Penguins/NHL
PENS TAKE A BEATING FROM BLACKHAWKS IN ALL FACETS
Mike Sullivan’s decision to start Marc Andre Fleury Wednesday night kept the Penguins from having the type of disturbing loss the team had against the New Jersey Devils in November.
As Sullivan stated after the game, the Penguins play in the first period was the worst he’s seen since becoming Penguin head coach and you can argue it was the Penguins worst period of the season.
It was a Chicago onslaught, outshooting the Penguins 15-3 in the first period. Chicago would go on to outshoot the Penguins 37-18, including 33-14 in 5 v 5 situations. Facing backup Scott Darling, Pittsburgh had just five high danger scoring chances in the game.
The Blackhawks played a flat game in Pittsburgh Tuesday night and they knew it. They took their game to another level Wednesday night and the Penguins didn’t have a prayer of being able to match them.
The Hawks came at the Penguins with a much more aggressive forecheck than Tuesday night and through the neutral zone the Blackhawks were also more aggressive in their defensemen stepping up. The Penguins struggled mightily getting out of their zone, especially handling pucks along the wall, and gaining the offensive zone was a nightmare for the Penguins. The blame can’t all go on the Pens D for their struggles to exit the d-zone. The forwards were also not doing a good job in finding open lanes on the breakout, a credit to the Blackhawks.
Chicago was a step ahead of the Penguins in almost every area and the Blackhawks overall talent trumped Pittsburgh’s on this night.
Stunningly, though, because of Marc Andre Fleury who was magnificent, on the scoreboard at least the Penguins were in the game until the final minute of the game when Ben Lovejoy, who for some reason was on the ice with the Penguins trailing, tripped over himself at the blueline leading to an empty net goal.
Close score aside this was a beating the Penguins took.
The Penguins are a middle of the pack team that can only be competitive with the few truly elite teams like the Blackhawks, Kings when the stars are having dominant nights and they didn’t Wednesday night.
Malkin, Crosby and Kessel combined for three 5 v 5 shots.
In a game against a very good team where the stars are being neutralized, I still look at this as a situation where the Penguins not having those young legs in the bottom-6 is a big problem. That was a type of game where you need an energy line to go out and have the ability to change momentum for a few shifts.
Mike Sullivan calls it a mindset problem on the Penguins looking tired last night, I see it as a personnel problem.
“For me back-to-backs is a mindset and finding ways to win,” Sullivan said. “Chicago was in same situation tonight.”
DROUIN CHATTER
When Jim Rutherford was General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2013, the Hurricanes had the No. 5 overall pick and Jonathan Drouin was a player To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Jakub Kindl on waivers.
Jan Hejda
Penguins officially getting new jerseys next season
The alternates are going full time. Similar white one will be road jersey. Mainly yellow will be alternate.
Really are they finally sold and relocating it from the bandwagon franchise?
i saw the pens made 2 recalls from WBS. i don’t belong to DK’s site. who are they going to scratch, and are they up for new blood or because of injuries?
Rust and kuhnackle (sp) for wilson and sheary
Thanks Eklund!
Canadiens Interested in Perron and The Duck in reaquiring Bonino Thats all for now
Habs been after Perron since the blues days then wanted him again when he was with oilers. Habs now shopping for Eller
Perron is another frog bitch that would fit in well in Montreal.
Hope they trade pacioretty that fraud player that keeps fuckingg up every line he is in just like kessel what you expect Americans are For screwing everything they are involved in just like the world making a mess with wars that they have no business to be in
Has he not been the Canadiens best player for like the last 3 years?
So we can now eliminate Perron to the Canadiens and Bonino to the Ducks. Thanks King.
What if gmjr traded bonino for despres that would be hilarious. Wonder what it would take to get fowler.
Thanks King!
Pens in trade talks with both Columbus and Calgary
Please fuk off.
For who
Jj? Rychel? Jenner?
E4
Always appreciate your info.
Anybody else going to the game in Cincinnati tomorrow?
I like the possibility of Feliz becoming a good reliever with the Pirates, but damn they probably could’ve gotten him for half that. I like that they’re stocking hard-throwing, low risk relievers since they have a good history with them, but they still need a quality starter.
Not sure about that. He had an encouraging second half last year. Not so much results but indication that he could be near full health after Tommy John surgery. Since the injury his fastball velocity has been hovering around 93 mph, but in the second half of last season he saw a spike in velocity that was in line with his pre-injury norm, nearing 96 mph. That alone probably attracted a lot of teams, thinking hes one or two tweaks from dominance. My only fear is this indicates a future Melancon deal. Hoping not because with him, this bullpen has… Read more »
That’s a lot of a ‘ifs.’
Is it though? Realistically the only absolute need is another quality starting pitcher. I’m sure most teams wish they could realistically think they are one player away from a lineup without glaring holes. The bench player (left-handed hitter) and lefty RP are my own preferences. Injuries happen and depth is a nice luxury to have in a 162 game season. And Im partial to having a LOOGY-type player in the pen, although the Pirates do not necessarily care as they state their preference for a pitcher who can get batters out from both sides to not limit their options. I… Read more »
Their dumpster diving efforts have surely made them a complete team.
