Column: Exorcising Flyers isn’t exactly optional

It seems like a lack of passion is a malaise both the Steelers and Pens have right now?

I'll refrain from nitpicking for now. Just poor effort in a game that was surely leftover on my DVR from 2013, right? RIGHT?

Maybe the Pens "superstars" need to stop reading the press clippings that they are the 2"best in the world", and play like it?
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Philthy isn't on the same map as the Pens.......... but as long as the Pens play undisciplined hockey, it won't matter a bit.

MAF looked like old MAF, losing stick, flopping like a fish out of water, sorry not sold on him. With so many games, tonight was the time to start backup.

The good, my god we matched lines, the guys added played well. Bortz on D will help. Gonna take time, see some old habit.

Remember when Sid and Geno were just KIDS and tortured the Flyers? Good times. Under Therrien, the tables were turned, and it was Stevens' Flyers who fell apart. Bylsma undid all that, and it's going to take more than 5 games to fix 5 years' worth of bad habits.

I was at the game. The Pens played the first and last two minutes. The rest was lack of effort. Out worked and out played in front of a full house. Have they no shame? People put out big bucks to attend these games, the least the Pens should do is show up.

I blame nbc sports. They do everyone of these matchups. Pierre and his doughy face and how you can never see his hands when he's crooning over Simmonds back checking and Giroux's leadership hahaha

Funny, but both games after a chunk of time off were the worst efforts of the season for the Pens. It's one thing to lose, it's another entirely to have lackluster play for large portions of the game and lose. Last night I kept thinking, "Guys, we're the ones in black!"

On a positive note, those throwbacks were AWESOME! I mean, absolutely STUNNING!

HCMJ did a great job w/matchups. Both teams seemed 2 be skating in quicksand 2nd/3rd, ice seemed mushy + damped Pens' speed. Lack of top 4 wing talent obvious, but Malkins needs moved back to C, maybe w/Comeau, Downie as Sutter/Dupuis are key PKers, too.

I've noticed Martin has tried to throw a few body checks/play more physically the last couple games, but he's still too soft. GMJR really needs to move him for a forward. Hopefully a couple of playoff contenders will get into a bidding war for his services.

Technical question - If there is a tripping call made, how can there be an embellishment call made on the same penalty? If it is, in fact, tripping isn't an 'embellishment' irrelevant? Just asking

Can't blame MAF for that mess, he had no chance on any of the 5 goals. Crosby disappeared again. The new guys played well enough. They have a big need for at least two huge defensemen. Time for a couple of trades. Was that Bylsma behind the bench?

what does "in their heads" really mean? - is it an inability to think straight? too much misplaced emotion? tack of confidence? none or all of these?

Malkin looked uninspired, the ice looked terrible the way puck was hopping all over, and we refused to put it into the off zone choosing to be stood up over and over at the blue line. What was that new breakout scheme?

I am fairly new to Penguins hockey, but since I have been watching it does seem like the Flyers are in the Pens head. The Fyers record at CEC is unbelievable. What's up with that? No home ice advantage there. Oh well, we'll get 'em next time (she says naively).

Flyers showed up on a back to back. Should be interesting at the Joe tonight.

The good: bottom 6 forwards (Adams excluded), the bright jerseys (especially the gold numbers on the back and the stripes at the bottom)

The bad: the lazy neutral zone play, CEC and Flyers looking like the Spectrum curse reborn.

The ugly: Flyer orange!

Like to thank the Pens for trying to ruin my anniversary last night, at least we didn't go to the game and watch that mess.

BTW: who saw this NOT happening? I think the only way it could have been more obvious to happen is if the Flyers somehow just played back to back to back games and were out shot 14-0 in those games, while starting all rookies. That then would have been a more automatic Pens loss.

Geno's one of faves. That said, task for HCMJ is to have Geno play more disciplined game. Freelancing so long without repercussion in Bylsma's system that see this as major test for our coach.
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Need to add "the repercussion" with Geno. .
And put him back at C.

Loved the use of "[expletive]" carrying over from the quote to the column. That was rich. Haha great writing.

As for the content, yeah you're not wrong. But the pens will crack the code eventually.... right? I'm not panicking yet.

R-E-L-A-X. This team is not finished being constructed. I would guess that most guys are not 100% comfortable in this system. 1st pd was awesome to watch, those shots will go in at some point. Also DK, Disagree bout Letangs give away. Maata stabbed @puck putting 58 in a bad spot.

What happened to in- game adjustments???

Dejan, excellent article. I know its early, but they MUST exercise this demon. I live outside of Philly and even their fans cannot understand why this is such a bad matchup for us.

As far as Malkin is concerned, his constant tendancies for awful turnovers never fails him.

