Penguins/NHL
Can it Last? Penguins have an impactful 3rd line this week
The Pittsburgh Penguins have rattled off two straight wins, a 5-4 come from behind win Tuesday night vs the Sabres and then a 3-1 win over the Senators Thursday night.
Tuesday’s win kind of summed up the Penguins season.
Very sloppy play for long stretches, frustrating goals allowed at in-opportune times (early and late in periods) but with their high-end talent, when the Penguins feel motivated to play, they can turn it on out of nowhere especially against bad teams.
Thursday’s win was more of a playoff style low scoring game with great goaltending from Matt Murray this team has been so accustomed to winning the last two seasons.
In a game where the Senators and Penguins each created just 5 high danger scoring chances during 5 vs 5 play, Pittsburgh got a deflection goal from Patric Hornqvist (7) and a tip-in/deflection goal from Jake Guentzel (6) in the slot on a Brian Dumoulin shot from 59 ft out. Pittsburgh then added an empty goal from Riley Sheahan with 31 seconds left in regulation.
A positive trend for the Penguins continued vs the Senators in goals coming from 35 ft or less. Pittsburgh is third in the NHL with a goal distance of around 33 ft.
— The biggest development for the Penguins last two games is the third line winger play.
The Penguins are built where they need their third line wingers to create offensively and be factors, to off-set a less skilled group of bottom-6 centers in Riley Sheahan/Greg McKegg/Carter Rowney.
The level of play from Conor Sheary and Patric Hornqvist has been tremendous the last two games.
Vs Buffalo Sheary and Hornqvist were impacting the game in every facet. Sheary was on the ice for 20 shot attempts, 3 against, Hornqvist 16/2 and Riley Sheahan (20/4) had his finest game as a Penguin.
What was such a rarity for the Penguins 20+ games in now, was how Pittsburgh’s third line fared against Buffalo’s best line.
When Sheahan and Sheary were on the ice together, Pittsburgh controlled 100% of their shot attempts (8/0) against Jack Eichel.
The smarts of Hornqvist and Sheahan as fore-checkers saw the line punish Buffalo’s lower caliber defensemen, notably Jake McCabe and Taylor Fedun where the Penguins third line was at 80% when driving possession against that pairing, including a 17/4 edge in shot attempts when out against McCabe.
The Sabres are a team that wants to play with a quick pace under Phil Housley but they don’t have the D to play that style and that was a matchup where Sheahan’s hockey IQ was able to see him impact a game positively in the offensive end as Buffalo’s D lacks quick precise passes out of their own end.
Against the Senators was another matchup against a team that sits back and plays more of a patience style and they’re not a team that hounds you with speed.
It saw Sheary be able to use his speed really well again and Hornqvist was excellent again on the forecheck and around the net. Sheahan had a second straight game where he had stretches of offensive zone time, where previous games he has often been one and done in the offensive zone.
For Pittsburgh’s third line to become a serious factor this season on a consistent basis, it starts with the wingers being able to carry the line.
The last two games that played out in a big way with Sheary providing the speed/high-level ability to possess the puck on zone entries and Patric Hornqvist doing Patric Hornqvist things below the dots.
With Riley Sheahan, some of the hockey smarts shined vs the Sabres and Senators where he can be someone who can have some value to a team like the Penguins as the 4th line center.
For him to prove he can be the answer to the third line center situation, he needs to show he can adapt his game against teams that play a fast skating game, type of teams the East is littered with. So far the results have been very poor against those type of teams from his time with the Red Wings to his stint with the Penguins so far.
Coming off two pretty good performances vs Sabres and Senators, Saturday’s game vs a highly skilled Chicago team will be a good evaluation test for Sheahan and the step forward the third line took the last two games. To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
I wonder what this site would be like with stanchion back.
World war 3 ?
You’re the only one who cares enough to start a war over a message board, because you have no life or friends.
So despite the fuckk awful coverage on this page and ignoring the rumour that sammich wants or has had Carey Price fill him up with his man gravy I caught a rumour that Malkin may be on the shelf for about a week? Anyone else see this?
Whoops, should have checked the other guys page 1st.. Katie Brown has noted Geno is out vs Vancouver
Gonna see that lack of C depth become a real issue if there is anything more than a single night missed. On that note maybe Sid catches fire
Were going to need a center regardless. Our depth scoring has been horrible and our top guys haven’t been scoring enough to make up for it.
Likely, still curious to see how bad it is without Geno. Gotta be looking at Guentzel to pivot in Van
goota give something to get something. Maatta, would be a tough loss, but he’s expendible.
Apparently there is a dumb rumours price made a 17 year old pregnant
… and that 17 year old was named “samtheman”
This is a dumb rumor. Everyone knows a 17 year old cant get pregnant.
Going on 5 days now D… this is fucken absurd. Kill the page already. You havent had anything going for yourself since basically Madden was let go.
I wish stain was here so I can tell him I’m changing my car and getting 2018 TLX and hear him on saying my mom pays for it.
no one fucken cares… well… that’s not true… no one outside of samdiego cares
Same, congrats on getting a car with a XL in the name.
I didn’t know Matchbox made those.
Look forward to seeing how this 3rd line fares on Saturday
“with stan gone no one thumbs down anymore” – As sam has courageously continued to use all of his fucken accounts to systemically thumbs down almost everyone he doesnt have naughty dreams about out here.
D where is the cancel subscription button? I dont see it under the My Account tab and I’ll be damned if I fucken rope myself in 11 months from now!
Too bad I can’t moderate him anymore.
