Game 7 here we come

[ratking17]

The pens inability to hold a lead is troubling on one hand but their ability to put 4 past the Russian and win a tough game on the road speaks volumes. I have no prediction for game 7. Bolts were passive for 2 periods then finally realized you have to shoot to score. All I know is I am enjoying the ride

 

[Pitt-Chains]

The pens inability to hold a lead is troubling on one hand but their ability to put 4 past the Russian and win a tough game on the road speaks volumes. I have no prediction for game 7. Bolts were passive for 2 periods then finally realized you have to shoot to score. All I know is I am enjoying the ride

Great ride for certain... Was a little nervous mid way through the third.

LETS GO PENS !!

As always... IH8PSU !!

 

[PhPanther1]

I nearly had a stroke on Rust's goal. What a freaking year. This playoff run has been remarkable. Let's keep it going for another 2.5 weeks and celebrate it with a parade downtown boys!!

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

When the Penguins play on their toes, they may be the very best team in the world. When they play on their heels, they absolutely stink.

I think the road team has an advantage in Games 7. They typically come out more focused and more directed and play with less pressure. Also, Tampa is an extremely resilient team. They will be ready to play on Thursday night.

However, I would like to see Pittsburgh feed off the energy of the home crowd and just take it to Tampa right from the start. If Pittsburgh plays its best and Tampa plays it's best, the Penguins are clearly the better team.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

BTW, everyone's favorite scapegoat when we lose, Sidney Crosby has the game-winning goal in all three of Pittsburgh's wins in this series.

He is the leading playoff point producer of all NHL players since the 2004–05 lockout. He doesn't always play well – he has had some poor postseasons ( just like every other player in the world). Also, his biggest crime is that he is certainly no Mario Lemieux and he can't look like he is playing two levels ahead of everyone else because that is bizarre and Le Magnifique was a freak of nature.

However, Sid is still CLEARLY the best player in the world and the relentless criticism of him every single goddamn time the Penguins lose a game or series is almost always straight up stupid.

 

[deepelemblues]

you can't play aggressive for all 60 minutes

but you also shouldn't go into the shell every time you have a multiple-goal lead which you then proceed to give up or almost give up.

tampa bay is the team built to sit back and wait for mistakes to capitalize on

the penguins are a team that is built to attack and force mistakes

hopefully rust's goal reignites their killer instinct because as soon as the pens get a lead of 2 goals or more their killer instinct has disappeared

game 6 vs the caps the pens are up 3-0, they go into a shell, washington scores 3 unanswered goals and forces OT

game 5 vs the lightning they take a 2-0 lead, they go into a shell, lose the lead, end up losing in OT

game 6 tonight they take a 3-0 lead, go into a shell, give up 2 goals and if it wasn't for kunitz making a great pass and rust making a great deke, they just may have ended up giving up this lead as well. tampa had ALL the momentum. and it wasn't all because tampa was desperate, you don't get outshot the way the pens did in the third period just because the other team is desperate.

in the last 7 games the pens have sat on multiple goal leads and almost screwed it up 3 times. i think they're very lucky they ended up going 2-1 in those 3 games.

thursday night the pens better not stray away from their aggressive style, tampa is very capable of winning game 7 if they do.

 

[pittbb80]

Couple of thoughts.

I think TB has gotten most of the fortuitous bounces. The goal allowing them to get back in it was a complete fluke with Kessel kicking it in. The second goal was even lucky as the Pens blocked the pass and it came to Boil whose shot was in the only spot it could be to get in...in addition if Cullen doesn't run into Murray hes in position to make the save. The Pens are due for some good bounces in game 7 They just have to continue to force the issue like they have most of this series.

