Penguins/NHL
GAME 3 WHAT WE LEARNED
Do the Penguins have any interest in even putting up a fight Tuesday night to send the series back to Long Island or have they mentally checked out?
It’s a valid question after the Penguins 4-1 loss in Game 3.
The Islanders have not only out-classed the Penguins in nearly every area through three games, today’s loss was so crushing in how there was just no fight, no pushback from the Penguins.
Some of the signs were there in Game 2 and that continued in Game 3.
This team is stale and mis-managed but when the going got tough today, the Penguins just called it a day.
Pittsburgh managed just three shots in the final 10 minutes of the third third period, coincidingly the Islanders took a 3-1 lead at 10:27 of the third period and put an exclamation point on Game 3.
Mike Sullivan, Sidney Crosby and others talked afterwards that despite the Penguins low shot volume today, (NYI 36 – 26 edge in shots) there were opportunities like rebounds the Penguins just couldn’t get too.
“It’s a tight game, game of execution and we haven’t done as good of a job as they have,” Sidney Crosby said.
The difference between Pittsburgh and New York is the Penguins scoring opportunities have been on the lower percentage side, having to rely on converting rebounds and tip-in’s than creating off the rush or capitalizing on d-zone breakdowns where the Islanders have excelled at.
“They’ve got some opportunistic goals, seems like in each [game] that’s occurred,” Mike Sullivan said.
Sullivan should be the last person to be stunned by this.
The tape will be brutal again for the coaching staff to go over with the Penguins d-zone play and none more so than the immediate seconds after taking a 1-0 lead on a Garrett Wilson tip-in goal.
Following the center ice faceoff after the Wilson goal, the Islanders get the puck deep and there’s a complete breakdown from the Penguins defensively with their No. 1 pairing on the ice. Look at the chance Jordan Eberle gets. There’s confusion on who should go where (like all series) and Letang in no-mans land (like all series) in not protecting the right post.
These constant breakdowns and Letang’s been one of the biggest culprits, which is a major problem when he plays the minutes he does, has just reached the unbelievable stages.
This breakdown immediately ensuing the Wilson goal had a major trickle down effect as it led to a defensive zone faceoff that Sidney Crosby lost where Pittsburgh couldn’t get the puck out and Jordan Eberle scores (17 seconds after the lost draw) to tie the game at 1-1.
The icing on the cake was just over a minute later where Justin Schultz makes a terrible pinch that leads to a Brock Nelson 2-on-1 goal.
The Penguins deserve their fate right now of being down 3-0.
This is just a terrible combination for the present and future on the backend of slower d-men in a league that’s getting faster and the ones who can skate having below average situational awareness in high pressure situations that might be easy to overlook in the regular season but becomes magnified in the postseason as they are now.
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Bullshitt call
Gudbranson fuckk up here?
Sam has already “closed” his TV
Fuckk off…. done man… this team is wrecked
Terrific play Wilson… I get why Blue was sat for him
Sid and Letang neutralizing the PP… Sam? Care to chime in? Is that incorrect
Good thing the PP has been shitt, real men score 5v5 right sam?
he is over at the other story. Getting tired of going back forth. Come on over 🙂
Done with Letang…. every fucken shift he plays it is a stupid play. I’d trade him for next to nothing at this point just to be rid of that contract! That’s fucken brutal. Team comes out on fire and it’s put to rest but a stupid fucken frog with zero fucken hockey sense
Not been on Letang as much as rest of all inspired Sam comments. But he is really out of position a lot. It doesn’t any more. He needs to just be a steady D man now.
I’m not even just getting on Sam here, he’s been a disaster
he never adjusted his style for age or health issues and that just doesn’t work anymore.
Agreed
Damn Kane went all in on Reaves today. Reaves best keep his head, can’t get caught trying to catch dude! But damn… I’ll see if I can find a transcript link… that’s some serious chirps
Easy…
https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/evander-kane-says-fight-ryan-reaves-like-fighting-muffin-man/
Remember guys lets keep it positive and no pitch forks or torches till after we lose the 4th time in the series
While I do not have a lot of confidence they will even show up I would like to see at least one win this post season.
Same here there is always hope. Sat through the 4 game turn around in 1975 by the Islanders would be great to do that to them this time. Has always been bad memory can still remember the sound in the arena when Westfall’s goal went in.
Apparently malkin was seen at the airport buying his summer vacation ticket to Russian
30 minutes before that he was seen getting off your mother behind a dumpster at the airport
It’s hard to win when your captain mails it in. Can’t blame him for looking ahead.
Crosby -4 / 2 PIM / 6 SOG / O PTS
Malkin -/+ O / 6 PIM / 9 SOG / 3 PTS
You were saying?
17 thumbs down has to be a record
Chubby, maloni and yogurt. It’s a real meeting of the minds tonight.
