Column: Crush Crosby? Sure, but it’s missing point

That's an absolutely incredible header photo.

100% agree with every word of this one. Doesn't usually happen but well done, as usual.

The officiating was disgusting. I don't dismiss the many other flaws in the game plan, but the officiating was disgusting. If you're calling penalties 5-1 in a playoff game, I don't think you're watching the game.

Winnik was criminally bad. Move Downie up.

Pens played a stupid self defeating first period. After that it was pretty even.

I work Thursday nights so couldn't watch. But I already can see the old narratives popping up on social media. But I'm excited to watch Saturday.

And I really appreciate how you can be brutally honest on all sides. If they are bad, you say so. If there is a bright side, you express that as well. Most anymore only seen to prey on this team's misery (media and public a like). Thanks for that DK.

2015 New York Rangers=2001 Devils.

The real story is the fact the Penguins offense just doesn't work. They haven't been able to score for months. They get no O zone time. It's chip and chase. Sucks.

The Hayes high stick was on a follow through so technically the correct call. However the tackling and boarding missed were ridiculous as always.

Looked a lot better to me than what I was lead to believe this iteration of the team would produce. Can't wait to see what game 2 produces.

Good article DK! I said before the series that the Pend would lose in 5 but the way they played in the 2nd or 3rd it might be a deep series. Probably Rangers in 6-7. Johnston needs to jungle the lines get Winnik off the top line. Put Downie or Kunitz back up there. Hey even though he has 1 goal in about 25 games maybe he can give Sid a spark. Fleury played great he kept them in the game! I'm worried about Sid 1 goal in 18 playoff games just doesn't cut it. With all these non penalties called I think teams know exactly how to play and get him off his game. They put a guy on him the whole game and he can't adjust. I'm thinking Sids good playoff performances are behind us. What you see is what you get.

Bennett could be replaced with Kapanen right now and I have no reservation in saying Kapanen would be better (low bar, I know)

This team has too many passengers. Kunitz and Perron are stealing their paychecks. We basically have one legit top 6 wing these days. Tragic. On another note, props to Chorney. Guy has played well enough to stay in the lineup.

Best sport. Worst league.

Oh how quickly people forget that we've heard "we'll be fine" for 5 years now. Look, coming out of the gates looking like a newborn fawn is INEXCUSABLE. This team averages what, the second oldest average age in the league? Why on earth did they look totally overmatched to start the game? At that point, you're quickly down and it's a sizable hole you've ALLOWED. I don't care about "compete" and all those other lousy, empty platitudes- this team is still so "fragile" it's disgusting.

End rant.

Dejan, Let me help you out. They lost because their Mental Midget goalie let in two soft goals. It's not the saves you make its the ones you don't. 28 seconds into game one on a weak shot from the blue line, yup that sounds mike MAF. Don't get e started on Crosby. Captain No Show. The invisible Crosby makes Fleury look clutch.

I'd like to see Malkin up with Crosby and Hornqvist...just periodically. I mean, in the third and you're coming on as a team, and you're only down one goal...
I just think that putting Kunitz up with Crosby and Hornqvist right there is not the answer. Maybe you get both Malkin and Crosby going a bit if they can draw fire for each other, with Hornqvist bulling his way to the net.
I honestly thought, after that mess of penalties (at least two of which were pretty ticky tacky) in the first, that the Pens played well.
Here's hoping that Comeau scoring gets him going, so that the Pens actually have more than one winger who might score.

Maybe this is crazy, but I'd to see them give Downie a shot with Crosby. He's a good enough shot and net-front presence that either Crosby can focus on getting the puck to him or he can help make time-space for C to get shots off on his own. And maybe having him out on the same line with C will reduce some of the beatings C is taking. I also think that Downie is the type of the guy that, if told outright that it's his job to help Crosby score, he'll focus on that and maybe avoid losing his mind and taking stupid penalties.

I'm not blaming Sid in any way. It was, however, his worst effort of the past couple of weeks, IMO.

I won't make excuses for him either, though. Mario and Jagr absolutely DOMINATED in the playoffs, strapped the team on their back and clearly showed they were the best in the league regardless of linemates or match ups. You'd never watch an 80s/90s Pens playoff game and notice a guy like Randy Gilhen having more impact than Mario (like Lapierre tonight).

