U mad, bro?: Penguins have been eliminated from playoff contention. And fans are every bit as angry as they should be
Share this post:
Now that the Pittsburgh Penguins will officially miss the playoffs for the first time since 2006, the angst from the fan base is thick.
Wow! “U mad, bro?” is going to be stocked for weeks. It doesn’t even matter that no one cares about the Pirates anymore.
And I don’t blame any Penguins fan that is ticked off. With the way the Penguins stumbled against a Chicago Blackhawks team that was essentially trying to lose, that’s no way to let a 16-year playoff streak end.
But that’s how it happened. And you are fired up about it. As you should be.
So let’s get it out in this week’s “U mad, bro?” And for the next few weeks to come.
Let’s start with “Victor Jason” and his reaction to the Penguins’ loss Tuesday night to Chicago.
Biggest choke of the year by a mile
— Victor Jason (@vvjhdrider208) April 12, 2023
True. And given some of the other awful losses they’ve had this season, that’s saying something.
The only analogy I can draw for this kind of choke job would be if the Steelers had managed to lose that Week 17 game against Tyler Huntley in Baltimore in 2021 … as the Jaguars were stunning the football world by beating the Indianapolis Colts in Jacksonville.
How the Capitals beat the Islanders the night before to give control back to the Penguins was pretty much the same thing. And the Pens puked it right back.
At least the Steelers won that day against the Ravens and made the playoffs. Barely. In overtime, 16-13.
Now, if the Penguins had actually made the playoffs, their series against the Boston Bruins would’ve been every bit as bad as the Steelers loss in Kansas City that next week. So I think the analogy holds there, too.
Actually, come to think of it, it would’ve been worse. Because we would’ve had to sit through four games of it, instead of just one.
Speaking of that Capitals-Islanders result from Monday that set the stage for Tuesday’s Penguins’ collapse, I think this guy is suggesting that the Penguins returned the favor on purpose because of who scored the empty net goal to seal the win for Washington.
We didnt want to be indebted to Tom Wilson.
— John Matthew (@GreenZombie04) April 12, 2023
This is a long-shot conspiracy theory, but one I fully embrace and plan to adopt moving forward.
When the Pens were down 3-1 in the third against the Blackhawks, I tweeted out some eye-catching stats. Chucky replied with an opinion about those numbers.
Goalie has been the difference-again
— Chucky Stone (@chucky_stone) April 12, 2023
Understood, Chucky. Petr Mrazek was excellent for Chicago on Tuesday, but I’ve grown tired of that “the Pens just ran into another hot goalie” excuse.
When the other team’s goalie is constantly the difference, it’s not him that’s the difference. It’s the fact that the Penguins don’t finish around the net the way we like to pretend that they do.
And, on occasion, maybe the Penguins goalies should steal a game or two in that manner.
More sports
• Penguins’ loss to Chicago joins long list of confounding, season-altering defeats
• Steelers meet with BYU quarterback Jaren Hall, 2 others, release linebacker Jamir Jones
• Whether it’s swinging a bat or a sword, Pirates DH Ji-Man Choi happy to make MLB history
Here’s an email I got from Mark.
“To be clear, the standard for the professional Pgh sports teams is now as follows:
*Pirates: not losing 100 games.
*Steelers: .500 or better.
*Penguins: losing in the playoffs but somehow rationalizing that they were the better team.
I love the Pens. I’ve always loved hockey. … And they’re #1 in the city because they’ve actually won in the past decade. But they are fat and lazy. Cruising on past glory and still somehow seeing themselves as the 2017 version of the team — even though opponents skate circles around them and they lose again and again and again.”
I’ve read this email 10 times and I’m trying to find a single word I can debate.
A different guy named Mark raises this question about Mike Sullivan.
Do you think if miss playoffs that Sullivan is in hot seat too? I like him but nhl coaches don’t get too long a leash and the new owners might clean house with hextall and Sullivan?
— Mark Hagelauer (@markhagelauer) April 12, 2023
Don’t forget Brian Burke.
To answer your question, my bet is they won’t fire Sullivan. But I wouldn’t have a problem if they decided to do so.
Why? Because, to your point, with the Penguins missing the playoffs, that means the franchise will fail to win a playoff series five years in a row.
In hockey terms, that actually is a very long leash for a coach.
Here is Tim on the Pens loss to Chicago.
“RIP guys. If the Pens played the Blackhawks in the 1st round of the loser bowl it would be 4 & out.”
And if that meant the Penguins got the best chance at Connor Bedard instead of the Blackhawks, I’d be OK with that.
Finally, this is a tweet I sent out in the waning moments of the loss Tuesday and a response from a big fan of mine.
Did your picture show up on the Jumbotron?
— Chris Fleming (@pokerhergood69) April 12, 2023
Unlikely, Chris. But if I was getting booed for speaking the truth about this team all year long, it would have been worth it.