Meh. I'd wager most of us that frequent this site would be following the playoffs with or without the Pens involvement.
- wolfhounds

I'd still be watching, but it does make it more fun to havve someone to root against

That is a non starter for me. You definitely don't have a replacement for that.
- Gunner Staal

Yeah, most sane pens fans agree with that. You trade superstars like Malkin ONLY if you have to because ownership problems, not because you think your team needs a shake up or you think he's enigmatic or whatever.

I understand that some of the goals have been the result of defensive breakdowns, but the Bruins still have to put the puck in the net. Really, you could probably make the case that any goal which is ever scored in this league is the result of some sort of breakdown.
- MadCap2008

its just denial..... no one saw the Pens putting up this type of effort... we don't want to give the B's all the credit cause we know our team hasn't shown up yet

I understand that some of the goals have been the result of defensive breakdowns, but the Bruins still have to put the puck in the net. Really, you could probably make the case that any goal which is ever scored in this league is the result of some sort of breakdown.
- MadCap2008

eh i dont know. there is a difference between the other team taking it from you and you giving it to them. a team doesnt make it this far without being able to capitalize on errors, so yes, if we must give boston credit for not allowing a comedy of errors to go unpunished, then yeah kudos. i think it would be more insulting to even entertain the fact that they wouldnt capitalize. they are a bunch of physically imposing proven winners with enough skill to get the job done.

when i say that the pens are giving it to them, im not trying to suggest that boston wouldnt be able to compete with the pens at their best. however, we just havent seen that because quite frankly they havent needed to.

true. but the fact that we have those guns makes getting blown out of the water all the more sickening. i can deal with losses in which you put forth a good effort and you just get beaten. i realize you and i are leading the charge saying that this is more pittsburgh than boston, and i still stand by that. however, just because boston hasnt exactly needed to dig deep, doesnt mean they cant. fact is they just havent had to. why would they when it can just be a practice day in the offensive end for them?

really stating the obvious here, but if theyre still down 0 2 but the games reflect hard fought competition and losing to a quality group of proven winners, id at least have respect for the pens. but right now, this team deserves none of it. the lack of drive and heart from guys that are supposed to have it in spades, be it the team foundation like crosby or malkin, or the guys that should have the hunger like iginla, is just both appalling and befuddling.
- stayinthefnnet

The problem I have with the it's "more pitt than boston" is that it can be used by any team at any time as an excuse for losing.

The Pens didn't beat the Islanders; the Islanders beat themselves by not showing up for the Series.

The Pens didn't beat the Senators; the Senators gave the Pens the series by playing sloppy, lazy hockey.

The Flyers failed to make the playoffs not because any other teams in the East were better than them, but because of injuries and coaching and bad passing and...

@Buccigross: Best-of-Seven Series History:
Bruins: 22-7 when up 2-0
Penguins: 5-6 when trailing 2-0

I'd still be watching, but it does make it more fun to havve someone to root against
- MadCap2008

No doubt.

That is a non starter for me. You definitely don't have a replacement for that.
- Gunner Staal

yeah, for me as well. however, the notion of this team sans letang is looking less horrific with each postseason game he plays in. i would not mind an office space-esque reassessment of each and everyone on this team, and if that means that letang and fleury arent around afterwards, then that needs to be seriously discussed.

Yeah, most sane pens fans agree with that. You trade superstars like Malkin ONLY if you have to because ownership problems, not because you think your team needs a shake up or you think he's enigmatic or whatever.
- rival22

The problem with the last 30 years is that the Penguins have miraculously acquired this generational talent (Lemieux/Jagr/Crosby/Malkin) and that has given some in the fanbase the perception that you'll just find another one. Doesn't work like that, the Penguins have been incredibly lucky.

true. but the fact that we have those guns makes getting blown out of the water all the more sickening. i can deal with losses in which you put forth a good effort and you just get beaten. i realize you and i are leading the charge saying that this is more pittsburgh than boston, and i still stand by that. however, just because boston hasnt exactly needed to dig deep, doesnt mean they cant. fact is they just havent had to. why would they when it can just be a practice day in the offensive end for them?

