Your opinion amounts to nothing. All teams have done it including the Penguins. To many crybabies overreacting.
- Artyukhin76

Daniel Day-Lewis' left foot is more useful than your opinion...

Sid and Malkin aren't producing so they've got to try something.
I kinda like the lines.
You cant break up HBK and Cullen and Fehr have always played well together.
I am in the camp of Malkin and Sid don't mesh full time, add Kessel into that mix as well, keep them apart.

Sid's line has an awful lot of speed on in, its worked for the HBK line it could work here. Turning those big dmen is the key, Sids line and HBK should be able to put them in tough situations. Malkin has been taking shots, its makes sense to me to get him two guys that go to the net, there will be rebounds.

These lines could work!

I have mixed feelings about banning opposing jerseys in home arenas.

On the one hand, I think it is lame and it impinges on free speech. If you buy a ticket, you are helping the home team by providing revenue. Those Pittsburgh fans are buying beer and pizza also. More $$$ in into the Bolts coffers. For that contribution, the Pens fans should be able to wear anything they want. Personally, it doesn't bother me. Florida is a unique hockey atmosphere. Most residents and fans are transplants and retirees from other states. I was born in St. Louis and still have a soft spot for the Blues. I wear my Blues cap (and a Bolts jersey) to games. If we were playing the Blues in the Finals and the security people told me to take off my Blues cap, I will tell them to go phuck themselves and probably get kicked out.

On the other hand, the ban only effects 10% of the arena seating - club level seats (the wealthy folk) and the first two rows by the glass where the TV cameras can easily see. So the issue is being blown out of proportion by saying the opposing jerseys are banned - it makes for good click-bait, but it's a half-truth. It's Tampa's arena and if they want you to wear assless chaps and a cowboy hat, they are within their rights to do that - just don't buy a ticket and don't go. If Pens fans are pissed and refuse to buy tickets, that hurts the Bolts by denying us revenue. It's a pyrrhic victory at best.

Your opinion amounts to nothing. All teams have done it including the Penguins. To many crybabies overreacting.
- Artyukhin76

All Teams?
Really...
interesting...
Never seen it in a Canadian rink.
Never seen it in Buffalo.
Never saw it in Detroit...
or Phoenix...
or... or...

To prove to me your opinion counts for more... please disprove me and show me PROOF that ALL teams have done it.

I'll wait

Stralman at 50% is better than Taormina, Carle, and Witowski. It will do my heart good to see Hedman and Stralman reunited. But, fact is, they can also play well without each other. If the Pens want to get strategic and put Sid on a line with dead weight wingers, hoping to draw Tampa's top D-pairing (leaving Malkin and Kessel to run loose), then the solution is to split Stralman/Hedman. Put Stralman with Garrison and Hedman with Coburn. Fact is, Garrison and Coburn are good D-men and they are as good as many teams top pairings. Tampa has a deep defense (how refreshing to say that after years of SUCK at that position).

This game should be interesting. All of the pressure is on the Pens. Tampa has already earned a split at worst. If the Pens go down 2-0 heading into Tampa, it's not a death sentence, but it doesn't bode well either.

Stralman at 50% is better than Taormina, Carle, and Witowski. It will do my heart good to see Hedman and Stralman reunited. But, fact is, they can also play well without each other. If the Pens want to get strategic and put Sid on a line with dead weight wingers, hoping to draw Tampa's top D-pairing (leaving Malkin and Kessel to run loose), then the solution is to split Stralman/Hedman. Put Stralman with Garrison and Hedman with Coburn. Fact is, Garrison and Coburn are good D-men and they are as good as many teams top pairings. Tampa has a deep defense (how refreshing to say that after years of SUCK at that position).

This game should be interesting. All of the pressure is on the Pens. Tampa has already earned a split at worst. If the Pens go down 2-0 heading into Tampa, it's not a death sentence, but it doesn't bode well either.
- GalacticStone

Stralman killed the Pens this season. His return is huge for TB.

Stralman at 50% is better than Taormina, Carle, and Witowski. It will do my heart good to see Hedman and Stralman reunited. But, fact is, they can also play well without each other. If the Pens want to get strategic and put Sid on a line with dead weight wingers, hoping to draw Tampa's top D-pairing (leaving Malkin and Kessel to run loose), then the solution is to split Stralman/Hedman. Put Stralman with Garrison and Hedman with Coburn. Fact is, Garrison and Coburn are good D-men and they are as good as many teams top pairings. Tampa has a deep defense (how refreshing to say that after years of SUCK at that position).

