Frustrated with the Pens' season

[loki604]

This isn't a thread to bitch about the hits that lead to the injuries the Pens have faced this season or to act like no team has ever experienced this before. But it really sucks that Crosby was injured when he was doing so well. He was doing some amazing things and the fact that no forward (on any team) has really had a standout year (relative to the rest of the NHL) makes it suck even more.

With the help of solid defensive acquisitions made in the off season and Fleury playing well, this team has somehow managed to stay afloat and I'm still excited to watch every game. We basically don't have a shot in hell in the postseason with Crosby out though, so as much as I value the character and tenacity and shit, this season definitely feels like "what could have been" that I often think about in terms of Mario Lemieux's injuries.

I am still grateful that I will get to watch Penguins playoffs games, but this has been a frustrating season to say the least. Bylsma's name should get kicked around for the Jack Adams (not saying he should win, but he deserves a nom).

Again, not saying this team is the only team to ever experience this, just expressing my personal frustrations.

 

[SLY]

This isn't a thread to bitch about the hits that lead to the injuries the Pens have faced this season or to act like no team has ever experienced this before. But it really sucks that Crosby was injured when he was doing so well. He was doing some amazing things and the fact that no forward (on any team) has really had a standout year (relative to the rest of the NHL) makes it suck even more.

With the help of solid defensive acquisitions made in the off season and Fleury playing well, this team has somehow managed to stay afloat and I'm still excited to watch every game. We basically don't have a shot in hell in the postseason with Crosby out though, so as much as I value the character and tenacity and shit, this season definitely feels like "what could have been" that I often think about in terms of Mario Lemieux's injuries.

I am still grateful that I will get to watch Penguins playoffs games, but this has been a frustrating season to say the least. Bylsma's name should get kicked around for the Jack Adams (not saying he should win, but he deserves a nom).

Again, not saying this team is the only team to ever experience this, just expressing my personal frustrations.

I wouldn't go that far. Not to toot our horn or anything, but you guys, being depleted, beat a pretty damn good Boston team last night. While making it to the SCF is a stretch, having success in the playoffs is not a stretch at all.

 

[SFNL]

This "new" team seems to be gelling together. At this point it seems as though they have become reliant on their own abilities and aren't forcing things as much. So many players are playing so well on this team right now and are playing like there is no tomorrow, mainly because for most of them, there might not be. As long as they continue to stay competitive and keep positive momentum going, I'm not selling them short of making a run.

I can't imagine that w/ Sid's inactivity for such a long time that he would be any better RIGHT NOW than anyone else who's been in there for the last 2 months.

 

[loki604]

I wouldn't go that far. Not to toot our horn or anything, but you guys, being depleted, beat a pretty damn good Boston team last night. While making it to the SCF is a stretch, having success in the playoffs is not a stretch at all.

We could have moderate success. We're basically playing for overtime right now and hoping the chips fall our way in OT. It would be interesting to see if the chips could fall our way four out of seven times.

We would have to have every single thing go right. I guess you could say that about any team in the postseason, but I'm talking playoff heroics from Kovalev picking up where he left off with previous postseason success and guys like Max Talbot having clutch goals coming out of their asses while Fleury steals games on the regular.

 

[loki604]

This "new" team seems to be gelling together. At this point it seems as though they have become reliant on their own abilities and aren't forcing things as much. So many players are playing so well on this team right now and are playing like there is no tomorrow, mainly because for most of them, there might not be. As long as they continue to stay competitive and keep positive momentum going, I'm not selling them short of making a run.

I can't imagine that w/ Sid's inactivity for such a long time that he would be any better RIGHT NOW than anyone else who's been in there for the last 2 months.

I am proud of this team and I could see us taking a round. And yes, anything can happen, but it would take a lot. One thing going for us is that the style we play really meshes well with playoff hockey.

You know who we need to come back to start planning the parade?

Mike Comrie.

 

[SFNL]

I think all we need is Kunitz (which is soon) and Asham (who knows) back.. That would be a gritty team.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I understand the frutration. If the Pens had one of Crosby & Malkin they would definately be a contender to win the Cup. It seems like every game they find a way to get at least 1 point. I'm very impressed with the way Bylsma has devised a system that fits the team he has. Both the coaching staff & the players deserve a lot of credit for not folding up the tent. They're playing very well right now.

 

[SFNL]

I understand the frutration. If the Pens had one of Crosby & Malkin they would definately be a contender to win the Cup. It seems like every game they find a way to get at least 1 point. I'm very impressed with the way Bylsma has devised a system that fits the team he has. Both the coaching staff & the players deserve a lot of credit for not folding up the tent. They're playing very well right now.

I think what REALLY helps is that he ran the same system when he was at Wilkes Barre and all of those guys can come up and fill right in w/ what he's doing in Pittsburgh. It also seems that Fleury has been sharper lately because he knows he has to be. It was almost like he figured we'd be scoring 5 goals a game at the beginning of the year so he figured he could let up a few (especially early in games). I haven't (knock on wood) seen him give up a first shot goal in a long time.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I think what REALLY helps is that he ran the same system when he was at Wilkes Barre and all of those guys can come up and fill right in w/ what he's doing in Pittsburgh. It also seems that Fleury has been sharper lately because he knows he has to be. It was almost like he figured we'd be scoring 5 goals a game at the beginning of the year so he figured he could let up a few (especially early in games). I haven't (knock on wood) seen him give up a first shot goal in a long time.

