Penguins Emerging as Superior Team
Two Wins Away
SHEARY! SHER BAN KE! @IceSinghHNIC @HarpPandher @RandipJanda
*Drops Mic* #HockeyNightPunjabi pic.twitter.com/I6PhE6MrYd
— Hockey Night Punjabi (@HkyNightPunjabi) June 2, 2016
Conor Sheary provided the heroics in Game 2, scoring 2:35 into overtime to deliver the Penguins a 2-1 OT win. As teams that go up 2-0 in a Stanley Cup Final have won 90% of the time, do the Penguins now have a death grip on the series?
Wouldn’t go that far just yet but despite the Sharks being involved in two one-goal games, it’s bright and clear through six periods and two-plus minutes of overtime of which team is the superior team.
It’s the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“We’ll hold off on the funeral. There’s plenty of hockey to be played,” Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said in keeping things positive from his end.
The Penguins performance from a structure standpoint was something to watch. At times I felt like I was watching the New Jersey Devils from the mid 90’s and early 2000’s in how suffocating defensively the Penguins were.
The Sharks had zero time and space through the first two periods with just 11 shots on goal. We are witnessing a remarkable coaching job from this Penguins’ staff and it was on display again for long stretches in Game 2.
In the third period, the Sharks finally got to their game and were able to flex their muscles a bit below the hash marks, they crashed the net and got a game tying goal late.
Still, it didn’t result in sustained pressure for San Jose and we know how this one ended with Pittsburgh coming out on top in overtime.
Pittsburgh is the more complete team and if this series has any hope of coming back to Pittsburgh tied 2-2, San José’s big guns have to start taking over as the series shifts to San Jose.
Their best forward was Joel Ward as for the second straight game Pittsburgh’s best players were superior.
Another game, another great two-way game from Nick Bonino and the rest of the HBK line.
Phil Kessel scored Pittsburgh’s opening goal in the second period off a turnover created by Carl Hagelin with Nick Bonino setting Kessel up for the tap in goal. It was Kessel’s 10th goal of the playoffs and Bonino in particular had another excellent two-way game with an assist and a team-high 4 blocked shots.
The Penguins leading Conn Smythe Trophy contenders are not usual suspects of the past like Malkin or Letang. The only individual trophy Malkin would be winning these days is a participation trophy.
Right now the leading contenders are Matt Murray, Nick Bonino, Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby who was very good again.
Crosby had an assist on the game winning goal after an offensive zone draw win and was downright dominant in the face off circle, winning 17 of 24 draws.
It was the little things again from Crosby who orchestrated the overtime winning goal with a set formation on the face off by telling Letang and Sheary what to do.
“He’s just been a horse To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Looking at the TSN tradebait list there are some quality defencemen that could make it real easy to not mess with the Schultz scenario, money is a factor but…
So looking at some numbers from last night, Murray faced 11 low danger shots(10saves), 6 medium danger shots(6 saves) and 4 high danger shots(4 saves), I bring this up in regards to Murray’s inclusion into the Conn Smythe discussion and how the stifling defensive play of the team in front of him has greatly impacted his numbers and performance. The Conn Smythe is awarded to the playoff MVP(Most VALUABLE Player) and I just don’t comprehend how a player simple doing what any goaltender should do when the games are spoon feed to them qualifies a player as Most Valuable. The… Read more »
Thats a little much to call it insulting. Its simple – Murray is not losing games, but hes also not winning them – and thats why he wont win the Conn Smythe, if the Pens win the cup.
This is fill Kessel’s award to win, with Bonino a close second, and Crosby a distant third imo.
Insulting may have been a little harsh but when you consider how many great individual performances have led to winning the award, it would be a shame to give it to a player who just showed up and played well because he makes for a good story.
Here’s to having a “which penguin will win the Conn Smythe” argument.
That’s kind of the way I feel – but people over-estimate a goaltender’s work – so i think that Murray is in that top four right next to Sid. I do think if Kessel’s production doesnt’ fall off a cliff in a longer series, or if it merely ISN’T a longer series, it’s his to lose – and he deserves it – been by far the most consistent performer in these playoffs (or a chubby fraud not worth $6.8 million if your’e someone from Toronto or Montreal).
