I was thinking maybe Paajarvi and a few other forward prospects who are near if not NHL ready this summer. Others include Toni Rajala, Marc Acobello and Teemu Hartikainen.
- mbxiphos1527

I have no interest in trading Maatta and especially for none of those players. No offense. He could very well be in our lineup in two years when you look at who is still on the books.

PRV doesn't interest me at all.

I smell some irony in here

Give us Kuznetsov and we don't talk about this anymore
- Orpik44

Everyone over-hypes their prospects, it's just funnier when it is fans of other teams who are doing the over-hyping. Was just wondering how you give up 7 goals with those 3 budding Bobby Orrs on the Baby Pens roster.

Good on Claude Julien for being honest:

Julien shared his thoughts on the Cooke check and the players' responsibility not to put themselves in vulnerable positions where they might get hurt on similar plays.

"And I've said it before, and I'm certainly not going to change my mind because it happened to one of our players, but I've always said that we have to educate our players to not put themselves in vulnerable positions," Julien said. "And I'm not talking necessarily about last night, I'm talking about those kind of things that are happening and right now. Because the rule says you can't hit somebody from behind. Sometimes we take advantage of that rule, and it's dangerous.

"And in order to make our game better, I think it's gotta come from both sides. Players gotta understand that there's somebody coming and don't put yourself in vulnerable position. But the player hitting, have to be aware of it. And I've been an advocate of that a long time and I still believe in it.

"As far as the Cooke situation, I think the referees had to call that. And you see his head going into the boards and numbers on numbers. Had to be called. Whether it's a 2, whether it's a 5, I'm not going to dispute that. But more than that I think they had to make the call, and I don't know what the decision, whether it's been made or whether it's going to be made.

"I'll be honest with you, I have no issues if he's not suspended because I'm not convinced it's a suspendable thing, but I'm certainly not going to say that the referees didn't make the right decision, because I think they did in assessing the penalty.
http://www.boston.com/spo.../06/bruins_reflect_1.html
- rival22

So, no one asked him about Marchand's hit on Neal. I'm curious what his thought process was if Cooke was penalized for 5 and a game, shouldn't Marchand have suffered similar fate? I'm sure we know which side of the fence he is one.

dude every one knows it was a penalty, and most will agree if you tossed cooke they should have tossed Marchand, but they didn't. That was last game, we have a game to play tonight, just fahget about it.
- Rayven

It doesn't excuse the refs from not being consistent. They weren't on that call, nor any interference calls either.

It doesn't excuse the refs from not being consistent. They weren't on that call, nor any interference calls either.
- Oneonta Penguin

no it doesn't, but there's not point in continuing to beat a dead horse either

It doesn't excuse the refs from not being consistent. They weren't on that call, nor any interference calls either.
- Oneonta Penguin

The Refs just suck - we are left just hoping that the calls even out in each game/series. Fortunately, the biggest missed call (Marchand interfering with Letang on the Bergeron breakaway) didn't result in a goal - if it had, it would have left a bad feeling about the final result in that game.

The Refs just suck - we are left just hoping that the calls even out in each game/series. Fortunately, the biggest missed call (Marchand interfering with Letang on the Bergeron breakaway) didn't result in a goal - if it had, it would have left a bad feeling about the final result in that game.
- MadCap2008

@emptynetters posted this video out there earlier. There was no call on this hit, but Cooke gets a major.



Boarding is the most randomly called penalty in the league. You would think that there would be some standard, and not just base it on if a player doesn't get up immediately.

If Kunitz post went in, it was a completely different game.

I'm not worried. I won't be worried IF boston goes up 2-0 tonight. This team has come back from 2-0 deficits in the past (ex: 2009 cup run vs WSH and 1991 run vs BOS). Now if BOS goes up 3-0 thats a completely different story...

I knew going into it that this would be a tough series. 6 or 7 games for sure. This is a team that plays better with their backs against the wall. Also, Vokoun knows if they lose that Fleury is going to get his chance in Boston. Big game for the coon in net tonight, Pens win 2-0 with a Dupuis empty net goal
- Killian

The major difference in those series were that those Penguin teams didn't lose the first two games at home like they potentially could do in this one. They go down 0-2 heading to Boston it's going to be much more difficult to come back than what it was for those two examples. I would like to see them come out just like they did in Game 1. They applied the pressure and to Boston's credit they weathered the storm and got on the board first. They had good chances which is a positive. They weren't completely outplayed like we saw a couple of times in the Islanders series. Iggy had a quiet game I think he'll play better in this one.

The major difference in those series were that those Penguin teams didn't lose the first two games at home like they potentially could do in this one. They go down 0-2 heading to Boston it's going to be much more difficult to come back than what it was for those two examples. I would like to see them come out just like they did in Game 1. They applied the pressure and to Boston's credit they weathered the storm and got on the board first. They had good chances which is a positive. They weren't completely outplayed like we saw a couple of times in the Islanders series. Iggy had a quiet game I think he'll play better in this one.
- acdc1206

That is the key... You don't want to drop two at home. It's different than the West series, where I'm sure LA wanted to get a win in the first two, but they go back to LA, where they have dominated. It wouldn't surprise anyone if the series was even after 4.

Coming back from 0-2 on the road isn't out of the question, but it's not a good road to take.

