Penguins 3 – Hurricanes 1
GAME LEADERS
Casey DeSmith | 34 Saves, .971 SV%
J.S. Dea | Goal (1), 1 SOG, 5:35 TOI
Dominik Simon | Goal (2), 3 SOG, 10:52 TOI
Sidney Crosby | Assist, 1 SOG, 72.7 FO%
Jake Guentzel | Goal (15), 1 SOG, 9:40 TOI
Since the Carolina Hurricanes embarrassed the Penguins on Pittsburgh’s home ice in early January, the Penguins are now 6-3.
The Hurricanes by contrast are slowly falling out of the playoff picture and 2-6 since their win vs Pittsburgh on Jan 4.
What we saw tonight in the Penguins 3-1 win at the PPG Paints Arena was how much the Penguins have improved in certain areas since they were a floundering club 3-4 weeks ago.
Previous matchups this season vs the Hurricanes saw Pittsburgh badly struggle with the Hurricanes quickness and transition game.
Not Tuesday night.
A more quicker, skilled lineup was on display again in tonight’s win from the Penguins and a much better commitment to their d-zone structure in supporting each other defensively.
In the victory, Pittsburgh got goals from Dominik Simon, J.S. Dea and Jake Guentzel as Pittsburgh closed out the game with three unanswered goals after Carolina opened the scoring first in the second period.
Solid play from all four lines highlighted the win as Pittsburgh outscored Carolina 3-1 during 5-on-5 play.
After falling behind 1-0, Dominik Simon scored his 2nd of the season from the right circle off the rush and a 1:16 later in a 1-1 game, Bryan Rust chased down a loose puck and found a streaking Dea driving to the net for his first NHL goal to put the Penguins ahead.
When the Penguins were floundering in December, what they had at their disposal were internal options to improve the roster. That has played out here with Dominik Simon meshing well so far with Sidney Crosby on the first line, while a 4th line Tuesday night of Bryan Rust and J.S. Dea is a lot quicker of a line than any combination of Carter Rowney/Ryan Reaves for example.
“J.S. has always been a guy that can really skate, and he can shoot the puck and he can score,” Mike Sullivan said of Dea.
Back to his club playing much faster of late, what Sullivan continues to like is the Penguins starting to generate offense much more consistently from depth players.
“It takes a little bit of pressure off of our star guys that we rely on to generate offense night in and night out,” said Sullivan.
X & O’s
Another sign to feel good about where the Penguins are headed is the commitment to playing the right way defensively is starting to be there on a more consistent basis.
Yes, there were some defensive breakdowns in the second period that Casey DeSmith bailed the group out but in the third period when holding a lead, there was more good than bad.
The Crosby and Malkin lines were really impressive in the third period during a 1-goal game with how well the units defended in the neutral zone and off zone entries from the Hurricanes.
What the Penguins did really well was force the Hurricanes into making uncomfortable zone entries.
Pittsburgh consistently had a wave up of support at their own blueline followed by excellent pressure on the puck carrier.
Mid-way through the third period In back-to-back shifts from the Crosby/Malkin lines prior to the Jake Guentzel, the Penguins put on some great film defensively where they gave the Hurricanes little space.
EXAMPLE 1
Clearing Zone
*The Penguins are in perfect setup through their neutral zone setup, Crosby forces a pass to the strong side and Matt Hunwick provides immediate pressure to stunt the Hurricanes zone entry leading to less than three seconds of zone time. What the Penguins also had was a wall of support with their man-to-man coverage in front and behind the puck.
The puck support defensively from Sidney Crosby was excellent as moments later the Hurricanes are thwarted again on a zone entry.
Jamie Oleksiak steps up at the blueline and Sidney Crosby is immediately in the perfect spot as the next line of defense, taking Brock McGinn out of the play and clearing the zone. The defensive rotation was as good as it gets from Crosby on that shift.
