PENGUINS--THE HEART BREAK JUST KEEPS DRIPPING OUT--1

The Penguins have been eliminated from the playoffs early the third consecutive season now and it's gotten worse. In 2010 They won the opening series against Ottawa and then lost in Game 7 to the Canadiens, in Pittsbugh. In 2011 they lost in the first round to Tampa Bay in Game 7 at the Civic arena. And we know what happened this year in only 6 games.


In those three seasons they finished 2nd, 2nd and 2nd in the Atlantic Division but ranked 4th in the playoffs due to the stupid rule that awards a team that wins it's division now less than 3rd place in the playoff rankings. The first two season it was New Jersey winning the division that left them wallowing in 4th. This year it was the Rangers.


The Penguins accumulated 101, 106 and 108 points in the 2010, 2001, and 2012 seasons those being their 6th, 3rd and 2nd highest point totals ever, respectively. The Penguins have accumulated over 100 points a total of seven times in their history with 119 being the highest, in 1993.


They lost in the first round in three consecutive only one other time, in 1980, 1981 and 1982. Those seasons they accumulated only 73, 73, 75 points, respectively, and only finished 3rd, 4th and 4th in the division. Back them those preliminary series were only 5 games long and they lost all three by a count of 3-2 to Boston, St. Louis and The Islanders , respectively.


Their downfall this year was the final 10 games where they were 6-4. The four losses were TWICE to the Islanders once to the Senators and once to the Flyers (when the game meant something). Three of their wins were against the Predators, Devils and Sabres. The three other were against teams to which the game meant nothing in the playoff standings at the time; The Rangers, The Bruins and the Flyers. Prior to those 10 games the Penguins almost couldn't be beaten. After them, including the playoffs, they were 8-8 and still sinking.


As my wife is fond of saying,"It's not how you start, it's how you finish." The last three season the Penguins have SUCKED as finishers.

FLYERS FANS--WHAT A BUNCH OF SHITBAGS!

Couldn't even listen in peace to the end of the game on the Mike Lange broadcast because fucking Flyer "fans" start chanting "CROSBY!" Why doesn't someone just bomb that fucking city?

WELL, THAT'S IT.

SEE YOU NEXT SEASON.

1. Too few shots.

2. Too few shots on net.

3. Too few good shots.

4. PK kills them, AGAIN.

5. Neal and Malkin HUGE letdowns, Crosby next hugh-est.

6. It's tough to beat ANYBODY four consecutive games. The Flyers didn't do it and neither did the Pens. Looks like they keep the monkey on their backs having never avenged the 4-game game sweep when up 3-0 against the Islanders in 1974. They had a chance here but...

PENS-FLYERS GAME 6--FIRST INTERMISSION

Well, THAT couldn't have gone much worse which I guess is something you can get motivation from.


1. The Pens did not get ONE bounce. Also perhaps good news.


2. The Pens were horrific on the PK and lucky they didn't give up a second PP goal. Good news? Only if they can turn it around which I believe is not possible this far into the series. At this point the Flyers have WAY too much confidence on the PP. Personally, I don't believe the Penguins are putting enough pressure on them with their PK unit.


3. If it was me, I would have called a time out after the FIRST goal. But it's not me coaching the team.


4. Did Giroux's hit on Crosby early affect him (Sid)? My feeling is Crosby is not playing at 100% due to the two big "hits" he received in Game 5 (one by Malkin).


5. Flyers are blocking shots AND the Penguins are missing the net on shots and on passes.


I DUNNO.

LET'S GO PENS!!!

LOOKING AHEAD TO GAME 6--PENS-FLYERS

1. The Flyers have pretty well controlled Malkin and Neal but other Penguins have killed them in Games 4 and 5. I'm thinking Philadelphia will try to shut down the Staal line more effectively and that will have to free-up Neal and Malkin somewhat so that they should be getting better opportunities and some goals.

2. Crosby's play in Game 5 concerned me a bit. He appeared to be somewhat lackluster except for his dominance in faceoffs. A better performance will be required from him and the rest of the team The Flyers know THEY have to be at their best if they don't want to travel back to Pittsburgh for a Game 7 when the Penguins would have all the momentum as well as home ice. Even though the Flyers have done well at Consol since it opened I wouldn't want to be them in a Game 7 there.

