3 Cups and 4 appearances: The It’s All Gravy Thread

[Pens x]

Brent Johnson fight

Acquiring Hossa

Firing Shero and Bylsma

 

[Gurglesons]

That one is bittersweet for me in the context of this thread.

Yes, it was a great win.

But management should have quietly met after that game and said "guys, we may win this thing. We have a lot of raw talent and character in that locker room. But: winning this way is not sustainable. We're going to have to retool this team - and ask Sully to make some systematic tweaks in the offseason - win-or-lose. Let's support our guys until this thing is over, but commit to making changes for next year."

Now the organizational retool is going to have to happen in June and July 2019 and there's a high chance it won't work. But if they don't try at all, this eulogizing thread is very appropriate.

Who cares though? We got two cups.

 

[ChaosAgent]

Who cares though? We got two cups.

I'm greedy. I'm thankful for the 3 Cups in 10 years, but it was clear after the 2017 playoffs that we needed a retool even if we won.

But staying on topic:

• The Sid behind the back deflection against the Flyers in 2008
• The Sid goal sliding on the ice from Recchi
• Geno's monster game where he scored the winner in OT in 2009. From Staal!

• Another: how hard the 2011 team competed without 87 & 71 down the stretch. Taking that 1st round series to 7 games was quite an achievement without our two best players.

 

[Gurglesons]

I'm greedy. I'm thankful for the 3 Cups in 10 years, but it was clear after the 2017 playoffs that we needed a retool even if we won.

But staying on topic:

• The Sid behind the back deflection against the Flyers in 2008
• The Sid goal sliding on the ice from Recchi
• Geno's monster game where he scored the winner in OT in 2009. From Staal!

• Another: how hard the 2011 team competed without 87 & 71 down the stretch. Taking that 1st round series to 7 games was quite an achievement without our two best players.

If we had Sid and Malkin in 2011 I feel like we could have made a run.

 

[ChaosAgent]

If we had Sid and Malkin in 2011 I feel like we could have made a run.

I think I read that if we got past TBL and their stupid 1-3-1 trap in the first round, Malkin was gearing up to come back in the 2nd round.

 

[Gurglesons]

I think I read that if we got past TBL and their stupid 1-3-1 trap in the first round, Malkin was gearing up to come back in the 2nd round.

He was just saying that. No chance with that injury he would be ready until the ECF.

Fleury killed us that year.

 

[Fatty McLardy]

one of my all time favorite moments in any sports, not just when it comes to Hockey. Ranks up there with Polamalu Interception of Flacco and Harrison pick 6 in the Super bowl.

 

[Turin]

I'm greedy. I'm thankful for the 3 Cups in 10 years, but it was clear after the 2017 playoffs that we needed a retool even if we won.

But staying on topic:

• The Sid behind the back deflection against the Flyers in 2008
• The Sid goal sliding on the ice from Recchi
• Geno's monster game where he scored the winner in OT in 2009. From Staal!

• Another: how hard the 2011 team competed without 87 & 71 down the stretch. Taking that 1st round series to 7 games was quite an achievement without our two best players.

In hindsight I’d say that team didn’t need to be retooled at all.

 

[Spoonman32]

March 4, 2009 - the day the pens claimed Craig Adams off waivers.........the rest is history

What's worse : the Bylsma/Shero support of Craig Adams over the years or JR's support of JJ?

 

[ChaosAgent]

In hindsight I’d say that team didn’t need to be retooled at all.

Well yeah, but retooled with a cohesive philosophy and good asset management. Potentially this is just a joke you're making that's going over my head.

During that summer, the only moves were losing Fleury - which everyone lost something good to VGK -, replacing Bonino with nothing, adding Hunwick and the Reaves trade. That's not much. And they didn't play well for most of the year, until getting hot before adding Brassard.

 

[ChaosAgent]

What's worse : the Bylsma/Shero support of Craig Adams over the years or JR's support of JJ?

JJ. Not close. Forwards playing 6 minutes a night can't hurt you the way defensemen playing 20 minutes a night can.

 

[SouthGeorge]

Reminds you of the Despres/Lovejoy reaction... so we are winning a cup this year?

 

[K Fleur]

I’m usually not a big fan of Doc, but his call on Bonino’s OT goal is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.

That goal had me jumping off the couch running around the house like a crazy person.

 

[madinsomniac]

This. Everything it is. Everything it stood for.

Biggest middle finger to the league and even bigger one to the god**** ****ing Flyers.



Who the **** slapshots a breakaway? A ****ing gangster *** mfer, that's who.

Favorite geno moment ever right there

 

[Ryder71]

We've been pretty fortunate over the last 35 years as it pertains to excellence. Yes there have been lean years, but they helped produce some of the best teams in the modern era. We were blessed to have five such teams (six if you count '93). We've arguably had the best player in the world for a 30 year period in succession. Looking at the big picture we're playing with house money.

 

[madinsomniac]

Reminds you of the Despres/Lovejoy reaction... so we are winning a cup this year?

No because they didn’t win that year and they didn’t fire the coach this year... next season fire sully in December no matter what the record, trade JJ... win cup... perfect formula to follow lol

 

[DanielPlainview]

 

[tom_servo]

I shed a tear when Hornqvist tucked one in super late in game 6. Like, they were really going to repeat. The improbability that it defied: 20 years since the last repeat, winning without Letang (or any star D), winning with a still-rookie goaltender, winning with Fleury, beating the Presidents' Caps twice...

2016 was mostly relief after losing game 5, but '17 stamped the team as remarkable.

 

[ncm7772]

How does this video look so old


Sid coming back after all the doubts he'd ever be the same player again

Staal's goal without a doubt the biggest in that SCF.

 

[Night Shift]

Beating Philly 8-0 on opening night 2006 at the igloo, starting an amazing and fun ride- now aiming for 13 straight years of playoff hockey.

 

[ncm7772]

Beating Philly 8-0 on opening night 2006 at the igloo, starting an amazing and fun ride- now aiming for 13 straight years of playoff hockey.

Even if they don't get there, it's been 12 years in a row. Closest is 6, I believe. Best team of the cap era.

 

[Spoonman32]

I shed a tear when Hornqvist tucked one in super late in game 6. Like, they were really going to repeat. The improbability that it defied: 20 years since the last repeat, winning without Letang (or any star D), winning with a still-rookie goaltender, winning with Fleury, beating the Presidents' Caps twice...

2016 was mostly relief after losing game 5, but '17 stamped the team as remarkable.

The most remarkable thing to me was how that group was able to win again by playing much more conservative hockey than in '16 (due to loss of Letang). Truly a special group. Incredibly grateful to witness that as a fan.

 

[ncm7772]

I think I read that if we got past TBL and their stupid 1-3-1 trap in the first round, Malkin was gearing up to come back in the 2nd round.

Gotta doubt the validity of that. Reconstructed ACLs don't heal in 3 months.

 

[Ozz]

Favorite geno moment ever right there

Got a guy on my team who is tall and lanky with a killer slapshot. I think it was last season, he got infracted upon without a call and ended up with a breakaway later in the shift. He just wound straight up and blasted it in like Geno. It was beautiful

 

[kladorf2005]

"Nice job stealing the puck from Seth Jones last night"