Game 1 Fallout
During the Eastern Conference finals, in all seven games the deserving team won.
Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final it was the same story.
“We had some spurts here and there, but they played their game for longer stretches than we did tonight and that’s what happens,” Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said. “You don’t deserve to win when you don’t outplay the other team.”
“It looked like we were stuck in mud,” Sharks center Logan Couture said.
Game 1 the Penguins accomplished their goal.
It wasn’t a masterful performance by the Penguins but it was the type of performance you want in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on home-ice when afterwards you have the other team doing the talking of how the opposition dictated the terms for longer stretches.
“We didn’t play our game in the first period,” DeBoer said. “We stood around and watched. They’re a fast team. They dictated play in the first. I thought when we played our game in the second, they had trouble with us….I know we’re going to get better. Our execution has got to get better. Part of it was some of the pressure they put on, but part of it was self inflicted.”
The Penguins are now 9-3 all-time on home-ice in the Stanley Cup Final and have won four straight home games in the Cup final.
Witnessing a Phenomenal Coaching Job from Mike Sullivan
— The Penguins are still three wins away from the ultimate goal but we’re witnessing just a phenomenal coaching job from Mike Sullivan. There are always so many comparisons with this team to the 09 team because of the coaching change, where the Penguins stood in the playoff race, ect, but the one big difference is this team needed coached up much more than the 09 team.
That’s not to take anything away from what Dan Bylsma did, rebounding from the Game 5 debacle vs Detroit in the Cup Final was great work, but that team needed a new voice more than anything. In 09 you had Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin just on another level. After Game 1 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Final, Evgeni Malkin already had 12 goals and 29 points racked up in 18 games. Sidney Crosby 12 goals and 28 points.
Malkin is now a shell of his former self, while Crosby is playing the best two-way hockey of his career, he’s no longer the dominant points producer like he was in his early 20’s.
How fundamentally well coached the Penguins are right now under Mike Sullivan is stunning with this group. The adjustments and buy-in the group had in stifling the Lightning through the neutral zone in games 6 and 7 was remarkable work by this staff.
They study the opposition so well, the Penguins have an ability to set the tone in a series’ by dictating their style, then being able to adjust when the opposition makes their move. It happened in the Tampa series and will likely happen many times in this series.
Bonino, Bonino, Bonino
— Been saying for weeks, Nick Bonino is going to get paid whether it’s in Pittsburgh or elsewhere next summer. This playoff run is going to lock him into a long-term deal with an AAV of at least $4 million per season. Bonino’s been the perfect example of a player who plays Mike Sullivan’s way in nearly every aspect. Six blocked shots in Game 1, Bonino has become sneaky good in getting into shooting lanes in the middle of the ice in the defensive zone.
“I think he’s a terrific player in every aspect of the game,” said Sullivan about Bonino. “We use him in so many key situations, both offensively and defensively. I think he’s a guy that has a real high hockey IQ, sees the ice really well. He has real good hands. His awareness defensively I think, the use of his stick to take passing lanes away, it’s impressive. He’s brave. He blocks shots. He’s one of our better shot-blockers. He’s a good faceoff guy. He’s done so much for this team to help us get to this point. I don’t know what other praise I can shower on him right now. We think he’s a terrific player.”
Win for the Penguins
— How many millions has Bryan Rust lost? Agreeing to a two year, $1.28 million extension ($640,000 AAV) in March, the playoff run Rust is putting together would have likely netted him around $1.5 million per season on a short-term deal at least this summer. Win for the Penguins.
NHL Clubs Monitoring Justin Schultz
— As NHL teams are beginning to lay out their off-season plans, Penguins’ defenseman Justin Schultz is a player gaining buzz among pro scouts as a free agent target [hide] for particular teams with expectations in league circles that it will not be financially feasible for the Penguins to retain him on a tender at nearly $4 million per season. Pittsburgh hopes to retain him on a cheaper deal. Washington Capitals and Los Angeles Kings are two teams with an eye on Schultz.
Schultz played 18:53 in Game 1, on the ice for 20 shot attempts, just 9 against, 69.0 SAT%. Tops among Penguin skaters.
No Suspension for Marleau
— The NHL Department of Player Safety officially confirmed Patrick Marleau will not be suspended for his hit on Bryan Rust.
