Do you guys just sit there with a blank stare and wait for goals? Theres something happening every second of an nhl game to watch for if you understand whats going on. Pens are going to have to learn to adjust their game a little bit because they are prob going to see this more often. In my opinion a 5-6 game just seems like pickup hockey, whoever scores last before your 1 1/2 hr is up wins. Thats no fun.

Does that make you more of a fan than someone that is new to watching hockey?

Crosby, Ovechkin, and now Mcdavid/Matthews have pulled in a ton of young fans to the game. Without guys like them the fanbase stagnates with just a bunch of crotchety middle aged men getting into a pissing match on HB about whose team is better and who has touched a trophy more.

Pens sucked last night. Good job Blues, they were the better team.
- BeefCoon

No, but people imply that Flyers fans aren't familiar with the Stanley Cup because the Pittsburgh Penguins organization won the Stanley Cup last year, which the Philadelphia Flyers organization hasn't done in going on 40 years. Apparently, unless the team that you roots for wins the Cup, you cannot be familiar with it. I'm just stating that I am very familiar (too familar, maybe???) with it, and even though I'm not a Penguins fans, was in its presence much more recently than the majority of their fan base.

Interpret as you see fit

http://www.quanthockey.com/TS/TS_GoalsPerGame.php
- Scoob

Oh poop, thats interesting. Looks like post lockout there have been a couple more seasons where playoffs were lower scoring, so maybe I'm wrong!

I wish it showed the parameters a little bit. I'd be curious to see playoff scoring vs. regular season scoring by teams that made the playoffs. Curious to how that would show.

No, but people imply that Flyers fans aren't familiar with the Stanley Cup because the Pittsburgh Penguins organization won the Stanley Cup last year, which the Philadelphia Flyers organization hasn't done in going on 40 years. Apparently, unless the team that you roots for wins the Cup, you cannot be familiar with it. I'm just stating that I am very familiar (too familar, maybe???) with it, and even though I'm not a Penguins fans, was in its presence much more recently than the majority of their fan base.
- jmatchett383

You mean guys like Mark Madden?

You mean guys like Mark Madden?
- j.boyd919

I don't know who that is.

Either way, doesn't matter. I just think that the whole "Fans of Team X wouldn't familiar with Trophy Y because their team hasn't won it in Z years," is silly. Yes, as fans of the game, we are aware of the trophy regardless of how long it's been since our favorite team won it.

I don't know who that is.

Either way, doesn't matter. I just think that the whole "Fans of Team X wouldn't familiar with Trophy Y because their team hasn't won it in Z years," is silly. Yes, as fans of the game, we are aware of the trophy regardless of how long it's been since our favorite team won it.
- jmatchett383

Mark Madden is jerk radio personality. Loud and dumb.

I don't know who that is.

Either way, doesn't matter. I just think that the whole "Fans of Team X wouldn't familiar with Trophy Y because their team hasn't won it in Z years," is silly. Yes, as fans of the game, we are aware of the trophy regardless of how long it's been since our favorite team won it.
- jmatchett383

Dopey shock jock (I guess?) from Pittsburgh that always busts of Philly. Dude's an idiot. Only hockey guy on the radio in Pitt, unfortunately.

The Pens needed to play dump and chase hockey against this team but were not willing to. The players continuously tried to take the puck across the lines in spite of the fact that it wasn't working. Also, they need to start winning more faceoffs, especially on pp's and pk's.

Pens have never scored against Hutton. So they never had a chance.

Really, complaining about the type of hockey brings a win? 2 points are all that matters if you are a coach playing away in a building where the opposition is scoring lots & lots & lots of goals especially considering the position the Blues are in.

Take it in, reset & learn from the mistakes, as Grinder says it probably won't be the last time this type of hockey (the boring kind ), is played against the Pens!

How did Dumo play on his return? What were the lines in general as I saw Horny wasn't on Genos line (not that I saw a lot due to work), injury force him out early or did Horny get dropped/promoted?

In other news. Malkin out indefinitely with an LBI.

In other news. Malkin out indefinitely with an LBI.
- madmike71

I smell a big winning streak.

Oh poop, thats interesting. Looks like post lockout there have been a couple more seasons where playoffs were lower scoring, so maybe I'm wrong!

I wish it showed the parameters a little bit. I'd be curious to see playoff scoring vs. regular season scoring by teams that made the playoffs. Curious to how that would show.
- j.boyd919

Me too. It's probably out there somewhere but I'm too bus...lazy to look for it right now. lol

Right? Cause the last 3 Stanley cup winners put up over 3 goals per game... And the year before Boston was at 2.95... There's this weird myth that teams don't score as much in the playoffs.
- j.boyd919

Overall, scoring trends to be lower in the playoffs. That doesn't mean that the SC winning team is going to struggle to score.

