Penguins/NHL
PENGUINS – PREDATORS POST GAME BUZZ
“Without him we didn’t have a chance” — Chris Kunitz on Marc Andre Fleury’s performance vs the Nashville .
Out-shot 39-23 in regulation, -28 in shot attempts (NSH 70-42) and -24 in even strength shot attempts (NSH 60-36), Marc Andre Fleury was sensational in the Penguins 2-1 overtime victory vs the Nashville Predators.
“Thought early in the game, third period he was outstanding,” said Mike Johnston about Fleury. “He looks big in the net. He was really good tonight when we needed him.”
Fleury was peppered in the third but the second period he made four to five great saves to keep the Predators off the board.
Fleury’s positioning continues to be the area that stands out so much now compared to 2-3 years ago. As Johnston noted in his post-game comments, Fleury looks big in the net and when he’s on like he’s been in four to five games already this season, including tonight, you need a near perfect shot to beat him.
Fleury is in such a good place right now as a goaltender in his career, those hoping for a coaching change at some point this season probably won’t get their wish because Fleury is going to steal enough games like tonight to keep the Penguins as a middle of the pack team in the East and give management a belief that they are closer to being a Cup contender than they really are.
MORE BUZZ
— The Penguins have been held to 2 goals or less in regulation in all eight games this season, haven’t scored more than three goals in a regular season game since March 12 vs the Oilers. Despite scoring just one goal in regulation tonight, out-shot 33-19 (5 v 5), out-attempted 60-36 (5 v 5), in the first two periods the Penguins had their moments 5 v 5 where they were winning puck battles in the corners and creating offense in around the net. There were some positives there tonight.
The Penguins came out in the third, though, with a clear game plan to sit back, try to clog the neutral zone and pretty much play prevent defense. Despite opening the third period with a power play, Mike Johnston went with his first line (Dupuis-Crosby-Hornqvist) and top d-pair (Cole-Letang) to start the power play and when it got back to even strength, Pittsburgh went into a neutral zone trap that would be cracked immediately by the Predators.
Pittsburgh was out-shot 17-5 in the third and out-attempted 26-11.
Mike Johnston talks about being an offensive coach but at the end of the day he always chooses being conservative. Fleury bailed him out tonight.
— Chris Kunitz scored a much needed goal and you could see how happy all of his teammates were for him. Kunitz’ days are over as an impact player, but fans should be a lot of more frustrated towards a David Perron who’s in the prime of his career than a 36 year old Kunitz. [hide]
— With Eric Fehr close to returning and the Penguins somewhat confident that Beau Bennett will be able to play through his injury, the odds continue to be stronger of Daniel Sprong being returned to juniors. Played just two shifts in the third. As I’ve said before Mike Johnston believes going back to juniors will benefit Sprong.
— Sergei Plotnikov was bumped off the second line as the game progressed. Played just three shifts in third. Going to see a revolving door at both top-6 left wing spots until a trade happens. Players who the coaches don’t trust defensively, barely played in the third.
— Mike Johnston talked post-game of how overtimes are ending so quickly, Phil Kessel scored 41 seconds in tonight, yet he had Pascal Dupuis start the 3-on-3 OT.
— The Penguins 0-3 on the power play, had 4 PP shots in 9:00 of power play time, just two shots on a five minute major in the first period. Didn’t record their first power play shot on the five minute major until 2:48 in. Look for lots of work on power play breakouts the next couple days.
— James Neal scored his 6th goal of the season and had 12 shot attempts in the loss for Nashville.[/hide]
It’s not complex at all, they just need to get to their game.
Excellent post game analysis on the steeler game.managed to get 3 whole sentences…
time to replace Johnston
How the hell did they lose to the Chiefs?
They had the equivalent of a high school quarterback playing? Maybe that played a role.
Don’t disagree but they didn’t lose because of Landry, this loss is squarely on coaching and defense.
Of course they lost because of Landry. He limits what you can do. He limits the ability to keep the defense off of the field. He’s basically like putting a mannequin out there. They could have run more – sure – but everyone expects it. Fact of the matter is – when you don’t have an effective QB, you lose in this league – it’s a domino effect that nobody can stop.
3 on 3 OT is gay and so are shoot outs. Bring back the tie.
Honestly that may be the most educated, hockey related post you’ve ever made.
it wouldn’t take much.
