Penguins return from tough road trip to face Bruins
Pittsburgh returns tonight from a disastrous 0-4 Western Canada Swing with present of facing the 8-1 Boston Bruins at the PPG Paints Arena, which who knows might be a good thing for the Penguins who are just a different team at home.
Boston looking as good as anyone to open the season are an example of a contender where they seem to be getting that immediate jolt of a summer coaching change where a new voice, changes to the system is doing wonders to start the season and this has the look of a team that will have sustaining power this season if they’re older vets can stay healthy.
And the Bruins who made the Stanley Cup Final in 2019, got rid of a very good coach in Bruce Cassidy who is making his mark in Vegas already.
In saying this, I believe Mike Sullivan without a doubt is one of the best coaches in the National Hockey League and deserves to be regarded as the greatest coach in Penguins’ history. He’s that good.
But, the Penguins have lost the easiest route to spark your team whether one was going to be needed this season or next with the massive commitment they gave Sullivan this summer.
All you have to do is look at the swings of the Penguins season already, nine games in.
Reality is they’re not as good as they looked the first four games of the season and they’re not as bad as they looked in the four games against Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and Seattle.
It’s somewhere in-between.
However, the games against Edmonton and Calgary especially, and even the Vancouver game showed how the Penguins belief and philosophy that there’s only one way to play continues to be problematic against teams that can push back against them with speed/skill but also add physicality against them.
If there’s ever one knock on this core group and Mike Sullivan is that in 2022 they still think they can always play like it’s 2016. And they just can’t……..
— What to Watch For Tonight & Burning Questions Already —
From a structure standpoint, everything the Penguins do on a nightly basis comes back to Kris Letang. It has for years. First two games of the season, Letang was fantastic, and the Penguins looked like a powerhouse.
Watching Letang, though, over the last four to five games and it’s been some of the worst tape we’ve seen from him in a long time. It was the type of running around, getting frustrated when hit on the forecheck similar to past playoff runs before last season that drove the coaching staff, fan base nuts and had some questioning if the team eventually had to move on from Letang to change the way they play.
When Letang’s in those type of stretches he was in the four game trip and even a little before, the Penguins almost always have defensive outings like they’ve had recently. Good or bad, he dictates what type of defensive game Pittsburgh is going to have. What Letang’ the Penguins get tonight from a structure will tell the story of how tonight goes.
— Is Brian Dumoulin salvageable?
The coaching staff has remained strong believers that Dumoulin’s dip in play last season was injury related. The tape has been really bad of late and now at age 31, can Dumoulin hold up anymore as a legit No. 1 pairing defenseman?
In a contract year I’m told the Penguins feel some good hockey is still left in Dumoulin but there’s quite a few doubters emerging and for good reason.
— The Penguins were thrilled with how Evgeni Malkin showed up to camp and how he played to start the season. On the heels of a four year contract the Penguins truly weren’t comfortable giving, they’ve seen a motivated player in a lot of phases. Yet, there’s worries of how much Malkin will have left in the tank come February and March from many in the organization once the adrenaline rush phases. That’s why many around the league are determined Pittsburgh will be aggressive to add another top six talent……
— Extension Candidate Jason Zucker? —
— Jason Zucker To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Make sure you guys vote for democRATS
Switching to the Steelers for a second anyone watch the Sunday night game Titans / Chiefs ? Watching Malik Willis start and play the whole game the Steelers drafted the right quarterback…..Pickett you can see is going to be a good NFL Qb Malik looks lost and confused…
Too soon to tell
Maybe….But he completed 5 passes 5 hell you or I could throw 3 screen passes.
Ron Hextall and Brian Burke need to make a couple solid moves or trades if not a blockbuster to spark this group…The answer clearly isn’t in the dressing room or Wilkes Barrie !!! Players they could / should move ?? – Jeff Carter – Kaspari Kapanen – Pierre Oliver Joseph – Brian Dumoulin or Marcus Peterson= Peterson only if it is part of a big deal – Tristan Jarry in a big deal if it lands up Pittsburgh native goalie Anaheim’s John Gibson – Jason Zucker = Sammy Poulin – 2023 Number 1 draft pick if it lands us a… Read more »
-Carter never should have been resigned and is in the over 35 NMC club. -Kapanen is Garbage. -Dumo is in the last yr of his contract with a M-NTC. -Zucker is in the final yr of his contract and Sully loves him. If he can stay healthy and the Pens are out of the playoff picture he may wave his M-NTC for a contender. -Jarry is in the final yr of his contract and the Pens have no other option at this moment. Gibson has another 5 yrs at $6.4 million and is 29 with a M-NTC. I would rather… Read more »
Thanks to Shero and Jim. Ruined penguins pipeline
When you to give 2 2nd rounds to get douglas murray. Or give a 1st round to get reeves
Biden will stop the coal mine when the RATS win
Npl has voted multiple times for the rats just so he can have his gender changed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7aDhhamxm0
you guys think Sully has balls to do this lol
You mean never win a Stanley Cup?
You mean being fired 4 times. Twice by the same team?
Well said Zero… LOL
7 in a row to match Letang’s -7.
