I think Fleury will be fine. Although that first goal last night, until the third replay I thought it went in off his ass and that uneasy feeling started creeping into my head.

I'll tell you what: Letang looked damn good last night.

I think their best (easiest) matchup is Columbus. But some fool yesterday wanted to play Detroit/Philly/Boston.
- jmatchett383

Cowards all of you.

Crazy matchups, huh? The Flyers would rather play Pittsburgh and Detroit, and Pittsburgh would rather play Columbus and the Rangers.
- jmatchett383

And it seems that Detroit would rather play Boston, based on a small sample size of Wings posters from yesterday.

interesting

they give the Flyers fits
- Marc D

They just don't seem to match up against us for some reason. Pens vs Flyers would be another all out war, no matter who wins...and being honest, the Flyers seem to bring out the worst in the Pens.

Cowards all of you.
- Grinder47

I call it being pragmatic.

Fleury had about 4 or 5 saves last night that were incredible

Tonight is kind of special....hello darling!!!!
- powerhouse

They just don't seem to match up against us for some reason. Pens vs Flyers would be another all out war, no matter who wins...and being honest, the Flyers seem to bring out the worst in the Pens.
- Emperor Filonius

I have a feeling CBJ passes the Flyers for 3rd place and gets the NYRs, not sure if it will be Flyers Pens or Pens Detroit

I hear that constantly It is never his fault. Always someone else who is at fault. Description of a goalie....Stop the puck....period. Playoffs in the past have been his fault. Horrible goals allowed. Bad timing of goals. Momentum breaking goals. Lack of concentration goals against. But never his fault. Team Canada did not trust him and people of Pittsburgh should not either. Open your eyes, Team Canada did
- holeinone

Oh look. More Fleury bashing.

Tell me, why do you think the organization took on the expense of adding an assistant coach with the pedigree of Jacques Martin? Could it be because for the past several years the team in front of Fleury forgets all semblance of team defense come playoff time and leaves Fleury hanging out to dry? And in typical goalie fashion (because as you say, his job is to "Stop the puck" no matter what is happening in front of him), Fleury starts doing crazier and crazier poop to try and make up for the lack of defensive effort of his teammates (they are his teammates after all, and he will never blame them)?

I call it being pragmatic.
- Emperor Filonius

Pragmatism is BORING!

Cowards all of you.
- Grinder47

Says the guy who hates Russians for no discernible reason and thinks that winning the Stanley Cup isnt worth it if you dont play the hardest teams to win it.

If Im a coward, you sir, are a fool.

Oh look. More Fleury bashing.

Tell me, why do you think the organization took on the expense of adding an assistant coach with the pedigree of Jacques Martin? Could it be because for the past several years the team in front of Fleury forgets all semblance of team defense come playoff time and leaves Fleury hanging out to dry? And in typical goalie fashion (because as you say, his job is to "Stop the puck" no matter what is happening in front of him), Fleury starts doing crazier and crazier poop to try and make up for the lack of defensive effort of his teammates (they are his teammates after all, and he will never blame them)?
- Kineada

I'll give you that against the Flyers in 2012 and Tampa Bay in 2011. But last year, Fleury allowed 3 goals that really made you wonder how it was possible:

1) The Okposo GWG that he kicked into his own net on a corner dump

2) The goal (forget the player) late in Game 4 that was a slow-gliding puck directed in from a player falling on the ice that slid under his paddle

3) The goal in (I think) Game 5 where the puck was in the corner, MAF was standing with his body facing the corner at the side of his net where the puck directed off of him and in.

These are not cases of the defense failing him, or a case of him trying to "make up for the lack of defensive effort of his teammates." These are flat-out goals that even a mediocre goalie cannot give up. They almost make it seem like he was so unsure of himself that he worried himself into a mess.

This is not a bash. It's a solid assessment of his game: 95% of the time, he's what you need, but 5% of the time, he lets in a goal so baffling that it kills the team. I'm not saying the trend will continue, but at some point, you have to admit he is owed a large portion of the blame.

Crazy matchups, huh? The Flyers would rather play Pittsburgh and Detroit, and Pittsburgh would rather play Columbus and the Rangers.
- jmatchett383

Detroit's clutch and grab makes it tough to utilize out talent and Philly just is like drinking stoopid sauce all night before a game. Again the jackets and Rangers we are all business, go figure, I can't!

- BulliesPhan87

Reminds me of those old Michelob commercials.

Says the guy who hates Russians for no discernible reason and thinks that winning the Stanley Cup isnt worth it if you dont play the hardest teams to win it.

