Favorites in the East Division?
The Washington Capitals have a roster that just looks built for the playoffs. A big, heavy hockey club that will wear the opposition down over a seven game series.
More and more, though, the Capitals look like they have a matchup problem when it comes to dealing with the Penguins. Under Peter Laviolette this looks like a Capitals coached team like it was under Todd Reirden. A good to very good team at times that has too many lulls in the attention to details.
Where as in Pittsburgh, the play away from the puck has gone to new heights.
Playing with speed can be overrated.
The Penguins right now, though, look like a Barry Trotz coached team in how structured they’ve become and there’s some signs of being an elite hockey team in how they’ve evolved into a speed/structured type team. The pace the Penguins are playing at, while still playing a responsible game has been very encouraging towards their long-term prospects in the playoffs.
That’s the biggest difference between the Penguins and Capitals right now. Doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be another 50-50 type series because it likely will, but, it’s a key difference that could sway a playoff series between the two.
Another promising sign:
There’s just something of a mental edge the Penguins seem to always have against the Capitals and it’s still there. The two game set again showed just some odd gaffes the Capitals have against Pittsburgh that ends up in the back of their own net.
— There were some enormous pieces missing again from Saturday night’s 3-0 Penguins win.
Alex Ovechkin and John Carlson, while Evgeni Malkin and Brandon Tanev for Pittsburgh.
And if your ranking both rosters combined 1-45, you’re going 1. Sidney Crosby, 2. Alex Ovechkin and then 3. John Carlson. The Capitals have that going for them…..
— No question Bryan Rust have emerged into one of the best values in the NHL but he’s also evolved into one of the best two-way wingers in the Eastern Conference. Coaches around the league think so highly of Rust.
“He is one hell of a hockey player” — Mike Sullivan on Bryan Rust
— Underrated story emerging with four games remaining:
Could Jake Guentzel (53 points) become the first Penguin not named Evgeni Malkin or Sidney Crosby to lead the team in points since the 2003-2004 season?
Probably not as Guentzel and Crosby play together at even strength and on the power play, but Guentzel is just three points behind Crosby with four games to go. Crosby has tailed off a bit over the last week with his level of play and you could see the Penguins rest him over the final two games.
The last winger to lead the team in points was Alexei Kovalev in 2001-2002.
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Fleury sucks
Marc-andre Jarry
Fraud-Andre Fleury
The Pens would be up 5-1 right now if Sam Bennett were in the lineup.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK9hmjtYqMI
Npl’s new Boyfriend
I wonder when D will be informed that the playoffs started?
Npl suckss
So does his kind
Here we go again Malkin not participating in line rushes today at practice… I used to think Letang was more brittle but Malkin is a potato chip on skates…so over him. Great player but not durable or reliable..That said I hope he can make game 1.
Could just be a maintenance day. He may not be 100%. Find out tomorrow.
Hope so…..
He must got the news that he still has days left on his annual vacation
Just a Poll here for all of you to comment…..your thoughts? Rank the Penguins best goalies 1, 2, 3 Tom Barrasso 2 cups, Marc Andre Fluery 3 cups, Matt Murray 2 cups.. How do to you rank them.. There have been other good Penguin goalies but these three standout. My Rankings 1. Tom Barrasso, 2 Stanley Cups, more consistent, less bad games or chokes than the other two, great puck handler. 2. Marc Andre Fluery 3 Stanley Cups . more melt downs, but he is third in wins all time that counts a lot, he is doing something right longevity.… Read more »
Fleury barrasso do I even put fraud murray on this list ?
You do bc he has 2 more cups than freud Price ever will. Lol!!!
Pens again getting no love in national polls, do they know something or we just Yinzers drinking the ic light
Good. Maybe that will put a chip on their shoulders.
Former #3 overall pick Jesperi Kotkaniemi will be a healthy scratch. Great pick by the Canadiens!!
Their zero center model has been paying dividends for the league for almost three decades.
Penguins do better flying under the radar. Let them talk Boston, Tampa, Washington, Colorado, Vegas, Toronto all they want that’s good for the Penguins.
Now Biden wants to build the wall apparently that’s not racist only trump is labeled racist for the wall
Will it keep the Canadians out? They are a horrible race of people. Lol
Everywhere canadians go they build places they bring class to a country. Everywhere you fat fuckkss goes you destroy the places and bring down the class of everything you touch
You’re just racist against Americans
Biden is racist against floods.
Sam sniffs dude butts
Looks like Rangers are clearing house. Drury is making the Ranger’s his team. Maybe Torts is coming back….
