I win! Something, anyway. BTW, I’m on my third now and feeling muuuuuch better.

At least the injury monster didn’t reel its ugly head. That scrum at the end where Richards plowed into Fleury made me nervous. We’ll get ’em next time.

I have to listen to the Pens broadcast. They are the absolute worst. Southern teams (atl, Nash, TB) with crap-ass teams and no fan base have more knowledgeable broadcasters. They saw Letang look at his hand and were immediately calling for lab results. It made me sick to my stomach to sit thru that broadcast. At least I DVR it and can FF thru period breaks.

Hey dishrag, you think a guy that was throwing his fist at someone’s mouth may have cut it on a helmet actually hit a tooth with it?

By the way, the comment about getting a rabies shot should be saved for Gino that ugly mutt of yours.

Mophead? Thats the best nickname you can come up with? That makes “Fartsmell” sound genius.

In closing, Pittsburgh sucks. You beat us by one and we scored on ourselves.

Oh and don’t bother us on Saturday night, we’ll be watching Playoff Baseball, remember that?

Negatives
Coburn looked really bad again getting beat by Staal on one rush, netting an own goal, and turning the puck over again leading to the 5th goal, it would be nice to see Emery bail them out but when they are turning the puck over the the Guerins, Malkins, Ovechkins, Staals of the world it is hard to fault him. More that a few times I noticed that nobody was covering the front of the net with two defenders on the same side, poor communication on the blueline not a good thing. I think we were trying to get too fancy with the outlet passes when trying to come from behind and pressing a little, need to keep it simple and be patient with the puck. Like last year without Betts the 4th line didn’t get much ice time, Cote is a complete waste of a dressed player and he is a mediocre fighter at best rather see a call up in place there so the coach can use the line more. The ice surface looked awful especially on our end of the 1st period PP should have had a buried a few open net shots if the puck would have just settled down. I would consider moving Parent up with Kimmo and pairing Coburn down with OKT it will help sure up the 3rd pairing and I just like Kimmo with Parent like last year. Parent just worries about solid D and let Kimmo handle the playmaking. We have to come out better after scoring a goal and stop letting in those big deflating goals on the next shift. Too early to get all upset but a loss to the Pens does that to me for some reason.

Positives
Attitude at the end of the game was much better we certainly didn’t roll over and die and played hard and aggressive for a complete 60 minutes something that I can’t say happened too often last year. Giroux is looking better but without a scoring threat on the wing he is going to get little time and space to do his thing. Finally Crosby doesn’t get a point good work by Pronger and Carle. Discipline I don’t know if the message got through but for the second straight game our opponent was the more penalized team, no bad penalties by the usual suspects Hartnell and Carcillo. I think the more aggressive 5 on 5 forecheck is the reason why we are taking less penalties no longer chasing the puck all game in our own zone instead we are forcing the play causing lots of turnovers both in the neutral zone and at the offensive blueline. Danny had a very strong game and the Carter line is getting better. I also think we controlled the game at 5 on 5 leading keeping the Pens pinned in the on zone and not giving up much except when we turned the puck over or messed up a line change. PK had a clutch 5 on 3 and the PP with Pronger getting a lot of attention on the point looked really good again. Winning 3 out of 4 against with this opening schedule is solid, I would imagine JVR would be given off again on Saturday with a 6 day break before our the following game against BOS.

I’m really questioning if this team will ever be able to play 60 full on minutes of hockey with John Stevens at the helm. I love this team, looking at that roster I’m confident, why is it when they take the ice, I’m not anymore? Inefficient, undisciplined, inconsistent. Not just this season thus far, last season, all last season. These aren’t a young group of kids exceeding expectations, these are established players, some veterans, making foolish mistakes and the worst possible times. These aren’t words that pop into my head after losses, these are thoughts that are in the back of my mind after the finish of every period. What group of guys will take the ice in the 2nd?

I don’t propose I know how to fix it, and its certainly possible I simply have the problem all wrong. However, I don’t see John Stevens as anything but underachieving. I don’t see Mike Richards commanding leadership. I see an incredibly packed roster playing hard when they feel like it. These guys need to turn a corner and establish an less schizophrenic group, or we’re in for another long season of watching them blow leads, take bonehead penalties, and further cementing their only consistency, turning the puck over.

I know Emery’s been a little shaky lately, but remember he hasn’t been in the NHL for a year. Sure he played against the Capitals and the Penguins before, but he hasn’t played against todays Penguins and Capitals before, who are way better they they were a couple of years ago. I think that now that he knows what its like, he’ll be better then next time they come into town.

Also, this defense is supposed to be one of the best in the league. I think its time they start acting like it.

a. feels good to be back on…b. didn’t like our performance at all, our offense continues to show promise and produces but the def. looks lousy still, emery has been less then sensational as well in the last two games.

This is just the beginning, emery still has plenty of time to show he can handle this…and the def. has time to gel and be more responsible with the puck. (Coburn)

Still seems that the Flyers can outplay the Pens but always end up losing by shooting themselves in the foot. Even after being ousted in last years Playoffs by the Pens, I am still convinced we have all the tools and ability to beat them like we have always beat them in the past.

I was also thinking, maybe I’m crazy but…..maybe Stevens isn’t the right coach for us? Thoughts?