Yes.

Hell, it won't even be in the head. One game he will get hit cleanly like this Orpik hit, and all the "analysts" are going to be up in arms, as well as everyone in Pittsburgh.

And as long as it's clean, I'm ok with this.
- Giroux_Is_God

I think the analysts (except for NBC) have soured on the Pens a bit. I think Neal is pretty universally hated and the team looks like a bunch of poor sports when they lose.

Poor sportsmanship is tremendously frowned upon in hockey more than almost every other sport.

The more I watch it the less I like it. Looks like he gets him in the head and flares his arm out, not an elbow but unnecessary.
- twotoekenn

Nah man the elbow is tucked, it's a square shoulder...the arms only flail because physics. Similarly to how he leaves his feet after the hit- you just can't help it sometimes.

It's a good check.

Ah ok then very good.

At first I thought you meant it was ok to direction the question of the team like how they were trending in the big picture and what they're future's like or if they needed to blow up things etc etc....I was like mmmmmno

But I agree with all the quoted above
- Giroux_Is_God

Even when they were 1-7, I didn't feel the need for blowing things up. I had more questions about the concept and plan of the team. I've defended Holmgren more than I've ripped him, but it's fair to question him within reason.

Sounds like a shoulder then. Much rather that than the head, and I'm sure everyone would agree with me there.

Hopefully he's back in time for the playoffs. Boy would that suck for the Hawks
- Giroux_Is_God

What really sucks is they aren't playing well and they may not get another chance to get things going before the playoffs.

Chicago fans are less concerned about home ice advantage and more concerned about how the team is playing going into the playoffs. Its difficult to get going on all cylinders when your 2 best forwards can't play until the first game of the playoffs.

I think the analysts (except for NBC) have soured on the Pens a bit. I think Neal is pretty universally hated and the team looks like a bunch of poor sports when they lose.

Poor sportsmanship is tremendously frowned upon in hockey more than almost every other sport.
- PhillySportsGuy

This is very true, and I'm proud of it.

Nah man the elbow is tucked, it's a square shoulder...the arms only flail because physics. Similarly to how he leaves his feet after the hit- you just can't help it sometimes.

It's a good check.
- Giroux_Is_God

Like I said not an elbow but unnecessary. Orpik didn't need to "blow him up" could have rode him into the boards.

This is very true, and I'm proud of it.
- Giroux_Is_God

Could be that they're finally looking past the star power and seeing how thin the Penguins are, especially with the injuries. They can still be dangerous with their top end talent, but it's hard to expect the kids on a call up to carry the team if an opponent can successfully negate Crosby and/or Malkin

Could be that they're finally looking past the star power and seeing how thin the Penguins are, especially with the injuries. They can still be dangerous with their top end talent, but it's hard to expect the kids on a call up to carry the team if an opponent can successfully negate Crosby and/or Malkin
- Jsaquella

I was talking about the sportsmanship bit, but this is true. Throw in the fact that Fleury is....Fleury, and you certainly don't exactly have a poster child team to pin up.

I was talking about the sportsmanship bit, but this is true. Throw in the fact that Fleury is....Fleury, and you certainly don't exactly have a poster child team to pin up.
- Giroux_Is_God

I agree that the sportsmanship factor has been long overlooked, but the Pens are a very shallow team that is also very beat up with injury.

Sounds like a shoulder then. Much rather that than the head, and I'm sure everyone would agree with me there.

Hopefully he's back in time for the playoffs. Boy would that suck for the Hawks
- Giroux_Is_God

Was there a penalty called on the play? It could've been a boarding call.

Sounds like a shoulder then. Much rather that than the head, and I'm sure everyone would agree with me there.

Hopefully he's back in time for the playoffs. Boy would that suck for the Hawks
- Giroux_Is_God

Yes.... The Hawks have won 2 Cups in 3 years, if they have injuries going into the playoffs it would be devastating. I'm getting my violin out now.

They were doing the same to the Maple Leafs in October. That's not a knock on the Flyers, they're playing exceptionally well, especially of late.

