Pittsburgh Penguins
MONDAY BUZZ COLUMN
I checked with the Penguins and they insist that they will show up for the rest of the season.
The question, of course, is will they be showing up for the playoffs now that Evgeni Malkin is out at least until April?
Lots of people who follow and/or cover the Penguins wrote them off about 30 seconds after hearing the news about Malkin’s upper body injury and that’s somewhat understandable.
It’s understandable because the perception of the Penguins – with Malkin – has been that they are a borderline playoff team and not a serious contender for the Stanley Cup.
Funny, there aren’t too many people saying the same thing about the Chicago Blackhawks.
Since December 21st, after adjusting to their new coach Mike Sullivan, the Penguins are 21-15. The Blackhawks, over that same period, are 21-13.
And the Penguins just picked up four points on the road in Columbus, against a Blue Jackets team that had won 11 of its last 18 and by blowing out the Rangers in Madison Square Garden.
Who’s going to have to fill the void left by Malkin?
How about everybody?
As I’ve mentioned here before, there is nothing that is more of a factor when it comes to making a deep playoff run than health.
Over the past several years, the teams that have lost the fewest players to injuries have made the deepest runs. No team has had fewer major injuries than the Blackhawks.
Sidney Crosby’s job is a lot tougher. He’s going to get even more attention from opponents’ top defensive line.
Crosby is producing like the best player in the league again with 23 goals and 27 assists in his last 37 games. That’s a 50-goal season pace and nobody in the league has more points since Mike Sullivan showed up to coach him.
The consensus seems to be that Phil Kessel is the guy who has to make up for Malkin’s absence, but it’s a little unrealistic to expect his goal production to be better without Malkin centering his line.
The Penguins aren’t going to make a long playoff run without Malkin but it’s not unrealistic or unfair to expect them to play well enough without him to hold off teams like the Flyers and Devils.
And when you have two of the best centers, one of the best defenseman and one of the best goalies in the league on your roster, it’s not crazy to think that you can make a serious run at the Cup.
If, of course, they stay healthy.
And the Penguins won’t be the last playoff team to lose a star player between now and June.
Martavis Bryant/NFL Stupidity
-I’m having a little trouble buying Martavis Bryant’s depression defense. His agent, Brian Fettner, who didn’t know about Bryant’s possible season long suspension until reporters started calling him Saturday morning, told USA Today, “We’re all stunned. Me included. His isn’t a party issue. It’s a coping issue and a depression issue and he’s got to take care of it.”
Maybe it is a depression issue, but if the league buys that defense, why wouldn’t every player who fails a drug test make the same claim? (Bryant today accepted his suspension and will not appeal)
It’s just more proof of the stupidity of the NFL’s stance on marijuana use.
Why should the Steelers have anything to say about how Bryant copes with depression, boredom or anything else?
It’s March. He doesn’t have to catch a pass for at least six more weeks in mini-camp.
The suspension and the loss of income is likely to make him even more depressed.
If Bryant comes to work stoned, and it affects his ability to do his job, that’s a totally different story.
Otherwise, if Bryant wants to go skiing in Colorado, where weed is legal, and get Rocky Mountain High every night, the Steelers and the NFL should have nothing to say about it.
By the way, do you think there might be a coach or front office person or two who smokes weed every once in a while?
PITT, SYRACUSE MAKING TOURNAMENT IS A TOURNAMENT WITH TOO MANY TEAMS
[hide]-Any basketball tournament that invites Pitt and Syracuse to play in it has invited too many teams.
-And how long before it sinks in that the teams being invited to the NCAA Basketball tournament to be 15 and 16 seeds don’t belong there?
Their combined record since the 64 team format was introduced in 1985 is 7-241. Sixteen-seeds are 0-124.[/hide]
Prediction time: The Pens will lose a close, emotional game today because A: Win one Lose one lol and B because the Islanders tend to give us fits with Malkin in the line up… thats not necessarily the prediction I want to focus on. The actual prediction is after the close loss yodumbass will end up showing up telling everyone how it was MAFs fault we lost and reassuring us that his “we will miss the post season call” is still intact. I will go one step further… after the team wins the following game he will curl up into… Read more »
Well, Pens win… No yoda for some time
I’m not sure I understand this notion that the Pens realistically have a chance of being anything other than 1 of the 2 wild card teams baring a collapse from either NYR or NYI, with everyone having 12-15 games remaining their just isn’t enough time in the era of forced parity. Assuming both NYR/NYI play .500 hockey the rest of the way the Pens would need 18 of the 28 possible remaining points just to have a shot. One of those teams collapsing could happen but I’m not sure I would be banking on it, the Isle have been 1… Read more »
I don’t think they will end up a top 2 or 3, but with all the divisional games coming up, I could see them finishing ahead of the Rangers or Islanders. Finishing a 7 or 8 is more realistic, but I just wouldn’t write them off getting one of those 3 automatic bids.
How about a “what we learned” article on the Blackhawks? BIG winners at the trade deadline, one of the healthiest teams all year, and everybody’s favorite to win again….oh, they just got slammed by the Kings? Have lost 4 out of their last 5? 3rd place in their division? Nah, only Pittsburgh has problems.
Kings are the big treat for the Hawks in the playoffs. Hawks were super happy last year when kings didn’t make the playoffs
I think pens should avoid almost every 7 eastern team in playoffs Just get a free pass and go finals without playing. Oh wait pens also needs to avoid blues, kings,hawks,ducks in finals in order to win the cup. Just get another free pass and there you go my delusional bandwagon fans your shitsburgh penguins have won the cup again
Almost every 7!
