Penguins vs Flyers - Game 3

[Louis Lipps Service]

Shit has sucked so far. But these guys have been fighters all season long, and I don't expect them to give up right now.

Maybe a shift into hostile territory lights a fire.

Or maybe I'm just trying to bullshit myself into thinking they have a chance.

Either way, LET'S GO PENS!

[bradshaw2ben]

LFG!

[Orangesteel]

If they aren’t going to break up Letang and Girard then at least limit Tanger’s ice time.

We need to employ the dump and chase in a major way. Pens have had no answer at the blue line for what Tocchet is doing defensively.

Dudes need to skate their asses off entering the zone. If we are slower than Philly we will get swept.

[Orangesteel]

How in the hell does that scrum result in a Philadelphia power-play I cannot believe what I’m watching

[Orangesteel]

Fuck this bullshit the NHL is a goddamn joke

[Orangesteel]

Nice save Skinner - great example of why he was run out of EDM

[swissvale72]

Penguin is get screwed on a penalty… Russ needs to keep his head better… Then Skinner gives up two fucking softies

[Orangesteel]

It was always going to depend on how our young guys handled the moment and showed up and being honest they have looked like shit the entire series.

The old guys look really old and the Flyers young talents are playing the way I’d hoped our would play.

Not looking good

[sinceiwas4]

we rly do look old out there i see alot of guys catching their breaths while on the ice and the cant seem to get control and keep pressure on they look sloppy idk. its just not looking good. but i hate the flyers so i keep hoping somehow the Pens will show somekind of fire and control of the puck out there. if not i hope the flyers lose as many teeth as possible before round 2..

[Orangesteel]

It would just be really damn nice if one of these years where the Pens and/or Steelers make the playoffs and don’t right away look like the worst fucking team in the playoffs. It’s gone on for far too long.

[Orangesteel]

OK there is one…

[Orangesteel]

Anthony Mantha has been abysmal. Christ almighty.

[Orangesteel]

Nice job Mantha

[sinceiwas4]

so bad! but then again Crosby aint been awesome either. i assume hes still injured the way hes been but msn this team just doesnt have it and yes a playoff run would really be nice ..any yr now

[Orangesteel]

That was dreadful.

[sinceiwas4]

yup

[jeemie]

Anthony Mantha has been abysmal. Christ almighty.

The entire series.

[Orangesteel]

It’s a page from the Steelers Playoff Strategy Guide

Do enough to get in then look like complete cheeks then wonder was it worth even making the dance?

I suppose so but the last 6 months of watching some awesome hockey has completely disappeared in 7 days. Wondering if sitting the older guys the last week was a wise decision because now these guys look ancient.

[Louis Lipps Service]

Hope they let Malkin walk at the end of the season. I love the guy. I really do. He's still a good player. His goals this series are not lost on me.

But it's less about current skill and more about opportunities to keep getting younger, and this is the low hanging fruit.

I'm not as much of a Letang hater, overall, as many Pittsburgh fans are...but even I'll admit he's done. Problem is, I think we're stuck with him.

Sid is also staying, and that's fine as long as we continue to rely less on him and more on young guys.

Karlsson has had a very tough series, but had a great season otherwise. Prefer to trade him to get younger, but also fine with him staying another year, although Muse needs rein him in a little bit if that's the case.

Goalie is interesting. Ideally, Murashov is the starter and we extend Skinner to be the backup.

I don't think Skinner wants to be a backup, though. If that's the case, we have to let him walk.

Silov isn't a terrible backup, but he's not great either. I suspect the Pens will want better insurance in case Murashov isn't ready again.

[MWS71]

The opportunity we have in front of us is to cheer like hell for the three of the best we’ve ever seen (and ever will see) one more time.

In 2005 if they told you we’d get three cups, multiple MVPs and Art Ross trophies, and 20 years worth of performance and conduct that made you proud to rep the black and gold you’d have taken it!

It’s bleak now, but there’s 5 long months ahead of us to play GM. And even then there’s now magic wand to wave - it could be a decade or more until we luck into a kid good enough to be the best player on championship team: ask Detroit how easy it is to replace legends.

I won’t tell anyone how to be a fan, but for me I’m going to choose to believe in Sid, Geno, and Letang until it’s finished. They’ve given city so much for 20 years, and I’ll be damned if I play chicken little that it’s all over rather than enjoy, for as long as I can, that it all happened.

All we have to do is not lose the next one. I believe. LETS GO PENS!!!!!!!

[jeemie]

The playoffs were gravy for me because I didn't expect the Penguins to be there yet.

But I have to admit to being disappointed that we didn't even show up for the playoffs.

I think resting the vets was kind of dumb and took the penguins out of their rhythm.

On the other hand, it's clear the younger guys were not ready for playoff hockey yet and were simply unprepared to deal with what the Flyers have thrown at them.

Maybe our team doesn't yet have the skillset to do that. I don't know.

But despite the team doing way better than I expected this year, not showing up for the playoffs has turned the whole season into a real downer.

[Orangesteel]

I’m with you Jeemie. Also, Flyers have talent but I don’t think on any planet would i consider them having more talent than the Pens.

It’s a mix of bad matchup, their goalie is playing really well, they have momentum and are super fired up, they have trapped the Pens into playing their game and our old guys look like they have aged years in the last 8 days.

Tocchet has been around a long time, knows the game and understands how to matchup against your opponent in a best of 7 series.

Muse has a shit ton to learn.

[bradshaw2ben]

It was always going to depend on how our young guys handled the moment and showed up and being honest they have looked like shit the entire series.

The old guys look really old and the Flyers young talents are playing the way I’d hoped our would play.

Not looking good

Officiating let the Flyers goon it up and obstruct and hit after the whistle and the penguins played right into that instead of countering it with their own strength.

[bradshaw2ben]

Hope they let Malkin walk at the end of the season. I love the guy. I really do. He's still a good player. His goals this series are not lost on me.

But it's less about current skill and more about opportunities to keep getting younger, and this is the low hanging fruit.

I'm not as much of a Letang hater, overall, as many Pittsburgh fans are...but even I'll admit he's done. Problem is, I think we're stuck with him.

Sid is also staying, and that's fine as long as we continue to rely less on him and more on young guys.

Karlsson has had a very tough series, but had a great season otherwise. Prefer to trade him to get younger, but also fine with him staying another year, although Muse needs rein him in a little bit if that's the case.

Goalie is interesting. Ideally, Murashov is the starter and we extend Skinner to be the backup.

I don't think Skinner wants to be a backup, though. If that's the case, we have to let him walk.

Silov isn't a terrible backup, but he's not great either. I suspect the Pens will want better insurance in case Murashov isn't ready again.

He’s also the only one of their scorers who is suited to this kind of game

[swissvale72]

I didn't like this coaching matchup from the outset, going against a former penguin who knows the team so well. Disastrous end to a somewhat magical season...ugh

Oh...and fuck this NHL officiating. How the fuck the Flyers start shit and come out of it on the power play.