BewareThePenguin

I agree, and that was probably the biggest factor in tonight's lopsided loss. The Pens had all the momentum after Game 4, and needed to just keep quiet and play. I haven't read any exact quotes, but the pre-game announcers suggested what was said. Immaturity is right. The Pens need to shut up and focus more on their own execution the next game, rather than their opponents' state of mind.

I agree, and that was probably the biggest factor in tonight's lopsided loss. The Pens had all the momentum after Game 4, and needed to just keep quiet and play. I haven't read any exact quotes, but the pre-game announcers suggested what was said. Immaturity is right. The Pens need to shut up and focus more on their own execution the next game, rather than their opponents' state of mind.

Please ignore any moronic fan who makes stupid comments like that. I assure you they represent the minority of Penguins fans. Tell those morons to ask their parents and grandparents in Pittsburgh what it's like to lose jobs when your town's major industry goes south. Better yet, why drive yourself crazy going all over the place to dig up garbage like that?

Uh, no. I thought someone kidnapped the Pens tonight and replaced them with the Islanders. Detroit looked like a team that knew it needed to win, and went about it like veterans. The Pens made bad decisions and took dumb penalties. They looked frankly immature. We'll see if they can grow up any before Tuesday. Other than that not much more I can say about it.

Care to elaborate on that one, chum?

He's been quite the pick-up for us.

I'm confused... you just presented visual evidence of your own player's guilt. What's there to clap about?

"thinks" vs. "visual evidence"... which would you trust. Some people THINK Bettman is all about the Pens winning and will do whatever it takes to make that happen, especially with Crosby. But the VISUAL EVIDENCE shows otherwise. Say what you want about Crosby's reaction, that's not the point -- it's that he WAS sticked in the back, and the refs chose to do nothing about it. Sure doesn't fit in with the whole Conspiracy Theory huh? And as for whatever Pens fans are crowing conspiracy, they're just as off base.

I haven't read Talbot's comments, but agree, he shouldn't be talking too much of the cocky stuff right now. And the Staal goal was just a feeling I had. And I agree Detroit has shown it knows how to kick it up a level in championship series. And the Pens are the ones who have to demonstrate a similar ability. I do believe there's a bit more pressure on Detroit simply because they must now hold serve, and they know it. Nobody's cocky here. Not at least on this end.

I know... but somehow "Thoughts from the Penguin's Frozen-Water Aviarian Embryonic Repository" didn't have the same magic to it. Give me a pass on this one?

You'll find not one instance of me blaming refs or breaks or anything else for the Pens losses. Take it up with those other guys. By the way, ALL fan bases complain about that bumper boards thing. Not just the Pens'. To me, the Datsyuk thing is just as faulty an excuse.

I'm not referring to you directly, just about 100 others I've read who buy into this cockeyed idea. Just making a statement in general. Wouldn't you agree this puts the last nail in the Conspiracy Coffin?

Ah but again -- all I heard before the series was that the Pens would be little problem, regardless. And I do believe having Sid or Geno out for the Pens would more of a problem for Pittsburgh -- the drop-off to the next level of talent is more drastic than say to Cleary for you guys.

I have to agree there. Hossa can't do it on his own, he needs a star center like he did in Pittsburgh to piggyback. Makes the Wings doubly dangerous.

Oh I have no doubt he'll be a major positive for your squad. I'm just looking forward to the end of all the excuse-making that's cropped up since the Pens won a game or two.

Regardless of your opinion of his reaction, don't you think this would have been a prime opportunity for the refs to make a big deal of this, if there really was some kind of "conspiracy"? I mean, the set-up couldn't have been better, player stick whacks the Annointed One himself, with his back turned... right there should have been a game misconduct for Maltby, suspension, banishment to Siberia and a $1,000,000 fine. But instead... uh, nothing. Bettman Conspiracy? Not so much.

I have no doubt he will be. It's just, well I'm a bit confused. First the Pens weren't going to be a prob, our third line could outplay their first, our incredible depth will overcome their two-man team etc. etc. etc. Now all of a sudden the Pens have won, but only because Dats wasn't in the lineup. I just don't get it. That's just me though.

Yep, for two reasons: 1. I like seeing games featuring the best players. 2. As a Pens fan, I want the team to beat Detroit WITH Datsyuk in the line-up, so we can put an end to all this advance excuse-making by so many Wings fans. None of this "yeah they beat us but if Datsyuk had played..." which we'd be hearing all off-season. Don't underestimate reason #1 btw.

I hear ya. It's just that I've been a bit "misrepresented" in some of my quotes and views from some posters here, so pardon me if I sometimes go into set-record-straight mode. I assure you it's in the best spirit of debate.

That's great news! I hope to see him in the lineup.

I sincerely, desperately and willfully hope Pavel Datsyuk plays Saturday Night. And for the rest of the series.

Show me where I said that. I did feel last night was the CLOSEST to a one-sided affair, but that's as far as I went. Go back to where I said it's been an even series so far, OK? Thanks.

I caught that one too. That was screamed about on the Pens boards, you're probably the first to mention it here. I'm sure.

One more thing and I promise to move on. Before the playoffs, all the talk was that the Pens were just another Eastern Conference patsy and no prob to handle, regardless of who was in the lineup or not. After all the Wings had that incredible depth, deepest team in the league and all that etc. Now you have an out after a loss -- play the injury card. I find this assumption rather unfounded, and frankly disappointing that you'd resort to it. There's another thread here about "No Datsyuk No Cup" which I don't agree with -- it says to me "if we lose we can say we're still better because we all KNOW we'd win with him, and of course, leaves the door open for chest beating just in case we do pull it out." A tidy, quaint, no-lose situation. Maybe the "other team's skill level" was a little underestimated here? Just a thought.

Well since you brought up the refs in both your posts, ok then... the Pens got away with 2-many men, which I admitted in a post (which got yanked so I guess you probably didn't see it). But again, you see only one side. In game 3, the Wings got away with a blatant pick on their PP goal -- which should have ended with a penalty (even the announcers called them out for this, did you not have the sound on?). Instead the refs let them play on, and Detroit scored. In game 2, Samuellson picked Malkin, again presenting a wide open lane for a Wings player to shoot, and score. Two of the most blatant non calls of the series. Unlike the too-many men non-call, which didn't lead to a score. All 4 of these games could've gone either way. So right there, you can't say Detroit "dominated" or was "superior." Just that they won a couple. Of the 4 games, last night's was the closest to a one-sided affair. P.S. I love the Staal rationalization. Kind of like the wife who ran into her husband's fist.