Biggest takeaway from Pittsburgh’s 5-1 loss to the Devils:
Not to sound like a broken record, but just like the Leafs game highlighted, there is way too much deadweight in the bottom-6 to make up ground when the top-2 lines and the power play are held in check.
Monday night was more of the same.
Pittsburgh continues to get zero offense from Riley Sheehan/Matt Cullen down the middle, both showing no ability to create individual offense, a major attribute each player lacks, Derek Grant another center by trade is a meh player and Daniel Sprong is not playing anywhere close to an NHL level player.
Sprong’s poor play is beyond the coaches not finding him enough minutes. He doesn’t deserve any.
Sprong was supposed to be that needed skill element on the 4th line and he’s showing no ability to provide it.
As mentioned before, Sprong’s east-west game is a major problem in a north-south league and it continues to be maddening.
Here was one play in the third period that stood out vs the Devils.
Sprong enters the zone down the left side, fails to be any kind of threat to drive the d-man back and takes himself completely out of any position for any chance at a high percentage shot, not to mention, the lack of vision is also on display in failing to see Jamie Oleksiak coming down the right side.
With the shot Sprong apparently has, right when he hits that left circle, he needs to fire a wrist shot by using the d-man as a screen or make a quick play and hit Oleksiak trailing the play with a pass down the right side.
These are situations constant in Sprong’s game where he’s not reading the ice well and taking himself out of position in what should be clear cut shot opportunities.
This is the primary reason he’s rarely a threat to score. It’s not the coaches.
— Jim Rutherford and Mike Sullivan have a great relationship and it’s why Sullivan is often willing to give some of Rutherford’s lineup ideas a chance.
There’s nothing wrong with that, though, whispers in the organization is that Rutherford has made attempts To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Rutherford has pushed strongly To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”! and I don’t buy for a second that it was the coaches idea to play Jack Johnson in a top pairing role last night.
That’s something sources say To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
The coaches wanted Zach Aston-Reese, who has six goals in 11 games for WBS, on the roster for the start of season, but a week before the regular season started, the decision was taken out of the coaching staff’s hand and they were informed Aston-Reese would start in WBS.
Aston-Reese in Wilkes Barre is a product of the Derek Grant signing taking up a roster spot that should have went to a younger player or player who is an actual winger like Aston-Reese who provides an element the Penguins bottom-6 lacks right now, getting to the tough areas.
It’s still early but things could be headed where the Penguins had a second straight poor off-season with the Johnson signing and opting to flood the bottom-6 of 4th line caliber centers with the Sheahan, Cullen and Grant signings.
—
Some awful numbers for Olli Maatta vs the Devils.
On the ice for 3 goals against, a dreadful 30% in possession (11/25), while Pittsburgh was out-shot 8-16 when Maatta was on the ice and out-chanced 12-4.
Maatta was on the ice for a whopping 9 high danger chances against, per Naturalstattrick.
It gets overlooked but Pittsburgh giving a six year commitment to Maatta in 2016 has become a major mistake.
Too many GM’s jump the gun in trying to pay young players for what they believe the player will become.
When you’re a team ran like the Penguins are, in Stanley Cup mode up against the cap, you don’t need to do that for non-core players.
This was a case with Maatta.
Pittsburgh at the time believed his decline in play was more health/injury related than anything.
Maatta just hasn’t found a way to properly compensate for his lack of skating ability in what is becoming a faster and faster league.
I’ve stated before there’s some scouts out there who believe Maatta would benefit [hide] from a different system that isn’t as aggressive (as the Penguins) where if you lack foot speed like Maatta does you’re going to be put on an island when defending in transition, but Pittsburgh has him available in trade talks and teams are not necessarily giddy that Pittsburgh is wide open to making a hockey trade that would involve Maatta. [/hide]
— How good is Brian Dumoulin?
In a game the Penguins lost 5-1 and were outscored 3-1 during 5 vs 5 play, Dumoulin was on the ice for 0 goals against, was at 70% in possession and 82% in Scoring Chance For Percentage (14/3).
All of this while paired with a No. 7 level defenseman. To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Sheary has 6 with 9 points
Good thing the team never seriously went after Duclair…
My prediction, Rust is traded.
