Monday, 16 April 2012 15:35

Written by Shelly Anderson

Shelly Anderson: I hear what you're saying, but I think grit has maybe gotten the Penguins in trouble at times. I think what they've been missing is discipline -- both in terms of the stuff after the whistles and in Xs and Ox. And pretty much not ever going to comment on the smaller Pittsburgh paper.

Hank: If Sid says that he doesn't like anyone on the Flyers, I guess his bromance with Talbot is over, eh?

Shelly Anderson: Sidney Crosby was in the heat and emotion of the moment after the game Sunday. He was upset and frustrated. It was all over his face, in his words and in his delivery. But, given time, I would think he and Max Talbot will be OK. Crosby has known Talbot since he was 13. They both understand the nature of hockey.

Hank: One more, Shelly: when... er, IF the Pens are eliminated for the playoffs, who do you think will end up playing for their country for Worlds in May? Sid, Neal, Geno?

Shelly Anderson: I can see several Penguins going, assuming they aren't nursing undisclosed injuries. Maybe Sidney Crosby, James Neal, Marc-Andre Fleury, Jordan Staal and Kris Letang for Canada, Evgeni Malkin for Russia, Zbynek Michalek for the Czech Republic. Hope I haven't forgotten anyone.

GASteeler: In game 1, Briere scored a goal in which TV showed him to have been off-side. The NHL reviews all goals to be sure they are legit. Why not review questionable off-sides that result in goals? In addition, if a goal is scored, but the refs miss it, the clock is backed up, but any penalties that occurred are nullified. This could be done for the off-sides goal, which, in my opinion altered the outcome of game 1.

Shelly Anderson: It's simply not in the NHL rules right now. Offsides calls are not reviewable, and I have not heard any chorus trying to get that changed.

Ralph S.: Have the Pens been playing horrible D, as I've heard repeated often, or have Laviolette and the Flyers solved Bylsma's system? Does the Pens' offensive aggressiveness leave them exposed?

Shelly Anderson: There are probably several things going on there, but, for example, Danny Briere zooming past two defensemen on three-on-two for a tap-in goal shouldn't happen no matter what system or what game plan.

Rw: Shelly ,Pens need to come out fighting and make it tough onthe Flyers all night what have they got to lose ,be physical and make it tough for philly to compete in the next round.

Shelly Anderson: Did you really mean to use the word, fighting? They need to play well, no doubt, but maybe they should stay away from the fighting.

TheyAllSuck: Shelly. Mr Lemieux has called out the "garage league" several times. So is he now going to publicly call out his own group of thugs? I was out of town and my 8 year old watched the game without me so I wasn't home to turn off the Tv when the total lack of sportsmanship broke out. Now I get to explain to him that's not how you lose. I'm embarrassed to say I was a fan of these thugs. If there's it either a house cleaning in the off season or a complete show of contrition from all thugs involved. Especially poster boy Cindy Crosby the. I'm done with this pathetic version of the Johnstown Chiefs

Shelly Anderson: Scott Hartnell today said that the Flyers have won the discipline game. He's right, and that's pretty telling. He also said it was a Philadelphia strategy to try to get under the Penguins' skin. It has worked. Mario Lemieux very rarely speaks publicly, and I would be surprised if he does now. Having said all that, the Penguins are not thugs in general and didn't look that way in Games 1 and 2. Game 3 was a different story, and my guess is no one is more upset about that than the Penguins themselves.

Critter: How do you explain such a total collapse, or total non-start by the Pens? What do you do if you are Shero? This is worse that the Capitals multiple recent collapses, in my opinion.

Shelly Anderson: It hasn't been a non-start, actually. The Penguins have had the early lead in all three games. The problem has been what comes after that. General manager Ray Shero will have to take a hard look at the team. The core players should still be untouchable. Contracts, no-trade clauses and the salary cap will come into play, though.

dave: It's probably too late, but do you think Mario might say something to the team?

Shelly Anderson: That's not really Mario Lemieux's style, but you never know.

JST: Was there any kind of turning point in the past few weeks for this team?

Shelly Anderson: The one that comes to mind is the goal scored in Game 1 by Danny Briere when he was clearly offsides. Maybe the trouble with the power play that led to Sidney Crosby being demoted to the second unit. But nothing really major, and it's shocking that things have collapsed to this point.

dave: Has Malkin been available to the media? I haven't seen any comments from him.