The Pens are winning games in different ways though. That game against Toronto for example. Fleury wasn't anywhere near top form. Yet the Penguins found a way to score 6 goals.

 

[SFNL]

The Pens are winning games in different ways though. That game against Toronto for example. Fleury wasn't anywhere near top form. Yet the Penguins found a way to score 6 goals.

I didn't get to see that one. I'm figuring it was an outlier though

 

[esls79]

I think what REALLY helps is that he ran the same system when he was at Wilkes Barre and all of those guys can come up and fill right in w/ what he's doing in Pittsburgh. It also seems that Fleury has been sharper lately because he knows he has to be. It was almost like he figured we'd be scoring 5 goals a game at the beginning of the year so he figured he could let up a few (especially early in games). I haven't (knock on wood) seen him give up a first shot goal in a long time.

I think Dan Bylsma is cut from the same mold as Jacques Lemaire. Not so much his actual system(s), but his ability to adapt to whatever pieces he has available to him in the lineup on that particular day. The systems seem to need a good goaltender and then adapt to whatever pieces are available - without Fleury, the Pens would be sunk I think.

 

[loki604]

The Pens are winning games in different ways though. That game against Toronto for example. Fleury wasn't anywhere near top form. Yet the Penguins found a way to score 6 goals.

True, but that was an anomaly.

This season is just evoking different emotions in me. I am very happy with how we are playing and how well certain guys have responded and overall, this is a good way to evaluate some guys who have always been on the cusp of the NHL, but I'm also being realistic about any chances we have to go far.

I'm not sure I was happier with a win this season than I was last night though. Every goal feels precious...lol.

 

[loki604]

I think Dan Bylsma is cut from the same mold as Jacques Lemaire. Not so much his actual system(s), but his ability to adapt to whatever pieces he has available to him in the lineup on that particular day. The systems seem to need a good goaltender and then adapt to whatever pieces are available - without Fleury, the Pens would be sunk I think.

Even with Crosby and Malkin, the Pens play roughly the same system because after them, the offense falls off so much that a game based on finesse just wouldn't work. What you're seeing now is relatively the same system (with some minor changes that have been executed well) without the game changers. Hence 2-1, 3-2 games where someone has to step up as the hero for the Pens to win.

It's nice to see Bylsma get credit, because I really like the guy, but he never seems to get any props (ironically, he gets credit from non-Pens fans, but not Pens fans). When we sucked in the beginning of the season, it was his fault. When we started doing better it was because Crosby and MAF were gods. I seriously believe that some people would give more credit to Dustin Jeffrey for the Penguins ability to hang in there through this bout of injuries.

 

[pixburgher66]

This season sucks because of what could have been. Looking at how the team is playing now, how Flower is playing, how the D is gelling together, and how our AHLers are stepping up (DJ has been amazing), it's just depressing to think what could've been with Geno and Sid. Sure, the whole team make-up would be different without these injuries, and certain players never would've stepped up and made things happen, but to think of how amazing this team could be if Sid OR Geno were available...it's just depressing. It feels like a wasted year I guess, because sure we may have postseason success, but if this team wins the Cup, it's the biggest underdog story in years (even if Sid does come back...).

 

[SFNL]

I'm not gonna get caught up in woulda coulda's... Right now we are giving our AHLers amazing amounts of experience, are still in the middle of the pack in the playoff seedings, and haven't been eliminated from anything. How bout we just keep riding this train for the rest of the year before we count them out entirely.

We have no way of knowing what it might have been like if everyone stayed healthy. I know this though, more than likely most people would probably be complaining about Malkin rather than praising the efforts of who we have...

 

[loki604]

I'm not gonna get caught up in woulda coulda's... Right now we are giving our AHLers amazing amounts of experience, are still in the middle of the pack in the playoff seedings, and haven't been eliminated from anything. How bout we just keep riding this train for the rest of the year before we count them out entirely.

We have no way of knowing what it might have been like if everyone stayed healthy. I know this though, more than likely most people would probably be complaining about Malkin rather than praising the efforts of who we have...

I am definitely enjoying the positives of this season, of which there are many. If you had told me that Crosby and Malkin would be done by January and that we'd still be in fourth place in March, I'm not sure I would have believed you.

 

[pixburgher66]

I am definitely enjoying the positives of this season, of which there are many. If you had told me that Crosby and Malkin would be done by January and that we'd still be in fourth place in March, I'm not sure I would have believed you.

I wouldn't have. It's really amazing where we are considering all the hurdles in our path this year. The amazing thing is we're still only 2 points back from the Flyers (of course we have 2 games in hand yet, assuming they don't come back and win today in NY) and from Boston in the East standings.

 

[SFNL]

I am definitely enjoying the positives of this season, of which there are many. If you had told me that Crosby and Malkin would be done by January and that we'd still be in fourth place in March, I'm not sure I would have believed you.

Totally thought we were done. Thought wed even miss the playoffs.. Now that it appears we will make it, who knows.

That said, if we are currently playing to our full potential w/ this team... we're fucked. Just hope we can continue to improve.

 

[loki604]

Totally thought we were done. Thought wed even miss the playoffs.. Now that it appears we will make it, who knows.

That said, if we are currently playing to our full potential w/ this team... we're fucked. Just hope we can continue to improve.

The one thing that they will have going for them...zero pressure to win the first round without Sid...even if we aren't technically the underdogs.

 

[SFNL]

Unless Kovy turns out to be a Russian spy like Gonchar did, I think this team has what it takes for playoff hockey...