I am not worried about the Lightning. We seem to be able to beat and compete with better teams. We have beat Tampa twice this year and played a good game the other night losing a nailbiter 5-4.

My worry is that we get matched up with a team like Carolina, New Jersey or Florida. We suck against basement teams and we play great against high end teams.

Whenever we play New Jersey, it feels like they are the best team in the league, then I look at the standings and I'm like WTF?
- bochangs

They only beat Tampa once.

Colby Armstrong and Kypreos are currently on Hockey Central at Noon saying they fully understand where Malkin is coming from with that reaction... Not sure if league will give him a game or 2 to set an example or give a 10k fine because nothing bad happened as a result of his reaction.

Kypreos was the one saying on this same show that Malkin wouldn't be with Pens after the summer 2016 when the Pens were down 3 games to 2 vs the Bolts in EFC hahah.
- MattStrat

Anyone shocked that those two have that take?

Anyone shocked that those two have that take?
- Victoro311

Nope, especially not Kypreos...hes the old school way of thinking personified. Colby definitely has a touch of it but I see alot of Colby on Sportsnet these days and he's not near as bad as Kypreos in that regard.

Anyone shocked that those two have that take?
- Victoro311

The NHL has given them every reason to have those takes. Remember when Dubinsky cross checked Sid to the head and while he was down, he crossed checked him again to the back and broke his stick. Sid wasn't hurt and Douchbinsky got 1 game for that.

I think it will be one game. Two max.

The NHL has given them every reason to have those takes. Remember when Dubinsky cross checked Sid to the head and while he was down, he crossed checked him again to the back and broke his stick. Sid wasn't hurt and Douchbinsky got 1 game for that.

I think it will be one game. Two max.
- madmike71

There was actual contact in that situation though...two times there was contact.

Anyone else remember Letang slashing Stalberg in the face in the playoffs a few years back? Right in the face. No suspension.

Like I said last blog: Betman gives his refs and DPS really poopty marching orders on purpose. None of this is a surprise anymore. Dubinsky not getting anything for breaking his stick on a prone Crosby, Letang slashing Stalberg in the face, this Malkin stunt. The people in charge actively think this stuff is good for the sport.

There was actual contact in that situation though...two times there was contact.

Anyone else remember Letang slashing Stalberg in the face in the playoffs a few years back? Right in the face. No suspension.
- MattStrat

This is my whole issue with the DoPS. They weigh everything by result. This is how they'd view 2 situations:

Oh, you skated full-speed at a player and took a 2-hand chop at his head and missed? Well, he wasn't hurt, so here's a $5K fine.

Oh, you accidentally hit a guy in the head with your shoulder because he's 5'10 and you're 6'4 and he got concussed? That's a hit to the head, here's your 4 game suspension.

There was actual contact in that situation though...two times there was contact.

Anyone else remember Letang slashing Stalberg in the face in the playoffs a few years back? Right in the face. No suspension.
- MattStrat

I thought Letang's was accidental though...I can't rememeber. This was absolutely retalitory. While they are both wrong and should be punished, one is definitely worse than the other.

This is my whole issue with the DoPS. They weigh everything by result. This is how they'd view 2 situations:

Oh, you skated full-speed at a player and took a 2-hand chop at his head and missed? Well, he wasn't hurt, so here's a $5K fine.

Oh, you accidentally hit a guy in the head with your shoulder because he's 5'10 and you're 6'4 and he got concussed? That's a hit to the head, here's your 4 game suspension.
- jmatchett383

So Malkin is getting a 5-10k fine? Gotcha.

this is why we need guys like Reaves to deter cheap shots like that... because you know, with Reaves in the bench, Raffl definitely wouldn’t have done that if he knew that he would have to turn down a fight with Reaves.
- j.boyd919

I know you're being sarcastic, but this was the narrative that RW tried to tell people was the reason they got Reaves.

No one (that I remember) said that it would deter Raffl from doing it the first time. It can either 1) lead to mutually-agreed destruction (Reaves jumps Giroux) or 2) make Raffl reconsider it the next time after Reaves introduces his face to the glass.

This false narrative that RW tried to sell was laughable, at best. That said Reaves was a waste of a roster spot and not worth a 2nd round pick, let alone a first.

So Malkin is getting a 5-10k fine? Gotcha.
- Guile

I think he would, but a match penalty almost always carries 1 gamer minimum.

I thought Letang's was accidental though...I can't rememeber. This was absolutely retalitory. While they are both wrong and should be punished, one is definitely worse than the other.
- joecool2931

I dunno...it all happens so much faster than the slo mo we watch it on over and over. Sometimes its really hard to gauge if its accidental or not.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x83EXTjhaWY

I think he would, but a match penalty almost always carries 1 gamer minimum.
- jmatchett383

Unless they deem the match penalty was unwarranted... which since he barely grazed him, I could see them doing so.

I know you're being sarcastic, but this was the narrative that RW tried to tell people was the reason they got Reaves.

No one (that I remember) said that it would deter Raffl from doing it the first time. It can either 1) lead to mutually-agreed destruction (Reaves jumps Giroux) or 2) make Raffl reconsider it the next time after Reaves introduces his face to the glass.

This false narrative that RW tried to sell was laughable, at best. That said Reaves was a waste of a roster spot and not worth a 2nd round pick, let alone a first.
- jmatchett383

I don’t think 1 or 2 happens. I don’t think any hockey player deters anything.