EXAMPLE 2
The very next shift the Malkin line also put on a display of text-book defensive hockey. Here the Penguins through their neutral zone trap force the Hurricanes to Pittsburgh’s strong side defensively that leads to a dump-in.
As the Hurricanes gain possession in the corner, they get 5 seconds or less of zone time again as Olli Maatta takes his man out in the corner and Evgeni Malkin is right there with center support [hide] and tic-tac-toe the Penguins clear the zone.
Two great defensive shifts lead to the Penguins on the next shift getting a goal as Jake Guentzel nets his 15th of the season and just his third goal in 23 games.
3-1 lead and Game Over with how well Casey DeSmith was playing again with a 34 save-effort. [/hide]
Will Murray be mentally ok for the rest of the year, or will it mess with him the next few months? He’s an athlete, so we feel they should have ice water in their veins, but he is still just a kid and it’s damn hard to lose a father. As hard as I am on him as a player, i feel for him as a person. This is tough times.
Jarry needs to prepare like he might have to carry this team this year just in case.
There’s always Zakoff
Yeah back to back cups you have every right to be hard on him. Because the way this team played in front of him the beginning of the year was the goalies fault. Spoken like a true Yinzer. Cheer for the backup! Everyone on here is wondering now if we should worry about you after this post. I think you are brain dead. #simplydustystrikesagain
Will you guys ever grow up and get over insult posting? I won’t speak for you, but i’ll speak for myself and what it feels like to go through a parent’s illness. Losing weight, sleepless nights, affecting your ability to hold conversations and yes, it affects your ability to focus and do your job. Jarry and recently DeSmith have come on this year and played at a much higher level than Murray. The Penguins as an organization need to make the best decisions for them to win a cup this year. If Murray can’t snap out of it in February,… Read more »
No, but Sullivan said he’s the starter and that’s all that matters. So save your lengthy posts about Jarry being better than Murray. Hell he isn’t better than DeSmith.
Same has been owned both physically and verbally 4253 times, per people in the know.
When do they play Minnesota?
Toomqr: “Letang, samtheman and Montreal suck”
Tbj, zerotool , Sam aka npl suckk
Zinggg
Wow, he got us… we shall… rest… in… peeeeace! “Rolls eyes into back of head”
Soooo was the 80s night game that had an 80s score that was in favour of the Penguins not good enough for an article? Kessel moved into 3rd, Crosby 9th and Malkin is kicking tires on top 10 in production this year… not news worthy? How about Letangs fall? He was 2nd in defensive scoring sometime in late Nov early December but has slid to 18th.. add that to his fuckawful decisions and that isnt news worthy? The only break he had was helping what little offense the team had, now they are flying and he is absent. At least… Read more »
Letang looked good tonite. I only counted 32 egregious give aways
The one from behind the net trying to beat two Wild players… that counts as at least 20. So stupid…
The best part, Letang just did an interview lamenting how bad he has been this year yet the sammich would come out here to defend how iffy the guy has been all year because sam only cheers for players… and the habs
You cocksuckerr I did agree letang hasn’t been wow this year but. You clowns right away ready to trade him based this year he suckss
Letang is playing like hes French
Now you agreed to lick Letangs taint. That is what you do
Feels like the Pens got all theyre going to get out of DeSmith
He shouldn’t be starting three consecutive. They rode the hot hand… that said he still got the win but it’s time to let the starters start and let the guy back up
Oh yeah I bet you felt same way about Murray when he took over fleury job
Well Murray put up superior numbers over the parts of two season while playing as much if not more since his call up in 2016 so no, he is also a starter… I mean MAF came back from concussion in 2016 and was clearly not ready to play, stick with Murray to win Sullivan took a massive risk putting Murray in vs Ottawa but… it paid of in a major way and he out performed MAF again all the way to the cup, fucken deal with it bitch. I know you have the mind of a goldfish but I was… Read more »
I think there is a new guy on this site toomqr and seems like be he hates fat lazy democrats like npl(sam)
Is toomqr a Pens fan, or a Habs fan such as yourself? Is he a hockey enthusiast, or does he barley know the game?
