Series Buzz
Game 6: Capitals @ Penguins
Barry Trotz and the Washington Capitals saw a shake of the lines pay dividends in the third period of Game 5 and tonight in Game 6 it will be the Pittsburgh Penguins shaking things up.
In a close out situation again, Mike Sullivan and the Penguins coaching staff are experimenting with going back to the HBK line as there was a shakeup this morning with the top-9:
Sidney Crosby centered Conor Sheary and Patric Hornqvist; Evgeni Malkin centering Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust; Nick Bonino centering his old pals Carl Hagelin and Phil Kessel with Chris Kunitz – Matt Cullen – Tom Kuhnhackl rounding out the four lines.
It’s basically the same top three lines as last post-season, with the rookie Guentzel in Kunitz’ place on the Malkin line.
“We’re trying to put lines together that we think gives us the best chance to win,” Sullivan said this morning. “We evaluate that on a game by game basis with the players that we have available to us. We try to put lines together that we think give us the balance that we’re looking for.
The HBK line has failed all season in trying to rekindle their magic from the 2016 postseason. The line drove possession around 45% during the regular season.
Sullivan going back to the HBK line is newsworthy but maybe more newsworthy this morning was Sullivan being a bit critical of Evgeni Malkin who leads the NHL in playoff scoring, by sending a message that Malkin needs to do some things better, despite the point totals.
Sullivan wants to see Malkin hang on the puck longer and let plays develop.
“He can be a dangerous player when he hangs on to the puck and he forces our opponents to defend against him,” Sullivan said. “We’re hopeful tonight that he’ll have the puck more, and he’ll hang on to the puck more and he’ll be more patient with it. He’ll force them to defend him and then make his plays off of that.”
The Penguins have tried to match Malkin up against the Capitals bottom-6 but that didn’t play out in Game 5 on the road as Malkin went head-to-head against Evgeny Kutznetsov for 7:42 at even strength.
Is losing Trevor Daley a loss for the Penguins tonight?
Penguin coaches certainly believe he’s a loss, but those on the outside of that room are likely more in the ‘no’ department.
Daley’s play has not been good this series and of the six, he’s graded out the worst through five games.
But, will the Penguins make the right move with his replacement?
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Pens can still win game 7 if they get Sid back.
BoxScore, you dont have to wait until after the game to find out who played.
Scrub that shitter consuela. Do what you do.
Zero confuses having heart and being tough. The pens didn’t win last year because they were tough, they won because they had heart. The caps are tough. They wear out the other team by pounding them into the boards non stop. The pens are little and took a beating. They have nothing left. Team toughness is beating speed. Last year was the anomaly. Toughness, hitting and intimidating usually wins in the NHL. Anyway, game 7 is a coin flip. Let’s pray for the miracle.
But you said they need toughness to win. Not heart. So please reconcile.
Someone break with one down for BoxScore.
It must pain you to not know what you’re talking about as often as you do. But you’re a simple man with a simple skill set.
Need to get Kuhnhackl out of the line up. Put Kunitz back with Malkin. Pray that Midget plays the game of his life.
Midget!
I said a prayer to baby Jesus this afternoon and it didn’t work.
Told you idiots not to plan your cup parade after game 4. Zero chance in game 7. The pens have nothing left and the Saint isn’t going to steal another one.
Well, that was a shit show. Next to nothing good to talk about. Gonna be a bitch to win 7 but it’s not like the Pens haven’t been there before. Next game they simply need to show the fuck up, maybe the elimination game will light that fire. Any way, fuckk the usual morons, I’m out!
here comes some moron with “Pens won the last 3 minutes…momemtum ours”!
Any team that has to play BoxScore’s boy Hainsey this many minutes is doomed
Been saving that for 11 games, consuela? Good call. I guess if you keep throwing shit at the wall, you’ll be write eventually. Not go clean your wife’s shitstains off the bowl like a good little bitchh
No, really. Tell us more about how good Hainsey is…you’ve got such an eye for this sport.
