Penguins – Blue Jackets Fallout
The most important takeaway out of the Penguins 2-1 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets is an obvious one.
Pittsburgh and Columbus have elite starting goaltenders in Matt Murray and Sergei Bobrovsky. Those two going head-to-head would be fun in April.
Nothing else should be taken out of last night’s game that gives a glimpse of what to expect in a seven game series if these two clubs are indeed on a collision course to a first round matchup, and let’s hope they are because Rangers – Penguins is getting quite boring.
Pittsburgh missing two top-9 forwards, in addition to Justin Schultz and Olli Maatta, this was a well earned point, coming off a physical game the night before.
Shots were 39-39 with Pittsburgh having a 61-60 edge in 5 v 5 shot attempts.
Columbus poses a potential challenge to the Penguins and how much they get up for the Penguins is something that can’t be taken for granted, especially if they got home ice, but one clear edge in the Penguins favor with how these two rosters are currently constructed is Pittsburgh’s center depth over a seven game series.
Brandon Dubinsky had a very strong game, overtime winner, and his line drove possession, on the ice for 27 shot attempts, 17 against, but they need another top-9 center before the deadline, and don’t have the type of depth at center that could overwhelm the Penguins over seven games. Dubinsky, others would fizzle out.
A second edge for the Penguins is Matt Murray’s ability to go toe-to-toe with Bobrovsky and the fact that Murray has proven he can win in the post-season, Bobrovsky hasn’t.
Matt Murray does not get embraced enough in this town in how he’s one of the biggest reasons the Penguins Cup window reopened last spring (just ask the Washington Capitals who felt they lost to Pittsburgh because of Murray) and is so wide open for the next three to four years with this current core.
The Penguins have lucked into upgrading their starting goaltender position through the draft with a third round pick who no one saw being this good and without having to go out and spend $6 million per season on a goaltender, at least for the next three years.
SCOUTS WATCH: PENS TRACKING AVALANCHE AGAIN FRIDAY NIGHT
The Pittsburgh Penguins [hide] scouted a Colorado Avalanche game for the third straight game on Friday night. Pittsburgh was in attendance for Avalanche – Hurricanes in Raleigh. The Penguins do play the Hurricanes on Tuesday night but was told this wasn’t a scheduled scouting trip to provide a detailed report for Tuesday’s game in Carolina.
Carolina 3-6-1 in their last 10 games, have fallen seven points out of a playoff spot and are expected to sell some of their rentals.
Clubs are starting to look at defenseman Ron Hainsey as a No. 6/No. 7 type target and the Maatta injury has the Penguins expanding their search for a depth defenseman, a source says.
The 35 year old was signed by Jim Rutherford in 2013, so there is a history there. Hainsey’s in the last year of his contract with a $2.8 million. Won’t be surprised if the Penguins plan to monitor his play over the next week but unclear right now if there’s interest from the Penguins end.
FLAMES MULLING RUN AT FLEURY?
Less talk about the Dallas Stars and Fleury this week and with them floundering, some NHL execs are questioning why go after Fleury now unless you really love him as your long-term fix. The thinking is Dallas should take things to the summer and regroup there.
The scuttlebutt around the league over the last 48 hours is the Calgary Flames are circling the goaltender market once again. Not all in but giving some thought to adding an upgrade, even a goaltender with term, and pursuing Fleury is not being ruled out, NHL sources say.
There was a discussion between the Flames and Penguins when the Flames were in town and the Penguins believe the Flames could circle back before March 1. Something to keep an eye on in the next 10 days.
Pittsburgh and Calgary had very brief talks about Fleury last June but talks were never substantive and overblown by some media outlets, Penguin sources have said. Contact over the last 10 days is the first since last June.
Calgary netminders Brian Elliott and Chad Johnson are free agents at seasons end. This would be a much easier trade for the Penguins to make than with Dallas.
Prior to acquiring Brian Elliott at the draft, Calgary also had a potential trade in place for Ben Bishop but Calgary pulled out when the two sides couldn’t agree on an extension. Bishop was seeking a seven year, $42 million contract from the Flames.
Roster Notes
— The Penguins have re-assigned forward Josh Archibald –[/hide]
Honest question, is Kingpuck still on here? I know a lot of you disliked him or thought he was full of ****, but at least it was something new to ponder. Regardless if he had connections or not, it was something besides **** America/**** gay French Canadiens back and forth ****.
Couldn’t agree more. I use to like coming on here to talk hockey. With like minded individuals. That concept has gone to shit
8 more days for the site to crash
Haha Brooks laich wants to be traded
When r we going to get a new article?
Probably following our game vs Detroit on Saturday.
Stone to the Flames.
I wonder if toews will ever be worth half of his contact.
Since your hockey starts in April you’ll get the chance to see it vs Parise choker
Yeah – he’s not that great in the playoffs, either. Fortunately, he has Kane and Panarin there carrying his jock around for him.
Or maybe he plays vs the top lines while Kane benefits just like malkin and chubby benefits from Crosby
why would they have a 40 point guy playing against top lines?
Highest scoring active US goal scorers… Parise and Kessel… sammich?
Ahahaha imagine they are led by 2 con artist the rest must be more garbage. You know clown even if team Canada bad 3 teams those 2 wouldn’t even make the roster.
Of course not… we need room for 5 goal Joe and Martin St Louis!
Two con artist? Toews and who else….
Wow i hope u can name 1 Canadian but look at the population of Russians and Americans in NHL and u have more frauds so the ratio is higher imagine if NHL was more populated with Americans and Russians vs Canadians. Teams owners would file bankruptcy or have more lockouts. Now go back in the back and make some Donuts
can? i only defaulted to the biggest fraud in the league – i could pick out a bunch of different fraugs. LIke Corey Perry. and Getzlaf. $8+ million a year – does getzlaf have 10 goals yet?
