Let's go Pens...

No matter what happens tonight, no loss could be as tough as Wednesday's was... Effing Brutal.
- Francois Leroux

What a game. How many times was Sid actually mugged during the game. The kid is tuff. And Campbell was amazing, hats off to him.

I think they can win tonight. That is all that matters.
- Gunner Staal

And, I think they can do that for the next 4 games. Win tonight.

IF there is ONE TEAM in this league that CAN win 4 in a row against the Bruins, it's the Pens. I'm not ready to shave my sideburns just yet.

Lets Go Pens!!!

Murray is the only one to be honest. Its unfortunate to see how old and slow Iggy looks. I think he has been a huge disopointment.

Once the dust settles in the off season I think Jussi will have a nice spot as a 2nd or 3rd line forward and special use center and full time on the shootout. With Carolina paying part of his check, I see no point in moving him next yr.
- sammy87

Way too slow

Question for the real Pens fans here:

Who do you want to re-sign out of the 3 trade acquisitions?
(Morrow, Murray, Iginla)

And what do you want to do with Jokinen?
- Coburns_Nose

Maybe Murray... I was kinda disappointed with Iggy. He plays a lot older than I thought he would. Morrow if we can get him for cheap, he'd look good on the third line.

Juciy is def a KEEPER!!

Question for the real Pens fans here:

Who do you want to re-sign out of the 3 trade acquisitions?
(Morrow, Murray, Iginla)

And what do you want to do with Jokinen?
- Coburns_Nose

Maybe Murray... I was kinda disappointed with Iggy. He plays a lot older than I thought he would. Morrow if we can get him for cheap, he'd look good on the third line.

Juciy is def a KEEPER!!

Question for the real Pens fans here:

Who do you want to re-sign out of the 3 trade acquisitions?
(Morrow, Murray, Iginla)

And what do you want to do with Jokinen?
- Coburns_Nose

None... Jokinen will have a great opportunity next season to solidify a top 9 job and be a great contributor.

Way too slow
- Gunner Staal

He is def slow, but he is a huge body onthe back end that the Pens lacked.

I agree Morrow if cheap, could be great on the 3rd line. If Dupuis, Cooke, Iggy, are gone, I think Adams gets re signed, Glass has 1 yr left, RS will be a busy man this off season. If Letang struggles again tonight, I think its the last we've seen of him.

He is def slow, but he is a huge body onthe back end that the Pens lacked.

I agree Morrow if cheap, could be great on the 3rd line. If Dupuis, Cooke, Iggy, are gone, I think Adams gets re signed, Glass has 1 yr left, RS will be a busy man this off season. If Letang struggles again tonight, I think its the last we've seen of him.
- sammy87

This isn't the pre lockout days. Big bodied isnt good enough, body position is everything, he is too slow to maintain that. Simon Despres is the future of a successful "big bodied" d man.

Well up until 2 weeks ago I couldn't grow a playoff beard due to my job, but I started growing it for the bruins series and now they are down 3-0. I shaved yesterday as a sign of a new start. I will shave after every game now

Well up until 2 weeks ago I couldn't grow a playoff beard due to my job, but I started growing it for the bruins series and now they are down 3-0. I shaved yesterday as a sign of a new start. I will shave after every game now
- drummer829

I can't grow a playoff beard period...it's just not in the genes lol

The sideburns are all i've got going right now

This isn't the pre lockout days. Big bodied isnt good enough, body position is everything, he is too slow to maintain that. Simon Despres is the future of a successful "big bodied" d man.
- Gunner Staal

Put it this way, I could take him or leave him. I have no problem with Despress being a full timer, he should be as it is.

Now that Crosby's line has struggled against the B's does that hurt Dupuis chances of resigning here? I think it mostly depends on what his proiroties are.

Dejan Kovacevic's column today was good...he talked about how the Pens have THREE shots off rebound in the series...this was interesting...

"And the glaring reason is that, once in the Boston zone, rather than simply gunning and going to the net — picture an armada of Tyler Kennedy clones — they've insanely tried to Mario their way through four boxed-in Bruins, including Zdeno Chara and his 75-foot stick.

That's on the coach."

It would be nice to see some adjustments that result in us getting some second chances.

You know I've come to think Ray Ferraro was very right and I actually sort of believed him when all these acquisitions were done, he said the Pens just became a slower team and lost the edge they had on most teams. Maguire tried to embarrass him at the time but when you look at it, Ray is right, Morrow is not a fast player, he is not a better option than Tyler Kennedy. Iginla..... I just have to look and say how many of those pucks that he had would Bennett have put in the net. Murray has been pretty good, but the Pens don't to need to be slow. I say they move on from all. Maybe they retain Iggy for a year, maybe... I would only do it if its convenient.