This would be so epic if Phil wins it… I mean I was very disappointed in his season up till March but tired not to let it really get me down but the way it will piss off the Leafs fan base that promised we were getting a washed up bum… that would be priceless
Careful, some of us don’t quite get the difference in a quality shot vs a low % one!
Settle down, he’s not going to win the Conn Smyth. That said “simply doing what any goaltender should do” is more than the Pens have gotten from Fleury in the playoffs over his career. The Pens would not be where they are now if Fleury had been in goal.
It never ceases to amazes how bad Maloni & Yoda are at everything.
Sorry gaydogg fell asleep reading your post. What’s that?
Seriously Jay, how many of the 21 year old suburban Pittsburgh Chics that you claim to have nailed fell asleep having sex with you
ask your sister
really? talk about bad at this. Are you 9 yrs old?
Sure wasn’t that “i fell asleep reading your post” zinger that you just thumped on Jay, no.
#umbrance #Dunkindonuts
No I am 31 year old.
That sucks! I assumed that because I kept it to 12 easy words you would be able to keep up. My bad.
Nothing better than calling someone out for being bad at something and they respond by showing just how BAD they really are, it’s like atking candy from a baby.
I would say Kuhnackl had his best game of the playoffs last night but im i think that ties in with some dumb shit involving sam
Hes been solid for most of the playoffs. But not one person should be saying that his “magic” is crucial with the first 3 lines being cancelled out.
I am a fan of his but i thought hes been quite awful in the playoffs before last night.
Ive watched Joe Vitale and Craig Adams in the playoffs – Kuhnhackl has not been awful. Hes not doing anything great or even above average for a 4th liner, but hes not hurting the team with his play either.
I blame all of Maloni’s horribly wrong predictions on his fat fingers.
Indeed – he typed entire wrong sentences repeatedly.
#umbrance
#intertainment
My fat fingers ,mis-typed, but you really think umbrance is a word. Other than that, we’re on even playing field.
2 games from the stanley cup and all people can do on here is argue with sam, same as they did when the pens were out of the playoffs
sad sad state, even for this site
2 games from a stanley cup, and all people can do is bitch about others arguing with sam. sad state, even for this site.
Hey Stanch how does Crosbys dick taste as he rams it down ur throat? Im sure you’ll revert back to complaining about how he played in November.
He’s not ramming anything down my throat. He’s finally doing what he’s supposed to. Not sure why you think the negates the fact that he took half a year off, or that they won the Caps series despite him and 71 barely showing up. What I don’t do is make excuses for him and claim he’s “doing the little things” when he’s playing like rancid assshole. That’s kinda your department.
Some people play candy crush on the shltter, others laugh at the comedy this site provides. How do you pass the time at work?
I used to talk about the penguins
You should go on a hockey site for that then.
lol well played
You have to admit that it’s hilarious when Maloni & Yoda start backtracking and making stuff up when they can’t defend their absurd opinions.
Name one ?
You saying you wanted to start zatkoff only because the other two goalie were hurt. In reality, you said he should start no matter who was healthy because he was “the hot goalie”.
I fully own that. They should have started Zak in game two. Apparntly Sullivan agreed. If he plaed in game two like he played in game 1 I would have said go with him in game 3.
Sullivan played him because the other two weren’t ready. And you don’t start him just because he played well because normally he doesn’t, because he’s not good.
HAHAHA, I am sitting at my desk LMAO right now. The team we all cheer for is two games away from winning the cup and as it gets closer we seem to hate each other a little bit more. Seriously read the comments, even the ones you have been shit on with and tell me this is not hilarious stuff. Go Pens 😉
The only reason to come here.
pens had a good winning streak before malkin joins the team and i am sure without him in the playoffs they couldve been to the finals still except one game he showed up vs the Rags
thats why you trade him and get 2 good players at cheaper price
alot of players can do what Fraud malkin been doing for the last 2 years for the pens minus the dumb penalties that we can leave it to the russian its his special talent
Remember when Sam wanted Tyler Bozak over Malkin? Haha
yeah he also wanted JVR in that deal you cuntt
I also liked your Drouin for Bennett proposal. Fingers crossed.
where the fuckk do you invent those shits
here you might as well say i wanted john scott for Malkin
Probably. You are an idiot.