For what? A defenseman I hope
The Penguins have dropped five straight games and Rutherford voiced his displeasure with his team’s poor start and said changes will be made if it can’t turn things around soon. “Certainly if this continues, in short order, we’re going to have to make some changes,” Rutherford said during a radio appearance Wednesday before the club’s 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, according to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The Pens did make two moves Tuesday, calling up Zach Aston-Reese and Garrett Wilson from the AHL. “Actions are louder than words,” Rutherford said. “This will be the first move of… Read more »
Hmm, he thinks our goalie has become stagnant? I wonder if he feels he needs a big name goalie to push Murray? Where have we heard that before.
Pappy also understands that the voice behind the bench can also become stale to a team. NHL coaches don’t have long life spans.
TBJ and Zero, please continue to talk about the rings Sullivan/Murray won 2 years ago as if that means either is safe. Pappy wants the next ring, not to stroke the guys who won the previous ring.
Soon very soon Pittsburgh will miss Fleury.
Fire scum sully
Hire coach Q
Jesus… They won 2 Cups under him, they got to game 6 of the division finals and lost in OT to the eventual SC Champs. He is coaching the players he has been given and a terrible bottom six and a shoty defense, Shultz and Brass are out and MM has been inconsistent. This is not on the Coach, this is one a poorly built, slow, complacent team that needs new blood. Cullen was not needed. JJ was not needed. Maatta is regressing more and more each year. You can only coach with what you have and GMJR has not… Read more »
Hey clown coach Q won 3 cups in last 10 years and still got fired That was yesterday he won and couldn’t win today. Same goes about Murray he won yesterday and cant even win a game . As I said he hasn’t prove nothing yet. Yes he won the cup and I was first said trade him he has value his game has holes now they are stuck with him . As I said 10 years from fleury will be remembered as legend HOF And Murray will be forgotten just like Jim carey caps goalie not the actor for… Read more »
And the reason Q got fired was bc his GM hog tied the team with bad contracts which lead to bad trades. Coaches are hired to get fired but if your GM does not do his job the coach can not do his. As a Montreal fan you of all people should be able to undertand that. As for MAF, yeah he is a HOFer but it will be for all his regar season wins when he played for a power house team. Aside from the 09’ cup he is often remembered for his playoff melt downs which led him… Read more »
He was also given three years to get back to the top using a team Bowman wrote bad deals for. They missed the fucken playoff FFS and were ousted 4 straight the year before… out in round one the year before that. When Sullivan accomplishes this you can draw parallels but until then its just idiots like you and Dusty who have taken personal issues with Sullivan because he won with Murray in net and not MAF… the end!
He said the goaltending has been inconsistent, which it has. I could post some numbers of your boy toy Fleury if you’d like, from his time here. The stagnant comment was referring to the culture of the team. You’re reading comprehension skills are very lacking. Funny how you’ll twist things to fit your idiotic points of view. You, Sam, yogurt and Cbauer all HAVE to be related.
I’d call his remark a cherry pick but he went off on shit that wasn’t even commented on. Kids fucken remedial
What’s funny is JR talks about goaltending inconsistency and simply dusty takes that to mean “we should replace the most consistent goalie in the organization”
Oh, where did Sullivan’s name come up in JRs rant?
Who would you rather have, Dominic Simon or Michel Oulette?
I think Murray has a concussion after watching this game from the bench.
Npl suckks so does the democrats
Even though Oshie is a jag off, you all have to admit he is the greatest ever at drawing penalties. You knew that clown wasn’t hurt. He pulls that crap every game.
So he was faking the blood? Or are you talking about the moment Malkin targeted his head and protocol states he has to go off the ice for evaluation?
Simon sucks. I love how he was wide open for a slap shot and blasted it of crosby’s Arm. Then he is out there with the goalie pulled. Sullivan is turning more and more into disco dan by the minute.
Sully already has his favourites his main bf on this roster is Murray.
Pens were the better team but hey can’t win all
Seen that coming, too many chances the Pens couldn’t capitalize on… FUCKK
What a shame… oh well, better effort. DeSmith should get more starts. Pens won’t lose as many playing that hard. When Brassard returns it will give them more depth to try and click more… less Cullen, dude is too old!
Wonder when JR pulls the trigger here… he’s itching to make a move
Problem is desmith plays one game amazing and next game he is shittt and then youre like ahh this why he is a back up.
Give him the game… see… Murray needs to see he has competition
Caps didn’t even have a shot for a while
Zerotool must love Wilson. Oops I meant malkin
Most actual Pens fans do, you’d understand if you cheered for this team
WOW! This is a fun game
Glad you finally enjoying some low scoring game.
Always do when they’re this good, I just don’t whine about goals when they are scored like you do
See Sam… here is a legit reason to cry about Geno
he steckled oshie
You would never see crosby doing those kind of clowning.
