Usually, I'd be all for that... But with the Pens luck, Scuderi would get hurt and our third defensive pairing next game would be Daniel Winnik and Nick Spaling.
- rival22

Scuds being too valuable for injury ha ha man we are in a bad spot

See, that's the issue right there. You're right. It is the only way to stop him because Staal and Dubinsky cant compete with Crosby straight-up. They have to relegate themselves to punching him in the head and kicking the crap out of him and relying on the referees to look the other way 'cause its the playoffs. I look forward to Steve Downie kicking the crap out of some Ranger this year with a cheapshot. Don't come complaining on here when it happens.

The league shouldn't be allowing that kind of treatment to its star players...or any player for that matter.

Imagine the NBA allowing some scrub power-forward to work-over LeBron James. Imagine the NFL allowing some jabroni DL to work over Tom Brady all game, cheapshot him, elbow him, and break the rules.

I'm not even complaining with this post as much as I'm just pointing out, again, the stupidity of this league.

My stance on this is as long as the NHLPA allows member-on-member crime to continue, I'm cool with it. Letang's out due to a questionable hit by Doan? Cool by me. Sid's Union allows other members to kick his ass during the playoffs? OK by me. Let them kick the crap out of each other.
- 87_71_11_29

I would love if our defenseman gave opposing stars the same treatment

I would love if our defenseman gave opposing stars the same treatment
- dbell646

Orpik did for a long time.

People aren't really expecting Kapanen to play in the NHL Playoffs are they?

Barring a rash of forward injuries, I just can't see that happening.
- rival22

I don't think so. There's maybe a 10% chance he does and that's if he lights it up down there. I think it's mainly to get him a few games + playoffs in the AHL before next year.

See, that's the issue right there. You're right. It is the only way to stop him because Staal and Dubinsky cant compete with Crosby straight-up. They have to relegate themselves to punching him in the head and kicking the crap out of him and relying on the referees to look the other way 'cause its the playoffs. I look forward to Steve Downie kicking the crap out of some Ranger this year with a cheapshot. Don't come complaining on here when it happens.

The league shouldn't be allowing that kind of treatment to its star players...or any player for that matter.

Imagine the NBA allowing some scrub power-forward to work-over LeBron James. Imagine the NFL allowing some jabroni DL to work over Tom Brady all game, cheapshot him, elbow him, and break the rules.

I'm not even complaining with this post as much as I'm just pointing out, again, the stupidity of this league.

My stance on this is as long as the NHLPA allows member-on-member crime to continue, I'm cool with it. Letang's out due to a questionable hit by Doan? Cool by me. Sid's Union allows other members to kick his ass during the playoffs? OK by me. Let them kick the crap out of each other.
- 87_71_11_29

It's not going to stop until the NHL loses profit from it- which will most likely come in the form of lawsuits just like what happened in the NFL. If and when that happens, the changes will be sweeping and immediate.

See, that's the issue right there. You're right. It is the only way to stop him because Staal and Dubinsky cant compete with Crosby straight-up. They have to relegate themselves to punching him in the head and kicking the crap out of him and relying on the referees to look the other way 'cause its the playoffs. I look forward to Steve Downie kicking the crap out of some Ranger this year with a cheapshot. Don't come complaining on here when it happens.

The league shouldn't be allowing that kind of treatment to its star players...or any player for that matter.

Imagine the NBA allowing some scrub power-forward to work-over LeBron James. Imagine the NFL allowing some jabroni DL to work over Tom Brady all game, cheapshot him, elbow him, and break the rules.

I'm not even complaining with this post as much as I'm just pointing out, again, the stupidity of this league.

My stance on this is as long as the NHLPA allows member-on-member crime to continue, I'm cool with it. Letang's out due to a questionable hit by Doan? Cool by me. Sid's Union allows other members to kick his ass during the playoffs? OK by me. Let them kick the crap out of each other.
- 87_71_11_29

+1

See, that's the issue right there. You're right. It is the only way to stop him because Staal and Dubinsky cant compete with Crosby straight-up. They have to relegate themselves to punching him in the head and kicking the crap out of him and relying on the referees to look the other way 'cause its the playoffs. I look forward to Steve Downie kicking the crap out of some Ranger this year with a cheapshot. Don't come complaining on here when it happens.