He’s not inventing anything – you said that.
Given your track record, i’m not sure how anyone can disagree with you. You’ve been right about so much thus far. #Kuhnhackl
whats this kuhnackl joke all i said 4th line should step up not carry the team every game you clown you and npl always take words and twist them and make into a joke thats all you clowns bring to this site
I believe you said if the Pens want to win the cup, theyll need their 4th liners, e.g. Kuhnhackl, “doing the magic.” Funny enough, the 4th line has had less of an impact so far than any other series, lol.
And while im thinking about it, why are we not laughing harder at the “4th line needs to be doing the magic” line? Thats a classic!
Other three lines cancel each other out – this and that.
You flat out said the top 3 lines on both teams would cancel each other out
whats your track record you bring nothing to this board other then Sid and Letang sucks if it wasnt for those 2 pens wouldve not won game 1and 2 vs sharks . if it wasnt for letang and sid Your so called American heros wouldve been golfing by now along with your russian Fraud
Thanks to sid and Letang this team even made the playoffs
sid 70points since jan while letang i think was the 5th or 6th in nhl with points since Jan
Now go fuckk yourself you Hack
It’s pretty much HBK and goaltending that got them into the playoffs. And Americans are carrying this team,as discussed. Not Sid and Letang. Not “my russian fraud” (I oddly enough also had an american fraud until he started embarrassing all canadians in the playoffs, and then you never heard about him again – which really makes you question the russian fraud comment – you’re not really good at pointing out frauds). I’m pretty comfortable with my track record compared to your’s. #America This cup run would have been a breeze if any part of canada pretended to show up.
oh i forgot your are the master when it comes to detect Frauds
No problem. You forget a lot of things.
I go back and forth on the best predictions over the last few months – was it Maloni and Yoda talking about blowing up the team in early March? Maloni calling for Fleury in Game 5 when he hadn’t played in two months? Sam saying the fourth line was going to be the key to a cup win? Sam saying Ladd would end up in Florida? Or that Rust was traded? Sam claiming that “chubby” was a waste of money only to watch him score 10 goals in 20 games and be in the talk for a Conn Smythe? Maloni… Read more »
Damn that’s a tough one. They’re all so damn good.
They were all equally best bro!
Hey angry little dude. Woke up today and you’re still Canadian. Gotta suck
You’re best bro!
Nice. You managed not to get a single one right. Not surprising from a guy full of umbrance.
No sir, you managed to not get a single one right lol
Nipples, name one i got wrong?
Tick…tick…tick.
all of them! still makes you best bro #playMAFgame5 lol
Should i copy and paste Stan’s post?
Nah – that’s how this game is played NPL – deny deny deny. Maybe he thinks nobody reads his bullshitt anymore and he can get away with that.
LOL, so #maloser needs it spelled out for him. Here is why sitting Sheary was a brilliant move by Sullivan who also seen that the kid needed a night off, evident by his own quote on the matter (but of course this twaat doesn’t care what the coaches opinion on the matter is.. just ask him how he feels about Vigneaults assessment of his Rangers in game one LOL). 5 games vs NY – 2goals and 1 assist and a +3 rating and 10 shots on goal 10 games from the start of the Washington series to the healthy scratch… Read more »
…so in other words, the pens should scratch sheary in game 3 so he can come back for game 4 well rested?
…and the sharks should rest martin jones too. and the pens should rest murray. yeah, that happens all the time in the playoffs.
It certainly needs to happen certain times, especially for players that aren’t used to the grind of an NHL season. Especially one that goes this long. But you’re a f’ing fraud, and wouldn’t understand.
Not surprising you can’t see it either lol. It is statistically supported for fuck sakes. Sheary needed a night off… I mean christ were you not one of the biggest cheerleaders out here for quite some time for “benching Malkin” to light a fire under his ass over the years? How can you be so fucking thick to not apply the same logic… OH and BTW… the game off Murray got has CLEARLY had the same impact on him. Last place your argument fails… both Sheary and Murray have been playing at a solid pace in the last 4 games… Read more »
Before it gets flipped… the Murray game off worked for him because he is a 21 year old rookie. It’s the exception in this case and not the rule, I would not expect a seasoned guy, even one with a couple years experience to need the same treatment. Thats all part of the maturation and development process of players. Their endurance and ability to play through long stretches. I know this is way over your head but trust me, it is how things work.