Fact of the matter is, Fleury was outstanding tonight but he let in a goal 28 seconds into the game and a shot from the blue line. Sid will be unable to do anything with the type of coverage he has on him the second he touches the puck. The defense plays "flag hockey" AKA no hitting, poke check hockey. I really enjoyed how quickly the bad habits of the defense were embraced by Cole who did a terrible Lidstrom impression and almost cost another goal. He didn't play that way in St. Louis. Hats off to LaPierre tonight a great game and was the one that truly deserved the assist on the lone goal.

This franchise is a shell of where it was even just 3-4 years ago. What a joke, go on take the money and run.

5 power plays - 1. That's the only difference in this game. Your best players don't play as much as they should, and a poorly timed penalty (I'm looking at you Steve Downie) kills momentum. Overall it was an incredibly even game. I also hate blaming officiating, but they blew that non-call on Scuderi horribly. Yes, a follow-through on a shot is absolutely a high-stick by letter of the law. They also allowed the Rags to completely mug us the entire 3rd. It's high time Rick Tocchet earned his paycheck and starts to control some of these guys who let their emotions get the best of them. One more minor penalty for stupid after the play nonsense and I'd sit Downie the rest of the series, regardless of how good he's capable of playing.

The Rangers were essentially tackling the Pens late in the game, further proof that the officiating is a joke.

#bestgameworstleague

All that being said, the Pens were without 3 of their top 4 Defensemen, had 2 guys from the AHL playing, faced that decided edge in PP time and STILL almost beat the Rangers. I, for one, thought they looked very good and anything like pushovers.

The best shot from the point came from Scuderi, the need help on the blue line for sure.

Crosby/Malkin/Hornquist together everyone line is for energy.

When you're on the fringe of TV ratings and ability to interest the general public to grow the sport I would think the last thing you'd want to do is make the sport unwatchable. Congratulations Gary! You have supplanted George Costanza as Lord of the Idiots!!

Great read, as always, DK! I was highly upset with the officiating as well. Simply cannot swallow the whistles in the third period.
Also, yes, Fleury played very well, but you just can't spot the other team a 1-0 lead before the echoes from the Star Spangled Banner die down. I don't think that there IS a good time to give up a "soft" goal...but 28 seconds into the game....

A couple observations from the game - outside of Martin, the team played with all 3rd or 4th pairing defensemen and played pretty well. They have to get some offense generated from their blue line as none of their defensemen can shoot the puck with any authority. Also, given the gravity of the situation, how can Perron and Downie be so stupid to take such ridiculous penalties at that point in the game.

if the Pens are going to win, they must load up a line that gives them a reasonable chance to score. Right now they have three viable centers and few options on the wings. Why not a line of 71-72-87? Why not let Sutter center Malkin? Johnston seems incapable of imagination.

As far as the penalties, the Pens earned each one. But there were two easy ones on the Rangers in the 3rd that the referees passed on. That is inexcusable when the PPs were 5-1 in the game

Why don't they use Crosby/Malkin on PK?

Pens lost the game by giving the refs the opportunity to call ticky tacky penalties. Glad to see that they settled down after that, although I wouldn't be upset if they benched Downey. MAF gave up a bad rebound on the first goal but really played stellar afterwards and I fully expect that he'll play that way going forward. NYR played very well but I think the Pens outplayed them in the second and third, which is encouraging for the rest of the series.

NHL officiating is maddening. It's ruining the sport.

My narrative: Rangers much better team.
Best chance to steal a game was always going to be Game 1, when Rangers play the role typically occupied by Pens, come out flat/rusty or try to put on a show for the home crowd.

I know it's been said already, but the Scuds non-call was a good one. There is no high sticking penalty for the follow-through of a shot or pass. That being said, the refs were still rough last night.

The only comment on officiating. They called a penalty with 12 seconds left in the Tampa Bay/Detroit game. Both teams were stunned and the infraction was rather mild.

