Pittsburgh PenguinsPENGUINS – BLUE JACKETS FALLOUT
Prior to the season, the Columbus Blue Jackets projected to be a matchup problem for the Penguins due to their size and the tenacity they play with down low in the offensive zone.
That all played out in the first meeting of the season Friday night, a Blue Jackets 2-1 win.
5 v 5 this was a playoff style type game where the Penguins were out-played, out-worked and even bullied at times.
The inconsistent play at 5 v 5 as a group is going to continue to be a problem for the Penguins moving forward with this personnel. As stated before, these long stretches in periods where the opposition has the ice titled in their favor continues to happen at least once or twice every game.
Pittsburgh had 23 shot attempts through two periods vs the Blue Jackets, while Wednesday night the Penguins had 26 shot attempts through two periods vs the Canadiens.
The Sidney Crosby line was a mess for much of the night vs Columbus.
Crosby who has no even strength goals this season, had zero 5 v 5 shots in the game. Beau Bennett had just one 5 v 5 shot in the first period, Pascal Dupuis had zero shots in the game.
Crosby after forty minutes of play was on the ice for 6 shot attempts and 17 against at even strength. That was with John Tortorella not being shy about putting the Blue Jackets third and fourth lines up against the Crosby unit.
The struggles of the line prompted Bennett to be demoted to the 4th line in the third period as Eric Fehr took some shifts in the final period with Crosby and Dupuis.
Bennett was the fall guy for the Crosby line struggles through two periods but despite Pascal Dupuis scoring Wednesday night, he’s been largely ineffective at even strength. With Patric Hornqvist’s game trending up, only a matter of time before he’s back on Crosby wing.
Dupuis – Crosby – Hornqvist shouldn’t be the next line option, it should be Bennett with Crosby and Hornqvist, go with a third line of Kunitz – Bonino – Dupuis.
POWER PLAY WOES
Marc Andre Fleury once again gave the Penguins a chance to steal one but an 0-6 night on the power play failed the Penguins.
The Penguins power play was as deflating as it was in providing momentum. In over 10 minutes of power play time, Penguins had 5 power play shots. The Blue Jackets on the penalty kill nearly outshot the Penguins with 4 shots.
At the forefront of the Penguins issues again were zone entries. Kris Letang continues to show he’s not an adequate power play point man and taking him off the top unit would be a great opportunity to start limiting his workload, but what’s obvious doesn’t always play out.
The Penguins are also still struggling to use Phil Kessel the right way on the man-advantage. Kessel is being used like he’s To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Great play Mike Mitchell
Wrong thread. We get it, Mitchell sucks.
Trade malkin to Nash for a package including Jones and josi
Better yet trade Crosby to Nashville for Jones, Forsberg and a round pick.
jay thinks the pens are contenders! hahahahahahahahaha!
The truest sign of dimished intelligence right here, can’t come up with a valid point to make so create something that isn’t true to shift focus away from the fact that you have no clue what you are talking about.
Wow. The only thing worse than watching the Pens is listening to the fans give their analysis of the team. Out of 49 comments I saw 3 or 4 that had actual intelligent thought behind them, in all fairness the thread has been overrun by Sam, Yoda and Dustin so it’s hard to expect much intelligence in that group but this sight is becoming more unbearable than the product on the ice.
Then don’t read. Go write your long posts and jerk off to them by yourself if that’s all you care about. There’s plenty of other Pens sites out there, but a loser like you can’t tear yourself away from this site.
I’ve tried but unfortunately most of those sites are populated with posters barely more intelligent than those on here.
Jay, how was my analysis?
Not quite up to your usual standards but don’t worry, you could beat yourself over the head with a sledgehammer and your very next post would still have twice the intelligence of anything Sam, Yoda or Dustin posts.
Ha! Jay I love your brutal honesty. I got sucked into the vortex last night. That and 2 nights of the Pens shi@SID9701@ing the bed. Don’t give up on me
how is it unintelligent to suggest that the pens are screwed because they have the core all locked up until they are 35? do you really think it’s going to get better in penguin land?
The unintelligence comes from the poster not the content, some of what you say could be considered intelligent if it was conveyed in a more intelligent manor by someone who actually understood the game of hockey.
Can pens scratch lovejoy. How bad did he look on stempniak goal when Cammy passed him
Can they sit Letang? Having him sit in the owner’s box is better than his hot-headed French Canadian dumbness sitting in the penalty box 4-5 times a game.
I’m not panicking. I know they suck in November and they will suck in April.
Its November. Lets panic
There’s a TON of good football on today and you guys all watched them play against jersey?? Don’t waste your breath, let the stars continue to tank it and force MJ out of here. After a new coach is named, then begin to evaluate the team.
