Penguins – Canucks Fallout
The Pittsburgh Penguins earned a point Tuesday night as Carl Hagelin forced overtime in scoring with 3:14 left in regulation off a great feed from Phil Kessel. Brock Boeser would sink the Penguins 34 seconds into overtime.
There was some good for the Penguins in this one.
Over the final two periods they owned the territorial edge, possessing the puck at a 59% clip and the Sidney Crosby in particular was very good throughout the game.
However, a 60-minute evaluation of the Penguins performance still showed a lot of the same warts that have plagued them through six games.
— A Rough First-Period Highlighted continued poor positioning in the defensive zone as Pittsburgh were out-shot 11-5 in the period and out-scored 2-1.
The Penguins since July keep talking up Jack Johnson being able to play the right side and it’s just not working out.
Johnson has had continued struggles in staying in his proper lane as evident on the Brandon Sutter goal where Johnson as the right D completely leaves the front of the net uncovered and follows the puck carrier Schaller when Brian DuMoulin the left D has 1-on-1 coverage.
Just unacceptable play in his own end from Johnson.
Johnson was on the ice for 2 goals against during 5-on-5 play and was at 42% in possession.
What I’ve liked more from Johnson has been the offensive instincts when to pinch/join the play, ect. He’s been good in those areas. The issues are his defensive instincts which are very poor and that’s a problem long-term.
— Pinching issues Continue —
Why do the Penguins look like they’re playing so much pond hockey?
Because they are and it starts with the poor reads on pinching along the wall in the offensive zone.
Pittsburgh overwhelmed the opposition with this staple of Mike Sullivan’s system from January 2016 all the way through the Cup Final against San Jose in 16.
Over the last year and a half, though, teams have learned to combat the Penguins aggressive pinching style much more effectively and it’s a problem for the Penguins giving up so many odd-man rushes as it was late last season.
It’s also why the eye test has the Penguins looking slower.
Last spring it was evident a possible change of style was potentially needed in scaling back the pinching a bit and it will continue to be something to watch.
— Not enough jam in the Penguins game? There’s a reason Mike Sullivan wanted the Penguins to pursue Patrick To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Crosby line excels for second straight game
Jim Rutherford is said to be absolutely ecstatic the coaching staff has put Derick Brassard on Sidney Crosby’s left wing, something he sought to happen in the summer.
There’s been a lot of to like through two games together but with the third line lacking so much since Brassard was elevated to the top-line, Brassard is likely headed back to the third line by default.
If it happens vs Toronto, quite likely with that center matchup, the Penguins now at least know they can go to Brassard-Crosby-Guentzel in key spots.
The line is reading off each other extremely well in the offensive zone. Quite a few tic-tac-toe plays vs the Canucks.
These are three players with very high hockey IQ’s and it’s led to a smooth transition in all three providing proper puck support in on the cycle and along the wall.
Where the line was also extremely effective vs the Canucks was creating scoring chances off zone-entries.
Example 1:
Guentzel with center drive [hide], Crosby cross-ice pass to Brassard who nearly sets up Guentzel for a goal in what should have drew a penalty.
Example 2:
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I see a frustrated GM trading Sprong (“he doesn’t fit”) and Brassard (“he hasn’t worked out”) for size and grit–and maybe a goalie who can stop a puck– but those skater acquisitions will be slow.
On D, he’s better off trying to bring back the big RH Russian (Andrey Pedan) we had but didn’t play last year and allowed to sign with the KHL.
But but but….. Fraud Murray has won 2 cups . Watch and see what he will do vs leafs and then vs oilers
Who cares… 2 games in October vs 2 Stanley Cups while your guy is 1 – 2… After that historically bad loss vs Ottawa in game 6 its a good thing Murray was available. I mean under .600 in a playoff game? WOW
Good for Trudeau. People in Montreal need to smoke some weed
Quebec has one of the best pot in North America. We don’t need Trudeau and his feminist agenda .
he is everything that trump is not.
they are 1000%opposite people to each other. Like me and you. Fat fuckk
I agree, Trudeau is a great leader. Im jealous.
Canada awaits you with open arms.
So he isnt a serial assualter who is currently dropping the ball on dealing with the murder of a US citizen because the radical islamic nation who committed it gives him too much money? I get there are details that make situations complex but it is amazing how fast some people will forget their highly politicized rhetoric in situations like that one lol. Keep doing you sammich…
This ahl museum is loud again
The Johnson signing at this point looks bad….This could be a long season…. Did “D” just write Crosby’s line looked good? Brassard is a center he doesn’t fit with Crosby and Guentzel. This team has always had an issue trying to convert players where they don’t belong. JJ and Brassard are two experiments that are hurting us so far. We have 1 OT win, two welfare points from loses and a blow out to our credit if this keeps up on through the road trip really need to decide to make adjustments. With it being so early in the season… Read more »
I still do not understand why they gave him 5 years. No one was even chasing him. He will be traded (probably in some package deal) or maybe bought out. He will not finish that contract in Pittsburgh… I hope. When did the NHL become the NBA. Signing players buddies.