Regarding TBs comebacks. I really don't think it is as much as the Pens playing conservatively but more so that one, TB is a darn fine team. They are very deep and their Goalie is playing out of his mind. You cant keep a team like that down for long. They are going to make runs in the game. Secondly, last night TB got a fluke goal to spark their run. Fleury let in a soft goal to start it the other night. After the short flurry of activity last night, I thought the PEns regained their composure well

Letang finally had a decent game. That's huge. Matta looks like hes elevated his game as well. Sheary after looking bad early in the series looked really good last night. Malkin came to life and I think Sids played well all series but hasn't always been rewarded on the score board. With Malkin reenergized hopefully, and Letang hopefully getting back in a grove, I really like the Pens chances. I think they'll come out flying in Game 7. If they can continue to play as well defensively as they have, they'll win. the game. The only way TB wins is if their goalie steels the game and holds the Pens to 1 goal Just don't see that happening if the Pens continue the barrage of shots As I said above I think the bounces will start going their way

 

[drp1tt]

BTW, everyone's favorite scapegoat when we lose, Sidney Crosby has the game-winning goal in all three of Pittsburgh's wins in this series.

He is the leading playoff point producer of all NHL players since the 2004–05 lockout. He doesn't always play well – he has had some poor postseasons ( just like every other player in the world). Also, his biggest crime is that he is certainly no Mario Lemieux and he can't look like he is playing two levels ahead of everyone else because that is bizarre and Le Magnifique was a freak of nature.

However, Sid is still CLEARLY the best player in the world and the relentless criticism of him every single goddamn time the Penguins lose a game or series is almost always straight up stupid.

If you unbiasedly watch him, more good things happen when he is in than not. He is a faster, better skater and just knows the nuances of the situation. I know he takes the criticism but he is clearly the best player on the ice regardless.

 

[Pitt79]

Hockey is the sport that superstars matter the least. The NHL doesn't protect them, The NHL practically favors talentless slugs that beat them down. They only play at most 1/3 of the game, and even at their best they can play awesome, and hit the post 3 times and the stat line can look like crap. Or look at Kessel, he luckily got his stick on a flying puck and scored a goal, then he made a decent defensive play and had an unlucky bounce and he scored a goal for the other team. Of all the sports, hockey, especially when the officials swallow their whistles, is a crap shoot, "throw it at the net and hope for good luck".

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

BTW, everyone's favorite scapegoat when we lose, Sidney Crosby has the game-winning goal in all three of Pittsburgh's wins in this series.

He is the leading playoff point producer of all NHL players since the 2004–05 lockout. He doesn't always play well – he has had some poor postseasons ( just like every other player in the world). Also, his biggest crime is that he is certainly no Mario Lemieux and he can't look like he is playing two levels ahead of everyone else because that is bizarre and Le Magnifique was a freak of nature.

However, Sid is still CLEARLY the best player in the world and the relentless criticism of him every single goddamn time the Penguins lose a game or series is almost always straight up stupid.

I think the criticisms come from, why doesn't he make those plays more often? Not every shift, but when you go like 19 games without a goal, and 20 some games without a 3rd period goal, or goals in the crucial Game's 5, 6 or 7, the criticism is warranted. And those PPG numbers are greatly inflated by his great 2008 and 2009 postseasons.

Now that being said, he has been huge this series, and is the first series in a long while where he is making his stamp on it with the big moments. That was vintage Sid there. Fantastic.

And you know what, Geno is a much better home player than road, I am expecting him to have a big game 7.

But nothing makes me more happy than seeing Crosby score, and score huge goals. When he scores, we win.

 

[JohnnyGossamer]

I expect Game 7 to be very tightly contested. Road teams have been much more successful in WCF and ECF this season. But, expect a 4-3 or 3-2 win. Sharks/Pens Finals.

 

[deepelemblues]

Vasilevsky has let in 3 goals or more 5 games in a row.

Give up 2 goals or less and the Pens should emerge victorious in game 7.

 

[Pitt79]

Vasilevsky has let in 3 goals or more 5 games in a row.

And I get the sense those announcers fawn over him more than Murray? Or am I being a homer?

 

[deepelemblues]

And I get the sense those announcers fawn over him more than Murray? Or am I being a homer?

They are, but that's because he's being forced to stand on his head way more than Murray.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

I think the criticisms come from, why doesn't he make those plays more often? Not every shift, but when you go like 19 games without a goal, and 20 some games without a 3rd period goal, or goals in the crucial Game's 5, 6 or 7, the criticism is warranted. And those PPG numbers are greatly inflated by his great 2008 and 2009 postseasons.

