Game 3 Pre-Game
Are jobs on the line tonight for Washington?
If they lose in Game 3 to go down 0-3 that leads to a quick exit, how can the team bring Barry Trotz back? He was brought in to get the Capitals over the hump in the playoffs and this would be three straight years of not advancing past the second round.
A round 2 exit and a lot of eyes would also be on the center position with Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov in that the Capitals have to do something and move one of them.
Year after year Backstrom and Kuznetsov are getting outplayed in the playoffs from Derek Stepan and the Rangers to Pittsburgh last post-season and the Penguins again through two games.
— One former NHL assistant coach on Barry Trotz pulling Braden Holtby in Game 2.
“He punted the game,” the coach said of Trotz.
All eyes are on Holtby tonight to get the Capitals back in the series.
Much of the talk surrounding Holtby is how the Penguins have identified a weakness with Holtby’s glove hand.
If anything, Holtby looks like a goaltender whose confidence is just shaken that has him off his angle and it’s led to Pittsburgh’s elite shooters smelling blood and smoking him glove side.
— Mike Sullivan on lack of net-front presence for Game 3 if Patric Hornqvist doesn’t play tonight:
“I think we’re preaching to all of our guys to get to the net. That’s sound hockey, create scoring chances. Get in sight lines, limit mobility, make it difficult.”
—Conor Sheary last post-season began to hit a wall in the conference finals that led to him being a healthy scratch in a Game 5 loss. He returned to the lineup in Game 6 and got rejuvenated a bit the final two games of the series and early in the Stanley Cup Final where he scored in Games 1 and 2 vs the Sharks.
Sheary would be scratched tonight if the Penguins weren’t banged up at forward.
He is so much in Mike Sullivan’s dog house right now, Sullivan benched Sheary minutes into Game 2 but was forced to keep playing Sheary due to the Patric Hornqvist injury.
Sheary, though, played just 8:50 in Game 2.
There’s still a lot of hockey to be played and could be two more rounds for the Penguins, but if this is the Sheary the Penguins get the rest of the post-season, it will obviously give the Penguins some pause and impact talks on a new deal this summer.
Pittsburgh had viewed Sheary as a $3 million a year player next season if the sides reached a short-term deal.
If the Penguins decide to commit to all three key pending RFA’s on deals ranging three years or more, the Penguins in fact have been bracing for new deals for Justin Schultz, Conor Sheary and Brian Dumoulin to tie up potentially $11-$12 million against the cap for next season.
There are conflicting opinions inside the organization on J[hide]ustin Schultz when it comes to committing the type of long-term deal it would take for Schultz and his reps at Newport Sports to avoid testing free agency.
Schultz is the more pressing decision than Sheary and Dumoulin because he’s a year away from free agency. His camp isn’t accepting anything under $4 million per.
Despite Olli Maatta being made available in trade talks for Matt Duchene prior to the deadline, some teams now believe the Penguins will eventually decide to move forward with Letang/Dumoulin/Maatta, and actively listen to offers for Schultz prior the expansion draft by selling high.
The buzz on Schultz is the Penguins like him but not at the $5 million per he could command.
If Hornqvist, Hagelin and Dumoulin don’t play tonight, the Penguins are looking at the following lineup:
Chad Ruhwedel would be the next man up on the blueline.
Jake Guentzel – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust
Chris Kunitz – Evgeni Malkin – Phil Kessel
Scott Wilson – Nick Bonino – Conor Sheary
Tom Kuhnhackl – Matt Cullen – Carter Rowney
Ian Cole – Justin Schultz
Olli Maatta – Trevor Daley
Ron Hainsey – Chad Ruhwedel
For the Capitals, Karl Alzner dealing with a groin injury will take warmups and is getting close, Barry Trotz said. [/hide]
No hearing for Niskanen, per Isabelle Khurshudyan.
http://i.imgur.com/CVMQH.gif
Sam the bandwagon man during the 3rd period last night
“Explain me stain!” -Sam
Sam’s a pirate that shlts himself.