You clearly missed Malkin’s post game comments where he basically said the system is at fault for the lack of offense, it’s them not playing properly within the system and a lack of effort that is causing the lack of offense. It was kinda refreshing to hear one of the stars call it how it is and actually take responsibility for the struggles, maybe the fraud wearing the “C” will step up next and follow suit.
I did miss it. I was watching football as I said in the above post. Their actions speak louder than their words ace. We’ll have a new coach by January and at the latest at that point, I’ll be able to watch again.
Closed door meetings are one thing, going public is another… I just hope they care enough. That said if MJ cant adjust his approach he will be done by December. JR voiced concern and now the player? For a guy who a lot still think is in over his head at this level he is kind of running on E right now and it’s too bad as I dont hate the guy but clearly his approach isnt working
The Pens have a scheduled day off on Sunday, go f’ing figure!
Man I only this team was a Canadian team. The fans would’ve riot these heartless stars houses. That’s what happens when you have a museum based fan base the players become careless.
It’s called civility you French tool bag.
Please remind me the last time a Canadian team did… Anything truly noteworthy you stupid fuck
the pens are so screwed. letang, malkin, and crosby are so bad. nobody in the world would take those bums contracts. the pens are stuck for 7 more seasons. this is only the beginning of the misery. how long before there are 12k down at the arena? the $20 student rush will be back in full force in no time!
Bernie Sanders 2016
sidney crosby 2022!
Yoda is right pens should trade Fleury at least he can win a cup with another team that has more heart. Since he is the only consistent player last 2 years
So should they have traded the whole team years ago when Fleury couldn’t stop a beach ball? Once again, can you please construct a proper sentence?
What’s worse….our Power play or Jay’s post game analysis?
What’s worse npl at a hot dog contest or npl dating Micheal Sam
jay caufield or jaydogg?
Caulfield.
General Lee has more goals that Sid. Sid now a -8. That’s ok he will light it up when the World Cup starts in September.
that’s true. plus he’ll do better in 2022. i’m glad they are all locked up until then!
Trade Fleury guys
Glad the pens are doing their share to clean up hockey. No fighting is working so well.
Unwatchable
Only thing that would make this worse if I was at the Consol paying for this crap.
that’s why i was sure to sell my 10 games before trhe season started! come january, you won’t be able to give them away!
right on. watch the highlights on NHL.com before bed. don’t waste your time.
Gotta love the Joy………What a deal GMJR
Any rumors Kingpuck?
Someone tall would be perfect in a Pens uniform. #splooge
Guys will dump and chase in all situations, they are in a hurry to move that puck off their sticks… Well except on the PP, then they don’t care to move off their sticks… At least not until all five skaters get a chance to touch the puck lol
OMG seriously
Somebody on the pens do something step it up.
Starting to get tired of Malkin’s crap too.
Awww.
Yup, reality is there is little to like about most things on this team right now. Organizations broken. We fucked up dealing with Bylsma and it’s been downhill since. Pieces are in place that should make the team far better but the guys are all playing like crap. Other than a flash here and there I can’t find one name that has been disappointing most nights
Pens defense is worst than DB Era. If you want to generate a proper attack you need a good defense look at all the good teams and their blue lines
It’s about time
it will be better in 2022.
This is painful
don’t worry. the core is locked up until 2022. it’s going to get awesome.
I usually don’t bash my team, but I have to know, who is worse. Letang, or Crosby???
Better question… Who is actually playing well?
it’s going to be better in 2022.
This PP is trash, don’t matter whose on the ice. Too easy for the opposition to clear… One and done no rebounds nothing. Fucking garbage.
Letang sucks! He sucks at even strength, shorthanded or power play. He is the biggest waste of 7 million. He will never live up to that contract. Shero can have that contract as well.
Like the rest of the pens players are doing any better. Only consistent player last 2 years is Fleury
can’t wait to see him in 2022 also.
That right there… That is why the PP is shit. Bonino finds himself with a ton of ice, in the high slot area and three bodies heading to the goal and what’s he do? Passes into Kunitz feet? You never don’t take that shot, he was squared up and could have picked a corner or at the very least tried to create a rebound for the bodies driving. FOR FUCK SAKES.
How about instead of demoting the players who aren’t responsible for the 1st lines struggles while leaving the #1 issue intact, you demote the #1 issue and quit blaming everyone else. Sid loves playing with Knitz-Dupuis so give him his comfort zone and go with a 3rd line of 14-87-9.
I agree. Sid is pulling his line mates down. He really looks disinterested on most nights. Getting tired of his s**t lately.
good thing he’s signed until 2022.