O Fleury, where art thou? Rangers 4, Pens 0.

Well at least the game wasn't a complete disaster. The Penguins did successfully prove that they are perhaps the most inconsistent team in the NHL. Other than that, pure misery.

I know the title looks like it's putting the blame on Sabu, which is partially unfair because the Pens only had 5 shots through 2 periods. But quite honestly, when you play hockey and you see a goal go in the net without your goaltender having any clue where the puck is (See Gomez, Scott goal 1) it can really suck the life right out of you. Couple that with the Straka goal where Sabu was sliding into the corner. Even if Straka didn't tip it he doesn't have a chance because he wasn't even defending the goal. Add those two real strong plays he made on pucks in his crease and you have a 4 goal deficit in addition to a devastated team.

WOW.

Ray Shero should have found an established NHL goalie to back up Fleury. F Michel Therien and his outlandish statements about Sabu being a number 1 goalie in the past. He's a career minor leaguer and it's really showing. God forbid Ty Conklin have to play on this stretch. The Pens better start bringing it every night or the playoffs will be the farthest thing from their minds come April.

Maybe that flu bug is really affecting more players than the Pens let on. Either way, the effort tonight was pathetic. Crosby missed another clear breakaway and the power play looked horrendous. Whitney had two clear cut chances to one time shots on goal, but he's left handed so he bushed it. Where's Letang? Oh yeah, sitting on the bench wondering how he can be a 20 year old rookie who's playing the most physical and inspired hockey on a team full of young guns and veteran talent. Wake up, MT.

Hockey is a sport that requires chemistry and having a feel for your linemates. That being said, Jay Caufield pointed out that Sidney Crosby is the best player in the league and hasn't had a consistent set of linemates in 3 years. This goes from the GM all the way to the coach. Kennedy gets a shot for about 2 and a half periods then gets taken off the line. And dressing 11 forwards tonight was useless. Adam Hall sucks. Rutuu doesn't get to play and Laraque is largely useless unless he has to fight or hold the puck behind the other team's net for 2 minutes straight.

Put someone in front of the net on the powerplay who's willing to take a hit and pay the price to tap home a rebound. Figure out how the lines are going to set up and establish them and stick to them. Use Malkin and Crosby as much as possible. No one else contributes so why continue to play them the same amount of time as our 2 stars. My take on the lines when everyone is healthy.

Malone-Crosby-Kennedy
Talbot-Malkin-Sykora
Roberts-Staal-Armstrong
Rutuu-Talbot-Hall/Laraque/7th D

Gonchar-Eaton
Whitney-Orpik
Sydor/Scuderi/Letang.

FLEURY
Backup-Crosby
Wheeling goalies:Sabu, Conklin

See you in Beantown. Hopefully the Pens show up as well.