We hear a lot about the organization's culture...and the need for change.

On one level, I get it...but on another I am stumped.

Crosby is the captain and by all accounts, one of the hardest working players in the league.

Why is it then, that the last two playoff seasons..he does not appear to be that guy on the consistent basis we have come to expect?

Is it all the attention he gets from other teams in terms of special match-ups and double teams at times?

I am asking because I really don't know...but also because I sometimes think there is and undercurrent or something...this culture thing...that might just be part of it too.

As the captain, is he not able to change that?

As the captain, is he part of the problem?

Inspiration will usually cause you to play better. There's no magic involved.
- jmatchett383

Inspiration makes your skills as a hockey player better? Sorry I just don't buy that, you are what you are. You don't think Sid is "inspired" to play well in the playoffs after being total garbage for the past 3 series? To me that would be inspiration to play better. But its not easy to do with a broken hand, it is what it is.

We hear a lot about the organization's culture...and the need for change.

On one level, I get it...but on another I am stumped.

Crosby is the captain and by all accounts, one of the hardest working players in the league.

Why is it then, that the last two playoff seasons..he does not appear to be that guy on the consistent basis we have come to expect?

Is it all the attention he gets from other teams in terms of special match-ups and double teams at times?

I am asking because I really don't know...but also because I sometimes think there is and undercurrent or something...this culture thing...that might just be part of it too.

As the captain, is he not able to change that?

As the captain, is he part of the problem?
- icedog97

JMO, Sid isn't the biggest guy in the world. He's not the same player he was before the concussions. He scored a lot more dirty goals before the head injury.

Also, the game is called differently in the playoffs. Teams get away with clutching and grabbing. It's a shame the rules change but they do.

I think the number one priority should be to get Sid a RW power forward. Open up some space. No excuses, just make it happen.

Inspiration makes your skills as a hockey player better? Sorry I just don't buy that, you are what you are. You don't think Sid is "inspired" to play well in the playoffs after being total garbage for the past 3 series? To me that would be inspiration to play better. But its not easy to do with a broken hand, it is what it is.
- nbartley9

The answer lies somewhere between both posters stance IMO. However, it certainly isn't the lone standing reason as to why the Rangers are in this position they are in. Saying its the death of MSL's mother as the reason why they have come back in this series is beyond retarded.

Inspiration makes your skills as a hockey player better? Sorry I just don't buy that, you are what you are. You don't think Sid is "inspired" to play well in the playoffs after being total garbage for the past 3 series? To me that would be inspiration to play better. But its not easy to do with a broken hand, it is what it is.
- nbartley9

When did I say it improved his hockey skills?

The answer lies somewhere between both posters stance IMO. However, it certainly isn't the lone standing reason as to why the Rangers are in this position they are in. Saying its the death of MSL's mother as the reason why they have come back in this series is beyond retarded.
- Oneonta Penguin

They worked hard. Simple as that. Reason moot. They get paid and they did not want to be shown up. They're as in it as any other team. That is reason enough for me. If the media wants to pump the "Marty's Mom" tires like they are then fine. Maybe it gave them a jump. Whatever. I'm sure the Rangers will tell you that the only reason the Penguins aren't waiting for the ECF to start is because they got off their butts and outworked them. They'd be right. Penguins have to focus on playing smart and simple. Hard, clean hockey.

They controlled play in every zone and worked whether they had the puck or not. Get back to that and I like their chances.

When did I say it improved his hockey skills?
- jmatchett383

So you are saying that playing with the memory of your 2-day dead mother is not a cause of inspiration? Really?
Over the course of my (negligible) career, I remember one game in particular where we played against a guy whose girlfriend had just died. He was an absolute terror. I think he burned us for 6 goals and was like a truck running through people.



To me that's what this post meant.

They worked hard. Simple as that. Reason moot. They get paid and they did not want to be shown up. They're as in it as any other team. That is reason enough for me. If the media wants to pump the "Marty's Mom" tires like they are then fine. Maybe it gave them a jump. Whatever. I'm sure the Rangers will tell you that the only reason the Penguins aren't waiting for the ECF to start is because they got off their butts and outworked them. They'd be right. Penguins have to focus on playing smart and simple. Hard, clean hockey.

They controlled play in every zone and worked whether they had the puck or not. Get back to that and I like their chances.
- HopintheCordoba

It's a story the media is trying to pump up that doesn't have much volume to me. The Rags are saying the only reason handshakes haven't been done is because they have been outworked. There might be some validity to that, but not the sole reason. A good portion of this is the Penguins looking disinterested and had no urgency. That is also a primary reason why handshakes haven't been had.

It's a story the media is trying to pump up that doesn't have much volume to me. The Rags are saying the only reason handshakes haven't been done is because they have been outworked. There might be some validity to that, but not the sole reason. A good portion of this is the Penguins looking disinterested and had no urgency. That is also a primary reason why handshakes haven't been had.
- Oneonta Penguin

Thanks for re-wording my sentiment.


Good job.

That seeding doesnt necessarily matter. A lot of teams lose to lower seeds every year
- Deadstar

the 2006 oilers were a 7 or 8 seed too, iirc, even though they lost, they still got to the final.

Thanks for re-wording my sentiment.


Good job.
- HopintheCordoba

I aim to please.

We hear a lot about the organization's culture...and the need for change.

On one level, I get it...but on another I am stumped.

Crosby is the captain and by all accounts, one of the hardest working players in the league.

Why is it then, that the last two playoff seasons..he does not appear to be that guy on the consistent basis we have come to expect?

Is it all the attention he gets from other teams in terms of special match-ups and double teams at times?

I am asking because I really don't know...but also because I sometimes think there is and undercurrent or something...this culture thing...that might just be part of it too.

As the captain, is he not able to change that?

As the captain, is he part of the problem?
- icedog97

he's being targeted, for one, and at the same time, even the best players are not going to carry the mail every series for their whole careers. sometimes, it just doesn't go your way. imo, he's not getting a lot of great looks at the net, and not creating very much. he's spinning his wheels, and that's probably due to cumulative frustration. he can just as easily have a monster game tonight, win, and turn the page a bit. the other guys need to step up too.

Just driving back from lunch listening to Stan Savran. This is related to some of the team culture posts...

According to Stan, he knows of "several players" in the Pens locker room that are unhappy with their position in the pecking order (i.e. PP time, line #, etc..).

So was Philadelphia a "lesser" team in 2012? Was Tampa Bay a "lesser" team in 2011? Was Montreal a "lesser" team in 2010? If so, you guys really have a problem with these lesser teams. After a while, maybe it's not the case.
- jmatchett383

Yes.
Yes.
Yes.

Yes, we do have a problem with lesser teams. Hence all the hand wringing and people who (not without reason) think the coach should be fired.

Honestly, I wouldn't ever use the term "lesser' team, because it's pretty damn demeaning. I'll call them a lower seed, and a team that, statistically and in view of recent history, we should beat. But come playoff time, very team can pull off an upset of any team. I don't think any NHL team should be called a "lesser" team though, especially when some of them may be able to play a team game that the "superior" team can't handle.

If you keep losing to these "lesser' teams, then maybe it's you guys who are the "lesser" team in the end, despite your gawdy regular season records.
- jmatchett383

You Philly folks are quite the sensitive bunch this week.