Shelly Anderson: Evgeni Malkin was available just before the playoffs and maybe after Game 1, but he's been out of the locker room pretty much since then. He does not do interviews after game-day skates as a rule, but he also hasn't been around in other situations -- and, for whatever the reason, that's been pretty much the case since he was very good in speaking with reporters at the All-Star weekend.

TheyAllSuck: Shelly geno? Hurt tired indifferent or just not as good as a 19 yr old. Which is it?

Shelly Anderson: I see nothing to suggest that Malkin is hurt, and he certainly isn't indifferent. Sean Courturier and his line have done a great job against Malkin. Is that Malkin? Coaching? Kind of hard to say.

Dis-appointed: Figured series matchup was 60%-40% Pens win. I'm not a bandwagon fan,following since '77. Discipline gone,determination?pride? Very different from what was expected,now. 15-20yrs ago maybe! TALENT level is much differrent! No excuses. They are getting their tails KICKED. Kills me to say Flyers deserve to win. What are the issues? The Pens are lost.

Shelly Anderson: This should have been a close, long series. I wouldn't have expected either team to be up, 3-0. The issues are many, as have been touched on earlier in the chat. And now it's going to be awfully difficult for the Penguins to get back in it. Not making excuses, but this happens in the playoffs. Look at Vancouver. And, forgot to mention on the earlier question, I don't see this as being as bad as Washington's series of collapses simply because, so far, it's a one-time thing for the Penguins but a pattern for the Capitals.

dhe: Is Brooks Orpik considered to be a solid defenseman by others around the league?

Shelly Anderson: I haven't asked around specifically about him all that much, but, in general, yes. He's had a few moments (like the Briere tap-in I mentioned earlier), just like everyone else.

dhe: If the players could have one of the flyers' goals back, which one do you think they'd choose?

Shelly Anderson: Probably any of the three shorthanded goals. Those are killer. But with 20 -- yes, 20, in three games -- it would take more than just one give-back to make a difference.

Peter: Who takes the blame for this disaster? I nominate Bylsma.

Shelly Anderson: The line would stretch from the Mario statue outside Consol Energy Center across Centre Avenue to the debris that used to be Civic Arena. There are a few players who are not so much to blame -- Pascal Dupuis is playing his tail off -- but for the most part it's a group effort. Listening to some sports talk shows in Philadelphia today, they are predicting that Dan Bylsma will be fired if the Flyers complete the sweep, but I don't think the Penguins will do something that drastic. He was the coach of the year less than 12 months ago.

Dis-appointed: Who takes the fall? Sid, Malkin, Letang, Neal, Fluery...in prime NOW. NO excuses now. That's what the Pens have been waiting for..-ever. A dominate team. Excuses, injuries...are over. It's make or break time for THE OR-GIN-I ZATION.

Shelly Anderson: I'm not sure how a core player takes the fall. Are you suggesting that the Penguins don't try re-sign Sidney Crosby and let him walk when his contract is up in July 2013? That's nonsense. Fans are angry, and perhaps changes will be made, but they will be made for the betterment of the team based on analysis and evaluation, not on anger. The fans will have plenty of anger to go around.

Dis-appointed: Don't agree a one-time thing. TB last yr!! Crosby or not. TB had no business beating a Pens team with that series lead, in my opinion. Not a S C winner or contender but...

Shelly Anderson: Also out for that Tampa Bay series were Evgeni Malkin and Matt Cooke, and the Lightning got lucky with a hot goaltender. That added up to too few goals for the Penguins. I don't see a parallel to this postseason, when everything seemed to be pointing in the right direction for the Penguins. This is a much bigger disappointment, and much more shocking. Whether it's a one-time thing remains to be seen.

Shelly Anderson: One last question anyone?

dhe: If they get swept, chat next week?

Shelly Anderson: If the series ends before next Monday, I hope to do a wrap-up chat that day.

Hank: Are the Pens making their off season plans?

Shelly Anderson: GM Ray Shero always has to be evaluating and thinking, but as far as the players and coaches, no way. Don't confuse what you've seen on the ice with a bunch of guys who aren't competitive or don't care. This is killing them, but they aren't making plans for the offseason.

Shelly Anderson: OK, everyone. Thanks. I can feel your frustration and understand it. We'll see what the next week brings.