But even a great recovery and playoff berth doesn't mean all the ills are cured. Winning can mask flaws. The playoffs will reveal if they are fatal or not.
- Jsaquella

Maybe there is confusion here. When discussing that the Flyers are heading in the right direction, stating that they are, doesn't mean that they are a finished product, without needing to shore up any other areas. Or make more moves to improve the team to get to the point where they are a true contender, and one of the top teams in the League. It's a process. But when the picture of heading in the right direction, is looked at. The answer has to be an absolute yes.

When the team was struggling I knew why they were. And a lot of it was because of the Coach, and the early struggles of top players such as Giroux. It was a blip on the radar. But panic set in with so many, that the team was floundering and going in the wrong direction. And calling for the GM to be replaced. That was incredibly premature. And the early season struggles were just a speed bump. There may be more speed bumps when all is said and done. But this team is clearly headed in the right direction.

I still give the better hit of the day to Rinaldo...two hits in fact.




- wolfhounds

Damn, Rinaldo can call Iginla chump change from now on.

I agree that the sportsmanship factor has been long overlooked, but the Pens are a very shallow team that is also very beat up with injury.
- Jsaquella

Related to sportsmanship, I think the leadership proves somewhat weak when the going gets tough.

Damn, Rinaldo can call Iginla chump change from now on.
- BulliesPhan87

That was awesome. Great, clean hit, and a pretty decisive win over a really tough player. I think that may have been the best moment of Rinaldo's young career.

Yes.... The Hawks have won 2 Cups in 3 years, if they have injuries going into the playoffs it would be devastating. I'm getting my violin out now.
- PLindbergh31

Obviously you could cherry pick this for any team, but I've seen a number of Hawks "fans" on the internet calling their team soft, and criticizing the GM for not making their good team great. Seems awfully entitled/angry to me.

Was there a penalty called on the play? It could've been a boarding call.
- MJL

No penalty.

Obviously you could cherry pick this for any team, but I've seen a number of Hawks "fans" on the internet calling their team soft, and criticizing the GM for not making their good team great. Seems awfully entitled/angry to me.
- BulliesPhan87

They went 50+ years without a Cup, they win 2 in 3 years and all of a sudden fans are criticizing? Talk about becoming spoiled. A while back the Hawks games weren't even televised.

At the beginning of March I never would have thought the Flyers would go 9-3-2 with the schedule they faced. And the losses they did have were tight games. Hope they keep it up and lock in a playoff spot

They went 50+ years without a Cup, they win 2 in 3 years and all of a sudden fans are criticizing? Talk about becoming spoiled. A while back the Hawks games weren't even televised.
- PLindbergh31

You don't think Flyers fans would be doing the same thing?

If we won the cup this year, people would still complain about Luke Schenn for JVR next year.

That's understandable, but yes, I want to move him.
- MJL

If they move him to another line at center I'm all for it. Maybe they can try the wing experiment next year. He's so much better at center where Schenn can play either, IMO.

You don't think Flyers fans would be doing the same thing?

If we won the cup this year, people would still complain about Luke Schenn for JVR next year.
- PhillySportsGuy

That's not necessary a bad thing. You can be critical of aspects of a winning team. It's not wrong to point out when you feel the team has made mistakes.

Certainly there's some that belabor it to the point where it just becomes mindless bashing. There's others that defend every move to the hilt as if it's so obviously the right move that it shouldn't even be questioned.

That's why I try to avoid battles after the whole Grossmann thing. It's not worth it to bang heads, it's (frank)ing hockey.

You don't think Flyers fans would be doing the same thing?

If we won the cup this year, people would still complain about Luke Schenn for JVR next year.
- PhillySportsGuy

When they win the Cup we'll find out.

Batting 9th, the Phillies DH Tony Gwynn Jr....

The 26ers laugh at this.

Batting 9th, the Phillies DH Tony Gwynn Jr....

The 26ers laugh at this.
- PLindbergh31

Actually, he's playing OF. Dom Brown is DHing.