WHAT TO MAKE OF THE PENGUINS BOTTOM-6
Matt Cullen on the surface should be the Penguins’ fifth best center on the roster behind Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Nick Bonino and Eric Fehr.
For Cullen, though, it’s no contest. He’s established himself as the third best center on the roster.
The Penguins systematic change in style has been a perfect fit in utilizing Cullen’s speed. He was a factor again vs Washington and his line had a dominant possession night. Interesting enough, Mike Sullivan is breaking up that line tonight in a likely attempt to try to get Nick Bonino going.
Pittsburgh’s bottom-6 is a mishmash right now. The Wilkes Barre group have had their moments but down the stretch and hopefully for the Penguins’ sake in the post-season, it’s pivotal to the team putting together a third line with skill that can add secondary scoring and a second bottom-6 line that can be more of a shutdown unit, a line you can put up against Alexander Ovechkin if need be.
Potential pieces might be there.
Beau Bennett and Eric Fehr returning to the lineup and STAYING HEALTHY (BIG IF) will go a long way to the Penguins having this option.
Both skated again this morning.
Bennett is the closest of the two and Pittsburgh is reaching the point where they should throw in the towel on building a scoring third line around Nick Bonino, something Mike Sullivan initially wanted to do when hired.
Other than some moments in the playmaking department, Bonino continues to give the Penguins little in creating individual scoring chances. Hasn’t scored a goal in 29 games and is rarely a threat. His past production in previous years is the past. There’s enough of a sample this season where he can’t be counted on to be much of a factor offensively.
Bonino is a superior defensive player than Matt Cullen and with the way Cullen is fitting in offensively under Sullivan, Pittsburgh’s focus should be developing a shutdown line around Bonino and Eric Fehr once Fehr gets back. Mid-March is viewed as a possible return for Fehr.
One line that could be intriguing is Kuhnhackl – Bonino – Fehr. It would give the Penguins a nice combination of size on the wings to play a heavy game down low in potential matchups with the Rangers or Capitals. You need a responsible line you could throw out against an Alexander Ovechkin when needed and that could be it. All three players fit that mold.
The Penguins are really missing just another skilled player to plug in the top-9 and that’s where Beau Bennett is so frustrating for the Penguins’ organization. He should be that Kris Versteeg To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
I was at the game last night and I haven’t heard Consol that loud in forever. Even in a playoff game. There were Rangers fans everywhere. Almost as bad as when the Canadians or Maples Leafs show up. It was sick to hear them chanting ‘Hey, Hey, HEYHEYHEY’ when the Rangers scored first. Then when Queen Henry threw the net over acting like a little b*tch, you could tell the team definitely wanted to let him have it. It was fun to finally see the Rangers wilt under the forecheck. They said Lundqvist had neck spasms which is why he… Read more »
Convince that to stan and NPL about Habs fans coming to burgh
also tampax playoff games was invaded with habs fans few years ago that last year when they played .
Tampax were selling to tampax fans only and didint want habs fans invade their place
I have been to many habs and leafs games/ habs fans are the biggest douchebags that come to pittsburgh- leafs are respectful and ok.
18-8-5 last 31 games
wouldve been good if pens got players like Maroon and Mcginn instead of Chubby
You’re chubby.
if barrasso didn’t make the hall of fame, st.blurry won’t either. barrasso had 369 career wins in an era when there were ties, barrasso won the calder, the vezina, and was 2 for 2 in the finals. all st.blurry has in his favor is wins. you can take any starting goalie in the NHL and they would have as many career wins as st.blurry in as many games. for example, if the pens had vokoun from 2002-2014, they would have gone to 7 games against detroit in 08, cup in 09, no sub .900 save% in 10, 11, 12, and… Read more »
1) your a terrible judge of talent and your nly knowledge of hockey is based on the goalie either getting a shutout every night or not which is absurd
2) even if the fans HATED fleury…..IT WOULDNT CHANGE ANYTHING MORON
3) Why do you watch the pens?…you clearly could care less if they succeed as long as fleury is shamed sounds like an awful life to live to get no enjoyment out of something yet complain about it everyday..STOP WATCHING AND COMMENTING
4 of the top 5 goalies in career wins are in the HOF ( only Cujo isn’t in and he isn’t eligible yet) and have comparable numbers. Love him or hate him, if MAF retires in the top 5 in wins, which he will if he plays into his mid 30s, he will be a cinch for the HOF
st.blurry will be the exception. a goalie with his playoff numbers during a time where his team was the easy cup favorite will not be overlooked. do you really think the NHL wants highlights of st.blurry rolling around in the isles series when vokoun had to rescue him? hall of famers don’t have epic meltdowns.
The shame of it is – being the Cup favorite counted on 87 playing like the best player in the world in the playoffs – and that hasn’t happened in years – the entire model is blown up then. So they weren’t really the cup favorites – because their leader was too busy running his fingers through your hair.
Worst post ever. Dude the Fleury thing is beyond getting old. I feel bad that you like hockey but really don’t understand what you are watching.
and apparently he is a season ticket holder
Not one person brought up Steigerwald calling MAF a future HOFer. Wow.
that’s part of the pens propaganda program.
Will D write an article on the Pens win?
Nobody has time to talk about a good Pens performance. What did you expect, a what did we learn piece after a win?
Will kovy , back in the NHL? He ha been healthy scratched 4 consecutive games in the khl playoffs and apparently he has been offered 1m to terminate his contract
Kessel!!!! 20 goals!
20 goals behind to be competing with the top guys our so called natural goal scorer.
