Penguins/NHL
Friday’s Penguins Buzz
When the Washington Capitals were steam rolling through the regular season last spring, they could not have imagined that the Pittsburgh Penguins would once again be standing in their way.
A 14-2 run by the Penguins to end the regular season changed all of that and the rest is history on how things played out in the post-season.
In what’s been a constant struggle for the Capitals franchise over the years, any time both franchises are on the same Championship caliber level, the Penguins almost always make one more play than the Capitals.
With both clubs having another three to four year window, all season for the Capitals it’s going to be about getting over the ‘speed’ bump again that is the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Thursday’s season opener had a similar feel to what played out when these two teams got together in the second round last May.
It was close to a 50/50 game, though, I thought Washington was slightly better, and the analytics also point to that. Both teams carried the play in spurts but never for long stretches.
Different goaltender for Pittsburgh, same results as last spring.
Washington couldn’t beat a hot goaltender in Marc Andre Fleury as the Caps best players like T.J. Oshie missed glorious chances in OT in shooting the puck in Fleury’s chest, to Washington’s most common problem from last year’s second round series popping up again — an egregious turnover from Dmitri Orlov ending up in the Capitals back of the net.–
It was just game 1 of 82 and nothing more than a 3-2 shootout win but the Penguins mental edge over the Capitals isn’t going away until Washington gets over the hump of knocking the Penguins out in the post-season which is a long ways to go.
The new playoff format instituted a few years ago increases the chances of these two clubs being on a collision course to meet each other again.
Post-Game Observations/Storylines
— Mike Sullivan used the HBK line as the Penguins top matchup line throughout the game and Hagelin-Bonino-Kessel were the Penguins only line that was at or just below 50% in driving possession at even strength.
At somepoint the Penguins are going to do some experimenting with the lines when everyone is fully healthy, though, the coaching staff is strongly committed to keeping the HBK line in tact and there’s intrigue about giving them more top line matchups to open things up for Sidney Crosby.
— One takeaway out of last night’s win, Washington’s bottom-6 still needs to get quicker. A big development, though, for them in the top-6 is going to be the progression of Andre Burakovsky who scored twice last night and can fly.
— If there’s a storyline for the Penguins out of the win that has long-term questions is the sustainability of the Olli Maatta – Trevor Daley pairing. The pairing was downright bad last post-season and there’s a reason the coaches have been getting Derrick Pouliot practice reps with Daley.
As bad as Maatta’s looked in Thursday’s opener, he’s looked even worse in To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
What do you guys think about hits as a statistic kept by the NHL …good thing or dated ?
how dumb are americans 3:40m pizza is a vegetable
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJZfqBYAOnM
Raise your hand if you watch Sam’s videos
Look how f’ing fat canada is: http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/canada-s-obesity-rates-triple-in-less-than-30-years-1.2558365
fleury tonight.
Condon tomorrow
per thefourthperiod.com….
but… but… but… d says -> Head coach Mike Sullivan did not commit to who will start tomorrow night vs Montreal. and d knows hockey types and people in the know
I am sure you can find that on that dead site
LOL, “Mike Sullivan hasn’t confirmed who will start vs Montreal tomorrow night”
It’s much easier for you to “break” news that hasn’t been decided upon. Your favorite site!
D, let zero write your monthly column for you.
D fired Npl now he is in negotiations with Gaydogg to write Novels on this site
Another knee-slapper from samthesumbass.
So D… We have seen another game since this point. I know a new article around or after games is a lot to ask but it is far to early in the season to stop giving a shit now? I mean we have seen you feed a few of the trolls out here when the opportunity arises, at least that?
What I miss?
Not much. Scott Wilson is rookie MVP again.
LOL, naw… Wilson’s garbage because the one preseason game you seen him play was enough for all of us… right boys?
Right boys? Haha. Rally the boys. Help me boys. I’m a moron.
LOL, that was your own words or something to that effect when you first talked about how much you hated Wilson… dumbass hahahaha!
At least you got the last part correct, you are a moron!
Pppsssstt – it’s not preseason any more.
Ahhh, so 2 games in its over? #samplesize. You, like sam, are a walking contradiction. Bitching about the great start in relation to MAFs great start and it’s “sample size guys”, Wilson’s slow start in his 26th and 27th career NHL game “He’s done, no good” haha.
Zero, you’re totally right. Wilson has 80 more games plus the playoffs. All he has to do is score one goal and you’re gonna look like a genius
https://www.nhl.com/player/scott-wilson-8476293
He has 27 career NHL games you fucken idiot… I was not speaking of his time in WBS!
