Again last night Marc-Andre Fleury let in the first shot he faced. But the Penguins roared back to score two short handed goals (on the same Lightning powerplay) and a third goal to rocket ahead to a 3-1 lead. However by the end of the first period the Lightning made it 3-2 and by the time it was all over the Pens lost 4-3.

Fleury was, to be blunt, bad. He seems to be getting worse as the season rolls on an Brent Johnson eats up the minutes in his stead. This leads me to believe that Fleury, who we all know is a great goalie, yes even the Fleury haters know this, simply needs to play more to get into a groove. So let’s play him more.

I also think that it is obvious that the defense seems to be playing differently in front of Fleury than they play in front of Johnson. When Johnson is in net the defense seems much more tight in the defensive zone. They are in position and they are getting to pucks. With Fleury though his different style and skills seem to lead the defensemen to play a little looser in all important areas.

This does not excuse Fleury’s lack luster play. But it puts blame on the entire team where I think it rightfully belongs.

And while we’re at it, let’s talk about the power play shall we?

I am going to bring up again how it is obvious that there is something wrong. And I don’t think it is Sergei Gonchar not being on the blue line either. Yes, last year the Pens power play was better in spurts with Sarge quarterbacking it, but even with him there handling the puck things were still amiss with the man advantage. Well all know it. Don’t deny it.

I still think the problem is Sid and Geno playing together on the same unit. This one constant is becoming more and more obvious as the power play featuring these two superstars (along with a more than highly skilled supporting cast) want to pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass and pass the puck which often leads to turnovers and the puck eventually leaving the zone due to an errant pass.

I know the rationale for putting them on the same unit. I know the theory is that you put your best players together and you get your best power play. But are we perhaps ready to admit that this is not necessarily the case? Are we ready to say that so many skilled players playing together is leading to too much thinking and not enough success?

Sid and Geno have proven to have some chemistry when playing at even strength. But even this has shown to be anything but a sure thing when it comes to generating offense. The power play is an entirely different beast. Last year the trouble was attributed to Sid and Geno fighting to be in the same spot. This year that problem was supposed to be elevated by separating the two. It has not worked however. Could it just be that the chemistry is not there?

While I don’t doubt that if Geno and Sid would hunker down and concentrate on scoring rather than overly thinking about who to pass to next in order to set up the perfect shot the PP it would be very awesome sight to see. However that is not happening. Maybe it is time to try two different units (1 and 1A) with Sid leading one and Geno leading the other. Keeping them both on the ice for nearly two whole minutes isn’t apparently working well enough.

Spare me the complaint about how you decide who is 1 and who is 1A when it comes to the power play. Has there been a problem with Sid being 1 and Geno being 1A (second line) at even strength? No. So let’s at least start looking seriously at the problem. Let’s stop stroking egos for fear of offending someone. These two are making $8.7 million each. If Dan Bylsma wants them to skate around the ice in pink tu tus they had better do so proudly asking only one question. That question is what exact shade of pink Coach Disco would prefer.

O Canada! What has happened? Many people thought that a Canada – Russian match up would be for a gold medal in Vancouver not in an elimination game where the loser goes home without any medal at all.

Tonight the Canucks take on the Ruskies and Sid takes on Geno … and Ovechkin … and Gonchar. With the likely starter for the Canadians being Luongo, who has never risen to the challenge of being a big time goaltender and an entire team of “potential” on the ice, the guys from the Great White North are going to need a miracle.

So far the Canadians have not played up to what people have seen as their potential. They struggled in the preliminary round and their only two easy victories have been against teams that could probably be beaten by a good college hockey squad.

Thus my prediction is a Russian victory tonight when this bloodbath ends.  The Canadians will scratch and claw with all their might to not go quietly into the night. But what we have seen to date is a team of aged talent that hasn’t been able to prove itself. Crosby is their ace in the hole by Russia holds the trump in a pair of stars named Malkin and Ovechkin.

In order for this prediction to turn out wrong Luongo would have to have the game of his life. Either that or the Canadians would have to swallow their pride and get over the fact that Fleury lost a big game and disappointed his countrymen in World Juniors. Much has changed for the Penguins net minder since then and I think a Stanley Cup should be more than enough to get the stubborn forces of Canadian hockey to give the man who should be in goal the chance he deserves and his team more than a long shot chance to win tonight.

But that will not happen. So Canada had better pray for that miracle.