Got to be a bad time to be npl
Penguins losing
Tampax losing
Florida suckss
Black kane got beat up by Reaves
Let’s not forget npl still suckss
So does the DemocRATS
“Black Kane”. Lmao
watching the rest of the games around the league make the pens look even more pathetic. there is so much intensity around the league right now from all of the teams except pittsburgh. it’s actually sad.
It’s insane. The Canes, Colorado. These teams are so fast, tenacious and locked in. Love the NHL. Great hockey. Pens look old, slow and tired.
the ovechkin punch was unreal! love him or hate him you have to admit he is one bad motherf**ker! our russian is a woman and the caps russian knocks people out. the pens suck
Agree. Ovi is a beast. Not afraid to beat down a fellow Russian. Big props to that kid for fighting Ovi. He actually instigated it. Ovi simply obliged
I hope the Pens watched the leafs game tonight. Marner played his balls off. The whole team did. Would love to see the Pens show so fight tomorrow.
Letang for Marner. Get it done.
Why would the Leafs ever do that. Plus Pens have their long lost 3C. Bjugstad, the guy being outscored in the playoffs by Charley Coyle.
Ahh yes, Coyle. The guy that just disappeared for a couple months. He really willed them to a win today. #zatkoff
You may be the only guy / girl left that thinks the regular season matters
Well, it does determine who gets into the playoffs and all. I feel like you ride the struggle bus on a daily basis.
And yeah, Coyle has killed it in the playoffs with his 9 goals, 17 points and -16 in 47 playoff games. You should probably stay in your lane and keep conversing with chubster and yogurt.
Here we go with this droolers typical. Hears a name and starts getting hard on
Pretty sure I heard the name before he posted. Remember you wanted Rick Nash and Marty St Louis and they retired? How is Matthews doing compared to Crosby, chubster?
Coming from the guy that wanted $10m. 3rd line centre kopitar at the TD
It’snot my fault you can’t pick up on sarcasm. Just remember, not everyone is as dumb as you.
Tbj is not very smart. Remember he loved fleury. Used to cry like a little biitch when he struggled.
Nice game by the Canes!
Makar with a goal.
Hmmm no fight no push back ….where of where have I heard that before…I posted that back in December but no a lot of you said I was overreacting. FORE!
Charley Coyle 2 playoffs goals. Just sayin
No one cares.
Except the Bruins do. You’re so good at this.
1 goal in game 2, Pens would have lost 3-2 instead. 1 goal in game three Pens would have lost 3 – 2 instead… Boston lost
I mean if the team was firing here and coming up short with Bjugstad alone being invisible sure we can compare but with the way the team is playing it’s likely Coyle wouldn’t be some sort of spark plug
So Colorado is willing to burn one year of Makar‘s ELC by playing him in game 3 of the first round. This is a really stupid idea. This will also screw them when the Seattle draft comes into play. He would have been protected, now they will have to protect him if he is as good as they are saying.
Yeah that doesn’t make much sense. Even if he’s as good as advertised, going from ncaa to the NHL playoffs against one of the league’s best teams is a tall order.
Until he scored. Keen hockey eye tbj.
Kinda like the Sprong year GMJR burned. 9 games for what
They didn’t care. They knew they would get rid of him.
The Philadelphia Flyers have hired Alain Vigneault as their new head coach. Lol.
sullivan has to go with the same lineup for game 4 and that’s why they are going to get swept. imagine if he sticks hornqvist or mccann on the 1st line and guentzel and crosby put up 3 or 4 points. it would make him look like the moron that he is and he would never allow that becuase he is a genius.
You wanted to blow the roster up all through the 2016 season… enough already
Maybe he just wants to blow the roster.
1. Trade Letang
2. Trade Maatta
3. Acquire speed, energy for bottom 6
4. Dislodge Fleury’s wlener from Sam’s throat
This team is slow and undisciplined. This takes care of two of the biggest perpetrators of one of those characteristics each. This team only succeeds if it has a bottom 6 creating energy and taking pressure off the top 2. The 4th item on the list will be the hardest but I think its important that both move on with their lives.
Playing a team like the Islanders highlights the idiotic plays Letang makes even more than they usually are. In a series that requires discipline, he’s a complete nightmare. I don’t hate Maatta, but he just hasn’t progressed, isn’t worth the money and young enough to garner something in a trade.
Letang could fetch a first and a prospect and move Maatta for a pick or middle six guy.
Maybe Shero would prefer a puck-moving defenseman over Hughes…
Edmonton needs defense. They traded Taylor Hall for Adam Larson, so god only knows that what they would give up for someone perceived to be as good as Letang.
