Penguins Still Have Stronghold On Series

How Long Will Tomas Vokoun Hold The Starting Job
In Goal for the Pens?

Penguins Nation (as it seems every sports team across the country is joining the Raiders and Steelers as the first teams to consider their fans the "Nation") has voiced their concerns.  They have made it very clear that they were NOT happy with the way game 3 went down in Ottawa on Sunday night.  How could anyone be okay with that?  It was an absolute mess of a situation that should never have happened.  Nonetheless, it did, and some Pens fans are freaking out.  Talk of Crosby not being able to score in the 3rd period, Marc Andre Fleury being inserted back into the starting lineup, Evgeni Malkin's sloppy play, and even Bylsma's lack of leadership and coaching have all been hot button topics on Twitter, radio, and other social media networks.  Can someone please say "knee jerk reaction"?

First, Sidney Crosby is probably one of the most consistent players I've ever watched play the game (and I watched Gretzky, Yzerman, Lemieux, Jagr, Messier...you get the picture).  Sid brings his game every night.  It might not relate to the score sheet, but you know what you are going to get with #87.  Anyone to say that he lacks skill or doesn't perform at ANY jucture of the game is ludicrous.  Second, Dan Bylsma has improved as a coach dramatically this season.  Sure, he has an all-star lineup...who wouldn't be better than when they weren't coaching players that would be #1s on ANY NHL team.  He seems to finally be learning the matchup within the game and matching lines with the opponent that will give the Penguins the best chance to win.  Third, Evgeni Malkin is a frustrating player.  He takes risks.  Sometimes those risk deliver rewards, and sometimes it leaves teammates hanging out to dry.  Nonetheless, Malkin's play (although inconsistent) is one that the Penguins need for a deep playoff run.  You have to take the good with the bad with Geno, and sometimes I think people forget that.  Lastly, the Tomas Vokoun and Marc Andre Fleury debate is one that actually does entertain some thought amongst Pens fans.  I, for one, believe that Vokoun should stay in the lineup until he proves he can't win games, but at the same time you realize that your franchise goaltender is riding the pine.  I think that there is a legitimate argument to put MAF in the game if the score is something like 4-0 to give him some reps, but the other side to that coin is that its the playoffs and you can ask the Toronto Maple Leafs if any lead is safe in the NHL Playoffs.

With all that said, I still feel that the Penguins have a death grip on this series, even with just a one game lead over the Senators.  Look at it this way, the Penguins have been the better team in EVERY GAME this series...they just played a bad minute that lead to the double OT loss.  If I'm Dan Bylsma my message to the team is this: "We have outplayed them, outhit them, and out hustled them in EVERY GAME.  All we have to do is keep doing what we are doing and finish our chances and we will be marching on to the Eastern Conference Finals.  They are lucky to have won a game...lets prove that they won't win another one!"  Sure you might see some line changes, some personnel decisions, and some different special teams thrown out against the Senators tonight, but the Penguins game doesn't need to change all that much for them to see success...they've seen it all series.  Time for the players to just put the pieces of the puzzle together to see the finished product, and that product is a Senators loss that all but eliminates them from the postseason as they head back to the Steel City.  Lets Go Pens!!