Clear as mud. Keep going. (Are you still stuck in Edmonton?)
Its great how you produce new material daily that can be used to shit all over you… all you have is “You’re from Edmonton derp” lol
Exactly. Zero is Canadian tard number 1.
Coming from you guys it puts me in great company. When two utter fucking retards tell me I am off… I know I am right on top of things. I just wish you assess could back up even one of the thing you say. #hotgoalie #blowitup #playsetito #MAFforgame5
I don’t want to ruin your angry rant but I suggested fleury for game 3. But go with your story. Clearly makes you feel less stupid.
The fact that you suggested MAF after the second round at all is the joke you moron. Who gives a fuck what game it was.
It’s hard to keep up with all your stupid
Zzzzzz. You bore me. From the guy advocate sitting Sheary in game 6. Oh, Pouliot looks good.
HAHAHA, yup, doesnt get it and has to twist reality in order to feel like he is still in this. You have to be honest… you and yoda shared a womb right?
*advocated… and yes, I did and it worked.
Oh and here is the kicker… in game 3 when I made the lofty “Pouliot looks fine” remark in reply to your “he’s a trainwreck” comment.. we can actually support that… both the eye test and statistically. You were early one game dip shit
You were the only one in North America that thought Pouliot looked fine. But then again you have a trained hockey eye. For years you defended fleury as a franchise goalie.
“only one in north america” – oddly enough you pay for another page that said the exact same thing.
And right now you suckle from Murray balls and absolve him for bad goals he has given up AND you NOT me was the one that though bringing MAF in during the 3rd round was a good idea. Nice try asshole
Sheary didnt sit in game six moron.
Guess you got me there… I advocated him sitting in game 5… where this falls apart is I didnt advocate fuck all for game 6. I just didn’t think Bennett was awful. These are the little things you, like yoda, can’t grasp.
You’re so &ucking canadian stupid you can’t remember how many times you are wrong. After Sheary sat in game five you were so impressed with Bennett you advocated sitting Sheary in game six. Is everyone stuck in Edmonton stupid?
its the shithole of canada they are as dumb as Americans from Florida
Coming from the guy who lives in the area that begs the rest of this nation for money and feels like they are treated unfairly at every turn lol. Fuck without French Canadian dominant players in the game anymore we should just let you idiots separate.
HAHAHA, I said no such thing, my exact word were “Bennett played better than some were claiming. I had no issue with him seeing another game but if they go back to Sheary I hope the game off lights a fire under his ass”. I didn’t advocate shit you lying sack. You like yoda have to twist facts and what is said period. I fully admit I said I thought Bennett wasn’t horrible in that game and commented to the fact that he took one really strong shift that created a ton of pressure and resulted in a goal right… Read more »
it is amazing that the pens have a 2-0 lead in the finals with malkin, the 10 mil cap hit being a ghost. my god could you imagine what it would look like if he decides to show up and dominate one of these nights?
He hasn’t really been a ghost tho.. I mean I agree I would love to see him on the score sheet more but when you consider that his line and his play have helped contribute to everything Rust has been doing you can’t fully discount how he has been playing. There is more purpose than we had seen through Washinton and early in TB. Since game 6 in TB a lot of guys who were earning every ounce of criticism have been much better whether they have hit the score sheet or not. Take Kuhnhackl for instance… no points in… Read more »
sorry, he sucks. he is so good he should have a minimum of 12 goals right now. 3 goals for a guy who has the most talent in the world is a joke.
Yoda calling someone else a joke is fucken gold. Malkin comes across as a mouth breathing dumbass some nights but he is a fucken mensa member in comparison to you lol
PS… I have to applaud you, sam and Maloni. One thing the three of you are incredibly consistent with is showing the world how little you guys actually get it with virtually every post.
The consistency with which they do this is also impeccable.
From the guy who’s entire contribution over 5 years has been Crosby sucks. Umbrance
I’d put my “contribution” up against you, your sausage fingers and your “Fleury sucks” mantra any time champ. Regardless of what I post on an insignificant web site, I certainly know more than “goalie bad.” You should work on that.