He hasn’t matured or changed the way others have in the past. That is what is worrisome. People are saying he is pressing because of the lack of offence generated… game one he started doing this instantly even as the Pens scored 3 goals along side the Islanders. He has been nothing short of a liability since and still won’t hold back. Strategically they need to protect their end of the ice 1st then worry about stepping up.. maybe as a trailer. The Islanders have lined up 1-1-3 preventing any real attack from the middle. They need a stronger forecheck,… Read more »
Don’t forget fraud Murray.
Vegas all over sharks
I’ll be rooting for them to win it all since my team will be out maybe come Tuesday.
Fleury looks average. The magic number seems to be 4. It must be nice when your top players are producing. Shut down Vegas’ offense and they are average right now.
Shut down penguins offence and they will be below average. Oh wait they are already shut down
If the Sharks had an actual goalie this would be a different series.
And if penguins had an actual goalie this would be a different series
They both let up 10 goals. Want to try again?
MM also has better numbers in both GAA and SV%.
Sam isn’t very smart.
Maybe if that goalie was Martin Bordeur… they could use the offence
That Vegas 2nd line on fire. Big upgrade over perron and neal. Hope penguins learn how to upgrade their team instead of stupid trades
San Jose needs to work on how they start periods.
So… where does this TB collapse rank alltime for chokes? Assuming they are closed out Tuesday
It’s a bigger deal than us losing to the Isles.
62 wins… this is an understatement lol
No jackets have star players while isles is full of no name players with exception of few so penguins losing is as bad as tampax losing
Not even close dummy. The odds on Tampa winning the cup were 9/4 and winning the east 11/10. Pens and Islanders are virtually the same and at the bottom of the east.
I have never followed odds winning stats in my life I judge based seeing how team is playing too bad bandwagons here only watch penguins hockey and even at that they have hard time To understand
Which is why you use Vegas odds makers. Who are experts in this area and remove all bias.
I judge on how a team is playing.
Lehner, sober, living up to the expected potential from draft day
Barzal, continues to establish himself as a top ten forward of the new generation
Eberle, rediscovering what it means to be captain clutch
Their 4th line, excels vs the Pens top line even in bad match ups.
I could name the defence individually but I’ll note Toews as a man punching well above his weight especially vs Crosby.
The Islanders came to play fuckhead. Still TB should NOT be done 3-0 to any team in hockey
And he say’s others have no hockey IQ. Ugh.
Remember when Sam learned who Barzal was during this year’s All Star Game? Lol
Yes Sam, the Penguins who finished below NY and were all over the place all season is the worse potential loss vs the TB lightening who finished with the second highest win/point total in NHL history losing to the 8th seed and why… because you don’t know the players names in Long Island lol.
It’s not even subtle how much you actually hate the Penguins.
Well hell mstartari that’s a no brainer . It has to rank up there if it happens.
Npl must depressed Tampax just lost again
Canada must be depressed they have to support your dead assss!!!’
Turn the tampa game on. They’re down 2-0 in the series and losing 2-0 in the game. They’re flying around and creating tons of scoring chances in the 3rd. Tell me when you last saw the Pens play with that energy for their coach and teamates.
19-87-59
81-71-53
72-27-17
12-7-10
4-8
28-73
3-44
This would be the lineup I would go with. The odd man rushes created by Letang and him being a lost retard in his own end all game long is killing them. Fuking Kuhnhackl and Eberle are abusing him. It really doesn’t matter because Mario knows what superstars having enough of a coach looks like. He’s been in Sid and Geno’s shoes before. Scum Sully has done his job and he’s become stale. Hopefully someone that knows how to coach superstars is hired next.
Maybe JM has enough of scum sully and his undeserving fame and wants to sabotage his spot
Still bothers you he won the first back2back cups in 20 years while Therrien is a fucken loser hey
I see something Maatta with this lineup.
Maatta knows how to defend in his own end, Letang can’t. When you tell Maatta not to get caught or pinch in the offensive end, he listens, Letang can’t. I’ll take my chances with Maatta over Letang the rest of this series be it 1,2,3 or 4 more games.
Never forget the scene of letang drinking wine with Mario and Pierre in the press box when he was wearing a neck brace. They love him. He gets a free pass. #cuntryclub
Johnson will be scratched next game and Maatta will be back in.
Kind of wished NHL would have schedule afternoon game after Pens waiting for evening games time is dragging
With nothing to lose I’d sit Gudbranson and Pettersson. Play Rikola and Ruhwedel, two guys that can skate and move the puck. Sit ZAR and insert Bleuger. Play Kessel with Malkin. Then hope your fraud goalie can stop the stoppable shots.
Chad can’t play yet. I would play Johnson and Blueger and sit ZAR and Cullen. Cullen never should have been brought back.
Had no problem with Cullen being brought back but should have been limited and only played maybe 50 games before playoffs.
