This is what the playoffs are all about. Anything more exciting than a game 7? Lets go boys! 3-2 win Crosby goc gibbons.

i hope the pens are watching the ducks game and taking notes. that's how you score goals. dirty, swarming, from everywhere around the net - not this perimeter, around the horn, and too fancy east west pp bullpoop. lundqvist is not that great laterally, and he's beatable on deflections and scrums just like any other goalie...they have to go to the net. when they were dominating, the had the puck the whole time, and snuffed out all the neutral zone diagonal stretch passes which is the rangers bread and butter on the transition. crash the crease and eliminate the stretch pass and they'll win this game.
- hammarby31

+1

I always thought Mark Madden had a good pulse on the Pens. I was listening to him driving home last night. He desires very heavily for one Tanner Glass to be inserted into the lineup.

His case: he is the only "true bottom 6" player they have.

Well, either way our favorite franchise will never be the same after tonight.

Win and perhaps squash some demons.

Lose and watch the fallout.

Gonna be fun...

Dejan on point again. Would this franchise actually benefit from a loss tonight? Hmm...

http://triblive.com/sport...8449-74/won-penguins-game

I always thought Mark Madden had a good pulse on the Pens. I was listening to him driving home last night. He desires very heavily for one Tanner Glass to be inserted into the lineup.

His case: he is the only "true bottom 6" player they have.

Well, either way our favorite franchise will never be the same after tonight.

Win and perhaps squash some demons.

Lose and watch the fallout.

Gonna be fun...
- 87_71_11_29

He does hit. I'd rather see Engelland in for Scuderi. They are about the same talent wise, but Engelland is far more physical, and he can even make a breakout pass once in awhile, or skate it to the redline and dump it in. Hes been known to put a shot on goal too. If Scuderi is part of the Pens plans next year for 4 mil, I don't know why Engo just doesnt take his spot for 525,000.

Dejan on point again. Would this franchise actually benefit from a loss tonight? Hmm...

http://triblive.com/sport...8449-74/won-penguins-game
- 87_71_11_29

Sounds so similar to what was said about the Caps post-1st round loss to the Habs in 2010 (I know, I know, the core of the Pens has won a Cup, but post-Cup the playoff results aren't dramatically different than what we've seen with the Caps, and the Pens are in the same mode, IMO, as the Caps always were in that they require favorable matchups in order to have a chance of advancing in the playoffs). Be careful what you wish for, though - the Caps went from an entertaining playoff disappointment to a borderline unwatchable playoff disappointment to an absolutely unwatchable non-playoff team. If the Pens decide to dramatically change course, they better be certain that they have the right management in place to transform the team.

So while watching the end of the B's/Habs game and seeing the scrum that ensued... which IMO was way worse than anything that has happened in the Pens series.... Regis McGuire said "Bruins are just sending a message for game 7 letting Montreal know that were still here and we're going to come to play"..... My question is aside from an anti Penguins bias (even though he wouldn't have his name on the cup without them)....

Why when the pens engage in end of game extracurricular activities are we frustrated and melting down?.... While Iginla crosschecks a guy in the neck repeatedly.... Lucic punches a guy in the head...etc etc.... this is just hard nosed hockey and message sending.

Maybe Crosby was telling the Rags "You better be ready cause I'm going 150% for 60 minutes Tuesday night so try and legally stop me"

Sometimes I hate the NHL... love hockey... but hate the NHL

Sounds so similar to what was said about the Caps post-1st round loss to the Habs in 2010 (I know, I know, the core of the Pens has won a Cup, but post-Cup the playoff results aren't dramatically different than what we've seen with the Caps, and the Pens are in the same mode, IMO, as the Caps always were in that they require favorable matchups in order to have a chance of advancing in the playoffs). Be careful what you wish for, though - the Caps went from an entertaining playoff disappointment to a borderline unwatchable playoff disappointment to an absolutely unwatchable non-playoff team. If the Pens decide to dramatically change course, they better be certain that they have the right management in place to transform the team.
- MadCap2008

There's a better Pittsburgh based example. After losing to Tebow and the Broncos in the 2012 playoffs, the Steelers fired successful but yinzer-maligned offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, a scapegoat whose injury-plagued offense bore little of the responsibility for the Broncos loss. Bowing to the wishes of the yinzer throng, the FO hired Todd Haley to bring back smashmouth football and to "reign in" the star player, Ben Roethlisberger. The results? Two years, two 8-8 records, and no playoffs. Meanwhile, Arians went on to win coach of the year filling in for Pagano for the Colts. The grass is certainly not always greener.

