John Toperzer: Pens-Flyers: The sky IS falling Disastrous 8-5 home loss Friday leaves Pens in precarious position heading to Philly

I disagree. This series is being won and lost by the horrendous play by the entire D. Our O is putting pucks in the net, but the D looks like beer league. Lovejoy needs to sit. If the Pens get swept I think Shero needs to make some major changes. You cant have guys like Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Fleury on your team and the yrs following the cup go out in the 2nd and back to back in the 1st rounds. Its just unacceptable.

Ever since your undefeated streak ended in that 8-4 loss in Ottawa the Penguins seem to have forgotten how to play defence. I am shocked by what I am seeing right now.

Ever since your undefeated streak ended in that 8-4 loss in Ottawa the Penguins seem to have forgotten how to play defence. I am shocked by what I am seeing right now.
- maaddmike

I thought the Flyers ended that streak... though since that game ended in OT, did the Senators stop the "points in consecutive games" streak?

I thought the Flyers ended that streak... though since that game ended in OT, did the Senators stop the "points in consecutive games" streak?
- eayost

Yes, it was their first regulation loss.

im not giving up on the pens, but i just cant watch these games anymore... so the next two games im not watching... game 5 i have tickets.... not sure if i want to sell them bc i dont think i can take the heartbreak if they are up 3-1 and we lose at home to the flyers....

i still believe in them but something needs to change.... this is horrible...

told you guys we should have lost to go to 6th place and play florida

I'm speechless... I've never seen two games like these last two. It's almost surreal.

im not giving up on the pens, but i just cant watch these games anymore... so the next two games im not watching... game 5 i have tickets.... not sure if i want to sell them bc i dont think i can take the heartbreak if they are up 3-1 and we lose at home to the flyers....

i still believe in them but something needs to change.... this is horrible...

told you guys we should have lost to go to 6th place and play florida
- nh4442

We could've one ONE game against the Islanders when we played them back to back and we would've been first in the East. Hell, just two OT/SO losses.

Pens need to watch film of the Rags vs. the Flyers this year. Hell, look at film of the Flyers vs. the Pens when they have the lead. If you are up 2, 3 goals a game, you NEED to trap and sure up the defense.

If you have the lead...

Preliminary reports before the series started said Game 3 would be a possibility for Nisk.

I would say after that egregious turnover, Lovejoy has to sit, but who are our options to play? Strait? Despres? Bortuzzo (he's back right?)

I'm not sure I feel comfortable with any of those moreso than Lovejoy, but it literally couldn't hurt I guess.

I think Park needs to play for Asham or Vitale next game. Vitale was invisible after the first and Park can kill penalties and bring a SOLID defensive forward presence. Plus, he'd probably work his ass off after sitting so long.

Have faith, gents. The only thing lacking so far has been the "drive". They look content, laid back, emotionless. The Flyers are, well, flying all over the place, getting to the loose pucks, making pressure. The Penguins look annoyed, not challenged.

Hopefully some desperation puts them in the right place.

I'm not looking for Bylsma to retool the entire system. I'm just looking for him to take a TIMELY timeout (like Lava) and get this team back to defensive hockey like they showed during their 15-game streak only a few weeks ago.

I'm hoping the pressure of winning at home had them goal-happy and a nice, relaxing afternoon game tomorrow gets them back on track.

im not giving up on the pens, but i just cant watch these games anymore... so the next two games im not watching... game 5 i have tickets.... not sure if i want to sell them bc i dont think i can take the heartbreak if they are up 3-1 and we lose at home to the flyers....

i still believe in them but something needs to change.... this is horrible...

told you guys we should have lost to go to 6th place and play florida
- nh4442

Is that considered tanking? lol? I'm tellin' Brian Burke!!

It's the time of year when the sun is shining, the azela's are blooming, and my Pens are losing in the playoffs. Yep, it's a tradition at this point.

