and the friendship started

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Sidney Crosby will be back. Evgeni Malkin too. After that, what happens to the Pittsburgh Penguins over another post-season disappointment is anybodys guess. Dan Bylsma, the winningest coach in franchise history, may be out of a job. Ray Shero, the general manager who spent the last half-decade unsuccessfully trying to replicate the success of 2009, could also be gone. When Crosby lifted the Stanley Cup in triumph on that warm night in Detroit five years ago, it was supposed to mark the beginning of hockeys next dynasty. That hasnt materialized. A handful of maddening springs later, it might be time to move on. Bylsma allowed as much Tuesday night after the Penguins fell to the New York Rangers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, a 2-1 defeat that capped a stunning collapse after Pittsburgh grabbed a commanding 3-1 series lead. "You think about it being the last game," Bylsma said. While the Rangers exulted at one end of the Consol Energy Center ice after advancing to hockeys final four, the Penguins solemnly lined up for a handshake after losing a Game 7 at home for the third time in five seasons. This isnt the way it was supposed to go. Not this time. Despite losing over 500 man games to injury — easily the highest total in the NHL — Pittsburgh strolled to the Metropolitan Division title behind the steady and spectacular play of Crosby, who led the league in scoring and is a heavy favourite to win his second MVP award. After surviving a bumpy six-game series with plucky Columbus in the opening round, the Penguins appeared in total control after a 4-2 win in Game 4 against the weary Rangers. Then it all fell apart. A dismal 5-1 loss in Game 5 shifted momentum to the guys in the blue shirts. New York goaltender Henrik Lundqvist did the rest, including 35 sublime saves in the deciding game. Defenceman Matt Niskanen called the debacle in Game 5 a "missed opportunity," one that could lead to significant change in a dressing room that has been among the most stable in the league. "When expectations are high and you dont win, thats normal," Crosby said. "Im sure there will be a lot of questions." At the moment, there dont appear to be a lot of answers. Crosby insists hes healthy but lacked his otherworldly sharpness at times, scoring just one goal in 13 playoff games. "It wasnt a lack of effort or competing or anything like that," he said. "Id love to tear it up every series, but its not always the case. It doesnt make it any easier, Ill tell you that. Its tough losing as it is but when youre unable to contribute as much as youd like, its even tougher." Maybe, but its become all too common for one of the NHLs marquee franchises. The Penguins have sold out every home game since Valentines Day in 2007 and play a brand of entertaining hockey that is overwhelmingly successful in the regular season but doesnt always translate in the tight-checking crucible of the playoffs. The leagues top power play during the regular season went just 1 for 20 with the man advantage against New York. Unable to generate much offence from in front of the net, the Penguins spent most of the last three games unsuccessfully peppering Lundqvist from long distance. Its a path that led only to frustration and an all-too-familiar result: the Penguins watching another team skate off the ice in celebration. It happened in 2010, when Pittsburgh fell to Montreal at home in Game 7. It happened last spring, when the Penguins failed to lead the Boston Bruins for a single second while getting swept out of the conference finals. Ray Shero doubled down after seeing his team silenced by the Bruins. He awarded Bylsma a two-year extension, signed Malkin and defenceman Kris Letang to long-term deals and brought back defenceman Rob Scuderi to give the blue line some heft. Different path. Same result. Only this time there will be no doubling down. There will be only change. "Its all tough," Malkin said. "We have great teammates here. We work hard. But 3-1 up in series and last three games we lost, its tough. See you next season, I dont know." Neither does anybody else. Seattle Mariners Jerseys .C. -- After a listless first half, the Washington Wizards used a big third quarter run to beat the Charlotte Bobcats Bradley Beal scored 21 points and the Wizards used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take control of what had been a close game and beat the Bobcats 97-83 on Tuesday night. Yovani Gallardo Jersey . -- Arizona coach Bruce Arians says there "were obviously very, very many problems" with the officiating in the Cardinals 24-21 loss at Philadelphia. http://www.baseballmarinersofficial.com/felix-hernandez-jersey-c-5/ . The ongoing funk on