Roberts steams after being told he won't play Game 1

[10 Minute Misconduct 104]

DETROIT - Gary Roberts tried to bite his tongue on the eve of the Stanley Cup final, visibly upset after Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Michel Therrien told him he wouldn't be in the lineup for the opening game Saturday night. "Obviously, I'm not happy about it but I'm going to let Mike talk about why I'm not playing," Roberts said.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=238660&lid...os=topStory_nhl

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Hopefully this will start some friction in their room, ending with a Malkin/Roberts brawl.

Also, Chelli and Roberts played against each other in the 1989 Cup Finals, so that puts into perspective how long they've been in the league.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

This is why I dont believe Terrian is a good coach. The Penguins have no expeirence outside of Gonchar (Big freaking whoop, he was swept in the 98 finals.) Roberts has more heart then there whole locker room, leadership galore, and is a much better impact player then Adam Hall. But I dont really care, this just gives us a much better chance of winning, who's gonna calm down the bench when there down by 4 goals 10 minutes into the 1st.

[Echolalia 2,961]

Has anybody noticed that in every single interview with a pro sports player or coach, the word 'obviously' is used at least once?

[Superman54 91]

Shows the inexperiance in Pittsburgh, to bench an experianced player

[seeinred 1,488]

Experience is so overrated. The Pens got this far, they're not inexperienced anymore. I'll take an inexperienced guy who can play over an old guy who can't play as well any day.

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

This is why I dont believe Terrian is a good coach. The Penguins have no expeirence outside of Gonchar (Big freaking whoop, he was swept in the 98 finals.) Roberts has more heart then there whole locker room, leadership galore, and is a much better impact player then Adam Hall. But I dont really care, this just gives us a much better chance of winning, who's gonna calm down the bench when there down by 4 goals 10 minutes into the 1st.

You can't really say that about the kids Crosby and Malkin - have to admit it took some heart to get where they are. But......here's to ending that in the next few weeks - Go Wings!!!

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

You can't really say that about the kids Crosby and Malkin - have to admit it took some heart to get where they are. But......here's to ending that in the next few weeks - Go Wings!!!

That's true, but you just dont bench Roberts.

[rick zombo 3,739]

Experience is so overrated. The Pens got this far, they're not inexperienced anymore. I'll take an inexperienced guy who can play over an old guy who can't play as well any day.

Yes they did get this far. And guess who scored the Pens first 2008 playoff goal.

[XxGoWingsxX 0]

Experience is so overrated. The Pens got this far, they're not inexperienced anymore. I'll take an inexperienced guy who can play over an old guy who can't play as well any day.

Uhmm, yeah i'm gonna have to go ahead and sort of...disagree with you on that one Mmmkay? (lol OBVIOUS office space reference) But, experience goes a LONG WAY....put it this way...we're in the finals.....so the guys with experience are gonna be more level headed, and calm and collected....experience does wonders...say an inexperienced team gets down 4-0 in the first...they start to panic and instead of picking up the play they start getting flustered and making MORE mistakes...where as a team with experience says, ok...4-0 it isn't probable, but it's doable...so they calm down, focus more and maybe take the game over somehow. An inexperienced team who might be down 2-0 in a series, will start to panic and focus on winning FUTURE games to stay in it and lose focus on the current game...i could go ON AND ON AND ON about how experience is definitely a big advantage, but i won't i think u get the idea....anyways its just my opinion and you're entitled to yours seeinred...anyways, lets watch some hockey...GO WINGS...

And by the way, just because the pens got this far...doesn't make them experienced...they haven't yet EXPERIENCED a stanley cup final series, and experience is only something you can gain over time....i mean years, not weeks or months....they may have made it this far, but the pens are still a VERY inexperienced team.

Edited May 23, 2008 by XxGoWingsxX

[ThreeRiversFan 0]

Im sure Roberts isnt happy....but Hall is a good face off guy...and good on the PK.....I love GR...but Hall gives us more options

[Datsyerberger 279]

I'm surprised at this decision. Seems like a bad one. I'm wondering how the Pens fans are gonna react...