I'm not much of an officiating basher, as I always subscribe to the 'everything comes out in the wash' line of thought....but this was horrendous--either call every ticky-tack play, or swallow em

Yea, flower played well. BUT, you can't give up that first goal in the first minute of the first game of the playoffs when you're a decided underdog. Set the tone for the game, IMHO. That's a routine save and steer to the corner for a mid level high school goalie. Of which I was

Following through on a shot is not a high stick penalty. However, the clutching and interference in the latter parts of the game by the Rangers (and no calls) should be reviewed by the league office.

What strikes me is how quickly this franchise has fallen down the rung of NHL elite teams. Now we are talking about how great it is to compete with teams like the Rangers, that somehow not getting blown out is a good game. It's what is great about sports. You never know and have to enjoy every second when times are good. I wonder how many die-hard Pens fans didn't really enjoy the cup in 2009 and instead were thinking about waiting to enjoy the 3rd or 4th cup in a row. Instead, that's all this team and era is going to get. I'm glad I loved every minute of it.

Well another narrative that was dispelled by the FOS (which replaces the FOM) who blamed the Pens and Sid's playoff failures on the Bottom 6 went by the wayside last night.

Look, I don't care if Sid's linemates aren't Lafleur and Bossy. He has to generate more scoring chances. It wouldn't be unheard of for Sid to not curl up and look for a trailer, and just tuck it and take the puck to the net and get a SOG.

Same with Malkin.

Look, it is what it is. Kunitz is done. Winnick is not top 6. Perron has stopped scoring. 71 and 87 need to get pucks to the net. Simple as that. They need to stop relying on wingers to get open and convert pretty passes. They need to shoot the damn puck! Get it on net, and have the puggers screen and crash.

It isn't that difficult. Also, memo to coach tri color hair, you can play 87 on the PK. It is not unheard of for an All Star C to play on the PK.

That is all.

That was their chance. This team is done. Blowout Saturday night. Lose series in 5.

Crosby would have needed to be Jerome Bettis to score in the third. He might as well just plow the puck through the goal like it is a goal line if the game is reduced to tackle football.

Same old same old....
Teams overload and smother Malkin and Crosby and dare their Ws to hurt them. When those Ws include the likes of Winnik and Kunitz , well there's not much that's gonna happen.
This has been true for years now.
Bottom line, your 3-4-5 most skilled Ws are now BB, Downie, Comeau (maybe, he has a good record v NYR)...and they are not playing where they should be.
Make the changes NOW.

first time commenting. watched Pens since 1968 (OMG). Crosby has nobody to play with. Other stars given a chance with players on their line. How many times Crosby wins puck behind the net,circles,players hanging all over him, looking for anyone to pass to infront of net, in the slot, etc., no one there. Finally passes (quite a few times actually) in front of net, nothing, no one to put puck in net. Other forwards on his line constantly losing the puck in offensive zone. Pathetic. Other teams swarm, surround, whatever Crosby and there is no other threat on the ice. Crosby comes behind his own goalie to win pucks. Well that is great, one of the top players in hockey giving all that effort on defense. I think most other of the few elite are waiting out by the blue line for the puck. No talent on the line with him Same old story. Everybody, including Crosby should participate in the blame for this hockey team. But for insatnce first goal, Lovejoy did little to contest Nash's shot, no one picks up Brassard coming down the middle by himself. Many areas for blame. Anything can happen in playoffs but not too much optimism for this Stanley Cup run Have a great day

As one who is typically angry with our boys when they play poorly and HATES for them to lose, I am not even slightly upset about last night's loss. Once they got their legs under them, they played well. Well enough to let the Rangers & their fans know that this is NOT going to be an easy series for them and I think that's HUGE! For a team that was feeling and looking fragile just a week ago, the confidence they likely have gained from their play last night can't be understated.
As for the "Officials" last night, there isn't much more to be said. The lopsided numbers speak for themselves as do Joannette's & Hebert's historical numbers during Pens' games - the Pens are 3-6 over the last 2 seasons when Hebert's on the ice, 4-9 when Joannette is (thanks @_JoshTaylor_) for those stats). Fortunately, we're not the only hockey fans that are having issues with the inconsistency of the refs this season. I follow fans of lots of other teams & they're griping, too, so it's not just Yinzering. They're horrible, inconsistent, and play favorites ALL the time. Garbage Gary & his Band of Merry Morons have sunk to an all-time low this year and I'm not even sure it'll stop there. DK, you've coined one of the best phrases & hashtags, IMO, with "BEST sport, WORST league"!!!
To the Fleury haters: Yinz can kindly #STFD & #STFU. Flower was fantastic last night & if you don't know that, you either weren't paying attention or you don't know a damn thing about hockey.
Bring on Game 2 & Let's Go Pens!!!