If Im a coward, you sir, are a fool.
- thickman1178

I wouldn't disagree, I do/say a lot of foolish things. However I beg you to not take things said on the interweb too seriously. I don't really think anyone is a coward. As I stated yesterday I will take another cup anyway it comes, but in a perfect world we beat Detroit,Philly and Boston to do so. I am just dreamer I guess. As far as Russians however.................

They just don't seem to match up against us for some reason. Pens vs Flyers would be another all out war, no matter who wins...and being honest, the Flyers seem to bring out the worst in the Pens.
- Emperor Filonius

I wish I could say the Penguins would keep their composure unlike in the last playoff series against them but I really can't do it. The Flyers get under the skin of the Penguins like no other team and the result is asinine retaliatory penalties that hurt the team. I don't have the confidence in them to play smart hockey and keep away from that nonsense against the Flyers.

I wouldn't disagree, I do/say a lot of foolish things. However I beg you to not take things said on the interweb too seriously. I don't really think anyone is a coward. As I stated yesterday I will take another cup anyway it comes, but in a perfect world we beat Detroit,Philly and Boston to do so. I am just dreamer I guess. As far as Russians however.................
- Grinder47

I still don't get it. Why is it better to take the harder path? Do you drive to work backwards every day, use a chisel to write things down, and work blindfolded all day? Of course not. You take the easiest road to success that is possible.

I'll give you that against the Flyers in 2012 and Tampa Bay in 2011. But last year, Fleury allowed 3 goals that really made you wonder how it was possible:

1) The Okposo GWG that he kicked into his own net on a corner dump

2) The goal (forget the player) late in Game 4 that was a slow-gliding puck directed in from a player falling on the ice that slid under his paddle

3) The goal in (I think) Game 5 where the puck was in the corner, MAF was standing with his body facing the corner at the side of his net where the puck directed off of him and in.

These are not cases of the defense failing him, or a case of him trying to "make up for the lack of defensive effort of his teammates." These are flat-out goals that even a mediocre goalie cannot give up. They almost make it seem like he was so unsure of himself that he worried himself into a mess.

This is not a bash. It's a solid assessment of his game: 95% of the time, he's what you need, but 5% of the time, he lets in a goal so baffling that it kills the team. I'm not saying the trend will continue, but at some point, you have to admit he is owed a large portion of the blame.
- jmatchett383

Look. For what most of his naysayers to be true, you'd have to operate on the assumption that somehow Fleury magically loses the physical ability to play his position come a certain month on the calendar. That makes no sense.

What DOES make sense is that you consider the psychology associated with the goaltender position, it is widely accepted that the goalie is to "stop the puck", no matter what. When the team in front of him lets team defense go to pot, Fleury loses focus, and loses the mental acuity necessary for his position. Of course, this is still Fleury's fault, as he shouldn't be trying to play outside of his game. But if you've ever played a game in net at any level of competition, it's easy to understand how the responsibility of keeping the puck out of the net can lead to taking increasingly risky actions to make up for a breakdown of team defense in front of you.

And seriously. If not because of issues with team defense, why DID the Penguins add Jacques Martin to the coaching staff then? They didn't lose any assistants, and I'm sure Martin didn't come cheap.

I still don't get it. Why is it better to take the harder path? Do you drive to work backwards every day, use a chisel to write things down, and work blindfolded all day? Of course not. You take the easiest road to success that is possible.
- jmatchett383

I don't think anyone could argue that the harder you work for something, the better the reward.

Look. For what most of his naysayers to be true, you'd have to operate on the assumption that somehow Fleury magically loses the physical ability to play his position come a certain month on the calendar. That makes no sense.

What DOES make sense is that you consider the psychology associated with the goaltender position, it is widely accepted that the goalie is to "stop the puck", no matter what. When the team in front of him lets team defense go to pot, Fleury loses focus, and loses the mental acuity necessary for his position. Of course, this is still Fleury's fault, as he shouldn't be trying to play outside of his game. But if you've ever played a game in net at any level of competition, it's easy to understand how the responsibility of keeping the puck out of the net can lead to taking increasingly risky actions to make up for a breakdown of team defense in front of you.

And seriously. If not because of issues with team defense, why DID the Penguins add Jacques Martin to the coaching staff then? They didn't lose any assistants, and I'm sure Martin didn't come cheap.
- Kineada

I'm not absolving the defense at all. And the Penguins Cup and SCF teams were essentially run-and-gun teams where MAF played out of his mind in a good way. So yes, attention to defense will help.

But if it's all related to team defense and not at allof MAF, why did backup Vokoun perform so much better with the same team/competition? Also, again, the 3 goals I mentioned (small sample, yes, but glaring) had zero to do with anything other than a goalie losing focus and basically worrying himself out of competency.

