He is probably not fired if Gonchar isn't out most of the season.
- akane13

He isn't getting you to one point from the top seed without 87 and 71 either.

He also beat them into a non playoff team with a healthy lineup.
- Gunner Staal

Well, there-in lies the problem. It's a fine line between being a hard disciplinarian and being a "players" coach. Give me a coach that walks that line. The Pens got sick of the guy who held them accountable. A frequent story line in the NHL. Now they have a coach that seemingly never reprimands the players for blatantly obvious errors and the mistakes keep happening.

I don't know the answer with the coach, but from what I see, it's time for them to sell out with a defensive system, 'cause they can't win playing run and gun with such a soft D.

Well at least we open up well, but these sting because it is not like the Flyers played well. It was simply the Pens playing poorly imo. There is a large skill difference between these teams IMO and the fact that we keep giving away goals whenever we get a PP is simply unacceptable.
- ikyan

I would agree with this sentiment after last game, but not anymore. Cooter has a ton of talent and the heart to back it up.

Giroux was invisible last game but was amazing tonight. Schenn and Simmonds and Hartnell were invisible tonight but they still had the SYSTEM to play well.

Individual talent means (frank) all when you shoot yourself in the foot with it.

GF told me Malkin's parents were in attendance. What do we do now to get him going

GF told me Malkin's parents were in attendance. What do we do now to get him going
- ikyan

God I hope they don't travel to Philly..... At least with out body guards. Got to hand it to philly, they've really taken that line out of the game.

God I hope they don't travel to Philly..... At least with out body guards. Got to hand it to philly, they've really taken that line out of the game.
- madmike71

Time to give Sid Kunitz. He can take a game over if he has someone to grind with him. Sullivan cannot do that. Neal and Malkin can do the heavy lifting with Sullivan.

Sid's stat line looks great but I don't notice the shifts where he is on the ice with the opposing team hemmed in their zone for 40 seconds. Those are the shifts we need.

Also not sure how Duper didn't get a slewfoot/tripping penalty on Giroux in the 3rd there

Also not sure how Duper didn't get a slewfoot/tripping penalty on Giroux in the 3rd there
- nhindian

yeah, I saw that. There's so much little stuff going on out there I guess the refs don't wanna call every thing.

I don't think the refs did a bad job tonight, as opposed to the missed offsides and all in game 1.

Time to give Sid Kunitz. He can take a game over if he has someone to grind with him. Sullivan cannot do that. Neal and Malkin can do the heavy lifting with Sullivan.

Sid's stat line looks great but I don't notice the shifts where he is on the ice with the opposing team hemmed in their zone for 40 seconds. Those are the shifts we need.
- Gunner Staal

Even if Malkin's line is held in check, they're still scoring enough to win. I'm not sure it matters at this point what the line combos are.....what matters is they need to get conservative. I watched all the post game and largely heard guys and coach saying what they need to do better. I think it's beyond that point and it's time to recognize what is being done to them. Give Philly the credit. They're standing up at the blue lines and clogging the neutral zone then counter-punching. It's time to emulate that approach and hope the pens superstars can take advantage. Could be boring hockey watching teams fight it out at mid-ice, but if HCDB doesn't come up with something else, the pens are toast.

Even if Malkin's line is held in check, they're still scoring enough to win. I'm not sure it matters at this point what the line combos are.....what matters is they need to get conservative. I watched all the post game and largely heard guys and coach saying what they need to do better. I think it's beyond that point and it's time to recognize what is being done to them. Give Philly the credit. They're standing up at the blue lines and clogging the neutral zone then counter-punching. It's time to emulate that approach and hope the pens superstars can take advantage. Could be boring hockey watching teams fight it out at mid-ice, but if HCDB doesn't come up with something else, the pens are toast.
- madmike71

It's not about scoring. They scored 5 goals and lost by 3. The game flow for the most part has been quick hit offensive chances and it goes the other way. We need the shifts where the puck is cycling, moving up towards the point when the other teams wingers collapse. We aren't getting that. There is no sustained cycle. That is a staple of Crosby's game. Sullivan for all his skill can't hang with 87 in a playoff style cycle.

If you want the 71 18 14 line to stay together then 48 needs to be considered to hop up on Sid's line for the reasons I stated above.