One reason will be that you cut our the worst half of the league. Better teams can feast on them during the regular season (usually) and bring up their average.

Playing a tight game is another reason. Teams don't want to have a dumb turnover cost them the playoffs.

Penalties seem to come less often as well, and that plays a big factor in scoring.

What I meant was that Hitch likes to pay a defense first, and counter game with offense through turnovers. It might not be sexy, but it is that type of game that is played more in the playoffs. Very structured.

I played goal growing up. I don't particularly find 8-7 games entertaining personally. I'd rather see a 2-1 game.

I wasn't bored last night at all.

If he's so good at "playoff hockey" why has his teams largely struggled in the playoffs? Until last year, his last appearance in a conference final was in 03-04.
- madmike71

Honestly, I think a big part of it is he plays playoff hockey year round. It has had a lot of success regular season. Most teams aren't ready/willing to play that way.

Until playoff time. Other teams play that way, and the Blues don't have another gear as they already were in it. So the field definitely levels or tips the other way.

Honestly, I think a big part of it is he plays playoff hockey year round. It has had a lot of success regular season. Most teams aren't ready/willing to play that way.

Until playoff time. Other teams play that way, and the Blues don't have another gear as they already were in it. So the field definitely levels or tips the other way.
- carcus

It very much reminds me of Dan Bylsma. Great regular season coach, but won just 4 playoff series after he won the cup. Inability to adapt, adjust his system to combat his different opponents over a 7 game series. This is precisely why he was fired. Most fans wish it would have happened sooner.

The Blues have had plenty of talent to get further than they have. They're one of the bigger underachievers the last several years. That's on the coach. I'm surprised he's gotten so much rope.

It very much reminds me of Dan Bylsma. Great regular season coach, but won just 4 playoff series after he won the cup. Inability to adapt, adjust his system to combat his different opponents over a 7 game series. This is precisely why he was fired. Most fans wish it would have happened sooner.

The Blues have had plenty of talent to get further than they have. They're one of the bigger underachievers the last several years. That's on the coach. I'm surprised he's gotten so much rope.
- madmike71

His rope is made of licorice and he keeps eating it

I smell a big winning streak.
- Grinder47

I love how even in a year where we're contending for the Presidents' Trophy and Malkin is contending for the scoring title you still find a way to dump on him. Your ability to stick to your guns and not disappear when things don't go to your narritive like holeinone does is impressive.

His rope is made of licorice and he keeps eating it
- mont23

I was thinking maybe the players are hungry 'cause they're all competing for table scraps at game day meals.

I love how even in a year where we're contending for the Presidents' Trophy and Malkin is contending for the scoring title you still find a way to dump on him. Your ability to stick to your guns and not disappear when things don't go to your narritive like holeinone does is impressive.
- Victoro311

Probably just missing the game on purpose to rest up.

It very much reminds me of Dan Bylsma. Great regular season coach, but won just 4 playoff series after he won the cup. Inability to adapt, adjust his system to combat his different opponents over a 7 game series. This is precisely why he was fired. Most fans wish it would have happened sooner.

The Blues have had plenty of talent to get further than they have. They're one of the bigger underachievers the last several years. That's on the coach. I'm surprised he's gotten so much rope.
- madmike71

They did make it to the WCF last year.

That is why he is back this year.

They did make it to the WCF last year.

That is why he is back this year.
- carcus

I don't think Hitch is a bad coach at all.

Well that blog title screams sour grapes.

Pens don't do well outside their element. STL showed them a different brand of effective hockey that was by no measure boring or dull. If you cannot appreciate solid coaching and need the goal horn to go off comstantly to excite your small mind go watch basketball.

Ugh. Whiners. Give the other guys a "well done" and don't be a jerk because you lost

Well that blog title screams sour grapes.

Pens don't do well outside their element. STL showed them a different brand of effective hockey that was by no measure boring or dull. If you cannot appreciate solid coaching and need the goal horn to go off comstantly to excite your small mind go watch basketball.

Ugh. Whiners. Give the other guys a "well done" and don't be a jerk because you lost
- jackzack87

I'm a Sixers fan. I only watch boring basketball. That is until this year. Now that Embiid is a thing I don't know what to do with myself.

TTP

Probably just missing the game on purpose to rest up.
- j.boyd919

This was my assumption. Makes me sad but I won't hold it against him. No Phil can go.