Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma's seat is getting warmer, or at least it should be. The Penguins had another less-than stellar performance at home in a 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders Tuesday night. The Pens continued their sloppy play by turning the puck over and over again, leading to odd man breaks, breakaways, and great scoring opportunities for their opponent. The Pens had 11 giveaways, the Islanders had two. Unacceptable.
Las Vegas, the NHL Network, the average hockey fan all have the Pittsburgh Penguins as the favorite to win the Stanley Cup. I can't really disagree with that prediction. The Penguins have the two best overall players on the world in Sidney Crosby and reining MVP Evgeni Malkin. They have three 40 goal scorers (Crosby,Malkin, James Neal) on their team, a potential Norris trophy candidate in Kris Letang, and they have a lot of experience in the postseason.
However, the franchise netminder Marc-Andre Fleury is the one guy that can make those cup dreams fade away into the night. If Fleury plays badly the Pens will not win the cup. It's really as simple as that. Of course another devastating injury to one of their superstars would also hinder their chances but a goalie is the one guy who can make or break a team.
The two times Fleury helped get the Pens two the Cup Finals in his career he played great in the postseason. The first time, in which the Pens lost in six games to the Detroit Red Wings, Fleury was 14-6 with a 1.97 G.A.A., and a .933 save %. Those are Conn Smythe type numbers. The following year, when the Pens defeated the Red Wings and won the cup, Fleury played great in the final two games of the cup finals, allowing just two goals in the final two games combined, and made two ridiculous saves in game seven against the Red Wings and game seven against Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.
Both saves were great and very "clutch". Fleury was known as a big-game goaltender and he was ascended into stardom. Those saves are forever and Fleury will always have them but Fleury is still supposed to be in the prime of his career. Fleury was rewarded handsomely for his great play by a seven-year contract worht $35 million. The Penguins once again made him their franchise goaltender, after selecting him number one overall in the 2003 NHL draft.
That was the spring of 2009. It's now winter 2013 and Fleury's play against the Philadelphia Flyers last year was atrocious.
In six games, Fleury allowed 26 goals. In his last 13 starts in the playoffs Fleury is 5-8 in 13 starts, and has allowed 43 goals in those 13 starts. Against the Flyers it was as if Fleury was defending a soccer net. The Flyers couldn't do anything but score. Of course the defense let him out to dry at times but Fleury is the goalie and the goalie's job is to stop the puck.
Look at the last two teams that won the Stanley Cup. They did it was solid defense and most of all, great goaltending. That's how the Pens won the last two games in 2009 against the Red Wings. Sorry for the cliche but Fleury has to bring his "A game" in order for the Pens to even sniff a Stanley Cup no matter how potent their offense is. Anything over a 2.70 goals against average isn't going to cut it. I have faith in Fleury and I think he will respond to the pressure, he has before.
Fleury doesn't have to be Tim Thomas, Johnathan Quick, or Patrick Roy, he just needs to make big saves in key moments like he did before. He's in a funk. You're not always going to be clutch. Let's just hope this year that Fleury is.
Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesEveryone loves Peyton Manning. He's the golden boy of the NFL. The commercials, Saturday Night Live, his stats, all pleasing to the eye and ear. He's hard not to like. His regular season stats crush everyone else's. He has more awards than He's on pace to own or at least compete to own most of the all-time passing records in the NFL. He's a perennial Pro-Bowler and is often thought of as the greatest quarterback of his generation. Yet I feel like Peyton has been very underwhelming in the playoffs for his career.
Everyone loves Peyton Manning. He's the golden boy of the NFL. He is probably going to own all of the passing records, he has more awards than any other player ever, and he has a very funny personality. Some people would say he's the greatest quarterback in NFL history....Not me As great as Peyton has been in the regular season, he's been as mediocre in the playoffs. Of course Manning' fans will tell you that it's because of the defense, or the lack of running game, or that you shouldn't judge players for the playoff performances. They would argue that what Peyton has accomplished in the regular season outweighs all of his playoff letdowns.
Something sick is going on in the Steel Valley School District.Something similar to what happened at Penn State University, but just on a much smaller scale.From what I have gathered from numerous anonymous sources, former Assistant Principal and former Steel Valley Varsity soccer coach Scott Meade has been kicked off of school property for several accusations involving child pornography and sexual misconduct with minors.
This is a quote from a anonymous source who went to Steel Valley High School while Mr. Meade was a serving president:" he has been remove from his position at SV the police confiscated his cell phone and computer because he has been accused of sexual misconduct with several male minors". This same source also played in the Munhall hockey league known as the "FHL" which stands for Franklin Hockey League. Mr. Meade was also very deeply involved in the daily operations of that league, which allowed minors to play in.
Mr. Meade has not been at the FHL at all this year though. Again, from what I have heard Meade is not allowed on school property, although the school still has him listed under administrators on the school's website.
Again, these charges are very serious and I would not want to pronounce someone guilty of anything until it's proven. Trust me I know what that feels like. I'm merely pointing out the fact that this is huge news or at least it should be huge news.
Why hasn't any of the local news stations or papers done a story on this. Why aren't parents up in arms. Why did my little brother, who currently goes to Steel Valley say that he and other students were told "not to talk about it"? Another anonymous source has recently told me that Mr. Meade is currently on a "Paid Leave of Absence" while the police continue their investigation.
You have to wonder why everything is being kept a secret. The high school refuses to give out any information about this situation. Why? It's not like this would be the first time something like this has happened in the school district.\ Last year Jennifer Lynn Sowa Smith, who was a teacher at Steel Valley, was arrested in June 2011 for sending nude photographs of herself to multiple teenage boys. She is now a registered sex offender.
She pleaded guilty before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Donna Jo McDaniel to corruption of minors, solicitation of sex acts, solicitation of child pornography, unlawful contact with a minor and endangering the welfare of children.
Why does this continue to happen in the school district? Where are the parents at? Why aren't people investigating the school district. Seeing as I have three other siblings whom I help take care of, I am very concerned about the lack of information the local police and the school have given out. It feels like Penn State all over again. It feels like bad people are being protected. It feels really shady. If you have any information please contact the school district, a news outlet of any kind, the police, etc..Hell contact me if you need to.
Something might be going on in the Steel Valley School District.Something similar to what happened at Penn State University, but just on a much smaller scale.From what I have gathered from numerous anonymous sources, former Assistant Principal and former Steel Valley Varsity soccer coach Scott Meade has been suspended off of school property for several accusations involving child pornography and sexual misconduct with minors.
This is a quote from a anonymous source who went to Steel Valley High School while Mr. Meade was a serving president. " he has been remove from his position at SV the police confiscated his cell phone and computer because he has been accused of sexual misconduct with several male minors".
This same source also played in the Munhall hockey league known as the "FHL" which stands for Franklin Hockey League. Mr. Meade was also very deeply involved in the daily operations of that league, which allowed minors to play in.
Mr. Meade has not been at the FHL at all this year though. Again, from what I have heard Meade is not allowed on school property, although the school still has him listed under administrators on the school's website.
Again, these charges are very serious and I would not want to pronounce someone guilty of anything until it's proven. Trust me I know what that feels like. I'm merely pointing out the fact that this is huge news or at least it should be huge news.
Why hasn't any of the local news stations or papers done a story on this. Why aren't parents up in arms. Why did my little brother, who currently goes to Steel Valley say that he and other students were told "not to talk about it"?
You have to wonder why everything is being kept a secret. Seeing as I have three other siblings whom I help take care of, I am very concerned about the lack of information the local police and the school have given out. It feels like Penn State all over again.