Lets just move onto the future... as in game 2 where the Pens actually convert and crush the Bruins

muhahahahahahahaha

That is the key... You don't want to drop two at home. It's different than the West series, where I'm sure LA wanted to get a win in the first two, but they go back to LA, where they have dominated. It wouldn't surprise anyone if the series was even after 4.

Coming back from 0-2 on the road isn't out of the question, but it's not a good road to take.
- rival22

Oh, no. Trust me, the last thing I want them to do is drop the first two at home. But I'm saying IF we do (which I do not believe we will lose tonight) I would still be confident that we would come back and win the series. HOPEFULLY, pens take care of business tonight and take AT LEAST one if not both games at the garden

That is the key... You don't want to drop two at home. It's different than the West series, where I'm sure LA wanted to get a win in the first two, but they go back to LA, where they have dominated. It wouldn't surprise anyone if the series was even after 4.

Coming back from 0-2 on the road isn't out of the question, but it's not a good road to take.
- rival22

“@Buccigross: Is tonight a must win for Penguins? No. Since winning first Stanley Cup in 1991, Penguins are 5-3 in series when losing the first 2 games.”

“@Buccigross: Is tonight a must win for Penguins? No. Since winning first Stanley Cup in 1991, Penguins are 5-3 in series when losing the first 2 games.”
- Gunner Staal

That's all well and good but I for one won't like our chances if we drop the game tonight.

I hope they treat it as a must win.

interesting thing, i was listening to the Fan yesterday, and they had a guy who is a beat writer up in Wilkes-Barrre. He was talking about Maatta, Pouliot, and Harrington, and said he was surprised by a few things.

He talked about how Harrington is a much better skater and puck handler then people think. He also seems to have a extremely high hockey IQ, making all the right plays on D when he needed to.

He talked about how Pouliot is a lot bigger then everyone thinks. He compared him to being built like Kris Letang right now.

As for Maatta, he said that he is the complete package. He said he can't see Maatta being in AHL for very long.

Interesting stuff from down on the farm.
- cap1681

TIOPS has Maata ranked as our number 1 prospect. Like you say, the Pens view him as the total package. I can't see him being moved.

That's all well and good but I for one won't like our chances if we drop the game tonight.

I hope they treat it as a must win.
- canadianpenfan

If they start the game like on Saturday they will be in the lead after 1 period. The sticks won't be gripped as tight and things will sort itself out.

If they start the game like on Saturday they will be in the lead after 1 period. The sticks won't be gripped as tight and things will sort itself out.
- Gunner Staal

I think if the pens got at least 1 goal before the 3rd, they would of won the last game. They need that one to release the flood gates. Seemed like as they game went on, the fancier the plays had to be. Just shoot the puck, but for goodness sake HIT THE NET

How good must Tampa's AHL squad be if they took these guys out 4 games to 1 (and 7-0 in the deciding game)
- MadCap2008

It's just good to see that, with all the Penguins haters saying we "mortgaged our future" this year to try and win a cup, that our farm team was in the semifinals of the AHL playoffs. Shero has set this organization up for the future on top of trying to win now.

Everyone over-hypes their prospects, it's just funnier when it is fans of other teams who are doing the over-hyping. Was just wondering how you give up 7 goals with those 3 budding Bobby Orrs on the Baby Pens roster.
- MadCap2008

They now have a combined 5 games of AHL experience to their credit... all of which were played against the defending champion.

I sense your tone with that comment but in all honesty Wilkes-Barre should have 5 of their top 6 d men under the age of 22 at the start of next season.... Those 3 guys can season for 3 years down in the AHL and still start their NHL careers at 21-23 years old.

That's all well and good but I for one won't like our chances if we drop the game tonight.

I hope they treat it as a must win.
- canadianpenfan

I certainly agree with your sentiment. Can't lose tonight. Though its been done before, I wouldn't like our chances whatsoever if we blow it tonight as well.

If they start the game like on Saturday they will be in the lead after 1 period. The sticks won't be gripped as tight and things will sort itself out.
- Gunner Staal

Last time they had a goalie stand on his head against them, they scored 7 and 6 in the next 2 games.

“@Buccigross: Is tonight a must win for Penguins? No. Since winning first Stanley Cup in 1991, Penguins are 5-3 in series when losing the first 2 games.”
- Gunner Staal

How many of those 5 series wins came against the Caps, though Those should come with an asterisk.

The Refs just suck - we are left just hoping that the calls even out in each game/series. Fortunately, the biggest missed call (Marchand interfering with Letang on the Bergeron breakaway) didn't result in a goal - if it had, it would have left a bad feeling about the final result in that game.
- MadCap2008

That was all Letangs fault, he jumped in Marchand, at least that's how it looked to me in real time without watching a replay.

Crosby rarely goes consecutive games without making a significant contribution. If Bergy continues to dominate that line we are going to need lines 3 and 4 to step up big time.

Stating the obvious waiting for game time.

Let's Go Pens!

Crosby rarely goes consecutive games without making a significant contribution. If Bergy continues to dominate that line we are going to need lines 3 and 4 to step up big time.

Stating the obvious waiting for game time.

Let's Go Pens!
- Sell My Monkey

Sid and Malkin had plenty of chances though. It's not like they couldn't get around Chara. Puck was half an inch away (3-4 different times) from it being a completely different game

I finally have an evening off where I can watch the game at home. Hopefully the damn Penguins show up and make it worth it.