THE POULIOT DYNAMIC
Derrick Pouliot being scratched for a second straight game tonight is causing a stir among some.
Here were Mike Sullivan’s comments on going with the same six defensemen tonight, via the Tribune-Review.
“I spoke to him [Derrick Pouliot] today about it. This is just part of the process,” Sullivan said. “I’ve said all along here we have seven healthy defensemen right now that we believe can help us win. He’s one of those guys. We’re going to try to use them as best we can on a game-by-game basis in order for that to happen. He’s a young player. He’s growing. He’s getting better. He’s made a lot of improvements in a lot of areas of his game. He’s got to continue to work, and we talked about some of the areas of his game where we think he can continue to get better. We’ll work with him in those areas, but I don’t want it to affect his confidence or his belief in himself. We’re really pleased with the progress that he’s made here.”
The move, though, is not surprising that Pouliot is the odd-man out for now.
1. With Ben Lovejoy out, Ian Cole has received the second most minutes among defensemen on the penalty kill during that span. He’s kind of entrenched himself back into the top-6 on the blueline temporarily because of the coaching staff’s confidence in him on the PK to go with his shot blocking ability.
2. There’s a need to get Justin Schultz in the lineup against some quality teams. You can’t only throw him out there against a poor offensive team like the Devils and learn much of anything. The other dynamic with Schultz is the Penguins don’t feel they can play Schultz and Pouliot together, meaning they would have to mess with their top two pairs, something the coaching staff doesn’t have the stomach to do at this point.
Pouliot has been a possession machine and through the small sampling so far this season, has shown key improvements from his rookie season and a disastrous training camp this past fall.
The question with Pouliot since his callup has been whether the coaching staff would have enough trust in him down the stretch and into the post-season, especially with Ben Lovejoy projected for a mid-to-late March return.
Once Lovejoy is back, the Penguins will have eight defensemen and if Schultz proves to be capable enough as a depth option and not the train-wreck he was in Edmonton (BIG IF), there’s no question Pouliot could find his way back to Wilkes Barre before the playoffs.
Coaches always seem to trust a Ben Lovejoy over a young inexperienced defenseman like Pouliot who is iffy in his own end and we’ll see if that plays out in a couple weeks. Won’t be a surprise if it does.
It will also be interesting in how Pouliot handles the scratches. There were some attitude problems for Pouliot when he was sent down earlier season that some feel led to him staying in Wilkes Barre longer than maybe he should have.
DOES SESTITO REALLY HAVE SUSTAINING POWER IN LINEUP?
Beau Bennett, Eric Fehr could return to the lineup Friday vs Columbus. That should end the Tom Sestito experiment right?
Not so fast.
Mike Sullivan pushed for the callup of Sestito and has made it known to management To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
D is it yet the time to reward SamE about being right about kessel being a fraud, or a thief. And that clowns here Drooled over nothing this summer other than a big potato
The best thing that could come out of this season is the firing of the GM
No need to I think he had a contract of only 3 years. They just don’t need to renew it
This is year two only you dolt!
I have to admit, I underestimated how much of a negative effect the Derrick Pouliot dynamic would have on Phil.
That effect has sustaining power
You man on what a complete bag of shit Kessel is.
That’s not english….
Sestito really detered Harmonic being a dick last- night – very impressed – NOT!
Detroit’s streak is in trouble….
Shultz been okay so far only at times a bit lost but promising offensive skills but questionable in the defensive Zone. This guy is no where near what media has broadcast him about thank God oilers are eating some of his salary
Solid, original scouting report.
Seriously, how much longer before Rust is on Malkin’s wing. Kessel needs to go. Put him Bonino’s wing and forfeit that line’s 10 minutes of ice time.
Bonino line you need to play physical which that’s not the case for Mr potato. I say send him in the press box enough is enough with this clown he left Toronto media pressure to come to Pittsburgh as a vacation destination hiding behind Crosby and malkin. This guy not only is a thief. He is a professional con artist
Fleury gomes up small, as ususal; Crosby and Malkin come up small, as usual; Letang gets out muscled in front of his net and then loses his shit, as usual; overrrated power play comes up small, as usual. Otherwise I havent seen this movie before.
I hate when Fleury gomes up small.
It’s kinda like come but with a “g”.
Apparantly
Kessel is a bag of shit. Kessel is a bag of shit. Kesel is a bag of shit
Fleury suckss Yoda. That French frog succks Stan. If it wasn’t for him this team would’ve been in a worst scenario tonight if it wasn’t for fleury this year this team would been behind Habs in the standings. Maybe competing with the leafs only part is leafs have no star players while pens are an all star team.
The frog giveth. The frog taketh away. Agreed. Wave that white flag!
The pens lost. The isles goalies were better.
Hahahahahahahaha yogurt!
I hope just for tonight you are joking yogurt. Before blaming fleury blame that fat potato kessel if half of his chances he scored tonight pens would’ve have won
Too many French-Canadians on this team. 14-8-1 Since the Perron trade. Pretty soon, we will be offering 2 for 1 ticket sales like the bandwagons in Montreal.
