0 + 0 doesn't equal 4 unfortunately.
- nhindian

I'd say at least either the Canucks or Pens will comeback and win their series. I'm not sure I'd bet on either at this point though.

Interesting reading the comments here and seeing you guys attributing your struggles to coaching. That's definitely the same theme for Vancouver fans right now.

Amazing the difference that coaches (primarily their ability to adapt their gameplan as a series develops) can make in a series.

Maybe if we combine the Canucks and Pens we could win a series...
- Brandon_Lee

They would be really good at giving up short handed goals.

You guys have to get your dzone coverage together. No one is picking up the man in the d zone. Mainly the forwards. We had huge issues with this in february. I don't care what you guys say. Our talent runs deeper through our lineup. You have better top end yes. Depth I would say no against us.

I'd say at least either the Canucks or Pens will comeback and win their series. I'm not sure I'd bet on either at this point though.

Interesting reading the comments here and seeing you guys attributing your struggles to coaching. That's definitely the same theme for Vancouver fans right now.

Amazing the difference that coaches (primarily their ability to adapt their gameplan as a series develops) can make in a series.
- Brandon_Lee

No.

y'all gettin' worried yet ?

I think this game came down to a few things...

3. I keep hearing how the Pens gave these two games to the Flyers... No offense to any other team but the Flyers have been doign this all year to all teams.

- opeth_pa

To ALL teams?

You better take another look at their record against the Rangers.

Have yet to beat them this season........

So, coffee and eggs this morning. And a realization our hopes in a win seem quite a bit slimmer. Oh well the sun is shining and the world did not end. We shall see what we shall see. Just not as optimistic guys.

So, coffee and eggs this morning. And a realization our hopes in a win seem quite a bit slimmer. Oh well the sun is shining and the world did not end. We shall see what we shall see. Just not as optimistic guys.
- powerhouse

I can't believe they went up 2-0 and blew multiple leads. Unreal

So, coffee and eggs this morning. And a realization our hopes in a win seem quite a bit slimmer. Oh well the sun is shining and the world did not end. We shall see what we shall see. Just not as optimistic guys.
- powerhouse

And then yard work. Hello reality.

I can't believe they went up 2-0 and blew multiple leads. Unreal
- flyersfan51

I missed most of the first two periods and saw the meltdown in the third. In reading what others have said we made bad passes and mistakes and you guys capitalized. I am not sure why we are making so many mistakes? It's puzzling. It would seem we have players with a high hockey IQ. I guess the Rangers play a strong defensive style with very limited mistakes and that is how they beat you.

Not to take anything away from the Flers, they have a great team. It's just bonehead central out there for the Pens. Maybe they can't handle the pressure? Maybe a keep it simple road game will help?

One thing is sure, our players need to get their collective heads out of the dark places and play smarter and make more consistent, SAFE plays!!!!!!

I missed most of the first two periods and saw the meltdown in the third. In reading what others have said we made bad passes and mistakes and you guys capitalized. I am not sure why we are making so many mistakes? It's puzzling. It would seem we have players with a high hockey IQ. I guess the Rangers play a strong defensive style with very limited mistakes and that is how they beat you.

Not to take anything away from the Flers, they have a great team. It's just bonehead central out there for the Pens. Maybe they can't handle the pressure? Maybe a keep it simple road game will help?

One thing is sure, our players need to get their collective heads out of the dark places and play smarter and make more consistent, SAFE plays!!!!!!
- powerhouse

Crosby surprised me on the Talbot goal...he and Sullivan are chasing Giroux on his breakaway. Giroux gets the shot off, Sully was right there with him and Sid's a little behind. If he stops and turns around, he could have made things a bit more difficult for Talbot, who was trailing the play, but he quit skating and drifted by MAF. Edit - watching it again, he didn't drift by, but he was awfully slow to react and try to defend.

Don't know what he was thinking there.

Where are the guys who were telling me Giroux is nowhere near Malkin and Crosby's level?

The Pens can easily get back in the series. A win in Game 3 starts to put the pressure back on the Flyers. In order to win the series though Bylsma needs to rethink his strategy against the Flyers. Take a page from the Rangers strategy.

1) The Pens need to get more support along the boards. The first man is getting there to lay the hit, but no one is around to pick up the puck. Go back and count how many times the first man on the forecheck arrives and no one is there to pick up the lose puck. The Flyers have been winning almost all of the battles along the boards. The Penguins are relying too much on the rush to score goals, they need to get the cycle going deep in the Flyers zone. You need to get dirty to win.

2) Clog the neutral zone. No one on the Pens is playing strong positional defense, with the exception of one maybe two players. Even Orpik is not doing a consistent job of it. The Pens are pressing so much on the offense they are allowing too many odd man rushes the other way and way too many easy opportunities for the Flyers to skate the puck up ice. Everyone needs to be thinking about getting back on defense first, especially when playing with the lead.