really stating the obvious here, but if theyre still down 0 2 but the games reflect hard fought competition and losing to a quality group of proven winners, id at least have respect for the pens. but right now, this team deserves none of it. the lack of drive and heart from guys that are supposed to have it in spades, be it the team foundation like crosby or malkin, or the guys that should have the hunger like iginla, is just both appalling and befuddling.
- stayinthefnnet

Bruins are a quality group of proven winners, and this holds true even if the Pens come back and win this. I think the Ottawa series was a bit of fool's gold for the Pens - they dominated and should have swept, but the reality is that the Sens just didn't have the weapons to hurt Pittsburgh. It's all about matchups, and so far this looks like a bad one for Pittsburgh. Doesn't mean they can't turn it around, though.

I'm really surprised with Iginla.... I didn't expect an all star out there..... but he looks like he is a mere shadow of his former self. Every time the puck comes to him it seems like he is hesitant or he has to look to his stick and he bobbles the puck. Its kinda frustrating seeing this happen.... when you have Bennett just sitting there wondering what he could be doing.

Bruins are a quality group of proven winners, and this holds true even if the Pens come back and win this. I think the Ottawa series was a bit of fool's gold for the Pens - they dominated and should have swept, but the reality is that the Sens just didn't have the weapons to hurt Pittsburgh. It's all about matchups, and so far this looks like a bad one for Pittsburgh. Doesn't mean they can't turn it around, though.
- MadCap2008

Its not a bad matchup with the proper personnel in the lineup, which is available.

I understand that some of the goals have been the result of defensive breakdowns, but the Bruins still have to put the puck in the net. Really, you could probably make the case that any goal which is ever scored in this league is the result of some sort of breakdown.
- MadCap2008

True, but sorry, I can't give Boston 100% credit. The reason Pittsburgh is behind in this and at least not tied is 80% on them. When a team commits as many unforced errors in two games and the goalie can't do anything to save them, absent the three gifts by Fleury in game two, I can't give credit. Boston's defense has been tremendous. That is about as far as I go. I can't give too much credit to the opposition when the Pens show no heart, no intensity, no hockey IQ, no adjustments and no urgency. Sorry. Now, if Boston had won game two, like it did game one with the Penguins actually playing well two periods (no show in the third), we have a different story.

All the goals, not some, have been by defensive breakdowns or gift goals by Fleury, absent the ill-advised pass by Crosby to Marchand on the breakaway.

Meh. I'd wager most of us that frequent this site would be following the playoffs with or without the Pens involvement.
- wolfhounds

It just might not be as enjoyable for you as this is.

It's cool. I'd be enjoying it if the Flyers were in the Penguins position too. I cheered alot for the Hawks a few years ago so it's only fair.

The problem I have with the it's "more pitt than boston" is that it can be used by any team at any time as an excuse for losing.

The Pens didn't beat the Islanders; the Islanders beat themselves by not showing up for the Series.

The Pens didn't beat the Senators; the Senators gave the Pens the series by playing sloppy, lazy hockey.

The Flyers failed to make the playoffs not because any other teams in the East were better than them, but because of injuries and coaching and bad passing and...
- wolfhounds

i understand that largely it is just semantics, but you cant tell me that honestly it is more applicable that others. if the pens were playing smart, energetic hockey, but simply being ground into a pulp by the bruins relentless forecheck, then you tip the cap

@Buccigross: Best-of-Seven Series History:
Bruins: 22-7 when up 2-0
Penguins: 5-6 when trailing 2-0
- mochoson

Penguins are also 1-1 in series when trailing the Bruins by 2 games (stocking that on the shelf with hopeful stats that don't really matter, but every little bit helps)

The problem with the last 30 years is that the Penguins have miraculously acquired this generational talent (Lemieux/Jagr/Crosby/Malkin) and that has given some in the fanbase the perception that you'll just find another one. Doesn't work like that, the Penguins have been incredibly lucky.
- Gunner Staal

No doubt, difficult to think of another team in another sport (except maybe the Yankees, who have often treated the rest of MLB as their farm team) who have been lucky enough to land that many generational players over the past 25 years or so.

