Penguins/NHL
Letang dealing with bad back injury?
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The Pittsburgh Penguins dropped their 4th straight game with a 5-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Chicago torched the Penguins with a four-goal first period en route to the rout.
The underlying numbers showed a more competitive game than the scoreboard. Chicago was just +4, (50-46) in 5v5 shot attempts and Pittsburgh best players drove possession, Sidney Crosby at 59%, Conor Sheary at 56%.
With the Penguins’ loss and the Capitals cruising to another victory tonight against the lowly Avalanche, the Penguins are becoming settled into that 2-3 spot in the Metropolitan Division.
Columbus with a game in hand are two points ahead of the Penguins and a win vs Carolina tomorrow night would have them four points up on the Penguins with both teams having six games remaining.
The Penguins ravished by injuries had some encouraging news the past couple days with Ron Hainsey and Jake Guentzel each participating in today’s morning skate and both are expected to return to the lineup Friday night vs New York.
Head coach Mike Sullivan was also asked after tonight’s game if he expects Kris Letang back for the start of the playoffs and his response was “yes.”
As noted before, the thing on Letang is the Penguins have been optimistic he’d return by the playoffs but there’s questions inside team circles if he’ll be able to play through the injury or if the injury will limit him playing up to the ability he can.
Letang is dealing with what’s been described as a tricky back injury where some days have been brutal for him and some have been good.
It’s an injury the Penguins just have not been able to put a timetable on but have been somewhat pleased at the progress he’s shown the last couple weeks, though, the team internally had been hoping he’d be able to get back to practicing with the club by now.
A source said it’s possible Letang could need surgery this summer but is a last resort and something all parties hope to avoid.
Letang has been sidelined since February 22. [/hide]
“ravaged” not “ravished”
Fleury is DONE. Period
Fleury with a .750 save % in period 1 and .950 save % in periods 2 and 3. He showed a great ability to bounce back after struggling in the 1st. That’s how it works right D?
You know your team is in trouble when a “healthy Ron Hainsey” is good news
I’d rather see him on the ice than Gaunce.
Murray looked like shit again tonight
hey you guys said st.bleury needs more starts and he will save the team. what happened tonight?
It would’ve been good if he had a start right after the game he had a shutout. But it’s clear your coach sully wants Murray in net and when it’s time to protect Murray’s stats he sends in fleury
You probably kept him up all night serial dialing hoping for “one more shot”
#dontevencarerightnow
Here yoda, for your own enjoyment
March 26 vs the Flyers (ranked 20th in the NHL and 21st in the league in goals) the Pens are spanked and Murray finishes with a .844%
March 29 vs the Hawks (Ranked 3rd and 6th highest scoring team in the league) Pens also get spanked and MAF finished with a .861%
Why didn’t you care after the bombing in Philly but suddenly it matters again vs the much better Hawks when the team got a better performance out of the man in net?
Hey D any time line on malkin? Oh forgot no need to ask he is on his annual vacation. It’s that time of the year for him.
On a positive side pens have one less clown to take dumb penalties. If only Cole can take time off too
If Cole was born in my country you would be sending him dick picks. He had a rough night but has been very good for this team.
40 games. You’re smelly French boy toy had missed FORTY games. He took half a season off. Literally. And he stinks.
This shows everyone are concern and want, need letang back asap while no one cares about the Russian
Nice of Letang to live up to his contract.