Game 4 Pre-Game Buzz
Will the Penguins really go down this quietly?
What continues to be so stunning from the Penguins through three games is not just how they’ve been out-classed, out-performed in all three zones, but how hap-less they’ve been with no pushback as the noise is getting louder and louder over the last 24 hours that some in the room can’t wait for this season to end.
And that type of talk isn’t about some 4th liners getting 7-8 minutes a night.
To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
That’s what makes tonight so interesting on whether there’s actually going to be a pushback from the Penguins and a group that comes out and plays with some actual pride.
If they fall in Game 4, will it be going down swinging or just another Game 3 ‘whatever’ attitude?
The first 5-7 minutes could tell us a lot on the Penguins care level.
For how bad this group played in the third period of Game 3 when an 0-3 hole possibility was staring right at them, if there’s no drive to come out and set the tone early that they’re not going down quietly, then it will be clear in period one on how this one is likely going to go.
Tonight is also going to be about what if any adjustments the Penguins show.
The lines will see some tweaks and what I kind of like with the tweaks is having a north-south player on the top three lines with McCann up with Crosby/Guentzel, Rust with Malkin/Kessel and Horqvist with Blugstad/Simon. What I don’t like is Teddy Blueger not getting back in the lineup when he’s clearly one of your top-12 forwards. Jake Guentzel replacing Patric Hornqvist on the top power play unit which we finally saw some in Game 3 was a long-time coming as Hornqvist hands are completely shot at this stage of his career and Guentzel is a sneaky good player on screens where you everything he brings out-weighs Hornqvist being an elite net-front player that you lose with removing him from PP1.
Some line tweaks were obviously going to happen but most telling tonight will be whether some needed on-ice adjustments are actually implemented and the biggest question mark of all — actually executed–.
It’s a big night for Mike Sullivan.
He’s not on the hot seat, but he’s looked like a coach who’s trying to implement a style he doesn’t have the personnel for anymore and if adjustments have actually tried to be implemented by the staff, the Penguins sure look everything of a hockey club then that has tuned their head coach out.
The writing has been on the wall for this series that a conservative, less risk style would benefit the Penguins to try to beat the Islanders at their own game, but we have yet to see any of it.
Outside of Pittsburgh, some evaluators feel the best thing for the Penguins long-term would be to go out tonight so the organization can have a proper evaluation on how to re-tool this roster the right way for Sidney Crosby’s final prime years. If you believe in Mike Sullivan as being one of the NHL’s elite coaches, management has take a hard look at what core/mid-tier players they need to get out of here and the type of players to bring in to get back to being a coached Sullivan team that excels at creating offense but most importantly playing with structure that has left this group completely.
If Elite Structure/Inferior Talent toppling the Higher Talent/No Structure Penguins isn’t a wakeup call for this organization then I don’t know what will be. This Penguins’ team is lacking smart, disciplined players from a situational standpoint among their heavy minute players. That’s been exposed this series and at points this season.
Last year losing to the Capitals was a situation of just going down to a more talented team. You can live with that. The 0-3 hole against the Islanders is so eye opening because it’s an Islanders team that’s just tremendously structured and disciplined in all three zones as that combination has overwhelmed the Penguins so much because those intangibles are just not built-in with this Penguins group anymore.
“The challenge [hide] is the Islanders, that’s part of their game plan. They have numbers back,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said of the Islanders success in limiting rush chances. “We knew that going in. They were the No. 1 team in the league in the least amount of odd-man rushes against in the regular season. I think there’s a direct correlation there to keeping your goals-against down. Some of the better-quality chances that occur in the game occur off the rush. We have to be able to create offense different ways. That’s been the challenge. That will continue to be the challenge moving forward.”
[/hide]
Anyone miss fleury yet?
No.
Hey guys make sure you check Theodore goal and see how lazy burns looked on it. Ah according to bandwagons he must be traded asap.
This sentence makes no sense. Google the word bandwagon.
Didn’t someone on this board call Pacioretty a locker room cancer?
