PENGUINS 5 – ISLANDERS 2
As the Penguins hit game No. 10 tonight under Mike Sullivan, we’re now seeing that adrenaline rush from the players take shape with the coaching change the last two games.
It’s like the players realized the bull cutters work and the shackles from Mike Johnston’s system have been removed from their ankles. They have new found freedom in that they’re allowed to play offense first and boy are they loving it.
The Penguins’ looked like they came out of a cannon tonight in the first period, the faster and more aggressive team, winning almost every key puck battle and most importantly led 2-0 after twenty minutes with goals from Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel.
When the Islanders had their push early in the second period, Marc Andre Fleury came up with timely saves, and then the Penguins made Matt Martin pay for a bad boarding penalty to take a commanding 3-0 lead on Sidney Crosby’s second power play goal of the game.
The Penguins scored three special team goals, two power play markers from Crosby and a shorthanded goal from Matt Cullen.
“Power play gave us momentum, Mike Sullivan said.
There’s been many situations this season against quality teams and even teams with youth like the Coyotes where the Penguins looked like the slower and lethargic team on the ice. Adding Trevor Daley in place of Rob Scuderi has made the Penguins quicker on the backend but the Penguins often looking like a slow hockey team under Mike Johnston may have also been system oriented too.
That was one of the biggest developments tonight against an Islanders team that all last season the Penguins constantly struggled to match their speed and puck possession ability.
Isn’t it amazing how much quicker a team looks when it’s playing offense first and it’s players are not asked to leave the defensive zone together as a five man unit. It’s also something that the Penguins look the best they have all season in their last five periods of hockey when Sidney Crosby is playing his best hockey of the season.
Crosby pre-concussion is likely never returning but this is what you get when you’re not trying to make him be Paul Gaustad. Crosby is also taking it upon himself in being a consistent force in around net once again.
You can also put Kris Letang into the discussion there. When the Penguins are rolling like they were tonight, Letang is often playing at an elite level and he surely was tonight.
Letang had 3 assists in the win and it was his decision making in the transition game that might have been most valuable. What a slick play he made below the goal line leading to Cullen’s shorthanded goal.
Maybe these last five periods are just a mirage but maybe the Penguins were really playing a junior system under Johnston.
If anything Sullivan is putting the right foundation in place in how the Penguins should be playing and two of the Penguins most important players, Crosby and Letang, are starting to find their game.
“I’m thrilled for them that they’re getting rewarded for their efforts,” Sullivan said of his top guys starting to breakout. “They’re playing the right way. Most part making pretty good decisions…..They’re buying in.”
Apparently 39 year old Doan has More goals than our lazy sniper kessel
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He has more than crosby too…whats your point? Why only point out kessel? because your a bigotted retarded loser thats why
haha – he’s embarrassing Cindy!
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You can create your own gifs at imgflip fyi
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You won the internet for today with this one Walluk.
D is a hard man to find a picture of on the internet. Where you been man? I enjoy reading your comments, haven’t seen you in a while. Could also be due to the fact there’s no new content.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Holy shit this is great
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Big back to back series. Bit of a real litmus test IMO. It’s definitely not win at least one or bust but we are taking on one of the marquee teams that could be a good way to really measure the progress made.
Definitely agree. The team seems to be coming together, but a couple games against mediocre teams isn’t enough to base anything on. Playing a team like the blackhawks is going to show you what you have. It will expose weaknesses and give you an idea if you are where you want to be.
Agreed next 3 , games will show this teams character
Time to work on some where is d gifs
Waiting for an article like…
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Looking for an article like…
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Asked D about a new article he said…….
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New article?
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New article?
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Odds DePaoli gets some new content up before the NHL trade deadline?
Still waiting on that chart from a few years back
Would love to see drouin for bennett at least drouin is healthy unlike BB
Ya, i’m sure Tampa would give you him just for BB. Maybe we can sweetin the deal with a stud like Lovejoy?
I never liked gayjoy in 09 and certainly not change opinion since. It’s one of those fraud players .that has no business to be in this league yet still have have job. Same goes for TK
He’s a third pairing defenseman. No more, no less. And I love the Idea of Bennett/Drouin swap, just like I love the idea of a Lovejoy/Webber swap. Hell, maybe they will throw Stamkos in.
We may have to add in a 3rd. I’m still holding out hope we can get max pac for cullen and jvr for for plotnikov
Like Jarred Tinordi?
Yes clown but tinordi doesn’t play in the NHL often unlike tk and gayjoy
Youre an idiot
This site was so much better when there was no content.
Agreed. Instant Buzz has us spoiled.
This site was so much better when there was no npl around
New Santiago, whats the reason for the delayed articles? Gathering sources and information?
I get that everyone is concerned about DeAngelo Williams (with good reason), but it’s weird that I’ve barely even read mention that Martavis Bryant missed the entire second half with a neck strain.
or, if you read this site, no mention at all…
Nobody noticed because he wasn’t out there dropping 70% of the balls thrown his way like he has been the last 3 weeks.
It’s all relative… and in this case, relative to Heyward-Bey. If Bryant can’t go, it’s that much more attention they can focus on AB.
I won’t argue with that – but that kid needs to pick his game up.
He wasn’t out with a neck injury he was out because he ran a bad route and got Ben Overrated intercepted.
I had a hot dog for lunch
Was it from a restaurant or from a random hot dog cart?
Random un-marked cart…hmmm
Pens should trade letang,crosby and fleury to make Yoda and stan happy
Nah – just the russian, so your fat ass quits bitching.
DePaoli, think the steelers can overcome Big Overrated next weekend against the Bengals?
Hey D, do you think TIOPS will ever have Pittsburgh fans who aren’t cynical crybabies?
That’s all i’ve been trying to say for years now lol.
But no one likes you
Well, it is the audience, obviously. I could be the most loveable gazelle, but if Im in a crowd full of lions…
What’s weird is, you are the same as the audience, yet still no one likes you. That’s impressive.
No little dog likes the big dog my friend. But seriously, did you refer to yourself as a gazelle? Really odd, even for a gay, black Democrat that doesn’t follow hockey.
No one likes you. You miserable fat fuckk
HAHAHA, then comes sam who is likely 1A or 1B pertaining to the most hated poster on here. Has the audacity to call out other posters lol
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Steelers clinch playoffs and it’s not even an article. Just lazy “instant buzz.” Pathetic.
Nasty Peach Licker
Ha. Tenacious Ball Juicer
Adrenaline rush taking shape for Steelers. Whatever that means…
Kessel still sucks. Needs to go
so does the blue line and st.blurry. the pens had a good 2 games, but i’m still not getting my hopes up.
Yeah – Fleury still sucks. Good one, yogurt.
2.28 GAA and .927 SV%….Get him out of here!
St Blurry. Haven’t heard that one in a good while haha.
Fucken clown shoes
Suck it Benz.
Revis having a tough day. Pitt man for life.
Drouin requested a trade, pouliot & ???? For drouin?
fair to say they need the underperforming defenseman over the underperforming forward.
Trade letang and crosby asap stan
D great article! Couldn’t agree more. Great points you made. Keep it up!
Last couple games have been def more enjoyable to watch.
Positive articlr, good read d.
Malkin with back to back 3 point nights as well.
So did letang
So did Malkin. And he didn’t drool all over himself in the locker room afterward.
The pens are showing some life. The last 2 games have been the best of the season.