PENS NOW SUCK?

"And he's smilin' like a buther's dog."

What at time for defense and goaltending to collapse, simultaneously .What you'd like to see is well, if your goaltending gets a little shaky, the defense and offense pick it up. Or if you defense gets lax the goaltending makes up for it, along with the offense. But what we have here, is a failure to coordinate. EVERYTHING has gone haywire at once. Yes, the offense, as well. Perhaps mercifully I was out for the evening and forgot to DVR the game. 

Marc-Andre Fleury allowed 10 goals to the Islanders, yesthe Islanders, in the two-game sweep and his goals against average was almost 10 points below his season average prior to that.


The Pens gave up two power play goals and a short handed goal to go with two at even strength.That's completely unsatisfactory for a team that thinks they can win the Cup. I wouldn't want to go into the playoffs on a tremendous winning streak but I also wouldn't want to go in playing like stumble bums.

Crosby drips "claret."

Crosby took a puck to the face and missed part of the second period. The Captain was held scoreless by the Islanders in consecutive games, a team he had scored 25 points against in his last 9 games.

About the only good moment was Pascal Dupuis' 24th goal that tied the game a 1-1 which also extended his scoring streak to 12 games. The goal came with the Pens short handed where Dupuis is at his best.

Dupuis notches his 24th  goal and keeps his scoring streak alive.

I did't see a lot of response," Coach Dan Bylsma said after the game, referring to a response to getting their asses handed to them by the Islanders on Tuesday night in Pittsburgh. I'd have to say that's pretty accurate. Are the Pens worn out? Some of them have played at avery high level for some time now in the absence of Crosby, et al. James Neal has had a career season. 

Need more glove line displays.

In fact, the offense has maintained a VERY high level of play until recently. If the defense can't pull it together we're going to have to see a lot more of this if the Pens plan to go very deep into the playoffs. They're now a full five points behind the Rangers and need even MORE help from others to overtake them. Lundqvist is maintaining his play but Fluery appears to be falling off. That won't cut it.