GDT: ECQF Game 5|New York Islanders @ Pittsburgh Penguins|Thursday-May-9th-2013|CEC|7:00

[WayneSid9987]

It really is something to watch how easily the Isles bring the puck out of their zone.
The 4th line looks a heck of alot better though.

Seen a flash of what we could have with Sid-Iggy there where Iggy just missed that pass for the shot on goal.

The top 3 lines have to forecheck better. Be fast and make smarter plays. Don't just cough the puck up.

These guys pretty much have to give the Isles the blue line though. If you want to stand them up at the blue line, you need the forwards coming back hard for support. Only a handful of guys are actively doing that.

 

[vodeni]

Bad news is we are nervous. No confidence. That's a horrible sign. No matter what adversity we went thru during 08-09 we didn't play this way. We keep overskating the puck...mishandling passes. Gripping stick too tight on these scoring chances. Not encouraging signs at all. Have to hope vokoun not letting anything in gives them confidence for next period. Kinda hard playing with confidence knowing if you **** up, your goalie is letting it go by him. Looks like they are still in that mode. Hopefully that now changes

Jimmy, this may be true, I really hope it is, maybe if Voukun shuts the doors the confidence will get back, but they look to me as a broken team, no confidence whatsoever

 

[Sh00terMcGavin]

Don't get too optimistic now boys

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Pens also don't look very dangerous. Despite the firepower in the lineup, they have so much trouble generating multiple chances. Usually it's one-and-done in the Islanders' zone.

Kennedy playing with jump, Vitale playing with jump, Cooke hitting everything he can, and Geno's flying. The rest of the guys up front range from OK to bad. It would be nice if Iginla could be that gamebreaking scorer he was brought in to be. A 2-goal effort tonight would be nice.

 

[Sivek]

I'm just waiting for the bad plays to return...

Sad to say they haven't left, just have been masked over. The Murray mini-stick misplay/Oksopo walking the d would of both been goals last game and the atmosphere here would be full of rage.

 

[Ray Shero*]

This is what's frustrating about this series. Even tonight, when the team has looked better than Games 2 to 4, the Pens can't sustain offensive zone time, yet are stuck in their own zone for minutes at a time.

Their giving the Isles way too many shots on net for my liking. Sooner or later it's going to cost them.

Tbh I think the Isles' speed has a lot of influence on this.

 

[NastyNick]

The difference in the two powerplays was disturbing. The Pens are back to being tenative, making high risk passes, getting pushed around.. and most importantly, getting nothing on net.

Islanders PP took a while to get set up, but had us running around and nearly scored a few times.

Hope theres some turnaround here quick.

 

[plaidchuck]

The shots do tell the story tonight. Islanders have also had basically 2 breakaways while the Pens just had a weak fan by Malkin. Only a matter of time. You'd expect this result against Tampa that year but not with a pseudo-healthy lineup.

 

[Fordy]

That has to be our first period leading it hits.

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

Is it funny to anyone else that now that bylsma's job is on the line( let's face it...he knows) that he now makes all these change that we've been wanting before playoffs even started? Wtf took so long?

 

[fate]

JR is in love with TK. imagine their children.

 

[BrokenStick]

I have to wonder if they'd look sharper and have a bit more chemistry if they, you know, practiced.

 

[Hobodrifter]

I think some of you guys are over analyzing that period. The Pens shored some things up and Vokoun looked decent. The Islanders are fast and skilled. They are going to get chances. I don't know what some expect here. It's like the Pens are playing terrible if they are not completely dominating the other team.

 

[hiptanaka]

The defense looks a little calmer around Vokoun. Hopefully that'll reverberate with the rest of the team.

 

[vodeni]

Maybe if you watched more "frickin game" you'd have some faith in Crosby.

is that what's left: faith, good for you go pray

 

[CrozJawz*]

Maybe if you watched more "frickin game" you'd have some faith in Crosby.

Hey, the Flyers proved last year that you can effectively shut down Malkin and Crosby. The Isles watched the tape and are engaging them the same way.

Both of them are forcing passes, missing shots, flubbing the puck, turning it over, etc. Add to the fact that the Isles continue to hammer them at every chance, and they start getting frustrated and all it does is cause them to be more aggressive and force more things.

The pressure has been on the Pens since the trade deadline. If the Isles lose this series, big deal, everyone expected them to anyway. If the Pens do, all that will be discussed is how a team so stacked could wilt in the first round against the 8th seed. The Isles are playing like they have nothing to lose, while the Pens are playing like they are nervous about blowing it. That attitude is not going to cut it...

 

[Ray Shero*]

I have to wonder if they'd look sharper and have a bit more chemistry if they, you know, practiced.

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

I really do feel , even though we are the better team we have to get lucky to get out of this series. That is one fat ass monkey on their backs. They're doing this to themselves. Pressure is more than I've ever seen it. Way more than last year. Point is, if we do get out of this series, I truly think we will step up our game big time. And be the team we all expected. Problem is getting past this round. Gonna need some lucky bounces IMO . They're just too ****ing nervous.

 

[Wes Mantooth]

Bad news is we are nervous. No confidence. That's a horrible sign. No matter what adversity we went thru during 08-09 we didn't play this way. We keep overskating the puck...mishandling passes. Gripping stick too tight on these scoring chances. Not encouraging signs at all. Have to hope vokoun not letting anything in gives them confidence for next period. Kinda hard playing with confidence knowing if you **** up, your goalie is letting it go by him. Looks like they are still in that mode. Hopefully that now changes

That's exactly what I thought. We are hesitant and still look shell shocked. I'm afraid if the Islanders get the first goal we are going to collapse.

 

[Tafkak]

Sad to say they haven't left, just have been masked over. The Murray mini-stick misplay/Oksopo walking the d would of both been goals last game and the atmosphere here would be full of rage.

In Murray's defense - it was such a horrible pass with a player right on top of him, he really had no other choice to choke up on his stick. That's been a big problem this series: dumb passing.

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

Haha

 

[fate]

no more dump chase for the top lines, they don't chase

 

[NastyNick]

The good thing is i think the Pens can hold a lead if they get one. friggin fleury....

 

[Ugene Magic]

I'm just waiting for the bad plays to return...

They have, just some blocks and Vokoun have made the difference.

Letting Okposo just walk through 3/4/5 guys is pathetic.

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

In Murray's defense - it was such a horrible pass with a player right on top of him, he really had no other choice to choke up on his stick. That's been a big problem this series: dumb passing.

And what causes dumb passing? We already know everyone of these players can do it with their eyes closed. We need tony robbins