Actually, putting on the Orange glasses, the one thing that really bugged me yesterday was a play where Malkin tried to stickhandle past Coburn, but got denied. Either Edzo or Pierre gave credit to Malkin for "even trying to make that move" yet didn't even mention Coburn, who stood his ground and played it perfectly.

Maybe it's because I've become immune to broadcasters "blowing" whichever annointed one is out there. But to praise a guy who got stopped because an opposing player made a better play...just irks me
- Jsaquella

That was f'n Pierre saying that... "It's impressive he even tried a move like that..." Blah f'n blah. Tried and failed is impressive in Pierre's world.

What he should have said was "that's another elbow from Malkin...it's impressive how he never sits a few games for all the slew foots and elbows he throws..."

lol @ complaining of NBC's coverage of the Pens

you expected anything different? first time watching a game on NBC?

there's got to be a way to get those streams.
- hammarby31

Yea someone faking the tsn website into thinking you live in Canada

He has a rep for being sneaky-dirty with the stick but that when you get him to start doing that, it means you've gotten under his skin -- actually a bit like Eric Lindros was in that regard.
- bmeltzer

That's exactly right Bill. When you have Malkin engaging behind the play and in scrums after the whistle you're playing him the right way. The thing with Malkin, if he gets really mad about something early he transforms into some kind of hockey playing robot and he can beat you by himself. However, if he's not having success he takes bad penalties. He can definitely play the game a little cheap. I wasn't happy when he narrowly missed an elbow to Giroux's head earlier this year.

If he wasn't such an attention whore before then it wouldn't be as bad. You dont see the slobber fest over similar stars like Malkin, Ovechkin, or Stamkos... Sure they are highlighted and talked about more then other players... But its more about the game... When Crysby is on National Media not only talks about how great he is as a hockey player, but then massages his ego at how great he is at EVERYTHING. Its just aweful, and all Cindy has to do to make it stop is be a little humble... Don't make everything about him... Take a page from Gretzky and Lemieux... They had the spotlight on them, and I think they handled it perfectly...
- RooNosHockey

Yeah, he's not an attention whore. It's not his fault the broadcasting strategy is unoriginal and ridiculous.

If he wasn't such an attention whore before then it wouldn't be as bad. You dont see the slobber fest over similar stars like Malkin, Ovechkin, or Stamkos... Sure they are highlighted and talked about more then other players... But its more about the game... When Crysby is on National Media not only talks about how great he is as a hockey player, but then massages his ego at how great he is at EVERYTHING. Its just aweful, and all Cindy has to do to make it stop is be a little humble... Don't make everything about him... Take a page from Gretzky and Lemieux... They had the spotlight on them, and I think they handled it perfectly...
- RooNosHockey

The NHL and it's broadcast partners choose to do that, not Crosby. Do you really think that Gretzky didn't do the same sort of things during his prime? Gretzky, like Crosby, did everything asked of him by the NHL and the media.

Crosby doesn't make editorial decisions, he doesn't write the articles and he doesn't write the script for the national media.

If he wasn't such an attention whore before then it wouldn't be as bad. You dont see the slobber fest over similar stars like Malkin, Ovechkin, or Stamkos... Sure they are highlighted and talked about more then other players... But its more about the game... When Crysby is on National Media not only talks about how great he is as a hockey player, but then massages his ego at how great he is at EVERYTHING. Its just aweful, and all Cindy has to do to make it stop is be a little humble... Don't make everything about him... Take a page from Gretzky and Lemieux... They had the spotlight on them, and I think they handled it perfectly...
- RooNosHockey

An attention whore?

So he asks for the attention? Ya...

lol @ complaining of NBC's coverage of the Pens

you expected anything different? first time watching a game on NBC?
- bradleyc4

lol @ suggesting the complaints are equivalent to being surprised by it

That's being a bit ridiculous. Kunitz didn't throw a punch, his gloves didn't come off and he didn't injure Hartnell.