3. Pascal Dupuis was held scoreless in Game 5 so I look forward to him producing mightily on Sunday.


3. I anticipate another close, low-scoring game unless the Penguins can dominate in the first period and build a multiple-goal lead which could produce a Philly meltdown.

4. Hand-in-hand with the above, good defense and strong goaltending will be required from the Penguins to force that Game 7.


This series was anticipated to be one of the best (if not the best) of the entire first round and it has been even more than the hype indicated it might be. If the Penguins can pull it off they'll have played probably the most physical series they'll be required to play as they advance. This could be a benefit or a detriment. If they can come through it with no additional injuries the toughness required to win this series could result in the remaining match-ups just being gravy.


I like the Penguins 4-3 in a close game or 6-2 if they can start fast and play a full 60 minutes.

LET'S GO PENS!!!

Oh, and stay out of the penalty box.

PENS-FLYERS--GAME 5 AFTERMATH

1. Tyler Kennedy sneaked off the bench to score the game-winner on a booming slapshot then attempted a Lambeau Leap into the glass.

2. What was up with "Crazy Man" Malkin tonight? Two stupid penalties, several giveaways, one crushing hit on Crosby and NO GOALS.

3. Neal looked like he was too slow for the pace of the game all night and NO GOALS. But he DID provide one big hit along the boards.

4. A ridiculous sequence of SEVEN saves by Fleury on the Flyers' final PP that left the Flyers looking to the heavens for the first time in the series. Maybe he IS back. It would help. Your goaltender HAS to win you a game or two in the playoffs.

5. After some inept defensive zone faceoffs during PP's Bylsma finally must have heard me screaming as he put Crosby in to take the next two, which he won. Although the faceoffs were fairly equal overall it seemed the Penguins lost most of theirs in the defensive zone. In the series Crosby is 16-3 on defensive zone faceoffs.

6. "Playoff Monster," Jordan Staal, has more goals than Malkin and Neal combined. He's now scored six goals on his last eight shots and leads the NHL in playoff goals. Although the Penguins didn't NEED goals by Neal and Malkin tonight it would have helped ease the fans' nerves.


7. The Flyers are very effectively suppressing the outlet passes that drive the Penguins offense by vigorously fore-checking.


8. For upcoming game(s) I'm not sure WHAT the referees are going to call goaltender interference based on all the Flyers' shenanigans tonight. The good news was the Penguins were never penalized for eventually knocking the Flyers' interlopers on their wallets when they attempted to em-plant themselves between Fleury and the net.


9. The Flyers went 10 minutes without a shot on goal in the third period.


10. How many times did we hear THIS in the play-by-play, "...and Michalek can't get it out of the zone." This was a big problem most of the night even for others but Michalek was the worst offender.

11. The Penguins won for only the second time in a playoff game in which neither Malkin nor Crosby scored.


12. If the Penguins can get a multiple-goal lead in Game 6 not only will the Flyers unravel, their "fans" will assist with that as they are BRU-TAL when the home team is going bad.


13. The team to score first has lost every game in the series. It goes back even further when the Penguins lost twice to the Flyers near the end of the regulars season after taking a first period lead. I predict this pattern will end in Game 6.

GAME 5--SECOND INTERMISSION

1. Got the two good plays at the start of the period, one a save by Fleury.


2. Malkin took another stupid penalty.


3. My "Playoff Monster," Jordan Staal, comes through again off a great play by Letang and Cooke (I believe).


4. Neal still hasn't gotten up to speed.


5. Kennedy now has more goals than both Neal and Malkin.


6. Pens are losing too many faceoffs.


7. In this situation you do NOT want to go into OT. In the position of being eliminated ANYTHING crazy can happen in OT and all the Flyers will be doing is throwing shots on net.

LET'S GO PENS!!!

GAME 5--FIRST INTERMISSION

1. Three stupid penalties result in two more PP goals for the Flyers.


2. Malkin is out of control. In the first period he made one terrible giveaway in the offensive zone, whiffed on a shot on the PP, creamed his own man (Crosby) in the offensive zone on a PP AND took a stupid penalty that lead to a goal.