One more similarity - both Arians and now Bylsma are not allowed to simply coach the way they want to coach. Bylsma tried to work three slow old anchors into a forechecking and speed-based teams last year, and failed. This year, Jacques Martin's presence and outside (read: fan) pressure to shore things up defensively have left the Penguins wanting offensively since about January, and certainly in the playoffs. The Penguins are playing a safer but less dynamic style of hockey right now, and it's not always working.

And that's because you can't change a player's stripes. Haley emasculated Ben, his two-time SB winning QB, with disastrous results. Finally this past year, Ben was finally allowed to go back to being Ben after the team lost a boatload of games early, and suddenly the offense sprang to life.

That's my concern with Crosby and Malkin. Bylsma is not supposed to let those guys be themselves anymore, and they're supposed to temper their skill-laden offensive aggressiveness with defensive mindfulness, and that ends up being lukewarm, and spat out.

If Bylsma is going down, I'd prefer that he go down swinging. Stop listening to the yinzer throng and let your team play their game - fast, risky, dangerous.

So while watching the end of the B's/Habs game and seeing the scrum that ensued... which IMO was way worse than anything that has happened in the Pens series.... Regis McGuire said "Bruins are just sending a message for game 7 letting Montreal know that were still here and we're going to come to play"..... My question is aside from an anti Penguins bias (even though he wouldn't have his name on the cup without them)....

Why when the pens engage in end of game extracurricular activities are we frustrated and melting down?.... While Iginla crosschecks a guy in the neck repeatedly.... Lucic punches a guy in the head...etc etc.... this is just hard nosed hockey and message sending.

Maybe Crosby was telling the Rags "You better be ready cause I'm going 150% for 60 minutes Tuesday night so try and legally stop me"

Sometimes I hate the NHL... love hockey... but hate the NHL
- Yonk1216

Color commentators are not above subscribing to and furthering the memes about NHL teams. Of course, the big, bad Bruins are just sending a message with their antics. The Bruins are said to be tough so the statement is justified. The Penguins meme is that they are brash and spoiled. Therefore, mixing it up at the end of them game is not them sending a message but them being frustrated.

All this said, the Penguins are such a better hockey team when they actually play hockey and forget about the shenanigans.

Game 7 prediction---the HT for 71.

So malkin neal and fleury go to stl? Interesting
- BillKessel

And what are they giving Winnipeg to part with their captain? How are they convincing Moulson not to go to Minnesota? What are they giving Toronto to get Bernier? Just curious.

Color commentators are not above subscribing to and furthering the memes about NHL teams. Of course, the big, bad Bruins are just sending a message with their antics. The Bruins are said to be tough so the statement is justified. The Penguins meme is that they are brash and spoiled. Therefore, mixing it up at the end of them game is not them sending a message but them being frustrated.

All this said, the Penguins are such a better hockey team when they actually play hockey and forget about the shenanigans.

Game 7 prediction---the HT for 71.
- Tiogadog

Didn't the NHL issue a mandate a few years back that "message sending" would be met with suspensions?

And what are they giving Winnipeg to part with their captain? How are they convincing Moulson not to go to Minnesota? What are they giving Toronto to get Bernier? Just curious.
- jmatchett383

HJs...all of em

And what are they giving Winnipeg to part with their captain? How are they convincing Moulson not to go to Minnesota? What are they giving Toronto to get Bernier? Just curious.
- jmatchett383

Isn't there just a button you hit that allows all trades to be accepted?

I say let's rejigger the team once they have been officially eliminated. Until then, Go Pens.

Didn't the NHL issue a mandate a few years back that "message sending" would be met with suspensions?
- jmatchett383

Maybe the Bruins convinced the NHL offices that it was not "message sending," but rather "nonverbal communication".

Maybe the Bruins convinced the NHL offices that it was not "message sending," but rather "nonverbal communication".
- Tiogadog

Message sending protocol or not, Lucic should be suspended for Game 7 for sucker punching 2 guys late in that game.