Wow what the bleep is going on in Penguin land???
Turbo!
Letang chasing was probably not ideal but JFC Dumo… what made you vacate the front of the goal
Extra pass at the end by Letang nullifies the whole play… JFC…
Only 5 years and 71 more games to go.
I was Ok with signing Letang and Malkin but NOT more than 3 years…
Heyyyy welcome back Ron. I guess your quaratine time is up. JT allows you to touch the computers now?
How is JT has he run out of socks yet
Btw I like your new premier Smith
She has more balls than JT, JAGMEET,FORD and LEGAULT combined
Drugs are bad, mmmk
Lol… she’s gonna hand the NDP a super majority. Even conservatives who are still grounded in reality in this province can’t stand her.
Good to know you’re still absolutely clueless lol.
What did you think of Letang chasing that puck and leaving Dumo alone to make that terrible decision?
Apparently your liberals have the sollution they went to Borrow 500B form US with 3% interest back
now go get your free dental care Ron You must be also happy your Boy will be importing 500k a year of new freeloaders
Stop getting your news from Theo Fleury…
Maybe it is too early and maybe it isn’t…Saturday’s at home vs the Kraken is a badly needed 2 points…
Fun fact… Dumo has been on the ice for 21 goals against this year… already…
Seriously that many damn..He has been so steady for so long and he is 31 not 51..LOL It must be the injuries because 31 isn’t ancient….too bad
Maybe he will rebound ? LOL
I was hoping last year was injuries but I really think he’s done high level hockey. Watching him tonight… he treats the puck like a live grenade… just not helping anything at all
Maybe for now put him on the 3rd pairing to cut his minutes and not go against top players from other teams..
Until they can move him???
Kap has three goals in 50 games dating to last season. Three!!! Wtf?!!
He actually looked good through the first few games but on this losing streak he’s been terrible. So done with him… I didn’t care to keep E-Rod but the attempt to let Kap figure it out is quickly blowing up in the teams face
I have no idea what they saw in him and why they gave him that contract. They should have offered him a one yr, league minimum contract. You don’t like it, walk. I do not believe he is even worth that. Hextall is a terrible GM, always was. I do not see how they can fix this mess without giving up draft picks. No one will want their garbage.
I get wanting to see another year based on a strong 2020 performance but they kind of screwed the pooch with term
Games over, a bit late to start fighting and showing up now. What a flucking joke this team is.
They probably realized they were losing their first game in last 5
As I said yesterday they play perimiter ***** hockey.. They have no heart, jump or life to their game.. They better wake up quick.
Hextall / Burke need to get cracking and make some moves to help this team sooner rather than later.
I would give Arizona what they want for Jakob Chychrun.
to Arizona—Dumoulin / Joseph / Kapanen or McGinn / Poulin / a number # 1 draft pick
hell give them the rights to Jagr…LOL
1. Chychrun Petry
2. Petersson Letang
3. Smith Rutta
Arizona is rebuilding, they do not want the Pens garbage and the Pens will not part with their first overall pick.
From what I heard – they want a young roster player ‘that is Pierre Oliver Jospeh. – they want a young prospect that is Sammy Poulin – They want a number one draft pick we have that – They want a roster player we give them Marcus Petersson 26 making slight less that Chychrun – We can give them Kapanen or McGinn either will help their current roster. You are right about rebuilding..but then again isn’t Arizona always rebuilding….yes they are Joseph 23 / Kapenan 25/ Petersson 26 are all young enough and can step in and help this shit… Read more »
Like I said, why would they want the Pens garbage? They only player on that list I would keep is McGinn.
And if the Pens had faith in Poulin, they would have brought him up and let Kap walk. Would have saved them $$.
Agreed but Poulin does have value/ so does Joseph / maybe not as much as before but this deal is a lot of help for a suck team… Can’t say i Totally disagree with you but Arizona gets two younger defenseman in Petersson Joseph who go right in to the line up there !! A prospect in Poulin who can play in Arizona’s weaker line up and will develop more than in Pittsburgh’s line-up ! McGinn who is a solid 3rd line player will b that for Arizona. A number # 1 pick – where the Penguins usually pick giving… Read more »
With Chychrun still hurt and Reaggravating the injury… he had a tough year last season and while many figure him to be lights out upon return I’d be amiss to throw in the first pick at this point. There is little indication the teams gonna really put it together at this point and while there is a lot of hockey to play… I’m holding on to the first this year until they are assured to or at least look more like they are making the postseason. Even if the chances are small on an outside looking in miss… I’m not… Read more »
Are you kidding me to part with a number # 1 pick that will be probably lower than 20th….for a 24 year old top 2 top 4 stud defenseman on a good contract…..what are you smoking… you make that deal in a heartbeat we are trying to win now and it helps for the future too…
Letang back, same results.
Crosby’s line was the worst tonight
I dont know what sucks more these days
Npl
Penguins
Biden
Letang’s tang seems to have healed.
it would be cool to extend sullivan, malkin, letang, and sid right now until 2032-33!!!! that would be the coolest! hahahahahaha
With these two GM’s, nothing would surprise me more.
