This kind of game has been looming for a while.

Sure, bizarre losses to the Lightning and Panthers sting.

And losing 7 of 9 drives lesser people to suicide.

 

But an embarrassing home loss to the Flyers? Man.

 

The Pens players held a closed-door meeting after the game.

What they really should do is close their newspapers and laptops.

Because journalists and bloggers are ripping them apart.

People need to calm down.

 

We've all watched this team long enough to know that they are in a funk.

They're going to snap out of it.

But in the meantime, everyone wants to blast the Penguins.

That's like beating off in the socks you're gonna be wearing that day.

 

 

All teams have a funk like this during the year.

It's happened the past three years to the Pens.

 

So, what are the issues with the Pens?

The goal of any NHL coach is to have their team work hard.

That hard work usually leads to three things.

 

1. A goal.

 

2. A scoring chance.

 

3. A powerplay.

 

 

The Penguins powerplay, or lack thereof, is the reason they are losing games.

Going 0-3 when the Flyers go 2-2 will result in a win maybe 1 out of 10 times.

 

Speaking of which, the funniest part is people blasting the PK after this one.

They are 11th in the league. They needed a lift from their own PP in this game.

They didn't get it.

 

The Penguins system revolves around being efficient on the powerplay.

They will be on the PP a lot.

And they'll trot out a cavalcade of stars for the man advantage.

 

To be 30th in the league is completely shocking. To not even be able to set things up is mind-boggling. To have the defending Art Ross Trophy winner, a left-handed shot, playing the left point is actually maddening. A player of Malkin's talent, a forward at that, shouldn't be wielding his left-handed stick on the left point of the PP.

 

But if he puts home a slapper through traffic, we're all touching ourselves.

Malkin was on the left point for a chunk of the season last year.

 

A closed-door meeting -- with a 42-game road trip on the horizon, including a jaunt through the hinterlands of Western Canada -- may be what rights this ship.

Edward Smith had the same thing in mind when he put those jokes in the crow's nest, not knowing they were gonna be playing grab-ass the whole time.

 

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Listen to the game at [WXDX]

Their Gameday

The Flyers like to think that they're an improved hockey team.

And in some ways they are.

They've got a new coach.

They've won five of their last seven.

They sit only two points out of a playoff spot.

It seems as though all is well in Philadelphia.

Once again their fans are talking about how Pronger's tough physical game will bring the team a Stanley Cup.

They speak of how Mike Richards' leadership, once definitely in doubt, is driving the team toward success.

They name off talented young players that are going to break through and dominate.

And, of course, they speak of the team's toughness and grit.

Fans of the Philadelphia Flyers are once again seeking vengeance and the team's apparent turn around has the orange-clad masses in a frenzy of anticipation for what will come next.

But none of that matters, because the road to success goes through Pittsburgh,

These Philadelphia Flyers have yet to prove that they can defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Sure, they can rough them up and sometimes they can even win a game or two, but when it all comes down to it the story ends the same way each time:

The Pittsburgh Penguins winning.

The Philadelphia Flyers angry and confused at how they let another one slip through their fingers.

And we wouldn't have it any other way.

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Finally we got the story on the shhhhhh shirts. It is interesting to say the least.

But basically we got a few shirts, and we'd like to give them away. We're too lazy to come up with a contest, so please give us ideas.

Also, the creator of the tshirts will be at the game tomorrow in section D9. He is bringing a bunch with him so maybe you'll be lucky enough to get one.

Go Pens.

P.S. great celebration by the USA Juniors last night. [TSN.CA]

Someone should get that on youtube.

[Courtsey of FSN and PENS UNIVERSE]

Although it's difficult to give this game a lot of weight.

Atlanta has now lost 9 straight.

Compared to the recent teams the Pens have faced, the Thrashers are butt crust.

But a win is a win.

Jordan Staal is on a different level. With Bingo and Geno busy making hotel arrangements for Vancouver, Staal has arguably been the Pens' most solid player the last 10 games.

It was nice to see a guy like Caputi, playing for the injured Chris Kunitz, get a goal.

That is why we hated Chris Bourque so bad.  He didn't do shit.  It took Caputi a shift to show up.

(Stay tuned after the jump for a beautiful Chris Bourque story.)

A big test for the Pens looms on the horizon.

After the Flyers at the Mellon on Thursday, the Pens go back on the road.

As we all remember, the last time the Pens hit up Western Canada, it was a good time.

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Listen to the game at [WXDX]

Welcome to those of you who have managed to avoid leaping off of the nearest bridge.

With the trade rumors and speculation about coaching changes that been swirling around in the past few days, you'd think the situation was completely hopeless.

It's not like it's the middle of February and the Pens are out of a playoff spot.

THAT situation would truly be hopeless and there would be no chance of recovering from that in any way.

At all.

Ever.

Chris Kunitz is having abdominal surgery and will miss 4-6 weeks of action.

According to Empty Netters, "Kunitz was initially injured approximately three months ago and the ailment progressed gradually to the point that surgery is required to fix it."

Luca Caputi has been called up from WBS.

He's expected to play with either Crosby or Malkin tonight.

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A bunch of people e-mailed this in:

As someone once said about a really bad album,

this song defies the law of physics by sucking and blowing at the same time.

That quote is from Malkin's post-game interview and it says it all. His life isn't over, ours isn't and neither should yours be. Have the past five games been tough? Sure they have. But we've been through worse. We know there's light at the end of the tunnel for this team. Last year we weren't so positive.

The Pens got 50 shots on Vokoun. The SHOOOOOOOOT guys don't even know what's happening right now. While they kiss Hines Ward's tears away, we'll keep going on. If the team can tighten up the defensive zone coverage and get the powerplay going, they'll steamroll the entire world. You think Evgeni Malkin is going to be quiet forever? If you do, you're probably also calling for Shero to get Kovalchuk for Martin Skoula and a bag of pucks.

At the end of the day, the Pens are still 26-16-1 and sit comfortably in 4th place. Step back, hit the hash pipe and bang your lady or dude.

Jump.

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Listen to the game at [WXDX]

The other game Pittsburgh is playing in Miami today.

The Panthers have given the Pens problems all season.

Tomas Vokoun will be in net for Florida.

He's been on fire in every game against the Pens.

In other news, Mike Yeo has been hospitalized.

We could say something about the Pens power play here but...

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