(1/3) Dept of Player Safety determines no Supplemental Discipline is warranted for Patrick Marleau’s hit on Bryan Rust in Game 1 of the SCF.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) May 31, 2016
(2/3) Main points of contact: shoulders, chest. Rust low, off-balance, reaching.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) May 31, 2016
(3/3) Marleau does not “pick” the head, elevate or extend. Head contact is with Marleau’s back.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) May 31, 2016
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#umbrance
Is there a game today? This website just gets worse and worse… SMH. used to have year round coverage, now we are lucky to get an article when the pens are in the Stanley Cup Playoffs? What joke, SHUT IT DOWN ALREADY, stop making me waste time hoping an article will get posted.
Why would you ever come here for information about the penguins? This site is pure comedy and intertainment. Take umbrance with that?
#intertainment.
#Vogelsong.
Sam wants Kevin Porter to take Rust’s spot if he can’t go
Craig Adams will do
Looks like there was another shooting in another “gun free zone.”
But I thought they still had their “safe space”?
I love how all these “experts” fail to give the penguins any credit. It’s always the other team just not playing their game or “they will make adjustments and be ready for the next game”
You noticed that too. I mean yes the Sharks didnt look as good as expected but could there be a little “were not able to handle the speed” not been a factor? Guess we will see but I like to think the Pens play was factoring into the outcome.
Yeah i agree, SJ looked bad because of Pittsburgh playing well.
That being said i expect SJ to have a better game. Well they better if they want to come back to Pittsburgh after tonight
Malkin became a DAD this morning….Congrats!!
Welcome to Pittsburgh, but dont get comfy kid. Your dad will be gone this year, no wait… Next year… Or the year after… But most likely the year after that… If not, definitely the next year… Or maybe the following year… But absolutely sometime in the near decade or two… Perhaps after graduation.
Oh good. Maybe he’ll get his head out of his ass now, and while he’s at it can remove Stanch tongue from his balls.
I haven’t exactly been raving about his play. I do take umbrance with retards that forget 6 months ago. Especially retards that lobbied Sestito and Zatkoff.
You mean when I advocated playing Zak in game 2 after he single handedly won game one and the other two Pens’ goalies were still hurt? Yup, I’m guilty. And playing Seistito in the final two games of the meaningless regular season when the pens were locked into a playoff seed. Guilty again.
I like how you call him Zak like the two of you are boys.
You said you wanted to start him no matter who was healthy. That was the whole issue. It’s funny how the plugs on here back talk.
Yes – and claimed he was the “hot goalie.” That was best. Then lobbied for a goalie coming off of a 2 month layoff in Fleury. The guy is hitting it out of the park with unrivaled consistency.
I take umbrance with that
“single handedly” – speaking of 6th grade vocabulary you may wanna review what single handedly means. 5 – 2? Penguins put up 5 goals and you are putting that win solely on Zatkoff? Correct me if I am wrong but didnt Hornqvist have a hat trick that game? Zatkoff stood in and made saves when he had too but the Rangers threw a lot of pucks at him from everywhere. This wasnt a 35 save performance that also included 30 scoring chances. Even Vigneault was quoted as saying he wanted to see better chances as opposed to quantity going into… Read more »
so in other words, the only goalie in this organization who you will give any credit to is st.bleury, the playoff nightmare.
You’re such a stupid c-u-n-t. I have said countless good things about Murray and in fact I was against MAF coming into play over him. What I am saying above is reality and clearly far beyond your grasp of anything we talk about here on a daily basis. Getfucked yoda you lying, fraud, loser sack of shit.
angry little man. Other than living in a miserble Canadian morgue what could make you so miserable. are you fat too?
LOL, you continually think its anger as opposed enjoyment of telling idiots like you and your buttfuck buddy to eat shit and that is funny to me. You’re just pissed because you were called out again on another easy to take apart comment.
how badly do you want to be American…has to fuel some of that wild anger of yours. #zerocool
You are all the reason in the world to be very happy I’m Canadian… Sam makes me happy I’m from the West. How bad do you want to actually understand the game as opposed to whatever it is you do now? #maloser
“Zatkoff stood in and made saves when he had too” this here is giving Zatkoff credit… this is more than you have said about MAF in the last 5 years!!! So again, you’re entire reply was simply another lie and one you had to go out of your way to make as the evidence to the contrary of your statement is right above you. Zatkoff made the saves when he had too but wasn’t exactly called on to make a significant number of big play saves. The Rangers own coach agreed with this statement, get a glue douche nozzle
Stanch takes umbrance with you.
whoa, just read your post…”outside low % shots” Really? You are a tard. watch the game again you fucking Candian loser.