You catch that 3rd period yet sammich?
Sam the bandwagon man!
https://img.clipartfest.com/8bf70f360ca23ce583f7cf28f973a66a_turning-20clipart-turn-off-tv-clipart_490-485.gif
#SamtheBandwagonman
Go listen to the trotz interview. It slipped out. He said “fortunately Sid got hurt”. What a cuuuuunt
Trotz shot the puck at Hainsey on purpose.
Sam would listen, but…
Let me just state again how much I love Chris Kunitz’s game. The dude plays a tough, mean game.
Sam likes his game too. But not enough to keep his TV on all game. Bandwagon.
Let’s be honest. The chances that Maloni got the laundry done in time for a 430 west coast start are slim to fucking none. Him and sam both missed a good bit of that game.
I wonder how is stains party going he left early this site when pens were down 2-0. He had to go do the preparation for sids injury party.
You turned your TV off. Bandwagon.
If the pens were smart, they would announce Sid is concussed. If they say he is fine, there will be no chance of a niskanen suspension.
I like any time yoda tries to tell someone else how to be “smart.”
Can someone send Sam the highlights of the Pens goals, please? His TV was off and he missed them.
On a positive front Sheary is hurt.
Goaltending and power plays. Must be the playoffs.
Tim Benz reporting Sids ok?
Not a good sign. Terrible reporter.
He basically tweeted that he saw Crosby wink at a PPG worker and say “I’m okay” with no noticeable limp
I read that. Good sign, but a better sign is how he feels in the morning.
Why would he limp, he was hit in the head.
Well for those watching the game it was clear that his knee was also in a bad position when he fell prompting additional concerns to a “lower body injury” as well as the head injury.
His legs are fine. His brain not so much.
Has there been an update?
You hit the nail on the head. You watched the game.
Yes, I’m sure Crosby would tell a PPG worker his real condition.
If Sid was okay he would have come back.
http://www.thatscoop.com/img/big/53d8ce378b24830072014105135.gif
Sam running to turn his tv back on
Sam turned his TV off
Just tell your mom to end her gang bang event so you can log off and go to bed
#BlackCockMatters
Look at the little bandwagon cry like the little french twat he is
#3rdPeriodMatters
I don’t care if the Pens win another game. Please get Daly and Maatta off the fuuucking ice
John?
Now the national ratings will plummet even lower than what they normally are. Take out a superstar. It’s a garage league.
Caps in 5
Series is over. Caps in 6 now that Crosby is done.
I thought pens are more than just sid.
They are. You’re both just morons.
They still have Malkin, who brought the team back tonight. But you wouldnt know that because you turned your TV off. Bandwagon.
Should be fun watching the league F Up the Niskanan punishment.
Hate to say it, the Saint looked like a turd on that OT goal. I think he saw it and just whiffed.
Typical!
You dejected little pincushion.
Remember when it was cool the pens had a black guy.
Now it is time to meditate for the health of Crosby. Being that he didn’t come back, it safe to assume he is concussed. The caps are worse than the flyers.
I don’t think we see Crosby again this season
Maybe ever. I heard he’s dead.
I can’t take it anymore…I have to ignore Sam. He’s just awful
See ya Daly.
John?
Sam is so mad he turned his TV back on.
The fix was in The NHL didn’t want a short series. The disallowed goal was crap and the pp was crap too.
Frenchy frog has a puck go right past him
Get fuckedd piece of shitt if it wasn’t for fleury this game was long over. Possibly series would’ve even been 3-0 to caps. Or even better jackets would’ve even beat pens if it wasnt for fleury but you know shit. Now go call your mommy let her tuck you in suckk on your thumb and go to bed.
Yea, Bandwagon Sam kept the game on a whole extra period because of Fleury before he shut it off in the 3rd.
