Kind of like what the Canucks went through in the playoffs with Luongo. Just not there when you really need him.

Bylsma wants to be friends with everyone and live through their glory. He lives vicariously through Sid, sees himself as Adams so he always puts him in situations where he himself would have wanted to play. Its a joke.
- sammy87

Oh so you know him? Whats he like in person?

Some ppl will say "oh but crosby and malkin haven't scored yet, what about them"
Well fortunately for them they are not the Penguins Goaltender. They are allowed to have bad games (even tough Malkin is not playing that bad). B
- Conse

A bad game is one thing. They've been invisible for the most part of this series and when they are the primary offensive weapons of the Penguins that cannot be happening.

If you're not scoring you better be doing something else and neither of them are.

Lets all be honest. MT took them to the cup in 08, and his system was still in place in 09'. Bylsma has not done much IMO other than 4th place finishes and 1 1st place in the division? maybe 2. Then a bunch of playoff failures.
- sammy87

Is it really that difficult to give Bylsma any credit at all for winning that Cup? If people want to bang on the guy now that's fine but the team turned it around when he was hired and he accomplished something no coach here had in 17 years. The team totally quit on MT and Bylsma was the breath of fresh air the team needed and they responded to him.

I will say maybe the same thing needs to happen now. I'm not a big DB basher but I will say that if his job should be in jeopardy depending on the outcome of these playoffs. Maybe they do need another breath of fresh air, a different voice, but no matter what it was him behind the bench for the Penguins last Cup win so I will always appreciate that and I never will I think that MT had anything to do with it.

Is it really that difficult to give Bylsma any credit at all for winning that Cup? If people want to bang on the guy now that's fine but the team turned it around when he was hired and he accomplished something no coach here had in 17 years. The team totally quit on MT and Bylsma was the breath of fresh air the team needed and they responded to him.

I will say maybe the same thing needs to happen now. I'm not a big DB basher but I will say that if his job should be in jeopardy depending on the outcome of these playoffs. Maybe they do need another breath of fresh air, a different voice, but no matter what it was him behind the bench for the Penguins last Cup win so I will always appreciate that and I never will I think that MT had anything to do with it.
- acdc1206

they still had a degree of structure in place from MT that Dan used to build off of. He simply allowed the creative players to create within that structure instead of being as rigid as MT was. That was what the team needed at the time. They have since lost any remaining bits of that structure but kept that creativity (I guess).

Is it really that difficult to give Bylsma any credit at all for winning that Cup? If people want to bang on the guy now that's fine but the team turned it around when he was hired and he accomplished something no coach here had in 17 years. The team totally quit on MT and Bylsma was the breath of fresh air the team needed and they responded to him.

I will say maybe the same thing needs to happen now. I'm not a big DB basher but I will say that if his job should be in jeopardy depending on the outcome of these playoffs. Maybe they do need another breath of fresh air, a different voice, but no matter what it was him behind the bench for the Penguins last Cup win so I will always appreciate that and I never will I think that MT had anything to do with it.
- acdc1206

I still question the effect Martin has had on this team as an assistant as well. I have absolutely no statistical analysis that points to his defensive implementations as a reason why we seem to have such a hard time keeping leads, but since he came on the way we play just seems a little off to me.

Or it could be our bottom 6. Or it could be Bylsma. Either way, its frustrating.

Those countries all look the same.
Geographically, not by residents.

Burma/Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Antarctica...all the same.
- jmatchett383

When a team loses like they did last night, it's tough not to question everything.

I have seen quite a few posts about the penguins sitting back after getting the lead in the first period. I don't know if I would say that is case. The Penguins took multiple penalties in the second period that prevented them from continuing to attack on offense. That isn't a complacent team so much unlucky/undisciplined team depending on your opinion.

The third period started out terribly for the Penguins and they had an extremely difficult time exiting their own zone. I think that issue had to do more with an adjustment that the Blue Jackets made than a Penguin problem. I don't think most announcers recognize differences in forechecking and zone coverage and that leads most fans to believe that the teams really aren't making in-game adjustments which is incredibly inaccurate. If announcers were really good at recognizing in-game adjustments they would be coaches and GM's not the squawking parrots that we infuriatingly watch. That being said, the Penguins made a good adjustment about 7 to 8 minutes into the period and almost completely shut Columbus down. The had support on the half walls to exit the zone and were denying Columbus zone entrance forcing them to dump the puck in.

I have a tough time saying the Penguins made a major mistake last night. I think Game 4 was one of the stronger games this series. They defense was much tighter, they dumped the puck when they needed to, and when they could carry the puck into the zone they did. Was it a heartbreaking lose? Absolutely. However, the Blue Jackets had a couple of lucky bounces that kept them in the game. Brandon Sutter's missed clear directly caused the second goal and no one is saying we shouldn't resign him. The missed clear was an unlucky bounce just like Fleury missing the pick behind the net.

If we continue to build on the positives from last night, we can win the series. If our focus remains on that game, we lose and don't take the opportunity to build off of a strong game.

