Ryan Wilson: Fleury Gonna Fleury Marc Andre Fleury wilts in crunch time.

Ryan Wilson: Fleury Gonna Fleury
Marc Andre Fleury wilts in crunch time.
- Ryan_Wilson

so true

I keep trying to remind myself that the series is tied 2-2 w/ the Penguins maintaining home ice advantage & to calm down, but it just isn't working.

I hope Mike Lange is somewhere practicing how to use his iconic voice to say "With another epic meltdown, Marc-Andre Fleury!!!!!" because it sure as hell will come in handy. And if Bylsma doesn't lose his voice reaming out each and every Penguins player for their effort in the 2nd and first 10 min of the 3rd period, he should let the fans do it.; lord knows I'd have as solid 20 min of material to say.

Next year, for the first time in a while, the Penguins will have some Cap space. They need to get a 3rd line, replace Fleury, and get a coach than can get the players to respond to adversity by toughing up instead of folding.

Its just so sickening to watch this year after year...

A bigger concern in my books is still when will Crosby and Malkin arrive in the series.

By the way. Crawford just gave up two weak goals 66 seconds apart at the end of the 2nd.

Just a deflating loss.

Maybe your right... but where is the article about how Fluery is deep down loosing his faith in Malkin and Crosby but still publically supporting them?!?!?

No excuses for Fluery. Terrible end. Needs to bounce back. But for each finger pointed at him, the other 9 should be ointed at the rest of the team.

I have no faith in Zatkoff either. He was adequate in meaningless games, but he'll fold like tent too when things get tough.

Ben is right... The team is hanging by a thread. If the guys earning all of the cash play like this, they're not going far anyway.

A bigger concern in my books is still when will Crosby and Malkin arrive in the series.

By the way. Crawford just gave up two weak goals 66 seconds apart at the end of the 2nd.
- Ben37

Logically, I know a goal scored in the 2nd period counts just the same as a goal with 30s left. A goal is a goal, no matter when it is scored.

But what upsets me is that Fleury finds ways to lose. He is a loser. And I don't mean that in a childish school yard manner where one kid insults another; I mean that in a manner that expresses that he cannot handle the pressure that comes with trying to hold on for a win in a tight game and, inevitably, he loses.

Logically, I know a goal scored in the 2nd period counts just the same as a goal with 30s left. A goal is a goal, no matter when it is scored.

But what upsets me is that Fleury finds ways to lose. He is a loser. And I don't mean that in a childish school yard manner where one kid insults another; I mean that in a manner that expresses that he cannot handle the pressure that comes with trying to hold on for a win in a tight game and, inevitably, he loses.
- s0rcerer1984

Just to point out, he alone was the one that seemed to be trying the hardest to hold onto the win for a good 30-35 minutes of the game.

Get Voky in there, Flower needs to sit, its like the damn twilight zone

Just to point out, he alone was the one that seemed to be trying the hardest to hold onto the win for a good 30-35 minutes of the game.
- Ben37

That's all true but you can't undo the damage that his gaffes cause. They are that deflating.

Both of these teams are lucky it's 2-2 because it could have easily been 3-1 either way.

Is this the beginning of the end for Pitt?

once that got to OT everyone knew it would be a soft goal to end it ... there was a certain "inevitability" vibe to it.

despite the screw-ups from MAF, I think you guys still get past the BJ's. But beyond that, who knows? He could be the goat that gets you eliminated, or the #1 star for the next 14 wins.

https://www.youtube.com/w...ture=youtube_gdata_player

Fleurys entire career in a nutshell. Same player he's always been.

The penguins are like the Cleveland cavs when they had lebron. Shero basically needs to clean house and I don't think it's an overreaction this has been a recurrent theme for a few years now.

once that got to OT everyone knew it would be a soft goal to end it ... there was a certain "inevitability" vibe to it.

despite the screw-ups from MAF, I think you guys still get past the BJ's. But beyond that, who knows? He could be the goat that gets you eliminated, or the #1 star for the next 14 wins.
- FlyerGuy

After his incomprehensible play behind the net I was going to write how he would react to it in OT. I didn't even have time to do that as we saw what that did to him quickly in the OT.

I don't have any faith in Zatkoff and they should just ride out MAF for the rest of the way even after an ending like this.

Just to point out, he alone was the one that seemed to be trying the hardest to hold onto the win for a good 30-35 minutes of the game.
- Ben37

I don't dispute that. But in the last 10min, when the rest of the team elevated their games, Fleury buckled & blew it. Some people do their best under pressure, others do their worst. A team needs a goalie who does his best, not his worst.

While MAF had 2 bonehead plays, I really don't think you can pin this series on him alone. Where are 87 and 71? Bylsma? He cant keep this team motivated for 60 mins? Orpik, Scuds, Letang, have been terrible! Neal, more stupid penalties. CBJ skated circles around Pitt all night, if anyone watching that game in the 3rd and thought that they wouldn't come back and win knows nothing about hockey and momentum. It was obvious, you knew they would tie it up. I give MAF credit for keeping it a game for 3 periods.