I bet he know more then you anyone here’s knows more then you and npl since you 2 only started to watch hockey since 09
Thats highly doubtful. Im really really smart, people always tell me that. They say im the smartest person theyve ever met.
And toomqr clearly doesnt know what the word regurgitate means.
Based on sams subtle dick rubbing the new kid is probably a habs fan at heart like the sammich lol
Y’all about the kiss of death endorsement… either that or I was right, it’s a Sammich alterego
Ah now same has 3-4 accounts. You must be a comedian in your full time life or a wannabe clown
So what you’re saying is that mommy and daddy upped your allowance so that you could add another account. Your parents really are saints for all they do to help make you feel like a fully functional human being.
Glad our power play specialist made the different tonight again
Cole gets back on the ice and they pour a bucket of goals into the net! Coincidence? Probably but hey…
He’s one of our top 6 dmen, so he should be playing. I get where Sullivan is coming from though. If I guy doesn’t want to play for the team, then don’t play him. Obviously there’s a lot more to it, but I’m a fan of his and want to see him in the lineup.
It’s also awesome to see us putting some pressure on the teams making up ground. Our division is so tight thateven out of conference games mean a lot. Let GMJR pull off a fleecing or two and let’s start rolling for April. LGP.
I just hope we can get value for Cole. Guys a beast… I’d rather them work shit out and keep him
Just realizing how that reads lol… “Cole gets back on the ice and the Pens pour a bucket of goals in the net!” was what is meant there lol
Can’t watch it. Is it as bad as it looks?
DeSmith > Carey Price
It’s barley Prices fault… he mustard given up known he has to play for such a samhole franchise
This site is a samhole
Oh I hope this sticks haha… samhole lol
Why are some people so fascinated with surveys and polls? Especially after the 2016 election, you’d think people would realize how flawed and inaccurate they are.
Same people that get “news” from cnn and the google news feed
Are talking about that fat slob npl
Some people get their news about 48 – 72 hours later than the rest of us…
Like stanchion (I miss that chic)
Sam is the one DK asked to have a threesome with
I just read this story… Jesus Christ! I’m a fan of Gatjkas work… maybe he can buy this samhole and fix it
Trumps approval rating is the lowest of any elected president ever in their first year.
Probably because this country is full of snowflakes. He’s done an excellent job on a tangible level, but more people are worried about feelings than the country.
Pretty generic statement. Thank you for your input.
Unemployment is at a 17 year low, the stock market is booming, the majority of the countries largest companies are using a large portion of their tax cuts on their employees and We aren’t rolling over to terrorism. Not to mention, he’sactually doing something about the illegals here. 93% of journalism is done by democrats and the news follows those percentages, so of course his approval rating will be low. The bonus is watching liberals cry and idiots with pu$$y hats march around for absolutely no tangible reason.
Very simple question: What did Trump do to affect the economy in 2017? Curious how people can claim its success when it was already on an upward trend. 2018 on is Trump’s economy and we’ll see how his corporate tax cut influences the economy. Your claim that the “majority” of companies using their cuts on employees can’t be corroborated based only on an anecdotal PR campaign (a very good campaign I’ll admit). Your other claim that the news affects his approval rating isn’t accurate. I think the election result is the most obvious indicator that the “liberal” news doesn’t influence… Read more »
Simple answer: He passed a bill that puts more money in the pockets of the middle class directly, then through their employer. The trickle down effect can be debated, but it’s looking promising thus far with the list of companies issuing bonuses and raises. As far as the media, just 7% of the journalists are Republican per the Washington Post. When you have 93% of the media spinning everything to the left, of course there will be less approval. From CNN to the View, it seems like every hate related incident is related to him, not to mention the spin… Read more »
So the tax reform that passed in December 2017 is the cause for the economy’s success over the previous 12 months?