The league shouldn't be allowing that kind of treatment to its star players...or any player for that matter.

Imagine the NBA allowing some scrub power-forward to work-over LeBron James. Imagine the NFL allowing some jabroni DL to work over Tom Brady all game, cheapshot him, elbow him, and break the rules.

I'm not even complaining with this post as much as I'm just pointing out, again, the stupidity of this league.

My stance on this is as long as the NHLPA allows member-on-member crime to continue, I'm cool with it. Letang's out due to a questionable hit by Doan? Cool by me. Sid's Union allows other members to kick his ass during the playoffs? OK by me. Let them kick the crap out of each other.
- 87_71_11_29

How do you stop a guy like Crosby or a bull like Malkin when they park in front of the net? You don't just give them space. You can try to tie up their stick but they'll just elbow you or push you away. When a defenseman is lifting a guys stick, he's putting all his force into lifting it while the forward is pushing all his force down to keep it on the ground. That's when frustration takes over and people start crosschecking to earn space, both the forward and the defenseman. People start elbowing. The goalie starts jabbing the forward with their stick.

A guy like Backes who goes in front of the net? There's no way to stop him without being physical.

Also, I don't think there's a player in the league afraid of downie. Guys a wannabe.

See, that's the issue right there. You're right. It is the only way to stop him because Staal and Dubinsky cant compete with Crosby straight-up. They have to relegate themselves to punching him in the head and kicking the crap out of him and relying on the referees to look the other way 'cause its the playoffs. I look forward to Steve Downie kicking the crap out of some Ranger this year with a cheapshot. Don't come complaining on here when it happens.

The league shouldn't be allowing that kind of treatment to its star players...or any player for that matter.

Imagine the NBA allowing some scrub power-forward to work-over LeBron James. Imagine the NFL allowing some jabroni DL to work over Tom Brady all game, cheapshot him, elbow him, and break the rules.

I'm not even complaining with this post as much as I'm just pointing out, again, the stupidity of this league.

My stance on this is as long as the NHLPA allows member-on-member crime to continue, I'm cool with it. Letang's out due to a questionable hit by Doan? Cool by me. Sid's Union allows other members to kick his ass during the playoffs? OK by me. Let them kick the crap out of each other.
- 87_71_11_29

Nobody's afraid of Downie, sorry.

How do you stop a guy like Crosby or a bull like Malkin when they park in front of the net? You don't just give them space. You can try to tie up their stick but they'll just elbow you or push you away. When a defenseman is lifting a guys stick, he's putting all his force into lifting it while the forward is pushing all his force down to keep it on the ground. That's when frustration takes over and people start crosschecking to earn space, both the forward and the defenseman. People start elbowing. The goalie starts jabbing the forward with their stick.

A guy like Backes who goes in front of the net? There's no way to stop him without being physical.

Also, I don't think there's a player in the league afraid of downie. Guys a wannabe.
- rangerdanger94

The point is that it doesn't take skill to do that. You and I could go out there and maul Crosby and Malkin to prevent them from scoring. I don't think it'll attract many new fans/retain current ones that way either though. Which is the problem.

The point is that it doesn't take skill to do that. You and I could go out there and maul Crosby and Malkin to prevent them from scoring. I don't think it'll attract many new fans/retain current ones that way either though. Which is the problem.
- jfkst1

Well when players are parked in front of the net, you're right. There isn't much skill involved in stopping Crosby in the regard. But defensemen also have to defend Crosby through the neutral zone, on the rush, in the corners, during the cycle, when he's floating around the circles, etc. and that requires good defensive awareness and skill in terms of skating and stick checking. The physical part in front of the net is just one part of defense.

