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Yep. Nothing.I do not understand what the trade for Marleau does for them. I understand Sheary, if only because he knows how to play with Crosby and understands their system. But Marleau looks mostly done, even playing with Malkin.
yep, only scored one goal. if more of the team no showed like that, they'd have wonThe team no-showed again. Sid no-showed again.
Should've had a hat trick. Had the puck on his stick in front of an open net three times and blew it 2 of 3 (both were tough shots though). I can't figure it out. He looks healthy but just isn't making much happen at all. He played sound on D and was excellent at draws but his offensive game and timing with his linemates is way off.The team no-showed again. Sid no-showed again.
These statements don’t make sense.I've seen 3 games in person this year. All 3 vs the Caps. When we are playing great, we can compete with them. When we don't play at the top of our game, they completely dominate us. They are just a far superior team. It isn't close.
I do not understand what the trade for Marleau does for them. I understand Sheary, if only because he knows how to play with Crosby and understands their system. But Marleau looks mostly done, even playing with Malkin.
If our defense would actually skate after the face off we’d be winning this game right nowThis team just doesn’t seem to have the intensity and jump they had before the trade The Sheary trade was questionable at best. Sid just doesn’t seem to be Sid lately.
Hopefully they snap out of it but it really is not looking good.
We just look so slow everywhereStick a fork in this team just no jump or intensity except Rodrigues
rutherford tinkered too much and totally screwed up the vibe and chemistry
But...but......we acquired Conor Sheary. He's fast.We just look so slow everywhere
Wasn’t able to watch either of this weekend’s games, didn’t get them out here. I’ve seen that slow skates played a part in it. Was it also defense or poor goaltending?Today, the Penguins played exactly like they played against Washington yesterday and they got basically the exact same result.
Consider yourself lucky.Wasn’t able to watch either of this weekend’s games, didn’t get them out here. I’ve seen that slow skates played a part in it. Was it also defense or poor goaltending?
But...but......we acquired Conor Sheary. He's fast.
Wasn’t able to watch either of this weekend’s games, didn’t get them out here. I’ve seen that slow skates played a part in it. Was it also defense or poor goaltending?
Whoa. Winning 3 Cups and going to 4 Finals is hardly underachieving. Name the list of FRANCHISES, who have 3 Cups since the 1967 expansion of the NHL. Montreal, Isles, Oilers, Pens, Wings, Devils, Hawks and well I am done.For the second year in a row, this team has gone from talk of a cup, pre-trade deadline to epic self destruction after the deadline. These guys look like they're trying to get people fired.
I took some heat last year for being high on them and then a few weeks later telling the board that they wouldn't win a single game if they did manage to eke into the playoffs. Welp, this team has done it again. There aren't any playoff caliber teams that this Pens team is competitive with.
I just don't get it. How did our goaltending go so bad? I was a huge Murray and Jarry fan. Neither are good enough.
Crosby has 1 good month in him every year and beyond that, has been sub-All-Star level every season since the last cup. He's still good but you can't build a line around him let alone a team.
Malkin sucked last season and redeamed himself a bit this season but see the Crosby comment above.
Letang isn't good enough offensively to make up for his mental/defensive deficiencies.
The entire organization is a mess. When you look at what they drafted in the early 2000's, to have only won 3 cups and been to only 4 is underwhelming. There is no longer a window. They mortgaged the future for a bag of old, dusty, easily broken beans.
Just something is not there. I think in some ways, this team actually will be better next provided they don't have every key guy on the roster go down for weeks or months. I think you will have a couple of new guys on the blueline, some forwards.....
But something just isn't clicking still. And the core is still here. Letang was a -4. He just doesn't seem willing to buy in. Malkin said it correctly, "when we are all healthy we think we will score a goal in every shift".