No? He never punched a man in the groin while said player was in a scrum with another? Malkin is more volatile but stop pretending Sids an angel!
Hags does everything but score, still I’d love to resign him if he’d take less to stay
Hags is one of my favourite on team him and horny bring more to the table that people don’t see about them
You give yourself too much credit, many see their value. I love Hags but he’s overpaid
Yes he is I’d give 2.8 to 3.5 maxxxx and that’s being generous
Atta boy Geno… lets get that retaliation call just as the guys start putting the pressure back on!
Lol wow, reunite the top unit and the fucken wheels come off haha
“Lazy fucken penalty by the Russian”….
Fuck, that’s a good PP unit…
Sam gave this a thumbs up not realizing it was in jest after Sids Hooking call
sʞɔns ɯɐS ‘sᴉɥʇ pɐǝɹ oʇ ǝɯᴉʇ ǝɥʇ ƃuᴉʞɐʇ ǝɹnoʎ ɟI
Holtby has an entire horse up his ass at this point!
Now Crosby’s garbage wingers set Sid up with what probably should have been the 2-0 goal… won’t they stop this madness
Wow, so close… that garbage line is getting a lot of excellent looks. Lucky bounce for Holtby there.
I hope they kill this but… I lol’d
Well done
PP goal. Does not count.
Whaaaaaaaaa Crosby doesn’t get to play with anyone and will never score…. booooooooo hooooooooo
Good news game is in Washington we won’t see empty pens seats once they’re down 2-0.
Bad news caps circled tonight’s game and will beat pens
Sam loves a good circle jerk. He’s seen enough.
Reminds him of his ma at Christmas when he was just a tadpole
Lots of dead weight on this site.
Zerotooo must be happy with Trudeau taking sides with statscan that wants your banking data
First off you have to be a special kind of stupid to think there is a connection! Trudeau isn’t responsible for that service. Second the data pull is anonymous and for all intents and purposes par for the course… stats Canada collects data you fucken retard. They are simply taking transactions… that’s it, anonymized transactions. Third… the underlying rationale was due to the paradise papers… you know when prominent government officials past and present were named hiding money off shore? Ya, that tax dodge hurts the average payer like you or I you fucken buffoon. While the concept is not… Read more »
Pens should really go after Stone. He will be a good fit. Trade mattaa
Because Ottawa would just make that trade. Ugh.
He will look good with Nathan, Barrie, and McDavid
Desmith will be in net tonight
So what is the deal with Brassard? Will we ever see him again? Will he be that potent 3rd line center? If last years playoff performance was because of an injury is this the same injury? Was away on some real life but back to see nothing much has change.
he’s probably a healthy scratch
Yup… three point night then they decided to sit him. Dumb fuckk
He’s hurt. Not even skating yet. Same injury as the playoffs.
I think it is a groin injury.
Hey npl How well did the democrats do last night
How are the republicans doing npl
Wow Vegas out played leafs but had no puck luck
ZAR and Wilson recalled…Grant sent to WBS.
so now sid is skating with simon and rust. that’s definitely going to allow sid to rack up the points. oh and shaehan gets guentzel and kessel. those wings are going to do awesome now skating with an NPC. pathetic. sullivan is turning into an absolute clown. if rutherford had any balls he’d fire sullivan right now and hire quenville.
Sid racking up points = wins… heard it here 1st. we dont need to find a combination of guys that leads to success… it’s Sids ability to produce alone. Guentzel has been dog **** for a few games himself… so how is taking him off Sids line at the moment to Crosbys detriment? Production matters, I have always argued that. Production for the sake of tuning your boy up? Stupid. I agree that Simon and Rust are likely not the ideal combination for Crosby (although both are better than Sprong right now) but there hasn’t been a lot to like… Read more »
How about your sheary
you mean the kid whose 5 goals so far would be welcome? That Sheary? He has more goals than anyone not names Kessel, Malkin or Crosby… you said his offence would dry up without Sid… he has played throughout their line up and continues to score
omg you spin nothing but crappy pens propaganda. that’s like saying mario lemiuex would have been great with troy loney and jock calendar in the 92 cup run instead of tocchet and stevens. yeah lemiuex would have been great with anyone but to stick your best player with a 3rd liner and a boarderline NHLer is just stupid.
