Rd 1 - Official Series Discussion Thread: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers

[MattDMC]

Just saw this on NHL.com

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Craig Adams has been suspended for one game and Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma has been fined $10,000 for Adams' actions in the final five minutes of Sunday's Eastern Conference Quarterfinal playoff game against the Flyers in Philadelphia, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today.

Adams instigated a fight at 15:18 of the third period. He was assessed a minor penalty for instigating, a major penalty for fighting and a game misconduct.

Both Adams' suspension and Bylsma's fine are automatic for violation of NHL Rule 46.12 – Instigator in Final Five Minutes of Regulation Time (or Anytime in Overtime), and as outlined by NHL Rule 46.22.

The fine money goes to the NHL Foundation.

[pghin08]

Buddy Ryan did what? The Broad Street Bullies did what? Im not sure what you are saying. They always fought their battles. Plus, I was not alive to see it and am not really an Eagles fan, though thats more anger over todays franchise, but I digress, lol.

And I will tell you first hand Crosby is not better then anyone who ever laced them up in Orange and Black. Lindros in his prime was much better then Crosby will ever be.

After yesterdays game, I can guarantee you no Flyers fan would ever want Crosby in the orange and black. Yesterdays display would never be tolerated here in Philadelphia, especially from the "captain." Especially when he looked like he was going to cry in the post game interview.

Disagree. Lindros isn't even the most talented Flyer ever. And yes, Crosby is probably better than anyone who ever played for Philly. I think Bobby Clarke is the best player in Flyers history by a wide margin, and he didn't have the skills that Crosby does. Very few do.

[lambeauleap87]

James Neal has TWO hearings scheduled...he's got a snowball's chance in hell he doesn't get suspended now. Silly Penguins...someone should've told them it was a hockey game, not WrestleMania.

[Wickabee]

James Neal has TWO hearings scheduled...he's got a snowball's chance in hell he doesn't get suspended now. Silly Penguins...someone should've told them it was a hockey game, not WrestleMania.

But...but...but...Shea Weber got away with WWE!

[xelloss1012]

Now who would have thought the Flyers would win the first three games of this series before it start of the playoffs? It was hard to say since they did not have Pronger in the lineup.

I think it's more of the Penguin's lack of cohesion that is killing them than anything else. Well, let's find out if this series will last more than the next game.

[durangatang]

I don't think that the Flyers are playing better, its just that the Penguins are playing worse, Bryz and his bad play/soft goals are being bailed out by Fleury and his even worse goals. If the Penguins were playing like they have all year its probably 2-1 for them right now.

[SkyFire47]

Now who would have thought the Flyers would win the first three games of this series before it start of the playoffs? It was hard to say since they did not have Pronger in the lineup.

i did. i actually thought the Flyers would win the series from the beginning. out of anyone in the East, Flyers certainly had the best chance. for some reason, they just have their number. Rangers, Penguins, and Flyers were pretty close in points in the standings yet the cycle sort of looked like this:

Pens usually win against Rangers but lose to Flyers
Flyers usually win against Pens but lose to Rangers
Rangers usually win against Flyers but lose to Pens

and Pronger not being in the lineup didn't really have too big an impact. Philly proved all year long they could play with the league's best despite a shaky goalie (at the start), loss of Pronger, and a bunch of new faces.

[ncm7772]

I don't think that the Flyers are playing better, its just that the Penguins are playing worse, Bryz and his bad play/soft goals are being bailed out by Fleury and his even worse goals. If the Penguins were playing like they have all year its probably 2-1 for them right now.

This.

This is why Bylsma will not be back next year. Nowhere in all of his interviews during this series do you ever hear him say "We are not doing 'X' well enough. We need to do 'X'." It's always "Oh, you have to give the Flyer's credit, blahblahblah, derpdaderp."

Yes, of course you have to give the Flyers credit. BUT, at the same time, you've gotta look at yourself and realize that your players are playing like absolute garbage. I mean c'mon. The Flyers are a great team, but they aren't the 1980's Edmonton Oilers. No way should they score 8 goals in a game, let alone twice in a row. You've also gotta have some testicular fortitude in the media. Laviolette and Tortarella(sp?) have both absolutely lambasted the Pens players and organization in the media. What has Byslam's response been? Nothing. You think it makes him look weak? Absolutely. You think his team notices it and simultaneously loses confidence in him and respect for him?

