EQF (1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs (8) New York Islanders (Penguins win 4-2).

[OffsideSpecialist]

I feel that since game one, the Isles have been the better even strength team in this series, but the Pens have been far and away better on the special teams. With the exception of game one and third period last night, goaltending has been about equal, far from spectacular on either side. The big difference in last night's game was that Nabokov stepped things up in the third when it mattered (I recall him making a good save and the guy on NBC saying "remember this save, it could be a difference maker"), Fleury did not.

Putting Vokoun in the next game will be interesting, I imagine it will help rejuvenate the Penguins, I expect them to come out flying in game 5. I still see the Penguins taking this in 6.

I also think that Iginla has played quite well in this series, frankly, I think he is about the least of that team's problems.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Smith has proven in the past couple of seasons that he's legit and if you have a chance to get him signed then buying out MAF is a possibility. However I don't know if Penguins ownership has the money to eat deals like that.

The Penguins don't have the cap room to make a trade for say Luongo without dealing money back and Luongo's deal would make it impossible to re-sign Malkin.

Considering everything we hear about the Pens, I would really doubt they can afford to go the buyout route. So of course then thought of the trade route or even the waiver route only to find out that Fleury has a limited NMC that prevents him from being placed on waivers and he has to provide a list of teams that he can be traded too.

Yet another situation where the NTC gets in the way. You would think that GMs would start making these NTC/NMC performance based. "If the team gets knocked out of the first round of the playoffs the NMC is void".

[GoIggy]

Despite my frustrations with DB and the lineup, I will say he overhauled the breakout in a very nice way for game 4.

The Pens LOVE the stretch pass. It kills teams in the regular season, but in a series with time to adjust it leads to a lot of odd-man breaks the other way.

Happened against Philly.

Did the same style game 1 against Islanders and it worked.. games 2 and 3 they had a response for it.

Game 4 DB FINALLY adjusted (and well). The problem in game 4 wasn't coaching, but just pure dumb plays

Here's a great article with diagrams / in-game pics of what Pens did and what they are doing now

http://www.faceoff-factor.com/1pitts...und-one-game-4

(It also shows how the team breaks it out with Crosby, and then how Malkin screws it up).

The turnovers are making the Pens D look incompetent (they aren't) and the Islanders look like they're 20 times faster than the Pens (they aren't). All these turnovers in their own zone leaving guys flat footed have to stop

I'm guessing today's "cancelled practice" was really an extended video session rather than a "day off", since all players still had to report and they spoke to media the same time they normally do (which is usually right after practice)

[jhunt223]

Originally Posted by transplant99

What has become blatantly obvious is that the Pens are really struggling with the speed of the Islanders and have yet to adjust for it in terms of playing in their own end......again resulting in turnovers all over the ice, which almost always end up in scoring chances.

The Isles have a real shot at this thing now IMO.

Well the Penguins went 4-1 against them in the regular season so did they get faster all of the sudden or something?

[Itse]

Originally Posted by OffsideSpecialist

Putting Vokoun in the next game will be interesting, I imagine it will help rejuvenate the Penguins, I expect them to come out flying in game 5. I still see the Penguins taking this in 6.

I agree with the sentiment.

However, if Vokoun let's in a softie early next game, anything can happen, since that could seriously damage the whole teams confidence.

Plus there is the risk that some of the Pens could still just be waiting for this "easy" series to be done with, while the Isles are really going all out.

[JD]

Originally Posted by jhunt223

Well the Penguins went 4-1 against them in the regular season so did they get faster all of the sudden or something?

Probably not, but they obviously did learn to use their speed effectively. The Pens are struggling to counter. On top of it, they're coughing up the puck on a regular basis. Bad combination.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by jhunt223

Well the Penguins went 4-1 against them in the regular season so did they get faster all of the sudden or something?

Not sure how that means that its all on Fleury?

