29 will be in goal tonight
- Killian

You think Bruins will start Jay Pandolfo in net? I can roll with that.

Tonight is a pivotal moment in Marc Andre Fleury's career.
- Killian

I won't be happy if he is the starter. Nothing against the kid, but we can't allow two of his normal soft goals in tonight.

It's no secret that when the Penguins lose, they lose by a lot. I would be willing to bet it has been because they had an off night on the switches. There are so many subtleties when playing like that. If you are off your game a little it affects the other players.

Here is a nice article from Mike Colligan that breaks things down

http://thehockeywriters.c...-murray-defensive-system/
- Gunner Staal

That's what bothers me about pinning MAF's career on this game or any game this playoff year. I think the guy has all the talent in the world, but he backstops a "risky" scheme. There's no doubt he's not a confident player at the moment, but I don't see how you write him off when the team makes so many errors in front of him.

I start Vokoun tonight if I'm Bylsma.

Has it been announced who starts tonight?

Edit: nevermind, asked just a bit too leight. I wouldn't dare start Fleury if I were calling the shots. I haven't watched closely, but it seems to me Vokoun clearly gives the Pens a better chance to win. If Fleury gets the start and falters even a bit, it's the beginning of the end for the Pens.
- BulliesPhan87

Bylsma has money on Boston tonight? Don't get Fleury starting.

He is our franchise goalie who has played in 2 Stanley Cup Finals and won 1 of them.

Despite his recent playoff struggles, he is still our best goalie and with our season on the line, he HAS to be the guy in goal. If my job was on the line (HCDB) I know 29 would be in net for me.

Tonight is Fleurys chance to redeem himself, to get us back into this series, and hopefully to be the hero that saved our season
- Killian

Game 2 was his chance. Penguins scored a big goal at the end of the period and Fleury gave up a bigger goal with 8 seconds left on a save I need from my goalie 10 times out of 10.

I very much am a fan of Fleury but it looks more and more like he has burned his last bridge in Pittsburgh. I would not start him for the rest of the playoffs.

I won't be happy if he is the starter. Nothing against the kid, but we can't allow two of his normal soft goals in tonight.
- Oneonta Penguin

Don't be surprised when Flower leads the troops onto the ice tonight

Bylsma has money on Boston tonight? Don't get Fleury starting.
- Oneonta Penguin

I could understand it if the Pens had dropped game two to tie the series against a weaker opponent, and wanted to get their starter going. But this is Boston, they're a damn good team that's shown poise since the first round. I really don't see them cutting the Pens any breaks. Now's not the time to get somebody going, now's the time to play whoever gives you the best chance to win.

That's what bothers me about pinning MAF's career on this game or any game this playoff year. I think the guy has all the talent in the world, but he backstops a "risky" scheme. There's no doubt he's not a confident player at the moment, but I don't see how you write him off when the team makes so many errors in front of him.

I start Vokoun tonight if I'm Bylsma.
- madmike71

Of the six goals Vokoun has allowed in this series, he would have had to make miraculous saves to stop them from going in. The guy more equipped to make those miraculous saves is MAF. That said, he is more apt to allow two goals that my 10-year old would stop. I don't like this thought process by DB. Go with the safer choice than the guy more apt to crap the bed.

I could understand it if the Pens had dropped game two to tie the series against a weaker opponent, and wanted to get their starter going. But this is Boston, they're a damn good team that's shown poise since the first round. I really don't see them cutting the Pens any breaks. Now's not the time to get somebody going, now's the time to play whoever gives you the best chance to win.
- BulliesPhan87

No team in this series, whether it be Boston or Pittsburgh, should be winning a 6-1 game. Sorry. That is why I'm very critical of all of this about the heart and compete level of the Pens, which I have seen no evidence of it showing up absent the first two periods of this series.

DB's decisions baffle me. He has a young talented defenseman that can skate very well and add some potential scoring in despres. The kid has sat while Matt Niskanen has looked absolutely abysmal. Beau Bennett, a kid with speed and pretty good skill has sat in place of lesser players and now he plays the human sive with a fragile mind in probably the most important game of the series for his team? The safer pick is Vokoun. No one else dares to play Fleury. That is why I made my comment you responded to.