The one big stat that no one can refute is Crosby having 1 goal in the last 19 playoff games. NO EXCUSES for that putrid stat. You make the Big Money you have to produce and that means making your team better when the games mean the most. This guy just disappears and thats one of the main reasons why we are so bad in the playoffs.

Half the D belongs in the AHL.
And I don't mean the kids. Chorney-Dumo handled it fine.
When Hoff an Poo come back, Lovejoy and Scuderi need to be in the press box.
But we all know THAT won't happen because #experience, or something.

Twice in the final week of the season, in HUGE games, the Pens effectively lost the game because of their PP (Ottawa shorty turned the tide and NYI shorty buried us early). I don't see how after watching this team all year people can believe that getting more PPs will turn the tide for us.

I found it totally amusing and appropriate that the Dan Bylsma-less Penguins gave up a stretch-pass goal 28 seconds into the 2015 Playoffs.

Whose man was it that scored on that opening rebound? Crosby, you say?

At least the new "puck-possession" offensive system functioned much better last night than Dan Bylsma's playoff offensive system did. You say what?

And Rick Tocchet totally has the Power Play humming and Steve Downie under control (except for that stupid, consistently in-character cross-checking the Ranger guy in the neck so harshly that it knocked his helmet off WHILE HE WAS ALREADY LAYING ON THE ICE little incident.)

And . . . . it was good to see General Manager Jim Rutherford's acquisitions at forward function so well meshing with world-talents Crosby and Malkin to make the Pens a complete team.

Finally the playoff offense Pens have lacked the last 2 years.

Hornqvist can't muck and grind if Sidney doesn't shoot!

I'd say it looks like Penguins in 6.

I thought Johnston coached well throughout the game and nothing glared out at me. The 3 things that glared out at me was 1) Fluery's first 2 goals against were atrocious, and he was the best player on the ice for the remaining 50 minutes. Unfortunately the devil's in the details, and the first goal was routine enough it should have directed to the glass, and he was never close to square on the 2nd shot from 2 feet inside the blue line. That being said, he was great throughout the game and gives the Pens hope. 2) Kunitz is done, and Bennett should follow. They provided nothing. Cant carry the puck through the neutral zone or establish anything in the offensive zone, not physical enough, and cant catch a pass. Awful to watch them bring down their linemates. 3) This was the best game the Pens have played in a long time. They brought some light into the dismal past month. If 2 guys can come up from WBS to help replace Kunitz and Bennett, and provide a spark, I think the Pens have a chance to make things interesting.

The no call on scuderi was a clear example of "managing the game" by the officials. There is no way they missed the call. Even if none of them saw the stick actually come in contact with his face. it was completely obvious what happened, if not from his head snapping back then from the blood all over the ice. It is the most automatic of calls next to the puck over the glass call. But the refs knew that a double minor at that point in the game would influence the outcome for sure and "let them play." In the end the league gets what it wants - a one goal game.

Officiating was a joke! I heard on the radio this morning that the Pens are 0-19-5 when trailing after two periods this year. We better come out flying in game two.

We fans must face the music, which has been playing for nearly one half of this year, if not longer. The Penguins team is not elite any longer. While they have regressed, our expectations have not done the same which will typically end with frustration.

There are so many issues with this team, even obvious to someone like me who is a fan dating back to early 70's, there is not a panacea or a quick fix. The play of 87 is unacceptable and I will not give him a pass on this fact. His scoring in playoffs is unacceptable and I'm certain he believes this too.

The amount of times the Penguins iced the puck was ridiculous. This includes, by the way, with under one minute in the game when they had pulled the goalie. Dump and chase was seemingly their preferred manner to get into the offensive zone, again, even with a man advantage.