Even if Malkin's line is held in check, they're still scoring enough to win. I'm not sure it matters at this point what the line combos are.....what matters is they need to get conservative. I watched all the post game and largely heard guys and coach saying what they need to do better. I think it's beyond that point and it's time to recognize what is being done to them. Give Philly the credit. They're standing up at the blue lines and clogging the neutral zone then counter-punching. It's time to emulate that approach and hope the pens superstars can take advantage. Could be boring hockey watching teams fight it out at mid-ice, but if HCDB doesn't come up with something else, the pens are toast.
- madmike71

just my opinion, but I see a Pens team that is SO concerned with laying out these big hits on the Flyers (especially Orpik) that they're constantly putting themselves out of position defensively.

getting on the road might actually help them a lot. usually the visiting team doesn't feel the need or pressure to show a physical edge, so they might just settle back into a more sound defensive game.

It's not about scoring. They scored 5 goals and lost by 3. The game flow for the most part has been quick hit offensive chances and it goes the other way. We need the shifts where the puck is cycling, moving up towards the point when the other teams wingers collapse. We aren't getting that. There is no sustained cycle. That is a staple of Crosby's game. Sullivan for all his skill can't hang with 87 in a playoff style cycle.

If you want the 71 18 14 line to stay together then 48 needs to be considered to hop up on Sid's line for the reasons I stated above.
- Gunner Staal

I don't know brother..... Out of answers and my head hurts. Bylsma has some serious work to do that is certain. Going to bed. Have a good night!

At least we aren't Vancouver.

Still don't get how everyone is missing what Flower usually gives us night in and night out. He has been brutal (compared to the usual Flower).

Sorry just frustrated, the team as a whole is responsible. Luckily it takes 4 to win/lose a series. We'll see if they can put it together. The eff up room is now gone.

just my opinion, but I see a Pens team that is SO concerned with laying out these big hits on the Flyers (especially Orpik) that they're constantly putting themselves out of position defensively.

getting on the road might actually help them a lot. usually the visiting team doesn't feel the need or pressure to show a physical edge, so they might just settle back into a more sound defensive game.
- FlyerGuy

Disagree, when they get away from the physical play, the Flyers capitalize. Look at both 1st periods, the Pens came out hitting everything. Then they settle back and try to get cute, and look what happens.

Engelland, Orpik, Letang, Asham, Adams, and Vitale gotta hit everything that moves.

There was a time when Giroux crossed through the middle in the Pens zone in the 3rd and two Pens could've crushed him but they didn't. Take the body.

I don't know brother..... Out of answers and my head hurts. Bylsma has some serious work to do that is certain. Going to bed. Have a good night!
- madmike71

I hear ya.

Still don't get how everyone is missing what Flower usually gives us night in and night out. He has been brutal (compared to the usual Flower).

Sorry just frustrated, the team as a whole is responsible. Luckily it takes 4 to win/lose a series. We'll see if they can put it together. The eff up room is now gone.
- Sell My Monkey

I think we have left him out to dry.

Disagree, when they get away from the physical play, the Flyers capitalize. Look at both 1st periods, the Pens came out hitting everything. Then they settle back and try to get cute, and look what happens.

Engelland, Orpik, Letang, Asham, Adams, and Vitale gotta hit everything that moves.

There was a time when Giroux crossed through the middle in the Pens zone in the 3rd and two Pens could've crushed him but they didn't. Take the body.
- nhindian

I didn't see a lot of settling back. I thought the Pens layed some hellacious hits out in the 2nd and 3rd, just like the first.

I do agree though that Giroux is not being hit at all, which is surprising.

I didn't see a lot of settling back. I thought the Pens layed some hellacious hits out in the 2nd and 3rd, just like the first.

I do agree though that Giroux is not being hit at all, which is surprising.
- FlyerGuy

And from what I've seen from the regular season and the 1st game of the playoffs, when G gets hit, he DISAPPEARS.

And from what I've seen from the regular season and the 1st game of the playoffs, when G gets hit, he DISAPPEARS.
- nhindian

yeah, he had a concussion (accidental by Simmonds) earlier, so no question he's less of a force when he's constantly hit.

gotta go ... thanks for the hockey talk, guys.

tough loss, I know ... but win game 3 and the big mo begins to change.

the series is far, far from over.

Just saw the Blysma presser. Holy shi% we are in trouble. Dude sounds clueless.

I think we have left him out to dry.
- Gunner Staal

Very true, but 9 times out of 10 Flower saves the day. 2 games, 8 goals 0 wins. Giroux with 6 points? Aaahhhhhhh. Going to run my head through a wall, maybe I can forget about how easily it could have been 2 - 0 Pens.

Flyers must be laughing their asses off at our squad.

At least we aren't Vancouver.
- nhindian

Maybe if we combine the Canucks and Pens we could win a series...

Maybe if we combine the Canucks and Pens we could win a series...
- Brandon_Lee

0 + 0 doesn't equal 4 unfortunately.