Happy Homecomings: Jagr and Talbot score in return to Pittsburgh. Flyers win 4-2

-The Pens were outplayed for the majority of the game. They showed flashes of team that’s won 4 straight, but flashes aren’t good enough to beat a team like Philly.

-I thought the defense as a whole played poorly again tonight. Too many breakdowns low in the D zone that can be attributed to lack of communication between D and th elow forward.

- I thought Despres played a very solid game, minus the gaff in the neutral zone when Voracek blew by him. He’s played well for a rookie and his ice time is starting to show.

-Malkin, Neal and Kunitz didn’t have a good game. I counted 3 turnovers in the defensive zone by Malkin on one shift. He later took a penalty on the same shift. That’s unacceptable for arguably the games best player right now. Neal had a bad penalty too in the offensive zone.

-The only positive I saw from the game was the play of Fluery, Kennedy and Staal. It seemed like those guys were the only ones whole wanted to play the whole 60 minutes.

I think it’s most depressing we’re 0-5 against the Flyers, Bruins, Rangers, and Red Wings. Not a good sign.

OUCH. This hurts. >__<

To make a long story short, I’ve been hoping Jagr would return to the Pens since Hossa walked in ’08.

After seeing his comments before and after last night’s game, obviously the guy hasn’t changed. He’s probably the most arrogant player in the league again. Seriously, who makes comments like that? You’d think he was a 20 year old rookie again.

If you look at the Pens roster and Shero’s signings since he’s been here, the Pens brought in guys that not only fit in the lineup, but in the locker room as well. The Penguins hardly have anyone in their lineup that I’d consider arrogant or damaging to the integrity of the locker room . That’s why I tend to believe that it wasn’t Shero’s first choice to make an offer to Jagr this past summer.

I don’t really care about any of the million excuses Jagr made for leaving the first time. His attitude cost the Penguins then and it most definitely wouldn’t have helped them this year.

I don’t know if it’s fair to say we can’t compete with the Bruins/Flyers/Rangers because of all the injuries, but there’s a chance we may never be fully healthy and the team needs to figure out how to beat these teams. I don’t want to say we aren’t good enough. But I dunno anymore… it all sucks.

That may have been the worst game I’ve ever seen Brooks Orpik play. He and Flower are my favorite Penguins to watch… I love Brooks. But it was downright painful watching Orpik try to defend Jagr or Giroux. He looked tentative and slow. It was like he was afraid to hit Jagr.. and that’s not like him at all.

Since I’m in the Philly ’burbs I was stuck with the Flyers broadcast and before the game Rick Tocchet said it would come down to who was more physical.. and I have to say he nailed it. It seemed like all night long all I kept yelling at the TV was “HIT HIM! WHY ARE YOU TURNING AWAY!? HIT HIM!” The box score says the Pens out-hit the Flyers 33-23… that is either some kind scoring from the home town scorers (which the Pens have a reputation for) or a ton of those hits came when it was too late to set a tone.

For some reason Bobrovsky really plays well in our building. It’s bizarre.