Does he suck? Or is he so good? I’m confused. This post was very “sam-like” #KnowGoodSmartPeople #SamKnew
“minimum 12 goals” – while only a single player has 12 or more this entire post season!
More proof that Yoda either doesn’t watch the games and just looks at the boxscores or he is completely incapable of processing watch he’s watching.
Said the bartender.
“in the 3rd the Sharks got to their game”? Or the Pens were guilty of protecting a one goal lead. I mean isnt it amazing how fast they got off their game once the score was tied? The Pens have been dictating the pace one way or the other so far. While the series is not exactly over if things continue this way the Pens are a sure thing… especially if they keep skating.
Let the b1tching begin but in no way, shape or form does Murray deserve to be in the Conn Smythe conversation. He’s played well but for the majority of the playoffs his performances have been a product of a dominant team performance in front of him. I mean he’s now been outplayed by the opponents goaltender for 9 straight games. Assuming a Pens win, the Conn Smythe is a 2 horse race and those 2 horse are Bonino & Kessel.
yesterday again few posts helped him
also pens have alot of puck luck in this year playoffs yes they are playing good but alot of luck too
No it isn’t. You’re a moron.
Weird, I feel like I have seen these exact same two posts before lol
it was a crazy post game for both sides.
Bonino and Kessel are easy 1 and 2 but with Murrays statistics he will get a look. I don’t think he should beat the other two named by any stretch however.
it will be crosby or murray.
I could see Sid get some looks but I Bonino and Kessel are the biggest reason these guys are here
That’s a joke – Crosby shouldnt’ really be in the discussion. It’s basically Kessel or Murray.
if kessel would get it that would be really fun. the people in toronto will be so pissed! , if murray gets it, it will be even better because the radioshows in pgh will be crying nonstop saying he didn’t do anything to get it just like jaydogg….the real reason they will be mad is in fact they can’t take the fact that st.bleury, the media darling is on the bench.
There are few words that describe how much it sucks that you cheer for this team haha
Care to back that up?
murray is a rookie with a 13-4 record and a .927. murray has been very solid, hasn’t blown 1 game in the entire playoffs, and holds the fort when it counts. you can’t say there is no way he doesn’t deserve to be in the conversation. the winning goalie of a stanley cup team is always in the conversation.
If the criteria for Conn Smythe is simply not shitting down your leg then pretty much every player on the team is a front runner for the award. Cullen should be a front runner for taking the majority of the DZ starts against the opponents top line and not getting scored on often.
It’s impossible to have an intelligent conversation with someone who clearly didn’t watch the game. That’s the only possible explanation for suggesting Murray>Jones last night.
he wasn’t outplayed last night. he got the W and his save% was higher. and don’t forget it’s tough to play goal when you have to stand around for several minutes with no action. remember when the pens dominated the candians a few years back, they would outshoot them 45-14 and st.bleury would fall asleep back there because he had ADHD and montreal would fire a cheap wrister and it would go in? you guys said it was rope a dope hockey but in reality it meant they had a goalie who couldn’t focus when there was no action. it’s… Read more »
Game winner passes
That was so good. Americans never get game winner passes.
Tom Kuhnhackl is single handedly winning this series for Pittsburgh. Reminds me of Zatkoff in the Rangers series.
i heard same doing bad in bracket challenge since he doesnt know hockey and onlyyyyy watches pens games
and NPL doing very good in that challenge
I think it’s weird that you talk about yourself in the third person.
im not getting the bracket challenge joke. Try something else.
not a joke same is not doing good and somehow you are always knew Flordia people know more hockey then montreal people
Ok, i agree.
“Flordia”? Take a left at Narnia or what?
You guys remember when Stan and npl were know good smart people yet they never bring anything to this site and no hockey convo other then try to put people down and reply as you have an opinion
Know good smart people.
