Great bounce back game from Murray but otherwise that first period was dreadful. The boys look nervous till Sid scored. Defensively we played better. Malkin is crazy. Dumo is killing it. Maata looks pretty sharp.

Elliot looked like the real Elliot. Who else do the Flyers have in net cause that guy just ain't getting it done.
- powerhouse

No one. Per usual

One thing I don't think we mentioned is Ruhwedel getting the PK spot over Oleksiak and having a good game there after struggling most of the season when he got a chance there.

Last time the Pens and Flyers played a playoff series, the Flyers won. Many considered it an upset. Peter Laviolette was the Flyers coach. He made a statement to the effect of Crosby passing the baton to Giroux as the best player in the game.
- PittsPens

I don’t remember the baton quote. Like everyone else I thought it was a cop reference lol. I do remember him saying giroux was the best player in the world coming out of that series. I can’t even get mad at these pens. They’re nothing like the 2012 team with the cast of characters I wanted to strangle. It’s just not our time. Hextall has proven he can draft and make great trades for futures. I feel like he needs to do something in ufa this year finally

I don’t remember the baton quote. Like everyone else I thought it was a cop reference lol. I do remember him saying giroux was the best player in the world coming out of that series. I can’t even get mad at these pens. They’re nothing like the 2012 team with the cast of characters I wanted to strangle. It’s just not our time. Hextall has proven he can draft and make great trades for futures. I feel like he needs to do something in ufa this year finally
- Just5

I could be wrong about RW intent of that statement. Maybe it does have to do with the cheek mittens offense. I dont remember Lavy using the term baton, but I do remember him saying Giroux was the best player in the world. Giroux is a marvelous player. Some of the Flyers young guys are good as well. Sanheim, Laughton seem to have a ton of promise. This is still a winnable series for the Flyers. This years Penguins are not quite as strong as the last two years.

That game was a great example of why Sid is still the best player in the game. That beauty wrap around, the faceoff and dish to Dumo, the screen on the Malkin goal... he literally does everything out there.

He is still the best player in the world and it's starting to feel like he might just be the best player of all time.

Sooooo....next game will be 7-0 Flyers with them completing the 7-0/5-1 sandwich?

I could be wrong about RW intent of that statement. Maybe it does have to do with the cheek mittens offense. I dont remember Lavy using the term baton, but I do remember him saying Giroux was the best player in the world. Giroux is a marvelous player. Some of the Flyers young guys are good as well. Sanheim, Laughton seem to have a ton of promise. This is still a winnable series for the Flyers. This years Penguins are not quite as strong as the last two years.
- PittsPens

I dont agree. I think they're stronger* than last year.


*part health, part process.

I don’t remember the baton quote. Like everyone else I thought it was a cop reference lol. I do remember him saying giroux was the best player in the world coming out of that series. I can’t even get mad at these pens. They’re nothing like the 2012 team with the cast of characters I wanted to strangle. It’s just not our time. Hextall has proven he can draft and make great trades for futures. I feel like he needs to do something in ufa this year finally
- Just5

https://www.pensburgh.com...he-battle-of-pennsylvania

Sam Carchidi and Andrew Fillipponi

I dont agree. I think they're stronger* than last year.


*part health, part process.
- MattStrat

I think this is the deepest forward group the Pens have had in the Crosby/Geno era.

I think this is the deepest forward group the Pens have had in the Crosby/Geno era.
- j.boyd919

I think so too.

Brass with the game winner yesterday. Boom.

I dont agree. I think they're stronger* than last year.


*part health, part process.
- MattStrat

Just look at the rosters. This roster is easily stronger on paper.

Sooooo....next game will be 7-0 Flyers with them completing the 7-0/5-1 sandwich?
- MattStrat

I'd say much more likely an OT or double OT 2-1 poopfest

I think so too.

Brass with the game winner yesterday. Boom.
- MattStrat

Yeah that pickup was huge. Pens have so many options.

Just look at the rosters. This roster is easily stronger on paper.
- j.boyd919

Agree, they just haven't clicked like they should be capable of. But this roster is loaded.

