Boring hockey. Flamboyant teams. Low ratings.

Boring hockey. Flamboyant teams. Low ratings.
- jtuzyk

Soooo boring. Wish everyone of these games was 2-1 and the players were as slow as molasses.

@Rafi

The Pens have had a great year regardless of what happens from here on out. There is no way you trade one of the top centers in the league unless the return is a top player and a potential top center man to take over his spot. Malkin's most likely playing with a lower body injury (notice he doesn't have a ton of hop.) this also effects your hands. This team is in great shape moving forward.
- cranktheradio

Pens may listen on fleury and dp, they might actively shop Kunitz... But there not giving them away for less then equal value. Malkin, kessel, hags et.... Are going no where

I'm not Stevie and I'm not blind. That pass along the right goal line that bounced in, MAF would not allow that sh*t!

Doesn't matter who's in goal if the Pens play a solid game. We hung Murray out to dry on 1. If everyone back checks Sustr doesn't score there. The one off the toe of Johnson was just a lucky bounce. I do think MAF in net may help motivate what should already be a motivated team.

Doesn't matter who's in goal if the Pens play a solid game. We hung Murray out to dry on 1. If everyone back checks Sustr doesn't score there. The one off the toe of Johnson was just a lucky bounce. I do think MAF in net may help motivate what should already be a motivated team.
- Thorny87

On the flip side Fleury is capable of saving your ass once in awhile when you hang him out to dry. Those always go in on Murray, always.

Kunitz is a great complimentary player. Just like Neal, Ponikarovski (sp?), and Hornqvist. I am in the group who think the Pens are riding a high of the HBK line. I want SJS to face the Pens.

Do you think the Pens can match Pavelski, Burns, and Thornton?
- RafiDRW

We can't match any good team. Ask the Caps.

Boring hockey. Flamboyant teams. Low ratings.
- jtuzyk

Winnipeg fan knows all about low ratings, right?

Murray's play did not cause the pull, after 4 goals and a period to play you don't leave a guy in for a possible 6th and 7th. I look at it like this though. The last three goals tampa scored they got Murray moving side to side(like any coaching staff and video team obviously would tell them too) and scored. Murray got a piece of the second goal with his glove but was just a little too slow. Say that's Fleury and he gets a bigger piece of that puck(because hes a better side to side goalie) and it goes wide, or he gloves it. When Drouin throws it across the crease Fleury poke checks it with his active stick. That's what I see when I see those goals go in.
- Grinder47

Agree with all of this. I love Matt Murray. But he's not playing with confidence these last couple of games. And that's a problem.

MAF's aggressiveness would be extremely useful against the Lightning, from being more aggressive in terms of challenging shots, to his lateral movement, to his stick check. That's the style that is needed right now, and as Letang said, seeing a team leader who has painfully missed this run back in the pipes is inspiring stuff.

Beyond all that, I just kind of feel like it was meant to be.

I hear yah. But what if the Pens lose in 6 with the core not doing poop. Would you trade one of Crosby or Malkin or two of Hagelin, Kessel, Hornqvist, and Kunitz?

I think the Pens win this. But if they don't, it's all bets off. I'm a Red Wings fan who is asking from an outside perspective.
- RafiDRW

Smart move for Pittsburgh considering trading Hagelin and or Kessel, since they are two thirds of our best line. Common sense says Kunitz will get shopped. I seriously doubt the other two you mention will be dealt.

STL looks a lot better this game. Nice shortie just happened.

This is the STL team I don't want to face in the finals, if we advance.

Agree with all of this. I love Matt Murray. But he's not playing with confidence these last couple of games. And that's a problem.

MAF's aggressiveness would be extremely useful against the Lightning, from being more aggressive in terms of challenging shots, to his lateral movement, to his stick check. That's the style that is needed right now, and as Letang said, seeing a team leader who has painfully missed this run back in the pipes is inspiring stuff.

Beyond all that, I just kind of feel like it was meant to be.
- hardnosed

TB scored 9 goals on 39 shots against MAF in two games this regular season and he got pulled once. If he starts hopefully he can build on what he did in the third period.

TB scored 9 goals on 39 shots against MAF in two games this regular season and he got pulled once. If he starts hopefully he can build on what he did in the third period.
- acdc1206

The only question ... was MAF truly tested last night absent that first shot? Did he really build something, or was it a byproduct of his team playing balls out for the final 18 minutes. If your contention that the team played harder and will do so tomorrow for MAF, then you do it.

I have seen posts from some that said Murray wasn't tested many games due to the shot totals allowed. I truly wonder if MAF was last night in the final 20.

Just saw this posted somewhere else and thought it was interesting, Murray's first 7 playoff game he was 6-1 with a 1.86gaa and a .944sv%, his last 6 playoff games he's 3-3 with a 2.83gaa and a .892sv%. I was originally in favor of going back to Murray in Game 5 but this makes me wonder if maybe it isn't time for a switch.
- jaydogg1974

Well the four goals surrendered last night weren't his fault and they certainly;y contribute to the worse stats, right?

