Bill's blog echoes the thoughts I posted yesterday. I don't know how you can look at it any other way. Crosby's actions along with his teammates following him, has hurt the Pens far more then it has the Flyers. Any chance of a comeback is completely eliminated if they continue to play with a lack of composure. It's a sure sign of a team that doesn't have any answer.

I don't think it's a coincidence that the main guy Asham has targeted is one that he never played with in Philly. That's not uncommon.

Despite some reputed off-ice issues, Asham served the Flyers well during his time here. He was quite good in the 2010 playoffs.
- bmeltzer

that last paragraph maybe true, but if i saw him in a bar i wouldn't buy him a beer, i'd want to smash a bottle over his head. he's been their most gutless one.

Bill's blog echoes the thoughts I posted yesterday. I don't know how you can look at it any other way. Crosby's actions along with his teammates following him, has hurt the Pens far more then it has the Flyers. Any chance of a comeback is completely eliminated if they continue to play with a lack of composure. It's a sure sign of a team that doesn't have any answer.
- MJL

No chance this Flyers team allows the Penguins to win 4 straight. Never say never cause anything can happen, but this Flyers team won't let it happen.

Bill's blog echoes the thoughts I posted yesterday. I don't know how you can look at it any other way. Crosby's actions along with his teammates following him, has hurt the Pens far more then it has the Flyers. Any chance of a comeback is completely eliminated if they continue to play with a lack of composure. It's a sure sign of a team that doesn't have any answer.
- MJL

The Flyers are playing better right now and the Pens have no answer to stop them. Now that all the drama has settled the Flyers need to put these frauds away for good.

No chance this Flyers team allows the Penguins to win 4 straight. Never say never cause anything can happen, but this Flyers team won't let it happen.
- Flyers2821

Not only that, but the Penguins are fried mentally. They will roll over on Wed if Flyers keep the same intensity and discipline. Revenge is best by sending them to the golf course. Take it out on them 6 times next year.

No chance this Flyers team allows the Penguins to win 4 straight. Never say never cause anything can happen, but this Flyers team won't let it happen.
- Flyers2821

if the Pens dont start to get some composure they wont win 1 they are running around still trying to figure out how a 19yr old is shutting down their best player night after night

Bill,

Great summary and I agree completely with much of your observations.

I connot tell you how much respect I have lost for Crosby as a player. He really is one of the best hockey players in the world, but hs is also a bit of a brat. Knocking a players glove away just as they reach for it? (and why didn't that action get him a 2minute unsportsmanlike?) It is almost as if he resented the way the team came together around Malkin and has shaken that chemistry up to try to get "his" team back.

Just a hypothetical...but dang...what a brat...

Not only that, but the Penguins are fried mentally. They will roll over on Wed if Flyers keep the same intensity and discipline. Revenge is best by sending them to the golf course. Take it out on them 6 times next year.
- bgratch

they have 2 full days to regroup. they went back to pittsburgh. they're not done trying to win this series yet. a couple early goals wednesday night could change that

I've never heard Voracek referred to before as a "mega pest". Not saying he doesn't mix it up and do some yapping, but how many situations this season have there been where you could look at Voracek as a guy who truly instigated the extracurricular activity. Talbot, yes. Briere, yes. Not Voracek.
- bmeltzer

I just thought it was a good read in the sense that the Pens fans might be more disgusted with their team then we are.

I have quite a few friends from PGH who know their stuff (1 of them used to co host Brian Metzer's show) and after the game we were talking about how gutless the pens are and they were embarrassed. Normally we poke fun at each others teams but it was so 1 sided all I could do was agree with them.

if the Pens dont start to get some composure they wont win 1 they are running around still trying to figure out how a 19yr old is shutting down their best player night after night
- flyer186

Couturier is out "Staaling" Jordon Staal!

they have 2 full days to regroup. they went back to pittsburgh. they're not done trying to win this series yet. a couple early goals wednesday night could change that
- flyerscup2011

but the true question is after they get a couple goals and the flyers come storming back ( again) how will they handle that if anything this series has proven is that the flyers have way more will to win then the Pens do should be interesting to see what happens if the flyers open up a lead and how bad the pens will blow up

Couturier is out "Staaling" Jordon Staal!

- MBFlyerfan

man, when we drafted him i was a little irked we didn't get hamilton, mr holmgren, i'll never doubt you again.