Ovi was a ghost tonight
So was Crosby. Who we won’t see play for a while. Crosby and his concussions may be done
Ya well his team fucken won and no matter how you cut it that’s the point dumbfuckk
Russian brings us back, French Canadian blows it.
Daley in the box is fitting…
Can fans from tonight’s game come back to the game if they left the arena ? since this doesn’t happen in Canada
Sam knows first hand in Montreal they leave an stay gone
Can you turn your tv back on bandwagon?
Dude you don’t even have tv you rely on this site. Where is the super fan stain
Just shut up…
Can anyone explain why half the arena is empty and why half the board went off? Is it because passionate fans or have school for tomorrow kindergarten class
No one is reading your posts because everyone has ignored you
Hahaha, sammich exposed as the true bandwagon Pens fan he is! Caught editing his post to try and look like a lesser idiot. At one point he shut off his TV. Even through that he still can’t give Malkin credit for showing up big with the game on the line. What a fucken loser hahaha
Sam will forever be known as a french weirdo bandwagon
Weirdo? Nothing more weirdo then fat Americans i mean who the fuckk gets Kessel with a hot dog tattoo not one but 2 must be u and stain
Same has a tattoo of Therriens throbbing member lying on the middle of his chest
Hope pens win it for sid and make caps go into meltdown mode
Hope your mom lets you turn the tv back on
Where is stain? Probably closed his TV and preparing his pj party since Crosby got injured
YOU turned your TV off Samthebandwagonman
I bet half the members on this board also stopped watching. Only reason npl still here he probably thought pens were in the white Jersey all night
Also stopped? You totally turned your TV off! BANDWAGON!
Win or lose, Pretty ballsy effort (except Daly)
John?
This might be why Sam doesnt like Geno. He turns his TV off during the clutch moments.
I hope the karmic hit the caps gave themselves can push the pens to victory. Dear universe let the good guys win
But fleury is a good guy and loved by the fans and the city you never want to see him win?
Says the hypocrite that cheers for only three players on the team? You suck sammich
Sam the bandwagon man missed that comeback. Hilarious.
Look at the arena half empty bunch of Bandwagons wow just wow
They left game 7 min left in game explain me stain why
“Explain me stain why” – I’m getting a T-Shirt made that says this
I think Sam is irish. “Explain me stain!” It’s because you have poor grooming habits, sam.
Its because you shlt your pants, Sam.
Yeah baby if pens win caps will go full depression mode
Sam you should have seen it. That was awesome.
Geno with the game tying assist!
Turn that Tv back on bandwagon
Hahahaha sam you are missing a hell of a game!
I feel bad for the average Bandwagons that missed malkin goal since they left game already or closed their tv already
SHHUUUUT THE FUUUUCK UP YOU TURD. You were just running off at the fucking mouth about Malkin killing the team. You’re a real piece of work douche bag
Malkin single handily killed little momentum left in pens with his dumb penalty. Good job assshole now minute gets point becomes hero yet sabotaged teams momentum all night
Hurry up. Delete it.
Haha edited the post!
Hahahaha, moron
Once again same is right as I said today pens always lucky in first period caps score first few good luck pens coming back once caps clog the neutral ice and that’s exactly what is happening also sid injured doesn’t even help the cause no one to feed the Americans and make them look like stars
Spelled your name wrong
Hahaha, gold!!!
Pens havent looked good since Sheary left. They clearly miss him.
Looks like bandwagon sam stopped watching the game.
Half the arena is already empty
You stopped watching. Bandwagon.
Samtheman is the reason why most of the world laughs at Canadians. They need to go to their own island with the whiny liberal in the use. Snowflakes
And that comment there is why the world thinks Americans are ignorant pricks
Pens outshot 10-1 this period, Malkins fault because he should have 9 by now. This is why the country hates Quebec
I deal with Canadians very day. Most of them are cool. Quebec is truly a bunch of whiny assholes.
No coincidence the Avalanche won immediately after leaving that shltty place.