Tell me why you haven’t brought his name up…for ten games. With that keen plumbers eye you got. Tell me. Hey. If you sit there long enough, you can rag on anyone. Now go scrub the shitter
Ten games of silence! Now you’re holier than thou! Fucking mini sam. So good.
Pretty much my observation after the trade and beofre the start of the playoffs. No need to repeat for suburban ball hockey heroes. You got a little thing for Hainsey don’t you. Dud he tell you that you looked cute in your suit and terrible towel?
There’s nothing better than you sitting with your thumb up your asss for ten games waiting for him to play poorly. Great call consuela. Now stick to what you’re good at and put those dishes away.
Might be the worst defensive effort in Cup history. Good news, Schultz is no longer a $4-5M/yr dman.
Most of the RFAs suddenly became a lot more affordable. Odds are we see a few 2 year deals.
Pens are out of gas and beat up. They have nothing left in the tank. The caps beat the shit out of them. The pens will get killed in game 7 too. Oh well. Last year was fun.
DePaoli’s an idiot for calling Caps in 5.
If pens blow this series this will be worst then DB Era. And team should immediately fire sully
Lol, wow. How do you even… nevermind. This one is special
Worst in the db era? The db era has been over, virgin.
Reality check game…. just win game 7.
But they are gonna need a helluva better effort then tonight
This is the most pathetic display of hockey in an elimination game that I’ve ever seen.
Only thing I’m sure I’ll ever agree with you on!
That I must agree with you. But you have to agree with me as well despite pens losing pens best player tonight is fleury. Rest are playing more garbage
Well you didn’t know the team existed then either.
That’s because you didn’t see Minnesota lose 8-0 in 1991. Because you didn’t know the team existed then.
7 min left check the arena stain before you turn off your TV
Still watching, virgin. Unlike you in game 3. Bandwagon man!
Maybe Tomlin at the game jinxed the team.
Stat padding, this will give the dummy ammo related to SV%s later
Fleury can hand in his glove now. He doesn’t need it.
It’s amazing the idiots that come out to gloat in losses… great fans
Who’s gloating? This sucks. The pens have zero team toughness. That’s why they are losing. They are beat up, hurt, and scared. It’s amazing how you honestly believe that toughness is a trait that means nothing.
Which team toughness did they have last year? I’ll hang up and listen.
How did they possibly win last years cup? It’s not the 70s and toughness isn’t running around being an idiot. Toughness was them fighting through everything SJ physically threw at them last year. This is what you just don’t understand… playing tough also eludes you
It’s help if they knew what they were talking about, too
The pens are so intimidated by the caps they are all skating with poop in their pants. And you guys thought I was an idiot for saying the pens are going to lose because they are getting the snot kicked out of them. #dekhockeydoenstworkinthenhl
Yes, it’s intimidating play that’s causing this… holy fuck you and Sam man… so fucken dense
There are plenty of reasons you’re an idiot.
The Crosby injury really changed this series. He hasn’t quite been himself since that
Yeah, they are all skating around terrified.
Fleury with another shit game. And another blown 3-1 series lead. We’ve seen this before..
Yes, with the odd man rushes and utterly garbage play, the Pens would be leading if Murray was in the net lol.
2 games ago he was declared the conn smyth winner. He is the only goalie in NHL history to lose two series when up 3 games to 1. Now he’s going to blow 3 series with a 3 to one lead. However I’m not blaming the Saint. Bits Rutherford for assembling a roster full on dek hockey players.
Youre not watching the game, are you…
“For assembling a roster of Dek hockey players” – this team is literally the team that won a cup last year. They miss Letang in a big was and Sid hasn’t been right since the concussion. You’re utterly clueless.
Great start to third boys! See you Wednesday.
Any Bandwagons turn off their tv already?
Probably you. And a few other people that haven’t gotten laid yet.
Once again stain and npl are nowhere around. Few more minutes arena will be half empty
I literally just posted, retard. Please try to pay attention.
Go back to Queerbec you fool
Wow, Cole and Crosby bail… Backstrom with the dagger… send a message at least here boys
Best sport worst run league.