Many many boneheaded plays and crap enough to go all around. For a vetren team that won it all before why do they look so rattled and under pressure? Why are they not cohesive and making smart decisions? Who knows at this point. Mistakes are our achilles heel and both heels are blown out and bleeding. Maybe if we bring up Despres to replace Lovejoy? Play the 1-2-2? Refuse to make passes that don't exist? Well maybe the first two but it's the latter that seems difficult or imposssible. Too bad, because not making STUPID ASS passes would be such a great place to start.

Bylsma needs to make some changes to his system and he has shown in the past that he is stubborn about doing so. The game last night was embarrassing. The pk crapped the bed at the wrong time.

im not giving up on the pens, but i just cant watch these games anymore... so the next two games im not watching... game 5 i have tickets.... not sure if i want to sell them bc i dont think i can take the heartbreak if they are up 3-1 and we lose at home to the flyers....

i still believe in them but something needs to change.... this is horrible...

told you guys we should have lost to go to 6th place and play florida
- nh4442

They may not be able to beat Florida with this game plan, and they certainly wouldnt have made it past the 2nd round. My confidence in them pulling out of this is extremely low. Mario needs to put the fear of God into them because Bylsma isnt doing it.

For a vetren team that won it all before why do they look so rattled and under pressure? Why are they not cohesive and making smart decisions?
- powerhouse

They look disinterested. Much like last year when they couldn't close out TB at home and a few players went on record saying essentially, "we gave up". They are doing the same exact thing, you can see it in their body language.

In 08-09 they had the desire to win, they were going up against the big bad Red Wings and wanted it more. They look like they're just going through the motions at this point. I don't know how you can get the desire back in their game but it seems to be all but gone any time Philly doesn't just roll over for them.

Bylsma needs to make some changes to his system and he has shown in the past that he is stubborn about doing so. The game last night was embarrassing. The pk crapped the bed at the wrong time.
- lloyd095

The PP wasn't too hot either. 2 shorthanded goals?!?!

The PP wasn't too hot either. 2 shorthanded goals?!?!
- nhindian

Speking of getting passes picked off that aren't there. Why are we passing it so much to Orange and Black? Telegrphing passes?

Speking of getting passes picked off that aren't there. Why are we passing it so much to Orange and Black? Telegrphing passes?
- powerhouse

Lovejoy's mistake was one for the ages. Defies all logic at the professional level.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmDugcG8KrU

Lovejoy's mistake was one for the ages. Defies all logic at the professional level.
- Gunner Staal

It defies logic at a Pee Wee level. You don't make that pass.

This team has fallen into a east/west trap. When they are playing north/south hockey they are okay, its when they start to try to go across the ice at the bluelines that they are getting into trouble. The fact that the Flyers have had something like 6 breakaways should point out a problem.

The Pens are simply being too aggressive, especially with the lead. As some of you guys have said, they need to trap more when they're up 2 or 3 goals. It's just idiotic to be so aggressive with the lead because they're opening the door for the Flyers to comeback.

I also think the Pens are too intent on knocking the Flyers around. Sometimes an overly aggressive physical approach does a lot more harm than good because guys get out of position looking for the big hit. Orpik for example had a couple monstrous hits, but he was also looking for a bunch more and put himself out of position defensively.

Having said all that if you win game 3 everything changes. This series is far from over, and it would be wise for the Flyers to put the Pens away in Philly while they have the chance. To give the Pens life is asking for trouble.

Lovejoy's mistake was one for the ages. Defies all logic at the professional level.
- Gunner Staal

So does blowing 2 and 3 goal leads in 4 consecutive games. (throwing out the meaningless game of course). Problem systemic. Like everybody is saying, Bylsma needs to make some radical changes if they're going to put up any kind of fight.

I'm speechless... I've never seen two games like these last two. It's almost surreal.
- Francois Leroux[/qu

I know you all know this but i'll say it anyway...the Pens are never out of this until the final whistle..I see the series getting tied up headed back to the burg!!!