EF: (1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs (4) Boston Bruins. (Bruins SWEEP Pittsburgh 4-0!!).

[Azhouse]

Being a Flames fan since their inception I think that there is a certain hatred for the whiner superstar (Gretzky anyone?). Calgary always had to claw for everything that they got. I think some Flames fans like the style that the Bruins play vs Crosby crying to the refs on a full time basis. That is why you are seeing people go for the Bruins more so than Iginla hate.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

I thought the Pens' team defense was pretty brutal after the 1st game, tonight's game just confirmed it. No way they're winning anything continually giving up prime scoring chances time after time. The goaltending isn't great either, but it's amateur hour in their own zone and that's the real problem. I know they're not scoring a lot of goals, but being down 2 or 3 goals at a time isn't helping matters.

The Pens need to do something special next game from stopping this being a sweep.

[Nsd1]

Originally Posted by Azhouse

Some people are getting pissed off about all of the Iginla talk in this thread, but it is relevant. The two teams that were bidding for his services going head to head and the team that Jarome snubbed is up two games. I think Iginla and his play in this series is a very relevant topic for a Flames forum...but what the hell do I know (it's not like we have a horse in the race).

You're right it is relevant, what isn't relevant is the butt hurt people are still feeling about the return in the deal or the optics of the deal or how Jarmoe screwed the team and the city for the rest of eternity and broke all our little hearts.

[Bertuzzied]

Onrait: Lets start with the highlights of Game 2 or as Penguins fans call it, the game of thrones wedding.
hhahahahaha

[Dion]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I dont get why pitt seems so content with this. No grit or message sending.

[Dion]

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by doctajones428

I loved that the Bruins prevented the Canucks from winning the Cup, but this massive circle jerk of Iginla/Penguins hate and Boston love is really getting nausiating.

Iginla didn't jerk the team around, he didn't piss on the Bruins, he changed his mind. He wanted to play with Crosby and Malkin. If he went to Boston instead at the last second you guys would be trashing him and Bruins just the same

He was asked to leave

like the massive pile onto the pens bandwagon isn't nauseating either?

Suck it Cookie!

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Gator Mike

Bruins Power Plays since acquiring Gregory Campbell:
2010-11: 265 (27th in NHL)
2011-12: 250 (26th in NHL)
2012-13: 122 (30th in NHL)

Wow you just smurfed him!

[Pointman]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Unfortunately there are 2-3 posters who are obsessed with Iginla and it's the only thing they are capable of talking about.

Really annoying seeing the same thing debated endlessly in this thread, things we've gone over 100's of times over the past 4 years.

In this situation Iginla debate is warranted or, at least, understandable. Iginla's legacy is very big and is still somewhat fresh, so fans are still evaluating it. For many of the fans, it seems, looking on Iginla's lackluster play with Pens was a bit of an eye-opener on what player he really was lately. Sometimes you need to put a player in a different context to help to evaluate him. Just like Darryl Sutter's success with Kings reaffirmed how good of a coach he was here.

Some fans also care a lot about the way players left Calgary. There was a huge Doug Gilmour hate campaign and Gilmour, unlike Iginla, was a difference-maker in Game 6 SCF. There's nothing new about hating a player, no matter how great he was, for the way he left.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

I thought the Pens' team defense was pretty brutal after the 1st game, tonight's game just confirmed it. No way they're winning anything continually giving up prime scoring chances time after time. The goaltending isn't great either, but it's amateur hour in their own zone and that's the real problem. I know they're not scoring a lot of goals, but being down 2 or 3 goals at a time isn't helping matters.

The Pens need to do something special next game from stopping this being a sweep.

I picked the Bruins in six because of this, this is what happens with too many superstar forwards and butter soft defenseman. They could use a guy like Hall Gill in the lineup and Sutter doesn't even come close to playing a shutdown role like Staal did...the team is a mess.

It's going to take a monumental effort by their top guys to come back against a very solid Bruins "team"

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

No I think what the Bruins do, which is smart and similar to Detroit, is take as many liberties as possible. That way only the truly blatant get called, especially in playoff hockey where there is a tendency to 'let 'em play'.

If you play hard and take liberties they aren't going to put you 5 on 3 the whole game, that isn't the NHL brand. So use the playoff bendy rules to your advantage, that's what I see. I see Chicago doing similar actually, and LA sometimes.

I thanked this because it's an interesting point you make. I don't agree one way or the other.

So what you're saying is, the Bruins cross the line so excessively that anything minor - like a little hook to the hands or the opposing player stepping on a Bruin's stick - will be overlooked because everything else pales in comparison.