[seeinred 1,488]

Uhmm, yeah i'm gonna have to go ahead and sort of...disagree with you on that one Mmmkay? (lol OBVIOUS office space reference) But, experience goes a LONG WAY....put it this way...we're in the finals.....so the guys with experience are gonna be more level headed, and calm and collected....experience does wonders...say an inexperienced team gets down 4-0 in the first...they start to panic and instead of picking up the play they start getting flustered and making MORE mistakes...where as a team with experience says, ok...4-0 it isn't probable, but it's doable...so they calm down, focus more and maybe take the game over somehow. An inexperienced team who might be down 2-0 in a series, will start to panic and focus on winning FUTURE games to stay in it and lose focus on the current game...i could go ON AND ON AND ON about how experience is definitely a big advantage, but i won't i think u get the idea....anyways its just my opinion and you're entitled to yours seeinred...anyways, lets watch some hockey...GO WINGS...

And by the way, just because the pens got this far...doesn't make them experienced...they haven't yet EXPERIENCED a stanley cup final series, and experience is only something you can gain over time....i mean years, not weeks or months....they may have made it this far, but the pens are still a VERY inexperienced team.

I totally get that viewpoint, but I just think that these Penguins aren't inexperienced anymore. What's the magical number of playoff games where a guy's suddenly a veteran? I think once you make the Cup Finals, you ARE experienced. And with the playing from behind example you gave, they already came down from 3 goals once against the Rangers.

I don't think experience is the Wings advantage in this series. Being the better team is.

[10 Minute Misconduct 104]

Im sure Roberts isnt happy....but Hall is a good face off guy...and good on the PK.....I love GR...but Hall gives us more options

Adam Hall sucks. HE plays the PK yes, but Roberts bring more to the table then that. Gritt, experience, determination, etc.

[tommingthepuck96 1]

who's gonna calm down the bench when there down by 4 goals 10 minutes into the 1st.

I wonder how much crosby or malkins broken stick at the end of the game is going to be worth?

[Happy Pancake 6]

I totally get that viewpoint, but I just think that these Penguins aren't inexperienced anymore. What's the magical number of playoff games where a guy's suddenly a veteran? I think once you make the Cup Finals, you ARE experienced. And with the playing from behind example you gave, they already came down from 3 goals once against the Rangers.

I don't think experience is the Wings advantage in this series. Being the better team is.

The experience that favors the Wings is not the experience of going deep into the playoffs but the immense amount of SCF experience on the team. The Pens have accomplished a great deal for a young team but this is a lot different than the first or second round. They aren't going to be playing another Eastern Conference team that they can push around this time. The Red Wings have a ton of players who have not only got this deep but won. Ross McKeon pinpointed this in his article today: "The Red Wings have two players who already own one Stanley Cup ring (Pavel Datsyuk, Dominik Hasek), three who have won two (Chris Chelios, Chris Osgood and Brian Rafalski) and five who have three each (Kris Draper, Tomas Holmstrom, Nicklas Lidstrom, Kirk Maltby and Darren McCarty). All except Rafalski won at least one championship in a Detroit sweater." For many of the Penguins they'll be learning as they go. Experience clearly favors Detroit on this one. Win or lose though, the Penguins will be a better team for making it this far next year.

[ThreeRiversFan 0]

Adam Hall sucks. HE plays the PK yes, but Roberts bring more to the table then that. Gritt, experience, determination, etc.

LOL...OK...we'll see I guess

[esteef 2,679]

This is why I dont believe Terrian is a good coach. The Penguins have no expeirence outside of Gonchar (Big freaking whoop, he was swept in the 98 finals.) Roberts has more heart then there whole locker room, leadership galore, and is a much better impact player then Adam Hall. But I dont really care, this just gives us a much better chance of winning, who's gonna calm down the bench when there down by 4 goals 10 minutes into the 1st.

That's not only funny, it's exactly right!

Cheers to going up big early!

esteef

Edited May 24, 2008 by esteef

[union drone 0]

Im sure Roberts isnt happy....but Hall is a good face off guy...and good on the PK.....I love GR...but Hall gives us more options

The Therrien might be going for some help on the face off. Pens haven't fared well in that category, and the Wings have been winning lots of face offs. Seems like a calculated move that might or might not pay off. It's a tough call to bench a guy like Roberts.

[hamip1998 3]

Has anybody noticed that in every single interview with a pro sports player or coach, the word 'obviously' is used at least once?

Yes, but only with hockey players and coaches. The word has far too many syllables to be used by football, basketball, etc. players.

It may be that I only notice it with hockey players because I watch hockey more than any other sport.