3. The first-team-to-score-loses thing has got to end somewhere. it might be here.


4. Fleury should be on a short leash. A couple of good saves does not a game make and he was all over the crease in the last 8 minutes when the Flyers took control. If he give up and early second period goal he should be pulled for Johnson. No more time to fool around.


5. Neal doesn't even have a shot on goal yet and looks like he can't keep up with the pace.


CONCLUSION: Right now the ship appears to be sinking. Pens need a couple of really good plays at the start of the second period to turn it around or is time to tee it up.

WALLACE NOT IN THE HOF YET

Wallace never caught a break this offseason
April, 19, 2012
By Jamison Hensley | ESPN.com

No team is expected to make a run at Steelers restricted free agent Mike Wallace before Friday's deadline, league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

The lack of interest shouldn't be a reflection on Wallace, who is one of the top young wide receivers in the NFL. Factors just never fell into place for him.

The New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers would've pursued Wallace if they didn't fill their needs at wide receiver in free agency. The Patriots signed Brandon Lloyd, and the 49ers added Randy Moss and Mario Manningham. If the Patriots or 49ers struck out in unrestricted free agency, they would have been willing to part ways with a late first-round pick to get Wallace and his jaw-dropping speed.

What also worked against Wallace was the draft. Wide receiver is one of the deepest positions this year, so teams such as the Jaguars and the Bengals weren't pressured to go after a top wide receiver in free agency.

Wallace is ultimately the loser in this situation because he didn't get the big-money, long-term deal that he wanted. He is protesting this by not attending the start of the Steelers' voluntary offseason workouts. Wallace will play under his $2.7 million restricted free-agent tender, which he will have to sign before June 15 (or the team can reduce his salary to $577,500).

The winner in this situation is the Pittsburgh Steelers. They took a risk by placing a first-round tender on Wallace instead of the franchise tag (which would have required two first-round picks to sign him). But the gamble paid off for the Steelers, who have a history of making the right moves in the offseason.

Now that the Steelers know they are going to have Wallace this season; the next issue is whether they will have him in 2013. Everyone in the organization -- from Art Rooney II to Ben Roethlisberger -- has expressed their desire to keep Wallace.

Retaining Wallace won't come as cheaply as this year. He deserves a contract that exceeds the one given to DeSean Jackson (five years, maximum value of $51 million, including $15 million guaranteed) and comes close to the one signed this year by Vincent Jackson (five-year, $55.5 million deal that includes $26 million guaranteed). The Steelers could use the franchise tag on Wallace, but they probably won't do so because they frowned on doing that this year.

This offseason didn't go as planned for Wallace. But whether it's the Steelers or another team looking for a deep threat, he should get rewarded next year.

Personally, I think he caught a BIG break when the Steelers showed confidence in him as a go-to receiver. And what did he show them? His backside once the season was over. Wallace was most productive in the first half of the season after which he was shut down pretty effectively. Does this mean he deserves a new big-dollar long-term contract. I think not. The BEST receivers can thrive even when the opposition sets up their defenses to stop them. So far, Wallace hasn't proven he can do that. So, until then, Mike, I'd advise that you come back down to Earth and don't let your mouth overload your ass.

A BLAST FROM THE PAST FOR GOOD LUCK

LET'S GO PENS! 

LET'S REVIEW THOSE PREDICTIONS

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Detroit

Nashville

NASHVILLE in 7 Games
Nashville Leads 3-1

         Chicago

         Phoenix

PHOENIX in 7 Games
Phoenix Leads 3-1

      

        San Jose

       St. Louis

ST. LOUIS in 5 GAMES
St. Louis Leads 3-1

      Los Angeles

         Vancouver

LOS ANGELES in 7 Games


Kings Lead 3-1

EASTERN CONFERENCE

  

       New Jersey

           Florida

NEW JERSEY in 6 Games
Tied 2-2

       Washington

           Boston

   

BOSTON IN 6 Games
Tied 2-2

          Ottawa

New York

NEW YORK in 5 Games
Tied 2-2

AND THE ONE YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR...

      Philadelphia

        Pittsburgh

PENGUINS in 6 Games
Flyers lead 3-1
(Obviously missed this one already)