Jeff Zatkoff parlayed his one playoff win into a starting job. #Zak #SomethingSpecial
Stanch, I’m still waiting your description of dek hockey.
This is funny too. This asshole generally likes to flex his “advanced vernacular” out here but suddenly doesn’t know “Dek Hockey” hahaha. #provocative
Seriously. The queen of team sports is shockingly perplexed when it comes to dek hockey.
Do you use a stick or just push buttons on a game console?
Seems like one of the few times Sam makes you look dumb. Break it down for him Sammy *wink*
My description? I mean I know you’re a housewife and all, but come on…
I assume “dek” hockey is a real thing. Just never heard of it.
Because you’re busy trying to get menstrual stains out of your wife’s panties?
zatkoff outperformed your patron saint in the 2016 post season.. even though st.bleury has perfect teeth, that doesn’t give him the power to play good in the playoffs.
Little known fact zatkoff is the first goaltender to win a series by going 1-1
With Quicks injury Zatkoff will finally be able to prove himself and he’s the odds on favourite win the Vezina and they already have him penned in for the Conn Smythe… prediction is he goes 4-4 and the Kings set an NHL record by winning the cup with only 4 total wins.
#somethingspecial
I just want to take a second to thank Sam, Yoda and even Maloni, without their daily entertainment this site would be completely worthless. Pens win against Anaheim, the Steelers shit the bed in Miami and the best we get is a tiny instant buzz blurb for each. Not that I think DePaoli will read this because clearly he doesn’t give 2 shits about this website but just in case I want to let you know that you’re the biggest joke on the internet.
I think that fat slob Npl used to work for D as a summer job ever since he is gone the news has stopped as well
In DePaoli defense, it’s tough to turn out fresh copy for six subscribers.
it’s funny how you think i’m dumb, but i told you the pens wouln’t win the cup unless st.backup was on the bench. i was right. you were wrong.
Actually, what you said is that it was over and they needed to tear it down. The window had closed. You said nothing about them being contenders with Fleury on the bench. Zero. Nada. Zilch.
Actually you said blow it up over and over and over even after some of these changes were made but your too much of a lying sack of shit to keep your stories straight.
1993
1996
1821. What are we doing….
Power must be out in Edmonton again.
Yes it’s a common problem in my world! Energy is not synonymous with my city! Idiot lol
Zero, how many hours of daylight do you get out there?
What part of the year? June it’s nearly 18 hours… just north of 10 in December! What’s your ridiculous point?
Actually i can’t wait to hear what it is you’re trying to say here. “Haha you get marginally less light than I do annually”… what a fucken moron lol
No point, just wanted to see you have a multi-post dialogue with yourself. Well done.
Still a better conversation than most would have with you
Who do you think scores more goals this year, Cole or Wilson?
Zatkoff!
“st.bleury will tank this season on purpose”
“st.bleury will put up a sub .900 save percentage”
“yeah right. haha! he is going to be so fired up to win his job back that he is going to be in total spaz/flop around mode.”
Yoda with some spot on zingers. Keep em coming, fuckface
#TearItDown
For the record I predicted Fleury would go 15-0. Everyone knows that he doesn’t melt down until the games matter.
So the games that get you to the games that matter don’t matter. That makes sense.
#DekHockeyLogic
You have to expand on this Dek hockey thing. You’ve made reference to it for years. What is it?
The basis for your “knowledge.” #TeamSports #BeerLeague
Yup. If the Pens started 0-2 would they be out of the playoff hunt? Maybe we should go with a larger sample size. See the Pens eliminated from the playoffs in Dec last year?
“Larger sample size” – Wilson sucks because the one game I seen him play I was over him right away… right boys?
Except for when he won the cup. And once again, not everyone has the talent as Zatkoff.
2009. Great year. You were, what, 6 yrs old?
I guess it doesn’t matter then? Hey, screw lemieux. He hasn’t done shit in a decade. And even if I were 6,I would still make a hell of a lot more sense than you.
Little known fact. Before he got hurt last year The Pitt media thought Wilson was on his way to being rookie of the year.
Hahaha, because that’s what I said! You really are as full of shit as yoda. Your ability to make things up is marginally less impressive
Wilson may be the first guy to win back-to-back rookie of the year.
I know it’s only been two games but I’ve got S Wilson as a lock for rookie of the year.
Yoda is misserable right now
Mike Sullivan is undoubtedly a Top 2 head coach in NHL history. Right behind The Disco Dan Bylsma. #USA
Welcome back!
