from Rob Rossi of The Athletic,
The Pittsburgh Penguins were officially eliminated from postseason contention Wednesday when the Islanders clinched the Eastern Conference’s final wild-card berth with a 4-2 win over Montreal. Here’s what you need to know:
- The Penguins’ streak of 16 consecutive postseasons (2007-22) was the longest of the NHL’s salary-cap era and the longest in any of North America’s four biggest sports leagues.
- Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang — known in Pittsburgh as The Big Three — had never missed the playoffs since becoming teammates in 2006-07.
- The Penguins are 9-10-1 since GM Ron Hextall’s moves in the week leading up to the NHL trade deadline (March 4).
- The Penguins controlled their playoff destiny before losing 5-2 at home to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
What went wrong
Actually, it’s more a case of nothing going right for these Penguins.
continued ($)
For some reason I cant stop smiling.
So its not just my sore knees that have given way to Father Time, Ovi and Sid are both out with prospects for returning to the top looking bleak. Nothing lasts forever.
They were a pretty arrogant organization for a lot of those prime Crosby years, Ill say that.
And 2009? Fuck off, Pens.
Big fix in 2009. Still disgusted over it.
Absolutely.
via GIPHY
When will you Wings fans get over your disdain that stems from 14+ years ago? I am always amazed at the petty comments by Wings fans any time the Pens are mentioned on this site. 2009 was fixed?! Absurdity. Grow up and take off your tinfoil hats. The Pens forgot about the Wings years ago when they left them in the dust, and now things are turning, and the Wings will be back on top soon. The cycle of NHL teams. Sure, Bettman wanted the leagues marquee player to do well, as any league commissioner would, but its ridiculous to think anything was actually pushed in their favor for it. It seems like any time something went the Pens way, that was the excuse, but when it didntcrickets.
The Penguins were gifted Sidney Crosby on a silver platter. That was the start of it. There's a great Athletic article that goes thru each team and says why the league is biased against each team - until it gets to the end, and it shows how much the league has bent over backwards for the Pens since Gary took over.
FTP
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For the LOVE OF GOD - of course the league bends over backward for the Pens. To the Pens fan that says "name one" - how about the 2011 "Friday Night Fights" game - which this Wikipedia entry will detail, and cite my point. So when Pittsburgh's Eric Godard left the bench to join a fight - the league did NOT suspend Pens coach Dan Bylsma as the regulations stated they must.
Pittsburgh PenguinsNew York Islanders brawl - Wikipedia
Battered Penguins in minor bus accident in NYC (nhl.com)
The game was on a Friday and the league suspended Godard, Trevor Gillies and Matt Martin (and rightfully so for all players) on a MONDAY was when they made the announcement - and you ask - how did I know the "fix" was in - well -I was locked onto the NHL Network TV channel awaiting the suspension to the Islanders and the fines and the TV Network was in its' glory... "OOOH - look at the Penguins skating in Central Park....Aren't they adorable" and the "poor Penguins" as if they had no role in what went down the night before on Long Island....I provide a link to the story about Central Park..which was written by the Penguins Fan Club Blog (a.k.a. "NHL.com")
No fine for Pittsburgh and Dan Bylsma was not suspended. I rest my case. This is just one of many!
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