Penguins/NHL
Through 12 games, the Pittsburgh Penguins most complete game this season was a 3-0 win vs the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct 18. that jumpstarted a 4-0 Canadian road trip.
The Leafs, though, would turn the tables on the Penguins Saturday night with a 5-0 shutout win at PPG Paints Arena in putting together a masterpiece of a performance themselves.
The Penguins who have now lost three straight, were out-worked and out-skated in all three zones of the ice.
Where Toronto was exceptional vs the Penguins was with their closing speed defensively whether it was 5-on-5 or defending the Penguins power play. They suffocated the Penguins with great back pressure/gap control that played a part in the Penguins looking so listless.
Pittsburgh’s zone entries were a mess, even on the man-advantage.
Just one of those nights?
The Penguins can go ahead and say that if they want, it was just the 12th game of an 82 game regular season, but this was the type of game where the Leafs even minus Austin Matthews (shoulder injury) and William Nylander (holdout) saw their big guns outplay Pittsburgh’s and the Penguins just had no answer.
What stood out again is how bland the Penguins bottom-6 is right now in the type of situation the Penguins were in Saturday night where the top-2 lines and or the power play is held in check.
That’s why the Penguins will be in for a rude awakening long-term this season if some decision makers in the organization keep trying to talk themselves into that a Riley Sheahan-Matt Cullen duo is a good enough third line/fourth line center combination that allows Derick Brassard to play the wing or open the door to eventually move Brassard for a right handed defenseman or winger.
MORE BUZZ
Is Penguins GM Jim Rutherford looking to go back to the past again as he did in the summer by bringing Matt Cullen back?
Lot’s of trade are months into the making, here’s one not to rule out……
To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
— Jeff Skinner a top trade target of the Penguins over the summer prior to the draft, has 9 goals, 16 points through 14 games………Pittsburgh will be keeping tabs on how Conor Sheary’s season goes in Buffalo but obviously not for trade purposes. If Sheary scores 20 goals or 40 points, the 2019 4th-round pick received in the Sheary/Matt Hunwick trade becomes a 2019 third round pick.
— Jim Rutherford is always keeping tabs on the forward market and this year is no different. There’s already whispers Pittsburgh has To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Scum sully fired yet?
They are so stupid this media this new era
Video circulating about sens players making fun of their power play coach. Big deal. Like no one ever talked bad about their work coaches or bosses.
Bunch of liberal scums
“I havent paid attention in weeks” – Ya… it’s all the “liberals” fault. Moron. Ya the guys complained about work but they did so publicly and that is why it’s an issue. The driver is a cuntt for learning who they were and dropping the dime but if you want to go out in public and air your grievances to members of the public then this is the risk you take. I sympathize with the team for where they are at and how bad they are; I get that playing for a shitty coach would also suck but the attitude… Read more »
Cullen looks really old.
He shouldve just retired after winning the cup with the pens.
Blackhawks fired Quenneville. Someone else will be fired soon to hire him.
I hear LA may be looking hard at this
It was obvious after they fired assistant coach his best friend coach Q didn’t wanna be there anymore
News update apparently npl and the democrats lost the mid term election.
Tomorrow pens excuse Murray concussion. I think scum sully uses that so he doesn’t get exposed as a clown and get fired
You used that joke yesterday.
Who starts on Wednesday?
Murray hasn’t shown that he can make a save as of late despite the teams garbage play. Give the net to Smith until he blows a game. If Murray needs to worry his jobs on the line to find that big save ability then threaten the job.
Murray suckss desmith is even worst Murray have no worry
This is like fleury and BJ as his back up
Let’s forget how many pens need in order to win for fraud Murray. We all know it’s 4-5 minimum. Now the new thing is. How many times will he get pulled this year
Time to shoot a hostage. This team needs volunteers not hostages.
Apparently ahl team habs beat islanders in a comeback. Same team that beat pens back to back
at least the pens have cool mustaches!
Did you miss fleury yet
pens need more NPC’s. more simon’s and shaehan’s would be awesome. they play the game the right way and believe in the system.
