No, they won't.

If the league does not suspend Neal, the Flyers will come out gunning for him in the first couple minutes of the game. I don'e see how anyone can see it any other way.

That is exactly what will happen if Neal is in the lineup.
- Flyers2821

They may challenge him to a fight. They may go after him with legal hits. But that's about all. The Flyers focus will be on winning the game.

You know what, Neal is saying the hit was accidental. Watching that, that's BS. He takes a clear turn towards Couturier, and clearly sees him well before the hit. This was not an accidental collision. No way in hell.
- MJL

Plus he jumped.

I expected the Ned Brayden victory dance
- JoeRussomanno

Crysby can do that one in a losing cause

He really looked like a baby today, that thing with Voracek's glove, grabbing Kimmo & shaking him, whining & sometimes flopping around, man has he lost it, he's gotten worse than he's ever been
- puckhead17

I really hope G gets a chance to square up with him away from the refs and just pummels him. Have you ever seen refs jump into a fight that quickly before? That was embarrassing.

Hey guys, thanks for not embarrassing us today. We did a good enough job doing that ourselves.
- canadianpenfan

Honest question for a pens fan. Are you annoyed/disappointed with the leadership of crosby? He is getting himself way too involved post whistle. He needs to send a message to his players to stay away that BS and try to win some games. I just think all the other pens are following his lead, how so you see it?

Heated game and a rough go. Hope that no matter what happens on Wednesday there's no shenanigans.
- Jsaquella

I just hope if it's clear they're going to lose they do it with some class and dignity, as opposed to whatever the hell went on today.

They may challenge him to a fight. They may go after him with legal hits. But that's about all. The Flyers focus will be on winning the game.
- MJL

If the league does not suspend him, the Flyers will go after him. To me, it is that simple.

I really hope G gets a chance to square up with him away from the refs and just pummels him. Have you ever seen refs jump into a fight that quickly before? That was embarrassing.
- Flyers2821

The last thing I want to see again is Giroux in a fight.

I really hope G gets a chance to square up with him away from the refs and just pummels him. Have you ever seen refs jump into a fight that quickly before? That was embarrassing.
- Flyers2821

but they watched Kimmo get creamed, I guess they had others to hold on to...cough crysby... cough

The last thing I want to see again is Giroux in a fight.
- MJL

If it is with Crosby, I am all for it.

The Pens d is in complete shambles, if the Flyers play focused hockey on Wednesday, this series is over. Fleury is just a mess and the d core isn't strong enough to cover for Fleury right now. Stay aggressive and smart and get this series over with so guys can heal up and get ready for round 2.

The last thing I want to see again is Giroux in a fight.
- MJL

HEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

we do agree on something

Watching that hit over again in slow motion just makes it worse. Couturier doesnt even have the puck nor is it near him. Its intent to injure a player.
- stveshdy

It is the worst type of hit. The unsuspecting one. Your wires are not expecting it and therefore your body is "somewhat" relaxed instead anticipating contact. This kind of sch!dt can really mess a guy up. Look what it did to Crotchbleed when Steckel hit him.

I absolutely love NBC exposing the Penguins goonery and Shanahans awful inconsistency. Shanahan is a joke.
- Richieattack18

This game should be documented somewhere to show exactly not how to coach/captain a team. Utterly embarrassing leadership. I'd hold my head in shame to be a Pens fan today, and it has nothing to do with the outcome of the game. Instead almost all I see is excuses from the same team that was so concerned for player safety after Sid went down in the classic. Ridiculous.

Honest question for a pens fan. Are you annoyed/disappointed with the leadership of crosby? He is getting himself way too involved post whistle. He needs to send a message to his players to stay away that BS and try to win some games. I just think all the other pens are following his lead, how so you see it?
- BradTardforGM

Well if you're talking about today I'm very disgusted/disappointed/embarrassed. I don't think it's the norm for him like I'm sure alot of you do though. He led the team and as a whole the team acted like a 2 year old that had their toy taken away. It was utterly disgusting.

If the league does not suspend him, the Flyers will go after him. To me, it is that simple.
- Flyers2821

They cant take a chance on running after players, they will only end up hurting themselves by taking undisciplined penalties and losing games 8-4.

You know what, Neal is saying the hit was accidental. Watching that, that's BS. He takes a clear turn towards Couturier, and clearly sees him well before the hit. This was not an accidental collision. No way in hell.
- MJL

Is he really saying that? He goes charging and leaves his feet and goes up high and thats accidental?

I am beginning to get a bit more optimistic about the Neal suspension. I think if they don't suspend him, they may be unable to control every game in the playoffs from now, not just involving these 2 teams. Also, if they let him play and something happens, everyone will point out he should have been suspended.

If it is with Crosby, I am all for it.
- Flyers2821

I'm not. I'm more interested in winning the Series, and moving on. And in winning a Cup. Giroux could break a hand, fall awkwardly, etc. Don't need Giroux fighting.

The last thing I want to see again is Giroux in a fight.
- MJL

U got that right.
And another thing. I was thinking about what some of you guys in here are saying about other teams willing to take liberties. I think if teams do that they need to take a look at how that worked for pittsburgh and then ponder on if they have the talent to overcome the damage a Flyers team can do. I know one thing, this goon stuff ain't working for the Penguins.