This game should be interesting. All of the pressure is on the Pens. Tampa has already earned a split at worst. If the Pens go down 2-0 heading into Tampa, it's not a death sentence, but it doesn't bode well either.
- GalacticStone

I like Tampa's defensive set up, big guys who use their sticks instead of taking the body, its very effective.

Don't care. It's total BS and smacks of lunkheads in charge, a la Caps. Suck it.

Pens need to win tonight. Down 2 with Stamkos coming back in TBL will be very difficult.

Listening to MM for the first time in months...he says MAF's agent is pissed and will demand a trade if MAF doesn't get back in net.

TBH, if you can lock up Murray for a few yrs dirt cheap, or lose MAF to expansion draft...might not be a bad idea to move him.

Not sure how these lines will work out though.

HCMS has passed up several opportunities to get MAF some game action. He's painting this team into a corner in goal. If Murray has another sub-.900 game tonight, that would be 3 in the last 4. If its also a loss, they will be heading to Tampa down 2-0 with a hot young goalie getting starting to get cold and your $5M franchise goalie riding pine covered in rust.

Hopefully Murray posts a .950, or even better a 1.000 and Fleury continues to be unneeded.

I have mixed feelings about banning opposing jerseys in home arenas.

On the one hand, I think it is lame and it impinges on free speech. If you buy a ticket, you are helping the home team by providing revenue. Those Pittsburgh fans are buying beer and pizza also. More $$$ in into the Bolts coffers. For that contribution, the Pens fans should be able to wear anything they want. Personally, it doesn't bother me. Florida is a unique hockey atmosphere. Most residents and fans are transplants and retirees from other states. I was born in St. Louis and still have a soft spot for the Blues. I wear my Blues cap (and a Bolts jersey) to games. If we were playing the Blues in the Finals and the security people told me to take off my Blues cap, I will tell them to go phuck themselves and probably get kicked out.

On the other hand, the ban only effects 10% of the arena seating - club level seats (the wealthy folk) and the first two rows by the glass where the TV cameras can easily see. So the issue is being blown out of proportion by saying the opposing jerseys are banned - it makes for good click-bait, but it's a half-truth. It's Tampa's arena and if they want you to wear assless chaps and a cowboy hat, they are within their rights to do that - just don't buy a ticket and don't go. If Pens fans are pissed and refuse to buy tickets, that hurts the Bolts by denying us revenue. It's a pyrrhic victory at best.
- GalacticStone

It's only in seats that are season tickets only and $5,000 minimum. Unlimited food and booze included so they don't want people to be rowdy to keep their big money clients happy. It's not to say the opposing team would be the rowdy ones, it may be dumb lightning fans but they are keeping those big spenders happy by trying to control the atmosphere in those exclusive, season ticket holder only, clubs. Basically move along, nothing to see

I like Tampa's defensive set up, big guys who use their sticks instead of taking the body, its very effective.
- stackthepads

Playing against defenseman with size and a long reach is very hard, i learned first hand from playing against my brother

Crosby and Sill are friends and train together in the off season. Might have some sneaky chem.

Your opinion amounts to nothing. All teams have done it including the Penguins. To many crybabies overreacting.
- Artyukhin76

No. No. And, no not all teams. The only ones I know are the Capitals and you. If you can't fill your rink with fans then allow those who like hockey attend. I am calling total F'ing BS.

It is truly remarkable that a corporation/team comes out with the decision to minimize seating to the opposing fans. It doesn't set a really good example and as a team executive I would be rather embarrassed for this situation.

Here we are in todays world, fighting for equal rights for ALL and that everyone has an equal opportunity and then something like this comes out that is rather laughable and rather embarrassing. All this is, is a disgraceful episode of controlling favortism. Should a team not allow other fans to sit in certain seats, that is the teams choice, nothing against it but it shows how far a team/corporation will go to TRY and distort reality of the situation.

If the lower bowl was filled with Pens fans and not Tampa fans, that says something about an organization, how it is run and the promotions of that team...so in reality all Tampa Bay is trying to do is cause a distortion in the reality of the situation down there. Can't fill the building, that is a reflection of the team/corporation and trying to limit the opposition is a very weak attempt.

It is truly remarkable that a corporation/team comes out with the decision to minimize seating to the opposing fans. It doesn't set a really good example and as a team executive I would be rather embarrassed for this situation.