Thank jew bettman
Ya, it’s the Jees fault. Quick, “explain me” what Bettman does!
Only league that doesn’t take care of their superstars.
Look at the stick work on Crosby… wow
Caps playing ping pong with sid between 3 players. Yet no one notices if they did that to malkin they would receive a strong slash and gets a dumb penalty in the offensive zone
#pingping
Caps rubbing our face in it now.
Fuckkkkk this sheary is unwatchable.
The only thing he did wrong on the play was not shoot it off the pads
He doesn’t know what he’s watching.
Only thing ? I lost count the amount of turnovers he did so far in this game. Now minute he scores he becomes amazing and make stain, npl and you happy
#BoxScore
6 shots… most from 30 ft with little on them lmmfao. What bad fucking game
This isn’t your fathers Caps this year. This is 3 bad periods in a row. Byslma would be proud of this effort. Starting to remind me of the Rangers series in ’14
Meaning yoda is getting ready to blame Fleury if the Caps complete the comeback
Screw that loser. He’s a typical Yinzer. Blame the goalie, blame the QB.
Fans in NY and Montreal have placed the blame of their teams troubles at the feet of Lundqvist and Price… he’s just one of those morons lol
He’s some kind of loser.
Washington is connecting with so many pucks off the ice I wanna check them for cheat codes!
The team just doesn’t look like they even care anymore. Pass pass pass pass, and then running around chasing the Caps.
Horrible turnovers again. Sheary has been junk
Sheary is more than a few names down on the list of guys I’m pissed at tonight
Ditto
Our stars are pathetic tonight. Fleury is the only one that showed up.
Fleury gave up a crap 2nd goal though. Holtby has outplayed him the last 2 games
Agreed. Just looks like the Pens have no legs left and can’t compete. A couple bad goals are back breakers
Oh look another crappy goal given up by that French choker Fleury.
Wow, I mean there was puck luck there but it’s unreal how bad they’ve really been. Game seven feels likely! Hopefully they show up if that’s the case because it’s hard to believe they will here
Mirror of the first so far… so sloppy
I cannot get over how many passes this team has pissed away. This is fucken amazing
Christ, Crosby with the fucken doctor again!
Lazy Russian saved a goal. Virginal sam missed it
I hope at that 9.5 salary he does something positive for the team other then taking dumb penalties
The problem with you, virgin, is that when there’s a chance this score, you don’t know what you’re looking at.
(I think you’re Canadian took the dumb penalty)
These last couple games… this is where we see the hole Letang leaves
Whole game gonna be dump it from their own blue Line? Gonna be an easy night for Washington…
There better be done serious second period adjustments and a heat to heart with the guys. They’re chasing, sloppy and don’t look great. Luckily the puck isn’t bouncing the Caps way yet but these odd man rushes are gonna kill them
Nice job crosby… you friggin sissy and a dumb ass penalty.
Ya where is the sammich on that one lol
9.5m invested to watch him lose the puck on a harmless 2 on 1 attack
You’re a fool
There goes our Canadian handing them a goal. Nice job Sid
Ohhhhh shittt sully agreeing with same despite malkin has most points still suckss. Now eat a dickk stain and zerotooll
#BoxScoreMatters
This proves I watch differently than the average banwagon fan base. Once again
Eat a dickk zeroTool,stain, Tbj .
Unfortunately can’t include npl because they fat fuckk doesn’t even know what hockey is yet .
Lol, so Malkin has been quiet in this series so far, which no one has denied, has prompted that comment. A comment which means if he can get it together the Pens are far more dangerous and somehow you turn it into vindication on all your stupidity on the subject? You do watch the game differently but it’s not even close to what you think dumbass
You have a virginal eye that we don’t have.
Wilson has sucked balls all playoffs. Kuhnhackle has killed penalties and actually had scoring chances. Of course D would want Wilson in over him, he’s a moron.
Ruhwedel is the new Chorney.
Lines will change half way through first.
i’m not a fan of the new lines. sid and guentzel should not be split up.
dear baby jesus, please let your patron saint of smiles play well tonight and not have an epic meltdown. amen