John Toperzer: The case for Tomas Vokoun in net Sunday Vokoun has played well against the Long Islanders in 2013

John Toperzer: The case for Tomas Vokoun in net Sunday
Vokoun has played well against the Long Islanders in 2013
- the-mitch-wilsons

If Im bylsma i start vokoun. Hé has always played well against us. Also, do You think fleury has the flakiest nick name in all of sports? I do

They rolled over and played dead. Once again they could not adjust to Sid's return and the defense forgot to play defense. This team for some reason seems to have a letdown when Sid comes back. Only thing I would change is to sit England and start Despres.

They rolled over and played dead. Once again they could not adjust to Sid's return and the defense forgot to play defense. This team for some reason seems to have a letdown when Sid comes back. Only thing I would change is to sit England and start Despres.
- powerhouse

This

Pulling Fleury would be a huge overreaction. 2 of the Islanders goals were lucky bounces off the end boards and another Martin got completely outworked on a guy that she should have cleared out of the crease. The team stopped playing after they went up 3-1 and Letang and Engelland were flat-out awful almost all game.

Engelland needs to be a healthy scratch and the team needs to get back to actually playing defense.

The NYI deserver credit for not packing it in after letting in a goal less than a minute in and going down 3-1 in the first. Fleury should be on a short leash for game 3, but he needs to be the starter. He played well in game 1 and we will need him for the rest of playoffs if the Pens are going to have a chance to win the cup.

They rolled over and played dead. Once again they could not adjust to Sid's return and the defense forgot to play defense. This team for some reason seems to have a letdown when Sid comes back. Only thing I would change is to sit England and start Despres.
- powerhouse

I agree with most of this, but I'm not sure what you mean they could not adjust to Sid's return. They were 4-0 in games when he returned previously. They need to get back to playing D and playing an entire 60 minutes.

Couldn't agree more with Engelland needing to be benched. With Murray, Morrow, and glass in the line-up, we don't need his physical play anymore. Put Despres in and let the other guys handle the physicality/fighting.

They rolled over and played dead. Once again they could not adjust to Sid's return and the defense forgot to play defense. This team for some reason seems to have a letdown when Sid comes back. Only thing I would change is to sit England and start Despres.
- powerhouse

This is the correct answer.

Pulling Fleury would be a huge overreaction. 2 of the Islanders goals were lucky bounces off the end boards and another Martin got completely outworked on a guy that she should have cleared out of the crease. The team stopped playing after they went up 3-1 and Letang and Engelland were flat-out awful almost all game.

Engelland needs to be a healthy scratch and the team needs to get back to actually playing defense.

The NYI deserver credit for not packing it in after letting in a goal less than a minute in and going down 3-1 in the first. Fleury should be on a short leash for game 3, but he needs to be the starter. He played well in game 1 and we will need him for the rest of playoffs if the Pens are going to have a chance to win the cup.
- mw630

Lucky bounces or not, three of those goals should have been stopped regardless. I'd start Vokoun without question.

Hopefully Orpik is back tomorrow.

Watching the highlights again on NHL.com, Fleury made some great saves in the first 30 minutes. The Pens were lucky that they weren't losing well before they actually were.

Also, this:

Adam Gretz ‏@AGretz 2h
Matt Niskanen fighting Kyle Okposo didn't turn last night's game. Islanders were already controlling the game, even if score didn't show it.

Adam Gretz ‏@AGretz 1h
Total shot attempts at time of fight: NYI 41, PIT 23; Shots on goal: NYI 24, PIT 15. Those two NYI goals were coming, fight or no fight.

Lucky bounces or not, three of those goals should have been stopped regardless. I'd start Vokoun without question.
- Oneonta Penguin

He has a shutout, and his save percentage is .941 after two games. He starts Sunday without question.

I would stick with MAF.

From a flyer fan view. Its one loss and your going to pull the Plug on your starting goalie? Who cares about the regular season and what happened. Why the hell is depres not a staple in the lineup. I like that kids game a lot and Engelland blows

From a flyer fan view. Its one loss and your going to pull the Plug on your starting goalie? Who cares about the regular season and what happened. Why the hell is depres not a staple in the lineup. I like that kids game a lot and Engelland blows
- Just5

I would think as a Flyer fan, that you would support that move... I kid... I kid...

But yeah, Despres in, Engelland out... no question.

the goaltending isn't the issue...with the firepower they can run out there I should be able to play goal...... especially since they are not playing team defense...that's the main issue...


you can win playing wide open leaving defense to the wayside against a team like the Isles who are more offense oriented but you'll lose to a team willing to play defense.....they need to get out of this bad habit asap...

To be honest... I would stick with MAF!!!

If they pull him in favour of Vokoun and they lose, can you put MAF back in net?

