Nick Boynton on Sidney Crosby: ''Embarrassing, Childish, Immature'' ... Florida Panthers Postgame from Pittsburgh... Florida 6, Penguins 1 (FINAL)

PITTSBURGH -- In what could not be considered to be shocking comments, a few Panthers had choice words for Sidney Crosby after Saturday's win (which could be considered shocking).

Florida beatdown the host Penguins Saturday afternoon in the Igloo, with Crosby mixing it up with Gregory Campbell before jumping Brett McLean in the faceoff circle late in the second period.

Crosby was slapped with four penalties that cost him all but the final minutes of the third period. Pittsburgh wisely kept Crosby on the bench after he came out of the box, although Florida probably wouldn't have fought him since it was so late in the affair.

Next time? Oh, it may just be on.

Here's what happened: Moments after Campbell and Max Talbot fought a good fight, Crosby and McLean lined up in the faceoff circle. The puck was dropped, Crosby grabbed McLean and took him down, shaking and pulling him around the ice – with very few punches thrown.

McLean cut the bridge of his nose when he hit the ice, and Crosby was sent away with four penalties – including instigating and unsportsmanlike conduct. Crosby's fighting style has been criticized lately, especially after he repeatedly took below-the-belt shots at Atlanta's Boris Valabik last month.

After the game, coach Pete DeBoer and McLean didn't have much to say on the subject, but Nick Tarnasky and Nick Boynton sure did. Tarnasky's comments to me should be construed as off the record since we were just chatting during the second break, but Boynton went off as he finished getting dressed.

We're you hoping he'd get back on the ice? ''Oh yeah,'' Boynton said.

''That was just embarrassing. I can understand a little bit what he was trying to do, but that's a not a very professional move. You ask a guy to fight. You don't jump a guy when his head is down taking a faceoff. That's pretty immature and childish.

''He's just, whatever. He's not happy with the way things are going and he was trying to get his team going. But there's no need for that.''

Ever seen someone pull that?

''Not that embarrassing. That was, you know, that's not what the game needs. Whatever. We beat them where it counted and that's all that matters. We needed the points.''

Says Brett McLean:

''Obviously he was trying to spark his team. I've been in a few pretty poor fights in my day, so that just goes into another one of those.

''Last time I was in a fight was two or three years ago when I was in Colorado.

''He said something before the drop but I really didn't pick up on it. So, I kind of wish I had now. Like I said, everyone can understand what he was trying to do for his team. He's their leader, their captain.''

Said Crosby: "I asked him to go, and he said yes. And usually, yes means yes. I mean, I wouldn't have wasted 20 minutes in the box for that. I guess he didn't take me serious. I don't know, it wasn't worth 20 minutes, though, that's for sure."

DeBoer: ''I've coached Sidney and know what kind of competitor he is. If I'm coaching Pittsburgh, I like to see that kind of fire out of one of your best players when things aren't going that well. It is what it is. I was glad to see him off the ice for 19 minutes. That made our lives a little easier.''

-- Key Stats: Florida led 2-0 before Pittsburgh scored; Florida then added three goals (two on the power play) to close the second and lead 5-1 at the break.

Nathan Horton had two goals. Other players with two points on Saturday: Keith Ballard, Stephen Weiss, Bryan McCabe, Boynton and Cory Stillman. Richard Zednik and Ballard both plus-2. Florida was 2-for-7 on the power play; Pittsburgh's PP struggles continue as Penguins go 0-for-3. Pens are now 0-for-24 through past six games on the advantage.

-- One of the better lines of night delivered by David Booth to Craig Anderson: "Hey we had the same stats tonight.''

Translation: Booth had one assist and took a penalty; Anderson had one assist and took a penalty.

Comments

[jh]

This is a schizophrenic inconsistent team that is frustrating. It comes down to we rely so heavily on goaltending and defense as a result of JM's poor design, that it will take all cylinders to make playoffs. Regardless today was fun to watch and Crosby should be suspended for 3 games.

[PBPanther fan]

George how could the score be 2-1 before Pittsburgh scored? -- Key Stats: Florida led 2-1 before Pittsburgh scored;

And what a sissy move by Crosby I hope Boynton, Tarnasky or better yet Horton cleans his clock with about the same warning he gave Mclean.

[Stephen]

I have lost total respect for crosby. He didn't even go after the guy who hit him originally and he goes after a guy who doesn't fight let him go after horton. Nate would have destroyed him. I hope next time we play them he gets what's coming to him. Great game today and hopefully all of you people who have bashing horton can see what a great game he played today he was throwing his body around and shoting the puck. The guy does have heart but some of you don't see that cause you go by his stats.

[vic b]

I have critcized Horton and Stillman lately and I stand humbled after todays effort.Stillman played a great game with his passes and Horton got his nose dirty.Would love to see one point minimum out of Montreal and a win at Toronto which would put us in the hunt again.A 100% lunch bucket team effort today.

[LanMan]

Whatever, you guys know about heading for the mountAINS...OF bUSCH AS YOU KNOW ABOUT HOCKEY!!