I enjoy it…very exciting, pro sports is 100% about entertainment and it moves fast and has tons of scoring chances…I love it
A homosexual slur …coming from the little green stain… that Flower tea-bags …every time he suits up… how appropriate.
Remember when you said ‘Fleury would be out of the NHL’ two years ago, or you would cancel your account and never post again? Me too!
CBS Sports report BB got hurt when he was celebrating a goal!!! man is that fitting
Yeah I saw that how f..ked up is that only in bennetts world’s what’s next injured while going to the game
Hysterical!
Toews scored first goal of the season last night in overtime those this mean he sucks according to clowns on this site
Nope. Only Crosby sucks.
And he sucks hard.
It has been said that he prefers to suck hairy old man balls.
Guess Toews was tired from carrying his team to a 3rd cup in 5 years… jackass
When will Zatkoff play? I want to see how good these guys look without a goalie standing on his head….MJ knows he needs Fleury in there to keep the skid to a min to save his job. I want the whole staff’s head on a platter!!! Get an offensive minded coach behind the bench!!
If pens losses 2 games in a row chances are MJ is gone Replaced by Martin
Where is that giant KFC bucket npl? How is DB doing with the sabres. I tough he was n jack Adam awards conversation this year before the season starts
He’s doing better than your boy Sid.
He’s also doing better than that Canadian fraud Babcock.
Weren’t you the one drooling for babcock to come to pens
Who else can’t take watching 2-1 games? The nhl is boring.
While I’m not going to defend MJ or the job he is doing, I made my opinion very clear after he failed to challenge Neal’s goal last night but I’m tired of seeing him blamed for the lack of effort from the team, this team feeds off of its star talent and as long as 87 is going to be a passive non factor this team is going to be flat. The only game they have shown any energy is the game 87 came out on fire and was attacking the opponent with his speed.
I feel compelled to share Yoda’s wisdom again so that it’s not quickly forgotten, “The predators will score 4. St. Blurry will fail you. Only play the Pens against garbage teams”. Clearly we would all be more enlightened as hockey fans if we started taking what he says more serious.
Keep on believing! We all know how this season is going to end.
The only thing for certain this season is that you’ll look like a fool repeatedly. Again.
What about Tim Benz prediction of a perron hat trick
I believe that I read that in 5/8 games, Fleury has a sv pct of .939 or higher. He’s the loan reason they’re not 1-7. With a minor assist from 71.
MAF is the lone reason MJ hasn’t recieved the axe yet.
Agreed and if fleury was off Las night like MJ was thinking about it earlier this week. Pens would’ve lost the game with jerkoff in net easily 5-1 game. Last night
Doesn’t matter. Fleury will fold when the games count in the spring. Trade him now while his value is high.
I love hearing about this shit regarding “players the coaches don’t trust.” Fuck you. How can you trust the coaches? That’s the issue.
Johnston is a goner, will happen in the next week or two! Players aren’t necessarily quitting, but he is clueless as is his system. Plays the wrong players and the players know this! I know first hand that most players, when they see the line-up are saying WTF!! And Sprong is going nowhere, here to stay.
Unless Sprong’s playing top six minutes (and he won’t on the right side) then why keep him up. Perron was effective tonight. Johnston should have seen it early and put him with Malkin.
Midget was sharp tonight. Sprong should be sent down. Letang off the PP. Perron played a great game. If scoring is the mark of a productive player than Crosby sucks as much as Perron
The only midget on this team wears a C on his jersey. Wonder if it stands for “cunt”
Where’s Yoda? Oh wait it hasn’t been Fleury’s fault…lol
Fleury looks better because that clown DB is gone
Fleury looks better because it’s not the playoffs.
He’s been sharp in the playoffs the past two season you chode.
If getting eliminated in 5 and getting outplayed by the other teams goaltender is sharp I guess st blurry is the best!
They certainly didn’t get eliminated because of him. He’s the reason they didn’t get eliminTed sooner.
“Eliminated soon”? Really. That was your dumbest comment of the year Stanch.
It’s pointless stanch… when MAF plays out of this world but is outplayed the best tender in the game arguably over the past 10 years its still MAFs fault because yodas a fucking idiot
Low bar stanch
Johnston can shove his defensive system up his ass. Score some damn goals!