I thought they were on the right path. They have a young team that looked really good the second half of the year, especially when Panarin was in the lineup.
They did but they beat up on teams like the Flyers, Devils and Sabres a lot. When it mattered most they collapsed. They lack grit and experience. Both will come soon. They will be a playoff team next year and a dangerous one with the right coach and some size:
Sam Bennett and Jeff Carter tearing it up for their new teams….seems we were both right and wrong…LOL
Is this the same Sam bennett that same wanted for Npl’s favorite player beau Bennett few years ago
I did too..If they hire Torts uuugghhhhhhhh…
Pens vs Isles thanks to Hall.
Look any match up is tough in the east… I would rather see Boston in the second round than the first. Washington is banged up but always a tough match up. The islanders are tough and I wished for them a couple years ago we got swept…so who knows
We were decent against them in the regular season and they dont have Anders Lee
Npl suckss
So does the democRATS
Tocchet and Tortorella are both on the market. I can definitely see Tocchet getting another job very soon.
Npl’s favorite channel CNN lost 36% of its viewers since Biden took office
Poor Canada…For the first time in years they are guaranteed a Canadian team (the only way they can get there) will be in the third round and they will not be able to play a home game. Lol!! They will have to watch a beloved team play in Detroit or Arizona or somewhere other than America Jr. Hilarious!!
People watch train wrecks.
Division Champs!
Fuckin’ Philly!!!!
Start Lagace in the playoffs. Could be something special.
It was Buffalo. Slow down. Lol
Cmon Stan, you dont remember back in 2016 when Maloni/Diego said that about Zatkoff?
No, bc I am not Stan. As much as you people want me to be… sorry to disappoint you all.
Haa! Even retarded npl picked up you are Stan. Funny how you avoid being
Yet you are on this site 24/7 just like he was
You are arrogant just like him
You have a letang/Fleury agenda just like him
You work at the donut shop just like him.
And Stan name was gone and carramrod name was born within a week
You are like Biden everyone knows he is a fraud and has dementia except for himself.
1. I Never avoided it. There is no reason to. 2. Everyone on here has a Letang / Fleury agenda bc Letang sucks at playing defense and needs Dumo to cover his mistakes and Fleury cost the Pens more cups then he actually won. You are just a blind Frenchie who hates any player that is not French Canadian. You are a wanna be Don Cherry with a horrible understanding of the English language. 3. You have been proven to have multiple accounts and after I called you out on it the mysterious Sam(e) getting 75 thumbs up, it stopped.… Read more »
I dont post hockey hey clown maybe my posted are ahead of its time. While you work at your donut store few years ago I said it pens should ship our Bennett and get the other Bennett from Calgary. I was labeled racist because I wanted the Canadian version. Then when I said penguins should go get Carter few years ago you clowns laughed because I wanted old players fast forward those 2 names you guys been drooling about now. This is why I don’t post hockey here anymore because you arrogant clowns have no clue. So I make fun… Read more »
You and npl Did a fine job chasing away good posters from this website.
Don’t let the door hit you in your vag on the way out.
For the record, youre clearly not Stan. I was joking and Sam is a fucklng idiot.
You also wanted every player who was one day from retiring or was in fact, retired!
Being Canadian is not a race! Lol
Lol Canadian isn’t a race and you’ve never posted anything about Carter. Ever. You wanted Marty St. Louis two days before he retired…
I’d prefer Zatkoff.
Wow…Sam Bennett another goal and assist in Florida’s big win over Tampa Bay. He was an amazing pick up and addition at the trade deadline.
Good for him just a simple change of scenery kind of like Jeff Carter…
Oh yeah they are both kicking ass on their new teams….mmmhhhhhh
Congratulations to 2x Stanley Cup hero Phil Kessel with his 900th point. Truly an all time great.
Give that man a hot dog!
Getting a shot on goal would help
Sprong is looking good.
You can’t stop Wade Allison. You can only hope to contain him.
DePaoli is back
Did Bob Errey just use Letang and Norris Trophy candidate in the same sentence? Lol.
Bob Errey is the best according to npl
Kris Letang has been better this year…but the only Norris he is winning is the Chuck Norris award.
He is not physical enough to earn a Chuck Norris Award.
Probably not….
Jeff Carter tearing it up. What an excellent deadline addition.
Too bad he’s slow.
I stand corrected Carter has fit in well with the Penguins… But he was slow the last month with the Kings before he got moved….change of scenery wow..
You were spot on about Jeff Carter no doubt…
Just as I was about Sam Bennett tearing it up in Florida..
Sam Bennett is tearing it up in Florida. What an Excellent deadline addition.
