Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Third Step Taken Toward the ECSF

Yes, he fought Giroux yesterday because he had the presence of mind to know that would be a worthwhile tradeoff rather than going with a less-vital Flyer.

Unless I'm mistaken, the fight you are talking about consisted of Sidney not taking off his visor nor taking off his gloves. I'm not sure I would call that a fight

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Third Step Taken Toward the ECSF
- bmeltzer

Good write up Bill. Shanny blew it with the Weber thing. So because of that Neal will not be suspended and he should.

The Pens should be without 3 players not just 1 or 2. Asham isn't going to leave them shorthanded.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Third Step Taken Toward the ECSF
- bmeltzer

I agree with everything you wrote. it's a real shame neal won't be suspended. he absolutely deserves it, what he did was gutless and classless. i think they knew they could hide behind that neal is a star. it's sad and a joke the way the penguins have carried themselves. a true black eye for the sport of hockey

Crosby's antics and post game comments are simply a manifestation of the NHL bending over backwards to defend him for 7 years. The simple fact is, Crosby's always played with a level of chippiness. He's always been more than willing to stir the pot.

We see it in the articles written and the TV coverage, where guys that cover the NHL for a living seem stunned that Crosby would play and act like this. I don't have the level of hatred for Crosby that a lot of Flyers fans do, but I have always felt he was a sneaky/chippy guy that acted like he had a chip on his shoulder.

It seems like everyone that covers the NHL just suddenly realized that Crosby's not a perfect guy, now that his heavily favored team is having discipline and defensive breakdowns like they have no leadership.

Crosby's antics and post game comments are simply a manifestation of the NHL bending over backwards to defend him for 7 years. The simple fact is, Crosby's always played with a level of chippiness. He's always been more than willing to stir the pot.

We see it in the articles written and the TV coverage, where guys that cover the NHL for a living seem stunned that Crosby would play and act like this. I don't have the level of hatred for Crosby that a lot of Flyers fans do, but I have always felt he was a sneaky/chippy guy that acted like he had a chip on his shoulder.

It seems like everyone that covers the NHL just suddenly realized that Crosby's not a perfect guy, now that his heavily favored team is having discipline and defensive breakdowns like they have no leadership.
- Jsaquella

Rhea Hughes had a great quote on wip this morning. something along the line of: that's what you get when you treat your star player like they do, you get a spoiled petulant child. i wanted to high five her through the radio

Just reposting this from someone else on a different site .. I had almost forgotten about Mario's rant.
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Pittsburgh) - “Hockey is a tough, physical game, and it always should be. But what happened Friday night on Long Island wasn’t hockey. It was a travesty. It was painful to watch the game I love turn into a sideshow like that.

“The NHL had a chance to send a clear and strong message that those kinds of actions are unacceptable and embarrassing to the sport. It failed.

“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.

“If the events relating to Friday night reflect the state of the league, I need to re-think whether I want to be a part of it.”

- Mario Lemieux in the 2010-11 season

Crosby's antics and post game comments are simply a manifestation of the NHL bending over backwards to defend him for 7 years. The simple fact is, Crosby's always played with a level of chippiness. He's always been more than willing to stir the pot.

We see it in the articles written and the TV coverage, where guys that cover the NHL for a living seem stunned that Crosby would play and act like this. I don't have the level of hatred for Crosby that a lot of Flyers fans do, but I have always felt he was a sneaky/chippy guy that acted like he had a chip on his shoulder.

It seems like everyone that covers the NHL just suddenly realized that Crosby's not a perfect guy, now that his heavily favored team is having discipline and defensive breakdowns like they have no leadership.
- Jsaquella

Just reposting this from someone else on a different site .. I had almost forgotten about Mario's rant.
-------------
Pittsburgh) - “Hockey is a tough, physical game, and it always should be. But what happened Friday night on Long Island wasn’t hockey. It was a travesty. It was painful to watch the game I love turn into a sideshow like that.

“The NHL had a chance to send a clear and strong message that those kinds of actions are unacceptable and embarrassing to the sport. It failed.

“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.

“If the events relating to Friday night reflect the state of the league, I need to re-think whether I want to be a part of it.”

