In a strange hockey season at this point (yep, a quarter has been whittled away), The Sporting News' pick to win Lord Stanley's Cup is mired in mediocrity. At 7-9-1, the Penguins are off to a slow start (when compared against expectations). Should we as hockey fans be alarmed? Honestly, this was to be expected, but that is one man's opinion. Thoughts?
2007-11-11 11:32:02 · 14 answers · asked by Snoop 5 in Sports ➔ Hockey
LITY- The Sporting News has the Penguins beating the Detroit Red Wings for the Cup. At the rate the Penguins are going, I'm not too confident they can beat any of Detroit's farm teams!
2007-11-11 12:51:52 · update #1
Brooks Orpik said this after Saturday's loss against Philly:
"The biggest thing is we cannot feel sorry for ourselves. That is kind of the attitude we have right now," defenseman Brooks Orpik said. "It is not going to just turn around itself. It has to come from within.
"Right now, collectively, I think we are a bunch of guys sitting and waiting for the next guy to do it. Nobody is taking the initiative. It is not one or two guys -- that is pretty much everyone right now."
It just feels like before every game, the Penguins have the chance to come together and through a good team effort, win that game and take off more consistently from there. However, something always falls apart. The 1st line of Malkin-Crosby-Malone is fine, but there needs to be offense contributed by the other lines. The Pens need their character guys playing well in order to win. If the other lines are getting some goals, I think the D and Fleury will be more confident. Every player who was on this team last season is just used to seeing goals scored. So again, like Brooks Orpik said, someone needs to take initiative. I think it needs to be a character guy.
ON JORDAN STAAL: Yeesh, a lot of people are being harsh on this kid who just turned 19 two months ago. I guess he set a high standard for himself last season though. He's really not playing bad right now. He's being a two-way player and playing beautifully defensively. He's still one of the top PKers. For anyone expecting 50 goals out him or something, check out his numbers in juniors. That being said, he still needs to pitch in offensively, but I'd be more relieved if a player who isn't doing much defensively generated some offense. Different players have different roles. The Pens need everyone filling those roles.
Whew, I don't think anyone should be alarmed. GM Ray Shero already said he's not firing Therrien, or trading Fleury, and he's not panicking right now. I think Pens fans need to have the same faith and just continue to support the team. The sky isn't falling and there's no need to jump off the wagon yet. For those who are just hockey fans... If I wasn't a fan of the Pens, I'd superstitiously be doing the same routine every day in hopes of the Pens continuing to lose. Lol.
I probably wouldn't have picked the Pens to win the Cup this season. I'm still hoping they do, but that's just this Buffalo Sabres "dream, hope, believe" crap or something. Loool.
2007-11-11 14:32:27 · answer #1 · answered by Erica 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
It's not the best reason I've ever heard to relocate, but there are far worse ones. As far as the city of Pittsburgh itself goes, I'm a still a bit hacked off about the refs giving the Super Bowl to the Steelers a couple years ago, but I think the city itself is a pretty cool place. Oh, and I loved that game today, too. Not because I'm a great Pens fan, but because it was a great day of hockey:)
2016-05-29 06:28:56 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The problem seems to be twofold. The goaltending and the fact that it is a young team, generally after making the big step forward they made last year there will be some growing pains and the gains need to be consolidated before they can take the next step. With the goaltending as bad and inconsistent as it has been this team is going to be shaky in the confidence dept.
Who's responsible? the growing pains are natural and no one is really responsible. Mgmt is responsible for the goaltending situation. Bringing him in too early, not have a goaltending coach for years, never having an adequate backup or never realizing that Fleury is not the second coming of Patrick Roy. Either way Mgnt is responsible for the goaltending mess.
2007-11-12 03:06:09 · answer #3 · answered by cdn24fan 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Only their top performers are performing.. Except Fluery... I almost expected this because there is no way the players could have career years again (Christensen, Staal) aslo they haven't solved their problems on D. If someone like Whitney or Eaton gets hurt.. The Pens are screwed.. They need scoring from their 2nd 3rd and 4th liners to take pressure of Sid and Malkin
2007-11-13 05:02:46 · answer #4 · answered by psuboy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a Leaf fan, everything gets blamed on Mc Cabe or the GM. Try as I might, I can't find a way to pin the Pen's problems on Mc Cabe, so obviously its JFJ's fault. I had no idea Fergie held this much influence as to affect Pittsburg, though. Hmmm.
Either that or its simply a sophmore jinx type thing. You always see teams do that, get better, only to have a setback their next season on their way to getting real good. Happened to Ottawa before they broke out a few years ago, too.
2007-11-12 03:37:30 · answer #5 · answered by cme 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'd start with Fluery's poor start and the general uncertainty around the goaltending position.
The Pens will make the playoffs because the East is so weak, but don't expect a cup for a few years.
2007-11-12 02:42:29 · answer #6 · answered by CABICE 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm afraid that the Pens are a team with two very talented young players (sid and geno) and very little else. Last year they got extremely hot and made the playoffs, but it's looking like they're a bottom third team. I can't see Mario sitting by as the coach destroys what's left of marc-andre flower either, so therion might be gone soon.
2007-11-11 11:38:45 · answer #7 · answered by No se 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
It starts at the top. They keep putting in faith in Fleury and he has yet to fulfill that faith. Staal has done nada and moving Malkin on to Crosby's line has meant the team is a one line team that if shut down usually results in a Pens loss. I think there are too many expectatons at the moment. Even the Oilers were a collecton of good players before they were a great team.
2007-11-11 11:42:28 · answer #8 · answered by PuckDat 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Erica-- and her bet with Jude...
JK -- still love ya girl..
Seriously though, they are still a couple years out IMO..
If they can keep there core players intact and healthy, they may ask when will they ever be beaten.. Time, defense and experience in net will only improve an already capable unit..
2007-11-11 13:58:36 · answer #9 · answered by Copas -- Tit,Toots & Leggy line 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The Sporting News picked Pittsburgh to win the Cup?
Ha!
I knew there was a reason I didn't read their publication or their website.
2007-11-11 11:55:21 · answer #10 · answered by Like I'm Telling You Who I A 7 · 6⤊ 2⤋