Somebody on the pens needs to break ovechkins wrist with a slash before this game is over
If theyre gonna take a player out, might as well be someone who is having an effect on this series.
NHL is a garage league. The caps are cuuuuunts.
Wtf was fleury doing? Did he fall off his Canadian french lillypad
God dammit Fleury
Exactly. Maloni just opened a new bottle of jergens.
Good job malkin
This is when sid goes down and Russian is exposed with his stupidities and bandwagon fans booing that’s when you know average fan base of pens has hockey iq like stain and npl
Leave it to Sam to basically cheer against the Pens once Sid goes down. Go watch the fucken Habs you repugnant snow frog!
You need to just shut up and log off. Tell your mom she can cut your internet off. You truly are a piece of shit
Stain What time is your pj party is starting ? Hope you are a friendly host and have donuts at your event I heard your ex will be there but apparently not for you but for the donuts. Always knew that fat slob is low class
Re-type this in English. Thanks.
Still waiting for that re-type, Two Tons of Fun. Step it up.
How many games does Nisky get? I say 1. This league is a joke.
Zero
Initial reaction is ofcourse dire but reality is if the Pens can adjust the lines they can still easily win this game. Split Kessel and Malkin, make sure Hornqvist skates with one of those two…
Holy fuckk Fleury has been outstanding!
Wonder how proud DiPshit feels about his game three call so far?
Tomorrow’s headline “have Caps figures Fleury out?”
Tomorrow headlines Murray getting closer to come back and get his number 1 position
That’s not a headline
Its not a good headline, and its riddled with errors, so its very much in line with TIOPS. Ill allow it.
“Fleury’s tettering leads to loss”
“…at the end of the second where fleurys terrible rebound control led to an incredible acrobatic save” -tomorrow’s DePaoli article.
… acrobatic save by Hornqvist.
Impossible to say enough about what a warrior MAF has been.
He’s been fantastic
Omg youre gonna jinx ittttttt!!!!!
Wtf is this Wilson line doing Vs malkin line this team is playing dirtier then flyers. And fuckk you orpigg
Caps are desperate and are cheap dirty scum
You gotta just love what Kunitz brings to a game
Run the fucking goalie! Enough of this shit.
At least sid is gone. He’d have definitely been -1 on that pk
Not really fun man. Another time maybe..but not tonight
Is it only ok when you do it?
Are you kidding there is no one happier then stain. He is in heaven no letang no Crosby. Later tonight there is a party going on at shitt stains place
If I’m in heaven when Letang isn’t playing, then I’m in heaven a LOT
Nice job Geno and Kunitz here, Malkin needs to keep pushing
Well this still applies
Thats not a good goal, but ill take it.
And now theyll take it away.
DePaoli, any chance Murray can replace Sid at center? Cuz he sure as shlt isnt replacing Fleury.
No about that Sam…the Russian scored.
Now go suck a hotdog
With his history of concussions I don’t think we see Crosby for a few games.thats was a total cheap shot. And it will change the entire series
I agree. Totally cheap. Nisky will get 1 game. This league is a joke.
I’m at the game and it was right in front of me. He looked dazed and confused.
I can’t hear the game, but my first thought is his season is over. Hope I’m wrong. He looked bad.
Nisky is a Puzzy! That was reminiscent of Dave Brown cross checking Tomas Sandstorm back in the day. I want them to make Ovi or Nicky’s head bleed!
Hey stain did u see how Canadian fans were able to sing the American nation anthem I bet if it was the other way around you pigs wouldn’t know what to do or too busy eating hot dogs
Or I might be wrong maybe Edmonton fans were able to sing American anthem because they are fake Canadians and wannabe Americans like Ron Klatt
You call me a wannabe American because I understand the game an it’s players in a manner you could only ever read about, if you could read beyond a 3rd grade level. You’re a complete buffoon and a fucken embarrassment to my country.
