John Toperzer: Questions abound a day after Pens' Game 3 showing Sunday The Penguins have until Wednesday to figure something out or face a long offseason with plenty of questions

Screw the Penguins, and screw Mario Lemieux. He has the nerve to whine and complain after last year's game against the Islanders, but his team is the worst offender. Yesterday, a PLAYOFF GAME, was an embarrassment. Real smart for Crosby to be fighting with his concussion history. That's a leader. It will be nice to see the Flyers mercifully end this joke of a series.

Wow. Was expecting more of a write up with everything that went one yesterday

Crosby's actions were inexcusable, but I also don't think it's as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Philadelphia got in his head, and he acted like a jackass. We've all been there. I'm sure he'll look back on it in a week or two, and realize he looked and acted like an idiot. Nothing more than a "live and learn" type scenario.

I have always considered the "fire Bylsma" people to be on par with "birthers," Branch Davidians, and anyone else generally detached from reality. All of that has changed with this series- he has been out-coached, but worse he has totally lost control of this team. Yesterday's antics were bush league at best.

The Flyers' fans can say all they want about Crosby (and they will because it fits their meme about him being a baby) but this team has been a complete mess since the back to back losses to the Islanders and the coaching staff has done either nothing to address it or nothing to get the players to make the necesary changes.

The NHL playoff formating is a farce. That just by virtue of winning their terrible division Florida gets home ice is comical. That said, the Pens were going to have to face the Flyers eventually.

Go Pens

so what is the line up with Asham, Adams and Neal suspended for the next game?

1. How many games will the Penguins win against the Flyers in this series?

what do you think? honestly?'

2. Is Sidney Crosby’s explanation of his actions Sunday credible because it’s “playoff hockey?” Would Sunday’s scenario played out any differently had it been the regular season? Should Crosby received the benefit of the doubt within the context of playoff hockey?

he's a crybaby and a punk for pushing voracek's glove away -- everything was settling down.

3. Who is on the Penguins’ chopping block heading into the offseason – provided they don’t become the fourth team in history to win four straight (as the Flyers did against Boston in 2010)?

nobody. they just need to upgrade their defense big time.

4. Does anyone on the Pens deserve a raise?

not sure who there free agents are.

5. Are the Flyers this good or are the Penguins that bad?

a little of both

6. Do you think the Pens would be down three nil against a different opponent? Should the league make a change to reward teams that finish second in conference points yet play the team with the third-most points in Round 1?

maybe, but probably not. they are very weak on defense and the flyers seem to have their numbers. like the rangers have the flyers numbers. I love everyone who predicted pens in 5.

7. How has the quarterfinals matchup impacted your feeling toward the Penguins? If you were Mario Lemieux, what would you do?

not sure what i'd do, tell everyone to just play hockey - whistle to whistle, that's it.

so what is the line up with Asham, Adams and Neal suspended for the next game?
- Manitobakid

neal won't be suspended, he's a star.

Crosby's actions were inexcusable, but I also don't think it's as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Philadelphia got in his head, and he acted like a jackass. We've all been there. I'm sure he'll look back on it in a week or two, and realize he looked and acted like an idiot. Nothing more than a "live and learn" type scenario.
- buffalofan19

A year and a half of frustrations came to a head for him in which he made some mistakes.

He'll live and learn, and continue to be an asset for the Penguins and the league.

I was wondering when the complaining about seeding would resume. You should be rewarded for winning your division its simple as that. Don't like it? Then get more points.

1) lucky to win 1 game

2) What a joke Crosby is. That interview shows you why every other
team in the league and their fans can't stand the CRYBABY.

3) nobody

4) no

5) in the middle

6) maybe they have not played defense at all.
Why would the league change anything? All the mighty
Stanley Cup favorite pens had to do was beat the lowly Islanders

7) Still can't stand them. Mario will probably go cry to Betman
but he should just sell the team.

Big LOL @ this blog

I hope Super Mario rips the C right off Cindy's chest... and tells him he doesn't deserve to wear it.

1. How many games will the Penguins win against the Flyers in this series?
To be honest, I believe we'll be done Wednesday. But who knows, they might pull their heads out of their asses for 60 minutes. So I'll say a very doubtful one.

2. Is Sidney Crosby’s explanation of his actions Sunday credible because it’s “playoff hockey?” Would Sunday’s scenario played out any differently had it been the regular season? Should Crosby received the benefit of the doubt within the context of playoff hockey?

To me Crosbys actions fall under the playoff umbrella. It was no different than Lucic and Recchi mocking Burrows for the biting incident. Classless yeah, malicious no.

3. Who is on the Penguins’ chopping block heading into the offseason – provided they don’t become the fourth team in history to win four straight (as the Flyers did against Boston in 2010)?

Anyone whose contract is up. And hopefully Paul Martin. Their needs to be some changes, but nothing to drastic. I wouldn't mind the team finding some grizzled veterans to calm the young leadership. That is what is being forgotten. The Pens leadership group ranges from 24-21. Other than Orpik and Kunitz none of the "leaders" are even close to 30.

4. Does anyone on the Pens deserve a raise?

I don't know. Staal. He's been the least worst.

5. Are the Flyers this good or are the Penguins that bad?

It's a bad combo of the Flyers doing some things well, and the Penguins doing the aspects that are supposed to combat those things poorly.

6. Do you think the Pens would be down three nil against a different opponent? Should the league make a change to reward teams that finish second in conference points yet play the team with the third-most points in Round 1?