I don’t like to get involved in politics out here as we fight enough but I have seen layoffs due to closures and automation since that bill. While the companies have championed the tax cuts for the “good they do” the quiet stories are the down side. i.e. Wal-Mart. They gave everyone in the company a bonus, up to 1000.00, and increased min wage due to the cuts.. at least thats how it was sold to the public. In realty there was time served criteria to the bonus, 20 years of service, i believe, was the requirement for the 1000.00.… Read more »
I will also say that Trumps closed boarders policy for trade cannot be a good thing in the long run. I know the term globalization is a dirty word to some because they fear the “have not” (or is it “shit hole” nations now?) nations piggy backing off the economic strength of the richer nations however it is one world. We do rely on each other in many ways. In a trade war the consumer ultimately loses and it is already too expensive to live. His hard line stance on trade is based off the assumption that everyone wants or… Read more »
blah, blah, excuse, wah. Obama was great, wah, blah is all that your drivel amounts to.
Lol, you’re real convincing with a half dozen words that don’t refute shit. Your other options were typing “I don’t know enough of the facts to form a legit opinion so I’ll just shut the fuckk up” or not responding. Hopefully your two cents helps you feel like your staying informed without actually doing so.
Do you have a link to that article? I have read a ton on the idea of news bias due to the “fake news” fiasco where idiots like sam started screaming it at news they didnt like as opposed to fictional stories created to generate revenue for teens in poorer countries which was the origination of the idea but I cannot find this figure.
EDIT: found it https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/05/06/just-7-percent-of-journalists-are-republicans-thats-far-less-than-even-a-decade-ago/?utm_term=.b371f07947ec
Couple caveats at the bottom however
This suggests it 7% republican and 28% democrat
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2017/01/27/dear-mainstream-media-why-so-liberal/?utm_term=.1fe6d93c0b1d
More going independent
Simple question what did obama do during his 8 years? Other then creating 8 trillion debt black lives matter movement ,filling the county with Muslims and giving free cellphones to black people someone is racist
Here ya go fuckhead; some Ws and Ls of the Obama admin. He has done a lot more than you will ever admit but he is not above critique… as long as one can admit that he was up against a belligerent house
https://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/obamas-economic-record-an-assessment
I get why most on here would wanna be in the discussion but you are by far the least informed and obviously biased of every single posted out here so… STFU
oh yes, I’m convinced now, it was all Obama. The pure business acumen he displayed for 8 years was so amazing. Obama phones, Solyndra, cash for klunkers, shovel ready jobs, he’ll, even his signature ACA crapcare. oh yes, so amazing.
Still regurgitating
Obama putting the country more in debt by 8 trillion is the most seen in us history the rest of the 44 presidents combined made 12 trillion.
Speaking of 12… historians recently ranked Obama the 12th greatest president of all time. Not bad.
First black president but only the “12th greatest”. That’s not so good. Gotta love the ranking of “greatest” president of all time. What’s the criterion
Google it.
1/2 black. Always wondered if his black half wanted to bus’ a cap in his white half
This must be Sams alter ego…
Who cnn? More like punks democrats like you ranked him obama 12 greatest must be your fake news buddies
Lincoln, a republican, was number 1.
Talk about regurgitating garbage.
Even lower than President Hillary Clinton?
You clearly aren’t happy with your current president if all you do is deflect to Hillary. She sucked in 2016 and is irrelevant now. It’s your right to expect more from the president you voted for.
I’m guilty. Kinda like the Dems are guilty of obsessing over Trump while offering America the same tired polices.
There you go again. Deflecting to the dems in a half hearted attempt to defend Trump. Youre not going to see me defend democrats. I lean left but am open to all ideas that create a better US and world. For example, i agree with Republicans that Sam is from a shithoIe city and we shouldnt allow him here. I dont know why people feel like they need to go to one extreme or the other. Realize that all politicians rarely have your best interest in mind and educate yourself to form more informed opinions. No one should be regurgitating… Read more »
I’m impressed NIpples. I had you pegged as a lefty.