Do I think MAF magically loses the ability to play come mid-April? Not ohysically, no, but mentally, maybe he has lost the ability to perform when the lights are brightest. I'm not saying he will poop the bed again, or saying that I expect it, but if I'm the Penguins, I wouldn't be 100% truthful if I said I had no fears about him in goal for the playoffs. I think it's his year to put up or shut up.

Edit: As for adding Jacques Martin, I think there are about 26 other organizations who would have been happy to add him; he most likely (like Iginla) thought the best offer with a chance to succeed was Pittsburgh.

I don't think anyone could argue that the harder you work for something, the better the reward.
- Grinder47

So you think the Penguins 2009 Stanley Cup is more deserved that the 1991 and 1992 Cups? Is the 2009 Cup cheapened because you had to play Carolina?

I guess in your perfect world, the entire Penguins roster is killed in Game 82, they have to call up the entire WBS Penguins roster who plays 4 7-game series, with each game being 8 OTs, beating Detroit/Philly/Boston/St. Louis all along the way. Call me crazy, but that's not what I think most fans want.

Edit: Before Game 7 of the SCF, the entire roster all have their legs broken, forcing them to scoot around the ice all game.

Oh look. More Fleury bashing.

Tell me, why do you think the organization took on the expense of adding an assistant coach with the pedigree of Jacques Martin? Could it be because for the past several years the team in front of Fleury forgets all semblance of team defense come playoff time and leaves Fleury hanging out to dry? And in typical goalie fashion (because as you say, his job is to "Stop the puck" no matter what is happening in front of him), Fleury starts doing crazier and crazier poop to try and make up for the lack of defensive effort of his teammates (they are his teammates after all, and he will never blame them)?
- Kineada

Would it be better if everyone bashes Letang like you constantly do?

I am sitting here watching the game again and one thing that has stood out to me all year long is the structure of the fore check. The pens send F1 on the puck, and F2 and 3 stay high and cover the boards/ center of what side of the ice the puck is on. its like a 1-2-2 fore check. I was always a fan of the 2-3. First guy on the puck carrier takes the body(which we actually do a decent job of), second guy on the puck, third guy stays high above the puck about between the blueline and top of the circles. First guys hits, second guy gets the puck, third guy slides into the slot. If the D is able to work it to the winger the D can pinch and the high F3 covers. We often have the first guy there to take the body but no one to help so its pretty much a 2 on 1 for the puck.

So you think the Penguins 2009 Stanley Cup is more deserved that the 1991 and 1992 Cups? Is the 2009 Cup cheapened because you had to play Carolina?

I guess in your perfect world, the entire Penguins roster is killed in Game 82, they have to call up the entire WBS Penguins roster who plays 4 7-game series, with each game being 8 OTs, beating Detroit/Philly/Boston/St. Louis all along the way. Call me crazy, but that's not what I think most fans want.

Edit: Before Game 7 of the SCF, the entire roster all have their legs broken, forcing them to scoot around the ice all game.
- jmatchett383

Im glad you finally get it.

I'm not absolving the defense at all. And the Penguins Cup and SCF teams were essentially run-and-gun teams where MAF played out of his mind in a good way. So yes, attention to defense will help.

But if it's all related to team defense and not at allof MAF, why did backup Vokoun perform so much better with the same team/competition? Also, again, the 3 goals I mentioned (small sample, yes, but glaring) had zero to do with anything other than a goalie losing focus and basically worrying himself out of competency.

Do I think MAF magically loses the ability to play come mid-April? Not ohysically, no, but mentally, maybe he has lost the ability to perform when the lights are brightest. I'm not saying he will poop the bed again, or saying that I expect it, but if I'm the Penguins, I wouldn't be 100% truthful if I said I had no fears about him in goal for the playoffs. I think it's his year to put up or shut up.

Edit: As for adding Jacques Martin, I think there are about 26 other organizations who would have been happy to add him; he most likely (like Iginla) thought the best offer with a chance to succeed was Pittsburgh.
- jmatchett383

Well, in a sense, we're saying something very similar. Fleury has been losing focus come playoff time. I suppose the disagreement is the root cause. I firmly believe Fleury would benefit greatly from a team in front of him that picks up their guy in front of the net and doesn't turn over the puck ten feet in front of his crease.

Why did the team do better with Vokoun? I don't have stats to prove it, but I DO know it's common for a team to tighten up defensively when the backup goalie is put between the pipes.

And I didn't ask why Martin wanted to come to Pittsburgh. I'm asking why Pittsburgh would take on the expense of what was likely a highly-priced assistant coach known for his defensive acumen if the team didn't recognize that team defense has been an issue several years running come crunch time?