You know I've come to think Ray Ferraro was very right and I actually sort of believed him when all these acquisitions were done, he said the Pens just became a slower team and lost the edge they had on most teams. Maguire tried to embarrass him at the time but when you look at it, Ray is right, Morrow is not a fast player, he is not a better option than Tyler Kennedy. Iginla..... I just have to look and say how many of those pucks that he had would Bennett have put in the net. Murray has been pretty good, but the Pens don't to need to be slow. I say they move on from all. Maybe they retain Iggy for a year, maybe... I would only do it if its convenient.
- nelson911

Its a speed and skill league now, even if some interference still makes its way in now and again.

Dupuis doesn't have the best hands in the world (they aren't bad by any stretch) but what makes him do as well as he does is the fact he is willing to go to dirty areas, and he is able to do so at a high rate of speed.

Put it this way, I could take him or leave him. I have no problem with Despress being a full timer, he should be as it is.

Now that Crosby's line has struggled against the B's does that hurt Dupuis chances of resigning here? I think it mostly depends on what his proiroties are.
- sammy87

They have the chances. I'd like to see dupuis resigned for another 3. However I'd really like to see Bennett get the chances on sids wing as Kunitz and dupuis are a couple years away from their decline.

Shero needs to trade Niskanen and Engelland just so Bylsma has no other options other than to play Despres. If Despres and Letang were consistently paired together since day 1, I don't think Letang would be producing as many bonehead turnovers as he has been doing, therefore the pens may only be down 2-1 in the series

They have the chances. I'd like to see dupuis resigned for another 3. However I'd really like to see Bennett get the chances on sids wing as Kunitz and dupuis are a couple years away from their decline.

Shero needs to trade Niskanen and Engelland just so Bylsma has no other options other than to play Despres. If Despres and Letang were consistently paired together since day 1, I don't think Letang would be producing as many bonehead turnovers as he has been doing, therefore the pens may only be down 2-1 in the series
- drummer829

I don't disagree that perhaps Letang might be playing better with Despres as his partner, but I do have a problem with the #1 D man's success being predicated on who he is playing with.

They have the chances. I'd like to see dupuis resigned for another 3. However I'd really like to see Bennett get the chances on sids wing as Kunitz and dupuis are a couple years away from their decline.

Shero needs to trade Niskanen and Engelland just so Bylsma has no other options other than to play Despres. If Despres and Letang were consistently paired together since day 1, I don't think Letang would be producing as many bonehead turnovers as he has been doing, therefore the pens may only be down 2-1 in the series
- drummer829

Despres better be a regular in the lineup next season, there is no reason why he shouldn't be. It's ridiculous

You know I've come to think Ray Ferraro was very right and I actually sort of believed him when all these acquisitions were done, he said the Pens just became a slower team and lost the edge they had on most teams. Maguire tried to embarrass him at the time but when you look at it, Ray is right, Morrow is not a fast player, he is not a better option than Tyler Kennedy. Iginla..... I just have to look and say how many of those pucks that he had would Bennett have put in the net. Murray has been pretty good, but the Pens don't to need to be slow. I say they move on from all. Maybe they retain Iggy for a year, maybe... I would only do it if its convenient.
- nelson911

The whole speed thing has me confused.

Wasn't Boston supposed to be slower than us...and definitely slower than NYI or maybe even Ottawa?

Speed is only a problem when you play a game that requires it but you don't have it.

So...once you recognize that maybe you don't have the speed you thought you did...adjust.

Sure, none of these guys are fast...but 3 of the fastest guys on the team aren't doing anything either.

Plus...you almost always look slower when you lose

Despres better be a regular in the lineup next season, there is no reason why he shouldn't be. It's ridiculous
- nelson911

Agree, as well as Bennett. He better be in the line up tonight, he had a great game Wednesday.

Agree, as well as Bennett. He better be in the line up tonight, he had a great game Wednesday.
- kfinl170

He is in the lineup

The whole speed thing has me confused.

Wasn't Boston supposed to be slower than us...and definitely slower than NYI or maybe even Ottawa?

Speed is only a problem when you play a game that requires it but you don't have it.

So...once you recognize that maybe you don't have the speed you thought you did...adjust.

Sure, none of these guys are fast...but 3 of the fastest guys on the team aren't doing anything either.
- icedog97

If the Pens or the rest of the NHL thought the Bruins were gonna be a slow team, then they're retarded. I'll just say the Pens lost what made them hugely successful in the season and that is puck possession and speed throughout the entire lineup. Once we start dressing Iginla and Morrow the results were gonna change.... maybe Bylsma should come up with a different plan cause it seems like they still try the same things but their speed has taken a huge hit.

Agree, as well as Bennett. He better be in the line up tonight, he had a great game Wednesday.
- kfinl170

I love Despres, but I'm guessing the guy has little confidence this year because of being scratched regularly, I don't think I would even put him in an elimination game. If Niskanen could be scratched, sure I would replace him with Despres.

Tonights Offensive Lines

Kunitz Crosby Dupuis
Cooke Malkin Neal
Iginla Sutter Bennett
Morrow Adams Kennedy

Tonights Offensive Lines

Kunitz Crosby Dupuis
Cooke Malkin Neal
Iginla Sutter Bennett
Morrow Adams Kennedy
- Killian

Iginla is playing on the right, Bennett on the left