Game Thread: Pittsburgh Penguins(1) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets(WC 1)| ECQF

[thedddd]

Good news!


Sounds like Goc will be back for game 5

That will be good too bad they won't leave Megna in and scratch Glass or Adams who are flat out too slow.

Shame Gibbons isn't healthy because I would like to see Bylsma justify scratching him over Adams or Glass.

 

[thedddd]

43, don't got too riled up by anything you read sports related wise from Pennlive. It is a rag, and that "journalist" David Jones is a tool.

Exactly!

I love the title "unexpected Stanley Cup Playoffs dogfight with Blue Jackets" come on now.

The Jackets are a good team and playing their system to a T and deserve 100% to be in the position they are.

 

[dare2be]

Ah, the Abysmal adjustment strategy...lets mix up the lines and see if that makes any difference. No changes in game plan needed.

 

[pixburgher66]

Let me just say: anyone who expected the Jackets to not put up a fight hasn't watched them play the past TWO years. They were the hottest team in hockey coming down the stretch last year, and I'm convinced they would've taken someone to the brink last year had they been in the race. Even as a Pens fan I'm a bit annoyed that the mentality is more woe is me than congratulatory. Of course, blowing a three goal lead is generally considered a team giving it away moreso than the other team winning it. Regardless, while the Pens should have been considered a favorite going into this series, if we have learned anything about the NHL in the past few years, it's that parity is at an all time high. What's incredible about this series is that it could have been a sweep either way if not for a few bounces. 4 one goal games, 2 OT games, etc. I'm sick of having cynicism (not here, mostly twitter) forced down my throat instead of simply being allowed to enjoy a hockey game. Pens fans are so disgustingly cynical. Enjoy being the postseason, damn it. And (once again, directed at twitter) stop being all high and mighty about how their fans are in regards to ours. I shouldn't even ask people this, because again many Pens fans are "Pens only" fans, but where were you on October 1st this year? I was crying tears of joy as I watched my baseball team win a postseason game for the first time in my life. Just...ahhh.

 

[thedddd]

Ah, the Abysmal adjustment strategy...lets mix up the lines and see if that makes any difference. No changes in game plan needed.

And the line mixing is pointless.

Why don't you just have your top 9/10 strongest play together and barely let the two bottom out there (Glass/Adams).

Just imagine if he would actually do this:

Kunitz-Crosby-Stempniak (Gibbons -if healthy)
Neal-Malkin-Jokinen
Bennett-Sutter-Goc (stempniak)
Gibbons(if healthy)-Vitale(Goc)-Megna

Just imaging the speed, dump and chase/cycling that could occur if you had Gibbons, Vitale and Megna out there?

 

[pixburgher66]

Secondary note: I also find it funny that the same people who predicted the Pens to win in 6 games are having an aneurysm over a 2-2 series. I mean...you predicted something vastly similar.

 

[thedddd]

Let me just say: anyone who expected the Jackets to not put up a fight hasn't watched them play the past TWO years. They were the hottest team in hockey coming down the stretch last year, and I'm convinced they would've taken someone to the brink last year had they been in the race. Even as a Pens fan I'm a bit annoyed that the mentality is more woe is me than congratulatory. Of course, blowing a three goal lead is generally considered a team giving it away moreso than the other team winning it. Regardless, while the Pens should have been considered a favorite going into this series, if we have learned anything about the NHL in the past few years, it's that parity is at an all time high. What's incredible about this series is that it could have been a sweep either way if not for a few bounces. 4 one goal games, 2 OT games, etc. I'm sick of having cynicism (not here, mostly twitter) forced down my throat instead of simply being allowed to enjoy a hockey game. Pens fans are so disgustingly cynical. Enjoy being the postseason, damn it. And (once again, directed at twitter) stop being all high and mighty about how their fans are in regards to ours. I shouldn't even ask people this, because again many Pens fans are "Pens only" fans, but where were you on October 1st this year? I was crying tears of joy as I watched my baseball team win a postseason game for the first time in my life. Just...ahhh.

This they are a very GOOD team and deserve credit but in reality it is fans of any team in general they will complain about what they know (or perceive to know) and not the whole situation.

Use the whole March Madness bracket analogy. It is freaking hilarious when people complain who got snubbed, who should have been in the tournament and who shouldn't. I can guarantee that NOT ONE of those people complaining watched all those teams play every single game.

 

[dare2be]

I feel myself falling down the slope of cynicism this year. The hill has gotten much steeper after last year's trade deadline coup by Shero and then the subsequent playoff collapse. Disco Dan should have been boogieing his way out the door two years ago.

 

[thedddd]

Secondary note: I also find it funny that the same people who predicted the Pens to win in 6 games are having an aneurysm over a 2-2 series. I mean...you predicted something vastly similar.

I predicted them in 6 and honestly still think they SHOULD win in 6.

Put it in perspective there are two series tonight that are tied 2-2 are any of those teams better off than the Penguins or Jackets? Nope.

 

[thedddd]

I feel myself falling down the slope of cynicism this year. The hill has gotten much steeper after last year's trade deadline coup by Shero and then the subsequent playoff collapse. Disco Dan should have been boogieing his way out the door two years ago.

It is super easy to be a critic. I am a huge one and what happened in Boston last year I think is what is causing most of it.

 

[pixburgher66]

I predicted them in 6 and honestly still think they SHOULD win in 6.

Put it in perspective there are two series tonight that are tied 2-2 are any of those teams better off than the Penguins or Jackets? Nope.