Now that being said, he has been huge this series, and is the first series in a long while where he is making his stamp on it with the big moments. That was vintage Sid there. Fantastic.

And you know what, Geno is a much better home player than road, I am expecting him to have a big game 7.

But nothing makes me more happy than seeing Crosby score, and score huge goals. When he scores, we win.

Well, if his numbers are so grossly inflated and he had underperformed for a very long time, as so many continually say, then he must've been the greatest player in the history of hockey in 2008–09.

The truth is he is held to a completely different standard than everyone else; a standard to which he cannot possibly live up to - and neither can anyone else.

The numbers are the numbers. He has an enormous sample size and the statistics tell us that over that sample size he has outperformed every other human being on the planet – including all of the so-called 'clutch' performers that don't get any criticism despite producing fewer points.

However, when Crosby doesn't score, and everyone gets shut down the today's game, he gets destroyed in a way that nobody else does. There's just no question about that.

That is not to say that he always plays well because he doesn't. There are times where the criticism is very valid. However, it can't be his fault every single time they lose. That's just stupid.

 

[QuitCallingMeWanny]

Well, if his numbers are so grossly inflated and he had underperformed for a very long time, as so many continually say, then he must've been the greatest player in the history of hockey in 2008–09.

The truth is he is held to a completely different standard than everyone else; a standard to which he cannot possibly live up to - and neither can anyone else.

The numbers are the numbers. He has an enormous sample size and the statistics tell us that over that sample size he has outperformed every other human being on the planet – including all of the so-called 'clutch' performers that don't get any criticism despite producing fewer points.

However, when Crisby doesn't score, and everyone gets shut down the today's game, he gets destroyed in a way that nobody else does. There's just no question about that.

as well as he should, he is the best player in the NHL and the one cashing the eight figure checks.......

 

[deepelemblues]

I've never understood the argument that playoff numbers in a sport like hockey can be "inflated."

Regular season, maybe. Leery of that too when it comes to hockey. It isn't 1985 anymore. Games aren't ending 8-3, 9-5 all the time.

 

[lilspainishflea]

And I get the sense those announcers fawn over him more than Murray? Or am I being a homer?

He's been better than Murray. He has made some incredible, game-saving plays. One of them (I think in Game 4 or 5) reminded me of "the Save." I mean, it was that good. There were games I thought we should have scored 7 goals and we got 3 because he's been that good.

 

[JohnnyGossamer]

I was looking at the stats... Four Sharks in the Top 6 in playoff points registered. Wowza. Is it at last the Year of the Shark?

https://toomanymenonthesite.com/2015/02/24/original-san-jose-sharks-logo-hungry-penguin/

It's been destined since '92.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

as well as he should, he is the best player in the NHL and the one cashing the eight figure checks.......

That's dumb too.

You can't constantly just move the goalposts on the guy and then say that's just how it goes when you're cashing the big paychecks. That's too dumb for me to play along with.

He's not the highest paid player in the league. There are lots of guys cashing giant paychecks – and none of them have produced at the level he has for a very long time.

There should be a consistent standard for performance by which we gauge the effectiveness of all players. How on earth is that even debatable?

For a player like Crosby, that measurement is point production. When he doesn't produce points he gets crucified regardless if he's very effective in his own end and regardless if he is creating opportunities left and right and his linemates are not cashing in.

However, when someone then turns around and ackowledges, "Well, yeah, he has produced more postseason points than anyone else throughout his career but that doesn't count either because he produced more when he was younger than he does now (everyone does) and he should do it all the time."

I'm sorry but that's just ridiculous. Of course he can't meet that performance standard because people are rigging the argument against him and holding him to an impossible standard.

The guy has all three of our game-winning goals in the series - including one in overtime. By any definition in the history of the sport that is coming through when it matters most. And yet we still have people whining about his performance. That's not reasonable and it's not knowledgeable and I refuse to treat it as a legitimate viewpoint because it's a completely ridiculous point of view.

I laugh when I hear people rhetorically ask, "At what point is it OK to start criticizing Sidney Crosby? Why is he above criticism?"

I wonder if people are medicated when they ask that ridiculous question because it seems to me from listening to the radio, browsing message boards, and browsing my social media, whenever the Penguins lose he's the guy everyone almost reflexively points to as the reason for the loss.