3) Back-checking. You need to skate harder back into your own zone than you do into the offensive zone. It appears as if some of the Pens players would rather exert more energy trying to score than getting back on defense. The forwards can't leave the defense and the goaltender hung out to dry because they don't want to skate hard to get back on D.

4) Once the Penguins get the lead, they need to concentrate on getting the puck deep and making the Flyers work hard to move the puck up the entire sheet of ice. The Pens players still seem too interested in trying to use flash to get the puck into the Flyers zone, resulting in several giveaways that result in scoring chances going the other way.

5) Bylsma and the Pens need to realize that the Flyers are one of the few teams in the league that can hang with the Pens in an offensive shootout. Maybe trying another strategy may work??

Just a few other things to think about.
The Pens have five forwards averaging more than 19 mins of ice time a game, Malkin, Crosby, Kunitz, Neal and Staal. The Flyers have one, Giroux (and no other foward averaging more than 17 mins).
The Pens have five players averaging 12 mins of ice time or less, including two defensemen, Engelland, Lovejoy, Adams, Vitale and Asham. The Flyers have one, Rinaldo (not including Kubina as he played one game).
Sometimes fresh legs mean a lot in the third period and especially OT. Just food for thought.

In a playoff series it is all about adjustments and this series is far from over. Just wanted to see if the Pens fans agreed with some of my assessment.

The Pens can easily get back in the series. A win in Game 3 starts to put the pressure back on the Flyers. In order to win the series though Bylsma needs to rethink his strategy against the Flyers. Take a page from the Rangers strategy.
- austinwac

If I'm not mistaken Scotty Bowman found himself in a similar predicament to Bylsma in 1992. They had to batten down the hatches and switch their style. It worked and they pulled the series off.

he might ... dude's been around a while.

- FlyerGuy

And it was probably Homies idea while on break. Hey Burkie why don't you pose over near that donkey in a provocative pose and I'll get a picture it will be so funny!

And from what I've seen from the regular season and the 1st game of the playoffs, when G gets hit, he DISAPPEARS.
- nhindian

He does disappear at times but if he gets cheap shotted and ticked off he turns it on. He was peed off last night.

I can't believe they went up 2-0 and blew multiple leads. Unreal
- flyersfan51

I can. It's happened all year against this team

The Pens can easily get back in the series. A win in Game 3 starts to put the pressure back on the Flyers. In order to win the series though Bylsma needs to rethink his strategy against the Flyers. Take a page from the Rangers strategy.

1) The Pens need to get more support along the boards. The first man is getting there to lay the hit, but no one is around to pick up the puck. Go back and count how many times the first man on the forecheck arrives and no one is there to pick up the lose puck. The Flyers have been winning almost all of the battles along the boards. The Penguins are relying too much on the rush to score goals, they need to get the cycle going deep in the Flyers zone. You need to get dirty to win.

2) Clog the neutral zone. No one on the Pens is playing strong positional defense, with the exception of one maybe two players. Even Orpik is not doing a consistent job of it. The Pens are pressing so much on the offense they are allowing too many odd man rushes the other way and way too many easy opportunities for the Flyers to skate the puck up ice. Everyone needs to be thinking about getting back on defense first, especially when playing with the lead.

3) Back-checking. You need to skate harder back into your own zone than you do into the offensive zone. It appears as if some of the Pens players would rather exert more energy trying to score than getting back on defense. The forwards can't leave the defense and the goaltender hung out to dry because they don't want to skate hard to get back on D.

4) Once the Penguins get the lead, they need to concentrate on getting the puck deep and making the Flyers work hard to move the puck up the entire sheet of ice. The Pens players still seem too interested in trying to use flash to get the puck into the Flyers zone, resulting in several giveaways that result in scoring chances going the other way.

5) Bylsma and the Pens need to realize that the Flyers are one of the few teams in the league that can hang with the Pens in an offensive shootout. Maybe trying another strategy may work??

Just a few other things to think about.
The Pens have five forwards averaging more than 19 mins of ice time a game, Malkin, Crosby, Kunitz, Neal and Staal. The Flyers have one, Giroux (and no other foward averaging more than 17 mins).
The Pens have five players averaging 12 mins of ice time or less, including two defensemen, Engelland, Lovejoy, Adams, Vitale and Asham. The Flyers have one, Rinaldo (not including Kubina as he played one game).
Sometimes fresh legs mean a lot in the third period and especially OT. Just food for thought.

In a playoff series it is all about adjustments and this series is far from over. Just wanted to see if the Pens fans agreed with some of my assessment.
- austinwac

get out troll



can I email this to Bylsma? I'll give you full credit.