I mentioned after the loss the other night: wonder how the Ducks fan base is feeling. They blew a 2 goal lead, and a 2 game series lead, to what is the "worst team" in the postseason points wise. Yet the national media is ignoring it. The Ducks were, at one point, a dominant team in the league this year. Yes, Getzlaf was out for game 4, but man...East Coast bias strikes big. The cynicism is forced from the media at every level, and it just makes it hard to cheer for a team with such an awful fan base. Basically you're told you're an idiot for having any sense of optimism.

 

[dare2be]

It is super easy to be a critic. I am a huge one and what happened in Boston last year I think is what is causing most of it.

I've been resisting the urge for a long time, but a team with as many talented players underachieving for so long when it counts the most, shows me that while we have a bunch of great players, we don't have a team. It all starts with the coach, and to a much lesser extent, the captain.

 

[dare2be]

I mentioned after the loss the other night: wonder how the Ducks fan base is feeling. They blew a 2 goal lead, and a 2 game series lead, to what is the "worst team" in the postseason points wise. Yet the national media is ignoring it. The Ducks were, at one point, a dominant team in the league this year. Yes, Getzlaf was out for game 4, but man...East Coast bias strikes big. The cynicism is forced from the media at every level, and it just makes it hard to cheer for a team with such an awful fan base. Basically you're told you're an idiot for having any sense of optimism.

Maybe I'm too optimistic, then. I have high expectations for this team due to its high-caliber players, award-winning coach and GM wizard. For us not to dominate (and they do, in short spurts) in at least the early rounds is just Abylsma.

 

[thedddd]

I mentioned after the loss the other night: wonder how the Ducks fan base is feeling. They blew a 2 goal lead, and a 2 game series lead, to what is the "worst team" in the postseason points wise. Yet the national media is ignoring it. The Ducks were, at one point, a dominant team in the league this year. Yes, Getzlaf was out for game 4, but man...East Coast bias strikes big. The cynicism is forced from the media at every level, and it just makes it hard to cheer for a team with such an awful fan base. Basically you're told you're an idiot for having any sense of optimism.

Ducks? Who are they? - Sorry bad joke.

Heck what about the fight the Red Wings are putting up with probably the best team in Hockey (by far)? I know they are down 3-1 but they lost the last game in OT.

And sorry 43 but I still think the Penguins should/will win and hope they do. But no one should deny the fact the Jackets are a good team, playing very well and are well Coached. - Pix this is the blinders most put on and can't accept that fact that the Penguins just aren't the best team. If it was always like the NBA and the best player always wins then the Capitals and Canucks would be in the playoffs.

 

[thedddd]

Maybe I'm too optimistic, then. I have high expectations for this team due to its high-caliber players, award-winning coach and GM wizard. For us not to dominate (and they do, in short spurts) in at least the early rounds is just Abysmal.

I think we all should but as we know Coaching awards don't always make a great coach come playoff time as we are seeing yet again.

 

[forty_three]

Secondary note: I also find it funny that the same people who predicted the Pens to win in 6 games are having an aneurysm over a 2-2 series. I mean...you predicted something vastly similar.

I stand by my early statement that I do not expect the Jackets to win. Too much potential for it all to blow up against them. That said, they have given all I could have ever hoped for so far. Proud of every one of them.

I've been resisting the urge for a long time, but a team with as many talented players underachieving for so long when it counts the most, shows me that while we have a bunch of great players, we don't have a team. It all starts with the coach, and to a much lesser extent, the captain.

Not to creep back to the pre-SportsHoopla days (boy did I ever take crap for suggesting it), and I am not bashing Sid in specific. But I have never been a fan of handing your captaincy to the best player on your team. I am not in the room, so I don't know how he carries himself there, but I think and will continue to think, that holding the captaincy led to his injury woes. We saw it in Philly with Lindros. Columbus and Nash. He (they) went out and tried to do too much, and put themselves in a vulnerable spot.

And especially when there is already a perception of him whining to the refs. Don't put him in a worse spot by giving him the role that is SUPPOSED to talk to the refs.

I think they did him a disservice by making him the C so young. Granted, I am not in the room and not so closely associated with the team that I could identify a better choice. And with that said, this year he has impressed me with the way he's conducted himself. Maybe he is the right choice, but a couple of years ago I thought it was looking like it was going to ruin him.

 

[dare2be]

Abylsma, you ARE the weakest link...goodbye.

 

[pixburgher66]

Ducks? Who are they? - Sorry bad joke.

Heck what about the fight the Red Wings are putting up with probably the best team in Hockey (by far)? I know they are down 3-1 but they lost the last game in OT.

And sorry 43 but I still think the Penguins should/will win and hope they do. But no one should deny the fact the Jackets are a good team, playing very well and are well Coached. - Pix this is the blinders most put on and can't accept that fact that the Penguins just aren't the best team. If it was always like the NBA and the best player always wins then the Capitals and Canucks would be in the playoffs.

I'm not sure I follow this grammatically? If you're insinuating that I have blinders on you're merely proving my point. I don't know if that's what you're point was or not though, so no condemnation intended...yet

 

[dare2be]

No, Pix, he's addressing you as in "hey, Pix...I agree with you"

Holster your weapon.

 

[thedddd]

I'm not sure I follow this grammatically? If you're insinuating that I have blinders on you're merely proving my point. I don't know if that's what you're point was or not though, so no condemnation intended...yet

This just going on with what you said. Most fans ranting out there (not here on SportsHoopla) only see the Penguins and not the real value of a team in the context of the NHL.