I have to say that the loss today is not sitting very well with me, not that you would expect a series ending loss to do so. However, this one stings more than most, as it is the third early exit in a row, and it was an exit in round one by a team favored by most to win the Stanley Cup. It is also the second time in three years the Penguins not only LOST an elimination game early in the playoffs, but it is the second time in three years that they were bitchslapped in that situation. Absolutely bitch slapped. The Penguins somehow looked flat today with their season on the line, and the Flyers looked hungrier and sharper. Claude Giroux, came out on the first shift and made a big hit on Crosby and then scored the opening goal unassisted at just 32 seconds of the first period. It was one hell of a statement by the star of the Flyers, and one that none of the Penguins stars came close to answering. Giroux accounted for 14 points in the series, only 2 shy of the 16 posted by BOTH Crosby and Malkin. That play was indicative of one of the reasons the Penguins lost the series. Their star player was better than both of the Penguins superstars. Malkin won the Art Ross Trophy, and likely the Hart trophy in the regular season but was mostly a nonfactor in the series, except for some ill timed penalties. Crosby, who was supposed to carry us with his fresh legs was a noshow today. Another reason they lost is their netminding. Folks, I had the chance to meet Fleury and spend time with him this winter, and I came away loving the guy. However, you will have to forgive me when the next post season analysis gives the Penguins a nod due to their superior goaltending, if I laugh out loud. Yes, Fleury was to two finals and won the Stanley Cup in 2009, a track record that most people point to when calling him an elite netminder. However, Fleury has not posted a save percentage above .900 in the post season since then. He was a key factor in losing to Montreal in 2010 and again a key factor in losing to the Flyers this year. Fleury let in many soft goals and ill timed goals, like the one less than a minute after Malkin closed the gap to 3-1 today. He gave up 26 goals in 6 games, which is the third most ever given up in six game series behind Gump Worsley's 28 in 1958 and Arturs Irbe's 27 in 1995. His save percentage was a HORRID .834 the worst of all playoff goaltenders. His GAA was 4.63. The defense was bad, but Fleury, outside of a few periods, was just horrendous in the net. This is a real issue for the Penguins going forward. The Penguins also lost the series becasue their special teams gave up 3 short handed goals, and a 60% plus power play to the Flyers! The Flyers scored 12 power play goals in 6 games or an average of 2 per game. You will not win many series when you give up shorthanded goals and allow that many power play goals, period. The defense, which was supposed to be a plus for Pittsburgh was horrible. Even Letang and Orpik looked bad defensively, and the Penguins had no answer for the Flyers. The Penguins also continued to try to be too fancy for most of the series, never learning their lessons from passing up shots or making bad passes in the neutral zone that led to odd man chance for the Philadelphia. I am not sure how you come out flat in a game like today, but the Penguins did. In short, the Penguins showed up for two of six games in full force, and were sent home early AGAIN as a result....they gave up a 3-0 lead in game one to lose, and in general were outworked, outsmarted, outplayed, and outcoached. They lost to a team that is very very good, and they earned the victory, leaving the Penguins with more questions than answers as they enter another offseason after a disappointing playoff. After a two year run playoff run that ended in a trip to the Finals and a Stanley Cup, the Penguins have won only one playoff round in the next three seasons. I am saddened as I believe that there will be some people that I have grown to really admire and respect who may have to move on as part of a change in the makeup of this team. Either way, LETS GO PENS!
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