Ryan Wilson: A Loss, A Big Injury and A "Goalie Controversy" A Loss, A Big Injury and A "Goalie Controversy"

Well (frank)

Sometimes people will credit a goalie change for a "spark". Personally I find that concept insulting to the team. A team who is supposedly known for being "resilient" would try harder because the person playing goalie for them changed?

Yeah, what does Kris Letang know?!?

"He's such an important guy for us since he was drafted. He's a very good leader for us. He had a hell of a season; it's just too bad that these things happen. It was fun to see him in net, give us a push. I'm pretty sure that pushed the guys to work hard."

Fleury is the right play tomorrow night. He's the right goalie against the Lightning's rush-based attack, while Murray was the right goalie against the Rangers' and Capitals' zone time based attack. Geez, I missed the aggressiveness and stick-checking of Fleury instead of the sit back and absorb the shot approach.

And Kuhnhackl hasn't played at all like a guy in a walking boot...he had a nice carry through the defense last night, and the move where Hedman caught him in game 2.

And Maatta obviously will play before Pouliot.

And the Penguins scored three goals without sticking Malkin and Crosby together in the third.

Kuhn in a walking boot... I don't think I've seen his play look bad. Maybe instead shelf Sheary and play with the 7 D.

Give Fehr or Cullen the bump up. Maybe have Geno on Cullen's wing so he can focus more on shooting and less on making turnovers.

Always a good read, Ryan.

Yuck! Read the blog and agreed with every point but 1 (making a goalie change absolutely motivates the players). Kinda scary to agree with RW this much, guess it's time to call the shrink and have my head checked.

Before I go, reading RW's salty tweets after Fleury came in and the team responded almost made the loss tolerable.

Malkin got a nice goal but also was a huge negative with his turnovers. He was terrible on some of the power plays and just cause he scored doesn't excuse him from that play.

Good post, hit point on a lot of the questions moving forward. I agree 100% with using seven defensemen. Anyone of Kuhnhackl, Rust or Sheary can sit, and the other two can fill in along with Fehr and Cullen. Time to push the big guys, there may not be a next round if you don't.

Yuck! Read the blog and agreed with every point but 1 (making a goalie change absolutely motivates the players). Kinda scary to agree with RW this much, guess it's time to call the shrink and have my head checked.
- jaydogg1974

I think making a goalie change is over simplifying things. If that was the case all you would have to do is replace the goalie anytime you give a goal. Unless your goalie is throwing an absolute stinker, there are going to be multiple reasons to make that move. Last night it was discipline, composure and lackadaisical play along with Tampa playing their best game of the series. This team is resilient but I still think that Sullivan put some of these guys in their place and that had something to do with the rally.

The Lightning were the beneficiary of a couple of goals that no goalie on earth was going to stop. So it is time to cut the goalie controversy crap. Murray made a lot of nice saves to stop the Lightning momentum. The Pens will do what they have to do in game 5 and that is to dominate. The Lightning are on life support right now and all the Pens have to do is pull the plug.

I think making a goalie change is over simplifying things. If that was the case all you would have to do is replace the goalie anytime you give a goal. Unless your goalie is throwing an absolute stinker, there are going to be multiple reasons to make that move. Last night it was discipline, composure and lackadaisical play along with Tampa playing their best game of the series. This team is resilient but I still think that Sullivan put some of these guys in their place and that had something to do with the rally.
- Thunderbolt

I wouldn't disagree that simply putting it all on the goalie change is over simplifying things, but so is giving the goalie change zero credit for the boost in play and putting it all on score effect as RW did. There's a lot that goes into it but any player will tell you that when the goalie gets pulled because they didn't play well in front of the goalie it humbles them and gives them the boost that they need to step it up, it doesn't always show immediately but it almost always has an effect on the mindset of the players. I guarantee you that if Sullivan goes back to Murray in game 5, we'll see a completely different team in front of him because they will feel like they let him down in game 4 and owe it to him to play great in front of him in game 5.

The Lightning were the beneficiary of a couple of goals that no goalie on earth was going to stop. So it is time to cut the goalie controversy crap. Murray made a lot of nice saves to stop the Lightning momentum. The Pens will do what they have to do in game 5 and that is to dominate. The Lightning are on life support right now and all the Pens have to do is pull the plug.
- holeinone

I don't disagree at all and I agree that Murray should be back in net for Game 5 but if people like yourself still hold Fleury accountable for all the goals that no goalie was saving in the Philly series then there should be no issue with holding Murray accountable for last night. The defense was 100x worse in the Philly meltdown but you have no problem holding Fleury accountable for that mess and still use it as a negative against MAF, so what's good for the goose is good for the gander as they say.

When playing in the ECF doesn't motivate Malkin, he obviously want to go home...

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.

I don't disagree at all and I agree that Murray should be back in net for Game 5 but if people like yourself still hold Fleury accountable for all the goals that no goalie was saving in the Philly series then there should be no issue with holding Murray accountable for last night. The defense was 100x worse in the Philly meltdown but you have no problem holding Fleury accountable for that mess and still use it as a negative against MAF, so what's good for the goose is good for the gander as they say.
- jaydogg1974

Supposedly MAF was a world class goalie at that time and the truth was he was a head case and he should be held accountable. Those are the reasons that Team Canada never came calling It is called "No Trust" What would you call it????????

When playing in the ECF doesn't motivate Malkin, he obviously want to go home...
- 21peter

You are Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs

You are Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs
- holeinone

Nice read. I do have a major disagreement. We definitely want Fleury in there next game. I believe it is the right thing to do. Murray is great but he has not been as good as this has gone along. Will Fleury help us? Yes, he can make some saves, especially on break aways that Murray just can't.

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

Nice read. I do have a major disagreement. We definitely want Fleury in there next game. I believe it is the right thing to do. Murray is great but he has not been as good as this has gone along. Will Fleury help us? Yes, he can make some saves, especially on break aways that Murray just can't.
- powerhouse

Have you really been watching these games or are you Stevie Wonder?

Have you really been watching these games or are you Stevie Wonder?
- holeinone

Stevie Wonder would score five goals

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

We've had a great season and this is a good series. There's no need to overreact after a hard fought Eastern Confrence Finals. A Shattenkirk caliber player to hold down the right side of the second pairing would be an insane piece for us but I feel no need to trade an all world player to fill any other holes because honestly our jokes aren't that big anymore.

Stevie Wonder would score five goals
- RafiDRW

Stevie ain't blind.

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

There was no way he was going to continue the torrid pace he was on in the first two series. Eventually he was coming back down to earth and that is what we are seeing. That why I would give the net back to the seasoned vet in goal and let him have his chance to shine.

All along it was "Murrays net until he loses it" and even though last night was clearly not his fault with the defense being a sponge, it shows that maybe they need a kick in the ass in the form of a goaltender change to show them they need to do better. While I would hope they would play their hearts out in front of any goalie in net, I think they have a lot of respect for Fleury and will play hard for him.