I've said this previously referencing Mr. Kovacevic's use of "garage league" and the comments on the Commissioner. Get over it. He has been at the helm 22 years and one would think those who he is accountable to, the team owners, would know better than you, or me, whether or not he is derelict of his duties to the point of him "ruining" the game, as some people have said. Every Commissioner has had the same claims, whether it was Goodell, Stern (now Silver), or Selig. Same claims, different day.

Reads like a list of excuses.

As always, a pretty perfect assessment of how things went down last night.

Word is that Rags getting 90-95% of coverage by NY media. Be quite sure NHL is loving it.

Bottom line is will need to beat Rags, refs and Bettman to capture this series. A tall order.

You're Right again DK! There is no room on the ice for 87 & 71. Put them together and maybe the ice can open up a bit. Try 17, try 39 again? And by the way why not double shift 87 with some other lines just to get him on the ice. Why make it easy for the Rangers to know when to load up?

I would not be shocked to see the Pens get blown out in Game 2.

SUBSCRIBER MEETUP in New York: 3 p.m. today (Friday) at Starbucks on corner of W. 15th and 9th. Java on me, as always.

DK, the high stick on Scuderi was correctly NOT called a penalty. According to the rules (60.1), it is not a penalty if the high stick occurs on the follow through of a shot, which is definitely what happened in this case.

http://www.nhlofficials.com/es3554/cat127/rule-situation-of-the-week-series-flying-sticks-allowed

Agree Jimbo

At 19:10 of the 3rd when the Pens called time out, did anyone notice the difference between the two benches?

NY: players are huddled together, Ulfie has a dry erase board, he's drawing, barking at his players. Coaching. Communicating.

Pens: players loosely gathered at the bench. No one talking. No dry erase boards. Coaches not even addressing the players. No diagraming of a play. No direction or coaching. MJ staring off into space.

Take from this what you will but I find it very telling.

Wait is it missing the point to crush the so-called Best Player in the League and Team Captain for deliberately going offsides when he didn't get a pass from Scuderi in the 2nd period? I may know nothing about this sport, but that doesn't sound like a championship attitude.

Casual hockey fan comments:

Perron has been a colossal disappointment after some early success...I admit I don't know hockey well, but I felt the Winnik trade was an overpay, and to me it looks worse if they flame out in 4-5 games...i have always been a MAF critic, but they wouldn't even be there now without him...I am mixed on HCMJ. With the injuries and Winnik/cap debacle, aging vets I feel he has been dealt a rough hand. But if you make significant changes to the roster, a new coach makes sense particularly if their is a change in scheme and tatics as well.

After the first I thought they matched the Rangers quite well.

To be fair, the officials also missed/blew a rather obvious hooking call on Downie, in case there's thought of a conspiracy (not from DK, just saying that this is more ineptitude than malice).

Also I loved how DK was proven right by Lundquist's....kvetching about interference after some Twitter nonsense yesterday.

Regarding the intentional offsides by Sid, he may just be frustrated by playing with so many guys with such little offensive skill or intuition. Jabronies, I believe Madden calls them.

look at lapierres face after crosby goes back to the bench

My only question is why didn't Sid shot when he got the puck in the slot on the power play? That blind pass to no one killed their lone PP.

watching Lappy and sutter's expressions on the bench says more to me.

I saw it as Scuderi not seeing Crosby until last second.

The petulance w/ some of the players on this team becomes pretty obvious after watching for awhile. #InmatesAsylum

Great article. But your support of Perron is completely unjustified. He is weak on the puck, doesn't back check, and is all around a weak hockey player. About all he did well is a keep in at the blue line on the power play. Swapping a first round pick for him is absolutely a steal for Edmonton.

no great excuses..and there can only be two rational ones..

a) he wanted to the puck and didnt get it
b) (im reaching with this one)...they were a little extended, and maybe he used the whistle to get off the ice

The officiating had zero to do with this. The clowns called things the way they always do. In other words, unless you murder someone in the third, you won't be called. I thought all the calls on the Pens were legit. Maybe they could have evened up the Comeau one, but that's about it.