I do it all for you. Thanks.
Last I checked us has a lot more shitholee cities and most are runned by democrats
Check again.
I agree, and they shouldn’t regurgitate yours either.
Pens need a 3C and LW… (I wonder what defensemen are available).
Trading Letang could possibly fill both of those voids, while not creating one. Missing the net, skating aimlessly and getting hurt can be accomplished by anyone on our roster.
Pens should go get Jack Johnson from jackets. I would say send haggy and Cole but tortz hates hags
Thats retar… nevermind
Funny, I was just laughing at the idea of Pens fans still being enamoured with this guy the day he requested the trade and you step up to the plate.You wanna take a risk on a guy that had regressed significantly in the NHL in the last year of his deal, one that he saw almost no money from because of his bankruptcy and bring that on to this roster? Guys got 7 points this year, is a minus player on a decent team, his advanced metrics are shitt and always have been. He has been jumped on the depth… Read more »
Being Crosby’s buddy might give him back the spark and he is better then 3/4 of pens current defence roster.
Colby Armstrong is Sid’s buddy and hes very available. Maybe he’ll find a spark too!
Get lost fatso
Admit you dont know hockey, or literally anything about anything.
even when discussing sports you regurgitate. must suck to keep vomiting and vomiting over and over again
So the pens should absolutely not get Jack Johnson.
Wonder what NY wants for Grabner
Is it the same grabner same wanted when leafs dumped him
yes same… its that same guy that only you and no one else was interested in. Just you big guy
Was that after you applauded the hiring of Mike Johnston?
No just before you uploaded your mom’s 100th gangbang event
Was that before you wanted to get Marty St.Louis, the day before he retired, instead of Stanley Cup Champion Phil Kessel?
*2 time Stanley Cup champion
Only issue with Grabner is he is in the final year of his deal, he has back to back 20 goal years so he could be a full on rental at this point. Unless Hags goes the other way and we use that room to resign its a tough sell.
““One of the teams that is looking hard at Pageau is Pittsburgh,” Friedman said. “And I would think that would make a lot of sense he would make a great fit there.”” – Elliot Friedman
Now sammich will need some sort of electroshock to keep himself from destroying his penis with this potential news haha
*electroshock device lol
If Pens got Pageau, Sam would undoubtedly tear the small piece of flesh that separates his ass from his vaglna, again.
Pageau is a good clutch player
Another name that same mentioned now average fan can start drooling
I thought the Canes dominated long stretches of that game There were times when the Pens semed to be hanging on. DeSmith bailed them out.
Canes seemed to carry more play than the Pens did, attempted more shots but I thought the Pens did a good job of getting to the high danger areas a tad more this outing vs last. Either way it was a step up from the last bit of ugliness.
Credit where it is due to the Canes… they are very fast
the canes are fast, but the penguins are more quicker
Oleksiak has been a move that’s actually helping. Would be nice to see him play with Cole. Not sure what’s up with Hunwick. He was solid for the leafs in the playoffs last season but now he just looks lost most of the time.
He was very average during the season babcock knew he did great with hainsey. They guy has been a beast for the leafs this season
I think that ship has sailed. This feels like a playing favourites issue and Sullivan apparently believes if you request a trade you should not play. That said the coaches claim it is Hunwicks feet vs Coles that keeps drawing Hunwick into the line up but Cole does so many things better and that includes getting in front of pucks. They would make quite the shutdown pairing but I think Cole is on the way out and the Pens aint gonna get **** for him based on the lack of ice time
Looked far better here than they did last outing. Also, Cam Ward has improved a lot since Bales joined that team. Guy will develop a rep as the goalie whisperer at this rate. Steve Mason should call him for some off season work lol