Here we are in todays world, fighting for equal rights for ALL and that everyone has an equal opportunity and then something like this comes out that is rather laughable and rather embarrassing. All this is, is a disgraceful episode of controlling favortism. Should a team not allow other fans to sit in certain seats, that is the teams choice, nothing against it but it shows how far a team/corporation will go to TRY and distort reality of the situation.

If the lower bowl was filled with Pens fans and not Tampa fans, that says something about an organization, how it is run and the promotions of that team...so in reality all Tampa Bay is trying to do is cause a distortion in the reality of the situation down there. Can't fill the building, that is a reflection of the team/corporation and trying to limit the opposition is a very weak attempt.
- Darklight11

People really don't understand. Glass seats are season ticket only, $10,000 per seat per year. Comes with a club and unlimited food and drink. Chase Club is another club, those go for $5,000 a year per seat and again come with unlimited alcohol and food. Both of those clubs are season ticket holders only so no individual game sales but you can buy them on the secondary market. The Lightning as a business have to cater to their customers and what better customer then people spending tens of thousands of dollars? The entire lower bowl, besides the first two rows of season ticket holders, can be all Penguins. The entire third level can be all penguins and 3/4 of the second level can be all Penguins. To make a stance on how some is running a very successful business is pretty silly, they are doing fine as a business and making their most important customers happy.

MAF getting more time in the net. Could be a sign of things to come

I mean I don't think Stralman has any kind of the stones as Letang. I say we Callahan him right back into the pressbox and take the 5 min penalty.

The old me would say try and hip check stralman in his rehabing leg....

The new me says just try and burn him and get some goals while he is on the ice and crush his moral.

I mean I don't think Stralman has any kind of the stones as Letang. I say we Callahan him right back into the pressbox and take the 5 min penalty.
- Grinder47

I would rather do it to hedman. but just talking about this makes my head hurt.

People really don't understand. Glass seats are season ticket only, $10,000 per seat per year. Comes with a club and unlimited food and drink. Chase Club is another club, those go for $5,000 a year per seat and again come with unlimited alcohol and food. Both of those clubs are season ticket holders only so no individual game sales but you can buy them on the secondary market. The Lightning as a business have to cater to their customers and what better customer then people spending tens of thousands of dollars? The entire lower bowl, besides the first two rows of season ticket holders, can be all Penguins. The entire third level can be all penguins and 3/4 of the second level can be all Penguins. To make a stance on how some is running a very successful business is pretty silly, they are doing fine as a business and making their most important customers happy.
- Kucherovski

Yeah bud great try. Somehow 29 other teams seem to do it without being so cowardly. You guys are soft flatlanders from a place in the world that's only good for fishing and comfortable for old rich people to go to die.

People really don't understand. Glass seats are season ticket only, $10,000 per seat per year. Comes with a club and unlimited food and drink. Chase Club is another club, those go for $5,000 a year per seat and again come with unlimited alcohol and food. Both of those clubs are season ticket holders only so no individual game sales but you can buy them on the secondary market. The Lightning as a business have to cater to their customers and what better customer then people spending tens of thousands of dollars? The entire lower bowl, besides the first two rows of season ticket holders, can be all Penguins. The entire third level can be all penguins and 3/4 of the second level can be all Penguins. To make a stance on how some is running a very successful business is pretty silly, they are doing fine as a business and making their most important customers happy.
- Kucherovski

What if one of these folks paying $10k a season for tickets is a Pittsburgh transplant that loves hockey and loves the Pens?
Is their $10k worth less than the guy sitting next to him?

The old me would say try and hip check stralman in his rehabing leg....

The new me says just try and burn him and get some goals while he is on the ice and crush his moral.
- pensfan024

I like the old you better.

I like those lines. Sid doesn't need to play with talented players to be good. He just needs guys that shoot and are predictable.

MAF getting more time in the net. Could be a sign of things to come
- Thorny

If Murray struggles the slightest bit, he gets pulled. If they lose, MAF gets the start in gm 3.

BTW, I thought Drouin looked good gm 1. Pens should have traded DP for him!

Yeah bud great try. Somehow 29 other teams seem to do it without being so cowardly. You guys are soft flatlanders from a place in the world that's only good for fishing and comfortable for old rich people to go to die.
- Grinder47

Penguins have been around for about 50 years and are established, the Lightning 20. They are trying to build a franchise, it doesn't just happen because you have a team. I bet there are many other small market, young teams that do this type of thing. Nashville I know is one so knock that down to 28 and neither of us know exactly what all of those teams do.