Agree, they just haven't clicked like they should be capable of. But this roster is loaded.
- Tojo.

Thats why I'm a little hesitant to say stronger than 2016...because while the roster might be a bit stronger on paper, the cohesiveness and buzzsawness isnt quite there. Though I do see signs of it at times.

I don’t remember the baton quote. Like everyone else I thought it was a cop reference lol. I do remember him saying giroux was the best player in the world coming out of that series. I can’t even get mad at these pens. They’re nothing like the 2012 team with the cast of characters I wanted to strangle. It’s just not our time. Hextall has proven he can draft and make great trades for futures. I feel like he needs to do something in ufa this year finally
- Just5

It's up to the team & lesser extent coach to take the next step. There's a lot of young talent coming through mixed with older teams getting a few young guys into it - Pens reference there. Unless the team takes the next step all this young potential amounts to zero. It's going to be interesting in the east how you guys, Leafs, Boston, Devils, Islanders Carolina & even Tampa handle the next few years as this Pens team matures as a whole - which Tampa will keep in line with in my opinion (ie: same window).

So which senior players in the group above can play at a level that will magnify the young talent?

Where Tavares signs will be yuuge followed by Doughty & Karlsson (maybe the latter 2 are players that will sink a strong young team in a short time )

I don’t remember the baton quote. Like everyone else I thought it was a cop reference lol. I do remember him saying giroux was the best player in the world coming out of that series. I can’t even get mad at these pens. They’re nothing like the 2012 team with the cast of characters I wanted to strangle. It’s just not our time. Hextall has proven he can draft and make great trades for futures. I feel like he needs to do something in ufa this year finally
- Just5

I feel generally the same about the Flyers. I definitely still get up for the rivalry, but my unadulterated hate has pretty much entirely shifted to the Capitals and Jackets. These Flyers aren't the Broad Street Bullies anymore and are shifting to a fast, skilled game. Its hard for me to truly despise a team when they play fast and clean and there's no Scott Hartnell anymore to make yell at the tv every time he's on the ice.

I don’t remember the baton quote. Like everyone else I thought it was a cop reference lol. I do remember him saying giroux was the best player in the world coming out of that series. I can’t even get mad at these pens. They’re nothing like the 2012 team with the cast of characters I wanted to strangle. It’s just not our time. Hextall has proven he can draft and make great trades for futures. I feel like he needs to do something in ufa this year finally
- Just5

Good luck, this UFA class sucks donkey Richard.

Thats why I'm a little hesitant to say stronger than 2016...because while the roster might be a bit stronger on paper, the cohesiveness and buzzsawness isnt quite there. Though I do see signs of it at times.
- MattStrat

Inconsistant goaltending also. Not having MAF is a loss - & a Vegas gain.

I think this is the deepest forward group the Pens have had in the Crosby/Geno era.
- j.boyd919

I think its also by far the best top 4 D we've had in the Crosby-Malkin Era. I don't really remember how good/bad it was when we had Gonch, Gogo, Orpik, and Scuds all in their prime and a rookie Kris Letang, but since I've been seriously watching the Pens, this kicks the crap out of any defense we've had.

I think its also by far the best top 4 D we've had in the Crosby-Malkin Era. I don't really remember how good/bad it was when we had Gonch, Gogo, Orpik, and Scuds all in their prime and a rookie Kris Letang, but since I've been seriously watching the Pens, this kicks the crap out of any defense we've had.
- Victoro311

Martin, Letang, Niskanen & Orpik? With a young

And didn't Craig Adams fill in 6D occasionally?

Martin, Letang, Niskanen & Orpik? With a young Maatta.
- Aussiepenguin

They never won a game outside the 2nd round with Martin in the top 4...

Martin, Letang, Niskanen & Orpik? With a young Maatta.
- Aussiepenguin

Good call. That was solid, although Orpik was already really bad.

Good luck, this UFA class sucks donkey Richard.
- j.boyd919

Haha I havent even looked at it yet. Is it really that bad? Seem to remember people around here saying it was going to be a good one this summer...