#Pens vs #BlueJackets Official Thread! #StanleyCupPlayoffs

[Eaglealum]

This may have been mentioned, but I have to vent. Kris Lewang =Carmelo Anthony with less offense.... All you Cartang lovers mark my words, they have enough fire power, they lock up Niskanen and cut ties with the liability, they win a cup first year.

[Aoki11]

Although he did take a dumb penalty at the end, don't condemn him yet. Its one game.

[Eaglealum]

One game? How bout game one? How about nearly every big game or crunch time nearly every close game? It's no coincidence the pens ended game 1 great and Lewang was on the bench the entire 3rd... The game started similarly, it may have been the matchups with Dibinskys line, but nonetheless Letang had less ice time in the 1st than other 2 periods and ot and the Pens dominated the first.....

[Aoki11]

I'm not saying you are right or wrong so please cool down. And they won the first game, if after that game you can truly say that you were focused on letangs shortcomings and not the win then I guess I'm the wrong type of fan, they won that game so I doubt you did. As for last night, it was a group effort. How about 0 for 7 on power play. A top 5 power play couldn't score on Columbus 1 out of 7 times. How bout james Neal, Sidney Crosby, and Chris Kunitz basically missing from the game? I'm not trying to defend anyone but it just wasn't a good game for the whole group but even in that regard they still had a bad call that smoked them. That shorthand put them down also. It's easy to look at one player and blame him but I don't know. Kris Letang wasn't the reason Pittsburgh lost last night.

[konjo78]

Both Pennsylvania teams are tied 1-1 in pretty similar fashions.... I think the Pens need more from crosby and malkin offensively..... Flyers is the same story with Giroux and Leclavier

[Aoki11]

Correction, pens were 1/8 on power play. Still not good.

Question for Konjo, do you still think Lecavelier has it in him? I don't really see him as a game changer anymore. Giroux, maybe. Simmonds is another and Hartnell is one as well.

[abpk2903]

Letang has been very inconsistent for over a year now. I used to be one of Letangs biggest supporters earlier in the season but his last 2 games have been pathetic. The only thing he does consistently is play wreckless. I hope they scratch him for game 3.

[Aoki11]

Scratching him for game 3 would not be a bad idea, it would simmer him down, give him time to think an honestly I think they can afford it against columbus. I can agree with that move. But as for getting rid of him I do not agree with it at all. Who do you guys intend to replace him with? Do you realize you are getting rid of a consistent Norris trophy finalist? Yes I agree his play has been lackluster since he's gotten back, but it's like we forget what he is recovering from. Hes going to be a step behind. Getting rid of him would be the start of a downward spiral for the pens. The solution to letangs problem is telling him to back off, let him mature and refine his game and solidify himself as a penguin, and last and most importantly: pair him with a defensive, stay at home defenseman like brooks or Paul. It will work. Give it time. I know you guys all expected this to be a 4-0 sweep walk in the park but its not. But it's also not the end of the world, this isn't the time to be making cuts.

[Aoki11]

And if we are throwing out names for the chopping block then we might as well throw out Sidney Crosby. Points usually are never the best part about his game because he's such a deeper player, but that's about all so far. He's contributed a couple tallies none of his usual game changing plays. James Neal, nothing. Geno has been a hustler but not himself. MAF is the only guy I see right now making game changing plays, he has had no choice.

[crfball]

Eagle I said trade him last year at the draft and get a return for him....I'd take Niskanen over Letang any day abpk unlike you I've always had it out for Letang, so inconsistent can't stay on the ice, that being said though...I'm afraid we're stuck with him and Mr. Niscannon is gonna walk away