Pens recap.
To be honest, like the Caps winning the playoff series over the Pens last year, this had a bit of the "hidden vigourish" factor. I mean the Pens weren't going to beat the Blue Jackets forever. This isn't Alabama vs Vanderbilt. The Pens maybe a better team, but they aren't THAT much better. To put it another way, the Jackets were due. Just like tonight, with Boston 14-0-4 in their last 18 are due for a regulation loss.
Anyways, if you looked at the boxscore, you may have thought Murray played a "meh" game. If you watched the game, you will realize it was one of the best games a goalie has played this year, he was fantastic. Almost all of the saves were "high danger". He made a couple of saves that were as good as any made in the NHL this year. The goals all were snipes or great plays (ie no soff goals). I don't know what else he could have done.
The Jackets are a good team, they played with an unbelievable desperation, blocked shots, got into passing lanes, ferociously forechecked and kept on coming. Again, they had to win this game, had to, and played like it.
The Pens? Didn't play so well. I am not sure who Dom Simon has pictures has but he is an incredibly ordinary hockey player and I don't care if Sid likes him on his line, he just doesn't have the skill. He is not Pascal Dupuis or Chris Kunitz. He is not even ZAR or Jared McCann.
Sid, sometimes Sid does this, he overpasses. As the Pens are want to do, they love to make that extra pass for the pretty tap in goals, but in this game where the Jackets are laying it all out, this was not the game to pass up a shot on goal in lieu some 50 foot cross ice pass that was getting blocked or intercepted. Too often the Pens stars (87 and 71) were guilty of this.
The PP is a joke right now. The one power play that was good, Geno shot and shot and shot, but the Pens controlled the play. The others, including a 4 on 3, the Pens passed and passed and turned the puck over repeatedly giving up possession. Amazing how shots on goal can drive PP's instead of cross ice passes. This was a game where the Pens needed to simplify their game.
For example the Pens only goal. Kessel actually fore-checked, he was able to beat the Jackets to a loose puck that was caused by Malkin forechecking the Jackets into a turnover, Kessel made a quick 8 foot pass to Malkin who made a quick area pass (5-8 feet) to ZAR who buried a wrist shot for the goal. No 50 foot passes. Simplify the game. Quick passes, overload and out number, and the Pens didn't do much of this.
The 1st line was not good this game. The only defense pairing who had a decent game was 28-44. Why did the Pens sign Hornquist to an extension only to have him as a 3rd liner. If this is the way it is going to be, then that signing will be worse than the Jack Johnson signing.
Dom Simon is not a top 6 player. Dom Simon is not a top 6 player. Dom Simon is not a top 6 player. Dom Simon is not a top 6 player. Dom Simon is not a top 6 player. Dom Simon is not a top 6 player. Dom Simon is not a top 6 player. Dom Simon is not a top 6 player. Dom Simon is not a top 6 player.
I would rather see Teddy Blueger on Sid's line than Simon. Or McCann. Or ZAR. Or Hornquist. Dominick Simon to Mike Sullivan is Sean Rodriguez to Clint Hurdle.
The PK was really good for the Pens this game, but the PP again gave up a killer shorty. Not to pick on Kessel, but he is really snake bitten. But at least he is now shooting the puck.
This game was not that surprising, the Jackets were due, they are a good team, they have some elite talents and truthfully without Murray's play, this game could have been 5 or 6 to 1.
Big two points on the line tonight against a white hot Boston club.