Stick with the American way of selling tickets that include hot dogs deals just like Florida games. That npl enjoys to go for
Last time pens had too many French in the team they won the cup in 09
So whats the habs problem? they even have a french coach
Not enough French players too many American players. Specially their fraud captain Max. Garbage player
You are aware nationality means nothing
Letang is still crying. Fucking frog.
Flowers fault. He needed to have a shutout obviously.
Can Kessel physically finish a one timer? Jesus! Put Polliout in for Kessel.
Also this team needs to stop being bitches and stop taking unnecessary penalties.
That’s never going to change.
Which ones were them retaliating? Letang deserved one, but didn’t get it.
TK
Bitches did you see the Russian in the first period
Bell museum.
Le Mausolee bell!
Sestito really took care of Hamonic and Lee tonight.
You saw Lee left alone in front of fleury on isles first goal tonight where is despres,bortuzzo.
The pens like speedy midgets on the blue line. That’s why they are going to miss the playoffs or lose round 1 in 5.
Hedging the bets in each post now hey fuckhead
7 million dollar wingers aren’t supposed to choke with a wide open net and 2 seconds left on the clock. Kessel is garbage.
That fraud had few occasions tonight
I hope D has time to write an article inbetween breast feeding tonight.
I hope D writes an article how American players in Pittsburgh are frauds and thefts led by kessel bemnett, and boninno
How many chances that fat potato had tonight
Fuckkkk youuu piece of shittt fraud player kessel. Fuckk youuu
Agree. Also 7 road games in a row for Sid without a goal. Our leader!
What nice entertaining game. But according to that fat pig npl this game must be boring since it was low scoring game
Same with Sid. Always trying to make a pass instead of hammering it to the net. PP sucks and so does the PK tonight.
This when Kessel needs to show up pens paid him to score big goals. Having him in the roster is useless.
Bonino skates like Chubby types on here.
Slow and sloppy?
Correct sir!
Typical Pens. Losing composure and playing into their opponents hands. This is why they aren’t built for the playoffs.
I guess we can check that one too avoid islanders let’s see who’s left
Letang on his back as the puck goes in. It’s what the French do best. Roll over and die.
I broke the Pedro signing before D. Thanks for the stick tap! Must have been changing diapers.
Night of the 58’s while Stan enjoyed letang’s goal I’m sure npl enjoyed Savard’s goal tonight
And you enjoyed 58 chicken wings. You fat ass
There goes chubby with a wide open miss. I bet he wouldn’t miss if stans mouth was there instead
Why are you shooting a puck into my mouth, chubby?
No chubby would shoot something else in your mouth
Letang suckss trade him and strip crosby’s C and give it to Kessel. And make Stan happy
It’s so weird to not only see him dressed but to see him hit the net. If he played for Montreal they wouldn’t be selling their tickets for half price like they are now.
Habs have the circus clown subban that costs the team goals with his dumbass selfish plays. I guess same was right about that bunny when half the league drool over that monkey overrated overpaid. Letang anyday over subban
Maybe he’s why they’re selling their tickets half off.
Blacks ruin everything! Once said by the man himself rothey
Enjoyed your pussyy ass Russian Mr Stan
You’ve enjoyed quite a few asses you fat fuck.
Derrick Pouliot brings a dynamic!
Comments like this shit is why idiots like Maloni still think Despres was worth a damn.
Hey Stan you think this crowd is different than the consol retirement center
No 2 for 1 tickets here! That’s how we know it’s not in Montreal.
Maybe they should use American strategy. Include free hot dogs
No one near lee good job for clearing in front of fleury clowns
Sheary is the 1st guy out of the lineup. When Hags is healthy, he bumps Sheary to the ahl and wilson down to the 3rd. When Fehr is healthy, he bumps Sestito out of the lineup on the 4th line. When Bennett is healthy, he sits in the press box eating hot dogs from NPL’s cart. No way in hell I sit Wilson, Rust or Kunhackl for Beau fucking Bennett.
Agree dusty. Maybe chubby potato should sit in the press box too
You’re not getting press box tickets Sam. Don’t even think about it.
Sustaining power! Hahahahahaha
Okay D, maybe you should tell mike Sullivan he’s wrong about dressing sestito cuz “he can’t play”. I would like to see that and see how badly Sullivan would shoot you down.
Sitting a young dman for lovejoy is stupid. You can quote me
Lovejoy shouldnt even be in this league i wonder who his father is or who did ben Blew that he has a job in the NHL same goes for TK
I bet it was your momma
Agree
Different styles. I like the idea of mixing better defenders with an offensive dman.
That being said I would rotate Schultz through the lineup. No reason why Daley and Maata can’t take a game or two off the rest of the way. Pouliot performance deserves to be in the lineup, but he can also probably learn a little sitting too.
you dont need to dress Bennett back in the lineup since hewill be injured by Saturday i say keep Sestito even tho he suckss
http://www.thesportster.com/entertainment/top-15-teams-with-the-most-bandwagon-fans/?view=all
they Dont even have Tampax bandwagon fan base oh wait its because they dont have Fans to begin with
http://blogs.denverpost.com/avs/2012/03/04/penguins-were-last-in-nhl-attendance-in-2003-04-proving-once-and-for-all-that/9957/