He is. Relax he just signed with Vegas in few years his true colours will come out
And just in case if you are watching Vegas game and you are not understanding Vegas had some puck luck so far and fleury bailing the team out so far this game
I don’t really care.
Lol in a few years…
Imagine if JT still played with the islanders
He would’ve made malkin like more miserable
Talk to you in a few weeks Sammy Cakes. When youre still a miserable little virgin bltch boy watching hockey alone and no one on a Pens blog for you to talk to.
Wish pens suckk sometimes and don’t make playoffs like that you can disappear in your hole longer
Letang has changed his name to NPL
Go do that create another account with taxpayers money
Another News update boys npl still suckss
New update guys malkin seen at the airport buying tickets to go vacation in Russia
Must be a bad time to be npl
Penguins lost
Tampax lost
Florida suckss
DemocRATS. suckss
And let’s not forget npl himself/herself/itself also suckss
Problem with pens they went to get too many Florida players #19 #27 #44 once drafted there
I blame GMJR. He should’ve have known better that Florida people sucksss
Jacques Martin was in Florida before too
Pens lost 4 playoff games with Letang starting, but lost 0 playoff games when Trotman started. Hmmmm…
Trotman > Letang
Jacques Martin is another loser coach. Not only does Letang pinch every fukkin time, but the team looks lost in their own end not knowing who to pick up, 2 men going to the corner etc. fire this bum.
No asssholeee. The offence didn’t help support the D like they did in the past few years please stop
come back in September
hey guys don’t get your hopes up. seriously….who is going to take letang, kessel, and malkin off the pens hands for the cap hits and the lack of heart? you think it’s bad now, wait until 3 seasons from now when they are still playing for the pens.
#TradeLetang #Buttigieg2020
The end of the Sully era. Thanks for the 2 cups. I guess he went out doing things his way. Crosby had his best 2 periods all series and the line scored a goal. So as a 3rd period adjustment, Simon to the top line!
They won’t get rid of Sullivan or Rutherford. Get ready to complain next year.
They shouldn’t get rid of Rutherford. Sullivan is the one that’s supposed to understand you don’t put AHL players in the top 6. JR probably wants to give him the start of the year, but that’s when Malkins and Crosby’s step up and say the’ve had enough. Mario knows the feeling.
Rutherford screwed this roster ever since the last cup. The Hagelin trade was awful and it got more awful when we had to trade Pearson for Gudbranson. JJ sucks, that’s on Rutherford too. That MF needs to go.
Now that penguins are out let’s see how many fake injures will be relieved
Relieved? Whatever at you trying to say boy? Timmy fell down a well? Ohhhhh Letang would have been better had he fallen down a well.
Can’t wait to hear a Letang was playing hurt and will miss camp, will enjoy that back pedal
Hey clowns if you guys think letang suckss I wonder how bad is tampax D unit hedman was garbage and looked like a peewee hockey player on savards goal during their series
Npl still sucks
He was playing hurt and missed half the games… great job
Soon you can use that about your Russian
Conn Smythe Winner, led this teams cup champs in scoring twice? Sure why not….
2 of your favourite? We won with zero impact from both of them
a BAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Headline for next Story …What we learned from game FORE
Hey npl I’ll make the excuse for you
Penguins and Tampax lost because they had no puck luck and they both ran into hot goalies now go suck on a hot dog
Nope. This one is on Letang. Boneheaded after boneheaded decisions. Dumbest player in the NHL.
Welp, fuck you guys… see ya in a few weeks when its time to talk Pittsburgh again.
Sam you are the worst fucken fan of this team bar none… Yoda is close but you have him beat because his stupid comes from a place of wanting to see them win. You are a shitty person… fuckyou and fuck MOntreal.
For the rest, TTYL
don’t over analyze this. the coach put two AHLers in the top 6 and then the superstars quit on the coach.
+1000
Same was right the only one that said trotz will out coach scum sully
4th line will cancel Crosby.
Only thing wrong I had isles in 6
Sullivan is 1-2 against Trotz with Letang. 1-0 without Letang. Can’t beat a disciplined team with the leagues most undisciplined player.
They need a shakeup and it’s hard to imagine a more appropriate player to move.
