FanNation - The Republic of Sport

why wouldn't they? Crosby is definitely not 100% right now, and, not to beat a dead horse here, but the Flyers haven't been the league's cleanest team here. There's nobody on that squad looking for the Lady Byng. Plus, that Pitt/Phil rivalry is intense. Why risk hurting the kid? And with the Sens in freefall since the new year, it makes sense. I'd take an easy bet on a 5-game series, but would think real hard about taking the extra risk and betting on a sweep, the Sens have looked so bad. I don't think they necessarily "sandbagged" it, but I doubt they put everything into winning

They probably did throw the game. I dont know if its a smart move or not since they will probably lose to the Sens anyway.

There's a lesson here for the Maple Leafs--great teams even know the art of tanking. Terrible teams can't even do that right!

I agree GC, plus they could potencially meet in round two anyways. The only good thing about games like that is it quiets the "Pens are better w/o Crosby" crowd.

That was one of the grossest games I've ever had the mis-pleasure of watching. Sorry I shouldn't say "watching" because I turned the channel 5 minutes into the game.

Tank or no tank, I would have liked to see them play hard for the East title.

it sure looked like they sandbag that game. i can see resting crosby but they could have still tried to win the game!

This was one of the worst games that I have ever watched. No effort at all by the Penguins. After scoring 4 goals on the power play last week against the Flyers they could do no better than 20 shots on net for the game and that's with 8 power play chances. I have never seen so many short handed chances to score given up by the Pens. Now I can't blame the Pens for wanting to play the Sens, a team that just lost their captain for up to a month and also Fisher for a few weeks. The Sens are in a tail spin having gone from the top of the league to fighting for a playoff berth. The Flyers have been hot at home lately and have been playing good hockey, makes sense to play the Sens. As for the Flyers they will now have to take on one of the hottest teams since the trade deadline, the Caps were the Sens went from 1st to fighting for a spot the Caps went from 14th at one time to 94 pts one behind the Flyers.

oh - forgot to mention - why wouldn't they do it? Especially after seeing what the Leafs did to the Sens, costing them Alfie and Fisher...

I agree GC, plus they could potencially meet in round two anyways. The only good thing about games like that is it quiets the "Pens are better w/o Crosby" crowd.
DurkDiggler | 04/07/08, 08:33 AM

i want to kick those people in the face.

They definitely sandbaged it for the Sens...the Sens are a team just treading water, and the Pens want to take it to them after last years embarrassing playoff series with them! Plus, the Pens have a bad playoff and regular season history with the Flyers!

LOL steelcurtain.

No surprise here. Makes perfect sense. Sens have no business in the playoffs (and i picked them preseason to reach the finals LOL).

Why not tank it? Let Sid get his legs underneath him in an easier series. The Sens won't put up much of a fight, especially not with Alfie and Fisher out, and he'll score a ton on whoever the Sens decide to put in goal. It'll build his confidence (not that he really needs any) and get him more into game shape for round two vs. the Flyers if that happens. No need to risk getting the Kid hurt in the first round. It wasn't a tribute to the Flyers, it was a smart move.

The Pens are a bunch of punks and were scared to play the Flyers in the first round. Whatever though because they will get theirs soon enough.

watch the penguins lose anyways

Of course they tanked!
It would have been a huge mistake to take on Philly in the first round. Even if they won they would be a hurtin....
The Sens likely will be gone in 5 with injuries and everything else that ails that team...Its like a tune up series for the 2nd round for anyone that would have drawn them.
The Pens are over rated anyway in my view and I believe those areas will be exploited starting in the 2nd round. LEAGUE worst in faceoff wins! Questionable goaltending, 4-5-6- defencemen, Cindy....,coaching and inexperience.
Man the Playoffs are FUN!

its always flyers are dirty, waaa waaaa waa all pitt fans do is cry, they are scared to play the flyers in the first round it would be a very tough played series , stop crying about being dirty , its hockey!!!!!!!!!!! go watch soccer then, the playoffs are here

The Pens will cruise through the Eastern Conference. Heck, with a healthy Fleury and Crosby, they would have won the East by at least 10 points. Throw in Hossa, and it's on autopilot until the Stanley Cup. The Flyers managed all of one goal playing essentially against no team. They won't make it to Round 2.

So you guys are saying that the Pens would have thrown away home ice just so they can have an easier match up with the Sens. If you guys are right, I'm going to laugh when it's Pens and Habs in the Eastern final and the Habs winning in 7 at home. Go HABS!!!!!! Personally, when you got a shot at first, you take it. Matchups are NOT guaranteed, liek soemone said, they might have faced off in a later round. Home ice WOULD have been guaranteed had they won yeterday. Bad move if you ask me...oh ya GO HABS.

I am a caps fan and was really cheering for pittsburgh because i wanted to play Ottawa, but I'm sure the Pens do too. Ottawa is without their star and they've struggled recently..who wouldn't want to play them. It was a good move for the penguins to do what they did, even if it cost them the 1st spot.