(“we did on more than one occasion in more than just the first period. We need to find a way to generate a little bit better quality and obviously we spent a lot of energy killing penalties and we need to be better there.”). Vigneaults own words you fucking turd… and the play by play spoke on several occasions as to the Rangers game plan to “just get shots on goal”. I mean I know you don’t get what you are watching which is usually the source of all your idiocy but the fact that you continue to ignore the… Read more »
“single handedly” – second star of that game HAHAHAHA… you fucken idiot lol
Whatever you do don’t take “umbrance” with retards that failed 6th grade vocabulary.
zatkoff’s playoff numbers>st,bleury’s
of course you would argue a 2 game sample size to make your case. What a fucken retard lol
zatkoff played 6 periods, st.bleury played 4. zatkoff has better numbers this playoff year. it wasn’t up for debate.
LMAO, you still have a flaw in your discussion but you won’t see it, never will so I am not even sure why you bother bringing it up.
My umbrance hurts
I’ve been a big fan of Malkin throughout his career but it’s hard to argue he’s not on the decline. If he doesn’t produce a vintage Geno-esq performance this series – and re-establishes his value – then I’d see if he’s open to a trade this summer before his value hits rock bottom.
Funny. Before game 1 on NHL network Mike Rupp who was in the locker room with Malkin and Crosby said if he was starting a team tomorrow, Malkin would be his choice. His words, not mine.
Funny that the first half of the season would have potentially sunk this ship if not for Malkin and fleury. Now, six months later, he’s done at 29. You see it all the time. I think what Maloni is really trying to say is, he’s ready to put fleury in again like he was for game five. Guy is batting 1.000!
I love you stanch, your pea brain and all.
You’re basically Sam with sentence structure.
You’re basically npl but the skinny version
Ouch.
take that npl aka thomas steen! (PS – sam is so bad at this)
So, so bad at this.
Harsh words for a guy working at Dunkin Donuts.
That line, again, is so Sam-ish. You keep saying it. And you’re the only one that finds it funny. You should have gone with “you’re basically the skinny version of npl”
Kings and Capitals monitoring Shultz. Where did this information cone from? Orig course they are… As are the other 26 teams not in the finals.
Sullivan is doing a great job, but you can tell deep down he’s a d!ck. Coach killer Sid will run him off in 3 years MAX in my opinion.
If he was overbearing I would agree, they have a shelf life but he seems like he brings it when its needed but is also very good with the guys. This breeds respect more often than not. Also I would hope him watching Torts make teams hate him after 18 months will help keep him in line
Sully is less of a dick then Tortz . Tortz is nothing but a dick and Arrogant
They’re both better than Bob Hartley. I know that much.
This team needed a d!ck for a coach after mustache boy let the lunatics run the asylum. Coach killer. That’s funny. Every coach that Sid has “run off” deserved to be sh!t canned. I don’t think Mike Johnston ever earned the respect of the ice girls let alone the players.
I don’t get the Sam logic on Malkin. So, Mario is going to keep Malkin almost as a shiny prize that the new owner would get by purchasing the team. Then this new owner who is supposedly excited about the potential of owning Crosby and Malkin will turn and trade Malkin? I don’t get it.
Why does Rothey only post once a month?
A bus pass to the closest Starbucks for free wifi isn’t cheap.
If you havent been on the internet the past 20 hours or so… Sid has a twinkle in his eye
Sucks Beerman isn’t here to enjoy the ride. Hope the Pens give the Sharks another good a$$ kicking tomorrow!
What happen to Beerman?
Beerman passed away back in November I believe from a long bought with cancer.
Did that actually happen? i know he had skin cancer but that would be awful
Yes, it really happened. Unfortunately
So its not unfortunate, Sam? Youre a terrible french weirdo.
Just brutal, i believe he had a few young children as well. fucking cancer.
yeah, win for beerman
Wow, I did not know that. That is really sad. Well Pens, lets win this CUP for Beerman.
Sam is the greatest troll in the history of the internet, so many dummies are just waiting by the computer to dispute what he says like they actually going to change his mind. Well done samantha
Is it really trolling though? Trolling is usually posting something with the sole purpose of getting a reaction from people, Sam actually believes every word of the nonsense he posts so I’m not sure I can consider it trolling.
Oh i know what it means
Trolling or french stupidity, just enjoy the ride.
This may be a stupid question but is there a chance Scott Wilson comes back? I don’t even remember his injury or the severity, but he could really fill a potential hole Rust leaves. And at that, Bennett didn’t exactly disappoint me last game. I just think Rust is another element.