Malkin 3 points, Kessel 2….Malkin the game winning goal and Kessel the goal that ended the hopes of the Ranger. 2 deadly snipers.
You really are clueless. Fat Phil’s empty netter was a momentum changer.
Shocked you noticed considering he didn’t have on a mask.
Apparently not just look at tbj how exited he is by kessels goal
Phil’s goal made him leave?!
The George Costanza strategy. Leave on a high note!
Kunitz sucks.
http://i.giphy.com/h9EBFuJ8UrpIc.gif
Was looking for when Despres died crashing into the boards and this came up. Must be a French Canadian thing
Disgusting fantasy. I’m sure you and stan watch this every time you have the pj party
Dont act like youve never cuddled with a bear while naked
The Rangers are on a different level right SamMaloni?
Over 7 game series, yup moron.
Looks like Lundqvist took his ball and went home. That’s basically yogurts hero. Ran away. Like a broad.
out 2 to 3 weeks with a torn labia.
don’t jinx it payroll boy.
What would I be jinxing you utter moron?
Your GOD
Crosby bailed out Midget after a bad goal.
You mean his dump in that took a funny bounce? Yeah. What a leader.
Gotta like the Pens stepping up though. This is the biggest game of the year to this point. The Rangers are attainable and if they pull this off, it could start some momentum.
Remember that time we got fleeced on the Neal trade?
Bob Errey is dumb as shlt
Fuckk yeah. Malkin and Kessel. Like it sam?
Yeah I like the empty net momentum changer goal
Sid tearing it up again Sam.
https://mobile.twitter.com/MadChad412/status/556250726461366272/video/1
Going on 5 periods not being able to score on the Rangers. Yet somehow, yogurt and Maloni will be around later to bitch about MAF
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_fw7iF68JR8k/TbiWPJGjtsI/AAAAAAABrKA/_CY8ezCR8Wg/s720/stlouis.jpg
http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2517035/despreshit.gif
Now I know why you hate french Canadians. You had an obsession with Simon despres and when you asked him out he rejected you by replying you fat queerr
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-RaBo3PeN7iU/UT0l9rbOZsI/AAAAAAACINY/_gt26BD5CBU/s528/despreswaffle.gif
That’s the Despres I remember oh so well.
https://coedbc.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/sfd9sofsfight.gif
http://i.giphy.com/JpcivJJPAT4Bi.gif
http://thoughtcatalog.com/hok-leahcim/2014/06/23-obese-people-reveal-the-struggles-only-they-can-understand/
hey npl which one of these 23 scenario is your case I am assuming number 21
You’re the only fat guy i know that has the balls to make fun of other perceived fat people.
Rather have 7 d-men (dress schultz) and sit Porter……
Anything that gets Porter in the press box, I’m in favor of.
Still haven’t figured out why they brought him in at all
Because someone had to be the new Craig Adams.
Porter blows and couldnt shoot the puck into the ocean if he was standing on a raft in the ocean!
Which pixel is the Penguins player?
It is seriously mind-boggling that he can’t find a hi-res photo on the Internet.
Surely doesn’t justify Bonino’s lack of production but u have to consider the role he’s being asked to play when judging his performance so far, he’s been used almost exclusively in a shutdown defensive role, he’s had the lowest OZone start among forwards at just 38.2% of the time and he’s faced the 3rd highest QoC(quality of competition). By comparison, last season in Van he had and Off Zone start% of 47.0. Blaming a playing for not prodcing when he’s being given less of a change to produce is pretty short sighted and saying that he’s capable of providing production… Read more »
Good post Jay – and I agree.
Excellent assessment… Depoli should be paying you lol
That’s ok. According to Yodiot the Pens are and I’m sure they pay better, wouldn’t want any conflicts of interest that may cost me.
To be fair, he tells me the same thing, and I spend a fair amount of time taking a dump all over their captain.
I’m usually pretty critical of the team as well, just goes to show how amazingly clueless he is.
he already collects a paycheck from the pens propaganda department just like yourself
Yoda what do you think of Npl the fat slob and Stan ?
i think jaydogg, stanch, and zerocool are the real punks around here. they are on the pens payroll and troll anyone who speaks ill of the pens.
I guess I should be trolling myself then, rube.
Hilarious, you get honest assessments from the three you named which is probably why you think we are paid to do the job. You show consistent misunderstanding of virtually everything that goes on… between you and sam, I wouldnt split a cheque to have you two goofs attempt to flip a burger. You’re a grade A1 dumbfuck… PS are the Pens in? or are they out today?
propaganda department loool
Surely doesn’t justify Bonino’s lack of production but u have to consider the role he’s being asked to play
Oh so its like that now when its comes to Bonino.when it was Sutter that wasnt the case clowns here expected him to score more that 19 Goals
Nice stuff jay. You can look at just this thread and know everything you need to know about sam and yoda.
I tough Schultz was having Visa problems thats why he wasnt going to play until Thursday .Now sully wants him to learn how they play before he joins .Ha he should do the same to Chubby then
You should stick to the only value-added posts that you make: “Hey – new article guys.” <- shy of that – you're useless.
stanch you should probably specify so he doesn’t post more bullspit articles he copy’s and pastes about how hard MT’s penis was that morning
“His past production in previous years is the past.” that’s excellent reporting
Haha
Rust > Bennett. The Penguin scouts need their heads examined.
They’re not remotely the same type of player. So…better at what?
Better at staying healthy, perhaps.
Isn’t everybody….
Those in the know