I've never seen anything like it and I think it's almost always completely stupid.

 

[lilspainishflea]

That's dumb too.

You can't constantly just move the goalposts on the guy and then say that's just how it goes when you're cashing the big paychecks. That's too dumb for me to play along with.

He's not the highest paid player in the league. There are lots of guys catching giant paychecks – and none of them have produced at the level he has for a very long time.

There should be a consistent standard for performance by which we gauge the effectiveness of all players. How on earth is that even debatable?

For a player like Crosby, that measurement is point production. When he doesn't produce points he gets crucified regardless if he's very effective in his own end and regardless if he is creating opportunities left and right and his linemates are not cashing in.

However, when someone then turns around and ackowledges, "Well, yeah, he has produced more postseason points than anyone else throughout his career but that doesn't count either because he produced more when he was younger than he does now (everyone does) and he should do it all the time."

I'm sorry but that's just ridiculous. Of course he can't meet that performance standard because people are rigging the argument against him and holding him to an impossible standard.

The guy has all three of our game-winning goals in the series - including one in overtime. By any definition in the history of the sport that is coming through when it matters most. And yet we still have people whining about his performance. That's not reasonable and it's not knowledgeable and I refuse to treat it as a legitimate viewpoint because it's a completely ridiculous point of view.

Agreed. Furthermore, even when Crosby isn't the one scoring, he creates tremendous opportunities for his linemates. Numerous goals in the Washington series came because both defenders and Holtby were overly concerned about him, leaving a guy like Horny wide open from the other side of the net.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

And I get the sense those announcers fawn over him more than Murray? Or am I being a homer?

They have, but they should. Nothing against Murray, but the Pens have badly outshot Tampa in every game but one. So...he has had to make a lot more saves, many of them difficult. He has been good, really good, but has been under siege.

 

[steel_curtain]

Hockey is the sport that superstars matter the least. The NHL doesn't protect them, The NHL practically favors talentless slugs that beat them down. They only play at most 1/3 of the game, and even at their best they can play awesome, and hit the post 3 times and the stat line can look like crap. Or look at Kessel, he luckily got his stick on a flying puck and scored a goal, then he made a decent defensive play and had an unlucky bounce and he scored a goal for the other team. Of all the sports, hockey, especially when the officials swallow their whistles, is a crap shoot, "throw it at the net and hope for good luck".

-The problem with hockey is the goalie equipment getting bigger, and bigger, and bigger. That limits the stars and best players stats.

1980's Goalie

1990's Goaile

2000's Goalie

Todays Goalie

-Its got so ridiculous as the pads keep getting bigger and bigger.

-You dont need pads that big, its ridiculous. Al Iafrate had a 108 MPH slapshot back in the 80s and 90's, one of the hardest ever. Look at the pads then and now. In 10 more years the goalie pads are going to take up the entire net. Its a joke. If Tampa Bay had to use the 1980 Goalie Pads, we would of steamrolled this team.

-You would have never witnessed the Great One dominating or Lemieux dominating or Jagr dominating with todays goalies. They would all be great, but they wouldnt come close to having the same stats. It sucks because guys like Crosby and Ovie should have way better stats, but are getting limited by this ridiculous goalie mass taking up the entire net.

 

[88Pitt88]

-The problem with hockey is the goalie equipment getting bigger, and bigger, and bigger. That limits the stars and best players stats.

1980's Goalie

1990's Goaile

2000's Goalie

Todays Goalie

-Its got so ridiculous as the pads keep getting bigger and bigger.

-You dont need pads that big, its ridiculous. Al Iafrate had a 108 MPH slapshot back in the 80s and 90's, one of the hardest ever. Look at the pads then and now. In 10 more years the goalie pads are going to take up the entire net. Its a joke. If Tampa Bay had to use the 1980 Goalie Pads, we would of steamrolled this team.

-You would have never witnessed the Great One dominating or Lemieux dominating or Jagr dominating with todays goalies. They would all be great, but they wouldnt come close to having the same stats. It sucks because guys ,like Crosby and Ovie should have way better stats, but are getting limited by this ridiculous goalie mass taking up the entire net.

