Have you even seen the performances BJ has turned in this year? They've been absolute dogshit.
If this were last year where MAF obviously didn't have his shit together and BJ basically saved the Pens the first 1.5 months, yeah I'd be all for Johnson taking over in goal last game or this game.

But you can't even describe his play as "mediocre" at this point and he missed nearly a month for some undisclosed medical reason. Johnson is FINISHED and won't be back next year I promise you that. Given the choices, the chances of MAF pulling a win out of his ass are more likely than BJ doing so even in his prime

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I'm sick of hearing 'bout the have and have-not's
Have some personal accountability
The biggest problem with the way that we are doing things is
The more we let you have, the less that I'll be keeping for me

Save the fighting for the Philly fans boys......one thing is for damn sure - after the season MAF had, I am shocked that he is given up nearly 20 goals in less than 3 games - shocked - I didnt expect this and neither did Danny.

First two losses weren't on Fleury...they were on an ABYSMAL defense. He actually played pretty well.

Now- the third game? Flower stunk right along with the rest of them.

But if the Pens play any type of defense in front of him the first two games, this series is entirely different.

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I know this, your ability to think concisely, your ability to make good judgments is much easier on Thursday night than during the heat of the game. -Bill Walsh

I would have given Thiessen a try over Johnson.

And that does make me wonder a bit- Fleury played 67 games this year. Was that too many?

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I know this, your ability to think concisely, your ability to make good judgments is much easier on Thursday night than during the heat of the game. -Bill Walsh

Danny probably also didn't expect his entire team, especially the D men, to start playing like a bunch of beer leaguers at a game of shinny.

I still can't comprehend it that we're seeing mistakes, especially with regard to turnovers, of this nature and frequency at the NHL level over the course of 3 playoff games from this team. It's mindboggling to me how this team has melted down on just about every level of play.

Sure, maybe it was. I still think MAF has given up some soft goals the first two games, but Voracek's game winner wasn't one of them. Still, go back and look at the first two games, there were some juicy rebounds that didn't help his chances in net.

The issue I have with dismissing the role of a backup goalie in the playoffs is that one great goaltending performance, by whoever it may be, can turn an entire series around. I don't know if Johnson or Theissen could have gotten it done, but we NEED a capable backup option in the playoffs if you want to go deep, at least to even sniff the finals. This performance by MAF case and point; if a goalie loses confidence in their ability in the middle of a playoff series, and that team doesn't have a backup plan in goal, they are FUCKED. In my opinion, you need goaltending to win playoff games, and if your main guy cannot mentally get it together, not having another option is like waving the white flag.

It's a shame really. Maybe Bylsma really has no confidence in the other guys, but if that's the case, we have done a piss poor job putting together a championship caliber team. Yeah, our defense blows, but you need an adequate backup. I think it to be a necessity.

Johnson seemed entirely capable last year and turned in some solid performances, some even thought we should move Fluery because of that. But outside of Martin I've not seen a pens player with such a significant drop in their play. It's like a completely different player in comparison, I even thought we might have trouble resigning him after this year. But have fun watching both bj and asham not play on Wednesday night because that'll be the last time you see them associated with the pens.

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I'm sick of hearing 'bout the have and have-not's
Have some personal accountability
The biggest problem with the way that we are doing things is
The more we let you have, the less that I'll be keeping for me

Martin Broduer was just pulled in the Devils - Panthers game. First time since 2003.

I just think sometimes goalies dont have it. If they are not mentally there, you try whatever you can, even starting 2nd and 3rd stringers, to try and change the momentum.

Hell, Broduer might be top 5 ALL TIME best goalies in the NHL, and even his coach knows sometimes these dudes just don't have it.

Oh well, bring on the off season. I'll be watching tomorrow though. Stay the course until the very end.

Go Pens.

Can we safely assume that James Neal is good to go tomorrow night?

I've been waiting impatiently to find out. My bet, with 2 different hearings, is that he'll get a game for the Giroux hit. Shanaban's gotta turn the tide of the negative press he's getting, and suspending a top end player will help do that.

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- Dman 29