Another Step Back
Pittsburgh’s 6-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks continues a trend of one step forward, two steps back.
“We’re trying to build some traction here,” coach Mike Sullivan said after the loss. “We’ve played a lot of good hockey over the last three or four weeks. We’re trying to string some wins together and points together and momentum. When you have a night like tonight, it sets you back.”
The lack of fire from the group Wednesday night and some disinterested performances from the likes of Evgeni Malkin is what made Wednesday’s loss feel like such a bad one when also considering the Blackhawks were playing in a back-to-back.
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Common trends have played out all season where the Penguins look more like a middle of the road team than a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
With the Penguins no longer a great forechecking team that hunts the puck at an exceptional level like they did in their two Stanley Cup runs, among the issues without the puck is horrific defensive awareness that is playing out in all three zones and it starts with some group of forwards to the backend.
“I thought we gave up more odd-man rushes tonight than we did in the last three or four weeks,” Sullivan said Wednesday night.
–It’s time to pull back some of media talk proclaiming Marcus Pettersson to be the next Nik Lidstrom like the case was after the Ottawa game.
There’s more of this happening than good moments with the third pairing of Jack Johnson – Pettersson.
— Does Evgeni Malkin miss Carl Hagelin? There’s a reason Malkin liked to play with Hagelin so much and the coaches loved to play Hagelin in that spot despite the lack of offense.
Hagelin made life easier for Malkin in tracking pucks on the forecheck and on the backcheck, two must-haves when picking a linemate for Malkin before he’s not always in all-out mode during the regular season and as great as he is, will take some night’s off.
With Bryan Rust’ hat trick vs the Chicago hopefully jumpstarting his offensive game, Rust moving up to the second line left wing spot has to be in play to give the Malkin line that Hagelin presence.
Malkin has just 1 even strength goal since October 31st.
— One major complaint in Los Angeles about Tanner Pearson that saw them sour on him so much is what we’ve seen with him in Pittsburgh on a game-to-game basis.
Pearson either has an impact game or is completely invisible with no in-between.
That’s been him in a Penguins uniform and why there was some risk in taking on his contract because he’s a sink or swim type performer.
— Industry Buzz is Winnipeg, Colorado, Columbus and Nashville are among handful of teams that have continued to monitor the To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
I thought the Steelers over the Pats would make the Daily 5………..
Neal,malkins best buddy hasn’t score in19 games. Has only 3g 4a this season and – 9.
While our Russian hasn’t score 5v5 since oct30 and is -11
Steelers can’t even lose when it’s in their best interest. Tomlin’s job safe for another underachieving year.
Tomlin Tomlined himself. Rooney’s will extend him after this win. They acted like they won the Super Bowl. Sad.
Wow 2nd game this week a team changes goalie and wins the game.
Jones 3 goals on 4 shots tonight.
Tomlin > Belicheck
Flyers fired their head coach.
I would’ve loved tortz coach there and have rivalry with his buddy scum sully
Right now Philly is denying it.
Saw that I’m sure his due for firing. And coach Q replace him
Can we fire Sully first and hire Q?
Malkin already showing signs be want sully out. His been on vacation mode since October 30th
The pens genius coach says sprong can’t be trusted. Haha
Sports is entertainment. There is nothing entertaining about this team and it’s not due to their up and down performance. Same players, same storylines.
Then don’t watch…
You’re not a true penguins fan. The real fans only start watching in April
Thank God for the pp our Russian got on board.
“Thank God for the pp” – Sam the virginal bandwagon boy
Thank God for Crosby tbj just discovered. Hockey
Tonight the Pens missed Letang and his 25 minutes of turnovers and stupid penalties.
Another year….The Malkin disappearing storyline is getting old.
Never gets old since droolers don’t see it yet. The way they don’t see Murray is a fraud
So much dead weight on this team starting with Brassard. I’d move Maatta, Murray and Brassard to reload. Put ZAR on the 4th line where he belongs.
Inspiring watching the Pens squeeze out back to back wins against the Bruins and Kings minor league affiliates. Season is really taking off now
https://thumbs.gfycat.com/HatefulEmptyEuropeanfiresalamander-small.gif
Wow, Murray was awesome. Stole the extra point.
Malkin -2. His been getting these minuses just like npl
At least we know Murray picked up right where he left off. Pens need minimum 4. His got to be most consistent goalie in the league they should make an award for that just for him. Fraud of the year
SV% of .927. Far better than Fleury’s regular season average, let alone playoff average. WOO!
Really clown stats of one game? Check stats of this season.
Looks like Letang decided to play in a Drew Doughty jersey tonight
Not even an instant buzz mention on Bill Fralic? D, you’re an absolute scumbag.
His working on a big project. I think we will have a countdown clock when fraud Murray is injured next
Your attempts at humor are embarrassing.
He pasted away
Pens win. Fluery chokes. Sam is quiet. Sounds about right.
How did fleury choked assshole. Schneider let in 3 goals on 7 shot. That’s chocking. Devils changed their fraud goalie and got momentum. They had 43 shots. You are a clown. Worry about Murray his so good that coach wants him to debut vs worst team in the NHL. Let’s hope magic number is still 4 and not 6 Vs the last team yeah Vegas lost with fleury first regulation loss in last 7 games for him. I bet Murray would’ve gave up that 5 goals on 15 shots.