The 3rd (or 4th) line of Tanev/Blueger and ZAR (Now whoever) is very ineffective lately. Jared McCann has turned into Riley Sheahan. I don't like Connor Sheary on Sid's line (and still don't understand why the need to trade for him) and wouldn't mind seeing Hornquist put up there to provide some grit and net presence for Sid and Zucker.
Marleau is invisible, has even had a shot on goal? Again, nice story, HOF career, but this team shouldn't need a veteran presence. My god, the core has 3 Cups and 4 finals.
Right now. I see 4 teams in the East that are either more talented, or playing alot better than the Pens. Tampa, Boston, Philly and Washington. Philly is not better, but they are playing extremely well and Vignault is a helluva coach and they got a great staff.
I am not sure what is going to happen. Losing and getting their asses handed to them by the Caps is maybe better than say Murray standing on his head and pulling out and OT win, masking their performance because they weren't that egood against Buffalo.
Big game this afternoon. Must win.
Some thoughts/rants.....
Doc mentioned the Caps as a heavy team, but what was so alarming on Saturday is they just swarmed and ambushed us. During most of the game of the game it seemed like they had 7 skaters to our 5. They challenged every pass, every shot, every play along the defensive and offensive zones, they outnumbered in both slots, they did exactly what the Pens speed game is supposed to do.
I think Dumoulin and Marino are still getting their legs, the first two games looked good, maybe on adrenaline and also opponent quality, but still they were part of say that 2nd period against Buffalo where the Pens repeatedly couldn't get it out of their zone.
Right now, I would sit down either Schultz or Johnson for a game or 2. I would love to sit Letang, but hopefully Dumo and Marino are getting their legs, Letang doesn't need to play as much as he is.
"Simplifying their game". I love this phrase, what the hell does it mean? Well I'll give you an example. Sid is like Will Hunting. Not only a hockey savant, but he loves apples. He is the best playmaker and one of the best ever. But yesterday, in the 1st period, I think the score was 2-1, Sid had the puck behind his defender, in the slot, only the goalie between him and slid a pass over to Zucker who had his stick lifted at the last second and the pass just went innocently through the crease into a turnover. Sid, needs to shoot the effing puck right there. Sure it was a sure goal getting it to Zucker, only it wasn't because the defenseman made a great play. He added a layer of complexity to that situation that did not require it. Sid's a good enough goal scorer that the puck in that position where no one is between him and the goalie should be the only play. Sid is a "pass first" player, Ovy is a "shoot first" player, McDavid is a "score first" player.
But that is just an example. Their PP for all of their talent stinks. Again, always looking for that tic tac toe play, where sometimes all that is required is tic and tac. Or just toe. They are too stationary.
I can't blame the goalies based on the quality of defense played in front of them. Bit man, what was it, a minute into the game, Jim Dowd alone in the slot? Make the save! It is Jim Dowd not Rocket Richard. Or yesterday, some Geekie guy tips in a shot 34 seconds after Marleau scores, you need a save there. The goalies have to play better. This is one reason why Philly has taken over, they are finally getting good play from their goalie. Look at St Louis last year. Both goalies are not playing particularly well.
Prolonged slumps of guys like McCann, Simon, Schultz, Blueger, Tanev are really hurting this team and harkening back to the bottom 6 days of 2014 and 2015.
Sid is great, an all timer, but sometimes the coach needs to be a coach. Sheary on his line adds nothing. Patric Hornquist (the one guy I can't fault his effort) needs to be on his wing. For one thing, Horny will go to the net, draw defenders and open ice for Sid and Zucker. Another, he has a physical element that the opponents need to deal with and thirdly, he can actually score goals with consistency.
I would look for McCann to play with Geno and Rust. Maybe that would get him going.
I don't know what to do with the defense. They have little answers. I would have rather gotten a decent bottom pairing defenseman than Sheary. But no one is playing well.
Play the right way. Well it would start with some effing effort and passion. I would love to have seen some push back in the 3rd period (hell even an old school fight) but nothing. Just weakly into the night. To me that is a weakness of Sullivan's coaching and philosophy. Sometimes, you got to let the boys vent and if it devolves into some melees, so be it. You are playing the Canes again next weekend. This so reminds me of the Islanders series of last year.
