBigglesworth

Other than the first shot on Fleury my favourite part was when Marchand kicked the feet out from under Crosby. Don't know why they yelled at him at the bench because that was classic. I was hoping to see it over and over again on the highlights but didn't. Very disappointing.

Its Crosby's room.

- MBFlyerfan

I thought Crosby's room was in Mario's basement next to the bowling alley.

I thought Crosby's room was in Mario's basement next to the bowling alley.
- mayorofangrytown

I've seen the Pens play solid defense under Bylsma in the past. They just seem to lose thier focus at times. There has to be a comittment.
- MJL

Im not speaking so much about solid defense, but it seems as though they cant find the balance. They are a pretty predictable team. Bylsma has a ton of talent to work with over there, and to be honest.. with what they gave up to get some of these players... they better hope to god it pays off.

For those who are interested, 'Canes and Stars are both unveiling their new sweaters today. 'Canes are actually live-streaming their unveiling in about 15-mins on their site.

Other than the first shot on Fleury my favourite part was when Marchand kicked the feet out from under Crosby. Don't know why they yelled at him at the bench because that was classic. I was hoping to see it over and over again on the highlights but didn't. Very disappointing.
- mayorofangrytown

I loved that and when Crosby got the high stick from McQuaid and then the crosscheck to the butt while he was down.

For those who are interested, 'Canes and Stars are both unveiling their new sweaters today. 'Canes are actually live-streaming their unveiling in about 15-mins on their site.
- Tomahawk

I saw the leaked Dallas logo last week. I like it.

I saw the leaked Dallas logo last week. I like it.
- Scoob

I wasnt a fan. I always thought that it would have been good for them to try and match the Cowboys colors of silver and blue... but Im sure the Cowboys would have an issue with that

I wasnt a fan. I always thought that it would have been good for them to try and match the Cowboys colors of silver and blue... but Im sure the Cowboys would have an issue with that
- TrentKlatt

How could they? The Mavs did it years ago.

How could they? The Mavs did it years ago.
- mayorofangrytown

Different scenario... just using the colors is one thing. But using the color scheme, and having a star logo, might be a bit too close

Fleury looked bad on two of the three goals he gave up last night. On top of that, there was a play last night in the second period where Boston would have had an easy wraparound goal if the player hadn't been taken off the puck as he came around. Fleury was stumbling all over himself and nowhere near getting over in time.

Besides, I don't think Vokoun has even been all that bad in the two games to date. He's had one of those "not the problem but not the solution, either" series thus far but he's the one who gives Pittsburgh a better chance of winning.

In fact, if I were Bylsma, it would take an injury to Vokoun for Fleury to get a start again in the playoffs. That "you've got to start the high-paid goalie" stuff is nonsense. Go with the one who gives you a better chance of winning, and that's not Fleury. He is still his team's weakest link. He was bad in the 2010, 2011, 2012 playoffs. He's been a mess in the 2013 playoffs to date.

Come playoff time, Fleury fails the Bernie Parent "make the first goal tough and the second one even tougher" mental strength test. He's always on the brink of falling apart as soon as he faces adversity. Why would he miraculously turn things around now?

Remember last year: Fleury played decently in the latter part of Game 4 as well as in Game 5. Everyone around the Pens was saying, "See, 'Flower' is locked in now. He's going to slam the door the rest of the series." The truth of the matter is that he really didn't have much adversity in those games. He came out and was thoroughly mediocre in Game 6 when the Flyers turned up the heat on him again, especially on the backbreaking goals by Briere (moments after Malkin got his team on the board) and the long-distance, unscreened Gustafsson goal.

I'm not pinning all the blame on Fleury (or Vokoun) by any means. The Pens have once again misplaced their committment to team D and any goalie is going to look bad when they get hung out to dry the way they were last night in particular. But the truth of the matter is that the Pens won their 2009 Cup despite getting average-quality goaltending from Fleury and, apart from 2008 (where he was undeniably excellent), he's pretty much been below-average in all of his other playoff runs.

I wasnt a fan. I always thought that it would have been good for them to try and match the Cowboys colors of silver and blue... but Im sure the Cowboys would have an issue with that
- TrentKlatt

The Penguins are black and gold only because of trying to cop off of the success of the Steelers and Pirates in the late '70's, so it wouldn't be unprecedented.

The fact that Dallas kept the notion of "Stars" in their nickname already kinda cribs from the Cowboys (whose star logo is about as famous as it gets).

Fleury looked bad on two of the three goals he gave up last night. On top of that, there was a play last night in the second period where Boston would have had an easy wraparound goal if the player hadn't been taken off the puck as he came around. Fleury was stumbling all over himself and nowhere near getting over in time.

Besides, I don't think Vokoun has even been all that bad in the two games to date. He's had one of those "not the problem but not the solution, either" series thus far but he's the one who gives Pittsburgh a better chance of winning.

In fact, if I were Bylsma, it would take an injury to Vokoun for Fleury to get a start again in the playoffs. That "you've got to start the high-paid goalie" stuff is nonsense. Go with the one who gives you a better chance of winning, and that's not Fleury. He is still his team's weakest link. He was bad in the 2010, 2011, 2012 playoffs. He's been a mess in the 2013 playoffs to date.

Come playoff time, Fleury fails the Bernie Parent "make the first goal tough and the second one even tougher" mental strength test. He's always on the brink of falling apart as soon as he faces adversity. Why would he miraculously turn things around now?

Remember last year: Fleury played decently in the latter part of Game 4 as well as in Game 5. Everyone around the Pens was saying, "See, 'Flower' is locked in now. He's going to slam the door the rest of the series." The truth of the matter is that he really didn't have much adversity in those games. He came out and was thoroughly mediocre in Game 6 when the Flyers turned up the heat on him again, especially on the backbreaking goals by Briere (moments after Malkin got his team on the board) and the long-distance, unscreened Gustafsson goal.

I'm not pinning all the blame on Fleury (or Vokoun) by any means. The Pens have once again misplaced their committment to team D and any goalie is going to look bad when they get hung out to dry the way they were last night in particular. But the truth of the matter is that the Pens won their 2009 Cup despite getting average-quality goaltending from Fleury and, apart from 2008 (where he was undeniably excellent), he's pretty much been below-average in all of his other playoff runs.
- bmeltzer

think he'll get bought out, bill?

Hurricanes jerseys are much better now. No more ugly Hurricane Warning flag stripe or white piping.

The Penguins are black and gold only because of trying to cop off of the success of the Steelers and Pirates in the late '70's, so it wouldn't be unprecedented.

The fact that Dallas kept the notion of "Stars" in their nickname already kinda cribs from the Cowboys (whose star logo is about as famous as it gets).
- johndewar

And there is that whole Lone Star State thing......