Hahahahaaaa…. he turned into playoff MAF. Poor Sam had to use his tears to jerkk off last night.
The angrier you get the worse your english gets. Hahahaa.
Exactly exposed on your Murray and now you attack my English. Good job jabroni. Just proved you last night wasn’t fleurys fault. Anyways it’s clear we don’t watch the same kind of hockey. Go hump on malkin still.
Let’s make a trivia.
Who will be first ?
Will malkin score 5v5 first or
Murray be injured before that Feel free to chose droolers
Hey D is there a way you can have it on the right side of the page weekly questions people can chose A,B,C,D.
Murray’s debut was 3 years ago when he immediately stole Fleury’s job and proceeded to carry the team to two Stanley Cups. Wouldn’t expect a Montreal/Vegas fan to knowthat, though.
It’s true penguins fans know more they think hockey only starts in April so no need a goalie to carry them there in the first place. Since fleury gone we’ve seen how pens hitting adversity and come playoffs they are drained of their season
They got there last year without Fleury. They looked drainedbecause they won the cup the two previous years without Fleury. Do you ever get tired of getting owned on message boards?
You are right, I was to busy watching the Penguins game to care about Vegas. Aside from that I never once defended MM on here and yes Malkin is in a slump. Every player in hockey history goes through one. Even your boy Crosby. MAF has one every year come playoff time. It’s just a matter of when the opposing team gets into his head.
Inevitably some retard will proclaim ZAR a permanent fixture.
Kind of like they did with Zatkoff.
Yeah I’m sure it’s same clowns that drooled over TK and Bennett as the top 6 solution for years
Letang has a boo boo
That didn’t look good.
Status will be day to day for now
He won’t play tomorrow. That sucks.
ZAR sucks….Maloni
There are 3 periods guys, not 2.
Murray injured yet? I heard watching fleury on his ipad might give him a concussion
I heard it gives you Parkinson’s in the wrist
Did he see him choke ?
Reeves another assist. I think he has more points than pens complete bottom 6 combined .
P.S. npl sucks 4 life. So does the democRATS
Good for him.
Np Kessell trade rumors in this article? You feeling ok D?
Mr. Angry is here.
Don’t worry your crew is also here you may give him thumbs down now
Is Sam injuried yet from gripping it to hard watching MAF?
I heard Murray is watching Fleury tonight. The bench gave him ipad
Leave it Bob Errey to over exaggerate the Penguins play when they are doing average things.
He suckss. Sadly Bob Cole will call his last game habs vs leafs and then retire
Is the mic on?
For those of you not to busy with political posting there is another article about the line shuffle tonight. Sort of like the Curly shuffle but not as entertaining.
Got some good news and bad news boys.
Good news is. Murray won’t play tonight .
Bad news is Fraud Murray will be in net tomorrow night and will make sure pens lose vs the worst team in the NHL.
Let’s not forget. Npl always suckss
See how people protect the lazy Russian. Yet when sid struggles all of a sudden people want him traded and say his done his and not best player anymore. Best one was zerotool drooling all over mcdavid how he will school and then that beautiful overtime goal shut him up
Not protecting “lazy” Russian just putting it out there we seem to judge them by two different measuring sticks.
Further proving Ocasio-Cortez is an air head that won simply on demographics, she refused a debate with Ben Shapiro comparing it to “cat-calling” lmao
So much concern over a junior house rep.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3cuqtvqxyI
Dude, this pic is fucking up the board.
D sharp eye on Malkin any chance you can use that eye on Crosby once in a while instead of manufacturing excuses for him.
Where are all those Brassard supporters they should be up in arms. I mean he display some of the best defense I have seen in a long time. He personally kept 87 and 59 off the score sheet the other night. He has done the same for almost all his teammates from time to time. Reflect on the trade and what we gave up for him. Also reflect on all the bs you gave the people like me who came out right away against the trade……let me listen to them now …..chirp chirp chirp …hmm can hear the crickets LOL
the brassard supporters may not be up in arms, but the grammar police sure aren’t happy with you.
LOL Like I give a rats ass. World is built on math
I was wrong about Brassard. You called it dude. I thought he would be so much better. Always thought he was a good player. Injuries didn’t help, but he’s been non existent.
Hey D. Thanks for reading my request about fraud malkin 1 5v5 goal since October .
Also hawks worst power play this year and the scored vs pens
You own half of the accounts on TIOPS, it was strictly a business decision.
How many does he have? I know there are not 29 (how convenient of a number) posters liking his posts?
You know your political party is f*cked when you have the crypt keeper (Pelosi) and possibly the dumbest person in government (Ocasio-Cortez) leading the charge.
The dumbest person in government is, hands down, the President of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Trump lives in liberal heads, rent free. I really hope he sticks it out. The meltdown videos get old after watching them so many times. We need new ones.
And Clinton, who is as irrelevant as shes been in nearly 30 years, is all the right wants to talk about. She’s done, but theyre still having unnecessary meetings with Comey to deflect away from Trump’s dumbassery.
2020 election will be interesting. Trump will either be re-elected or go to jail. That’s fascinating.
https://images.dailykos.com/images/373452/story_image/Trump-Jail.jpg
The only thing trump and npl have in common is. KFC
Oh yeah let’s not all forget. Npl still suckss