It was actually a recycling bin.
Nice post Jaydogg!
You lack original thought.
An ERA over 6 is surely something to get excited about.
Thats actually not a good ERA, but im not surprised you didn’t know that. But I am excited about the Pirates adding a player in his mid 20s with a live arm and a career ERA of 2.53 before entering the 2015 season. Since the lower the ERA, the better, thats actually a really good ERA. #TheMoreYouKnow
Tell that to the people that screamed about Volquez and Happ
I’m indifferent on Melancon. Don’t want to see him go but would do it for a good return
Pens talking to CBJ about Jack Johnson. Johnson good friends with Crosby….
Pens talking to toronto city about that famous hot dog cart owner. HTC owner are good friends with Kessel…
This has never been funny. What else ya got?
Honestly – it’s not even witty. I don’t know what he’s going for.
kessel sucks. after half a season it’s obvious why they hated him in toronto. he will never take a hit to make a play. he is a big pu$$y.
You keep spewing that like you know what you’re talking about, but you don’t. His play surely hasn’t caused him to avoid prime chances. The problem with Kessel is that he’s had an uncanny ability to not finish the prime chances he has had, which have been voluminous. You pay him to finish those. Why he hasn’t been? I’m sure I don’t know. But that’s the problem. Not some conjured up bullshit about him “not going to the hard areas.” If he wasn’t, then we wouldn’t have these grandiose munsons Jordan Staal-style.
Exactly, if he was shooting the way he was in TO he would probably be leading the team in goals. Despite some uncharacteristic play he hasnt been as bad as some say. He just isnt finishing, with the rate they are shooting now I am sure we will see a few slumps ending here as we move on in the new year
Amazing how he’s so terrified yet keeps getting prime chances to blow.
i saw at least 4 times this week where kessel pulled up to avoid getting hit. he is also terrified in the corners. that dude loses every puck battle. he can skate and shoot and that is it. he may be the worst player in the NHL when the puck is not on his stick. i totally understand why they ran him out of town in toronto. and believe me, the toronto fans know more about hockey than pens fans so by me agreeing with those in toronto, it proves i know what i’m talking about. you get your info… Read more »
Brain surgeons have said yours is abnormally small. They know more about brains than you do so by me agreeing with those brain surgeons, it proves I know what I’m talking about.
Are you kidding me we have better fans in Pittsburgh just look at gaydogg then you have stan and npl can’t get better fans
And I told you clowns kessel is only good with the puck he Flys when he doesn’t have the puck he is the last one and slowest to come. Back and help. In Toronto at least he used to carry the puck in Pittsburgh sid,geno and letang does that so no need for kessel in that department. He is only good on making offside plays
kessel leads the NHL in offsides
LOL… so your confirmation bias is swinging from the nuts of some of the most biased fans in hockey?
there is no bias in it. kessel sucks.
You have no idea what you see, so immediately your post is written off.
That’s why he is never injured lol I told you droolers this will be a bust yet I was called a racist
E5
Surprised GMJR hasnt pulled the trigger on the Bennett for Drouin deal. He must be holding out for Shea Weber.
Murray, Sprong and their next five 1st round picks should get it done.
Sam thinks Pens can do Bennett for Weber straight up, so id prefer that deal.
That chubby kessel must be traded. Have you clowns noticed yet he can’t receive a proper pass. And half the time when he is on the ice the line gets offside. Now where are the droolers.
Sitting on the short bus next to you I presume.
Replace him with MSL NOW!
Was it Sam who said St. Louis was faster than Phil Kessel? That was another classic.
Yes – faster – better fit, etc. The MSL retired a day later. And for Sam’s next trick….
I’ve played hockey a long time, not familiar with what a “High danger scoring chance” is.
I could be wrong here but I think it is an old, old wooden ship used in the Civil War era.
Kessel and Pouliot for Drouin and a D man.
has rutherford made any good moves yet? perron for a 1st was a fail. the kessel deal was a fail. getting lovejoy and cole was a fail.
Apparently Hartnell might get traded .
Panthers and Senators have interest in Hartnell.
Beyond draft pedigree, I don’t know that Drouin has actually shown that he merits the price tag (6 goals in 89 NHL games). He’s 20 and I’m not writing him off, but I wouldn’t break the bank on a deal right now either. The Pens seem to already have their quota of talented forwards who can’t put the puck in the net.
Pens have Bennett porcelain boy.
He spends more time with the Doctors than his teammates
About on par with your french tool Letang.
This bloody old man is going to make another foolish deal when its all said and done. I hope to C that he is gone by summer, before we get pillaged on one of our bigger trade chips.
trade Bennett ,kessel ,sprong and Gayjoy for Drouin and Hedman
Not that I’d do it, but do you think a deal of Pittsburgh sending Hornqvist and DP and taking Drouin and Carle’s contract could possibly do it? I mean I’m sure it’s not better than an offer with Bennett or Horvat from the west but it’s still not a bad deal for Tampa…
D… Invisible vs the Hawks when the guys dominated them in all facets except finishing but has a lot to say on the stinker that they laid out last night. Keep up the excellent work lol
my god mario better sell quick. the old man is going to trade murray and sprong and the pens are still going to miss the playoffs.