He has to go. Thought it was evident after they won the Cup in 2017 without him. Cant pay a player $7M+ to consistently make bad decisions that lead to game changing opportunities.
During the handshake it will be revealed that Letang is actually a NYI.
Best part of the season is the shake hand and hope chubby and Russian gone
The parade for the Stanley Cup is canceled those of you who had the streamers and balloons please fell free to use them for the Pirate World Series parade
Fuckinnn kessell doesn’t even tie up the guy. Good bye chubby you won’t be missed
He brought with him 2 cups, if he goes I will miss him. I will miss Letang too overall but I will get over it with that many fewer 2 on ones
Letang with a shot and its blocked should have been the theme of this post season
Ok time for the speech….Did we give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor ….No and we are not giving up yet.
This team is playing DB hockey right now .
stretch passes while islanders are waiting them. With no secondary chances
Hey Sam, SN did an entire segment talking about how bad Letang has been. Josh Yohe has called him out by name… why are you the only one that cannot see this?
How about malkin ? I bet you missed it
Must have been real quick… not enough time after breaking down how fuckawful Letang has been.
2009 – Malkin Conn Smythe… Letang afterthought as a 4th D while Gonchar was the man
2016 – Malkin top 3 scorer… Letang slightly better than he was in 09 as the number one
2017 – Malkin leads the team in scoring again… Letang played zero playoff games
You lose in such a big way its insane
Apparently fraud Murray will be 0-8 vs islanders in his last 8 starts
Good thing the PP was trash… can’t have those man up goals when 5v5 is man shit
Cbauer you think I’m doing good in this year’s hockey bracket challenge?
looking good so far but disappointed only 3 of us but that’s happens.
I guess I’ll finish first again can’t say fluke because I’ll be 3/3. Somehow same knows no hockey
Bye bye Tampax
Jackets score 3 empty nets
Kucherov MVP
Vasikesky vezina
Tampax president trophy
2019 chokers
Npl sucksss
Do they tell the Trotz / JT story every broadcast?
try it with out sound blaring classic rock much better. And you don’t have to hear the Captain Obvious statements.
its hard rooting for CBJ tonight but I have to. Can’t stand TBay
And npl
Got sound off rocking to CCR but love screen flash from Mercedes….Best or Nothing at all …..sounds like this season.
Cherish that last minute of second period boys. Because that will be the last time you guys will see chubby ,malkin and Crosby playing together again the same time
Or Letang, no brainer that mother fucker is gone!!!
Nobody wants him. Only people that thinks he’s good is the local media. He has zero hockey sense. Anybody who covers the NHL never lists him as a top 10 defenseman. Plus he’s French Canadian.
Yeah because the Russian has or chubby has
Nobody outside of pittsburgh media or other fans sees chubby and malkin as elite players anymore. Except for zeroTool and local bandwagons here
It will be much easier to move Kessel then Letang. Much!!!!
Letang wasn’t in the last cup… chubby was and the Russian led the scoring. Letang, barely there in 09 was not there in 17 and has been a liability in 18 and 19.
We get it, you can’t get enough of swallowing his load but why should the actual fans of the team suffer so you can rub one out to his tv likeness each game.
Good luck moving Letang with his NMC and that terrible contract.
That too
Does Bjugstad suck in person as much as he does onTV. 6’6. 220. Useless
Been trying since the trade to get a read on him. Sometimes can see something others its like WTF are you the next Inge Hammarstrong
He’s the biggest waste of 6’6 I’ve ever seen.
Hornqvist starts trouble but he never drops the gloves.
mstartari: You go tonight?
Yes. It’s so much worse in person. LOL!
LOL gave my ticket to son and nephews tonight just couldn’t take it again so damn frustrating and no JD vendors …Put that in a suggestion once at season ticker holder panel ……they thought I was kidding.
Good call. I need a jack! Hope it’s not my first and last game this postseason
Say hi to jew bettman since he is at PPG tonight
Mean.
Jesus fuck Letang needs to go. He’s an absolute disease.
How do you sit Bleuger and play ZAR. That’s criminal stupid.