Case in point… Sidney Crosby, the teams top player is gone and you’re out here banging your chest on some US vs Canada shit that no one that has a higher IQ than fingers and toes gives three flying fuckks about you aborted fetus.
Yeah. Hot dogs. Good one. “Last I checked”
Got to love Bob Cole commenting pens game tonight .feels like a hockey game. Unlike the other morons on NBC they talk about everything but hockey. Just like npl and stain
Fleury suckkss that goal was all on fleury Yoda
Still waiting on your thoughts on Letang not showering for two months
Fuckoff moron, you’re every bit as stupid as he is
Isn’t that the fucking truth
Where is sestito loll
Pounding your mothers asshole into ground frog
Ahhh that’s when you know our Russian is engaged to the game killing Power play momentum
Someone hasn’t to pick up the slack while lejunk is on holiday
You always wanted sid and letang traded you must be happy both out now. If only fleury is out as well Yoda will be happy
Sam. Do you think Letang has showered since his last game played? I lean yes, but it’s 50/50 at best
Party at stains
Kill yourself asshole
Fuck Niskanen, I hope he fucken dies tonight. What a filthy cuntt!
Oh fuck
Whoa… did Fleury just stop a top six forward with a poke check?
Whos winning the Corsi Cup this year?
$3M for Sheary? Toews triples that for half the production.
Dustin brown doubles that salary to play on 3rd line doing nothing
I wonder how many points does brown have last 3-4 season accumulated does he even have 150 points?
Brown has a terrible contract, but its not a franchise crippler like Toews’.
How about Ryan that most night plays on 3-4 th line or even enjoys the press box
What does any of this have to do with how useless Toews is?
Game 3 is overrated. Pens should forfeit and rest up for game 4. They will still be up 3 games to 1.
Kuznetsov is a fucken dink anyway. If there is one guy that gives the opposition all the incentive in the world to push it’s him. I hope he stays in Washington but if they had to pick one of him and Backstrom they would be stupid to move Backstrom
Glad you noticed you don’t built around Russians same goes for pens if u had to pick sid or geno I would pick sid all over again. But according some dummies it would probably the opposite
not a single person ever said or hinted at selecting malkin over sid if you were building a team……no one…you made that up retard……now people omn here can recognize malkin is an amazing player….you can do that and STILL select crosby over him……Malkin doesnt have to ‘suck’ to make crosby a valuable asset loser
He has to argue worth himself because he loses when he does it worth anyone else.
Well said Cole!
Oh for fuck sakes… you’re such a cherry picking douche. Kuznetsov as an individual is dirt… a guy like Kucherov, seems to be all heart and I’d love to have him in our line up so go fuckk a soviet bear you little xenophobic smelly fake ass Canadian frog
What is up with Striet? I felt for sure his presence on blue line and the offensive side could come into play and help us. Thoughts?
I agree. I would honestly play him over maatta at this point. I’m tired of seeing Maatta turn the puck over and get walked on a shift by shift basis.
All hail!
there you go trying to jinx this whole thing again
so you dont believe in a line having chemistry..but you believe in a jinx?…..make up your mind
Keep Fleury and Jarry, let Murray go he is hurt way too much
I did say that several articles ago
Fleury still has contract and is older then Murray. Keep fleury up until contract let him prepare Jarry and once fleury contract finish he can signing for a cheaper contract as backup. Trade Murray somewhere in Calgary. He is young and has value. Some suckerr team will take him and his injuries with them. The guy is not as agile or acrobatic as fleury is slow and fragile trade that dipietro before it’s too late. Oops I meant Murray
Don’t take my posts as yours jackass.
Dude I’ve said this few articles ago and during season too trading fleury would be a big mistake when some here were exited fleury be dealt by TD just imagine if pens did Jarry not ready pens would’ve been out in 4 games Vs jackets. Specially the slow 1st periods they are having in this year’s playoffs
You never said any of this, Sam. Youre a total thief.