Johnston repeatedly questioned his team's "mindset". I think this was the polite Mike Johnston way of questioning their mental toughness. He didn't exactly call them soff but being mentally soff has gotten them to the golf course quicker than expected most springs.

When Pascal looks like he's skating in sand you know it's going to be a bad night.

Johnston is a terrific coach. Next time the 2 teams meet he'll have Pens prepared for the 1-1-3 trap.

Remember the season is about preparing for the playoffs.

Players making bad decisions is and will be addressed by MJ. He is smart enough to not hinder creativity but also knows bad decisions are simply that. If not curtailed, then the next step is putting them in the press box with Mario and making the owner splain it to them.

The Flyers have a putrid defense, and Emery is, to be frank, a journeyman thug.
It was mind-boggling that we could not dominate in their zone. Nobody wanted to go to the net. Awful performance.

I can't fathom how a well rested Penguins team can be so "lackluster" against their biggest rival after 3 days off. Its mind blowing.

Although this was an October 31st regular season game it was totally diappointing. Total lack of effort in the 2nd and 3rd periods. No puck support, stretch passes, although it was Despres turnover, look at the forwards on the play. Lined up like a civil war infantry w/no spprt

Canadian PM in his address to Parliament today specifically mentioned the Penguins tribute last night in thanking others for their support. It was definitely noticed.

I know not everyone here is into advanced stats but Craig Adams had 0% possession AND 100% starts in the offensive zone. I feel this has never happened in the history of hockey.

The Flyers own the Penguins.....period.

So much negativity. Pens are 5 games into an 82 game season with new players, new coaches, and a new system. Give credit where credit is due, Berube had the Flyers adjust after a bad first 10 minutes and they were solid the rest of the way. The Pens didn't help matters, but...

I do not think there was a lack of shots taken - but certainly shots taken on net. I do not know what the shots attempted stat was, but it sure looked like a bunch were getting blocked by traffic in front of the net before ever reaching Emery. Flyers clogged up shooting lanes

First time this season our 4th line did not get good forechecking, after that blitzkrieg of shots we put up in the middle of the 1st and the end, the Flyers had us with the puck on our end, struggling to come out of our own zone, i will add Johnston to the list of culprits too...

I'm sick of hearing guys say they played a decent game after a loss. Especially after a home loss to the Flyers. How bout getting pissed off? How bout 87? Just once I'd love to hear Sid rip himself and the team after a game like this. I'd like to see some anger.

October hockey is October hockey. Mike Johnston told us he'd accept losses early in the season in order to mold his team in the correct manner so that the Pens are dangerous in the playoffs. We need to be patient. A lot can change, but I like what I see so far.

It's October. This kind of loss was needed. It gives the coaching staff the opportunity to show "the core" that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. Start Greiss, bench Adams 4 the next home game vs the scum.

I am not down on this team. I think they are going the right direction and will be a major factor come playoffs. I just want to see more passion out of the leaders. Not saying it's not there, but I want to see and hear it.

It seems to me (historically and last night) that Letang ESPECIALLY gets taken off of his game against the Flyers. It is as if he affects that cool, calm professional demeanor, and then...something happens, and he is out of position, or giving an extra extracurricular elbow...

I'm away in North Carolina, so only have seen 1 Pens game before last night on Versus!
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Sure am glad Pens changed coaches. Big difference!
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Crosby & Malkin skated Figure 8's while scoring 0 points. No one cleared the crease, leaving Flower hanging out to dry on deflections.

I risk being shunned by my daughter, but Crosby just isnt the same player since injury. Beyond all his skill, he used to have a little edge to him. That edge is gone. I hope he can find it.

Despite the Consol losing span, the Flyers have done this over the life of the Pens franchise. Recall the Spectrum 42-game stread (0-39-3) from 1974 to 1989. Hundreds of players and many coaches in the span since then. It never changes. Except now it's at the Pittsburgh Barn.

So,who wants to attack Bylsma's inability to "Make adjustments" when the neutral zone is clogged?

Maybe it ain't the coach. Maybe it's the players who feel each pass is graded on degree of difficulty or style, and that shots are unnecessary when a sweet pass is available.

You don't seem to understand that he's a defensive forward. His main purpose is to kill pps and stop the other top line.

I don't like the style of defense we play either 5v5 or on the PK. Its basically a box daring other team to shot from deep. Fleury always has had trouble with those shots. Need to get more pressure to force team into making mistakes.

You sir, are as clueless as it gets on anything not penguins. Couturier under performing career? Lol. Tell that to his 9th place finish in the selke vote last season. He's a big, elite defensive center now, who's 4 years from his prime. Its called development. what will he b the?

Apparently you have not watched any other hockey then the cry baby and the rest of his team. Sean Couturier has been a shut down center in league for a couple years now!! bitter comments about a guy that shuts the pens down on a conistant basis. Give credit where credit is due!