The point is that it doesn't take skill to do that. You and I could go out there and maul Crosby and Malkin to prevent them from scoring. I don't think it'll attract many new fans/retain current ones that way either though. Which is the problem.
- jfkst1

That doesn't matter, that's what works, it's always been like that. I don't care if it's Crosby or some scrub 4th liner, you set up in front of the net, you pay the price. Every player knows that. It's always been like that. Let's not pretend that Crosby is the only one that gets this kind treatment or Staal is only Dman that does it, please. It's on the ref at that point.

Well when players are parked in front of the net, you're right. There isn't much skill involved in stopping Crosby in the regard. But defensemen also have to defend Crosby through the neutral zone, on the rush, in the corners, during the cycle, when he's floating around the circles, etc. and that requires good defensive awareness and skill in terms of skating and stick checking. The physical part in front of the net is just one part of defense.
- rangerdanger94

I'm not faulting the dmen for playing that way. I fault the NHL for allowing it. I'd much rather see a hockey game where Nash can abuse unskilled dmen like Scuderi than have Scuderi be able to obstruct him. I also think that would be more likely to "grow the sport."

I'm not faulting the dmen for playing that way. I fault the NHL for allowing it. I'd much rather see a hockey game where Nash can abuse unskilled dmen like Scuderi than have Scuderi be able to obstruct him. I also think that would be more likely to "grow the sport."
- jfkst1

I take it you prefer watching women's Olympic hockey over men's?

Just kidding, sorta.

I take it you prefer watching women's Olympic hockey over men's?

Just kidding, sorta.
- rangerdanger94

I said I like watching skilled players so no.

Scuds being too valuable for injury ha ha man we are in a bad spot
- dbell646

Dark places lol...

That doesn't matter, that's what works, it's always been like that. I don't care if it's Crosby or some scrub 4th liner, you set up in front of the net, you pay the price. Every player knows that. It's always been like that. Let's not pretend that Crosby is the only one that gets this kind treatment or Staal is only Dman that does it, please. It's on the ref at that point.
- JohnnyNYR27

So why all of the bleeding on the Rags blog about big Buff's hit last night?

The Rags blog is in an uproar None of them can admit the hypocrisy. Staal on Sid was clean because irrelevant Sid videos. But Buff was the dirtiest thing that has happened in the history of the NHL.

The Rags blog is in an uproar None of them can admit the hypocrisy. Staal on Sid was clean because irrelevant Sid videos. But Buff was the dirtiest thing that has happened in the history of the NHL.
- znagle

Don't you guys have a Flyers game to talk about?

Since we're all on the karma/hypocrisy train, I can't wait for the crying after the Flyers reimburse the Pens for that late season injury to Mason last year (hopefully on somebody other than MAF).

Don't you guys have a Flyers game to talk about?
- rangerdanger94

New blog will have a sentence on it, don't worry All the Flyers fans will flock later in the day and all tomorrow. I'm expecting a blood bath tonight, no way around it really.

New blog will have a sentence on it, don't worry All the Flyers fans will flock later in the day and all tomorrow. I'm expecting a blood bath tonight, no way around it really.
- znagle

One sentence and ten charts

The Rags blog is in an uproar None of them can admit the hypocrisy. Staal on Sid was clean because irrelevant Sid videos. But Buff was the dirtiest thing that has happened in the history of the NHL.
- znagle

It's funny sh!t. I love where even Levine has to say.... Yeah, the Crosby hit, but but but this is WORSE! Comical.

It's funny sh!t. I love where even Levine has to say.... Yeah, the Crosby hit, but but but this is WORSE! Comical.
- madmike71

It was worse, and a couple pens fans here agreed.

It's funny sh!t. I love where even Levine has to say.... Yeah, the Crosby hit, but but but this is WORSE! Comical.
- madmike71

Exactly, he says the Buff his was worse because he was a defenesless player. Like Sid wasn't defenseless all three times

It was worse, and a couple pens fans here agreed.
- rangerdanger94

Staal took multiple shots at Sids head, you guys are bleeding over one. But they were hockey plays and Staal is a "hard nosed" player so those were ok.