That’s a Simply Dustin post if I’ve ever seen one! Using 4-5 games to sum up the whole season.
yeah hawks been struggling since their 12 game winning steak. they have played 21 games and are 9-10-2 and kane has 1 goal in last 5 games with a minus 5 .I guess they should fire Coach Q to make clowns like Dusty happy
remember dusty ducks never fired Boudreau and look at them now
The team’s play has been very encouraging, but it’s a matter of if they can put together a nice streak going into the playoffs. Every spot outside of the top one in the EC is up for grabs. If they are going to make any type of run, especially without Malkin, they need to finish strong and draw a favorable first round matchup. Are any of the team in the EC really all that impressive outside of Washington? For all the bashing the Pens get (not saying it isn’t warranted), they aren’t in a horrible spot. 6 points out of… Read more »
https://media.giphy.com/media/QZNkaNfTJS1eo/giphy.gif
Jesus dude, way to jinx it
What is a favorable matchup in your mind? A month ago, I would have said no against the Rangers, but we’ve handed it to them 2 games in a row now. The islanders with Thomas Greiss? Please, if we can’t beat him 4/7, we should ship the team to OKC. I guess the 3 worst to play would be 1.) Wash 2.) Bos 3.) Tampa. Other than that, in my mind, we’ll win the 1st round. We only have to beat 3 of the 8, don’t look at it like we have to run the gauntlet and beat all 7,… Read more »
Thats kind of what I was saying. Even Tampa is beatable. They arent the team they were last year. Even with all of this, the Pens haven’t proven much this year either, but I do feel like the team is trending up outside of the loss of Malkin. Here’s to hoping…
Looks like isles will take it over here with a win over the Panthers. Early celebration Tbj most probably you were one of those clowns that were also celebrating pens Stanley Cup for 2016 when they got kessel. This past summer
Sam knows all about pre-maturing a situation from when his old middle school P.E. coach used to diddle him in the locker room closet…
Take over what?
I’d love to see one person that claimed “stanley cup” after they got Kessel. One.
Yeah your right there was no one here with the Stanley Cup parade
Yes. I know. That was my point. Stanley Cup! Everyone was saying that! You’re a moron.
Remember when you were one of those CLOWNS that was praising Therrien and Bob Hartley at the beginning of the season? Telling everyone THAT’S what a coach is supposed to be?
Remember when you were on if those clowns that praised kessel to score 50 go this season and carry the team to another level when needed to score goals. Well only thing your chubby is Carrying is his belly from one arena to another
I like when you bring this up – because I was generally on the “they don’t have the assets to get him” train. Not “he’ll score 50 goals.” But you were too busy telling us how a retired Marty St. Louis was the answer. True to form. So, I’m not sure how you want to call anyone else out on anything when you were figuratively blowing St. Louis, Hartley and Therrien. Great predictions from you. CLOWN.
I am sure St.louis wouldve been more help to this team than Kessel
can play PP PK a good 5v5 and wouldve costed team less than chubby
and is voacal and leader in the locker room unlike Mr.Potato
No – he woulnd’t have – because he doesn’t play anymore – he has literally 20 less goals than Kessel. And not to mention, he was barely an NHL player even before he retired. So it’s literally impossible for him to have been more of an asset this year than “chubby,” which also happens to be your nickname.
lol where did I show any excitement over that game at all? And more importantly, why is “This past summer” written as a complete sentence?
No Weddle. Thank God.
here is some stats for my little bandwagnon Stan
http://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendance/att_graph.php?tmi=7475
this shows Mario and sid Carried this Franchise on their back the years that there is no mario or crrsby attendence dropped or wasnt high before they arrived
.its okay pens should still trade Crosby according to Stan
habs dontt need major superstars to play in the team to have sold out arenas
Paid attendance! What dynamite analysis!
Crrsby
is…………is this a positive article about the penguins?????
yes
D didn’t write it.
NPL did
All this talk about weed makes me want to go hit a joint.
http://www.pensinitiative.com/2016/03/biggest-pens-villain-bettman-bracket_14.html
WTF is this
well said on Bryant. He’s an idiot for doing it, but its non of the leagues business.
I am sure malkin by now is packing his stuff to go to Russian since by april this team wlll be out its no use for him to hang around this team .he needs to be ready for his new team
I hope they don’t trade him to Montreal – nobody will be there to see him!
Russians cant play in montreal Pressure
Well, there’s no pressure now – nobody even goes to the games. Not to mention, when the pressure was on, this russian took home a Conn Smythe. I’m sure he’d be fine. Other than the fact that it’d be wasted on an audience more interested in poutine and surrendering than watching him shine.
they all play good up until they get the big contract Galchenyuk will be the same once he gets the big Bucks he will put him self in Vacation mode remember he has russian /american blood mix of Malkin and Kessel
Unlike that frog blood where you just run around waving a white flag and begging for mercy.
better waiving a white flag and begging for mercy than
choking on a hot dog and beg for mercey
You’re seriously awful at this. Like, awful awful.
Yep, Russians like Markov sure can’t handle Montreal.
What’s the point of any of your statements????
To give us someone to feel superior too.
Even with malkin in the lineup this team still has no chance to go far in the playoffs malkins injury is just an excuse to calm the average bandwagon down .
Not the above average bandwagon (Montreal)
https://twitter.com/DGelevan/status/695037973092499457/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
stop shouting, john.
thank you, that is much easier on the eyes.
Big, bold print.