History suggests when the refs start calling it evenly, the Penguins lose their advantage and their cool. The fact is: It's hard getting calls all year and then having that disappear in the playoffs. Maybe Sid can talk to his buddy Gary about changing that and then you'd be right, the series wouldn't be over. Barring that, your headline is as correct as the guy who says Sid is the best player in the world. (P.S. To be the best player, you have to play.)

Call me a troll if that makes you feel better. The fact is my two favorite teams are the Ducks and whoever is playing Felonious Cooke, Sid, The DeFlowered Keeper, and the Pens.
- yzermaneely

Ouch. That's got to be pretty embarrassing to be shown that your sad little tirade was proven false. Got any other BS you want to spew to show what little credibility you have? You're not a troll, you're a fool who got debunked pretty bad.

true. but the fact that we have those guns makes getting blown out of the water all the more sickening. i can deal with losses in which you put forth a good effort and you just get beaten. i realize you and i are leading the charge saying that this is more pittsburgh than boston, and i still stand by that. however, just because boston hasnt exactly needed to dig deep, doesnt mean they cant. fact is they just havent had to. why would they when it can just be a practice day in the offensive end for them?

really stating the obvious here, but if theyre still down 0 2 but the games reflect hard fought competition and losing to a quality group of proven winners, id at least have respect for the pens. but right now, this team deserves none of it. the lack of drive and heart from guys that are supposed to have it in spades, be it the team foundation like crosby or malkin, or the guys that should have the hunger like iginla, is just both appalling and befuddling.
- stayinthefnnet

Exactly, I can tolerate it if the effort was there, the heart was there, the urgency was there and the adjustments were there, but it wasn't good enough. We have seen no evidence outside the first two periods of this series that any of those things are there for the Pens. If one watches the games, you wouldn't see any of those.

2012-2013 Regular Season

Pittsburgh:

170 PP opportunities

167 times shorthanded

Total PP time - total shorthanded time 2:44 17th in the league

http://www.nhl.com/ice/te...&viewName=penaltyKillTime
- Gunner Staal

there you go spouting facts again, when wil you ever learn that internet message board trolls don't care about facts?

i understand that largely it is just semantics, but you cant tell me that honestly it is more applicable that others. if the pens were playing smart, energetic hockey, but simply being ground into a pulp by the bruins relentless forecheck, then you tip the cap
- stayinthefnnet

That's just it, it's a classic chicken/egg conundrum.

You can't argue the Pens haven't been playing well, but you have to give some of the credit for that to the Bruins.

I wonder if it's a team chemistry issue?

The problem I have with the it's "more pitt than boston" is that it can be used by any team at any time as an excuse for losing.

The Pens didn't beat the Islanders; the Islanders beat themselves by not showing up for the Series.

The Pens didn't beat the Senators; the Senators gave the Pens the series by playing sloppy, lazy hockey.

The Flyers failed to make the playoffs not because any other teams in the East were better than them, but because of injuries and coaching and bad passing and...
- wolfhounds

The Islanders series, I agree. The Ottawa series, I totally disagree. Pittsburgh outplayed them terribly in every facet because Ottawa doesn't possess the skill pittsburgh has; the talent and the depth.

When a team allows eight of nine goals scored in two games directly off its own unforced errors, you tell me champ, who is more to blame? I don't think you have watched one minute of this series if you don't think Pittsburgh is more to blame than Boston.

Letang for Bryz and a 5th

Philly gets a decent puck mover on the back end

Pitts gets a major improvement in goal
- broadstreet11

Pretty sure Bryz will be free after a buyout.

delete

Pretty sure Bryz will be free after a buyout.
- Sell My Monkey

He's certainly not a major improvement either.