How is Parise doing. When you have 4th liner Stewart has same amount of goals as him must be embarrassing for him to play on 1st line and have same goals of a 4th liner in his team.
Bobby Ryan con himself out of the lineup this time with a fake injury but it’s okay won’t make a difference if he is in vacation or 4th
Bobby Ryan – same number of goals as Toews – more than Getzlaf and Perry. Beautiful example. Makes less than all 3.
Imagine Sam – Toews make an entire Top 9 player’s salary more than Bobby Ryan – like you could add another halfway decent player – same number of goals!
Stewart has more goals than Getzlaf, the same number as Perry, and one less than Toews. Good example.
Last few years it’s two Russians leading the league in goals… queeb
#FakeCanadian
#WannabeAmerican
Coming from a french speaking frog, that’s rich. You’re a fake canadian by birth.
#queeb
#wannabeCanadian
#habsfan
The overreacting on here is pretty funny.
When you have fat Democrat Clowns, yes I agree this place does become funny
Yes. That’s exactly what I meant.
Yup agreed. You deserve a thumbs up on this one
This interaction has me laughing pretty good. Thanks
well – two thumbs up – with both of your accounts….
Not too late to trade Murray but
None of Murray’s goals were his fault. Now Yoda can u update Murray’s new stats after tonight’s game
I really hope pens don’t play the wings in the playoffs they have their number this season lol
Malkin playing today?
Hard to tell when Letang been visibly trying to hand the game to the wings all day
Interesting stat.. Malkin on the ice for one goal, Sid on the ice for three… Letang on for 4 go figure
Hey sammich, instead of quietly thumbs downing everything can you explain why Letang wants to hand this game to Detroit?
Lol I didn’t know thumbs downing people make noise
And it was predictable that you wouldn’t understand what that means
Hey yodink… Fleury won with a .938 vs Winnipeg and you bitched, Murray looks like he’s gonna drop his second straight and this time to a meh team. Thoughts? Pens need five to win
tell me where they stand in NHL stats please
Thats not what I asked… I was wondering why you cry like a fucken bitch when MAF wins with a .938 while you are fucken invisible when your secret bum buddy loses two straight with a couple of iffy games?
Oh. I can answer that. Cause Fleury broke his asss cherry and then didn’t call him and now he’s a scorned lover with a sore shitt shack.
I’m a fan of Guentzel but… him and Sid just don’t seem to have that finish part sorted out. Sheary did however, can’t wait for him to get back in the lineup
Same here. It’s not easy playing with someone like Sid. Having sheary at that cap hit playing and producing on the first line is a luxury.
Big time, he know where to go, finds soft areas well and is a decent player in his own right!
When Ott scores on you don’t you have to retire or something?
Pens gonna need four to win. Easy to give Murray a pass given that two snipers scored on him.
Hey Yoda will Murray be here today sometime?
Murray looks sharp.
Steve Ott has one of the best backhanders in the league right?
Use the poke check!
Hilarious, murray is 2nd in save % in the NHL and St Marc fraudre bleury is among the worst and 90% of the fans think I’m retarded for saying murray is better and dump the Saint. Hahahahahaha!
You were diagnosed as a retard long before Murray stepped foot on the ice in a Penguins jersey.
Dusty is right… besides, no one has said they think MAF is better other then to show you how fucken obnoxious you are. Most, those not named Sam, are not blind to the fact Murray has been easily the better of the two. The point you consistently have missed for like 6 years now is you lay everything at Fleurys feet while apologizing for Murray when he also makes mistake. For instance you crucified MAF vs the Jets after he won with a .938 sv% but didn’t say a thing about Murray losing the other night… because you’re a fucken… Read more »
Both goalies suck. Bring back Zak and let’s get this done bitches
I honestly think you pumping his tires so much is just your way of trying to get him in the sack. You cheeky SOB, you.
Blacksfortrump2020.com
Samfor5goaljoe.com
Trump in Florida doing speech and u have signs behind him saying blacks for trump I wonder what npl thinks
He’s the one in the pants suit holding the pink sign.
No doubt NPL’s wearing his Dem convention pants suit but he’s balled up at home in the laundry room closet with a plunger in one hand and a transgender bathroom sign in the other.
Youve hit rock bottom when Dusty calls you a retard. BTW – Trade Murray!
Retards know how to pick out other retards.
Its about time somebody else understood the benefits of trading Murray. His value will never be higher.
The game last night was boring it was low scoring game. Just as npl apparently he gets only entertained when there is 10 goals
He finds hotdog gadgets entertaining.
https://m.popkey.co/7aab0c/Ge5Kj.gif
Depaoli and Yoda…..two retards
dustin: part of the cult of st.bleury. dude, your patron saint sucks. don’t worry, your saint is here to stay. there is only a 10% chance that there is a GM dumb enough to take on that train wrecks cap hit. rutherford was a total bonehead for giving that smiley faced saint 5.75 per year. with his current numbers, he is currently valued at a 900k. good luck passing along the additional 5 million.
Exactly 10%… like the amount of yodas brain he uses
Probably the amount of rectal damage fleury did to his shitt cave.
Probably the amount of his rectum that survived the onslaught
Forgot npl and stain
i like how you gave yourself a thumbs up from your other account – mr. -11. A new record!
i’m sure the flames are on st.bleury’s no trade list.
Well, honestly, this time i believe you, because if anyone has the lowdown on his no-trade list, it’d be the guy he was banging. So i guess we can move on to the next article. Thanks for finally being useful, FroYo.
You need the verify 4thperiod if not buckeye Donuts might have the insider scoop