Bottom-6 Center Situation was Exposed
Entering tonight’s game, Riley Sheahan has goals in back-to-back games, the first time he’s scored in consecutive games since December 20-22, 2015, a span of 158 games and he’s sprinkled in some assists of late to have 9 points in 22 games with Pittsburgh.
Still, how he struggles against high quality bottom-6 centers has the Penguins alarmed and don’t let the recent production believe the Penguins will look to stand pat at the center position.
A Penguins source indicates Saturday 4-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs was another “wake up call” in regards to the Penguins third line center situation, hence, it’s an area that must be addressed by the deadline.
In front of a Penguins brass that would love for the Leafs to entertain moving Tyler Bozak before the deadline (highly unlikely), Bozak was a man among boys in going head-to-head with both Riley Sheahan and Carter Rowney.
The Sheahan – Bozak head-to-head matchup saw Pittsburgh bleeding shot attempts and high danger chances against.
At even-strength, Bozak was on the ice for 14 attempts and just 3 against when on the ice with Sheahan and most concerning was the 7-1 edge in high danger chances for the Leafs during this matchup.
Pittsburgh overcame bad goaltending and an awful start to lose by just one goal but even with Auston Matthews clearly playing injured and at 0% (0/18) in shot attempt differential when on the ice against the Sidney Crosby, Toronto came out of that game with a 14-6 edge in high danger chances.
It was a game in head-to-head matchups that really magnified how lopsided the bottom-6 center edge was in Toronto’s favor.
PIT/COL/EDM Trade Talks
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Jarry under the microscope tonight?
— A Matt Murray – Marc Andre Fleury showdown looms Thursday night in Vegas as Murray is expected return to the lineup as is Fleury who has been hobbled for nearly two months with a concussion.
Tristan Jarry starts tonight and this is an interesting start for him.
Since the great home-and-home series against the Sabres, Jarry has an .845 save percentage during 5 vs 5 play over his last three games and is obviously coming off a game he was pulled in the first period.
The Penguins’ internally are still not staying out of the veteran goaltender market as some believe the best thing for Jarry is more time in the minors. If he struggles tonight, some whispers are don’t be surprised if Jarry goes back down to Wilkes Barre for a stint once Murray returns.
That said he has clearly shown he’s already a capable backup NHL goaltender but how the Penguins believe is the best thing for his development is still a topic of discussion.
League Chatter: Staal was likely headed to trade block…..
— If businessman Chuck Greenberg, a close friend of Mario Lemieux/many in the Penguins organization, had been able to secure the money to buy the Carolina Hurricanes as Greenberg was working to acquire the Hurricanes over the summer, rumblings in the industry is that Pittsburgh strongly believed To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
the JORDAN sTAHL train has sailed people…..
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_politics/2017/12/fed_ex_state_sen_brian_joyce_took_stream_of_bribes_and_kickbacks
now we know what Stain is up to these days
you are obsessed with him
Yes and it is weird
Someone should notify him. Stan should almost consider a restraining order. What a creep!
Please get Karlsson. With Schultz out, we need an elite defenceman. Watching Letang is like getting a root canal.
Root Canal reference? What is it 1984?
i didnt know a current dental procedure was only acceptable to reference in 1984….hmmmm
Do they not perform these anymore?
they do zero…someone in my office had one like 2 weeks ago
it was rhetorical 😉
This team needs a shakeup pretty bad. Expect a major move from JR soon.
Keep Drooling Fatso
Always been a huge fan of Letang, he has been fuck awful much of this year and despite how good he has been when at the top of the game IF he could be used to land a Karlsson… heartbeat. That said I don’t know if there is really a trade coming for Karlsson. Jay and Dan had interviewed Brent Wallace this AM and the rumours somewhat stem from the contract conversation and him submitting his no trade list… which only was a public thing this year because he expects to be paid when he becomes a UFA. With that… Read more »
Yeah karlson looks good with sens because often time he carries the puck with pens you have chubby,sid malkin doing that. So karlson will not look as good as he was with sens and you bandwagon’s will complain he is over paid too. Yes he has slight better shot then letang maybe vision. But skating they are the same letang is slightly better in the D zone then karlson. Health both have their fair share of injuries maybe karlson a bit healthier. That’s about it. Now drool you mother fuckerrrs
He has a significantly better shot than Letang, he is able to get the shot off and hit the net and all of that without taking anything off of it.While Letang, when not playing like complete dog shit, is a better defender overall the fact remains that he too is a Dman that thrives with an anchor like Karlsson so with that in mind he would be a superior fit here. Because his offence from the blueline comes mostly from the blueline and he outpaces Letang where as Kris consistently leaves his spot to sneak in… he cant hit the… Read more »
End of the day its moot… it’s not gonna happen but it’s nice to see you take the bait so hard because you are afraid of losing the player who modelled your second favourite cockk shaped pillow for you
That should read 110 missed games
You really shouldn’t talk about things you don’t know about. Stick to stickers, video games and welfare.
OK a both Karlson and letang suck in the D-zone period, they skate the same, but letang just can shoot the fucking puck especially on the power play…like Burns, Doughty, Subban,Justin Schutlz, Weber, Suter…Yet the Penguins keep running him out there on the point and PK’s of other teams pack it in down low because they know letang is no threat to shoot from the point
WHO ARE YOU CALLING CHUBBY SID OR GENO NO WAY CROSBY IS A MACHINE..
Buddy of mine at work has 20 tickets for the pens/knights game thursday. Taking all 6 in his family and sold the rest and made his money back and then some. Should be fun for those visiting.
It’ll be weird seeing Fleury. I bet the tribute will be sweet. I’m driving back home for the holidays and heading out to the Anaheim game with some friends.
Tribute video alone will be worth watching.
why would vegas have a tribute?
I tried getting them for family in close by Cali, but minimun purchase was eight tickets for single games and price started at $200 each, all in peanut heaven.
Pens and their ex players who’s next orpig back to Pittsburgh along with DB when sully gets canned
Man, when is your infatuation with DB and Orpik going to end? You’re a very strange little bandwagon.
Oh… when would they be canning the 2 for 2 Stanley Cup winning coach? Before or after Malkin goes back to Russia? Fucken retard