Bill's blog echoes the thoughts I posted yesterday. I don't know how you can look at it any other way. Crosby's actions along with his teammates following him, has hurt the Pens far more then it has the Flyers. Any chance of a comeback is completely eliminated if they continue to play with a lack of composure. It's a sure sign of a team that doesn't have any answer.
- MJL

After game 2, I posted that I was concerned about being able to sustain the energy levels when you continue to play from behind.
While I believe it to still be true over the long term of the playoffs, yesterdays game showed me something else.
The confidence and emotional boost from coming back is more powerful than the physical fatigue of doing it.
On the flip side for the pens, the mental and emotional drains from loosing like that seem to have completely crushed them physically. A lot of the garbage they did yesterday is what you see tired, physically and mentally, do.

but the true question is after they get a couple goals and the flyers come storming back ( again) how will they handle that if anything this series has proven is that the flyers have way more will to win then the Pens do should be interesting to see what happens if the flyers open up a lead and how bad the pens will blow up
- flyer186

well that would have the same effect.

they have 2 full days to regroup. they went back to pittsburgh. they're not done trying to win this series yet. a couple early goals wednesday night could change that
- flyerscup2011

I hope they get heckled by the fans on the streets of Pittsburgh. That was a horrible display yesterday.

After game 2, I posted that I was concerned about being able to sustain the energy levels when you continue to play from behind.
While I believe it to still be true over the long term of the playoffs, yesterdays game showed me something else.
The confidence and emotional boost from coming back is more powerful than the physical fatigue of doing it.
On the flip side for the pens, the mental and emotional drains from loosing like that seem to have completely crushed them physically. A lot of the garbage they did yesterday is what you see tired, physically and mentally, do.
- nails

All they have to do is keep sweeping teams on their way to the cup and it wont matter how much energy they have to expend!

After game 2, I posted that I was concerned about being able to sustain the energy levels when you continue to play from behind.
While I believe it to still be true over the long term of the playoffs, yesterdays game showed me something else.
The confidence and emotional boost from coming back is more powerful than the physical fatigue of doing it.
On the flip side for the pens, the mental and emotional drains from loosing like that seem to have completely crushed them physically. A lot of the garbage they did yesterday is what you see tired, physically and mentally, do.
- nails

don't make excuses for them. their behavior was reprehensible. tired or not, they crossed the line many times. you're never too tired to know right from wrong. atleast the peng-wines aren't thaaat tired

well that would have the same effect.
- flyerscup2011

but then the question becomes at what time do you keep your stars off the ice because of yesterdays game proved anything it is that when the Pens are down they will target the flyers players and try to knock them out of the game and the last thing we want is to win the series but lose stars

I hope they get heckled by the fans on the streets of Pittsburgh. That was a horrible display yesterday.
- tangent_man

they are some slimy scum bags, aren't they? i've been watching hockey for 20 years (since i was 12) and i've never seen this kind of goonery

but then the question becomes at what time do you keep your stars off the ice because of yesterdays game proved anything it is that when the Pens are down they will target the flyers players and try to knock them out of the game and the last thing we want is to win the series but lose stars
- flyer186

third period with a 2+ goal lead and a goon or two of our own on the ice. just to keep the peace, not to start a war.

edit: what am i saying start a war? the pens started that with the vitale hit.

Twitter is exploding with James Neal "did this" tweets. Some pretty good stuff.

Twitter is exploding with James Neal "did this" tweets. Some pretty good stuff.
- MBFlyerfan

What does that mean? I know what he did in the game but what is the "did this" thing? What did I miss?

they are some slimy scum bags, aren't they? i've been watching hockey for 20 years (since i was 12) and i've never seen this kind of goonery
- flyerscup2011

Their not handling losing with class. I'm for being physical an making a statement when losing but their taking that to another level by head hunting an trying to injure guys on purpose. Complete joke and it's getting out of hand.

don't make excuses for them. their behavior was reprehensible. tired or not, they crossed the line many times. you're never too tired to know right from wrong. atleast the peng-wines aren't thaaat tired
- flyerscup2011

Not making excuses. You're reading to far into it.
Ithe flyers did a great job of getting the pens to this point, which is almost a 180 from what the pens do when they are succesfull.
I hate the pens more than any other team in the league, but I do respect that they have been an above average team for a while now. That respect for them makes me feel even better about our guys and how they have taken the pens apart.
At times, it has looked like two siblings and one is trying to annoy the other with the "I'm not touching you" game and the other one finally snaps and slaps the other one and is the one that gets caught by mom.