you can actaully try to say that the Pens were trying to implore old time hockey...
sending a message
calling card

we are not going to take the abuse you dish out to Sidney

blah blah blah

if the shoe was on the other foot, i would not have liked it either. Save your energy because another day will come to exact revenge. Plus, the best way to provide revenge is to WIN to send them home.
- phi1671

This is more or less how I feel about it. Or if you have to say something, just tell those guys "the next time we're at home (with last change) and losing and Crosby is taking a faceoff, we're sending out our goon squad".

I'm not saying I'm against Laviolette being passionate and trying to protect his players though. I'm just not sure what any of it really accomplishes.

I had no problem with the hit on Briere. I did have a problem with Vitale not getting a kneeing major and a game misconduct in the first period.
- bmeltzer

That was incidental contact. There's no way that should of been a game misconduct. It was a tough chippy game by the two best in the league. Playoffs can't come any faster.

Well, and makes it look like Crosby just learned to skate Saturday and had no balance.
- bodiva88

What's your point? I'm not saying that he wasn't crosschecked, I'm saying there was more to the play that just that.

So what's the ETA on Sestito? I hate to shakeup the lineup we have know but having a scary as f 6 foot 5" forward going into a series against the Pens might be a good idea given the antics that went on yesterday.

That was incidental contact. There's no way that should of been a game misconduct. It was a tough chippy game by the two best in the league. Playoffs can't come any faster.
- PensMalkin71

You'll have to agree to disagree.

So what's the ETA on Sestito? I hate to shakeup the lineup we have know but having a scary as f 6 foot 5" forward going into a series against the Pens might be a good idea given the antics that went on yesterday.
- hereticpride

Isnt he injured?

KLOTZ!!!

honestly, there's WAY too much complaining going on by both Pens fans AND Flyers fans.

The hit was clean, and probably inevitable considering Schenn's crosschecks on Crosby. The Pens were taking a bit of retaliatory action for the Flyers going after #87. And, the Flyers did the same after Briere was laid out. That's hockey.

Flyers fans need to stop whining about how dirty the hit was. It wasn't, and we would be loudly cheering if Rinaldo had laid out Malkin. Were the Pens supposed to ONLY play their top lines during the last couple of minutes?

I love Lavi, but his whole "gutless" remarks are a complete over reaction. I guess he feels he needs to back up his players a 100%, but I just think he went to far with that remark.

And Pen fans need to recognize that Crosby's OWN stick work on Giroux led to Schenn giving him some in return. Let's not act like Sid was Mr. Innocent here, okay? Crosby probably also deserves an acting award for some of his embellishments.

The bottom line is that the situation could have easily been reversed had the Pens been winning by a couple of goals with a minute or two to play. As a Flyers fan I've seen my team do it a 100 times over the years.

All in all, we're starting playoff hockey a few games early. In the words of the late, great Macho Man: "oh, yeahhhhhhh!"


- FlyerGuy

Schenn was retalitating for Crosby's shot on Schenn. Personally I love all of this hate. I have no problem with Crosby taking a little shot at Schenn and I love that Schenn took a shot back. I love that Couturier was under Malkin's skin. Angy about this hit to Grossmann's knee. And I just don't get how Crosby gets away with the slashes. I mean, hate the rule or not (which I do), when you slash a players stick and break it or even slash it hard out of their hands, it gets called but he doesn't seemed to get called.

This is more or less how I feel about it. Or if you have to say something, just tell those guys "the next time we're at home (with last change) and losing and Crosby is taking a faceoff, we're sending out our goon squad".

I'm not saying I'm against Laviolette being passionate and trying to protect his players though. I'm just not sure what any of it really accomplishes.
- eayost

It was building up all game. From the early timeout to the way late too many men call to his final eruption, you could see the steam rising in him.

watch Crosby from behind the goal

Isnt he injured?

KOLTZ!!!
- BradTardforGM

Yes. He hurt his knee after getting hit with a Kassian sledgehammer. I don't think he has even resumed skating yet. I wouldn't expect him to play again this season.

When Milbury isn't setting franchises back two decades, or roughing up 12 year old kids, he makes valid points on occasion.
- PLindbergh31

A broken clock is right ....oh forget it he sucks but at least he never backs down form his position (see beating up said 12 yr old). It was almost as funny as him storming out of the flyers tampa game and refusing to talk for the rest of the game.... That might have been the only time I "shudder" thought he was right

You'll have to agree to disagree.
- BulliesPhan87

Yea, well I like this playoff series it just sucks that 1 of the top 3 teams in the east will be out 1st round. This would be an amazing ECF matchup.

This is more or less how I feel about it. Or if you have to say something, just tell those guys "the next time we're at home (with last change) and losing and Crosby is taking a faceoff, we're sending out our goon squad".

I'm not saying I'm against Laviolette being passionate and trying to protect his players though. I'm just not sure what any of it really accomplishes.
- eayost

I don't have a problem with it. He's passionate and as Jones said, the players will love that he did that. it was an emotional game, players on both teams took shots, female doged and got nasty. the coaches got at it. gotta love it

So Bill, I suppose the Penguins are supposed to roll Crosby, Malkin, and Neal out there there again in garbage time when the game is out of reach after they've played most of the last 10 minutes and risk them getting injured? That would only have made a bad loss disastrous. There was nothing wrong with Vitale being out there, and nothing wrong with throwing a clean check. The check was textbook shoulder to shoulder, and wasn't "a little high", nor was it "gratuitous".