The fact is, in terms of your narratives, Crosby WAS invisible all night. That narrative can be fully supported. At least the injured Malkin played a great third period. But 87 did absolutely nothing noticeable, unless you count helping the Rangers score their first goal. They aren't paying that guy $12 million to look good in the regular season. They are paying him to produce when it counts. he has proven the past couple seasons that he incapable of doing so. So why exactly ARE they paying him? Oh yeah, to sell tickets. Good luck with that after this disaster of a season.--Mike

It's one thing to be mad about not getting the pass but to go offsides on purpose is just plain stupid. I saw it live and was astonished. Pens won't win series if Lapierre continues to be best C on ice for them.

Looks like Crosby was expecting a dump and a line change after Scuderi didn't attempt the pass. Happens all the time by a lot of players. Two players on two separate pages. The narrators will read into it whatever they want.

Saw the "intentional" offsides last night live and took it exactly as it was.Sid was ticked off he didn't get the pass and just gave up on the play. Don't remember how late in the shift it was he could have figured that they were gassed and couldn't risk going back up the ice with a D man trapped.
Would love to hear what he has to say about it but I think any answer other than "I was frustrated I didn't get the puck when I felt I was open" (he wasn't really) would probably be less than truthful in my opinion.

In terms of deliberate offsides by Crosby, he clearly has a high level of frustration, not only with the last third of the season but probably with his ineffectiveness in the last few playoff series.

People question Crosby's leadership, and I've never been one to do so because leaderships comes in many forms. However, Crosby's decision to deliberately go offsides is not the behavior of a leader.

As for the Crosby play, I almost have to laugh. I don't know about you guys, but I definitely want the puck on Scud's stick in the neautral zone down 2-0 in a playoff game! Haha.

Certainly not a good decision by the captain, but he was coming with a lot of speed, and especially after hardly playing in the first period, I'm sure he was frustrated. With as much trouble as this team has had on the breakouts, it's foolish not to get the puck on Sid's stick. Honestly, this is a little comical.

Just looks like he thought scuds was gonna dump then a line change? Certainly merits a question dk but idk I feel like these things happen a lot don't really see the need for q huge uproar for it to be honest

It's time we all face the fact that Johnston might not be cut out to be the head coach of an NHL team. You have to wonder why after all of these years he's just now getting his shot. I think he is a brilliant hockey mind and would be well suited to be the A but head? No, I'm sorry.

The D is what has let this team down since the early part of the season, yes injuries have played a major role in that but they are not the sole reason this team has collapsed. They picked a horrible time to stop scoring goals and now are their own worst enemy when it comes to the O zone. Teams figured out that beside Crosby, Malkin and Hornqvist there weren't any threats to concern themselves with. So just as Vigneault did their goal becomes to shut down those 3 and poof the Penguin offensive magic of October and November is gone.

Rutherford did a wonderful job at the start of his tenure but I think he went a little too trade happy (I for one agree with getting rid of Despres) I had thought at first this was a plan to fix Sheros god awful mistakes of his run as GM but it's apparent that it's coming from elsewhere. Possibly Mario pulling the strings on some of these moves? I dunno, only a guess.

The honest truth is here that this hasn't been a good team and they were lucky to be able to back into the playoffs in a weak conference (and luckily as well due to no draft picks this year). Enjoy the run as the ship has proverbially sailed on this team and I don't see it enjoying full sails any time soon.

Sutter is just plain worthless and honestly should be shipped out of town on the first thing moving. I will never for the life of me understand that contract.

If it wasn't for Fleurys stellar performance between the pipes...it easily could have gotten outta hand. Downie is a undisciplined train wreck. He's gotta know that the refs are watching his every move he makes so why give them a reason? At some point there has to be a choice made between Crosby and Malkin. This team CAN'T win another cup with both if them on the payroll. That might make some in PensNation mad (including the honorable DK....my apologies) but with the cap the way it is, a hard dose of reality my just sting a little.

RE Sid offsides: looks like a line change to me given that Scuds' role is likely just to dump the puck, Downie is out on the ice playing F1, and Crosby's reaction at the bench doesn't appear to give away any strong emotion. To not be aware of the blue line is unlike Crosby, but this seems like a non-issue.