It causes some issues with the mental game!!!

If you do switch it up... you should stay with Vokoun for the rest of the series!!!

From a flyer fan view. Its one loss and your going to pull the Plug on your starting goalie? Who cares about the regular season and what happened. Why the hell is depres not a staple in the lineup. I like that kids game a lot and Engelland blows
- Just5

I agree had Lava NOT pulled Bob a couple years back in the playoffs he'd still be here....that was a stupid move IMO...

Hopefully Orpik is back tomorrow.

Watching the highlights again on NHL.com, Fleury made some great saves in the first 30 minutes. The Pens were lucky that they weren't losing well before they actually were.

Also, this:

Adam Gretz ‏@AGretz 2h
Matt Niskanen fighting Kyle Okposo didn't turn last night's game. Islanders were already controlling the game, even if score didn't show it.

Adam Gretz ‏@AGretz 1h
Total shot attempts at time of fight: NYI 41, PIT 23; Shots on goal: NYI 24, PIT 15. Those two NYI goals were coming, fight or no fight.
- rival22

The Islanders disagree. Read the comments from numerous Islander players and Capuano about the effect it had on the team. When players like Hamonic and Tavares say it was a "huge game changer" and a "big moment in the game" then I'll take their word over that guys any day of the week. It was one of the many contributors to the Penguins loss last night. Some think it was some don't. If the Pens don't tighten up defensively then it won't matter how many fights the Islanders start. Disappointing loss but maybe an eye-opener for the team.

I guess it depends on your point of view. http://www.post-gazette.c...slanders-comeback-686202/

The Islanders disagree. Read the comments from numerous Islander players and Capuano about the effect it had on the team. When players like Hamonic and Tavares say it was a "huge game changer" and a "big moment in the game" then I'll take their word over that guys any day of the week. It was one of the many contributors to the Penguins loss last night. Some think it was some don't. If the Pens don't tighten up defensively then it won't matter how many fights the Islanders start. Disappointing loss but maybe an eye-opener for the team.

I guess it depends on your point of view. http://www.post-gazette.c...slanders-comeback-686202/
- acdc1206

I think it was pretty obvious that poor defense from all 5 skaters was the largest factor in the loss. Anytime you subject your goalie to 42 shots you're going to make him uncomfortable. MAF starts without question tomorrow.

Like I said last night. In the short term it is only one loss. But in the grand scheme of things this is the umpteenth time we've lost a game like this (especially in the playoffs). It's a disturbing loss.

I'd have Flower start tomorrow but he is on a very short leash, if he looks even the tiniest bit shaky he get's pulled.

I think Vokun is a great goaltender save wise, but he has terrible rebound control.

My 2.5 cents.

That was a hell of a game

I am still not blaming Fleury. He faced 42 shots. That speaks volumes as to what was happening in front of him.

The fact that there was a fight that Okposo won and a goal 14 seconds apart helped to continue the Islanders momentum.

The biggest problem is that the Penguins let up.

The Islanders disagree. Read the comments from numerous Islander players and Capuano about the effect it had on the team. When players like Hamonic and Tavares say it was a "huge game changer" and a "big moment in the game" then I'll take their word over that guys any day of the week. It was one of the many contributors to the Penguins loss last night. Some think it was some don't. If the Pens don't tighten up defensively then it won't matter how many fights the Islanders start. Disappointing loss but maybe an eye-opener for the team.

I guess it depends on your point of view. http://www.post-gazette.c...slanders-comeback-686202/
- acdc1206

I know that is the popular narrative, but even without looking at any statistics, it was obvious that the Islanders had the ice tilted by that point. Maybe it gave them a little more jump emotionally, but it's not like the pace or momentum of the game changed whatsoever.

Fights are funny, if the Pens settle down and tighten up the rest of the period, than the narrative would have been that Niskanen answering the bell against a "tougher" Okposo turned the tide.

- canadianpenfan

Right?! hahaha

Almost everyone on this board (except for myself) said Pens in 5 or Pens in 6 (I thought we would sweep). To win the series in 5, 6, or 7 games would require AT LEAST one loss. Wouldn't we want that loss to come from a 1 goal game in which we scored at least 3 goals? It sucks to lose, but everyone is acting like we lost 0-5. HCDB will do everything in his power to make sure that his players adapt and react better in game 3. Along with many others, the only change I would make is swapping out Engelland for Despres. Fleury deserves to start this next one.

Everybody should just relax until after the game tomorrow. If we lose game 3 in a similar fashion then SOME of this insane panic will be warranted.

I hope Orpik comes back soon. Our D-men clearly miss his leadership.

You can rule out a high ankle sprain for Neal, he is on the ice skating today and taking some aggressive cuts.