Why is there so much sympathy for the Penguins? Why are we treating the Pens like they never had a chance?

Question

First off I want to congratulate the Red Wings and the Penguins on an absolutely amazing season for both teams and of course an amazing Stanely Cup Finals. My question is not an attack on the Penguins or their fans, I just want some opinions. Both team's fans have been classy & its great 2 see.

Everyone is having a lot of sympathy for the Penguins and their loss, but I was wondering why? When I have been reading all the blogs, articles & comments, everyone is treating the Penguins like they had no chance and were supreme underdogs. Granted they were underdogs against the Red Wings, but not by much. I mean if you look at the Penguins roster even from last July they were front-runners for the Cup. Looking at thier roster & how good of a team they really are they should have been in the Finals, & in my opinion they should have won. Arguably 2 of the best players in the game ran out of gas. Malkin & Crosby combined for 7 points in 6 games (Crosby had 6). Why all the sympathy?

Answer 1

I wonder if it has something to do with the extreme youth of the star players handling the marathon that is the Stanley Cup run.

Answer 2

I don't really get it either. I am a diehard pens fan and wanted them to win very very badly. But, the red Wings played harder and better and deserved to win. I like the sympathy for the Pens in a way just because I wouldn't want it rubbed in my face that we lost. It's kind of the opposite. I'm glad everyone is being respectful about it and not complaining or bragging.

Answer 3

Malkin admitted he had run out of gas. I think he was injured in the final game against the Flyers, or they just knocked what was left out of him.

I have no sympathy. The losing team doesn't want sympathy, they just want to get tougher and win. They played a great series and would have been blown out in four straight if not for Fleury. Their blueliners showed distinct weaknesses except for Gonchar. Even in the two games they won, they were clearly outplayed.

Roberts should retire.

Answer 4

We don't want any sympathy. -_-

We got outplayed most of the series, besides a few bright spots...Not saying we didn't deserve to be there... Hossa was by far our best skater, and w/o Fleury, that wasn't even a series. We need a few more blue liners who know how to play defense, and Orpik (who won't be back, sadly) needs to learn how to clear the puck.  Roberts should retire, let Malone walk (hate to say that) and give Hossa the money he deserves...He was our best skater throughout the entire playoffs.

Answer 5

It all started with the officiating. Everyone who watched those games and has experience with the Stanley Cup finals realizes that many penalties are not called because the NHL wanted the team with the most guts to win. Years ago it was common to not see penalties in the third period for high sticking, slashing, etc.

In today's game we all witnessed the Redwings take penalties that were not warranted. We saw Detroit get called on how many 5 on 3's yet Pittsburgh didn't ever go 2 men down.

In my opinion,  I thought it was obvious that O'Hallihan was persuaded to call everything on the Redwings. I am almost positive that Bettman added some green to Ohallihans wallet for it.

It was a corrupt series. Pittsburgh was supposed to win game 6 but Detroit gave Bettman a big FU and won it anyhow. That is why Bettman was pissed when he had to hand over the Conn Smythe to Zetterberg and and the Stanley Cup to Detroit. Did you see how mad he was? He was so mad he was shaking and there is no way you could miss that.

Enough ranting.

Answer 6

I'm a die hard Red Wings fan, and IMO, the Penguins don't get sympathy, the get respect. they came back from two games down, played some amazing hockey in games 3-6, won in triple OT against a team with a deeper bench and fresher legs. It takes Guts for a team as young as the Pens are to come up against a team like the Wings with all the experience they have, and do so well.  Great post season Pittsburgh, and I'm sure we'll be seeing more of you.

Answer 7

The Pens were the best team in the East and definately played a great series.  Things go differently and I could see how they could have won, but I don't see how you can say that they should have won.  The Red Wings were the better team.

Answer 8

I have sympathy for the Penguins because they built their team up humbly.  They were god awful for years, but used those bad years to draft the game's best players and turn the franchise around.

Also, people wanted there to be a sign that the times were changing.  If a team that hadn't been to the Finals since the early 90s won the Cup, it would show fans of all teams that anyone can make a run.

I have to mention this as well:  I don't think many people like the Red Wings.  They have been a dominant team for a long time and a lot of people want to see them knocked off their high horse (myself included).  Also, Sidney Crosby is easliy likable because he is so polite and somewhat shy when talking to the media.  The Wings don't have that.

Answer 9

I agree with what you are saying, except the running out of gas.  I am pretty sure that the Wings defense had something to do with it.  Run out of gas after they played so few games in the playoffs?  Don't think so.

Answer 10

First of all, congrats to the Wings. Much as it pains me to say it, they deserved to win the Cup this year. As a life long hockey/Hornets (before they were the Pens) Pens fan, i just feel a bit of disappointment, not sympathy. It's pretty hard for me to express sympathy for guys that make more money in a few months, than I've made in my entire life. This team will be a contender for many years to come, even with the losses they will have due to the salary cap. Somebody wins the Cup every year & it just wasn't the Pens this year. I have more optimism & enthusiasm for the next season than regrets for the past season. The Pens gave us all a helluva show this year & we should all remember to never take it for granted. Remember how they were not too long ago.

Answer 11

Maybe people were interested in seeing a team other than the Wings win the Cup.  Maybe people hyped up the Pens so much that when they started getting beat on by the Wings it was 'tsk tsk, what a shame'.  We're just getting word today in the local papers about possible injuries.  It's being said that Crosby might've had a rib injury, and Malkin battled the flu since the end of the Flyers series.  If you've had the flu, you know how exhausted that makes you.  The Pens were the worst team just 2 years ago, and held that title for 4 straight seasons prior to that.  Then they're in the finals suddenly?  It was a Cinderella story.  People wanted to see them out play, out school, out right beat the Wings but that didn't happen.  I don't know if I'd call it sympathy, maybe disappointment?