Hasek did it for a decade in Buffalo just fine

and without superstar players around him like MAF has...
- Pyzik

Hasek was an alien, no joke We'll never see another goalie have that 7-year run like Hasek, NEVER. His numbers, on that team, are literally out of this world!

his team stopped playing with 8 minutes to go in the first period!
- Eklund

no matter how a team plays around you, you are paid to stop the puck end of story. most goalies thrive on endless amounts of shots, its the games where teams don't get many where the opposing goalie has the trouble, they get cold and lose the flow of the game. Fleury should have been locked in and a stone cold killer last night, and what was he? the weak cog in a team that "should" has shredded the jackets in 4 straight.

his team stopped playing with 8 minutes to go in the first period!
- Eklund

You'll never ever ever make an argument that will change the mind of the fleury bashers. Every mistake is magnified 1000x and absolute proof of their preconceived notions that he's a horrible goaltender. The whole team could have literally been laying on blankies and taking naps on the ice with the other team putting a shooting gallery on against him and the only thing that gets by is a shot that bounces off the glass, the back of his helmet and into the net & he's going to be to blame. Because they already decided he's to blame.

I agree with this article 100%. He made a poor decision because he didn't trust his team to actually do their jobs since they hadn't done their jobs for the previous 49 minutes. I wouldn't have trusted them to even make an attempt at getting that puck if I was in net either.
- ScienceJesus

yeh. as a goalie myself I have to wonder what I would have done given the way the D had played. If he gets to that puck and gets it out...game over.

it had to get to that point.
- Eklund

and it shouldnt have but this is the National Hockey League where guys are paid MILLIONS AND MILLIONS of dollars to perform (granted, so is the other team) and when the spotlight is on you to stand up and do what youre paid to do, you gotta do it!! i agree, fluery was good up until the last 30 seconds of regulation but the game lasts a full 60 minutes, its not over at 59 minutes, it all counts and he has to be 100% for every 1 of those minutes. he wasnt 100% for 1 minute and it cost him.

Hasek was an alien, no joke We'll never see another goalie have that 7-year run like Hasek, NEVER. His numbers, on that team, are literally out of this world!
- Flyers_V88

imagine if Hasek had stud dmen and guys who lit the lamp all the time, I bet he would have 4-5 cups to his name in Buffalo alone.

no matter how a team plays around you, you are paid to stop the puck end of story. most goalies thrive on endless amounts of shots, its the games where teams don't get many where the opposing goalie has the trouble, they get cold and lose the flow of the game. Fleury should have been locked in and a stone cold killer last night, and what was he? the weak cog in a team that "should" has shredded the jackets in 4 straight.
- Pyzik

until the last play he was really, REALLY a stone cold killer

you are exactly right. but who is everyone talking about today? Bylsma? Sid? Geno? no...its too easy to look at MAF
- Eklund

Sid and Malkin haven't been terrible, but they haven't been great, at the level we're accustomed to.

Overall though, out of the shadow of Fleury's demise, people SHOULD be talking about Bylsma, and the two stars. Bylsma for sure though. He should have seen his team was playing like zombies for 2/3 of the game.

and it shouldnt have but this is the National Hockey League where guys are paid MILLIONS AND MILLIONS of dollars to perform (granted, so is the other team) and when the spotlight is on you to stand up and do what youre paid to do, you gotta do it!! i agree, fluery was good up until the last 30 seconds of regulation but the game lasts a full 60 minutes, its not over at 59 minutes, it all counts and he has to be 100% for every 1 of those minutes. he wasnt 100% for 1 minute and it cost him.
- LetsGoIsles

that is the reality for sure. But also, when you are part of a team, paid or not, this is a team sport and the goalies are the only ones whose mistakes seem to ever matter.

Sid and Malkin haven't been terrible, but they haven't been great, at the level we're accustomed to.

Overall though, out of the shadow of Fleury's demise, people SHOULD be talking about Bylsma, and the two stars. Bylsma for sure though. He should have seen his team was playing like zombies for 2/3 of the game.
- Flyers_V88

oh they will be talking about Bylsma if this series is a loss. mark my words on that one.

MFA has been the very definition of shaky.

Put any stable goaltender in net for PITT and this is not a series at all.

PITT might have to move on from Fluery and sign Hiller if he hits UFA.

imagine if Hasek had stud dmen and guys who lit the lamp all the time, I bet he would have 4-5 cups to his name in Buffalo alone.
- Pyzik

Yeah, probably would have no question. He obviously won his Cup in Detroit, on maybe the best Stanley Cup team of all time, but still, he could have done it almost alone. Almost did.

On a side note though, I always cringe thinking back to that era in the NHL and goaltending, especially in the summer of 1998 when our good friend Clarkie went out and got the older, and cheaper John Vanbiesbrouck IF ONLY WE HAD SIGNED JOSEPH!?!?!?!?!?! Eric and that Flyers-era teams would have had a Cup, I'm almost certain of it

oh they will be talking about Bylsma if this series is a loss. mark my words on that one.
- Eklund

You show me a great goalie and I will show you a great coach. Show me a shaky goalie (Fluery), then I will show you a coach on the hot seat (Bylsma).

you are exactly right. but who is everyone talking about today? Bylsma? Sid? Geno? no...its too easy to look at MAF
- Eklund

when you are up 3-0 with less than 50 minutes to play, you dont need sid of malkin to step up and score more, sure it would help. you need to backcheck, play tough defense, and play keep away...oh, and of course goaltending.