Uncalled for? Sure. Nasty, even dirty? Sure. Classless? Sure. Should have been a ten minute misconduct. Nothing more.
- Jsaquella

He was slamming his elbow into Hartnell's head while it was held on the ice. He wasnt just holding him down... He was striking the head with his elbow for god's sake... isnt that a blow to the head? I can see the Ref's calling it a 10 in game, but that should be reviewed by the league...

lol @ complaining of NBC's coverage of the Pens

you expected anything different? first time watching a game on NBC?
- bradleyc4

Well goaltending is great, team d was good, jvr is not playing, danny b set up the game winner...


Theres nothing else to complain about!!!!!!!!!!!!11111

When in doubt female dog about the pens and NBC!

I hope Andrej Meszaros will be ready to play come playoff time.
- stveshdy

You and me both, pal!

I have to say something about this year. Very often we get great fans of the other teams in our threads to talk hockey. There have been some pretty awesome Pens, Rags, and Bruins fans over the course of the year. But what has been going on this year is just friggen crazy. I mean over the course of two months we have had MSG chanting at the Flyers "You can't beat us" when all the Flyers have done is beat that team like a drum over the last decade. Then yesterday we had Pens fans claiming that Flyers fans were bandwagoners. Seriously? Lastly, they complain that (mainly their coach) that the Flyers were taking runs at players and not standing up for it. Really Bylsma? Coming from the coach of the Penguins. I mean, come on man, reality check.

I dont know how u can stand root sports and fsn before that, I lived out there for a few yrs during college and if I never hear any of the pens announcers again it will be a good day. Fsn was the absolute worst sports network I have ever seen. For god sakes there was more PSU coverage then PITT and it was FSN PITTSBURGH!
- flyers4487

I have yet to meet a single person who thought they did a good job.

That was f'n Pierre saying that... "It's impressive he even tried a move like that..." Blah f'n blah. Tried and failed is impressive in Pierre's world.

What he should have said was "that's another elbow from Malkin...it's impressive how he never sits a few games for all the slew foots and elbows he throws..."
- wolfhounds

Hell, if he had just finished it off with, "...and great work by Coburn to stop Malkin. He played that perfectly" I wouldn't have had an issue with it. I get it, star players are going to get recognition. Coburn made a damned good play and got ignored. Recognize his efforts, too.

Kinda happy with the two points instead.
- bradleyc4

He has a rep for being sneaky-dirty with the stick but that when you get him to start doing that, it means you've gotten under his skin -- actually a bit like Eric Lindros was in that regard.
- bmeltzer

Thanks Bill, I would take Geno on the flyers despite that. Lindros got beat on and was the target of all kinds of cheap shots that were never called because Eric was Eric and could take care of himself.
Not sure how often Malkin has players trying to take him out at the knees.

lol @ complaining of NBC's coverage of the Pens

you expected anything different? first time watching a game on NBC?
- bradleyc4

And I don't really understand all the uproar over it. In my opinion it's a non issue. I really don't care if they slobber over Crosby or any other player. It would have no effect on my enjoyment of the game. Crosby is good for the NHL, whether you like him or not.

Actually, putting on the Orange glasses, the one thing that really bugged me yesterday was a play where Malkin tried to stickhandle past Coburn, but got denied. Either Edzo or Pierre gave credit to Malkin for "even trying to make that move" yet didn't even mention Coburn, who stood his ground and played it perfectly.

Maybe it's because I've become immune to broadcasters "blowing" whichever annointed one is out there. But to praise a guy who got stopped because an opposing player made a better play...just irks me
- Jsaquella

I watched the DVR of the game broadcast late last night after the other games (Caps-Hawks, end of Coyotes-Oilers) and noticed that same thing. But that's just how it goes. They also talked a lot about Giroux in segments of the game where he was a non-factor.

That's how it goes on national broadcasts. They pre-pick story lines and (the same few) focus players and talk about them throughout the game regardless of what actually is going on in the game.

A few years ago, I did a lengthy interview with Mike Emrick and learned a lot about the business end of broadcasting.