He has not once in this series (nor in the last 2 weeks of the regular season, when the atrocious D started) made ANY type of adjustments, other than idiot line combinations. Yeah, let's put Richard Park and Craig Adams out there in the 3rd period down by 2 when Staal's line has been on the bench for 4 minutes.

Going to be a LONG and miserable off season for us Pens fans. Each of the last 2 seasons, they've played poorly in the playoffs. The following regular season, it always seemed to be fixed. In the 09-10 playoff's, Fleury was abysmal. He then had a solid year in 10-11, followed by another abysmal playoff. This trend was especially true last year, as they had no scoring power sans Crosby and Malkin. They exploded offensively this year, but have ran into another problem - they forgot how to play defense 2 weeks before the playoffs. Keep in mind this is the same D-men that last year kept the team in the playoff hunt (and subsequent trip), w/ one of the top PK's and lowest GA. Fleury had a great year too, last year. Hell, and this regular season. Then all of a sudden Crosby comes back, and the team stops playing defense. Extremely anxious to see what moves Lemieux, Shero and company will make this off-season.

A lot of this is probably jumbled together and not making any sense. Just ranting as an angry and embarrassed Pens fan. Philly fans, I actually have a bit more respect for your team now, the way they've played and have handled themselves w/ more class than the Penguins. Still hate you guys though .

[pghin08]

This.

This is why Bylsma will not be back next year. Nowhere in all of his interviews during this series do you ever hear him say "We are not doing 'X' well enough. We need to do 'X'." It's always "Oh, you have to give the Flyer's credit, blahblahblah, derpdaderp."

Yes, of course you have to give the Flyers credit. BUT, at the same time, you've gotta look at yourself and realize that your players are playing like absolute garbage. I mean c'mon. The Flyers are a great team, but they aren't the 1980's Edmonton Oilers. No way should they score 8 goals in a game, let alone twice in a row. You've also gotta have some testicular fortitude in the media. Laviolette and Tortarella(sp?) have both absolutely lambasted the Pens players and organization in the media. What has Byslam's response been? Nothing. You think it makes him look weak? Absolutely. You think his team notices it and simultaneously loses confidence in him and respect for him? You bet your ™™™™™.

He has not once in this series (nor in the last 2 weeks of the regular season, when the atrocious D started) made ANY type of adjustments, other than idiot line combinations. Yeah, let's put Richard Park and Craig Adams out there in the 3rd period down by 2 when Staal's line has been on the bench for 4 minutes.

Going to be a LONG and miserable off season for us Pens fans. Each of the last 2 seasons, they've played poorly in the playoffs. The following regular season, it always seemed to be fixed. In the 09-10 playoff's, Fleury was abysmal. He then had a solid year in 10-11, followed by another abysmal playoff. This trend was especially true last year, as they had no scoring power sans Crosby and Malkin. They exploded offensively this year, but have ran into another problem - they forgot how to play defense 2 weeks before the playoffs. Keep in mind this is the same D-men that last year kept the team in the playoff hunt (and subsequent trip), w/ one of the top PK's and lowest GA. Fleury had a great year too, last year. Hell, and this regular season. Then all of a sudden Crosby comes back, and the team stops playing defense. Extremely anxious to see what moves Lemieux, Shero and company will make this off-season.

A lot of this is probably jumbled together and not making any sense. Just ranting as an angry and embarrassed Pens fan. Philly fans, I actually have a bit more respect for your team now, the way they've played and have handled themselves w/ more class than the Penguins. Still hate you guys though .

Not going to happen. Bylsma is the coach next year, and there shouldn't even be any consideration otherwise. This will be his first really significant playoff disappointment. The 2010 team that lost to Montreal was tired. You could see it. That's why teams don't repeat nowadays. And last year's team was so injury-riddled that it was a wonder they got as far as they did. Without their stars, they simply weren't better than Tampa. Yes, Bylsma isn't adjusting his game well, but he can only control so much.

[ncm7772]

The 2010 team that lost to Montreal was tired. You could see it. That's why teams don't repeat nowadays. And last year's team was so injury-riddled that it was a wonder they got as far as they did. Without their stars, they simply weren't better than Tampa. Yes, Bylsma isn't adjusting his game well, but he can only control so much.

I agree w/ those points. Still though, it seems that he's lost so much control of how his team plays......but yes, a coach can only control so much. I still think he needs to be let go, but hey, that's just me.