Steele, I've got to agree with you on this point. There has been talk of widening the nets and perhaps moving the nets forward so there is more room to create from behind it. All this is BS, all they need to do is put the propper restrictions on the goalie equipment and the game would be much better. But if you want to make it so the stars can shine, then you have to order the refs to call penalties to eliminate all the clutching and grabbing and impeding players with sticks. Sid will never be Mario, but if you take all the bullshit out of the game, he would have point per game numbers that would probably be third best all-time, just behind Wayne and of course the best hockey player to ever lace up skates, Mario Lemieux!

Incidently, there is this 7th game Thursday night and I must admit after reading all the posts I have gained absolutely no clarity on what to expect. I know the Pens have been very poor in 7th games played on home ice recently. I also know that this Penguin team is quite different from many of those teams that did not pass the 7th game test.

The one thing that I agree with others about is that the Pens are damn good when playing on their toes and taking the battle to the other team. They are not nearly as effective when they sit back and let the other dictate to them.

I believe it will come down to mistakes and specifically whose defense plays better. In game 5, Letang was awful at -4 for the game. In game 6, Hedman was awful and a -4 for the game. Which team's defense will be the first to crack? Crystal Ball says....... even the crystal ball aint sure!

 

[steel_curtain]

Steele, I've got to agree with you on this point. There has been talk of widening the nets and perhaps moving the nets forward so there is more room to create from behind it. All this is BS, all they need to do is put the propper restrictions on the goalie equipment and the game would be much better. But if you want to make it so the stars can shine, then you have to order the refs to call penalties to eliminate all the clutching and grabbing and impeding players with sticks. Sid will never be Mario, but if you take all the bullshit out of the game, he would have point per game numbers that would probably be third best all-time, just behind Wayne and of course the best hockey player to ever lace up skates, Mario Lemieux!

Incidently, there is this 7th game Thursday night and I must admit after reading all the posts I have gained absolutely no clarity on what to expect. I know the Pens have been very poor in 7th games played on home ice recently. I also know that this Penguin team is quite different from many of those teams that did not pass the 7th game test.

The one thing that I agree with others about is that the Pens are damn good when playing on their toes and taking the battle to the other team. They are not nearly as effective when they sit back and let the other dictate to them.

I believe it will come down to mistakes and specifically whose defense plays better. In game 5, Letang was awful at -4 for the game. In game 6, Hedman was awful and a -4 for the game. Which team's defense will be the first to crack? Crystal Ball says....... even the crystal ball aint sure!

-I mean, is it really necessary to have a glove that is big enough to hold a basketball? I mean, why not make the glove bigger so it can support a beach ball? Protect the hand and forearm, not take up the entire top half of the goal with a huge fishing net to stop every shot. That is the first thing I would change. Give these guys a fully protected small 3rd basemen type glove, not this monster glove net protection. Its silly. And of course the leg protection padd, soon the bottom half of the goal will be filled up with leg pads. Its become sad yet so simple on how to fix this.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Well it is not just the goalie's equipment, but the goalie himself. Matt Murray is 6'4" Now he is a pole, but he is 6'4". He is big but not ridiculous. Ben Bishop is 6'7". Most goalies are over 6'1-6'2" now. Back in the late 80's, most goalies were 5'10"? 5'11"? An occasional guy like Barrasso was over 6'0".

So you add BIG equipment along with BIGGER players, and a lot less net.

 

[steel_curtain]

Well it is not just the goalie's equipment, but the goalie himself. Matt Murray is 6'4" Now he is a pole, but he is 6'4". He is big but not ridiculous. Ben Bishop is 6'7". Most goalies are over 6'1-6'2" now. Back in the late 80's, most goalies were 5'10"? 5'11"? An occasional guy like Barrasso was over 6'0".

So you add BIG equipment along with BIGGER players, and a lot less net.

-Look at the size difference of the glove a lone. It went from a standard catchers glove to some huge fishing net. The glove a lone doesnt have anything to do with goalie size. And the goal pads are meant to protect the legs, not take up the entire bottom half of the net. Even if you are Shaq playing ice hockey, limit the width of the pads.