But there is a simple metric to look at if you wish to compare all the wins the Pens had in the regular season and against the games they have lost against the Islanders in the playoffs.....giveaway/takeaway stats.

In the games they won including in the PO, they were ahead in those categories, in the ones they lost....behind in those categories. Nothing to do with goaltending ONLY as the reason....they have been giving up quality chance after quality chance sice game 1...and its finally catching up with them and in reality, this series should probably be 3-1 Isles right now....and it all starts with the ny side using their speed advantage to win puck battles.

Team defense is a major major issue that DB needs to get his guys focussed on and paying much better...or it wont matter if jesus himself is in the cage, the team is going no where fast.

[JohnnyB]

I didn't begin watching their games until the playoffs started but what I feel watching the Pens is that their goal scoring really relies on skill and they expect to score and win by skill alone. The Isles on the other hand are just playing with passion, intensity and drive while happy to use any means necessary to pot in goals. The factors driving the Isles are much easier to dial up, whereas the Pens approach is fundamentally a weakness.

The Pens are undoubtedly the better group of players but they play a needlessly one-dimensional game that's just about their skill and lacks intensity.

[GoIggy]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

I didn't begin watching their games until the playoffs started but what I feel watching the Pens is that their goal scoring really relies on skill and they expect to score and win by skill alone. The Isles on the other hand are just playing with passion, intensity and drive while happy to use any means necessary to pot in goals. The factors driving the Isles are much easier to dial up, whereas the Pens approach is fundamentally a weakness.

The Pens are undoubtedly the better group of players but they play a needlessly one-dimensional game that's just about their skill and lacks intensity.

I know this is hard to state right now, but all throughout the regular season it was the EXACT opposite

This is a VERY hard working team. Some of the criticism of DB here in Pittsburgh has been his system is too demanding / wears players down by end of 82 games actually

Crosby, Kunitz, Dupuis, Morrow, Sutter, Cooke, Adams, TK, Glass all forwards that definitely "grind" it out

[gargamel]

Originally Posted by GoIggy

I know this is hard to state right now, but all throughout the regular season it was the EXACT opposite

This is a VERY hard working team. Some of the criticism of DB here in Pittsburgh has been his system is too demanding / wears players down by end of 82 games actually

Crosby, Kunitz, Dupuis, Morrow, Sutter, Cooke, Adams, TK, Glass all forwards that definitely "grind" it out

They were hardworking in game 1 of this series too, but everyone else slacked off when Crosby came back. I'm not sure what the solution is, but, through no fault of Crosby, the team was significantly better before he re-joined the lineup.

[GoIggy]

Originally Posted by gargamel

They were hardworking in game 1 of this series too, but everyone else slacked off when Crosby came back. I'm not sure what the solution is, but, through no fault of Crosby, the team was significantly better before he re-joined the lineup.

They were on a roll before Sid got injured. This team collapses and turns into every game being an 7-5 rollercoaster type of game in the playoffs every year... I don't know why the transformation, but I do know if they lose first round again this year DB will be gone

Its frustrating, they have responsible forwards, and their D is actually pretty damn good all through the regular season... Second straight year there's just been a complete collapse.

This regular season they were number 1 in goals per game, but still only allowed 2.47 goals per game (11th fewest)

I don't know why its suddenly 6 goals allowed per game... this is a very experienced playoff team.

[Rudee]

With the Pesky Flyers out of the way this year, I thought the Penguins would go deep in the playoffs. I was mistaken. Fleury is playing exactly like he did last year at this time. Unbelievable.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Rudee

With the Pesky Flyers out of the way this year, I thought the Penguins would go deep in the playoffs. I was mistaken. Fleury is playing exactly like he did last year at this time. Unbelievable.

I wonder if the Pens could trade him for the #1 overall pick at the draft this year?

lol

[Red John]

Imagine if Marc-Andre Fleury played for Vancouver.