Interesting take. Thanks.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by doctajones428

I loved that the Bruins prevented the Canucks from winning the Cup, but this massive circle jerk of Iginla/Penguins hate and Boston love is really getting nausiating.

Iginla didn't jerk the team around, he didn't piss on the Bruins, he changed his mind. He wanted to play with Crosby and Malkin. If he went to Boston instead at the last second you guys would be trashing him and Bruins just the same

He was asked to leave

Iggy was asked to waive his NMC, but at the same time he made sure that he did not look like the guy that initiated the trade. Ownership would have given their left nut to have Iggy sign a retirement contract last summer. Iginla did what was best for him by saying "he will wait and see" and i have no problem with that. I do have a problem when you give a list of teams that you will go to, only to back out at the last second and narrow it down to one team. Feaster and ownership were bent over a barrel after he nixed the trade to Boston and i as a flames fan i will always have a problem with that. If you only want to go to one team then state that at the beginning. I truly believe if Feaster/ownership knew that from the start where Iggy really wanted to go, they would have gotten a better return.

[DeluxeMoustache]

^^ At least identifying more than one team as considered, he allowed the management some freedom to kick tires or negotiate, which plausibly did help their negotiating position, and may have strengthened the eventual return from the ultimate trade partner

[DeluxeMoustache]

I would submit that Iggy was one of the more dangerous Pens tonight. He is not expected to be better than 87 or 71, who are recognized as two of the top players in the world, and in my opinion he played more of a focused game than either of those two. Certainly not the reason for the team melting down and losing in such fashion.

Obviously Neal will be in the league after Iggy retires, but he had a really lousy night.

[doctajones428]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

like the massive pile onto the pens bandwagon isn't nauseating either?

Suck it Cookie!

I think most of us Penguin "fans" are fans solely because of our franchise leader and former captain going to Pittsburgh. I can't speak for everyone, but I'm sure most of us just want to see Iggy lift the cup. Nothing more, nothing less

And for Cooke, all this hate about him cutting Karlsson's achillies and us defending it happened before the trade. If Iggy wasn't a Pen I would still think that boarding was not worthy of a ejection and that Marchand and Cooke both should of received the same treatment. 2 minutes for both or 5 and a game for both

[UKflames]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

I would submit that Iggy was one of the more dangerous Pens tonight. He is not expected to be better than 87 or 71, who are recognized as two of the top players in the world, and in my opinion he played more of a focused game than either of those two. Certainly not the reason for the team melting down and losing in such fashion.

Obviously Neal will be in the league after Iggy retires, but he had a really lousy night.

Totally disagree with this statement, I thought he was pretty poor all night. He didn't seem to know where to go, he was swatting at the puck like a fly all night long and fanned on a number of scoring chances, one of which was 6 inches from the goal line. very disappointed in his time with the pens in this series.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Azhouse

Being a Flames fan since their inception I think that there is a certain hatred for the whiner superstar (Gretzky anyone?). Calgary always had to claw for everything that they got. I think some Flames fans like the style that the Bruins play vs Crosby crying to the refs on a full time basis. That is why you are seeing people go for the Bruins more so than Iginla hate.

The Penguins have always given off an Oilers east vibe to me.

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

No I think what the Bruins do, which is smart and similar to Detroit, is take as many liberties as possible. That way only the truly blatant get called, especially in playoff hockey where there is a tendency to 'let 'em play'.

If you play hard and take liberties they aren't going to put you 5 on 3 the whole game, that isn't the NHL brand. So use the playoff bendy rules to your advantage, that's what I see. I see Chicago doing similar actually, and LA sometimes.

Not the first time I have heard of this strategy.

The Ducks mastered this on the way to the cup.

[CaptainYooh]

Bylsma is a bad coach and doesn't deserve to coach such a talented team. Playoff series are as as much about coaching battle as they are about teams. What did he do, as a coach, to tweak his team's game plan after the first loss? Nothing! Just kept screwing around with lines.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Bylsma is a bad coach and doesn't deserve to coach such a talented team. Playoff series are as as much about coaching battle as they are about teams. What did he do, as a coach, to tweak his team's game plan after the first loss? Nothing! Just kept screwing around with lines.

Yeah, They've looked like garbage since the third period on Saturday. I think Bylsma pulled Vokoun too early last night. If there was any flicker at all, that fourth goal killed it, and now he has to spend the next two days dealing with goalie questions in addition to trying to do something about the rest of the team. On the plus side, I got to go to bed early last night.