Too bad you need to get a real life
Sick burn! Especially coming from a virginal bandwagon that spends his days on an obscure site with multiple accounts giving people thumbs down. Clown.
shit. cock balls, D sucks cock. shitty writter as well. kick me off kick me off
I agree.
fuck
How the hell do i cancel this damn site. hitting cancel brings me to paypal and i used a credit card, and emailing d is useless because he doesnt respond. Is my only way to get kicked off?? is that even possible?
d is non-responsive? well, now I’ve heard everything.
haha ya not sure why i bothered. I guess ill just go full costanza trying to get fired. wheres rothy and naked tony danza when you need him
Well… when I was booted I did change my avatar to a woman that I names sam sucking a massive cockk which I named Habs! That seemed to work overnight
“Saturday’s good test for the Penguins 3rd line” – remarks on this setting up a follow, no where to be fucken found.
If this site was a person, it would be Sam. Incoherent, nonsensical, and a few dudes coming on it each day.
thumbs up
Sid has a worse points/60 even strength than Reaves. Let that sink in.
Clearly Reaves is the better player. That’s why stats are so important. Otherwise how would the average fan know Reaves is the better player.
#boxscore
Well… it’s a small sample size for one but it speaks volumes to the fact that Sid has had a very slow start to his year so ya… it still tells a story. That said, advanced stats are not for the average fan, it’s usually why those that struggle with them over inflate their importance as some sort of a counter argument to their existence.
#boxscore’slittlebrother
#samsretardpartnerincrime
What, you’re too fucken stupid to understand basic stats and how to apply them so all you have got is boxscore? I mean the fact that I actually taught you how to look at +/- speaks volumes lol “Dude can play”
Zero is a beast! One of my favorite posters on here. Well said again.
And you were worried all the cocck sucking opportunities were lost when Stanch got booted.
Bro you mad? You are always talking about coccks. I see why you and Sam get along so well.
#newguy
#hashtag
Coming from yodas white knight that’s rich. Besides, it was you that had me considering a me too hashtag a few weeks back for your aggressive approach to see if I was in to you. Got a lot of nerve taking about cock sucking opportunities.
Honestly, you’ve taught me nothing. I don’t mean that as an insult. I just find your observations routine. I’m sure within Edmonton Drive thru circles you’re a big deal.
Said the guy who is a stay at home husband. You think you would no more about hockey since you are always at home and not working. More time to watch and learn a few things.
New guy, you need some of your own material. Come up with an original joke if you want people to acknowledge you
I’m not on here to get noticed like you and your BFF Samantha. I was just stating the obvious. Yeah keep calling me the new guy, that’s original. It’s all you ever say to me. You may need to listen to your own advice. I’ve been on here longer than you assshat!
That makes you the most forgettable man on the Internet. Congratulations.
Coming from the dumbest poster on this board, I’ll take that. Moron.
If I was working at a drive thru it would still be an unobtainable position for someone with your qualities. That noted I don’t need to brag about my work, it’s a good job and pay is decent. Tons of security and work life balance… nothing to brag about but enough to be happy in my personal life! I dont have to leach off anyone like a couple others that post out here.
“Honestly you havent taught me anything” – “Good post zero” lol. You’re as full of shit as yoda and sam.
And you get to live at home with your parents. What’s not to like.
Yes, I live at home with my parents… “good post samdeigo, I learned something from you”
You’re every bit as much a fucken clown as sam but at least he is funny in is incoherent ineptitude.
Any one see if Sid played tonight?
He did. He’s number 87.
you right I seen all the Sid passes to white shirts. He is looking like he needs a spark or something.
No but I saw malkin play. When he ran into the goalie
Predicting Reaves and Maatta will be gone at deadline if Pens feel they can repeat.
yeah Reaves is a major part of the problem…..ROFL wtf are you watching?
Clearing cap space and a roster spot for sprong.
Lots of empty seats at the Bell Centre tonight.
Well… not a bad game. Lacked some finishing but so many opportunities. Could have gone either way. I think if the Pens had some late 30 something’s it would have made up for the lack of finish from the point producers.
Pittsburgh given up more PP goals, tell ya what would fix it… late 30 something’s
Wow. The look on Sully’s face after another Letang penalty.
Thanks Letang…
Letang is brutal. He has a huge cap hit and isn’t producing anywhere near where he should be. Hopefully we will at least listen to some offers.
I normally would argue but after the cup without him… as long as the return gives them a trustworthy top 4
A defensively solid top4and a 3c. I think it would exponentially help this team.
Nicely done Letang! What a fucken idiot
Does Bob Errey have Juandice?
No, Aids
Is that hispanic?
Not a surprise you wouldn’t know what it means lol
Malkin doing what he can to hurt the guys early in this one.
You don’t think he tried to avoid Crawford?
Well my post was from the first before that play but also no, if anything it looked like he tried to make contact. I don’t think it was intent to injure as much as intent to force him to freeze however
Still waiting for Letang to start playing well again!
That Frog blows more than Sam’s Mom.
This team will continue to struggle as long as they don’t have a late 30s something in a depth role getting 12 minutes a night! Sid, Geno and Letang are just not old enough to provide veteran leadership. I think the Pens should trade a younger guy with incredible wheels for an aging player that can’t move the way he used to like Nash…
No niemi tonight let’s see how Murray will be exposed tonight another 10-1?
Just like last game, right Sam? Dumba$$.
Sam would have preferred to keep the guy not even playing because his heads turning into mush
Wonder why he didn’t talk about Chad Reuwedle. Dude can play.
Probably Because he can’t spell his name like you can.
I don’t think I spelled it correctly.
Pretty sure is Ruhwedel
So after moron thumbs downed me I googled it… it’s Ruhwedel! Sams just pissed because others can spell
Hunwick is back. Your boy Chad will most likely be scratched. #dudecanplay
cornucopia of copy