Caps sign back orpig he is buddy with ovechkin
For 1 yr for 1 millon after circumventing the salary cap. That is called smart. No danger there at all.
Agree here… not sure what the idea of trying Brassard as a winger to get Sid going is. They had two barn burners early with the C depth… the experimented to get Sid going and the offence dried up. Crosby will be fine but as the team is currently constructed they need Brassard to add to scoring depth. Sheahan is slow out the gate a bit as well so he hasnt been able to anchor that line is a manner that should allow Brassard to move up. I would like to see Sprong get a look in a scoring role.… Read more »
You guys read Crosby talking highly about mcdavid
If Malkin did it you would be bashing Malkin saying he has no idea what he is talking about and that he is lazy. You are like Don Cherry’s presonal troll.
..
Now that is deep.
Biggg accomplishment by clown Trudeau legalizing pot today. Now zerotool Can be proud of his elected prime minister. The same clown that forgot to mention Alberta
Ya, it’s really unfortunate that we have taken most of the crime out of a widely used relatively benign substance (compared to booze) and used it to generate huge amounts of federal revenues and economic stimulation with the money spent lol. You’re too stupid for most things, leave it alone
Goverment is the crime the will pocket the money and use small portion back.
HAHAHA sam is a libertarian… makes sense
Scum sully must be soo stressed .which game can he hide fraud Murray to get more exposed. Tomorrow game Vs leafs or following game vs mcdavid
Let’s play guessing game
How many goals pens will need for fraud Murray and beat the leafs tomorrow .and
How many lazy penalties malkin will take tomorrow
Let’s play a better game… by what month will Montreal be out of the playoff race… I will say late December.
watch example 1. that is the reason crosby isn’t scoring. after he made the pass he should have cut into the slot and skated towards the net. what did he do? he cut away from the net and ended up behind the net. right now, sid is playing like he doens’t want to get hit. it’s lame.
I dunno… I mean I am frustrated too by some of his decisions but he stayed slightly off and high hoping to clean up a rebound while Guentzel went hard to the net as the net front presence. He gobbled up the loose puck on that play and maintained possession… There are things we are seeing that he is doing that he has to change, not shooting again is one but I don’t think Ex1 was much of an issue
if you don’t go hard to the net you aren’t going to score. plain and simple. he didn’t go hard to the net on that sequence and he hasn’t been doing it all year.
All four games? It’s not a crash the net offence and Jake was standing in the crease… and Crosby ended up with the puck on his stick retaining possession. While I’m not disagreeing he needs to change things up a bit, keep himself available for that shot or tip on the PP there is nothing to be upset about on that particular play
so you are saying it is better for crosby to possess the puck than to score a goal?
Yes, that was clear by the posts… He’s clearly on fire and playing Flawless hockey, why are you so fucken willfully obtuse? So stupid!
I am so glad they just handed JJ a five year deal instead of offering him a bridge deal and see if he even fits in first. It is not like other teams were banging down his door. One of GMJR’s worst signings as a Pens GM.
Worst move choosing fraud Murray over fleury.
Still not as bad as chasing one of the NHL’s greatest goalies out of town and getting garbage back for it.
#25years. #worst trade ever!
And pens and the bandwagon’s didn’t chase fleury and jagr out
Yes sam, the Pens organization chased Jagr, he was never “dying alive”… the Pens did all they could to keep Jagr happy including bringing Mario back! MAF wasn’t chased out either you fucken idiot, he was a forced decision due to expansion. Roy was being treated like shit by Trembly and was rewarded by being left in for 9 vs the Wings. “I will never play for this team again” I believe was his exact words! There are few moments in sports that resulted in a break up like that. Add to what they’ve done to guys like Richard… scapegoating… Read more »
Everytime people prove him wrong her just starts another post about something else.
You try so hard and fail so spectacularly. Every time!
You mean the goalie that lost in last years finals? 1 – 2, yikes
LOL but he was in the finals.
I guess we need to stop giving Philly shit for going 0 – 5 in their last 5 appearances and start praising them for making it?
Yes with the ahl team In front stealing 3 series on his own while fraud murray couldn’t even steal 1 game
But he lost….
This team can’t stop pinching and giving up odd numbered breaks….Overall team defense isnt up to snuff to stay with the Winnipeg, Nashville,, Washington, Vegas
They lost twice vs habs ahl team .
But according to npl team is not built to play vs ahl teams
No one cares about the Habs… they have been irrelevant for decades now. So they beat the Penguins… no one except you will remember come April when they are golfing and the Pens are playing post season hockey
Lots of time to fix it… just shitty we are here waiting for the guys to “fix it” again! The attitude isnt what it once was when DB ran his country club but some of that piss poor approach seems to still follow them around. Sullivan will right the ship I am sure
They’ll take a few beatings in the meantime
Horray for Fallout!!!
First period was bad.
Second and Third not too bad.
OT…and it is not often this gets said, but Sid’s bad decision cost them there.