Crosby's answer: Thought Scuds was dumping the puck for a line change, miscommunication.

Real answer: Sid was pissed that Scuds didn't get him the puck when he was coming with speed

On the Crosby offsides, live I thought he expected dump in and that's why he's way ahead of the play. Scuds normally reachs the red line and fire it in so that's how I read the play last night.

I'm a satisfied customer. the effort was there...

The Crosby offside is all in Scuds. He had Crosby open and looking for the pass and just ignored him because, you know, Scuds is a one man offensive machine that should be carrying the puck all the way into the zone instead of passing or dumping it.

DK, I very much agree with Winnick and Kunitz not belonging on the wing with Crosby. My question would be, who do you put there?

Regarding Crosby intentionally going offsides, not condoning that action by him. However, can't blame him for being frustrated. I remember this play happening and I was yelling at the TV because Scuderi didn't make that pass. Crosby is coming through the neutral zone with speed and if he gets that pass, he's off to the races! How do you decide to not make that pass and instead carry it up the ice slowly???

On offsides play, it looked like Sid thought Scuderi was going to gain the red line and shoot the puck into the Rangers zone....

Sid thought Scuderi was going to dump it in.

I'm surprised Scuderi's shock collar didn't zap him when he actually crossed the opposing blue line with the puck.

Anyway, you're not going anywhere with Scuderi and Lovejoy in the top 4. Scuds was out there in every offensive situation towards the end and it blew my mind.

On Sid's offsides, it looked like pure frustration. He may have thought Scuds was going to dump it, but more likely was expecting that pass. He's probably annoyed only playing with one good winger. Kunitz needs to go and Winnick has no business on the top line.

Scuderi has no business carrying the puck at that point. The play was to Sid and he was expecting it. It never came and he was offside. Scuds unfortunately has no ability to jump on any rush. Sid and Gino have to be frustrated.

They played better, and of course, well enough to just lose by one. I may be alone on this one, but I don't wish for any power plays. They're more likely to give up a shortie than score. Their PP is a momentum builder for the other team.

The interference call in the first period was hilarious. That call hasn't been made in the regular season in 2 years.

Another reason why NHL refs should be replaced by chimps.

As for Sid not scoring in the playoffs....that ship has sailed. It isn't worth the complaints.

Love the "I'm not blaming Sid but" - But the fact is Sid the Skid hasn't shown up for the playoffs in a long time. Name me another superstar who disappears for long stretches including whole series. Moving Malkin up to the top line won't change anything, how about giving Malkin Horq. as his winger

If Sid going offside like that was not just an unfortunate mistake———If he intentionally did that with malice———he has no class!!

I would not accept that even from petulant Malkin!

What happens when you combine NHL hall of famers on same line? FRancis-Lemieux-Jagr had a pretty good season in 1996 and made it to the conference finals.. Except selfish Sid can't work it out with Malkin on PP, so I would like to see it but not sure it would help.

Weird how one of my comments in response to a fellow poster appears to be missing.

great read.can we please just go bennet sid hornquist kunitz malkin perron let the 3 an 4 lines be of the men we brought here to play them?its a whole new season right?then lets act like it.

Crosby rarely shoots now days. He always looks to pass the puck no matter how stupid the pass is. I don't know what his problem is but I'm tired of it.

Take Game 2 and mood will change.

People are blaming Sid for being frustrated. Playing with guys like scuderi would frustrate any superstar stop blaming sid and start blaming management for keeping so many bums around this team. Call me when the pens have a formidable bottom 6 and a solid d-corp. anyone would be frustrated playing with guys that wouldn't even make an ahl roster nvm an NHL roster. I'm glad sid did what he did should open managements eyes about the good ole vet scuderi he simply sucks and lovejoy not far off either

Sid has 1 goal in his last 19 playoff games. No one is allowed to criticize him. Everyone makes so many excuses for him. "Well, he hasn't been healthy in some post seasons." "His line mates aren't that good" etc... The obligatory "best player in the planet" should stop. Most of the league doesn't buy that anymore. 1 goal in 19 games would suck for Craig Adams