trevluk

Anybody else notice that the officiating has been horrendous so far these playoffs. I have seen a bunch of terrible calls and non calls in many games so far in the playoffs (and not all in favor of the Pens! ). Tonight might have been the worst though - Sharks vs Nucks - overtime - D Sedin lays a fantastic shoulder on shoulder check to Wingels who goes crashing into the boards - he didnt take a run at him, WIngels initated contact just as much as Sedin - perfectly clean, great hit - and he gets called for boarding. It was a horrible, horrible call and it cost the Nucks the game (not the series, that was pretty much already decided). Terrible way to decide a game. That ref should not be invited into the 2nd round - and I am a quasi Sharks fan! (Have lived here for almost 10 years but still bleed Orange and Black.)

Agreed, but I think tonight loss was different. I think tonight's loss was personal to him. I think he has something to prove now and could be lights out next game. Tough call, but I think you are right, give Vokoun a start.

I believe this would make 3 years in a row with a first round exit (for the record, I still think the Pens win this series in 6) so you would think the Bylsma would certainly be in the chopping block. That being said, he is a good coach and I dont think he gets the can as there doesnt seem to be any better replacement options right now. (Unless Lavy gets canned! )

So who do YOU play in game 5?

Not my words, the announcers called it. He has not played well. He usually bounces back from bad games, so if your Bylsma, do you start him again or do you give Vokoun a shot?

Sorry, not a Pens fan, in fact I'm pretty much a Pens hater, but after looking at the replay a few times, that was definitely a penalty if you are going by the book. It was a very soft call and Syd went down way too easy for how strong of a skater he is. (It has to be definitive to call embellishment so not sure the rule would apply to falling that easily but...) Anyhow, as I said, soft call, especially in over time but by the rule book, it was a penalty.

That's F'd up. I hope other Toronto fans didnt support him. The dude needs a beat down for sure. I didnt hear about a fan getting sucker punched. When/where did that happen?

True, but I'd rather stick my head in the sand about that.

Is that televised?

Over Bryz and his contract? YES PLEASE!!!!!

Actually, it wasnt the same D. It was an even less experienced group of D-men with more AHL players and Mason was STILL better.

I feel the same way! I actually get to completely enjoy the playoffs instead of being stressed out by them! Not saying I wouldnt have it the other way around, but this is a rare experience for Flyers fans when our team almost always makes the playoffs but never fails to disappoint us in them.

Or because he had just locked eyes with Bettman in the stands!

I already acknowledged after looking at the replays that it was a penalty. I just think it was a soft call and Syd went down a lot easier than one of the strongest skaters in the league should.

Sure because at zero angle with 2 other defenders in play (as well as a Pen clogging up the crease) and a goalie in position, Crosby scores 1 out of every 2 times. C'mon man, that is absurd. You just lost a lot of cred with me if your "Syd colored glasses" are that strongly tinted. I'm not even sure his career shootout percetnage is over 50% when it's just one on one with the goalie from straight on, but you think he scores 50% of the time from the side of the net with other players in the crease?? Were you drunk when you typed that? Maybe you need to watch the replay again and tell me he had a 50% chance of scoring on that play.

I never said Crosby dove, I basically said he went down really easy. (That's what Bettman says! ) I've watched the replay a few more times now and I still think it is a soft call (and by the way I called it weak when I saw it, not after JR and Milbury called it.) but by the rules it is a penalty.

Cant agree with you on this one Polaris. Syd went down like it was his second day on skates but got exactly what he wanted. Extremely soft call in my book. Not sure that should have been called in regulation of a regular season game let alone overtime of the playoffs. Anyhow, that's hockey. Pens get the questionable call and make the Isles pay. I will say that the Isles D man shouldnt have put himself in that postion in the first place knowing that Syd gets the call more often than not and especially knowing how lethal the Pens power play had already been this day. (Shorty not withstanding.)

Closer than I thought it was going to be but I stand by my call. That's the series.

Bang. 3-2 Pens. Isles are dead. Bring on round 2.

Watching game 3 with the Isles up 2-0 I say to myself, if the Isles hang on to win this game they actually have a chance in this series, if they lose this game, that's the series. Then The Isles take 2 stupid penalties for the 5-3. I say if the Isle kill this, they win the game, if the Pens score, they lose the game and the series. Bang, bang. Tie game. Series over. Pens in 5, maybe 6 if the Isles get really lucky.

Totally agree. Gags top line days may be behind him but I think he can still be a big asset to this team on the 2nd or 3rd line as well as his veteran leadership on and off the ice. He has already said he is more than willing to take a home town discount to keep playing and he is almost never a defensive liability on the ice. Overall, I feel the same way about Kimmo. I know he said he most likely will retire after next season but if the Flyers have a young promising team that may be able to make a run in 14/15, I wouldnt be suprised to see him stay on another year or two for one last shot at a Cup. At that point hopefully we'll have a much stronger D corps and Kimmo couod be very effective with less minutes on the 2nd or 3rd pairing.

Oh man, now there's a crystal ball question. I love some of the young talent on this team and I dont think that it is out of the realm of possibilities that we are a really strong team in about 2 years. That is a good amount of time for the team to gel, fix some D problems, and hopefully straighten out our goaltending issues. So yeah, I say give them 2 years and they will be able to make some noise in the playoffs again. Or they could totally suck. :wacko:

Yeah, I was surprised to hear this rumor since the Avs have a young promising goalie and Ryan Miller's best years are way behind him in my opinion.

As the others said, not gonna happen. That kid is a perfrect fit in Colorado and even if we were willing to sell the farm to get him, there are other teams that would offer more. I've already heard rumblings from a Buffalo friend that the Sabres may take a shot at him buy offering up Ryan Miller, this years first (8th overall) and next years first and possibly another player. I dont want any part of that bidding war.

Ah ya bastaad! Who woulda guessed 28 lbs would make such a difference. You'd think with that extra weight he wouldnt be such a pu$$y!