Ugh…. This game is like reading one of Sam’s post…. fucking terrible.
I think the Penguins PR team is lying about the consecutive sellout streak.
I had to give away my tickets twice this season couldn’t sell below cost.
Ha you just noticed and realized that clown.
I know npl is busy with the elections. But zerotool you can answer for him how many do pens need for Murray tonight
If MAF was still a Penguin do you believe the Pens win games like this?
Maybe, maybe not but at least fleury can steal games. Unlike this bum
So if MAF was in would they have won this game?
MAF was great in the regular season and then always went to shit mid playoffs. You could set your watch to it. It is amazing how people for get that.
Well last year he took team to the finals and not one game or 2 but stole few series on his own
He lost when it mattered… period. The whole reason the decision was made the way it was is due to that exact fact.
Money and the draft was a major factor. If it was not for that expansion draft they would have had more time to evaluate the situation. You can’t keep everyone in the salary cap era. Seeing a team go back to back in going to be a rare event in years to come.
The draft wasnt really a factor as it was the sole reason it happened… had there been no draft MAF likely doesnt go. The factors that made the team choose Murray over MAF was the money, the age and the recent performances in the playoffs of Murray vs the historical issues MAF had shown.
MAF also had struggles at times during games where the team played spotty defence like they have been. Sam has bitched ad nauseum about the Bylsma system that made those games look the way they did. Lots of high danger and odd man opportunities. As of right now however the difference is MAF had more big save ability than Murray is showing he is capable of… at least at home. MAF would bend enough but keep the team alive when it mattered, Murray is simply not capable of making the save MAF was. I was really hoping that with the… Read more »
Mother fuckerr costing my hockey pool
Now the loss isn’t so bad.
Once again Murray doing everything be can to sabotage my hockey pool .
Thank god I have fleury as well in my pool saved me a victory this week with his shutout
Penguins should have signed that Dea guy.
Only in Pittsburgh were drool over ex- members. Soon Mario and jagr will join pens you droolers
Can’t believe bones name is mentioned here today I tough he retired that bum
Thanks Captain English.
Good point Bonino is gone and should be forgotten…he had his good run here thats over.
Mats Zuccarello is a really good player top 6 forward and finisher and the Rangers leading scorer.
Mats Zuccarello & defenceman Adam McQuaid to Pittsburgh
Riley Sheahan Olli Matta Daniel Sprong to New York Rangers…
Oleksiak unblocks!
So… Sam… are you gonna say anything about the penalty that ended a 2on1?
He is watching the Montreal game.
I heard npl and the democrats will lose mid term elections tomorrow
Fun fact, Sheary has more goals than anyone in a Penguins jersey not named Crosby, Malkin or Kessel… good call sammich
For $3 million a year Buffalo can keep him. I was so happy when he got tradded until GMJR wasted that money on JJ. I rather they saved the money and did nothing.
I’m not saying anything other than pointing out that the guys pacing for 20… without Crosby… while we are complaining about depth scoring
Fun fact sheary started on first line and now is on 3rd line getting schooled by an old player called pominville also sheary is at – 8 this year so far.
5 goals asshole, this team is having depth issues
And what do the Pens plan on trading for Zuccarello? He will be a rental. This will have to be addition through subtraction from the NHL roster and the Rangers will probably want draft picks. The Pens traded most of those away over the years.
Thanks to shero
GMJR has done the same… team has won! It was worth it
I agree that it was worth it, my point is they better start saving 1st round picks when they get them. This Crosby / Malkin ride only has a few years left.
If we are trying to win a cup now in the last few season of Malkin and Crosby’s prime you do whats necessary…The Rangers want younger players… Olli Matta 24, is younger fits there system, Riley Sheahan younger be a good fit 3rd line in new York and give them over rated Daniel Sprong!. Zuccarello Adam McQuaid to Pitssburgh Sprong Matta Sheahan to New York Yes Zuccarello is a UFAand makes $4.5! He could easily be resigned if he does what he always does play well and score. Brassard’s $3 million will be off the books, Matta’s $4 million will… Read more »
Bones at 5 million who has clearly been impacted by injury? Why? So they can try him on the wing in the top six? This team has a single line producing. While the staff plays with the spots on the other three lines which include taking the most talented C that is supposed to be playing in the depth role out of the bottom six and forcing him onto the wing its as much a matter of not using the tools we have to create depth and trying to showhorn them into a 2 line scenario. If they want to… Read more »
The league has changed and pens not. The only reason they win is because of their pure talent but way of playing star players are depending on their pp to get through victories.
