trevluk

Trap activated. Ah, see, its not an exageration at all, if that's what you're looking for. For the record, I thought it should have been a noncall based on the rest of the game, but yes, Karlson sold it. Did I like the call, no, do I see why it was called, sure.

But let's insert Crosby in Karlson's place, imagine the uproar. The haters would create threads and keep them going for, well how long has THIS thread been going for a non issue. Here's a secret, ALL players sell calls.

And I could sit here and try to justify Orpik's stick in Neil's crotch because Neil was holding Orpik's head down and wouldn't let him up. Or Orpik's "crosscheck"(really a punch with the glove hand on the stick) because the guy's slashing at his legs. See I can justify all those thing, but wait, let me take off my black/gold colored glasses. If I want to sit here and watch the next playoff game just to prove that a team benefits from calls/noncalls, I could do it for either of the teams? But what would be the true point? I'd probably miss a heck of a hockey game.

You mis-took me for someone who has a dog in this fight. I was just calling you out on your exaggeration about Karlson flopping on the ice, nothing more. I would expect Crosby to sell the call and I would expect Giroux to sell the call and I would expect most fans of the opposing team to complain about it. As you said, just about all players want to make sure the ref sees an infraction against them. It was a penalty by the book, but agreed it was soft call if not a common call in this era of zero tolerance for clutching, grabbing etc. I didnt watch the game that closely as I dont really care too much since my team is out, so I cant speak of the other infractions you are talking about.

but you fail to mention Karlson flopping to the ice as Neal is going to blow right by him.

That is a bit of an exaggeration if it is the play I am thinking about. When Neal skated past Karlson and grabbed him with his free hand as he went by? Karlson defintely sold the call but he hardly flopped to the ice (he didnt even go down at all, just made sure the ref saw that he was pulled back off balance by Neal) and regardless it was a penalty if you go by the book. A dumb penalty at that as it appeared Neal had him beat anyhow and didnt need to grab him with his free hand.

Boston's game 7 collapse against the Flyers in 2010 after being up 3-0 in the first period is the only other one that comes to mind... granted, that was more of a "series" collapse as opposed to a single game but it was still spectacular to behold (even if you weren't a Flyers fan )

That was the only other game I could think of, but I think this is worse because the B's were up 3-0 n the FLyers in the first period before I believe it was JVR that got the first goal in the last minute of the period so it was actually 3-1 at the end of the first, plenty of time to come back. The Leafs were up 4-1 with 10 minutes left in the game anf gave up 2 empty net goals in the last 90 seconds!! If I were a Leafs fan, I might just have to jump off a bridge.

You can say that but it sounds like it might happen. Bylsma hasn't said and its making a lot if analysts think just maybe...

If Fleury starts Bylsma should be fired regardless of the outcome!

Up 4-1 with 10 minutes left in the 3rd of game 7 in their first playoff appearance in how many years, and they find a way to f-ing lose the game??? That was absolutely pathetic and I actually felt a very small tinge of sympathy for them. But I got over it. The Laffs continue!

This could be the dumbest poll question ever. Who in their right mind would start Fleury????

I'm tired of the BS that comes from many here about the Pens. Favorites. League darlings.

I'm fine with everything you say, but it does seem that the Pens are the darlings of the league right now and Crosby is clearly the the NHL's poster child. (With good reason - he is probably the best player in the league.) I'm not saying that the Pens get preferential treatment, though there are some questionable instances, but it does seem that league and the media paints the Pens as the "good guys" of the league, riding in with their white hats on their white horses. I would bet big though that a lot of the BS you get on this forum from Flyers fans is straight up jealousy that your team is quite a bit better than ours right now.

Right. Craig Berube. A guy who's sole job it is to fight somehow misses a clean shot at the Ranger and clocks the official right between the eyes.

The official didn't even react to Letang when it happened. Must have really hurt. When your guy did it, the official looked like he'd gone 12 rounds with Tyson.

It was not a scrum. It was Berube v. Ruff with an official separating each of them at that point. Again - that means no more throwing punches...which Berube ignores. None of the other players were involved. After it happens, Collins looks back at Berube with a "WTF?" look on him.

Sorry, man. But calling for a suspension for Letang here is pure hatin'. And if Berube isn't getting suspended for worse, Rinaldo sure as he-ll isn't either.

First off all, I agree that anyone calling for a LeWang suspension is pure hatin because it was not a suspension worthy incident. But implying that Berube intended to punch an official in the face while trying to take one last shot at the enemy he was just in a fight with?? Well that is either pure hatin or pure ignorance on your part. Your choice.

I agree! Just happen to be more Flyers fans here so @B21 and I have our work cut out for us sometimes. The favor gets returned from time to time

Well, this is a relastively young site, so recruit more Pens fans!! (We need the target practice. )

Lets face it... There are some Flyers fans here that are quick to say how bad everyone else can be while turning a blind eye to your own team's history. That's why these conversations often go into these comparisons. We post to show how hypocritical it can be.

