Penguins/NHL
Penguins take get 3 of 4 points in back-to-back situation
The Penguins ability to bounce back from blowout losses is another reason not to be overly concerned yet with how the Penguins level of play falls off a cliff in the second night of back-to-backs.
For one, there are no back-to-backs in the postseason and as Wednesday’s 3-2 win vs the Oilers showed, when the Penguins have a dialed in focus, more often than not they find a way to get a “W” in tight games, similar to how difficult they have been to beat four out of seven times the last two post-seasons.
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And the Penguins followed up a gritty performance against the Oilers with a nice effort Thursday night against the Flames in a 2-1 overtime loss.
Pittsburgh got to their speed game well and peppered Calgary with 44 shots as Flames netminder Mike Smith turned in a great performance.
Pittsburgh is now 7-2-2 in one-goal games this season.
Wednesday night Pittsburgh rode a great performance from Matt Murray with a 35-save effort and scored twice on the power play with goals from Patric Hornqvist and a game winner in the third from Evgeni Malkin on the man-advantage.
The Penguins got strong goaltending again vs the Flames with Tristan Jarry making his season debut and turning aside 32 shots. Jarry was very calm in goal.
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The Penguins are 8-5-2 at the 15 game mark.
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— What was lacking again vs the Oilers and Flames was 5 vs 5 production as Conor Sheary scored the lone even strength goal vs the Oilers and a Patric Hornqvist deflection goal was Pittsburgh’s only goal vs the Flames as the Penguins have been held to one 5 vs 5 goal or less in seven straight games.
The Penguins are 28th in the NHL with 18 goals during 5 vs 5 play. Toronto is 1st with 36, Columbus 2nd with 33 and Tampa Bay is 3rd with 32 5 vs 5 goals.
— Following the 7-1 loss to the Jets, quite a few headlines going into Wednesday’s game was ‘What is wrong with the Penguins’.
The Penguins roster is not as built as well as it was or could be but they are fine.
If Steven Stamkos stays healthy, Tampa Bay should scare the heck of them in being a major matchup problem, but few others are matchup problems even with the Penguins personnel flaws and the 5 vs 5 scoring concerns.
Long-term the Penguins primary issue with their roster is how they’re built in the bottom-6.
Nick Bonino was not a great third line center and was inconsistent. But the difference between Bonino and what the Penguins are throwing out there right now in Riley Sheahan and Gregg McKegg/or Carter Rowney when healthy is that Bonino could create individual offense and high danger chances for his linemates.
Matt Cullen was the same way in that you basically had two third line caliber centers who could also step up if a Malkin or Crosby hit a slump.
Sheahan is a smart player but lacks ideal speed in a more skilled league than ever and is downright non-existent in providing offense, and other than a few flashes from McKegg in using his speed wide to beat defenders, you’re not going to get much from him either.
If you breakdown the roster, Pittsburgh is lacking at least one more winger with some scoring punch.
The center position in the bottom-6 still needs addressed with more scoring but an argument can be made the Penguins should also have an open mind on adding an impact winger in the top-9 by the deadline.
— The Penguins remain aware that Evgeni Malkin is privately frTo read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
I wonder what stanchion is thinking right now.
** crickets **
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Seen Ragnarok today… go see it! Awesome! Lots of fun… then watch what we do in the shadows as it’s the same director. It was awesome to watch a flick with that much great humour in it even though Sam is a fucken cuntt
Sounds like a lot of crap for duchene.
Nashville fans are lamenting the loss of Girard but I’m getting meh on The Russian prospect. Fuxk Sakic anyway!
That said some more details… Colorado got a bucket load including a whole lot of picks. They may not have done so poorly after all
Duchene traded
3 way deal
This is where we miss shitt stain here. He gets the news 3 hours before it’s published
Well at least you were only 20 minutes behind
https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/1414711-watch-pens-reaves-rocks-hilarious-kessel-thriller-t-shirt
Pedro’s glove hand is back again.
It’s bad, but that was a tip. I don’t think anyone is getting to that one.
Rough night for the Pens but at least GSP is back… in all his 14 year old choir boy on the mic charm lol
That’s made in Quebec class act and beat his fighter. Not arrogant and have a big mouth and choke when time comes
I’m sure he was a fucken cuntt before he started his training in New York and New Mexico… I mean most of what he does he didn’t learn in PQ…. BTW I was curious… is the P in PQ puke?