I agree with this article 100%. He made a poor decision because he didn't trust his team to actually do their jobs since they hadn't done their jobs for the previous 49 minutes. I wouldn't have trusted them to even make an attempt at getting that puck if I was in net either.
- ScienceJesus

But your team has the lead, with 30 seconds left, and the opposing team is essentially on a power play. You stay in the net and NEED to trust your teammates at that point. Your job is to keep that lead and not try to do anyone else job. Now if he stayed in the net and your teammates failed to retrieve the puck and Columbus passes it to center where Fleury would need to make a post to post save, then no, it is not Fleury's fault.

Yeah, probably would have no question. He obviously won his Cup in Detroit, on maybe the best Stanley Cup team of all time, but still, he could have done it almost alone. Almost did.

On a side note though, I always cringe thinking back to that era in the NHL and goaltending, especially in the summer of 1998 when our good friend Clarkie went out and got the older, and cheaper John Vanbiesbrouck IF ONLY WE HAD SIGNED JOSEPH!?!?!?!?!?! Eric and that Flyers-era teams would have had a Cup, I'm almost certain of it
- Flyers_V88

idk if Cujo would have been better...def more interesting

that is the reality for sure. But also, when you are part of a team, paid or not, this is a team sport and the goalies are the only ones whose mistakes seem to ever matter.
- Eklund

just like in football...its the quarterback.

some days youre the hero, other days your the goat

"baaaaahh"

-MAF

when you are up 3-0 with less than 50 minutes to play, you dont need sid of malkin to step up and score more, sure it would help. you need to backcheck, play tough defense, and play keep away...oh, and of course goaltending.
- LetsGoIsles

that early in the game you need to score more...or at least remember the best defense is a good offense. They didn't even try to keep the puck in the Jackets end.

Fleury faced a lot of shots all game, and was solid. This game shouldn't have been in overtime. No disrespect to the Blue Jackets, they have been great. But the Penguins "superstars" keep getting outplayed by a wild card team. The problem goes FAR beyond Fleury.

There was no need to play the puck with 22 seconds. Let the puck go around the boards. The worst thing he could have done was leave the net.

In addition his head was not in the game in OT. Before the game winner, which by the way was from the red line, he almost let in the shot before that glanced off his shoulder.

I understand he is not the only one to blame, but as a former goalie myself, I know that when a team loses faith in you, they play distracted and with fear. In addition it is clear that Fleury was and is affected by his gaffes. I loved when the Pens got him, I have enjoyed his time with us, and the devil you know is better than the one you don't, but I just feel now might be the time for a change.

I personally feel if they lose the following is going to happen:

1. Bylsma will be fired and Trotz will be brought in to coach
2. We will trade Fleury for a pick in the draft
3. We will sign pending UFA Jaroslav Halak
4. We will trade one or more of the following – Letang, Neal, or Martin

I think we will look completely different next year...and this won't be a bad thing.

But your team has the lead, with 30 seconds left, and the opposing team is essentially on a power play. You stay in the net and NEED to trust your teammates at that point. Your job is to keep that lead and not try to do anyone else job. Now if he stayed in the net and your teammates failed to retrieve the puck and Columbus passes it to center where Fleury would need to make a post to post save, then no, it is not Fleury's fault.
- Streit2ThePoint

easy to say, but if you really don't trust them and you are a competitor its hard to not do whatever it takes

The misconception here is that by making Fleury the primary scape goat (which he should be) that eliminates responsibility from other players, that isn't true. Things aren't black and white.

Fleury's mistakes outweighed Fleury's good play last night.
- Ryan_Wilson

This sums it up perfectly.

Eklund: Not His Fault.
- Eklund

Pittsburgh is better than Columbus. I agree, it's hard to blame any goalie when they make 40+ saves in a night. But, don't forget if not for a shin-pad, Johnansen would've banged in Dubinsky's rebound with seconds to go in game 3.

Whether, it was his fault last night or not, it's evident that Fleury can't handle pressure. Whether it's against the Islanders, Bruins, or Jackets, the closer the win comes to fruition, the harder each save becomes. Even if it's a clear shot from 90 feet. Or a dump in (that you may want to use two hands for)

Ojn a team with much higher aspirations than the first round, what are they going to do when they have to play the Rangers, Bruins, or Canadiens and the games become much closer?

That's going to be the real problem.

easy to say, but if you really don't trust them and you are a competitor its hard to not do whatever it takes
- Eklund

But when you do that you put yourself in that position to get blamed if it goes wrong, as it did.

Fleury faced a lot of shots all game, and was solid. This game shouldn't have been in overtime. No disrespect to the Blue Jackets, they have been great. But the Penguins "superstars" keep getting outplayed by a wild card team. The problem goes FAR beyond Fleury.
- HabsRUs

yes, but because of the way it ended Fleury is being scapegoated. Sid needs to step up and take this off of MAF