It was just hockey, no matter how you or Lava wants to spin it. Considering how your previous coach used to complain about Crosby's whining, I was really taken aback by the amount of whining coming from the eastern edge of the Commonwealth yesterday. How sad.
- Emperor Filonius

Come on man... The hit was clean, but unnecessary. It was just a matter of your coach trying to send a message and injuring one of our guys before the playoffs. Dirty and uncalled for. The whole game was dirty, from Crosbys and Malkins multiple slashed, to Schen's crosscheck (that somehoe knocked the strongest staker int he game over') to your coach running out a goon line...

Yea, well I like this playoff series it just sucks that 1 of the top 3 teams in the east will be out 1st round. This would be an amazing ECF matchup.
- PensMalkin71

It's a great match up for hockey, but you know six other eastern conference competitors are exhaling a quiet sigh of relief that these two teams will meet in the first round, and that only one can proceed to the next.

Come on man... The hit was clean, but unnecessary. It was just a matter of your coach trying to send a message and injuring one of our guys before the playoffs. Dirty and uncalled for. The whole game was dirty, from Crosbys and Malkins multiple slashed, to Schen's crosscheck (that somehoe knocked the strongest staker int he game over') to your coach running out a goon line...
- RooNosHockey

How was Vitale's hit dirty?!? Briere's head was down flying through the nuetral zone. What do you expect? Your going to go down hard.

watch Crosby from behind the goal
- Ondrej F

Hell, he broke his stick on Voracek's leg...it happens. It's a rivalry game. If you don;t play with an edge in a rivalry game, guess what? It ain't a rivalry.

Just don't cry about it afterward-and that goes both ways. I know Laviolette has used guys like Carcillo at the end of one sided games...so has every single coach who has ever coached a game in the sport of hockey at the professional level.

Schenn was retalitating for Crosby's shot on Schenn. Personally I love all of this hate. I have no problem with Crosby taking a little shot at Schenn and I love that Schenn took a shot back. I love that Couturier was under Malkin's skin. Angy about this hit to Grossmann's knee. And I just don't get how Crosby gets away with the slashes. I mean, hate the rule or not (which I do), when you slash a players stick and break it or even slash it hard out of their hands, it gets called but he doesn't seemed to get called.
- nastyflyergirl

yes, he was ... though I'm sure there was some chatter on the bench about the other slashes he did on Giroux.

Hate is what makes hockey so great.

It's a great match up for hockey, but you know six other eastern conference competitors are exhaling a quiet sigh of relief that these two teams will meet in the first round, and that only one can proceed to the next.
- BulliesPhan87

If both of us were out in the first two rounds who do you think would win the East? I'd say Boston, I love their depth over the Rags.

It's just sad that they have to meet in the 1st round. This will be the best series in the east.

If both of us were out in the first two rounds who do you think would win the East? I'd say Boston, I love their depth over the Rags.
- PensMalkin71

That's the real issue. Not only will either the Flyers or Pens be out after one round, the winner will probably be beat up and have a rough time getting past round two-especially if it's a team like Boston that's physical.

one thing the NHL on the Fly telecast pointed out is right before Schenn cross checked Crosby, Crosby has taken a shot at Schenn. Didn't see it....just pointing out what they said. And how many sticks did Crosby break over a Flyer without a call being made? its ridiculous he gets away with that. its 2 mins. call it. Regardless, that poop was going on all game by both teams.
- nastyflyergirl

Crosby got plenty of licks in before Schenn cross checked him and you're right, they should be called. It is what it is, possibly 8 in a row coming soon so everyone better make sure their chin strap is done up tight.

Schenn was retalitating for Crosby's shot on Schenn. Personally I love all of this hate. I have no problem with Crosby taking a little shot at Schenn and I love that Schenn took a shot back. I love that Couturier was under Malkin's skin. Angy about this hit to Grossmann's knee. And I just don't get how Crosby gets away with the slashes. I mean, hate the rule or not (which I do), when you slash a players stick and break it or even slash it hard out of their hands, it gets called but he doesn't seemed to get called.
- nastyflyergirl

I kinda thought Schenn may be retaliating on the punches by Malkin to the back of Roo's head, or Crosby's slash to Roo's stick.. etc...

Crosby got plenty of licks in before Schenn cross checked him and you're right, they should be called. It is what it is, possibly 8 in a row coming soon so everyone better make sure their chin strap is done up tight.
- canadianpenfan

Dear God.. I forgot that it will be 8 in a row..These teams already hate one another and by the time this war of attrition is done, the team left standing is gonna have a rough go going far.

THis is the biggest problem I see with the seeding. I'd say one of the top 4 teams in the EC will be gone in teh First round when they each deserve to be playing a team like Florida, Washington or Buffalo. Never any guarantees, but you can't tell me it's the same.

Crosby got plenty of licks in before Schenn cross checked him and you're right, they should be called. It is what it is, possibly 8 in a row coming soon so everyone better make sure their chin strap is done up tight.
- canadianpenfan

You're being far too civil and it disgusts me.