Being a thug… $5000 fine.
Ripping an NHL figure head… $250,000 fine. Lol
I don’t know whats worst
Biden trying to read teleprompter or npl discussing hockey on this website
Sam making fun of someone’s reading ability. Lol
“Whats worst” lol
And Gostisbehere gets two games. Lol…. what a joke the nhl dos is!
When they hired Parros to that role, you could see it coming.
Agreed..wow Nhl is really a mess..
Ghost hit from behind was cheap and may warranted a one game suspension…. Wilson deserves 1/2 a season without pay otherwise this clown will never get the message.
I like how he left the game with an “upper body injury” last night after he was given a 10 min game misconduct. Classy move Caps. He is a thug with talent and that is the shame of it all. All his teammates like him, he is tough to play against, he has skill, he has the size and strength change the outcome of a series and any team would love to have a player like him in their line up but he is a thug who never learns and he proved it again the other night when he was… Read more »
Well said man !!!
There have been a lot of tough guys, disruptors, and goons but no one is predatory and tries to hurt people like Tom Wilson. Scott Stevens was a devastating hitter. Brad Marchant a cheap annoyance chirper. Broad Street Bullies tried to beat you up…but they played with in the rules same with the Big Bad Bruins. those teams weren’t predatory like wilson…they like to intimidate and fight. Dave Semenko protected # 99 Bob Prober tough fighter Stu Grimson Tough Matt Cooke sometimes went over the edge The only one who comes close to Wilson for me is Claude Lemieux and… Read more »
Call up the Hanson Brothers tonight!!!
Good the Hanson Brothers look like Angels compared to Wilson…LOL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee5rMcE6yjo
I think this is the Class fat npl and Arrogant Stan Failed
https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/24/business/vaccine-freebies/index.html
good job npl and Stan Free hot dogs and donuts
How about that Pens win last night? Malkin looked good. Oh wait, Sam(e) only talks about the Pens when they lose.
Where was he for 23 games ah forgot on his annual vacation. Yet gets paid 9.5m a year
He was hurt. Where are you when the Pens win games? Probably on the Montreal board crying.
If Malkin plays like that we are in good shape….he was good last night !!
The Rangers have called up Trevor Gillies for tonight’s game against the Capitals.
Malkin looked good last night. Definitely not a bust like Hockey11 thinks he is.
Get lost fatso
15th overall in NHL history in PPG and 2nd overall, behind Crosby, for active players with over 500 games played.
He’s a bust.
Thanks Mr stats. This the same guy that drools over kessels game too. I wonder how good he has been doing since he left here
He has 38 points in 53 games. He is 3 points behind Montreal’s leading scorer.
I am sorry that stats seem to prove you wrong on a daily basis. Maybe after you learn how to spell you will learn how to count.
You are sooooo mean sam
Oh god i didn’t say he was a bust. .I said he isn’t worth $9.5 million anymore…and yes he did look good last night. If he plays like that we will be terrific….If he does the undisciplined, dumb, turnover, lazy stuff that’s a problem. I have always said he is a good player /once upon a time he was elite but he still is a very good player when FOCUSED….he is just inconsistent and dumb.. If I were management maybe you move him in the off season/maybe..that’s all you are drinking tbj233 koolaid that’s bad thing it is like co-vid… Read more »
I read it. You said he was a bust. He also led the team in points last year by a wide margin so not sure about your revision of “he used to be good” either.
I said he isn’t worth $9.5 million anymore..period end of story
Pens win, Malkin 2 points, 3 SOG, 0 PIM, Pens in first… Sam(e) is quiet. Typical.
Boston and NYI lost to NJ and Buffalo as well. They each got the damn loser point, but at least the Pens really helped themselves and they have a very beatable team for their last two. IMO it would be huge fo finish first, as I don’t see NYI finishing above 4. Might have a few brewskies for the Rags/Wash game tomorrow.
Anyone see the statement the Rangers front off put out on Tom Wilson?
Good for them. Having a dinosaur goon as director of player safety is a joke.
You knew it would be the second they hired him.
yep…doesn’t mater the league sucks they keep giving this guy breaks.. He is dangerous, destructive and tries to hurt people. He has killed three Penguins in the last 4 years. We are nt talking a fight where he sends a message, or intimidating another player, or crushing clean bosy checks. -we are talking knee to knee, hits directed at the head, sucker punches/cross checks to players in a vulnerable position, running people, launching himself…this guy is seriously gonna hurt someone. What would have happened when (he saw Panarin) not a fighter with no helmet) hit his head on this ice… Read more »
Wilson should be gone for the season, which means he’ll probably get two games.