No they wouldn't be down 3-0 to the Panthers. I have no problem with the leaders of the divisions being guarenteed a playoff birth, but being gifted the third seed when they have 20 points less than the 4,5,6 seeds is ridiculous.

7. How has the quarterfinals matchup impacted your feeling toward the Penguins? If you were Mario Lemieux, what would you do?

They were embaressing yesterday. That is not what Penguin hockey should look like. I have no issues with rough and rumble hockey, but they were deliberately looking to cause trouble. Similar to what the Islanders did in the brawl game. They felt slighted and they were taking their pound of flesh. That was what the Penguins did.

I honest think that Mario has to hold the team accountable. Maybe after the series (so that it isn't more of a circus) he could respond with an apology to Penguin and Flyer fans. I don't know.

1. 2

2. What explaination? He lost his cool once again and did not explain why.

3. Bylsma

4. Neal

5. A little bit of this and little bit of that.

6. No - 6a - Yes give division winners auto bids but seat the teams based on pts.

7. According to Mario's own words he should get out of the NHL because of the way his team has acted, the NHL does not stop this so he should go away.

I was wondering when the complaining about seeding would resume. You should be rewarded for winning your division its simple as that. Don't like it? Then get more points.
- zabrmc

Pretty sure the Devils ended up with more points. The Panthers can be rewarded with a playoff spot for winning their division but not a higher seed than non divisional winners with more points....

In the end it is a silly argument most likely stemming from the frustation that the Pens are crumbling before our eyes

Do we have any refs on hand for this new blog? Probably gonna get fun in here real quick.

I have always considered the "fire Bylsma" people to be on par with "birthers," Branch Davidians, and anyone else generally detached from reality. All of that has changed with this series- he has been out-coached, but worse he has totally lost control of this team. Yesterday's antics were bush league at best.

The Flyers' fans can say all they want about Crosby (and they will because it fits their meme about him being a baby) but this team has been a complete mess since the back to back losses to the Islanders and the coaching staff has done either nothing to address it or nothing to get the players to make the necesary changes.

The NHL playoff formating is a farce. That just by virtue of winning their terrible division Florida gets home ice is comical. That said, the Pens were going to have to face the Flyers eventually.
- Tiogadog

i agree with you regarding the standings.....but were you happy this time last week with drawing the flyers?

Wow. Was expecting more of a write up with everything that went one yesterday
- TimB

I apologize but sometimes cancer takes precedence over hockey.

1. 2

2. What explaination? He lost his cool once again and did not explain why.

3. Bylsma

4. Neal

5. A little bit of this and little bit of that.

6. No - 6a - Yes give division winners auto bids but seat the teams based on pts.

7. According to Mario's own words he should get out of the NHL because of the way his team has acted, the NHL does not stop this so he should go away.
- jtb3rd

Mario started none of it, wasn't on the ice for 1 single shift. Should he rip his team and apologize to the fans instead of placing the blame elsewhere, like other GM's, teams, and owners have, Yes. To suggest he go away.

i agree with you regarding the standings.....but were you happy this time last week with drawing the flyers?
- flyersfan51

I wasn't. Stevie Wonder could see that the regular season showed this was a bad matchup for us.

1. Pittsburgh will win 2

2. I think he was trying to give his team a spark and lite a fire under them. But it backfired. I think it was a little classmates and disrespectful to shoot the Flyers player's glove but it wasn't that bad. However, I do believe he can be a little immature and that can have a carry over affect on his team.

3. I like Martin but not at $5 mil a year. I don't think Sullivan is brought back but that is not saying he is the reason for their problems. I

4. Dupuis and Niskanen who is a RFA and should get more than 1.5 mil.

5. The Flyers have a lot of depth with youth and speed. All lines seem to be clicking but I don't think they are this good. I think Pittsburgh's defense has been awful with a lot of players out of position and goaltending has been problematic too. If Pittsburgh's defense played average, they be up 2-1 in series. Give Philly credit though, they took the Pens off their game and made them very undisciplined both in taking foolish penalties and in their gameplay.

6. I'm in favor of making sure all 3 diviison champions rewarded with a playoff berth but if one division champ is the 7th best team in conference, they should be seeded accordingly. I wouldn't even mind if it was like in the early 80s with the best 8 teams from each conference making the playoffs but seeded 1-16 regardless of conference.

Pens would be down 3-0 to the Rangers right now.

7. I think their immaturity, cheap shots and head hunting have turned them into the villian. All teams are guilty of cheap or questionable hits but this team has had several recently that are unexplainable. This does not include Vitale on Briere- nothing wrong with that hit in my opinion. It's the hit on Couturier by Neal and Neal's intend to elbow Giroux's head that needs to be removed.

i agree with you regarding the standings.....but were you happy this time last week with drawing the flyers?
- flyersfan51

Not really... Flyers have had the Pens number and they are the one team that can out counter punch the pens.... as the last several games have proven

Crosby's actions were inexcusable, but I also don't think it's as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Philadelphia got in his head, and he acted like a jackass. We've all been there. I'm sure he'll look back on it in a week or two, and realize he looked and acted like an idiot. Nothing more than a "live and learn" type scenario.
- buffalofan19

When? All I heard going into this round is that he has gotten past the pansy way he USED to be when he was younger. I don't see it, this just reaffirms he has not matured. He can say it all he wants but a weasel is always going to be a weasel, genetics don't change.