This is today

 

[QuitCallingMeWanny]

That's dumb too.

You can't constantly just move the goalposts on the guy and then say that's just how it goes when you're cashing the big paychecks. That's too dumb for me to play along with.

He's not the highest paid player in the league. There are lots of guys cashing giant paychecks – and none of them have produced at the level he has for a very long time.

There should be a consistent standard for performance by which we gauge the effectiveness of all players. How on earth is that even debatable?

For a player like Crosby, that measurement is point production. When he doesn't produce points he gets crucified regardless if he's very effective in his own end and regardless if he is creating opportunities left and right and his linemates are not cashing in.

However, when someone then turns around and ackowledges, "Well, yeah, he has produced more postseason points than anyone else throughout his career but that doesn't count either because he produced more when he was younger than he does now (everyone does) and he should do it all the time."

I'm sorry but that's just ridiculous. Of course he can't meet that performance standard because people are rigging the argument against him and holding him to an impossible standard.

The guy has all three of our game-winning goals in the series - including one in overtime. By any definition in the history of the sport that is coming through when it matters most. And yet we still have people whining about his performance. That's not reasonable and it's not knowledgeable and I refuse to treat it as a legitimate viewpoint because it's a completely ridiculous point of view.

I laugh when I hear people rhetorically ask, "At what point is it OK to start criticizing Sidney Crosby? Why is he above criticism?"

I wonder if people are medicated when they ask that ridiculous question because it seems to me from listening to the radio, browsing message boards, and browsing my social media, whenever the Penguins lose he's the guy everyone almost reflexively points to as the reason for the loss.

I've never seen anything like it and I think it's almost always completely stupid.

You got all of that out of a simple Crosby is the best player in the league and he should be producing? Yikes..........

 

[9nationalchampionships]

Get ahead early and put the pressure on the Lightning.

Go Pens

 

[lilspainishflea]

Something to get you pumped for tonight

Fleury was absolutely spectacular. Both of these teams wanted it and played their hearts out. This is what Game 7s are about.

Go Pens.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

You got all of that out of a simple Crosby is the best player in the league and he should be producing? Yikes..........

Yeah, I may have taken too much out of it too. My bad.

I just think the guy gets crushed unfairly way too often. If they lose tonight he's going to be the one everyone blames regardless of what actually happens. I just think it's dumb.

 

[Pitt79]

Yeah, I may have taken too much out of it too. My bad.

I just think the guy gets crushed unfairly way too often. If they lose tonight he's going to be the one everyone blames regardless of what actually happens. I just think it's dumb.

Me too. Him and Malkin both! In all honesty, I get sick of the opinion that we should trade one of them, or both of them for 5-6 other guys and we'd do better. Really? I like my chances better with both of them, than getting 6 other guys, 3 of which might end up as busts, who knows, we have the bird in the hand with two guys that have already won a title, I'd rather build around them for 5-6 more years, and take my chances with that, than get rid of them and hope the guys we get in return are the right ones.

 

[steel_curtain]

-Get rid of Marc Andre Fleury in the off season.

-Pick up Mikkel Boadker on wing and a defensemen, and we are set.

-Easiest offseason ever. Getting rid of Flower gets us close to $6 Million. Homerun win. Murray is still on the cheap, restructure contract season after.

 

[lilspainishflea]

-Get rid of Marc Andre Fleury in the off season.

-Pick up Mikkel Boadker on wing and a defensemen, and we are set.

-Easiest offseason ever. Getting rid of Flower gets us close to $6 Million. Homerun win. Murray is still on the cheap, restructure contract season after.

Hate to say it after watching that video that I posted because he was great in the 2009 playoffs, but this is a straightforward and easy call.

 

[Pitt79]

-Get rid of Marc Andre Fleury in the off season.

-Pick up Mikkel Boadker on wing and a defensemen, and we are set.

-Easiest offseason ever. Getting rid of Flower gets us close to $6 Million. Homerun win. Murray is still on the cheap, restructure contract season after.

Totally agree, I was thinking myself if we have to choose between the two, Murray is he slam dunk, since he's 10 years younger and has pretty much beaten MAF out this year.