Suck it State Penn! No National Championship this year! Can’t wait for D’s article. If Sam gets banned tonight this will be a great day!
It’ll be interesting to see how that conference breaks down with OSU getting smoked as well.
Kerry Fraser diagnosed with a rare kind incurable cancer
Sad news. I’m sure we’ve all been pissed at him one time or another, but I can’t remember how many pens games I’ve seen him officiate.
even tho your hockey started since crosby era here is a clip of memory of fraser with pittsburgh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysGiUe9M07E
hey ZeroTool let me know how is alberta and edmonton doing compare to montreal
http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/canadian-economy-added-35-300-jobs-last-month-1.3661963
You literally dont know how to read any of that do you? I mean despite the fact that AB rose 0.28% of population vs Quebec at 0.22% means Alberta is growing faster in this area for one. Now the Oil industry is seeing slow recovery but recovery none the less so that is slowing the rebound of the unemployment rate overall but also means there is a ton of room to grow here too. Bank forecasts have AB as the major hotspot over the next 18 months due to a lot of cash rich businesses… probably why we are anticipated… Read more »
Why respond to him? It’s not like he can retain anything. It’s like teaching rocket science to a 5 year old.
True! Guess it’s nice to remind him how much he doesnt know
On Hagelin, like Kunitz, he does all the little things needed to win games. If someone is hoping he scores 15-18 goals then they are going to be very disappointed. I have no issues with Hagelin and what he brings to the line up. I like Archibald but would take Hagelin and his salary.
Id take Archibald and a capable 3C over Hagelin and his salary. I like Hagelin but $4M to do all the little things except produce points is a little steep for a team up against the cap.
It doesn’t seem like Cap space is limiting factor in adding a 3C. We have to give something to get something.
With the Sheahan acquisition, we’re kind of pressed to the cap now though. It’ll be interesting to see who’s selling. Montreal is a disaster and just lost Price, plus their management is a joke, so pilfering someone from them could be a possibility. I can also see Vegas fadingpretty quickly.
I don’t mind Hags either its just a lot to pay for a 2.5 million dollar checker
It should be interesting to see what they do with Reaves. I like him but he certainly doesn’t fit with what they want to do up front and they don’t have the type of players to have a different 4th line identity.
Pens need more power plays. Reason they have no momentum this year compare to other years they are taking more penalties. Pens always been mediocre 5v5 despite all the talent they have. They depend heavily on power play to win or gain momentum for rest of the game
The Penguins led the league in even strength goals last year you fucken tard and they were 4th in 2016… In fact the ONLY time they were not top 10 in the league in even strength goals for was in 2015 during that abysmal coaching performance by Mike Johnston, the prior year they were still 10th in hockey. Before Johnston they were a top 5 team almost every year under Bylsma. Why do you constantly make shit up? I mean you shit on people for using statistical analysis or reading box scores yet you make this comment which is related… Read more »
How about calling up Sprong, add him to the top six maybe with Sid and “Sharey” (although Hornqvist has been decent early w/ Sid again) then move Kuhnhackl back down to a checking line. Guentzel moves to the 3C with Kessel and maybe Hags then they can throw a combination of Sheahan, McKegg, Archibald, Kuhnhackl and/ Reaves (some nights). At least have a look at that and see what it does to the scoring depth or lack there of currently
i like your suggestion, so it would be as follows right?
Sheary, Crosby, Sprong
Rust, Malkin, Hornquist
Hagelin, Guentzel, Kessell
Kuhnhackl, Sheahan, Archibald
*Reaves in when playing physical teams
something like that… McKegg would also be an option. His speed is a great asset
I’m not a big Sheahan fan. Would love to get Galchenyuk from Montreal. It would have to involve Hagelin to make it work most likely.
Yes pens should get that coke head alcoholic and ruin the locker room good idea zerotool. He has potential and a way superior then Sheahan but with baggage that he comes with I’ll pass but bang wagons here wouldn’t know that since they wanted Kane and ribero once
d wasn’t booted! good to see you are alive, bud