[LanMan]

If you were one of the best players in the league, then you would stand up for yourself and team as well. Imagine being that good and expected to let all the goons stand up for you...told not to fight, listen to all the hog wash that agitators conjure, told not to deal with the shannanigans of no-names like debore and mclame. Frustrations might get the best of you, even the panther's coach recognized that it wasn't that bad. Their has been plenty of worse things that have happened this season and throughout NHL history. Why not give ovenechkin a 3 game suspension for blind siding players and knocking them unconcious?mclame dropped his gloves, he should have been ready. Neither panther wants to go down as the guy who beat Crosby up, they'd rather play opossum and make him look bad. Remember what happened to Ference when he tried to fight Lemieux...where is ference now? gone, no one wants him.

[LanMan]

mclame hasn't fought for 2 or 3 years? maybe that's why he wasn't ready, maybe mclame is the wimp. Like Crosby is some heavyweight, if anyone should be embarrsed-Mclame duck got whooped by a KID. don't get too excited...the panthers will not make the playoffs again this year. It's not a question of how well panthers played, more so a reflection of how terrible the penguins have been lately.

[SidLame]

@LanMan,
My policy is normally to ignore the trollers like stray cats looking for food (ignore 'em and they'll go away and/or starve) but I must insist. I found your series of comments very insightful into to the current psyche of the average Pens fans as you mourn the loss or even death of your man crush hero, Crosby. Here's a rundown:

Stage 1 - Denial. "the mountAINS OF bUSCH". I'm not sure what this is in regards to. I can only assume that you awoke on the floor from a hard afternoon of Iron City Light, had one eye closed and put these words together in a slow painful manner.

Stage 2. Anger. "...told not to fight, listen to all the hog wash that agitators conjure, told not to deal with the shannanigans of no-names like debore and mclame. Frustrations might get the best of you". I can see pent up frustration as you feel your inner-Crosby being tormented by all the league meanies.

Stage 3. Bargaining. "...the panther's coach recognized that it wasn't that bad. Their has been plenty of worse things that have happened this season and throughout NHL history. Why not give ovenechkin a 3 game suspension for blind siding players and knocking them unconcious?" Can't you see that it wasn't that bad? Don't hate me for being beautiful. Quick, look at that guy, he does lots worse things.

Stage 4. Depression. "It's not a question of how well panthers played, more so a reflection of how terrible the penguins have been lately." Finally, we get to the root of the problem. The Penguins will not be repeating a trip to Finals this year. Most likely they will be knocked out by the Panthers from even making the dance. Sucks don't it?

I've been waiting (in vain I think) for the "Stage 5. Acceptance" post. "Can't we all just get along?" it might be called. But I'm guessing you've probably slipped out for another 12-pack of Iron City Light to prepare for the inevitable fitful night of tearful sleep.

[Devin]

Pittsburgh 1 - Florida 6

LanMan: lol.

[Bo]

I lost respect for Crosby. He is like a spoiled child. He jumps the smallest guy on the team when he isn't looking what a coward. The guy is is overrated. And what about him grabbing Campbell? Crosby cheats when fighting he grabs people before they have a chance to have a fair fight. The next time Pens play any team I hope Crosby gets his lights knocked out. I have zero respect for the cheat. A few more wins and the Panthers will be ahead of the Pens in the standings. Nice game by the whole team. Shawn Matthias looked good too.

[HP]

I watched the game on Center Ice and I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It's one thing to be a homer but these guys calling the game failed to give the Panthers credit for anything. One of the guys went as far as to suggest the Pens just couldn't get motivated to play the lowly Panthers...yet we are 3 points behind them in the standings.Their continuous whining caused me to watch the game on mute.

Crosby showed what a coward he is. The guy shouldn't be fighting anyway but if he wanted to spark his team and earn respect he should have dropped the gloves with Campbell... That would have probably resulted in a beat down but at least he would have earned the respect of his peers unlike the cowardly assault on Mclean.

No one can deny Horton's talent but the consistency in his intensity is what is questionable.

[season ticket holder since day one]

Stephen:

No we don't just look at stats when it comes to the players, we look at effort, in a earlier post I gave credit for Horton having a great game against Colorado (no points), if Horton played like that 60% of the time then he would be a 40 to 50 goal scorer instead he shows up about 10% of the time.

If the guy works hard and is in scoring position instead of coasting on the outside then I would not be on his case.

One good game out of 10 does not mean a guy has heart.

DeBoer is preaching accountabilty maybe he is finally getting the picture.

I see the talent that he has and when he wants to play he is a force the problem is he doesn't want to play enough.

[VanMurph]

@SidLame

Dude, that "5 Stages" post is brilliantly written!

Very nicely done!

[CCPantherFan]

Seems like Sidney channels both Lemieux's... he cries like Mario and fights like Claude.

Any respect I had for the Kid evaporated with his "fight" against Mclean.

Pathetic

[CATFAN927]

It was a great game. SidLame, THAT WAS BRILLIANT!!!

Seem like the Panthers get the goats of every Penguin superpansy. Remember when Brad Ference tweaked Mario into a similar situation. (I have that game on DVD, its a blast to watch too)

Great game in Pitt, heck of a comeback to steal yet another point vs Montreal, now lets finish it up in Toronto by Bagging Up The Leafs!