Trade chubby and malkin to Colorado
Get barrie and Nathan. And sign nylander or another player with money remaining
Bet Colorado is chomping at the bit to move their MVP caliber C who just broke out for a 10 year older player…
inb4 “thats why me want nathan years ago” ignoring the fact that your buddy “Nathan” only broke out last year and the Pens won back to back cups largely in part due to having the two you are so eager to move. As I have said in the past, the team comes first, I am not opposed to trading virtually anyone on the roster but it needs to make sense and improve the team now. Nothing you propose ever make sense period!
While they are at it trade Crosby to Edmonton for McDavid too.
murray’s save percentage at home, .809. murray’s save percentage on the road, .946. clearly the man is not focused when he plays in pittsburgh. he is too busy making non stop love to his girlfriend who is way to hot. when he is in town and can’t focus on hockey because she is walking around the house in lingerie and it’s guaranteed. the thing is, i’m not kidding.
Hey Yoda do you miss fleury or you are happy with fraud Murray
Yes, its him getting his dick sucked that is causing him to have rough home outings. it is also getting his dick sucked that leads to our blueline giving up grade A chances at every fucken pass at home too right?
Not everyone is a juvenile when it comes to a women touching their penis. Maybe you lack the maturity to not get carried away when a woman smiles in your direction but to argue that Murray is struggling at home “becuz pu$$y” is just another classic moron post from you.
coach sullivan loves his bottom 6. they are his NPC’s. they sit around all day and study his “system” and how to “play the right way”. he then falls in love with them and always has to stick one of them on crosby’s wing. sorry, simon is an NPC. also, why is it written in stone that crosby is NEVER under any circumstances permitted to skate with kessel or hagelin? i though crosby loves and needs speed on his line, so therefore malkin gets the two fastest wingers. when things are going bad, why has crosby and malkin ever been… Read more »
They’ve tried that for extended periods and it didn’t work. I wouldn’t be opposed to making a deal for a 30+ goal scorer to play with Sid though, depending on the deal.
The top 9 wingers are the issue????
How about go get a quality veteran backup goalie to push Murray some?
How about let these guys play for a few months before you throw an offseason plan down the shitter?
Yep, our back up goaltender, with a 2.2 gaa and .933 SV% is definitely what we should be looking to replace with our assets. Forget the fact that we only have a handful of guys who can score and a defense that bleeds high quality chances, I want a guy that will scarcely play at a position where we already have a guy playing exceedingly well.
There’s a rampant thought in the organization that Murray’s decline in play is due to him not being pushed by a Fleury anymore. So yes, fixing Murray should be priority #1.
What current top 9 winger sits to be replaced with a new asset?
So he isnt being pushed by .933? I mean yes MAF is clearly better than DeSmith as DeSmith isnt going to do that over 60 games however he can still come in and get more playing time doing that. Which is exactly what this staff should be doing. Murray has been far better on the road then at home, as has the team all around, but give DeSmith some unscheduled starts at home and see if that doesnt light a fire under both the team and Murrays ass in Pittsburgh.
Whoever our LW is on the third line. I’m also not sold on Simon yet, but I guess we’ll see. I also wouldn’t be opposed to making a splash move for someone to play with Sid. High end wingers seem to come at a discount at the trade deadline.
I don’t think Bones and his horrible contract is fhe answer unless you can get Nashville to take JJ.
Yeah, don’t want any part of Bonino. I’ll always be a fan for his time here, but I feel that we milked that cow dry. Zuc would be an awesome. Kind of hard to tell who would be on the market this year with it being so early, but thatrumor would at least make sense with the rangers already sellers and us needing a LW.