Suppose you’re out bowling with your buds and a pin falls on its own. What do you do? Press the reset button, of course.
That’s what the Penguins need to do. Press reset. Bulldoze the previous 79 games of this turbulent and, at times, misbegotten season into the Mon and start over.
Or, as the late Bob Johnson so eloquently put it after New Jersey knotted the opening-round series of the 1991 playoffs, “Forget about the first four games. It’s a three-game series now.”
It’s not too late. The Pens still hold a two-point lead over the Senators with three games to play. Starting with Tuesday night’s showdown in Ottawa, the black and gold need to forget what’s gone before and concentrate on each play, each shift. Relax and don’t grip the sticks too tight, like they did during Sunday’s 4-1 loss to Philly.
Easier said than done, perhaps. But attainable. Put their best skate forward, so to speak, and let the playoff chips will fall where they may.
We’re all pulling for you.
1 game left ! Buffalo…. must win…. Unbelievable.
Kings are gone.Bruins as well,or the Pens…
The NHL is going thru a change.
Lets go Pens.
Having the benefit of hindsight — they rolled over again, in Ottawa, last night — it’s apparent they didn’t heed the advice you so eloquently offered. That’s not surprising. They don’t heed their own advice either, the advice they give themselves in every post-game interview given by any player, or coach, you might name. They’re in the throes of what may well be the worst flameout in team history. This team is a mess. Let the finger pointing begin. It is, once again, going to be an interesting summer.
When the Pens went up 3-0 I thought maybe, just maybe, they’d pull one out. Then another brutal collapse.
As you mentioned, there are so many issues with this team one hardly knows where to begin. They’re too small to play any type of shutdown game…especially on defense. The only way they’d be able to hold a lead is to keep attacking, which they can’t do because they’re mentally and physically exhausted from trying execute Johnston’s demanding puck-possession style.
From top to bottom, the organization needs to totally rethink its one-dimensional approach.
I thought that, too. We know they don’t have the size and I suppose they are exhausted. That’s how they look. Dejan said that Scuderi said the team was fragile. I suppose they’re that, too. After six years of unsuccessfully trying to fit into a “system,” it’s clear that they are either unable to do that or simply don’t want to. Maybe it’s time to allow the raw talent on this team to cut loose and play hockey. There’s nothing left to lose.
If they should make the playoffs the only chance they have is to score so many goals the opponent can’t catch them. Fluery would have to be a monster, but he has been all year. They’d need to put up around 50 to even sniff the cup. Sure, it’s a pipe dream, but wouldn’t that be something?
Amen !
We need to beat Ottawa and tie Buffalo.Or vice versa ! Does not matter.
However on Tuesday Mr. Crosby and Mr. Malkin ….we need you both to have the game of your careers. Forget about the fancy passes,the pretty plays…. Score the goals yourself ! For once in your careers, be a puck hog and shoot the damn puck.The fans will forgive you for one night !
It works for # 8 in Washington.
If we lose, I want my 20 million dollars worth of super star center men on the ice all night long. Wayne and Mario both played 30 minutes + a game in extreme situations.By definition,Tuesday’s game is one of those rare and extreme situations.
Lets go Pens.