Don't be surprised when Flower leads the troops onto the ice tonight
- Killian

Considering some of Bylsma's personnel choices this year, nothing would surprise me. I'm at the point where I expect to see Tanner Glass tonight because Dan thinks the Pens need to be the more physical team.

I wonder what the conversation about Fleury would look like if he played on a team that had some clue of what to do defensively.

I honestly don't believe that we can take anything from either goalie performance from the other night. Was Fleury's first goal bad, sure thing. But did the team as a whole accomplish anything to help either goalie?

That said, I think they have to go back to Vokoun tonight. Although I wouldn't be surprised if Fleury started. Oh also Kennedy will be scratched and Engo will be in because for some reason we need his toughness of Despres.

No team in this series, whether it be Boston or Pittsburgh, should be winning a 6-1 game. Sorry. That is why I'm very critical of all of this about the heart and compete level of the Pens, which I have seen no evidence of it showing up absent the first two periods of this series.

DB's decisions baffle me. He has a young talented defenseman that can skate very well and add some potential scoring in despres. The kid has sat while Matt Niskanen has looked absolutely abysmal. Beau Bennett, a kid with speed and pretty good skill has sat in place of lesser players and now he plays the human sive with a fragile mind in probably the most important game of the series for his team? The safer pick is Vokoun. No one else dares to play Fleury. That is why I made my comment you responded to.
- Oneonta Penguin

I think we're on the same page here. I just don't get Bylsma's logic if he thinks now is the time to gamble on Fleury miraculously finding his groove. The stakes are high, and the Penguins aren't without the tools necessary to win.

As for Despres, am I correct in understanding this is an ongoing frustration? That yinz have wanted to see him play more than he has for a while now?

I think we're on the same page here. I just don't get Bylsma's logic if he thinks now is the time to gamble on Fleury miraculously finding his groove.

As for Despres, am I correct in understanding this is an ongoing frustration? That yinz have wanted to see him play more than he has for a while now?
- BulliesPhan87

? From Pitt? haha

Yes, we have wanted to see him all playoffs. The game he played was a rough outing for him but his ceiling is much higher than Eng.

I wonder what the conversation about Fleury would look like if he played on a team that had some clue of what to do defensively.

I honestly don't believe that we can take anything from either goalie performance from the other night. Was Fleury's first goal bad, sure thing. But did the team as a whole accomplish anything to help either goalie?

That said, I think they have to go back to Vokoun tonight. Although I wouldn't be surprised if Fleury started. Oh also Kennedy will be scratched and Engo will be in because for some reason we need his toughness of Despres.
- Ben37

I'm sorry, the reason Fleury was pulled was because he was letting in shots that are expected to not go in. That trend continued and didnt take long to show its face ( and the timing couldn't have been worse).

We all watch the Penguins and understand the break downs that Fleury has been on the wrong end of, but his recent mistakes are self inflicted. His mistakes murder/slaughter/kill the mental component of the skaters, I promise you that as a coach who has gotten subpar goaltending for 4 years now.

There is a feeling of defeatism because no matter how well you play, there is always the chance of that stinker going in. It tightens a team up and oozes into everything. Skill needs to play loose, they can't with Fleury in there right now. Perception is reality and I guarantee the perception of Fleury is that he is wounded and susceptible to mistakes. Cant have that right now.

Again, Fleury is one of my favorite guys to pull for, but he made his bed.

Game 2 was his chance. Penguins scored a big goal at the end of the period and Fleury gave up a bigger goal with 8 seconds left on a save I need from my goalie 10 times out of 10.

I very much am a fan of Fleury but it looks more and more like he has burned his last bridge in Pittsburgh. I would not start him for the rest of the playoffs.
- Gunner Staal

If game 2 was his chance, it wasn't much of one. They throw him into the game when we are already losing 3-0 and the guy hasn't played since Round 1. Not to mention the boys in front of him didn't even show up for that game. Sorry but that doesn't seem like a very fair chance to me.

It will surprise me if 92 is in goal tonight. But that's just me.

