I'm conflicted. Part of me thinks that's about right. The other part of me says NO WAY Rinne allows himself to look bad again.

Preds haven't been playing very well since the ASG. I doubt they get well against one of the best teams in the league. Best I think we can hope for is a low scoring game where the Preds manage to take advantage of Pittsburgh mistakes. If it becomes run and gun the Preds will get blown out.

D
- Predaceous

Just kidding.

Just getting physically dominated out there. They look like the Milwaukee Predators against this Pittsburgh team. No heart and apparently no interest in gaining home ice advantage. If they keep playing like this they'll be out in the first round. Sound familiar?

Fair enough, but I don't think u can put all the blame one pekka. 3 wide open net chances and players can't bury them? Yeah pekka isn't playing good obviously, but his team isn't helping out either.. They look completely overwhelmed. It's oblivious which team is playing "playoff" hockey and who is not.

I actually think this games been played fairly close. Difference is Rinne's been awful and Fleury has been quite fortunate. He's left a wide open net for the Preds on at least four occasions and the Preds just flat out missed their opportunities. I think the Preds have played hard. If Rinne plays like himself this is anyone's game.
- Predaceous

Fair enough, but I don't think u can put all the blame one pekka. 3 wide open net chances and players can't bury them? Yeah pekka isn't playing good obviously, but his team isn't helping out either.. They look completely overwhelmed. It's oblivious which team is playing "playoff" hockey and who is not.
- PREDX1

It was a problem in the Edmonton game too. They appear to be gripping the sticks too tight and are missing wide open chances. Whatever is causing it, it needs to be fixed fast, as in Saturday night.

11 goals against in less than 2 complete games leaves little room for blaming bounces or officiating or the hockey gods looking the other way. It says a whole lot more about the lack of team defense and lack of skill up front, the lack of mental preparation (coaching), the lack of unity/chemistry (too many changes at once), unable to handle the role of favorite and weak goal tending.

Is there enough time between now and the playoffs to get this turned around?

you guys are a good team going through a rough patch. you guys will be fine come playoff time.

best of luck down the stretch. rooting for you guys over the nucks, hawks, and red wings.

I wonder if trotz had a closed door meeting after the game?
They are slowly letting home ice advantage slip away. IF they right the ship Saturday and can get on a roll they will be fine, but if they close out the season limping into the playoffs, rads come back will be for not.
My gut tells me this team gets back to its true form before the playoffs.

On a side note please join in a moment of silence for my bracket which just took a huge hit with msu loosing...

11 goals against in less than 2 complete games leaves little room for blaming bounces or officiating or the hockey gods looking the other way. It says a whole lot more about the lack of team defense and lack of skill up front, the lack of mental preparation (coaching), the lack of unity/chemistry (too many changes at once), unable to handle the role of favorite and weak goal tending.

Is there enough time between now andQ the playoffs to get this turned around?
- Section106

I wonder if trotz had a closed door meeting after the game?
They are slowly letting home ice advantage slip away. IF they right the ship Saturday and can get on a roll they will be fine, but if they close out the season limping into the playoffs, rads come back will be for not.
My gut tells me this team gets back to its true form before the playoffs.

On a side note please join in a moment of silence for my bracket which just took a huge hit with msu loosing...
- PREDX1

If he has a closed door meeting, leave Rads outside. He played classic Rads hockey - zero defense, a few clogs, and a goal. I will take it. Also, TITS needs to figure out where his head is. Suter. Well, I don't particularly care for him anymore. And tonight's performance is just one reason why...

I wonder if trotz had a closed door meeting after the game?
They are slowly letting home ice advantage slip away. IF they right the ship Saturday and can get on a roll they will be fine, but if they close out the season limping into the playoffs, rads come back will be for not.
My gut tells me this team gets back to its true form before the playoffs.

On a side note please join in a moment of silence for my bracket which just took a huge hit with msu loosing...
- PREDX1

I think most people did. Mine went down the pooper with Florida State.

I wonder if trotz had a closed door meeting after the game?
They are slowly letting home ice advantage slip away. IF they right the ship Saturday and can get on a roll they will be fine, but if they close out the season limping into the playoffs, rads come back will be for not.
My gut tells me this team gets back to its true form before the playoffs.

On a side note please join in a moment of silence for my bracket which just took a huge hit with msu loosing...
- PREDX1

It could be worse ... at least your bracket buster lost to Louisville. Mine lost to Norfolk freakin State.

Is there enough time between now and the playoffs to get this turned around?
- Section106

Plenty of time! The preds played the best team in the NHL and didn't play their game. Gaustad will plug a hole but Wilson and Josi aren't skating. Colin and Roman will make a difference.
Spaling now has the Tootoo disease. Trotz has the team breathing out of the left eye lid again!!! Mess up the lines and the team plays uptight.

Pekka's been struggling longer than that. I think he's lost his confidence. Suter gave up on the play that turned into goal#4. He's the laziest skater on the ice, and not just tonight.
- Predaceous

Sutes doesn't even look like a 5 million dollar per year guy the last 15 games. It would be nice if Suter was called out. It might wake up some of the sleeping beauties.

Radulov countdown clock is running. After the beating tonight he s already trying to decide whether he should say he hurt his back or just head home to Russia.

One thing that I haven't really seen mentioned is something I have really come to realize that has been underestimated on this team...the value of Roman Josi. I know the guy is a rook. But if you look at the unbelievably smooth transition he made when we picked up Gill and look at the last few games without him in the lineup, there is a very noticeable difference. I don't think it is so much that Josi alone is vitally important, but more the pairings have appeared almost clueless at times without him. I, for one, cannot wait until he is able to get back into the lineup.

Radulov countdown clock is running. After the beating tonight he s already trying to decide whether he should say he hurt his back or just head home to Russia.
- ShooterMcGavin

He scored in his first game back. I'll bet that really rubs you the wrong way.

Sutes doesn't even look like a 5 million dollar per year guy the last 15 games. It would be nice if Suter was called out. It might wake up some of the sleeping beauties.
- slash&smash

I'm not sure he isn't already starting to lay the groundwork to explain his departure. Maybe I'm reading too much into his comments about Radulov, but when he says things like "Everyone has to do what's right for them" I think he's talking more about himself than Radulov.

Suter has a right to leave at the end of the season. I just think that the way he went about it was dishonest, disingenuous and hurtful to this organization. If he doesn't leave then I'll take everything back, but right now he's a guy I'm losing more and more respect for every single day.

Lying to Poile about his reasons for wanting to hold off on signing a new contract then dogging it at the end of the season. If that turns out to be the case then this is one of the most classless acts ever.