The Pens season has finally come to a close after a 1-0 loss in game 4 to the Boston Bruins. Yes. A 4 game sweep by the Boston Bruins. We know it's hard to believe that this actually happened to a team with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, James Neal, Chris Kunitz, Jarome Iginla, Kris Letang and Marc Andre Fleury. But it did. What also happened was the Pens scored all of 2 goals this series. Tuuka Rask was on bath salts every game and was stopping everything. But that wasn't the reason only reason the Pens lost this series. There were many components that led to the Pens loss. You probably won't like what is listed here at points but we don't fucking care.
First off the lack of scoring. Sidney Crosby. 1 point. Evgeni Malkin. 0 points. James Neal. 0 points. Chirs Kunitz. 1 point. Kris Letang 0 points. Jarome Iginla 0 points. These are the guys you are expecting to get production from and none of them did a damn thing all series. When you are paying this guys between 3 and 9 millions dollars they need to produce. That's what they get paid for. The Pens scored 2 goals this series. 2. From Brandon Sutter and Chris Kunitz. A couple Bruins players had 2 goals BY THEMSELVES. Yes at times Tuuka Rask was playing like Patrick Roy but these guy failed to scored and when they were taking shots they were either blocked in front or right into the giant B on Rask's jersey. The Pens made Tuuka Rask look like the best goalie in history this series. Also 0-15 on the power play is an absolute joke. The B's power play came into this series clicking at only 81%. This series they killed off each and every power play the Pens had. With the talent this team had there is no reason to go 0 for fucking 15.
Secondly, timely goaltending. We are in NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM blaming this loss on Tomas Vokoun. He played like his balls were on the line especially in games 3 and 4. But Tuuka Rask made the saves when he needed to. Other than game 3 the Pens goaltending was spectacular. There isn't much you can do when your defense is playing with themselves instead of actually playing defense.
Third. Claude Julien > Dan Bylsma. Dan Bylsma got out coached in every facet of the game in this series. Claude Julien was pulling all the right strings this series. Dan Bylsma kept pulling the same one and it kept not working. Bylsma had a plan A and that was it. He didn't have a plan B and that is what killed the Pens in this series. He refused to adjust anything except make a few lineup moves that were head scratchers at best. We have been in Bylsma's corner all season but this series made Bylsma look like a rookie coach. He had his plan. Stuck to it. And when it didn't work refused to try something different. We have never seen a team as talented as the Pens so mismanaged ever. The use of Jarome Iginla was embarrassing. A future Hall of Famer who has scored over 500 goals in his career was so misused and forced to play an uncomfortable position was an absolute disgrace. He also saw little to no power play time. An absolute joke. He was also demoted to the 3rd line in games 3 and 4. Disgrace. The coaching decisions Bylsma made this series were laughable at best. His love affair with Deryk Engelland and Tyler Kennedy is also laughable. Why was Simon Despres never in the line up this series? Becasue he's not tough like Deryk Engelland? Is it because he wasn't ready? If it's option 2 then maybe he should have played some more this season. If it's option 1 or a combination of the 2 then that is an absolute joke. Instead of having the best lineup out there Bylsma played favorites. Deryk Engelland had no reason to be on the ice at all in the playoffs when there were better options sitting in the press box. With all that said Dan Bylsma SHOULD NOT be behind the Pens bench next season. He's been getting out coached in the playoffs since 2009. The Pens need a coach that will use the talent that this team has the right way. Not one that puts future Hall of Famers on the 3rd line. Fire Bylsma.
Like we said. You probably didn't like what we just said but we don't really care. The Pens got swept and those were the reasons why. If you say otherwise that's your opinion. This is ours. Fight us if you want. Call us bad fans. Whatever. We really don't care. This series was an embarrassment and this season should be considered a failure.
Talk to you guys whenever.
Go Pens
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