I think Cullen’s been fine. Pens problems start on backend
No penguins problems start with the highest paid players not performing waiting to get there momentum going through power play. They don’t want to put their efforts on 5v5. Sure every team can 1 player like that but penguins have more then 1 like that
You can’t even say Crosby’s name lol.
He’s like 100 and hasn’t been rested at all this season. Another brilliant coaching decision
cough drop (Rikola) was having trouble even being steady in the A
Pettersson might be their best defenseman all 3 games. I’d put Maatta in and sit Letang.
Letang being this PP specialist SAT STILL at the red line waiting for someone else to take the puck off of him to carry in. If he can’t carry the puck up or shoot, why is he on the PP?
How about concentrating to play 5v5 and not depend on pp only.
You think Letang has had a good 5v5 series? You have to be kidding me. He’s a disaster right now.
Sullivan will come out with the same lineup. He’s a retard. Trying to fit square pegs into round holes and thinking he is a genius while doing it.
anyone else notice the power play is arranged by order of salary? top 4 forward salaries and then the top defensive salary. no way guentzel and shultz should be on the 2nd unit. letang is not as good on the power play as shultz and guentzel is a 40 goal guy. #cuntryclubbers
Let me know if you see Guentzel been looking for him since the first Islander game.
guentzel has been busy trying to set up simon.
For all three games? That falls apart fast!
Blow it up! I mean that sincerely. I would trade everyone not named Sid. I would entertain a Malkin trade. Florida may be interested but I know Malkin has a no movement clause. His wife is always in Florida so who knows. We could restock the cupboard trading him. Only reason I mentioned Malkin is because nobody wants what we would want to give away. Maybe Kessel, who I can bet will be done after this year in Pittsburgh.
i’d still like to see what this team is capable of with a coach who isn’t obsessed with putting a guy with 1 goal in his past 34 games on the 4th line.
He is stubborn at times. Dumo and Schultz are the only good D we have. The rest suck.
Finally some bandwagon is finally catching up try to convince the rest now. You’re on the right track as long as you don’t turn of your TV early in the first period
Bandwagon? I was at the game and didn’t leave early. I’ll be there on Tuesday. Eat a bag of dickks like your Mom Frog. You hate the Pens why are you here?
I don’t hate the penguins I’m just not delusional like you and the rest here that drools over big names
I told you guys sully would get out coached.
Told you guys that 4th line will check Crosby line
Told you guys isles will beat penguins
Soon I will also be right about Murray being a fraud
Along with 2 fraudulent contracts malkin and chubby
Fakeass fan, you are happy they are losing… we can see it in your posts
Exactly. I can see his bonner and giddiness on every post. Such a loser.
Did you see the JD guy? I was looking whole game.
“Finally” so in the entire time you’ve been screaming trade him he has won MVPs, lead the team in scoring multiple times and that includes leading the way in the last of two cups he helped bring in… for 9 years you’ve called him out… NINE. How many years back did I say you’d keep throwing shitt at the wall until he started to get old enough for it to stick? Here you are. Major changes are coming… if, IF Malkin is moved I hope it has a major positive impact on the team and I also hope he does… Read more »
Malkin should’ve been shipped earlier when he has more value remember but being in a bandwagon organization somehow here people have feelings involved and that costs today the price also Russian was done then team went plan B got kessel and winning cup made his life on shelf longer he has been a con man and has his annual vacation almost same time every year.
You mean as he was a significant piece of 2 straight cups? Why is this so difficult for you to grasp
it is impossible to blow it up. nobody would dare take on malkin’s 10 million cap hit for his 21 goals and his -25. kessel is disinteresded and letang is a retard. if you think it’s bad now, just wait and see what the next 3 seasons have in store.
Do you miss fleury or still drooling over Murray’s game
Would trade everyone not named Malkin, Think we could fleece a Leaf Licking team or two to empty the cupboard for Sid.
Trading malkin team might have more momentum by not killing his dumb penalties every game or so
Sid will never be traded. Malkin would go before him.
I know but I can dream 🙂 not really don’t want to see either go.
Crosby is the franchise malkin is not trade Crosby and you’ll see tickets sale decline trade Russian it won’t make a difference in tickets sales
I’m sure this is meant to be sarcasm? I mean I’m far from the Geno hatewagon but if it came down to the two… Sid stays no question
btw, semi off subject but not really….out of the 6 guys for contention in the masters, 5 hit into the water on the same hole except tiger. the fix was in on that too. it’s all fake.
starting to think the whole thing is a big fix-a-roo. seriously, zac aston reese out there killing on a 5-3 and simon skating with sid? if you were trying to lose on purpose that’s the moves you’d make.
Not gong to win many with one goal but too much to ask Murray not to let in a soft goal or two every game.
Team on the decline with no short-term fix. It’s going to be a rough few years.