I can't believe no one has tried to blame Craig Adams for the game tying goal yet.

I can't believe no one has tried to blame Craig Adams for the game tying goal yet.
- Grinder47

I'm amazed that Bylsma didn't have him out there the last 6+ minutes of the game.

I'm amazed that Bylsma didn't have him out there the last 6+ minutes of the game.
- rival22

He had the defenseman version of him out there in the last minute.

Just an observation...

After 4 plus years of playoff games since the cup win, one thing is abundantly clear...

The Penguins are not as good as people EXPECT them to be in the post season.

You can say it's a MAF collapse (like maybe last night)...or Crosby and Malkin not stepping up (like last year versus Boston or so far this year)...or poor power play (take your ppick...include the shorties in the discussion)...etc...etc...

But the clear answer is that the fans...the media...we have an expectation for these guys to be better than they are...and they simply are NOT THAT GOOD.

Sure, with each passing failure (I use that word to describe what I think happened last night...failure to win a game that a REAL cup contender would win)..the expectations get lowered.

But with players that have such talent...that get paid so much for their talent and supposed ability to play the game...it's hard not to have expectations that include things like making it out of the first round by beating a team that's 'new' (relatively) to the whole playoff experience...and by doing it in a way that demonstrates you really are a cup contender.

I don't think we have a cup contender here...and maybe we just need to realize that.

I'm amazed that Bylsma didn't have him out there the last 6+ minutes of the game.
- rival22

Was he on the ice for it I honestly don't remember? Prob not he probably would have blocked the shot if he was.

Just an observation...

After 4 plus years of playoff games since the cup win, one thing is abundantly clear...

The Penguins are not as good as people EXPECT them to be in the post season.

You can say it's a MAF collapse (like maybe last night)...or Crosby and Malkin not stepping up (like last year versus Boston or so far this year)...or poor power play (take your ppick...include the shorties in the discussion)...etc...etc...

But the clear answer is that the fans...the media...we have an expectation for these guys to be better than they are...and they simply are NOT THAT GOOD.

Sure, with each passing failure (I use that word to describe what I think happened last night...failure to win a game that a REAL cup contender would win)..the expectations get lowered.

But with players that have such talent...that get paid so much for their talent and supposed ability to play the game...it's hard not to have expectations that include things like making it out of the first round by beating a team that's 'new' (relatively) to the whole playoff experience...and by doing it in a way that demonstrates you really are a cup contender.

I don't think we have a cup contender here...and maybe we just need to realize that.
- icedog97

I believe I have been saying that for a few months.

Just an observation...

After 4 plus years of playoff games since the cup win, one thing is abundantly clear...

The Penguins are not as good as people EXPECT them to be in the post season.

You can say it's a MAF collapse (like maybe last night)...or Crosby and Malkin not stepping up (like last year versus Boston or so far this year)...or poor power play (take your ppick...include the shorties in the discussion)...etc...etc...

But the clear answer is that the fans...the media...we have an expectation for these guys to be better than they are...and they simply are NOT THAT GOOD.

Sure, with each passing failure (I use that word to describe what I think happened last night...failure to win a game that a REAL cup contender would win)..the expectations get lowered.

But with players that have such talent...that get paid so much for their talent and supposed ability to play the game...it's hard not to have expectations that include things like making it out of the first round by beating a team that's 'new' (relatively) to the whole playoff experience...and by doing it in a way that demonstrates you really are a cup contender.

I don't think we have a cup contender here...and maybe we just need to realize that.
- icedog97

Yeah but I will still watch the games and cheer for them and hope they win. Been doing it my whole life and its fun. So I still say we have a chance and LETS GO PENS!

Just an observation...

After 4 plus years of playoff games since the cup win, one thing is abundantly clear...

The Penguins are not as good as people EXPECT them to be in the post season.

You can say it's a MAF collapse (like maybe last night)...or Crosby and Malkin not stepping up (like last year versus Boston or so far this year)...or poor power play (take your ppick...include the shorties in the discussion)...etc...etc...

But the clear answer is that the fans...the media...we have an expectation for these guys to be better than they are...and they simply are NOT THAT GOOD.

Sure, with each passing failure (I use that word to describe what I think happened last night...failure to win a game that a REAL cup contender would win)..the expectations get lowered.

But with players that have such talent...that get paid so much for their talent and supposed ability to play the game...it's hard not to have expectations that include things like making it out of the first round by beating a team that's 'new' (relatively) to the whole playoff experience...and by doing it in a way that demonstrates you really are a cup contender.

I don't think we have a cup contender here...and maybe we just need to realize that.
- icedog97

The frustrating thing for fans, is that we have two of the best players in the world, always play great in the regular season, and when things are clicking, they look like a dominant team. But each playoff, there is always a different excuse/reason for failure...

I've been a Bylsma backer, primarily based on his regular season success, and the lack of a really attractive replacement. I wavering on him and his approach greatly.