LOL....there is a thread on the TSN (Canada's version of ESPN) website that says "Is there NHL bylaws that says the best college FA's can only sign with Pittsburgh or the Rangers?"
He did have a good game. He might be a Pascal Dupuis type of playerGood post. I especially agree with your suggestion of Horny to Sids Line and McCann to Genos.
A guy I thought had a good game Sunday was Rodriquez. He might also be a good guy for sids like as he was really good on the forecheck and has some speed. Wont convert much but thats what Zucker and Sid are for.
I heard Pierre Mcguire"s take on Oconnor on my way home from work today. He said he is big enough and strong enough and has great hands and thinks he could help the Pens Immediately. I am hoping he is right, he really knows these young guys pretty well. We desperately need size and young legs in this line-up.O'Connor is the top college free agent forward this year on many people's list. Saravalli is reputable enough to get excited IMO. This can be viewed as JR getting a 2nd round pick back.
LW Drew O’Connor - Sophomore, Dartmouth
6-foot-3, 200 pounds
Age: 21
Stats: 29 GP, 21 goals, 11 assists, 32 points
The ECAC’s Co-Player of the Year has sprouted into a can’t-miss find. O’Connor was just 5-foot-8 at age 18, a big reason he wasn’t on NHL radars in his draft year, but has grown to 6-foot-3 while playing for the appropriately named for the Big Green. NHL teams have flocked to watch O’Connor, who they see as a legitimate NHL power forward prospect with a nose for the net. His 38 goals (in 68 games) are the third most in the country over the last two seasons – with a 16 per cent shooting percentage this season – but his overall game has grown as much as his body. There is definitely no shortage of NHL interest in O’Connor, but there is no guarantee the sophomore will decide to leave school early.
https://www.tsn.ca/friday-five-nhl-...1453626?tsn-amp#click=https://t.co/kCtizz3zfc
Pronman's take on the guy:
"Just two seasons ago, O’Connor was playing in the NCDC for the Boston Jr. Bruins, and now he looks on track to get an NHL contract. O’Connor is a 6-foot-3 forward with good hands and a quality skating stride. He competes well and projects to have some two-way value as a pro. I wouldn’t call him a true playmaker, but he’s got some offense in his game because of his hands and scoring ability. He makes the odd crafty play, but he’s more of a goal scorer and has been one of the top shot generators in the NCAA. While he skates well, I wish he would play a little faster at times."" https://theathletic.com/author/corey-pronman/
https://www.dkpittsburghsports.com/2020/03/08/penguins-drew-Ooconnor-free-agent-ncaa-sign-dartmouth-tlh/
https://www.nhl.com/news/mitchell-chaffee-connor-mackey-top-college-hockey-free-agents/c-315312666
Recap: Harvard Men's Ice Hockey vs. Dartmouth - ECAC Quarterfinals - Game 2
He did have a good game. He might be a Pascal Dupuis type of player
Wait so there’s a chance he can join the lineup right away? Interesting. Agreed that we need that in our lineup. Been a while since we had a power forward with type of size.I heard Pierre Mcguire"s take on Oconnor on my way home from work today. He said he is big enough and strong enough and has great hands and thinks he could help the Pens Immediately. I am hoping he is right, he really knows these young guys pretty well. We desperately need size and young legs in this line-up.
They also said NHL teams were in line trying to sign him. I don't want to annoint him the next Kevin Stevens yet, but, I was really getting down on this team and this has picked up my spirit a bit. That said, we have a tenuous grip on a playoff spot, I hope these guys can recharge for the stretch run because they had dead legs this past weekend at home.Wait so there’s a chance he can join the lineup right away? Interesting. Agreed that we need that in our lineup. Been a while since we had a power forward with type of size.