Pittsburgh Penguins: "Punks"?

Ladies and gentlemen! I give you the poster boy of hockey sportsmanship...Mike Milbury.

A few days removed from Game Five of the Stanley Cup Finals, the Pittsburgh Penguins are finding themselves the targets of name calling. Milbury, hockey analyst for NBC and Versus, and former NHL player, coach, and GM was asked by Dan Patrick of ESPN if he thinks the Penguins are "punks."

Please read the following transcript of the Dan Patrick Show on ESPN radio:

Dan Patrick: I read a couple of columns that were Detroit based that had to do with the Penguins acting like punks. Do you agree with that?

Mike Milbury: I don't see why you wouldn't put it in that category, ya know. But, if you're gonna be stupid, you gotta be smart about it. Their penalties serve no purpose, ya know...(he gets interrupted by Dan).

Dan Patrick: Wait a minute...if you're going to be stupid...you gotta be smart about it...wait a minute...oh boy...

Mike Milbury: I'll explain that to you. If you're gonna be stupid and take a slashing penalty—mean it. Hurt the guy. Make him remember it. Make him know that you mean business. Don't just give him a love tap across the shin pad; which says, "I'm stupid, and I'm not accomplishing anything, but I'm going to act like a petulant child." That doesn't do anything for me. If you're gonna be sending a message; make sure it's loud and clear.

Dan Patrick: So they've acted like punks?

Mike Milbury: They did. And it didn't work—clearly. And it will never work against a team as intelligent and disciplined as Detroit.

It's highly unlikely that the Penguins will take anything Mike Milbury says to heart, but if they do, I offer these words of advice: Consider the source.

Several years ago when Milbury was a defenseman for the Boston Bruins, a fight broke out, and he (along with most of his teammates) clambered his way into the stands in Madison Square Garden. Milbury proceeded to beat a fan with the fan's own shoe. I guess Dan Patrick chose the right man to speak about punk-like behavior. Kudos Mike! Spot on analysis.

I for one am looking forward to an entertaining, hard-fought, and physical (but not Milbury punkish) Game Six.