Sounds so similar to what was said about the Caps post-1st round loss to the Habs in 2010 (I know, I know, the core of the Pens has won a Cup, but post-Cup the playoff results aren't dramatically different than what we've seen with the Caps, and the Pens are in the same mode, IMO, as the Caps always were in that they require favorable matchups in order to have a chance of advancing in the playoffs). Be careful what you wish for, though - the Caps went from an entertaining playoff disappointment to a borderline unwatchable playoff disappointment to an absolutely unwatchable non-playoff team. If the Pens decide to dramatically change course, they better be certain that they have the right management in place to transform the team.
- MadCap2008

Well said. Valid comparison to the Caps as well.

I think some people around town are indeed wondering if Shero is the man to lead this team.

I think overall he has done a good job. But, his one failure, and its a big one, has been brining in NHL caliber wingers to play on ELC's.

We have NHL caliber defensemen playing in the AHL and have AHL caliber wingers playing in the NHL. If he remains the GM, he needs to resolve that imbalance.

Message sending protocol or not, Lucic should be suspended for Game 7 for sucker punching 2 guys late in that game.
- jmatchett383

You know he won't be. In all honesty, Crosby deserves a fine for his Game 6 antics, Staal deserved something for his antics... but this is the NHL. Water equals fine, sucker punching equals compete level.

So while watching the end of the B's/Habs game and seeing the scrum that ensued... which IMO was way worse than anything that has happened in the Pens series.... Regis McGuire said "Bruins are just sending a message for game 7 letting Montreal know that were still here and we're going to come to play"..... My question is aside from an anti Penguins bias (even though he wouldn't have his name on the cup without them)....

Why when the pens engage in end of game extracurricular activities are we frustrated and melting down?.... While Iginla crosschecks a guy in the neck repeatedly.... Lucic punches a guy in the head...etc etc.... this is just hard nosed hockey and message sending.

Maybe Crosby was telling the Rags "You better be ready cause I'm going 150% for 60 minutes Tuesday night so try and legally stop me"

Sometimes I hate the NHL... love hockey... but hate the NHL
- Yonk1216

This is very true.

The double standards and inconsistency of the sport are frustrating.

Everyone is blowing up how the Pens acted in Game 6. But, for most of the playoffs, they have done a good job of keeping their cool I think. They've skated away way more than even I thought they would.

He does hit. I'd rather see Engelland in for Scuderi. They are about the same talent wise, but Engelland is far more physical, and he can even make a breakout pass once in awhile, or skate it to the redline and dump it in. Hes been known to put a shot on goal too. If Scuderi is part of the Pens plans next year for 4 mil, I don't know why Engo just doesnt take his spot for 525,000.
- Grinder47

Yeah I'm not hating the idea of Engelland in the lineup either as a 4th liner and spot duty on D if needed.

But, lets face it, Eng vs Scuds likely isn't going to have a big impact. If the big boys and MAF don't show tonight, their 4th line is moot.

nervous?

Poliout is available. Edmonton Oil Kings are the WHL champions.

Poliout is available. Edmonton Oil Kings are the WHL champions.
- Ben37

OK, sure!

That's my concern with Crosby and Malkin. Bylsma is not supposed to let those guys be themselves anymore, and they're supposed to temper their skill-laden offensive aggressiveness with defensive mindfulness, and that ends up being lukewarm, and spat out.

If Bylsma is going down, I'd prefer that he go down swinging. Stop listening to the yinzer throng and let your team play their game - fast, risky, dangerous.
- hardnosed

Yes, I've often heard that old saying... "No defense wins championships".

Yeah I'm not hating the idea of Engelland in the lineup either as a 4th liner and spot duty on D if needed.

But, lets face it, Eng vs Scuds likely isn't going to have a big impact. If the big boys and MAF don't show tonight, their 4th line is moot.
- 87_71_11_29

I agree which is why I don't understand why the fourth line, and Scuderi is always such a topic on here. If the Pens big boys are rolling, I could be playing on the fourth line and no one would notice. Lets just hope Crosby and Malkin can lead the way tonight, I think Sid has done a great job keeping composure. The late game stuff last game was just a blimp on the radar compared to what we have seen in the past. Hopefully after puck drop its all balls to the walls hockey tonight. LETS GO PENS!!!

In regards to trading Malkin. The only way that I even consider it is if it is to Boston for Bergeron, Lucic, Marchand, Hamilton and Rask.