If game 2 was his chance, it wasn't much of one. They throw him into the game when we are already losing 3-0 and the guy hasn't played since Round 1. Not to mention the boys in front of him didn't even show up for that game. Sorry but that doesn't seem like a very fair chance to me.

It will surprise me if 92 is in goal tonight. But that's just me.
- Killian

Don't make excuses. He let in a goal high glove from a bad angle by the boards with no screen less than a minute after the Pens potentially turned the tide of the game.

? From Pitt? haha

Yes, we have wanted to see him all playoffs. The game he played was a rough outing for him but his ceiling is much higher than Eng.
- kgrpitt

I believe he played 2 games. The first was rough, but certainly no worse than a couple other "more experienced" guys. The second game was much better.

I think people forget...especially the coach, how good Despres was in last years playoffs. If I was to choose one positive out of last years debacle it would be Despres.

? From Pitt? haha

Yes, we have wanted to see him all playoffs. The game he played was a rough outing for him but his ceiling is much higher than Eng.
- kgrpitt

I figure I'm on your turf, just speaking the vernac

If the Pens were cast in a similar mold to the Bruins, I could understand trying to match their physicality with guys like Engelland. From what I've seen though, what with my orange tinted shades, trying to match toughness hasn't exactly panned out well for the Pens.

If game 2 was his chance, it wasn't much of one. They throw him into the game when we are already losing 3-0 and the guy hasn't played since Round 1. Not to mention the boys in front of him didn't even show up for that game. Sorry but that doesn't seem like a very fair chance to me.

It will surprise me if 92 is in goal tonight. But that's just me.
- Killian

Fleury sucked the wind out of the team's sails, if it had any left by allowing that ridiculous fourth goal to Marchand, one in which everyone's nine year old son could have saved. Pittsburgh was probably going to gain some momentum after Sutter goal. 25 seconds later, the ridiculousness of Fleury reverting back to the Islander series and last year's Flyer series came back. No, the boys in front didn't show up. That said, when a routine shot goes in that a bantam or squirt goalie should be able to stop, it makes one wonder. I have wondered too much with Fleury last year versus Philly; this year versus the Islanders and the end of the first, the entire second and third periods of the of this series.

I believe he played 2 games. The first was rough, but certainly no worse than a couple other "more experienced" guys. The second game was much better.

I think people forget...especially the coach, how good Despres was in last years playoffs. If I was to choose one positive out of last years debacle it would be Despres.
- madmike71

I am right there with you. I think he was one of the only bright spots and he should get a chance. Not sure why Bylsma has seemed to forgotten about him.

I figure I'm on your turf, just speaking the vernac

If the Pens were cast in a similar mold to the Bruins, I could understand trying to match their physicality with guys like Engelland. From what I've seen though, what with my orange tinted shades, trying to match toughness hasn't exactly panned out well for the Pens.
- BulliesPhan87

That is the worst game plan you could do against Boston. I'm not saying don't hit, but ...

I figure I'm on your turf, just speaking the vernac

If the Pens were cast in a similar mold to the Bruins, I could understand trying to match their physicality with guys like Engelland. From what I've seen though, what with my orange tinted shades, trying to match toughness hasn't exactly panned out well for the Pens.
- BulliesPhan87

Exactly. There is no reason we should try to "match" them. When we do that we get sucked into a game that does not utilize our skill and gets us off our game which has gotten us to this point in the first place.

Exactly. There is no reason we should try to "match" them. When we do that we get sucked into a game that does not utilize our skill and gets us off our game which has gotten us to this point in the first place.
- kgrpitt

Just a thought, instead of wasting energy and resources to match the other team at their strength, why not make them chase you around using yours (speed,skill).

Just a thought, instead of wasting energy and resources to match the other team at their strength, why not make them chase you around using yours (speed,skill).
- Gunner Staal

Precisely my thought process. 3-0 in the regular season because the Pens ran circles around them with their speed. Pens aren't the fastest team but comparatively we are much faster than the Bruins.

Don't make excuses. He let in a goal high glove from a bad angle by the boards with no screen less than a minute after the Pens potentially turned the tide of the game.
- Gunner Staal

It was a perfectly placed shot if you ask me