Besides Fleury what do you do? Halak, Miller are the only UFA goalies I can think of. Halak was traded for Miller, who really hasn't looked that much better than Fleury since the 10' Olympics plus will cost more and Shero has this team in a jam with the cap as it is. Then you look as Ward, hurt all the time, Hiller, ANA backup? Not sure what the option is. Zatkoff sure as hell aint it.

Laying this soley on MAF is totally laughable, bad bounce yeah but our team was grossly out worked and that's on everyone. I have no doubt that we will win this series.

It's a bad mix. You have players like Neal that absolutely kill momentum with stupid penalties that almost always lead to extended possession shifts for the opposition. You have a team that gives up the neutral zone way too easy, and you have a goalie who is prone to boneheaded plays that cost them the game because they're in 1 goal games that should be 4 goal games.

I don't know if Fleury bounces back from this one. But I think he can, and I think it is a slam dunk he's starting game 5. Even if he plays well I have no confidence it will carry over to the next game, because that's who Fleury is. Just stay in your (frank)ing net, always. 90% of these stupid ass goals are from him wandering and getting out of position. Bylsma needs to put a (frank)ing leash on him. Speaking of leashes, his will be so short but if Zatkoff sees the net it's all over.

If Fleury goes down like this we better have another goalie next year. But this year they sink or swim with him. Not a single Pens fans, even us rare optimistic ones, thought we were winning that game after they tied it, that's a problem.

Also Crosby must be hurt. He looks slow and he had his 7th lowest TOI of the season tonight, in an OT playoff game. I hope he is anyway because outside of a couple shifts he's looked like ass.

Disheartening game, but it's still 2-2 and they're going home. Columbus can play, Pittsburgh needs to want it more than they look like they do right now. If not they don't deserve it but this is why there are 7 games.

All you can do is hope or throw in the towel. I'll continue hoping they can play the way I know they're capable of but I understand those on the other side after seeing that.

I'm going golfing for a few days, sorry about leaving you with the trolls.

Once again the Penguins taking penalties hurt them. Neal's gave them some life as they converted that one. Then the Jackets took advantage of a 5-3. In the third the Pens had a chance to go up by two but failed on their opportunity to close the game but as we've seen they don't seem to have a killer instinct.

Amazing up and down series against a team they went 5-0 with in the regular season but the Jackets have come to play. The Penguins think they can push a button any time they want to play.

Now we go to a best of three.

I still think the pens win with any of their goalies...fleury can still win but in any later series the team is gonna bite it with him in.
I do think Zatkoff or Vokoun should be playing now.

I would never want this team to lose, but I'll say this, It won't bother me as much if they do lose. It's obvious the team needs a shake-up, a loss in the first round all but guarantee's it. If I've figured it right, they've played 4 periods of good hockey in 4 games. That kind of effort won't get them anywhere close to the cup.

I don't blame fleury at all this game should have been salted away before the 3rd even started but just like every game the team never plays a full 60 minutes and quit after they went up 3. All that needs to be pointed to for the reason for the loss is the penguins were outshot 46-25.

It's a bad mix. You have players like Neal that absolutely kill momentum with stupid penalties that almost always lead to extended possession shifts for the opposition. You have a team that gives up the neutral zone way too easy, and you have a goalie who is prone to boneheaded plays that cost them the game because they're in 1 goal games that should be 4 goal games.

I don't know if Fleury bounces back from this one. But I think he can, and I think it is a slam dunk he's starting game 5. Even if he plays well I have no confidence it will carry over to the next game, because that's who Fleury is. Just stay in your (frank)ing net, always. 90% of these stupid ass goals are from him wandering and getting out of position. Bylsma needs to put a (frank)ing leash on him. Speaking of leashes, his will be so short but if Zatkoff sees the net it's all over.

If Fleury goes down like this we better have another goalie next year. But this year they sink or swim with him. Not a single Pens fans, even us rare optimistic ones, thought we were winning that game after they tied it, that's a problem.

Also Crosby must be hurt. He looks slow and he had his 7th lowest TOI of the season tonight, in an OT playoff game. I hope he is anyway because outside of a couple shifts he's looked like ass.

Disheartening game, but it's still 2-2 and they're going home. Columbus can play, Pittsburgh needs to want it more than they look like they do right now. If not they don't deserve it but this is why there are 7 games.

All you can do is hope or throw in the towel. I'll continue hoping they can play the way I know they're capable of but I understand those on the other side after seeing that.

I'm going golfing for a few days, sorry about leaving you with the trolls.
- canadianpenfan

Good post. I try to be as positive as I can and I am way more critical come playoff time but like you said after they tied it up I had no faith they would come out on top. You can't lose a game like that in the manner they did. I don't understand with all the vets on the team how they continue to be so inconsistent.