Comments on: Flower Powers Penguins Past Flyers 3-2

By: Pen's 4ever

Pen's 4ever — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 13:29:43 +0000

I really believe the fans helped Fleury early in the first when he made three saves and everyone was chanting his name, love to see the big smile!!!

By: Rick Buker

Rick Buker — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 20:46:52 +0000

Hey Gmuny. I’m glad someone else remembers that team …

I was disappointed in the Game 7 loss, for sure, but still had high hopes for the next season. Then the new GM Wren Blair (who I came to regard as the anti-Christ) started to break up the team. First he traded tough guys Paradise and Harvey Bennett to Washington for Stan Gilbertson. Then he shipped Chuck Arnason (who could really shoot) and Steve Durbano (my favorite player) to Kansas City for an over-the-hill Simon Nolet and the immortal Ed Gilbert (two career points for the Pens). I was crushed.

To top it off, he sent goalie Gary Inness to the Flyers for two more geezers—Ed Van Impe and Bob Taylor. Van Impe was so unhappy about leaving Philly that he threatened to quit.

Almost overnight, the Pens turned into an aging, timid team. While I remained a fan, it took years for me to really like another Penguin team.

By: gmuny2002

gmuny2002 — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 17:13:52 +0000

Rick, I was so heartbroken after that Game 7 loss after being up 3-0, you couldn’t tt me 4 a week! lol!

By: Rick Buker

Rick Buker — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 16:59:33 +0000

I’m going way off on a tangent, but the 1974-75 team was (and still is) one of my all-time favorites. They had NINE 20-goal scorers, including Syl Apps, Lowell MacDonald, and Ron Schock. Vic Hadfield, Rick Kehoe, and Pierre Larouche topped 30 goals—Jean Pronovost had 43. Dave Burrows and Ron Stackhouse anchored the defense. They were tough, too, with guys like “Battleship” Kelly, Bob Paradise, Dennis Owchar, and Colin Campbell.

Then they lost to the Islanders, went belly-up, and were sold to new owners who gradually broke up the team.

I’ve often wondered what would’ve happened had the Pens beaten New York and advanced to the next round (ironically, against Philly). Chances are the team would’ve stayed together longer, and the franchise wouldn’t have bottomed out in the early 1980s. But then, we might not have been in a position to draft Mario. So it worked out pretty well …

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:43:38 +0000

LETS GO PENS!!!!! I BELIEVE!!! We can come back from being down 3 – 0. We have had it done to us, and we can do it ourselves. I was at the game in 1975 when we lost to the Islanders 1-0 in game 7 after being up 3 games to none. I would love nothing more than to see the Pens win this series!!!!!