GDT: ECSF Game 1|One More Time|Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators|5.14.13|19:30 EDT

[Dying Alive]

Hate being "that guy" too...and even worse, going on Ferris Bueller, but

A woman I work with, her nephew is one of the trainers. She was texting back and forth with him this morning. He said he knew about as much as us as far as who would be starting tonight, but that "the room wants Fleury to start".

Take that for what it's worth. Pretty much nothing.

I'm not surprised that they would, they've pretty much grown up together and I'm sure they're all friends. They're rooting for him to get his act together. It's probably no disrespect to Vokoun at all. I think all but the most irrational Fleury hater would like to see him redeem himself if he's given another shot (and he will be, whether it's in the playoffs or next regular season).

To me that says two good things - DB isn't afraid to make unpopular decisions and the team hasn't given up on MAF.

Edit: I wouldn't go too crazy speculating that it'll cost Bylsma the room. Wanting Fleury to start and throwing a hissy fit and quitting on the coach over it are two very distant ends of the spectrum. Don't read too much into it, although I know that we're prone to do that around here.

 

[radapex]

I'm not surprised that they would, they've pretty much grown up together and I'm sure they're all friends. They're rooting for him to get his act together. It's probably no disrespect to Vokoun at all. I think all but the most irrational Fleury hater would like to see him redeem himself if he's given another shot (and he will be, whether it's in the playoffs or next regular season).

To me that says two good things - DB isn't afraid to make unpopular decisions and the team hasn't given up on MAF.

However, it's going to put Bylsma in a tricky situation if Vokoun has even one bad game.

 

[Beauner]

Players want to win, I don't think they give a flying **** who is in net, as long as he gives them a chance to win, which Fleury hasn't.

 

[NastyNick]

The truth is that the team could play as hard as they want in front of Fleury. But those goals he gave up vs the Isles are still going to happen. To date no one has played a hockey game and given up zero shots.

 

[plaidchuck]

Well if they want him in they could also play a little better as well.

 

[radapex]

Players want to win, I don't think they give a flying **** who is in net, as long as he gives them a chance to win, which Fleury hasn't.

They want to win, but they want to win with Fleury in net. As Dying Alvie mentioned, a lot of the team "grew up" with Fleury and are extremely close friends.

 

[KIRK]

I'm not surprised that they would, they've pretty much grown up together and I'm sure they're all friends. They're rooting for him to get his act together. It's probably no disrespect to Vokoun at all. I think all but the most irrational Fleury hater would like to see him redeem himself if he's given another shot (and he will be, whether it's in the playoffs or next regular season).

To me that says two good things - DB isn't afraid to make unpopular decisions and the team hasn't given up on MAF.

Edit: I wouldn't go too crazy speculating that it'll cost Bylsma the room. Wanting Fleury to start and throwing a hissy fit and quitting on the coach over it are two very distant ends of the spectrum. Don't read too much into it, although I know that we're prone to do that around here.

Actually, I'm not sure it says 'DB isn't afraid to make unpopular decisions' as much as it says 'I need to win to keep my job, and it's easier to swap goalies than to adjust'.

 

[Beauner]

They want to win, but they want to win with Fleury in net. As Dying Alvie mentioned, a lot of the team "grew up" with Fleury and are extremely close friends.

I was good friends many of the goalies I played with, but that doesn't mean I wanted them to play when we had a better goalie or they were struggling. I'm sure they want him to rebound and redeem himself, but I don't think the room is displeased that Vokoun is starting or anything like that.

 

[KIRK]

For the ever dwindling membership of Fleury nation, I only ask one question, compliments of the Puck Daddy blog (http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-p...penguins-rid-marc-andre-fleury-135451781.html)

How many howlers does he have to allow in a six-game stretch before you just give up the ghost and say the guy couldn't save a beach ball shot at him by a child with osteogenesis imperfect?

 

[DockEllisExperience]

Vokun get's the nod... http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=670529&navid=DL|PIT|home

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

They want to win, but they want to win with Fleury in net. As Dying Alvie mentioned, a lot of the team "grew up" with Fleury and are extremely close friends.

Good friends for sure but at the end of the day they want to win and when a goalie can't even make routine saves anymore it get's frustrating. Guys can now play for Vokoun and Iginla, they want to win as well

Crosby and Malkin have 20pts combined so far, you think they care who is in nets?

 

[Dying Alive]

Actually, I'm not sure it says 'DB isn't afraid to make unpopular decisions' as much as it says 'I need to win to keep my job, and it's easier to swap goalies than to adjust'.

I think it's possible that it says both. And it doesn't kill us to occasionally give DB a little credit.

 

[KIRK]

Good friends for sure but at the end of the day they want to win and when a goalie can't even make routine saves anymore it get's frustrating. Guys can now play for Vokoun and Iginla, they want to win as well

Crosby and Malkin have 20pts combined so far, you think they care who is in nets?

I'm pretty sure that they neither care who is in net or even how many points they have. They only care about one thing . . . if they never scored a point and Santa Claus was in net but they got what they REALLY want, I don't think they'd care. Not at all.

 

[KIRK]

I think it's possible that it says both. And it doesn't kill us to occasionally give DB a little credit.

It mildly pains me, but that hasn't prevented me. I just think in this case that Fleury left him no choice. None at all. He was coaching for his job last round. Still is IMO.