I'm not a systems guy, so I could be wrong, but it just seems like his system is too complex to work in the playoffs. In the regular season, when it's clicking, it's a thing of beauty. But in the playoffs, where things happen a half second faster, and where opponents are much more aggressive and passing/shooting lanes are a lot more clogged up, it just doesn't seem to work.

I'd rather see nuts and bolts basic hockey... traffic in front, more shots, hunting down loose pucks, simple plays, etc. These cross zone passes, little tip passes, drop passes, etc., just don't work in the playoffs like they do during the season.

There will be another blog today. It won't be until later tonight. It will discuss the other factors in yesterday's game that do not pertain to Fleury.

There will be another blog today. It won't be until later tonight. It will discuss the other factors in yesterday's game that do not pertain to Fleury.
- Ryan_Wilson

Other factors..gotta say I am expecting a pretty long entry then

There will be another blog today. It won't be until later tonight. It will discuss the other factors in yesterday's game that do not pertain to Fleury.
- Ryan_Wilson

Good I have had a boring day.

I heard a rant by Steigy this morning. If ever there was a "company guy" it's Paul Steigerwald.

Steigy basically said the reason we continually see these wild type of performances from this team in the playoffs is because they're choosing to play this style of hockey. For better or WORSE.

He then went on to express some doubts that the Pens can win playoff games playing this style of game.

Although there have been many of us that have been saying the same thing for years, I thought it was interesting hearing it from the biggest homer broadcaster in the league.

Just an observation...

After 4 plus years of playoff games since the cup win, one thing is abundantly clear...

The Penguins are not as good as people EXPECT them to be in the post season.

You can say it's a MAF collapse (like maybe last night)...or Crosby and Malkin not stepping up (like last year versus Boston or so far this year)...or poor power play (take your ppick...include the shorties in the discussion)...etc...etc...

But the clear answer is that the fans...the media...we have an expectation for these guys to be better than they are...and they simply are NOT THAT GOOD.

Sure, with each passing failure (I use that word to describe what I think happened last night...failure to win a game that a REAL cup contender would win)..the expectations get lowered.

But with players that have such talent...that get paid so much for their talent and supposed ability to play the game...it's hard not to have expectations that include things like making it out of the first round by beating a team that's 'new' (relatively) to the whole playoff experience...and by doing it in a way that demonstrates you really are a cup contender.

I don't think we have a cup contender here...and maybe we just need to realize that.
- icedog97

Just look at the roster from the cup years, and I think losing to the WIngs in 6 is still a successful season. You cant compare them. Orpik and Scuds, Kunitz were all 4-5 yrs younger, Staal over Sutter, Gonchar, Sykora, Malone, Hossa in their prime. 1 last shot for Billy G, Dupes was on the 3rd where he belongs, Those were very good teams,

Oh so you know him? Whats he like in person?
- Grinder47

He's ok, usually quits after 2 beers, talks a lot about what he might have been.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here...

The facts:
Penguins have not been as good as expected for 4 playoff seasons (this one included)

Some combination of failures...different things at different times...have done them in.

Many people now think this team is done as it currently is built (players and coaches - maybe even GM).

The last...sort of fact is...last night something was ignited.

Either it was a bomb the destroys everything...which many already believe has happened...

OR

...it's a fire that leads to a bigger and better thing.

I certainly would like to think it's the latter.

I have no real evidence to suggest it is or will be...except that MAYBE what happened last night is exactly what needed to happen for this team to somehow play the kind of hockey many of us think they can play.

Yeah...I know...wishful...optimistic thinking again.

This team is NOT AS GOOD as we think/thought it is/was...but there is no reason that can't change right now.

It's happened before...it will happen again.

Will it happen with these guys?

I heard a rant by Steigy this morning. If ever there was a "company guy" it's Paul Steigerwald.

Steigy basically said the reason we continually see these wild type of performances from this team in the playoffs is because they're choosing to play this style of hockey. For better or WORSE.

He then went on to express some doubts that the Pens can win playoff games playing this style of game.

Although there have been many of us that have been saying the same thing for years, I thought it was interesting hearing it from the biggest homer broadcaster in the league.
- madmike71

I not trying to pick what you are saying apart just looking for a better understanding.

Is Steigy suggesting that the players aren't playing the correct "style of game" or the coaches haven't implemented the correct "style of game"?

Ovetime goals often go in this way. David Volek on Tom Barrasso (1993), Keith Primeau on Johan Hedberg (2000). Man the Penguins have caused me such grief! But at the least this has been an entertaining series and Penguins fans need to lighten up. We still have a chance. I wish they would skate Neal and Crosby toghther. They did well when Malkin and Kunitz were out down the stretch. Also Neal needs to be on first pp and Letang needs to be set free. If he is not going to play offensive they'd be better off with Bortuzzo in there. I think Byslma was wrong to bench him, killed his confidence. He has no points in this series...if he'd attack more we may have won 5-2 last night.