- Mario Lemieux in the 2010-11 season
- Flyers_01

the biggest hypocrite in the world, and you better believe i would say that to his face if i had the chance

right on bill. philly is in sids head so bad and i have never seen him loose his cool consitantly like this. he was a joke yesterday but at the end of the day the flyers won and sid is rattled. don't think any of schenn, giroux, couturier are hurt from the pens actions so no harm done. also timonen got the day off to rest up which was not a bad thing either.

as for asham, that was so cheap. crosscheck followed by a donkey punch to the back of the head. i hope he gets atleast 10 games. no need for that.

and neal, i would have believed the hit on coutuirer was an accident until he took a run at giroux's head moments later.

anyway finishing these losers off.

Until Brendan Shanahan, and more importantly, the NHL, starts showing some semblance of consistency with supplementary discipline, the gutless goonery isn't going anywhere. Thanks to Shanahan letting Weber off, it's open season out there now.

all anyone has to do is look at the post game interviews, just compare Crosby's interview with Giroux's , all crosby talks about is how much he hates the flyers and whins about picking up the other teams gloves, he acts like a spoiled little cry baby, he is dirty and a coward he hinds behind his team when ever possible.

then you watch Giroux he doesn't say bad things about Pitts tells it like it is that they are trying to spark their team and get them going. i understand that 1 side is winning the other is losing but it doesn't stop you from having a little class.

Crosby is a class less player and its time for him to grow up a little

Just reposting this from someone else on a different site .. I had almost forgotten about Mario's rant.
-------------
Pittsburgh) - “Hockey is a tough, physical game, and it always should be. But what happened Friday night on Long Island wasn’t hockey. It was a travesty. It was painful to watch the game I love turn into a sideshow like that.

“The NHL had a chance to send a clear and strong message that those kinds of actions are unacceptable and embarrassing to the sport. It failed.

“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.

“If the events relating to Friday night reflect the state of the league, I need to re-think whether I want to be a part of it.”

- Mario Lemieux in the 2010-11 season
- Flyers_01

boy do i hope brendan shanahan reads this to the pens team right before he drops epic fines and suspensions on those pansy ass marys

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Third Step Taken Toward the ECSF
- bmeltzer

Bill,

There was no mention of the afternoon game-monkey on our back... Does this officially mean that we're OK in afternoon games? Probably not, but it does make up for the regular season rut.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Third Step Taken Toward the ECSF
- bmeltzer

Great blog and spot on. What I cannot stand is that crosby starts the melee and then skates away leaving other to take care of the dirty work. The amazing part is that despite trumpeting that head shots should be banned etc.. The pens have head hunted and rabbit punched all series and looked to injure. Total hypocrysy..The pens have shown their true colours in this series.

Crosby's antics and post game comments are simply a manifestation of the NHL bending over backwards to defend him for 7 years. The simple fact is, Crosby's always played with a level of chippiness. He's always been more than willing to stir the pot.

We see it in the articles written and the TV coverage, where guys that cover the NHL for a living seem stunned that Crosby would play and act like this. I don't have the level of hatred for Crosby that a lot of Flyers fans do, but I have always felt he was a sneaky/chippy guy that acted like he had a chip on his shoulder.

It seems like everyone that covers the NHL just suddenly realized that Crosby's not a perfect guy, now that his heavily favored team is having discipline and defensive breakdowns like they have no leadership.
- Jsaquella

I think we see this with the media in all fields, going back to the WMDs in Iraq and the banking crisis. For the most part the mainstream media reports what they are told to report until something blows up in their faces and they can't ignore it. The reporter who leaked the WMD story did so without verification because she wanted to maintain her whitehouse access. The media never questioned the banks because everyone was making money and they didn't want to lose their access.

Sports are the same way. you don't piss off the NHL if you want to keep your access to the players and league personel. It's all about who you know these days vs the integrity of the story. The NHL makes Crosby the face of the league, you don't question it or him until you have no other choice.

Crosby's antics and post game comments are simply a manifestation of the NHL bending over backwards to defend him for 7 years. The simple fact is, Crosby's always played with a level of chippiness. He's always been more than willing to stir the pot.

We see it in the articles written and the TV coverage, where guys that cover the NHL for a living seem stunned that Crosby would play and act like this. I don't have the level of hatred for Crosby that a lot of Flyers fans do, but I have always felt he was a sneaky/chippy guy that acted like he had a chip on his shoulder.