 

[skullman80]

They want to win, but they want to win with Fleury in net. As Dying Alvie mentioned, a lot of the team "grew up" with Fleury and are extremely close friends.

They may be friends, but I they want to win a cup. I'm sure there are no hard feelings if Vokoun is the one that is in the net when/if they win a cup.

You can still be friends after the season is over, close friends, but I think everyone on this team is a professional and wants to do what is best for the team.

 

[Dying Alive]

For the ever dwindling membership of Fleury nation, I only ask one question, compliments of the Puck Daddy blog (http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-p...penguins-rid-marc-andre-fleury-135451781.html)

How many howlers does he have to allow in a six-game stretch before you just give up the ghost and say the guy couldn't save a beach ball shot at him by a child with osteogenesis imperfect?

Well posting a Ryan Lambert article to prove your point is kind of counterproductive. I mean really...

I don't know how much longer we need to suffer through the narrative that Fleury is any good at all before it crumbles to sand and is scattered by the wind.

Drama queen much? Is he getting the vapors? HOW WILL HE SURVIVE THIS HORRIBLE VIOLATION OF HIS HUMAN RIGHTS?

Look, I'm a fan of MAF but his play this series has been indefensible so I have no problem with him sitting. I think last year he was bad but only a symptom of a larger problem and that's true in most of his playoff failures (game 7 against Montreal being a big exception). I also think most of us know exactly what we're getting with MAF - a guy who is good and fairly reliable for the most part but not great. A guy who can steal a game here and there but rarely a series. These are the kinds of things you deal with in goal when you have lots of highly paid stars unless you luck into drafting a Henrik Lundqvist. And before anyone says it - yes, I think MAF is overpaid.

That said, I will never take anything Lambert writes seriously. He seems to fancy himself the poor man's Mark Madden of Puck Daddy, always taking the same easy shots at the same easy targets and saying "edgy" things to be controversial. He's a click bait troll. Even when he makes a valid point it gets lost in all of the snarkiness and frippery.

 

[IcedCapp]

this is going to play out like the shootout in Terror in a Texas Town. don't underestimate the coffee-addled hombre by basing your assessment on the fact that he's brought a harpoon to a gun-fight.

just got back from a coffee run. The two of you have ... been... warned..

 

[KIRK]

Well posting a Ryan Lambert article to prove your point is kind of counterproductive. I mean really...



Drama queen much? Is he getting the vapors? HOW WILL HE SURVIVE THIS HORRIBLE VIOLATION OF HIS HUMAN RIGHTS?

Look, I'm a fan of MAF but his play this series has been indefensible so I have no problem with him sitting. I think last year he was bad but only a symptom of a larger problem and that's true in most of his playoff failures (game 7 against Montreal being a big exception). I also think most of us know exactly what we're getting with MAF - a guy who is good and fairly reliable for the most part but not great. A guy who can steal a game here and there but rarely a series. These are the kinds of things you deal with in goal when you have lots of highly paid stars unless you luck into drafting a Henrik Lundqvist. And before anyone says it - yes, I think MAF is overpaid.

That said, I will never take anything Lambert writes seriously. He seems to fancy himself the poor man's Mark Madden of Puck Daddy, always taking the same easy shots at the same easy targets and saying "edgy" things to be controversial. He's a click bait troll. Even when he makes a valid point it gets lost in all of the snarkiness and frippery.

In my defense, I was a lot less concerned with the source (jackass) than the line (funny . . . really funny) on that one.

 

[KIRK]

just got back from a coffee run. The two of you have ... been... warned..

Please . . . two coffees and you're so bombed you're more likely to hit a spectator than me.

 

[Mordax]

I don't want to be "that guy" and post in the Ottawa forum refuting stuff, but for some reason Sens fans are under the impression that: a) the Pens are seriously banged up; and b) Joe Vitale was one of the Pens' worst players this season.

Our secret weapon

 

[Dying Alive]

In my defense, I was a lot less concerned with the source (jackass) than the line (funny . . . really funny) on that one.

I can't get past the byline. I mean, I hate the Wings as much as the next self-respecting person with a soul but you can only go to the "Red Wings presented by Amway" well so many times before the comedy runs dry.

 

[IcedCapp]

Please . . . two coffees and you're so bombed you're more likely to hit a spectator than me.

I'm OK with collateral damage??

 

[ZapRowsdower13]

I have tickets to game one and plan to be unable to talk Wednesday from yelling so loudly and often during the game.

Just remember, what you hear on the television does not reflect what the players hear on the ice. My experience is that for some reason it does not translate.

Oh yeah, I will be sure to start a Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! chant just for Big.

I don't normally dislike you but I do at this moment. I'm sure Big can handle it himself but I'll gladly give you a Doug the Bug style beating for the Wooing

Otherwise awesome GDT. Hope you don't take it as an insult but I read the bullet points/facts in Bourques voice (as he does some stats before the start of the game). I love reading em!

 

[Dying Alive]

JLupul 12:16pm via web

That hockey game will haunt me until the day I die...

https://twitter.com/JLupul/status/334341399434649600

Ouch. I hope someone prints that up and hangs it on the Pens bulletin board to remind them that they never, ever want to feel like that.

 

[Iffyiffiffer]

Why is Letang a clownfish?


edit: oh der someone at work explained it