Edit: Just a fine.
Wow…just saw the Wilson debacle….he needs to get suspended big time !! He keeps doing this over and over to just about anybody….
Good old CBA.
The Rangers should call up Geersteen and have him go right after Wilson as soon as the puck drops.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens, as the Rangers don’t have anything to play for. You’d think that at some point someone will just take a run at him.
Someone is going to put him in his place one day and every Washington fan will cry foul. How do they give a player like that an A?? Do they think it stands for assholee?
The only guy I think Wilson fears is Ryan Reaves Vegas….
Agreed…..Wilson is dangerous and will seriously hurt someone soon…
Our Russian was back and the team was disaster
Wel he made sure he was on the board with his dumb penalty
I knew this was a trap game after two emotional wins at washington, 3 games in 4 nights, we suck vs Philly this year anyway, but whenever Malkin is in the line up the goal against go up and team cohesion goes to shit.
Sullivan better squash him quick..
This is not just Malkin, he missed 23 games, he should be rusty, no one showed up. This is on Sully to correct plus Philly has nothing to lose so they can play care free with no repercussions. Buffalo too. These are 4 dangerous games to end the season. Sully needs to keep them in check and remind them these are playoff games, not push overs. Geno coming back was just coincidence. This was going to happen regardless.
Good night!! Ugh…
The entire team looks like shitt!
Malkin with 12 points in his last 9 games. He’s clearly lost it. He’s a bust. Move him ASAP!
Glad you finely see now if only jaydogg hooks and deathbyemu garble garble garble
yep those last nine games were what 2o plus games ago before he got hurt again…..
Not blaming last nights loss on anybody the team sucked!!t Malkin is a defensive liability…even someone with your limited intelligence can see that…yes?
He’s a bust though, so we shouldn’t expect all that much from him.
Malkin in tonight.
Watch the goals against go up when he is out there…LOL
I will admit, I am curious to see how him returning plays out. They def need Tanev back!
Defenseman Mike Matheson is week to week.
Here we go again.
Who steps in Pierre Oliver Joseph or Friedman….???
Not Letang.
Good job npl and Stan. People that they are getting vaccinated are getting free stuff from Nathans hot dog and dunkin donuts
I know I dont live in Cali and havent seen as much of him on NHL.tv compared to those with local coverage but… Jeff Carter appears to be a good skater.
He has settled in nicely to the Pittsburgh way of speed and pressure…
Malkin is a bust. Blow it up.
You just realised ? Ha
Only you and hockey11 are dumb enough to call a first ballot HOFer a bust. You should also Google sarcasm.
Again clown wipe….you put shit in to peoples mouth your an a hole. I said he has been a great Penguin but in the off season it is time to move him (to a place he wants) and get what you can…
He has slipped by far the most of the big three.
If you can’t see he is inconsistent, injured prone, lazy, dumb well your as dumb as you claim everyone else is.
He is still a good player, not elite and not worth $ 9.5 million that’s for sure..
You called him a bust, verbatim. Don’t try to spin it. Everyone saw it. Just own it.
LIKE I SAID YOU ARE AN IDIOT.
I SAID HE NEEDED TO BE MOVED IN THE OFF SEASON…SAD LITTLE BOY.
HE HAS BEEN A GREAT PENGUIN ONE OF THE BEST BUT HE ISNT WORTH $9.5 million.
And your opinion, lack of honesty, aren’t worth 9.5 cents..
Yeah you mean everyone on here you call a Moron remember that! Or did you forget that to like most of the shit that comes out of your mouth.. little boy…
MAF ties Luongo for 3rd place on all time wins
With the top seed up for grabs and some time off after the regular season to let other teams catch up, there is no way Crosby is getting rested unless the last game or two are meaningless which is highly unlikely
Maybe they can rest him if our Russian decides to come back from his annual vacation
He takes his vacation every year around same time and comes back fresh right before playoffs
If Geno comes back he better get on board with the team game…..
Yes he will. He will make sure he takes dumb penalties and cost teams games in playoffs
Remember vs habs how his dumb penalty turned the series around habs came back won the game and the series
But shhh don’t tell that to Stan and npl they still have the hots for him
Remember when Letang missed the open net and then left his man wide open in the slot with 14 seconds left and the Caps tied the game?
That was bad….. oh Letang
Don’t tell tbj233 either,,,ssshhhhhhh
He still thinks Malkin is elite like he was in 2009-2010 !!!!!
Yep….
We need our lazy Russian back from his annual vacation.