You do know that the restrictions of the cap were not in play back then right you fucken moron? in the 92 Cup run look at the depth of the roster, you had Brian fucken Trottier and one of either Jagr or Joe fucken Mullen on your third line FFS. It was in an era where you rolled a 4th line designed to shut down the opposition where as today a lot of teams are getting offence that deep. You really don’t get the changes do you? You think it is a video game where you can plug away with… Read more »
This is a great take though… a team that boasted nearly 2 HOF caliber guys per scoring line vs todays roster hahahaha
At least end of the day you can say box score fan base sid is better than mcdavid
there is some dead weight in the top 6 as well. crosby and guentzel haven’t done crap since simon was put on their line 4 games ago. also, what has hagelin done lately?
Did you miss fleury yet ?
i do not miss st.bleury’s .840% in the finals.
What a conundrum… Murray has not been great for the start of this year and struggled much of last year. You loved him because he was not MAF in 16 and 17… yet the past two seasons MAF has been the better of the two.
And with an ahl team in front of him
Every single player on that roster was an NHL regular before getting to Vegas and quite a few were either top 6 guys or prospects that were given up on before they bloomed.
The same guy that is 10 years older then fraud Murray and schooling him with an ahl team in front Now you will say Murray won cup being younger then fleury Yes but who took team both times to the playoffs so Murray wins. As I said Murray hasn’t prove anything yet not even 1 full season played. And when fleury started his career you had dickk tantrum as team leader. When Murray started his career team was all Star team Now you and npl can go ride Murray’s dickk just make sure he doesn’t get concussed again .his been… Read more »
Dumolin is steady and reliable..underated
Riley Sheahan & Daniel Sprong & Olli Matta To The Rangers
(maybe Matta and Sprong fit n New York’s system better
Mats Zuccarello & Adam McQuaid to Pittsburgh
salaries almost even…. both Zuccarello and McQuaid are UFA’s (could be resigned)
Zuccarello is a finisher put him with Brassard & Rust
Mc Quaid always solid in Boston can play second pairing or third pairing!
He is certainly better than Johnson,,Rudwhedel , and Matta!
Sullivan has split up the PP?
Hornqvist – Malkin – Kessel w/ Matta & Rust
Guentzel – Crosby – Simon w/ Letang & Johnson
I am sure it is being done to “fire up the boys” but they have had one of the more potent 5 man groups since the day Sullivan took over. I am not sure I see the logic outside maybe trying to motivate a group that seems a tad complacent?
Once again focusing pp first because this team depends on it.
Every single team in the league depends on their PP you fucken idiot. Here… some homework. I want you to list, in the last 10 (or 20) years, cup champs with a PP% less than the average for that season! I am not sure why this is so fucken lost on you but special teams plays a significant role in winners… the end!
5x sammich… 5x in 20 years has a team won a cup with the PP being below average in the regular or post season. Looking at the data… 2003 Devils, 2011 Bruins and the Kings in 2012 all were average PPs and utilized a similar brand of hockey to win despite the average special teams… Chicago won two cup with average PPs but was riding Kane and Toews at 6 million allowing them to fill the roster deep with guys that likely would have been top 9 or 6 on most other teams. That is what it takes to win… Read more »
Agree but what I mean when I say they depend on pp . a lot of times they play shitt and don’t deserve to win and then they win games based on pp goals. Many times chubby malkin you don’t see them then few pp points they are amazing that’s why I say pen’s pp specialists they win based on talent and not work ethic compare to other teams example jackets Vegas, habs ,or other ahl type teams
Yet Sid has more PPP than Kessel since Kessel arrived… I have gone over these figures 1000x and you literally have no fucken idea what you are talking about. You watch the game with a lens that glorifies one while putting the other two under a microscope. For every bad penalty Malkin takes Sid coughs up a puck trying to force a play at the blueline. This is the good and bad of both, I will add Kessels lack of complete among the boards. All three guys are the backbone of the offence of this team… Crosby is out and… Read more »
Agreed
I heard npl will become republican after tonight
Naw, Sprong just needs to play in the top 6 because he is > (insert better Penguin here)… right yoda? It’s unfortunate that we are seeing GMJR make a case to force decisions. The coaches have had success doing what they do. Let them do it. Teams bottom six is shot… JRs solution? Take all the talent available away from it. WTF Jimmy? When Brassard returns I would really like to see a 10+ game stretch to see if him and Kessel could gel. That would be big for fixing a 3rd line issue. Then they have one less worry… Read more »
As for Maatta, right deal comes along then make it! He is not gonna get back to the guy he was year one. Move on… he was more solid than some would admit especially in the second cup but the last couple years? Not working out.
Murray injured?