Last i check npl said Sheary shot was awesome and ask sam weigh in but no you just call me dumm
sheary is nothing but a 2.0 version of TK just shoots the puck hoping one of them will go in the guy has no vision of hockey looks dumb most of the time and he is always on crosby’s way
Except Sheary has scored more goals than Malkin in the playoffs
dont worry malkin has more penalties then anyone so he is doing good in one department
and earning his 9.5m paycheck
You know who really ARE earning their paychecks? Every american on the team. Literally carrying this roster.
You guys remember when Maloni said they’d never win with this ground? That it was time to rebuild? Then yogurt jumped in echoing the same crap and saying something about “st. bleury” and how they’d miss the playoffs? Ah. Good times. Maloni really is batting 1.000.
I take umbrance with that. How do the donuts look this morning. Better yet how do Malkin’s balls smell?
I’m sure you’d know better than me, you cheeky bastard.
Malkin’s penalty taking streak is over
Do you think the Pens will get ANY help from one of their canadian players? Or are they content just to be passengers and watch America score every goal?
You dumb fuckk if it wasn’t for your Canadian letang 2 beautiful game winner passes
I do believe I specifically said “watch America SCORE every goal.” Is your country just incapable of scoring goals this time of year? i mean, I know pretty much teh entire country was on holiday once the playoffs started. Not one canadian anthem all playoffs!
Your immature bickering back and forth every day has ruined this site. Grow up and enjoy the historic cup run that’s happening right before your eyes. Not many teams fans get to experience this.
I’d say you should maybe look at the site FAQ and see how to use the ignore function. And there are a lot of team’s fans that get to experience this. It happens every fucking year. It’s not like we’re seeing Halley’s Comet, jesus. Calm your tits.
Actually in the past 7 years, only 4 cities have experienced anything like this while the other 26 are miserable like you and thinking about which 18 year old to draft or which 40 year old to overpay this summer.
It’s just a shame because this site has good insider info here and there, but no one wants to scroll to the bottom and just see ‘Ignored’ in the comment section.
There’s good insider info here? Oh man, that’s gold. Where? Where is it at? Maybe you think Maloni is an insider.
as i said behind every american goal there is a canadian making that nice pass
this fall WC will see how good your american boys will do when they wont have Canadians passing them the puck
they will play cheap brand of hockey injuring players then try to score led by dubinsky and callahan
Here is a thought sam… the point of this game is to score more goals than the opposition. If you don’t score you cannot win. The way points are produced and counted players can have unassisted goals but they cannot have assists without goals. Point is the goal scorers in the last 2 games were every bit as big on those plays. They were not gimmie tap ins they were very good shots. You’re argument fails. While Letang made two huge plays to put both Bonino and Sheary in position those two still had work to do to beat that… Read more »
Apparently Crosby cheats Accord to couture. While Crosby led the league with 472 offensive face off wins which still doesn’t matter those little things according to Stan and his fat pig friend npl
#America carrying the load for the Pens. Per usual.
Malkin and Fleury are going to look great in leafs unis next year.
Sheary looks tired. Play Bennett. #zerosense
He did look tired, and he was -6 in 9 games leading up to that seat and was visibly failing that eye test of yours (btw you need to get your eyes looked at). Funny how much better he has been since. You’re such a pathetic ass you can’t even admit that sitting him was the right call. Again, his own coach agrees with that assessment and has been quoted. You fucken dumbass lol
He looked beyond tired – he looked useless.
Im absolutely shocked to learn Logan Couture is Canadian
Whiners and bitcherrs. Not to mention creepy and weird in many cases.
And Kessel Is not weird or creepy
It’s pretty sad when your defense is “okay – i agree – we’re creepy and weird, but SO IS THIS GUY!!”
After 2 games, I think the Caps are better than the Sharks by a landslide. The caps had really good chances and carried the play for long stretches. The Sharks can’t seem to do anything.
Fraud.
You mean Malkin?
I do not. I pretty much mean you and yogurt, who would lambaste fleury for 80% of the goals you makes excuses for Murray on. Pretty much why neither of you two are worth listening to.
Malkin should win the Conn Smythe award . oops i meant Con artist award
This team is really fun to watch.
Blow it up. Won’t make the playoffs.
So though two games,
Penguins US players: 5
San Jose: 3
Mike Johnston will be more successful than Bylsma #SamKnew
What a ride this season has been so far.
Shearyously
America strikes again! Suck it Same!