With you there. Bluger should be in the lineup.
I don’t understand why Blueger can’t get a jersey
Sam so happy the Pens are losing again. Yeah he’s a fan.
He is a troll.
Problem with this team they got too many Florida boys this year #19#27 and #44 was once from there
And we all know how Florida sucksss
By end of tonight habs and penguins will have same amount of win and loss
By the end of the night how many dickks will your Mom suck?
I’m convinced someone told Murray it’s illegal to play the puck. Fuucking dude is a statue.
Usually he is used to someone else does his job now that they are not he is exposed
Well that never was Letang.
Its actually a pretty smart decision when he sees Letang already blazing behind the Islanders goal line like an assstwaat
Different between habs. Compare to penguins and Tampax. Those 2 teams get to be humiliated on home ice museum
Well that and the Pens have been to 4 stanley cups and won 3 while montreal has not even sniffed the finals.
Holy shit are the pens terrible. It’s not the forwards as the local media believe. The backend is atrocious, including fanboy favorite Gudbranson.
Vasikeski all Star goalie
Kucherov league MVP
Tampax president trophy winners
Playoff time chokers
NBC is showing the CBJ game during intermission because theres only so many ways the analysts can say Letang sucks.
Regular season doesn’t matter.
Pens losing no puck luck
Murray is tired he has played too many games
I remember when we had goalie who cut off cross crease passes
And then slammed it in his own net
Fleury was amazing when he used his stick to intercept passes I guess bandwagon’s here never even knew to appreciate just ask fat npl
Frauddd Murray. All that momentum began from the malkin lazy turnover
Probably rubbed off from Letang.
Can they trade Letang to the Islands during the intermission?
Powerplay! Time for Letang to give up an odd man break.
Fuk Letang
TOUGH THE CUP!!!
If getting swept means this is Letangs last game with the Pens, Im on fucklng board.
If getting swept means this is your last time on this site im on fuckingg board
I wonder which game fat npl is watching tonight
Im watching the Pens but Letang is skating in the Blue Jackets end
I havent been critical of Sullivan but not keeping that dummass on the bench is going to cost this team.
Letang fucklng sucks so fucklng bad. Jesus fn Christ he sucks.
Agreed, SO MUCH SUCK
Just got home..: what stupid thing did he do now?
Rough day at the donut shop ?
Islanders let first goal so fans don’t turn off there TV earlier
HIS FREAKING GLOVE HAND NEVER MOVED.
Crosby traded yet ?
Remember fools no Crosby no Jake
Oh yeah thank letang for keeping the puck in
Well one game out for FORE so far
How was Murray on that goal hope npl is working hard to provide us those GIFS
Problem one with PPG music too loud to let fan base build to the noise level most people there give up trying to cheer
Trying to change their luck Stayed home tonight letting son and nephews enjoy tix but LETS GO PENS
Let’s prepare this year’s best excuse choices
A) team lost no puck luck
B) team lost no defence
C) our star players can’t score 5v5
D) Murray has no glove
E) team is tired too many games played
F) npl sucks so does Florida
G) too many bandwagon fans tough penguins will win the cup
H) once again Sam was right
I) all of the above
I am shocked you can go that high with the alphabet. Must have used google.
Notice how he still can not say that Crosby and Letang look like shitt!
That is the letter J
Those Penguins fans always thinking the Penguins will beat up the cup. Lol!!!
There is no H in win….
How does one tough a cup?
Ok Pens 4-1 tonight a last gasp
Tampa in deep dodo.
Any one want to make a prediction for tonight?
The game will end with one team scoring more goals then the other team.
Are you sure you are going out on a limb with prediction.
I know it’s a brave prediction but I am sticking with it.
You guys think smackdown crowd in Montreal will be louder than PPG museum tonight
sullivan fired yet?
Tampon Bay is only good for one period
pascal dupuis said it early in the year. they hate sullivan.
Pretty sure he didn’t say that.
Retool for Sid why he hasn’t been here. Retool for Malkin……….Right Sam 🙂
a pregame article up more than 3 minutes before the start of the game? what the hell, what the hell?