It is the worst type of hit. The unsuspecting one. Your wires are not expecting it and therefore your body is "somewhat" relaxed instead anticipating contact. This kind of sch!dt can really mess a guy up. Look what it did to Crotchbleed when Steckel hit him.
- rockychocbill

He had one thing on his mind and that was to knock Couturier out. The thing that pisses me off is that Neal then takes a run at Giroux seconds later.

This clown had the stones to say he let up on the Couturier hit.

U got that right.
And another thing. I was thinking about what some of you guys in here are saying about other teams willing to take liberties. I think if teams do that they need to take a look at how that worked for pittsburgh and then ponder on if they have the talent to overcome the damage a Flyers team can do. I know one thing, this goon stuff ain't working for the Penguins.
- JoeRussomanno

Exactly. But some fans would rather have some blood then win the game. The worst thing you can do to the Pens is end their Season. That's inflicting some pain.

Well if you're talking about today I'm very disgusted/disappointed/embarrassed. I don't think it's the norm for him like I'm sure alot of you do though. He led the team and as a whole the team acted like a 2 year old that had their toy taken away. It was utterly disgusting.
- canadianpenfan

Im really surprised by the meltdown, what a difference from a few years ago when the flyers were up, what was it? 3-1? in the series. Pens battle back.

Im just surprised, as I am sure most are.

Exactly. But some fans would rather have some blood then win the game. The worst thing you can do to the Pens is end their Season. That's inflicting some pain.
- MJL

I want this series over wednesday with no one getting hurt and no stupid suspensions because whatever discipline gets doled out now you can bet your ass the league is gonna lay the law down wed if anything gets crazy.

MUST read this from a Pens fan email to the Pitts organization...

http://mobile.pensburgh.c...er-to-penguins-management

heres the whole email..

An Open Letter to Penguins Management
by ozman_fiftyone on Apr 15, 2012 6:27 PM EDT


To whom it may concern,

I've been a hockey fan since I was 3 years old when I saw the US Olympic Team defeat the Soviet Union at Lake Placid. That game made hockey an essential part of who I am. When I was 7, I went to my first Penguins game. Randy Carlyle was captain. Mario Lemieux was a name no one outside of the QMJHL knew. There were few hockey fans in Pittsburgh. I've been a proud fan and supporter of this team and have donned its colors and logo with pride every day of every year since then, even when Rico Fata was on the roster.

Until today.



The way in which to Penguins conducted themselves in Philadelphia on Sunday validates every criticism that members of media and other fanbases have espoused in the post lockout era. We have been called entitled, spoiled & arrogant. Those critiques were turned into indisputable facts with our absolute lack of discipline, class and professionalism. We fell behind in a game with massive importance to our post season and instead of acting like professionals we looked more like a John Stevens coached Flyers team that saw Mike Richards take runs at Marc-Andre Fleury and Scott Hartnell biting the finger of Kris Letang as the 09-10 campaign began. The role reversal is now complete. We are what we hated so much about them.

We are now the, throw-a-temper-tantrum-when-we-are-down, team that we railed against just a few years ago. The Flyers are now the disciplined, professional team. I still hate them but now I am also completely embarrassed to have the Penguins logo on the front of my sweater as I type this.

“We, as a league, must do a better job of protecting the integrity of the game and the safety of our players. We must make it clear that those kinds of actions will not be tolerated and will be met with meaningful disciplinary action." - Mario Lemieux in reference to NHL's lack of action for Islander's Goonery vs Penguins

I challenge Mario Lemieux to publicly apologize to not only the Flyers, but to the NHL for marring the great spectacle that is the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the childishness the Penguins as a team portrayed on Sunday. Mr. Lemieux wasted no time in chastising a New York Islanders team only a year ago for very similar conduct against our own players. If no apology is forthcoming in some fashion the Penguins organization will additionally look like hypocrites on top of the embarrassed and arrogant hockey club, they are undoubtedly, as they walk off of Wells Fargo Center ice.

I hope everyone in the upper levels of the Penguins Organization heard the chant that went up repeatedly today. "You can't beat us" That is a factual statement, as long as we continue to approach the game in the same way we have recently.

The Penguins have acted like an entitled, too cool for your club publicly for some time now, even to it's own fans at times. That mentality is pervasive and has bled into the on ice product. We looked like the Flyers today and we never want to look like the goon-Flyers team we all criticized and detested for years, ever again.

The failure of the players to control themselves, the coaches to control the players is now up to you to correct at a management level. The Penguins players and coaches that took part in the game today took a muddy boot and stepped on the legacy of the logo on the front of the sweater. They embarrassed the franchise and everyone who's ever worn its uniform, our city, and all of their fans.

Sincerely,

@ozman51

The content expressed in fanposts does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff here at Pensburgh.com. FanPosts are opinions expressed by fans of various teams throughout the league but may be more Pittsburgh-centric for obvious reasons.

Exactly. But some fans would rather have some blood then win the game. The worst thing you can do to the Pens is end their Season. That's inflicting some pain.
- MJL

People's emotions are running high. Most of us probably have been taught growing up that if some does something to you or a teammate you do the same.

We all know the big picture and what needs to be done. People are just letting out the emotions bc their pissed off at the way the Pens handled losing today.