There are no stupid questions, just stupid people that ask questions.
missed used.
wilson is still injured
and as for Bennett he was a Ghost last game and bring him for what? to play a few shifts vs the sharks and get injured again ?
its kinda disapointing how they missed used Sprong this year and burned his 10 games
I don’t really get the “How many millions has Bryan Rust lost” questioning, at most with the 1.5M short term deal that was suggested he would have lost 1.72M. Now for normal people like us I’m sure that 860k per year for 2 years is a lot of money but the way the question is posed, D makes it sound like he’s completely derailed his career earnings by signing early when in reality what he gave up will be a drop i the bucket.
pens can bring back shultz but not a penny more than 1.5m and i am being generous this clown does not deserve 4m
“this clown” has stepped up and done an admirable job considering what the team loss. He was a major factor in the 1st goal last night at that.
up to date even with all the injuries Sid had he still has more Value then malkin sorry to break your heart stan
but pens have to move malkin soon
I bet – yet again, that he goes nowhere. Sorry to break your heart, chubby.
I hope you are dreaming if you think the russian will retire as a Penguin
only reason he is still here its because of the selling of the team
once pens win the cup they dont need that bum specially that he is on a decline for the past 2 years now
Remember pens were in a big winning streak in the season when he was out and in the playoffs its not like they are really needing him they can still win games without him
he has more penalties then points
Right. They don’t need him now. They’d probably be fine with just two lines and some other plug at center. He basically won you game 7 you rube. That line was clicking on all cylinders – him rust and 87 carried that game.
they can trade him and get 2 decent players that can do the same job he does but better without dumb penalties
trade #19 and 71 for oilers #4 and #93 and trust me your team is in way better shape then they are with the russian
You’ve literally been saying he will get traded or go back to Russia ever since we won the cup. At what point will you just stop? You’d think when you’re wrong for the better part off a decade, you’d just give up. I’ve never seen anyone so persistent about being a moron.
i said it since 2013 nice try with the 09 year
was also right about DB and clown shero being canned and wont see another cup with pens while most of the people here were riding them glad that country club is over
You’ve said Malkin will be gone every single offseason. Every single one. Don’t lie. You’re a gutless pu$$y so at least own up to it. Zatkoof in FLA yet?
Ladd too – Ladd to Florida! Christ, I think Eklund clicks at a higher rate than Sam does.
I am not lying man i said i want malkin to be gone pens should trade him then in 2013 i said it by 2 years he wont be around and last summer there was rumors he wasnt happy and trades were around then mario selling the team calm things down temporary so it extended by 1 year no worries im not off from the target he wont be a penguin much long
and reason i gave 2 years in 2013 because some delusional clown said he will retire as a penguin
lol.
You also predicted that for three years before it happened. It’d be like me saying “I told you so” regarding Morely Safer dying. It was going to happen eventually. Just say it over and over again for years! Then take credit! “Sid’s not going to be a penguin next year. Sid’s not going to be a penguin next year.” Sid retires in 2026 – See! I told you guys! Get fucked.
Half the board was tired of Bylsma and Shero was regularly shit on for questionable moves. The other half wasnt exactly hanging banners with their names either TBH.
Is it time to trade Letang? He takes a bunch of dumb penalties – bet we can get a couple guys for him. Less french. Far more durable. Not a whiny bittch.
They don’t really need him to sell the team, to be honest. But that gets into stuff that’s WAY over your head.
As well as he’s played, someone else can pay Schultz 4 mil. the pens will gladly take the pick compensation. Which i believe is a 1st and 3rd?
If they can get that compensation, but you also have to consider the likelihood of Flower being moved and how much space that may clear if they don’t bring a roster player back in the deal.
We’d have to tender him a qualifying offer of 4 mil to get the compensation, and then another team would have to out bid us. They won’t get compensation if they don’t qualify him. Not happening at that price. We’ll lose him for nothing or sign him at a discounted rate.
Denzel voice “okay, alright”
The problem is that the Pens first have to pay Shultz 4M before they can receive compensation if someone else signs him to an offer sheet. Unfortunately I don’t see anyone being willing to give up a 1st & 3rd to get him so I don’t see him getting an offer sheet if the Pens tender him. So if they tender Shultz, he’ll be a Pen and make 4M if he’s playing for someone else next season the Pens will get no compensation because it will mean he was never tendered.
With that said I still believe they will sign him to a 2-3 year bridge deal this summer.