It's amazing he was considered an above average goalie up until last year's playoffs.

[GoIggy]

Originally Posted by Red John

Imagine if Marc-Andre Fleury played for Vancouver.

It's amazing he was considered an above average goalie up until last year's playoffs.

http://video.penguins.nhl.com/videoc...46732&catid=-6

A defeated guy, I honestly feel bad for the guy..

It seems crazy to say, but from 2003-until Crosby after the lockout MAF was our "savior" / 1 chance of "hope" from a then-pathetic franchise. I still remember his 46-save debut and how excited I was.

The guys widely reported as one the nicest guys to ever play here, is our 2nd-longest tenured Penguin (only other 1 besides Orpik who was here during the "dark days"), and had some really good moments / games for the Pens... no way they win the cup without him.

That being said, despite all his immense talent, he's clearly snake-bitten right now... Move had to be made, and it might be time for a change of scenery... which is crazy, before the Flyers disaster EVERYONE thought he'd retire here...

[DeluxeMoustache]

Being a good team guy goes a long way and chemistry is important. Ironic here as that was underestimated during the spare parts exchange years (following the Ference trade), and in that it has been detrimental to the Pens when giving a guy the benefit of the doubt.

Fleury can do it as he has proven he can, but now is not the time to gamble another game on the timeliness of letting him work his crap out. Tough love.

[GoIggy]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Being a good team guy goes a long way and chemistry is important. Ironic here as that was underestimated during the spare parts exchange years (following the Ference trade), and in that it has been detrimental to the Pens when giving a guy the benefit of the doubt.

Fleury can do it as he has proven he can, but now is not the time to gamble another game on the timeliness of letting him work his crap out. Tough love.

O, I agree... The Pens have some tough decisions to make in the next 2 offseasons, so the future is "now." Hopefully they can get their crap together, and I thoroughly believe they can win a cup with Vokoun in net.. This team, at their full potential, doesn't need Patrick Roy back there.. just someone competent

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

I didn't begin watching their games until the playoffs started but what I feel watching the Pens is that their goal scoring really relies on skill and they expect to score and win by skill alone. The Isles on the other hand are just playing with passion, intensity and drive while happy to use any means necessary to pot in goals. The factors driving the Isles are much easier to dial up, whereas the Pens approach is fundamentally a weakness.

The Pens are undoubtedly the better group of players but they play a needlessly one-dimensional game that's just about their skill and lacks intensity.

This is exactly what happened back in 1993. The Penguins are using that recipe and they better be careful. The Islanders are following the 1993 team with almost identical results.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by GoIggy

I know this is hard to state right now, but all throughout the regular season it was the EXACT opposite

This is a VERY hard working team. Some of the criticism of DB here in Pittsburgh has been his system is too demanding / wears players down by end of 82 games actually

Crosby, Kunitz, Dupuis, Morrow, Sutter, Cooke, Adams, TK, Glass all forwards that definitely "grind" it out

I have no problem believing it's new for them. If they'd been doing it all season they'd look more comfortable and confident about it, but they don't.

The ironic thing is that as soon as they start playing emotionally, such as when they've just been scored on and their pride is threatened, their skill comes shining through with how it's possible for them to totally outclass the Islanders. And then it goes again as quickly as it came.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Red John

Imagine if Marc-Andre Fleury played for Vancouver.

It's amazing he was considered an above average goalie up until last year's playoffs.

Schneider wasn't that great in the playoffs but he wasn't near as bad as Fleury and his amateur positioning. If they had an award for worst goaltender of the playoffs Fleury would be a lock for his 2nd straight razzie award. He seems to have the physical attributes but is starting to look like a mental midget in the playoffs. One year can be considered an aberration but two straight years signifies a real problem. Maybe a game or two on the bench is what he needs and if the Penguins get past the Islanders he gets out of his funk but if he doesn't can the Penguins afford to use up another season where the team is at its peak? I don't think so.