"Blind" fans are always hypocritical, regardless of what team they support. There are plenty of blind Flyers fans just as there are plenty of blind Pens fens, or Rags fans, or Sens fans, or Caps fans, or... well you get the idea.

I think you're missing our point. Berube punched a ref in the face. PUNCHED A REF IN THE FACE. Doesn't matter what era, that's not acceptable behavior. They didn't suspend him for it. It's worse than what Letang did. I don't care that they didn't suspend Berube for it. Why does anyone care that they didn't suspend Letang for this love tap?

Is there any video of this incident? I cant believe if Berube punched a ref inthe face ON PURPOSE he wouldnt have been suspended. If it was heat of the moment and he took a swing at Lindy and hit the ref, that is a different story. Agreed that if the refs step in to stop the fight you gotta stop throwing, but that sometimes doesnt even happen to this day, let alone in the days of rock 'em sock 'em hockey. If it truly was accidental I would think this incident would fall under the description of job hazzard for NHL linesmen of the day.

As hard as it is for me to say, congrats to the Pens and you fans on moving on to Round 2. A tip of my cap to the Isles for giving the Pens everything they could handle. A couple bounces or calls go a different way and Isles possibly take both games 3 and 4 or even tonights game and the out come may have been different.

Before the playoffs I would have said the Pens would steam roll through the Eastern Conference with the exception of Boston and certainly should dominate Ottawa but now I'm not so sure. The Pens showed some chinks in their armour this series and need to bring a different level of play going forward. This series may have awoken the sleeping giant though. We shall see.

It certainly helps that Vokoun stepped in and did an outstanding job. If he continues this play I would say there is a good chance the Pens try to unload Fleury and his 5 mil/year contract this summer.

Superstar talent but questionable work ethic.

For some reason those two things often go hand in hand. Not sure why that is other than maybe the super talented players have been coddled all of their careers. There are many examples of this though with a few exceptions, Crosby being one of them. Not sure if I have ever seen him take a shift off.

If Malkenstein can so can Kennedy. Heck Mike Ricci did it...Tim Hunter

Those guys all got beaten with an ugly stick, but Tyler Kennedy fell out of the Ugly Tree and hit every branch on the way down! He is something special.

His last girlfriend was a knockout.

That just means that all the money in the world wasnt worth having to be face to face with that at night! Not too many hot women walk away from multi million dollar boyfriends!

That was a whole different team in front of Vokoun tonight. Impressive win. Series over. There is no way the Pens lose 2 in a row, especially not a game 7 on home ice. I doubt it comes to that though as I would bet big on the Pens closing it out in 6.

Next question would be, if Vokoun plays well, does Fleury even get a sniff at another start in these playoffs? Do you think Vokoun can carry this team to a miniature Cup? (My new take on this bullsh*t season is that whoever wins should get a mini cup. If they are only gonna play half a season, they should only win half a Cup!)

Hey, that's the ManBearPig that we knew and loved from years ago. Maybe the time in the press box gave him a chance to think about why he was there, and what he needed to do to get back in the lineup.

Chaka from Land of the Lost is back! He played well tonight. Could be the ugliest guy int the NHL though. He might be the one pro athlete that actually has trouble getting laid.

Brutal to read it honestly. Guy was a warrior throughout his career and a hall of famer in my book...

First ballot hall of famer most likely.

PS - it is interesting that the Pens werent called for 3 rd man in on that fight at the end of the game. That would be an automatic suspension, right?

Heres video - I guess Letang gets bumped and then as he's turning to follow the linesmans direction he has his eyes closed the entire time so he can't see the striped shirt RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS EYES AS HE'S FOLLOWING IT??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv-GXYN-Q2g

I gotta agree that there is no way LeWang didnt see that was a ref but just reacted. If the rule book allows for heat of the moment small stuff to occur, I really dont see enough there that is suspension worthy. Perhaps a fine for contact with an official, but I dont see enough there for a suspension. Wish I did, I would love to see the Pens have to skate without LeDick in game 5. Did I mention I dont like LeTool?

I dont know if it is available on line, but there is a heavy article on Pronger in the April 22nd issue of SI. (Boston Bombing on the cover) I recommend the read if you can get it. Pronger's life has been devasted by his injuries and he will never be the same. This charade of "never say never" in terms of a comeback exists solely for the purpose of avoiding the cap hit by being on LTIR. I hope for his sake that he is merely able to return to some sort of normal life with his kids and the rest of his family. Very sad. My thoughts are with him.

Coming from this 43 year old, DAMN you are old.

Man, you guys are old as dirt! What you wouldnt give to be young and 42 again like me!

I don't disagree with any of that. Spot on.

It's funny though how expectations affect how we look a things...

Fleury: 2-2 / 3.40 GAA / .891 SV %

Nabakov: 2-2 / 4.55 GAA / .846 SV %

Reminds me of the goalie numbers from our first round last year!

Bylsma has made the choice today. Vokoun starts.http://penguins.nhl....vid=DL|PIT|home

Good move. I suspect your Pens play a much different game in front of him. Sometimes a change likes this wakes up the whole team. I predict a solid team effort next game and Pens win by 2 goals.

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.)