Hey Pens fans. Who is your future if you lose thus round? I would think that Malkin gets traded for someone like Shattenkirk. Thoughts?
- RafiDRW

Straight up? Nope. I would imagine STL would have to add more to this. Big fan of Shattenkirk's though.

delete

The only question ... was MAF truly tested last night absent that first shot? Did he really build something, or was it a byproduct of his team playing balls out for the final 18 minutes. If your contention that the team played harder and will do so tomorrow for MAF, then you do it.

I have seen posts from some that said Murray wasn't tested many games due to the shot totals allowed. I truly wonder if MAF was last night in the final 20.
- Oneonta Penguin

I dont think he was tested a lot. But I also think after the hits to the head that Murray has been taking and just the way he is generally looking right now that he needs a rest, so it makes sense to put Flower in. You know what Fleury can do, so give him the chance to take his place back.

TB scored 9 goals on 39 shots against MAF in two games this regular season and he got pulled once. If he starts hopefully he can build on what he did in the third period.
- acdc1206

Some of that, like Murray last night, was the responsibility of the team in front of him, some lucky bounces, and too much time on the PK.

Lovejoy getting tooled by Stralman. Tipped point shots. 5 on 3 goal.

I dont think he was tested a lot. But I also think after the hits to the head that Murray has been taking and just the way he is generally looking right now that he needs a rest, so it makes sense to put Flower in. You know what Fleury can do, so give him the chance to take his place back.
- thickman1178

Tested or not, he got his feet wet.

Murray is kind of in a Zatkoff situation right now. Good stats, but looks shaky and is taking losses.

I dont think he was tested a lot. But I also think after the hits to the head that Murray has been taking and just the way he is generally looking right now that he needs a rest, so it makes sense to put Flower in. You know what Fleury can do, so give him the chance to take his place back.
- thickman1178

You brought up something that I totally forgot about ... Dumo nailing Murray in the head with his shoulder at the end of the second. We have no idea if there was anything to that or not. At that stage, it was pretty obvious that MAF was coming in for the third, which he should have regardless of Murray being hit or not. He didn't do anything wrong, but it was a good opportunity to see MAF get some action just in case we need him. We might very well need him now.

I know what Flower is capable of doing. That said, 18 minutes and change last night in the last 6.5 weeks isn't a lot.

You brought up something that I totally forgot about ... Dumo nailing Murray in the head with his shoulder at the end of the second. We have no idea if there was anything to that or not. At that stage, it was pretty obvious that MAF was coming in for the third, which he should have regardless of Murray being hit or not. He didn't do anything wrong, but it was a good opportunity to see MAF get some action just in case we need him. We might very well need him now.

I know what Flower is capable of doing. That said, 18 minutes and change last night in the last 6.5 weeks isn't a lot.
- Oneonta Penguin

Dumos hit on Murray was at the end of the 1st wasn't it?

Murray's play did not cause the pull, after 4 goals and a period to play you don't leave a guy in for a possible 6th and 7th. I look at it like this though. The last three goals tampa scored they got Murray moving side to side(like any coaching staff and video team obviously would tell them too) and scored. Murray got a piece of the second goal with his glove but was just a little too slow. Say that's Fleury and he gets a bigger piece of that puck(because hes a better side to side goalie) and it goes wide, or he gloves it. When Drouin throws it across the crease Fleury poke checks it with his active stick. That's what I see when I see those goals go in.
Can someone explain to me how the Letang penalty shook out? I first thought he got an unsportsmanlike for the slapping of the puck after the whistle, a crosscheck on killorn and a roughing with boyle that cancelled out but my friend said there was no unsportsmanlike. Killorn and Boyle were both coming after Letang for slapping the puck. I think we got screwed.
- Grinder47

Listening to Mike Lange & the 29er, apparently Killorn 'fell' over & a penalty was called on Culldog (wrong place wrong time), who if the Zebs actually saw the play was interfering with Culldog & should have been penalised. Then apparently Tanger got into it with Boyle then Boyle just starting throwing punches even when he was being escorted off ice!! All in all the double minus was bogus & Killorn should have been penalised.

Dumos hit on Murray was at the end of the 1st wasn't it?
- brienstel

Can't remember now.

Listening to Mike Lange & the 29er, apparently Killorn 'fell' over & a penalty was called on Culldog (wrong place wrong time), who if the Zebs actually saw the play was interfering with Culldog & should have been penalised. Then apparently Tanger got into it with Boyle then Boyle just starting throwing punches even when he was being escorted off ice!! All in all the double minus was bogus & Killorn should have been penalised.
- Aussiepenguin

That was a mess by the refs. Essentially gave TB a 4-minute power play and a gift goal. They blew that one.

Can't remember now.
- Oneonta Penguin

I'm 90% it was.