It seems like everyone that covers the NHL just suddenly realized that Crosby's not a perfect guy, now that his heavily favored team is having discipline and defensive breakdowns like they have no leadership.
- Jsaquella

i am not sure how it is in the U.S.A but TSN in Canada is all about Crisby sometimes i think they are @#$( him on a regular basis. when it comes to hockey its all about the golden boy and i don't no about every body else but i am sick of it.... its time for everyone to see what crosby is a little whinny cry baby who needs to grow up... hatcher should have hit him harder way back in his rookie year maybe he might have knocked some sense into him

Bill,

There was no mention of the afternoon game-monkey on our back... Does this officially mean that we're OK in afternoon games? Probably not, but it does make up for the regular season rut.
- leon neon

good point nice to see a win before a 7pm start

There is a great article on the Trib, http://m.triblive.com/tri...YoXkvT1&full=true#display

Pens fans are more angry at their team then we are.

Its an interesting read, little bias and things im not happy about when he calls our Stevens squads gutless but still an interesting read

Until Brendan Shanahan, and more importantly, the NHL, starts showing some semblance of consistency with supplementary discipline, the gutless goonery isn't going anywhere. Thanks to Shanahan letting Weber off, it's open season out there now.
- jd342

pretty much

Crosby's antics and post game comments are simply a manifestation of the NHL bending over backwards to defend him for 7 years. The simple fact is, Crosby's always played with a level of chippiness. He's always been more than willing to stir the pot.

We see it in the articles written and the TV coverage, where guys that cover the NHL for a living seem stunned that Crosby would play and act like this. I don't have the level of hatred for Crosby that a lot of Flyers fans do, but I have always felt he was a sneaky/chippy guy that acted like he had a chip on his shoulder.

It seems like everyone that covers the NHL just suddenly realized that Crosby's not a perfect guy, now that his heavily favored team is having discipline and defensive breakdowns like they have no leadership.
- Jsaquella

I agree with this. Stop protecting the 'star' as they take advantage of the system. See weber and pronger(no offence). I'm loving that the pens may get swept. All though it likely won't happen a Sens and flyers series would be great.

There is a great article on the Trib, http://m.triblive.com/tri...YoXkvT1&full=true#display

Pens fans are more angry at their team then we are.

Its an interesting read, little bias and things im not happy about when he calls our Stevens squads gutless but still an interesting read
- flyers4487

i seriously don't think they're more angry with their team than i am.

I agree with this. Stop protecting the 'star' as they take advantage of the system. See weber and pronger(no offence). I'm loving that the pens may get swept. All though it likely won't happen a Sens and flyers series would be great.
- monkhouse

i think cowardly is the best way to describe the peng-wines

i am not sure how it is in the U.S.A but TSN in Canada is all about Crisby sometimes i think they are @#$( him on a regular basis. when it comes to hockey its all about the golden boy and i don't no about every body else but i am sick of it.... its time for everyone to see what crosby is a little whinny cry baby who needs to grow up... hatcher should have hit him harder way back in his rookie year maybe he might have knocked some sense into him
- flyer186

i am not about to defend crosby but he is the best player in the world. philly brings out the worst in him and the pens. they know that and we know it aswell. i would have like an opportunity to choke him yesterday as much as anyone.

tsn and the nhl have always looked after him as they should because he is one of the faces of the nhl. but when he steps out of line like he did today i hope they don't give him star treatment. this is where the nhl has to adapt to new stars like giroux.

crosby is going down a road like tiger woods. either love him or hate him. and like tigers outburst at the masters crosby had his outburst last night and is going to lose popularity.

i am not sure how it is in the U.S.A but TSN in Canada is all about Crisby sometimes i think they are @#$( him on a regular basis. when it comes to hockey its all about the golden boy and i don't no about every body else but i am sick of it.... its time for everyone to see what crosby is a little whinny cry baby who needs to grow up... hatcher should have hit him harder way back in his rookie year maybe he might have knocked some sense into him
- flyer186

No, it's the same way. Crosby this. Crosby that. When teams beat the Pens the articles aren't about them winning, it's about how this travesty happened to the Pens. It's sick.

I'm so tired of it. Stamkos, Giroux, Datsuyk and hell, even Ovi should be the faces of the league. Crosby has world class talent...but he is a joke of a man that no kid should look up to.