I don’t think 1 or 2 happens. I don’t think any hockey player deters anything.
- j.boyd919

Depends on if you believe Brian Leetch or not. I believe him.

Unless they deem the match penalty was unwarranted... which since he barely grazed him, I could see them doing so.
- Guile

Wouldn't be the first time they took away and "automatic" suspension to Malkin.

I know you're being sarcastic, but this was the narrative that RW tried to tell people was the reason they got Reaves.

No one (that I remember) said that it would deter Raffl from doing it the first time. It can either 1) lead to mutually-agreed destruction (Reaves jumps Giroux) or 2) make Raffl reconsider it the next time after Reaves introduces his face to the glass.

This false narrative that RW tried to sell was laughable, at best. That said Reaves was a waste of a roster spot and not worth a 2nd round pick, let alone a first.
- jmatchett383

There's quite a few people that still think this way but if I remember correctly even though RW was saying that's why the Pens were acquiring him, he was totally against the idea of acquiring him and dismissed any legitimacy that a guy like that deters anything.

It shouldn't matter whether Malkin hit him or not. The intent was there and Malkin knew exactly what he was doing. Geno had full control of his stick.

It should be three or four games, but it won't be because Malkin is a star and the league is notorious for under-penalizing these types of players.

There's absolutely no place for this kind of crap that could have resulted in a very serious injury.

Wouldn't be the first time they took away and "automatic" suspension to Malkin.
- jmatchett383

I already pointed out why the first one happened. Did you miss that last blog?

There's quite a few people that still think this way but if I remember correctly even though RW was saying that's why the Pens were acquiring him, he was totally against the idea of acquiring him and dismissed any legitimacy that a guy like that deters anything.
- MattStrat

I remember when they got him and I can't remember anyone going, "Yay, we have Ryan Reaves. he's so scary that no one will ever think of hitting one of our players ever again," (hyperbole). Ryan Reaves can't stop players from hitting Sid or Geno, no player can. What he CAN do is do the same thing, or worse, to the star player of the opposing team. It's not the fear of Ryan Reaves beating you up, it's the hesitation against him taking out one of your best players in retaliation (which is different from a "deterrent.

Again, if you don't think this has ever happened, ask Brian Leetch what Craig Berube told him in the early 90s (pre-instigator rule).

I already pointed out why the first one happened. Did you miss that last blog?
- Guile

I must have missed your comment. I don't know what spin the NHL or you put on it. But if the rationale is anything other than "He is a superstar player and it's the Stanley Cup Finals," then you're delusional.

I must have missed your comment. I don't know what spin the NHL or you put on it. But if the rationale is anything other than "He is a superstar player and it's the Stanley Cup Finals," then you're delusional.
- jmatchett383

Nope. It was a statement they made the last few years of how suspensions are weighted in the playoffs. 1 game = 5 regular season games. So an automatic 1 game suspension in the regular season means squat in a postseason scenario.

I remember when they got him and I can't remember anyone going, "Yay, we have Ryan Reaves. he's so scary that no one will ever think of hitting one of our players ever again," (hyperbole). Ryan Reaves can't stop players from hitting Sid or Geno, no player can. What he CAN do is do the same thing, or worse, to the star player of the opposing team. It's not the fear of Ryan Reaves beating you up, it's the hesitation against him taking out one of your best players in retaliation (which is different from a "deterrent.

Again, if you don't think this has ever happened, ask Brian Leetch what Craig Berube told him in the early 90s (pre-instigator rule).
- jmatchett383

Ummmm... There's only one player in the league that's on the same level of toughness, intimidation and deterrent, Tom Wilson. To say that players all around the league aren't afraid of getting snotted by Reaves is laughable.

I remember when they got him and I can't remember anyone going, "Yay, we have Ryan Reaves. he's so scary that no one will ever think of hitting one of our players ever again," (hyperbole). Ryan Reaves can't stop players from hitting Sid or Geno, no player can. What he CAN do is do the same thing, or worse, to the star player of the opposing team. It's not the fear of Ryan Reaves beating you up, it's the hesitation against him taking out one of your best players in retaliation (which is different from a "deterrent.

Again, if you don't think this has ever happened, ask Brian Leetch what Craig Berube told him in the early 90s (pre-instigator rule).
- jmatchett383

Different era. Different rules. Different times. Different league.
Apples and oranges comparing back then to now.

In those several seconds of Raffl deciding to do that last night I really dont think he would of considered Reaves on the bench. Malkin didnt consider anyone on the Flyers bench ie Gudas in his split second retaliatory reaction.

It shouldn't matter whether Malkin hit him or not. The intent was there and Malkin knew exactly what he was doing. Geno had full control of his stick.

It should be three or four games, but it won't be because Malkin is a star and the league is notorious for under-penalizing these types of players.

There's absolutely no place for this kind of crap that could have resulted in a very serious injury.
- As_I_See_It

C'mon now...3-4 games for a swing and a miss when guys are leg tying eachother left and right on a nightly basis and they don't even call the trip?

1 game max...and I think he will be fined and not suspended because

1) Reactionary
2) Foul committed before not called
3) He was given a major in the game and thrown out
4) No injury
5) Too many guys on the Flyers look like Gritty