It’s been several days since Marc-Andre Fleury fell flat on his face while running onto the ice before Game 1. I thought it was a bad omen, but even the most superstitious fan wouldn’t have predicted the ineptitude that followed. After months of dominating play, the Penguins have been an absolute embarrassment so far in the Stanley Cup Final.
Ironically, Fleury is the least of the Penguins problems, though he’s been quite ordinary. No amount of saves will do unless the offense scores a goal, but Fleury must play better if the Pens are going to put up a fight. Fleury has allowed more soft goals in two games than he has in months.
Michel Therrien complained about obstruction and diving that went uncalled by the referees after Game 2. It was embarrassing, not because Therrien was “whining” as rival fans might suggest, but because it was the only response he had available.
After Game 1, the “we didn’t play our game” spiel worked. After showing no better two days later Therrien was left with no other discourse. What did you expect him to say? “We don’t belong here? We aren’t as good as the Red Wings? I think it’s over?”
Any educated sports fan can understand Therrien is attempting some “gamesmanship.” By lobbying in the press, maybe a ref will think twice and be more likely to call something. It’s why baseball managers get histrionic and take first base with them into the dugout and why football coaches stuff still photos from the press box into umpires shirts. Even still, it was depressing to see the team so soundly beaten that the only response the coach had was to deflect the pressure toward the officials.
[Ed. note: PLEASE, PLEASE mic up Therrien]
Is Chris Osgood diving? Yes, as just about every goalie does when they get run into. Ryan Malone entered the crease when he was called for goaltender interference. It was undisciplined, reckless, and asking for trouble -- especially in light of the Holmstrom interference call in Game 1. The most demoralizing part of the whole play was that even after flopping, Osgood stopped Gonchar’s slapshot from the point.
Sykora’s bump into Osgood in the waning minutes was another immature move born of frustration more common of Pennsylvania’s other hockey team. Osgood definitely embellished again but that only added to an already pathetic scene.
Did Roberts cheap shot Johan Franzen? I don’t know, maybe. Ryan Whitney definitely did. It’s smart for the Pens to go at an opponent’s known physical weakness, but do it in the normal flow of play and let the cheap shots come from the eastern Pennsylvania hockey team, please.
Sidney Crosby thinks the scoring chances have been pretty equal. Really? Other than one of the Wings tripping on octopus goo (and “Regular Season Jordan Staal” making an appearance by missing the net), how many clear chances have the Pens generated? I can only think of one (the Dupuis partial breakaway). Conversely, the Wings have had several odd man chances per period.
Evgeni Malkin says he’s tired. Okay -- then bench him. Unfortunately, the 0-2 hole cannot allow for him to be scratched, but maybe Malkin should stew on the bench for 20 minutes. He could get some rest and maybe inject a little emotion into his play. It’s not like he’s doing much out there anyway (generating only one shot in 120 minutes). Besides, what’s one more period without offense when you’ve got a nice streak of six in a row going?
This isn’t the team we’ve watched all season. It certainly isn’t the team I drove from Indianapolis to watch in what I thought would be a memorable week. So far it’s just been something I wish I could forget. I feel bad for the folks that went to Detroit. We never even got a good estimation of how many were in attendance because, other than one “Ruuutuuuuu” in the first game, there was nothing to cheer about.
I haven’t lost all faith and neither should you. That’s what being a fan is all about. But that doesn’t change my embarrassment as a Pens fan right now. I’m not going to make excuses for a team that’s being flat-out whooped. I’ll be in attendance to do my part for Games 3 and 4 -- wearing white, cheering, and cow bell ringing. There will be 17,000+ just like me and another couple thousand outside. I just hope the twenty guys in the black sweaters show up too.
