Pens. Flyers. Game 5

[dodint]

DK?

[NailedPenguin]

No, the uber handsome Norris Trophy lock who never comes close to being considered for the Norris Trophy.

[nocera]

After stepping away for a few hours I’ve come to the conclusion of **** that game. Finish it Sunday.

[NailedPenguin]

I like your thinking. I'll adopt that perspective in the morning.

[shafnutz05]

Letang = albatross

[mikey]

Ugh...that was not ideal.

[shafnutz05]

I started to get a bad feeling last night when Kessel just kept missing shots...there was the crossing pass he dished out in the first period that had a good chance of being a goal, but he missed the mark by about two feet. Same with Brassard getting the puck right outside the crease, and then inexplicably turning around and passing it into the corner. Even with how poorly they executed chances last night, they still almost won. Gotta end this on Sunday.

[meow]

I’m not worried. At all. We might need to manufacture a goal next game instead of trying to create everything.

[shmenguin]

I’m not worried. At all. We might need to manufacture a goal next game instead of trying to create everything.

We have a Swedish guy for that. I hope he plays.

[mikey]

Sorely missed his dogged puck finding abilities last night...

[meow]

Yup. We missed our puck hound.

[Robot B9]

A next-day redeeming perspective is that it took a Pens game of that rare magnitude of chunk-blow for the Flyers to essentially win a 1-goal game.

Don't see that happening twice in a row.

[Orlando Penguin]

Pens dominated play over the final 2 periods and just kept flubbing chances. Either they got too cute or they just didn’t execute. Do that for all 3 periods tomorrow and the animals go home sad.

[Rx6687]

A short series would have really been in their best interest, considering how much hockey they have played the past 2 years, as well as the quality of the opponent they would be facing if they are to advance further. They were gift-wrapped 5 power plays, and not only did they fail to score, they gave one to the other team.

I mean, yeah, it's a 7 game series, yada yada, and they have outscored Philly 17-1 in the three games they have won, but that was an ugly loss last night, and losing two in a row on home ice hasn't been a typical thing under Sully. I do agree that a Hornqvist return will go a long way toward fixing their issues, although Simon was one of the few bright spots last night. I thought he and ZAR played well.

[shmenguin]

They’ve outplayed the other guys 5 out of 5 games. Realistically, at the team level, that’s all you can ask for.

At the individual level, it’s not as rosy. Kessel chose his streak over health, Malkin is doing his entitled baby thing and Letang is really really shitty. I don’t really see any of these getting better soon. But we’ve been dominating this series and should still easily win if we actually convert some of our infinity chances.

[Lemon Berry Lobster]

They're back to turnovers at both blue lines. I expect Sully to clean that up in practice and we see a dominant win on Sunday to finish this series off.

[Blue Canary]

Yep, I'm still angry. That Neuvirth save on Sid is on loop in my head. He scores there, we go to OT, and I believe we win.

The report behind enemy lines is that the underdog **** is revived, media and fans totally back onside, team has a chip and a swagger and intends to shock everyone. Games 3 and 4 are mostly forgotten. The game 6 environment will look *nothing at all* like game 4. Neuvirth will start, "Coots" (that nickname makes me puke) will lead them, the fans' ire and fervor will suddenly fluster then Pens, and the tide will turn just in time!

Y YOU DO DIS, PENS.

Y.

I wouldn't care if we were facing the BJs. I'd be fine. But the Flyers are a different story--they always are.

Talk me down, friends. I'm overemotional because it's the Flyers.

[mikey]

We're so much better that it's stupid. We're gonna be fine...plus, since when do we close things out at home anyway...?

[MR25]

They're 5-2 since 2016 when they can close a series on home ice.

[Blue Canary]

You guys put up with so much neurosis from me. Thank you.

Keep talking, please. It's like a lullaby.

Does anyone think that Neuvirth can steal this thing? I'd think no, but hockey can be cruel.

[Blue Canary]

We're so much better that it's stupid. We're gonna be fine...plus, since when do we close things out at home anyway...?

At first I read that as "We're so much better but we're stupid."

THAT'S what I'm afraid of.

[Blue Canary]

Sports are stupid

I'm going to have this carved on my memorial plaque/stone/whatever, since that's what will probably drive me to an early grave.

[mikey]

You guys put up with so much neurosis from me. Thank you.

Keep talking, please. It's like a lullaby.

Does anyone think that Neuvirth can steal this thing? I'd think no, but hockey can be cruel.

He blows. Here's the thing. He is technically proficient, so you need to shoot around him (he can't move, Crosby save notwithstanding)...Elliott can be shot through...that's the difference, we're fine...they're bad...

[Blue Canary]

Oh, and F you, "Coots."

[slappybrown]

I thought Neuvirth was fantastic last night and if you squint enough stole the game for them.

I also think Neuvirth can let up a 5 spot through 2 periods tomorrow, however.