tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16951517.post113029345550945378..comments2024-03-27T03:24:27.599-04:00Comments on Igloo Dreams: Panthers 4, Penguins 3 (OT)Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07752234031680462232noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16951517.post-1130378809485215932005-10-26T22:06:00.000-04:002005-10-26T22:06:00.000-04:00Here's an excellent article that puts Sidney's 9 g...<A HREF="http://proicehockey.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050914.wcrosby14/BNStory/Sports/" REL="nofollow">Here's</A> an excellent article that puts Sidney's 9 games into context.<BR/><BR/>I can't agree more with the premise, namely that this is no longer Mario's team. It's is The Kid's.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16951517.post-1130300953634856452005-10-26T00:29:00.000-04:002005-10-26T00:29:00.000-04:00Unreal. I knew it couldn't happen. The powers th...Unreal. I knew it couldn't happen. The powers that be conspired against the Pens, embodied in an overzealous referee. I'm sorry, but you can't call hockey the way you call football. There's gotta be a way to give the referees discretion without completely abdicating on continuing the crackdown on hooking and holding. In the last minute of play, you have to let some things slide. IN GENERAL, i think the game would be served by letting things slide. The garage league has turned into the girl's league.<BR/><BR/>I'll be waiting for Mario to get fined for going off on the ref, maybe even suspended. But i gotta wonder, do the refs ever get fined for making bonehead calls?<BR/><BR/>As for the team, Tarnstrom continues to impress. He will make Patrick look downright foolish for considering dumping his contract because of his "awesome" signing of the hapless Russian. Brooks also played a very impressive game. Super physical, made lots of smart plays, he made the Panther players pay time and time again when he was on the ice. I'm surprised and thrilled with the sudden return to his old form. The team needed it.<BR/><BR/>In general i think the defense looked reasonably good. There was no running around, few dumb penalties and lots of smart, conservative plays. The defense has little blame in this loss.<BR/><BR/>As for Mario: He's old and his time has come. He needs to accept his limitations in this faster, more rigorous NHL. I can't help but look in his direction for the power play's lack of success in the first period. C'mon, the team has some fantastic power play personnel and he has to let go of the reigns a bit. They can't just depend on setting up on the left boards and wait for him to hit a one timer. It's not working. He's still a force to be reckoned with, but he has to use his head a bit more and let the younger guys, not only do the dirty work, but even some of the puck carrying. Because he botches that simple task far too often.<BR/><BR/>And i won't even dignify discussing T-bo. Bring back Aubin, as far as i'm concerned. Or maybe that IS Aubin...<BR/><BR/>Hopefully the Penguin's resemblence to a competitive team wasn't due to Florida's lack of talent. Thursday should be a good follow up. After this game, i think it's conceivable that the team could turn this around and rattle off a couple wins. If the D holds steady, if Malone continues to improve and Recchi and Leclair start to click, if Fata hits his obligatory perennial streak sometime soon, this team should be looking good.<BR/><BR/>You can't be a Penguin fan without hope.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16951517.post-1130300539012274272005-10-26T00:22:00.000-04:002005-10-26T00:22:00.000-04:00Re: Final penaltyThey did show one (poor) replay, ...Re: Final penalty<BR/><BR/>They did show one (poor) replay, from ice level and with others in the foreground. It looked like an inadvertent collision but I can see how the official called it. Besides, with the imbalance in penalties overall, it’s tough to complain too much. Well, unless you’re Mario.<BR/><BR/>This wouldn’t have been a very satisfying win anyway. Not that we can be choosy at this point. But really, the PP is a joke. Florida hadn’t played since Thursday and had to have been distracted because of the hurricane. Pittsburgh had a chance to bury them early and blew it, as much due to their own tightness as to Luongo’s play.<BR/><BR/>Thibault has to go. Now. If Fleury is in net for this game, the Pens win.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13441809988487585009noreply@blogger.com