penalty kill and an unusually quiet night on home ice for the power play divided the Leafs from the Bruins at the ACC in a rare Sunday night affair. Jean Segura Jersey . Watching them over the past year - and in some cases, two years - has given us a starting point for this seasons Craigs List. Steve Cishek Jersey . The hard-serving 22-year-old from Thornhill, Ont., became the first Canadian to be ranked in the Top 10 on the ATP World Tour thanks to his runner-up performance at Rogers Cup in Montreal. SOCHI – Just to prove theyre not always inseparable, Anaheim Ducks Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry were about 175 feet apart as the Canadian mens Olympic hockey team wrapped up its practice on Wednesday. Perry was down in one end, working on his stickhandling, deftly displaying his soft hands as he manoeuvred a puck through a jumble of other pucks. Getzlaf was standing in front of the crease in the other end, showing off his eye-hand coordination as he deflected in shots from the point. Soon afterwards, however, the two of them walked back together to the Athletes Village and chatted about Canadas Olympic tournament opener against Norway on Thursday (Noon, ET). Getzlaf and Perry were side by side. Now thats a scene familiar to their Ducks teammates. Thats why theyre called the twins in Anaheim. "We just hit it off early in our careers," Perry said, in explaining why Getzlaf to Perry has become a common refrain for NHL play-by-play men since they busted on the scene together back in October 2005. "Weve become close off the ice and I think thats why weve been so good for each other on the ice. Hes the guy who makes plays and carries the puck. Im more of an up-and-down player who goes to the net. Someone has to go to the net." Championship combo That combination has produced a Stanley Cup championship in 2006-07, an Olympic gold in Vancouver four years ago, Rocket Richard Trophy and Hart Trophy for Perry in 2010-11, and who knows what will happen in Sochi. On the road, there arent many times Getzlaf and Perry are apart. They sit together on buses and planes, at team dinners and beside each other in the Ducks dressing room. They get along like brothers and that means they occasionally get sick of each other, too. "Thats why we go our separate ways at home and dont see much of each other," Perry said with a chuckle. "He has a family. So we know this a good time to give each other space." Getzlaf was born in Regina on May 10, 1985, and six days later Perry arrived into the world in Peterborough, Ont. Neither recalls the first time they met each other, but it was back in 2002 at the CCanadian under-18 summer camp.dddddddddddd Perry made the team, scored five times in five games and helped Canada win the old Eight Nations Cup. Getzlaf was left at home. The following spring, it was Getzlaf who played for Canada and won gold at the under-18 world championship while Perry was busy with the London Knights playoff drive. But they would meet again at the 2003 NHL entry draft in Nashville. The Ducks selected Getzlaf 19th, and then snatched Perry with the 28th overall selection. "Thats the first time I remember meeting [Perry]," Getzlaf recalled. "We met later that evening. But we didnt talk that much." Friendship takes off The talk picked up after that. They went to the Ducks training camp in 2003, the Canadian world junior summer camp in Calgary in 2004. They both made that team, but they played on different lines. Perry was with Sidney Crosby and Patrice Bergeron. Getzlaf played between Andrew Ladd and Jeff Carter. "Id say that was when we really got to know each other and the friendship started to take off," Perry said. "We were both Anaheim draft picks and we started to hang out more with each other." A few months after Getzlaf and Perry celebrated world junior gold together, Perry went on to win the Memorial Cup in London and Getzlaf would get an early start on his pro career with a 10-game stint in the AHL Calder Cup playoffs with the Ducks farm club in Cincinnati. It was at the Ducks training camp in 2005 that Getzlaf and Perry immediately were paired together and have had Frick and Frack relationship ever since. Expectations high in Sochi The expectations are high for Getzlaf and Perry in Sochi and their new linemate, Patrick Marleau of the San Jose Sharks. The Ducks have been one of the best clubs through 60 games because of the twins play. With 29 goals and 67 points in 56 games, Getzlaf hit the Olympic break second in the Art Ross Trophy scoring race, 11 points behind Sidney Crosby. Perry is third in the league in goals scored with 30. "Were having a good season and obviously it would be nice to continue that over here," Perry said. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '