When will the Pittsburgh Penguins decide to play 60 minutes of hockey?

by FrankD on Nov 7, 2008 2:31 PM EST in News Comment 10 comments

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Earlier today Dunman posted up a fanpost about a comment he saw on the CBS boards regarding the Penguins' lackluster efforts during the third period this season. One of the lines that stood out to me:

Additionally, weak statements such as "it was a learning experience", are only applicable when you actually learn something..... saying that repeatedly as you do it, is just making excuses.

That's 100% true. How many times can the Penguins, particular Michel Therrien, turn around and say it's "a lesson learned?"

"We were glad to get the two points, but in the meantime, it was a good lesson again. We lost total momentum this game, and it was tough to get it back."

Michel Therrien
Pittsburgh Trib-Review

Apparently there's always room for one more...

How is it that you learn a lesson again? Sure, repetition is the key to perfection, but this is just getting ridiculous. Besides, you're not really learning much when you keep doing it.

For all the fandom in the world, I can't help but rag on Matt Cooke a bit for stating the blatently obvious in his post-game remarks:

"We have to look at how hard we played for 35 minutes and got ourselves the lead by doing all the right things and doing the simple things. If we just continue on like that, we're gonna give ourselves the best chance to be successful."

Matt Cooke
Pitt Trib-Review

Thanks, solid assessment. That's borderline John Madden style.

"Well ya know, what they did there was score a touchdown. Touchdowns get you points and points win you games." Genius.

But maybe I should lay off a bit, huh? It's not like they lost the game, although by the time Edmonton scored goal number four on the night I was preparing myself for it. Fact is, the Penguins can't put themselves in this kind of position so often. It's not good for team morale, it's not good for the record and frankly it's not good for the fans. Do they have any idea what kind of hell they put us through last night?

Saturday we take on the Islanders. The commercials on FSN couldn't exude more confidence. "Watch as the Penguins head out to Long Island to hand the Islanders another loss."

Let's calm down a bit. Prioritize. Try not to hand yourself a loss before you start dishing them out to other teams.

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What a funny time for the Penguins and Islanders to meet. Saturday night, something has to break. One of these two teams will play 60 minutes (Right?)…

… Unless they both sit and stare at the puck for the third, which while novel might be poorly received.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 7, 2008 2:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

One can only hope we see a hockey game on Saturday. Are the Islanders taking any periods off? If so, maybe we can just agree to play one solid period of good hockey and call it a night.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Nov 7, 2008 2:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Perhaps both coaches are trying to finish a book and need that last 20 minutes.

I would enjoy the spectacle of 20 minutes of staring, but I would probably change the channel.

Let's go Pens!

by JDunman on Nov 7, 2008 3:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The past four games, they like to build a lead and then hit the bar during the 2nd intermission. Lotta soccer fans on the team, I guess: “You mean there’s a third half?”

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 7, 2008 3:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

For most of the non-hockey fans out there, it’s the third of three quarters.

Let's go Pens!

by JDunman on Nov 7, 2008 3:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well then it’s settled. You guys take the first period, we’ll take the second period and we’ll both just file a note with the NHLPA that stipulates neither team has an interest in the third.

May the best team win.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Nov 7, 2008 4:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wait just a minute, sir

If you’re gonna throw the whole “best team wins” variable back in, well, no need to drop the puck. Satan has already spoken.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 7, 2008 7:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

In Satan we trust

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Nov 7, 2008 11:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

How is it that you learn a lesson again? Sure, repetition is the key to perfection, but this is just getting ridiculous. Besides, you’re not really learning much when you keep doing it.

It’s hard to make a case for learning lessons when the Penguins had a long playoff run last year (culminating in the Stanley Cup finals). As far as I can tell (granted I watch about 5-7 Pittsburgh games a year), that “excuse” seems to have run it’s course.

Fear The Fin: Where the second round is overrated.

by Mr. Plank on Nov 7, 2008 6:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Consider yourself spared if all you watch is 5-7 games. This year’s team is starting to channel the excuses of 2005 Pens but luckily not the record. “We’re looking to gel” was normally the excuse used for the first 12 games, followed by something like, “We’re trying to work without our top guys” for the next dozen or so. Then it would be something like, “We’re just not executing.” That takes ya up to the All-Star break, which is fittingly followed with, “Well, we really got off our game during the ASB.” Then it’s the “we’re just trying to finish up the season strong” finalized by the, “We did our best.”

It’s systematic really. That can apply to any team below .650 win %.

Thanks for stoppin by broseph.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Nov 7, 2008 11:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs