Latest Pens Buzz
The Pittsburgh Penguins enter Game #82 and the final day of the regular season in a situation where they can still finish 2nd/3rd or the top wildcard spot.
The Islanders go into the night controlling their destiny where they need to earn just one point to clinch home-ice in Round 1.
SCENARIOS
1. New York Islanders clinch 2nd place in Metro If they earn at least one point or Pittsburgh loses
2. Pittsburgh Penguins will clinch 2nd place in Metro if they win and Islanders lose in regulation
Worst Case Scenario for the Penguins tonight:
The Penguins would finish in the top wild card spot and be awarded with a round 1 matchup vs the Capitals if the Carolina Hurricanes defeat the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh loses in regulation.
Penguins in position for a favorable Round 1 matchup
Far from a shock, Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan is all-in with his lineup tonight vs the New York Rangers. The hockey mentality is always play your best lineup games 1-82 and despite clinching a playoff spot Thursday night, Sullivan will dress a full lineup tonight, including goaltender Matt Murray whose heavy workload continues.
There won’t be a let’s rest the likes of Sidney Crosby, Matt Murray, ect, mentality and let the chips fall.
Murray would have been an ideal candidate to get a night off but there is believed to have been little thought to going to Casey DeSmith tonight in goal.
Murray’s heavy workload will be something to watch as the playoffs progress. Murray’s played in 77% of the Penguins games since the middle of December and If his play starts to tail off a bit that plays a factor in Pittsburgh having a quick exit, the narrative that Pittsburgh overworked him when Casey DeSmith has provided .915%+ level goaltending, will certainly become a narrative that emerges.
For Pittsburgh tonight, it’s all about getting the matchup with the Islanders. Whether Pittsburgh starts on the road or at home in a 2/3 scenario, the Center and Goaltending edge is so large in Pittsburgh’s favor, there would just be no excuse not to get out of a Round 1 matchup with the Isles.
MORE BUZZ
— Kris Letang returned to the lineup Thursday night vs the Red Wings but his situation was a bit murky 48-72 hours before the Pittsburgh – Detroit contest on Thursday. Letang’s latest short absence from the lineup was not a situation with the Penguins medical staff being ones [hide] keeping him out of the lineup because they identified another injury concern with his neck. Getting over the mental aspect of the type of injury (neck) Letang has dealt with can be extremely difficult for anybody, these guys are human like the rest of us, and that’s what is said to have been at play here that led to a bit of an unknown on when Letang was going to be comfortable enough to return to the lineup.
Sources say a discussion between the Penguins brass and Letang that included close associates of Letang early in the week had the Penguins believing Letang was strongly considering sitting out well past this week and into the playoffs until he felt 100% comfortable. Letang knows his body better than any doctor and Thursday morning Letang to the surprise of the team is said to have arrived at the arena with the mindset that he was ready to go.
— Good news for the Penguins is Brian Dumoulin is progressing where he’s going to have a shot to be ready for Game 1 of the playoffs if Pittsburgh opens up Wednesday night.
There was an initial fear that Dumoulin could be sidelined 10-14 days but things are heading in the direction where Pittsburgh expects him back in the lineup at somepoint next week.
“The fact that Dumo was on the ice is really encouraging from our standpoint,” Mike Sullivan said this morning.
#’s Watch
*Sidney Crosby (34G-64A-98Pts) – 2 Points away from his first 100 point season since the Dan Bylsma era (2013-2014 Season).
*Jake Guentzel (39G-35A-74Pts) – 1 Goal Away from 40 Goals [/hide]
Bracket Time: NHL.Com
League Name: TIOPS
Password: TIOPS
Not sure what round but, the Pens will be eliminated because of Letang allowing a shorthanded goal.
With any luck they can unload him to Montreal… would kill two birds with one stone
Congratulations to our Russian for leading the team with most penalties again despite taking few weeks of vacation. Also led team with -25 capturing 6th spot in the league wonder if he would’ve won that #1 spot if he wouldnt have taken vacation and Concentrate on taking more minuses
Congrats to Letang for being on the ice for nearly every single shorty
Wait, you cheer for a team that missed, literally everyone failed… what gives you the right to cherry pick lol. What a fucken loser
I see MAF is still on vacation.
Scheduling should be interesting. Islanders arena booked friday through sunday.
Yesterday there was nxt I think tonight there was wwe Hall a fame at the Barkley’s
Thursday-Sunday is my guess.
They are playing at the Coluseum, not the Barleys Center.
Shit, 2 goals on 8 shots… vs one of the worst teams in the league! Letang don’t even play for Vegas but there is MAF playing like he does lol
Pens 3rd. Never saw that coming.
Did you see the magic number for Murray tonight ?
58?
I wonder if anyone will bring up the two odd man breaks on his one shift that lead to the tying goal. Or the fact that he was way out of position, up by a goal, late in the game in a very important game. He has the defensive awareness of this empty bet bottle.
Sabres 7-1 hope sheary gets that 3rd round pick for penguins
You literally cheered against it all season…. Habsfan
Ryan poehling first game in NHL 3 goals and shootout winner
He will get nicer golf clubs
Crosby 100 point
Capt Obvious returns.
If Montreal gets 5 more points they will make the playoffs!!
Meh, it literally didn’t matter when OT hit.
F&ck!!!!!!!
That’s NY! So at least that’s assured
One more point and Sid will have 101 points.
Jake with his 40th, don’t know if you knew that Sam. Sid assisting on it… like I called an hour and a half before the sammich noted Sid being one point away
They better hope Carolina shitss the bed
Jesus fucken christ!!!
Letang is so bad at hockey
Funny how easy the shorties come when he’s out there
You’d think being down by a goal late in the third would encourage a defenceman to prioritize defense. Not him. Ever.
They need trotman to take over his spot
Nice fucken defense !
One more point Crosby and he will hit 100points
1 hour and 50 minutes ago I already said this you fucken retard
Fucken Washington sat half the roster and is done so far… NYI likely gonna be the home team
As they should.
Don’t take away my reason for shitting in the Caps!
Letang back on the PP and another 2-1 going against the Pens net, thankfully one of the best goalies all 2019 was there to bail the fucken guy out
Letang fucken up the PP Again!
You will be missed happy retirement Bob Cole best in the business
Final game he will working habs vs leafs then retire after 50 years of broadcasting hockey
Who?
What a standing ovation for bob Cole
Hey sammich, whose been the BEST goalie in hockey since Dec 15 2018?
Rephrase your line .
More like who has been the best fraud goalie since Dipietro
Nope, best ya fuckface… well, second best but he played more lol
https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerteams.php?fromseason=20182019&thruseason=20182019&stype=2&sit=5v5&score=all&stdoi=g&rate=n&team=ALL&pos=S&loc=B&toi=1200&gpfilt=gpdate&fd=2018-12-15&td=2019-04-06&tgp=410&lines=single
Frauds? The guy you wanted to give the Norris to a couple months back lol
Carey Price!
Kessel leading the league in game winners… what a bum
Sid on the board 1 more … fuck thank god Malkins back… Sids been on fire since his return
Sid assist on Jakes 40th would be perfect
Sam seems extra salty today. Did something happen last night?
You want trumps colluding with Russians you’ll have material to present to your favourite CNN
Shoulda traded Letang while they could have got something. Now he’s just gonna retire.
5 players with 100+ points and 3-4 players flirting to have 100 points
Quite exiting but it will never be 1993 when there was about 20 players with 100 points
P.S NPL sucks
1993 was so long ago…
Yes it was since your hockey only started since 2016
Now that oilers are golfing AGAIN
I wonder how Mcdavid will be schooling Crosby
Of course you’re still trying to watch non-playoff teams over the Penguins… here, I believe you missed this post “ Lmmfao… OK… I’m not sure if it’s just willful ignorance or if you really truly are this fucken stupid but… IM NOT A ******* OILER FAN RETARD!!! Get it through your tiny head. The Oilers are trash, they are one of the worst managed teams in leagues history and it’s only a matter of time before McDavid asks for a trade. Katz has money but is too enamoured with the 80s to move out the Sam like thinkers destroying the… Read more »
Still waiting sheary gets penguins that famous 3rd round pick. Seems like only thing he is been getting is minuses on his stats
Really sucks Buffalo went to sleep… I mean I’m upset we won’t get the third but here you are cheering that Sheary didn’t get it done
Here we are preparing Murray’s excuse if penguins out its because he is overworked while for years fleury was overworked and yet was called a choker. Specially that last year with BJ ah his back up and penguins having crazy series vs flyers was fleury fault
Remember when Murray had to come in to bail out MAF as he started to come unglued in 2017 vs Ottawa? What was the excuse then?
Lol, MAF only played 33 games in 2013 yet had to be replaced by Vokoun… do you remember that?
It’s accumulation you assholee fleury played most games since 2008. Now go drool over Murray punk
You mean the guy that wins in the playoffs?
Accumulation by a 20 something who gets summers off lol… the list of excuses you make is hilarious
He has no choice to play full roster tonight. a lot of players bad their vacations already
Fucken Letang about to go on vacation again… I mean I’m not sure there is a market for him but they gotta try. The issues outweigh the good at this point