Doc told me that when he does a national game, the expectation is to talk 50 percent about the teams (roughly 25 percent devoted to each) and 50 percent on the focus players/story lines. When he did the Devils game, the expectation was roughly 60 percent focus on Devils, 40 percent on opposition. When he was with the Flyers, the higher ups wanted roughly 75 percent to 80 percent on the Flyers and 20 to 25 percent on the opposing team/players.

That is NOT decided by the announcers, contrary to people's accusations of "bias" or so-and-so must be a fan of X player or team. That comes from the producers and the channel execs who write the checks.

He was slamming his elbow into Hartnell's head while it was held on the ice. He wasnt just holding him down... He was striking the head with his elbow for god's sake... isnt that a blow to the head? I can see the Ref's calling it a 10 in game, but that should be reviewed by the league...
- RooNosHockey

He was holding Hartnell down with his elbow and face washing him. He wasn't slamming his elbow int Hartnell's head.

There's not one iota of need to review the play or suspend Kunitz. Stuff like that happens all the time.

If any play from the weekend deserved a suspension, it was Bogosian nailing Nodl.

Does the league only invistagate head shots these days? This act should be a 2 game suspension. To continue to pummel a guy when 2 linesmen are trying to pull you off is just a lack or respect for the player and the officials. It's not like he was doing it for a few seconds after the officials arrived and then stopped and got up, the guy was trying to really hurt Hartnell. Ask yourself if Crosby, Malkin, or Stamkos had that happen to them... What would have happened? Instant Game misconduct and a league review....
- RooNosHockey

The double standards that are abundant and apparent in this league make it comparable to the WWE in officiating. It's bush league. Until the NHL has video reviews/ coaches challenges on penalties and non call penalties similar to NFL, it will be hard to take this league seriously. The GM's should have been discussing things like this at their meetings not hybrid icing bullpoop.

The NHL and it's broadcast partners choose to do that, not Crosby. Do you really think that Gretzky didn't do the same sort of things during his prime? Gretzky, like Crosby, did everything asked of him by the NHL and the media.

Crosby doesn't make editorial decisions, he doesn't write the articles and he doesn't write the script for the national media.
- Jsaquella

Precisely. See response above.

I have yet to meet a single person who thought they did a good job.
- canadianpenfan

I had center ice out there 3 of the 4 yrs, so I only had to deal with them 4-8 times a yr but still ended up watching pens games and they are so bad at calling games it makes me want to puke. Why mike lang is still stuck on the radio is beyond me (I actually think more people listen to him while stuck on the parkway then there are people watching at home anyways )

The NHL and it's broadcast partners choose to do that, not Crosby. Do you really think that Gretzky didn't do the same sort of things during his prime? Gretzky, like Crosby, did everything asked of him by the NHL and the media.

Crosby doesn't make editorial decisions, he doesn't write the articles and he doesn't write the script for the national media.
- Jsaquella

Can I ask a serious question of you Flyers fans?


What would be the perception of Crosby if he turned down all of these interviews and such. Actually came right out and said "I'm tired of all the attention, I don't want to be the face of the NHL, stop talking to me".

I already know the answer.

lol @ complaining of NBC's coverage of the Pens

you expected anything different? first time watching a game on NBC?
- bradleyc4

Seriously, I'm surprised that anyone is surprised. But you need something to complain about after a win, right?

Am I the only one sickened by the fact that Kunitz drove his knee into Hartnells face grinding him into the ice and he got off with a minor penalty and that's it? All the while a stupid ref stands there and watches as two wussy linesman can't even pull the dirty Kuntz off our leading goal scorer. Imagine the outrage if Hartnell did this to Crosby?
- KilladelphiaFlyers

Stop whining.

We reap what we sow my friend. Hartnell may be your leading goal scorer, but he's earned that kind of treatment over his career with all the crap he's pulled over the years. The ref's simply aren't going to protect Hartnell the way they would a Giroux or Crosby. I guarantee if Kunitz had done that to Giroux, the response would have been different, and I have no issue with that.