I heard penguins and habs are tied in standings
Where is letang tonight mustve been all his fault again
His vagina hurt. He could not play.
I know but usually you guys have an agenda on letang or fleury. But team blew up a lead 8 mins to go in the game without those guys
Fleury has been gone for a while. You can stop trolling. It’s getting old fast.
There is plenty of blame to go around and Letang is just as responsible for his terrible play on that road trip as anyone.
Take off the rose color slurping classes.
Agreed plenty of blame to go around indeed !! This team plays perimeter, effortless, characterless, pussy hockey.
No one drives to the net, the power play sucks because no one will shoot, goaltending inconsistent, and the heart and grit there is none..
When we won Cups in 16 and 17 we had characters glue guys..
Forwards .Bonino/Hagelin/Cullen/Kessel/Fehr
Defense Hainsey/ Cole/ Daley
We don’t have much of that anymore…do we?
The Cole for Brassard trade was the beginning of the end. That started the downfall.
I’ll one up you… Sundqvist and a 1st? 2nd? For Reaves… that 3C hole led to them brining in Brassard. Reaves is what he is… a massive body that is basically the last of the true enforcers that is probably more capable then many of the “enforcers” of the 00s but ultimately isn’t a great option, at least out east as he seems to fit better out west. He was brought in to play body gaurd in a league that it doesn’t really exist anymore and that trade created a hole because Bones left, coughed up picks that could have… Read more »
No wonder D. Stopped working hard
The entire team just refuses to put in 60 minutes…
Letang and Dumoulin did have a rough west coast trip….
Dumoulin slow Letang bad turnovers…
Dumo can go asap… POJ looks really good and Smith was apparently a better option sent down only because he had eligibility. While it’s not a complete fix, move Dumo for whatever they can get and call Smith back up
I was hoping the time off would help you pull your head from your ass but clearly you can’t get dudes cock out of your mouth for real. Here’s a couple tough pills for you… 1. Letang has objectively been terribly through the road trip to now. He’s been very bad… 2. Outside of last night, Malkin has been the teams best player for the most part. Sid’s been decent but has disappeared more than Geno has. This is just how it’s been through 10. Yeah, Geno was a bit of a shit show last night but if you’re unable… Read more »
Zero…as usual what you say equals zero ….WTF – Malkin is doing what Malkin always does be inconsistent.. he has been decent..didnt say he sucked said he disappeared again. – Letang was awful on the west coast road trip…Ii said that as well you douche bag.. .god wake up you idiot!! – I also like Rakell and Rust a lot you Moron.. I just feel Rust is better with Sid than Geno….evidence dah the last 3/4 years that line has been dominant in the NHL……long before Rakell was even her Douche.. I said the team overall isn’t playing great, they… Read more »
I was clearly taking to Sam you illiterate dumb fuck but what a way to confirm yours as much a dumb shit as Sam is….
As for “inconsistent”… dudes gone 2 games this year without a point. He has the same stat line as Sid who feasted in the first 5 games but has been very quiet since. Geno has only 4 minors this year… this is always an indication of his play as he takes brutal penalties while frustrated. He’s played very well overall. He’s been dominant in the circle albeit slid a bit here, his GVA vs TKA ratio is favourable… he’s seeing the puck a ton so he’s on pace to see highs in both columns… so he’s very noticeable on the… Read more »
ooopppppps sorry bro ripped back at you when you were speaking to the sam guy my bad
All good, I kind of fired back. I’m not really interested in the same level of fights on here as I was. I mean sams a fucken lost cause and if I had a nickel for every solid poster on here that left due in part to his BS I could probably buy the page and hire more content creators lol.
It’s why I bailed for so long. Granted it’s not like we had a lot to work with either.
Shocking… lol
Fleury sets record most wins in shootouts as much as you clowns hate him. Thats an individual effort
There is no I in team lol.
Welcome back from your vacation D
Tanger has a cold. He is out tonight. He must have played to hard those last four games.
Fun fact, my high school coaches son is the top ranked American player for the age 15 bracket. He’ll be a top 5 pick in 2025. Perfect time to tank:-). YouTube LJ Mooney if you’re looking for something to check out.
If they even offer Zucker the league minimum, both GM’s should be fired on the spot. Dumo is done and Letang’s mental lapses are exposing Dumo’s decline even more. This team is poorly built and gave away too many contracts and M/NMC like candy. Now they are screwed. No one will take their garbage without draft picks. It was a great run.
When is AARP night is Pittsburgh?
Yeah. Let Dumo and Zucker walk, unless someone is willing to throw some picks at the deadline for them. It wouldn’t surprise me if this is the year the team falls off a cliff. Shed as much cap space as possible this off-season and weaponize it for futures. Bottom out with this core (only option with the contracts) and obtain as many picks as possible. 2023 draft picks should be entering their prime once this starts retiring.
Letang needs to have his minutes cut from 24 to 18 and get him off the number # 1 power play. Jeff Petry has a cannon and isn’t afraid to use it….
The Penguins play perimeter hockey, they have no heart, on ice leadership is questionable, and they play pussy hockey..