Yeah welcome back as if we needed him on this board to help stain Giving people thumbs down he must’ve got board playing with Mathew
I always think these comments are weird given your penchant for being creepy and just thumbs downing every post here. Nobody cares about that except you.
We missed you.
How do you have time to post here and make all those get-out-to-vote calls for Hillary?
That fat slob must be super busy between Hilary votes, the $15 minimum wage protest and his support for his bf’s black lives matter movement .i think he met his bf at the KFC not sure if it was a Co worker or a client when they first met. Ps blacks love KFC
Hey yoda 33 saves this game 39 last game for fleury
It’s oct. Keep watching.
Solid game by kunitz and fehr
Solid game by Sheary and Kessel. Gwg by the American, as you would expect.
Oh yeah I forgot on this site people only give credit to players based on points they do per game
Carey Price taking this year off too Sam?
Haha… Sans the goal, Sheary is having a fuck awful start to his season. He’s snake bit early, fighting the puck a bit, can’t help but snicker at this point lol
Also I’m very upset that Wilson didn’t manage an assist on Malkins assist because he was still on the bench… Again!
Fleury is the worst goalie ever, he can’t even and right #killyourselfyodatheparanoidfuckface2016!
Relax you Canadian puke. It’s October.
LoL
Canadian puke? You can’t be that upset that Wilson is struggling to score playing next to Malkin when he hasn’t been on the ice for a single of his points but you were too fucken dumb to pick up on that while attempting to be a condescending cunt about it can you?
Watching leafs game I don’t understand why they are retiring players name again
They are retiring names? I don’t get it.
You’re no longer allowed to say “Sittler” in Toronto
So Fleury to start and no Sid tonight… guaranteed loss I guess?
Zatkoff was awesome last night vs Philly, LA is gonna be just fine #somethingspecial
zatkoff>st.backup in the 2016 playoffs. #fact, #zerocool’sdeathcult, #cultofstbleury
#TearItDown. You’re as big of an idiot as you’ve ever been.
#8thor9thplace
Cherry picking retard! Kill yourself!
#yodathefuckfacefraud2016!
Not sure what’s acceptable behavior in Edmonton, but in the US we don’t tell people to kill themselves.
Right, we are gonna have that debate now? Lol Jesus. Anyway, fuck yoda… He turns into such a diva when I suggest it and I loooovvvve it
I have a hard time determining which of you two is more retarded.
Still has more meaningful playoff wins than fleury in last two years.
Oh man that is so good #DekHockey
1-1 lol, amazing.
Zatkoff, more “meaningful” win than Price in the last year… Zatkoff > Price
Where’s Zetterberg?
If Crosby misses another couple games he could be hard pressed to catch McDavid… This kids gonna be the games best! I hope it’s a couple years away but man can he play!
Vancouver is so lucky.
Hope radulov makes his penguin debut soon
It’s funny how you still missed the boat on that one. That’s ok. The important people got it.
You do realize that we will laught at you every time you say this right?
anyone else notice crosby hanging out with tyler kennedy in the press box last night? i guess he is out of hockey.
Tragic loss for the league, glad you gave us the update… I’ve lost sleep over wondering what happened to him
If yogurt thinks he saw Tyler Kennedy, he definitely wasn’t there. The gentleman probably wasn’t even Caucasian.
DePaoli, totally agree on Maatta-Daly.
DePaoli must have played dek hockey too.
We missed in the draft taking Matta a pick before Trouba. I wonder if there would be interest from the Jets making a swap.
The miss in that draft was taking DP over Forsberg.
When they talk about what they want for Trouba, Maatta fits that mold.
If it’s on the table still and Trouba can be had at the same price I’d love to do it. Maatta doesn’t seem to be making it work.
i thought last night was an impressive win. the caps are a good team and it was great to see the pens beat them without crosby in the lineup and with the number one goalie injured as well. it’s cool when you can beat a great team with your backup goalie in the net.
it’s nice to see that zerocool wants me dead again. he can’t take that i talk trash on his patron saint and god st.bleury. zerocool is cheif cultist number one.
There it is… My favourite lil martyr yoda the fuckface. Kill yourself dude
And it’s not Fleury… I can’t stand you talking about anything because you know fuck all about everything. #killyourselffuckfacefraud
I’m and I don’t “want you dead again” I haven’t stopped thinking it would be good for everyone lol
maatta is still a kid. he’ll be okay in the long run. don’t forget how awful letang and orpik were at moments early in their careers too.
Orpig been awful through out all his career. Reason he was over hyped it’s because he is American he wouldn’t even make team Canada’s 3rd team even if he was at his prime