Penguins/NHL
Penguins – Capitals Series Buzz
The NHL Department of Player Safety pulled a stunner on Wednesday evening in suspending Capitals winger Tom Wilson for three games, meaning he will only play in this series if it goes seven games.
There were countless debates on whether Wilson deserved at least 1-2 games with a crowd among former players who believe it was a hockey hit.
Nonetheless, there was no escaping for Wilson on avoiding a suspension here because of the NHL’s precedent of factoring in injuries on whether to suspend a player or not.
Wilson is a predatory, head hunter type of player and while I hated the Wilson hit on Dumoulin much more than the Aston-Reese one as Aston-Reese was at least bracing for the hit, the NHL Department of Player Safety’s breakdown of the video in slow motion further illustrates Wilson got what he deserved.
The thing that stands out in the video in slow motion is how Wilson is at the end of the shift and as his linemates are going to the bench for a change, notably center Evgeni Kuznetsov, Wilson looks to be following suit only to see Aston-Reese as prime meat to deliver an open ice hit.
It was such an avoidable hit for Wilson not to take and why the NHL deserves to be applauded.
Wilson is Matt Cooke 2.0 in how thrives on being a head-hunter but what gets overlooked is how Wilson’s a pretty important player for the Capitals.
Head-hunter, goon, whatever Wilson deserves to be labeled as, this suspension has an impact on the Capitals lineup for the rest of the series.
Playing a first-line role in the playoffs, Wilson had 14 goals and 35 points in the regular season.
This isn’t losing an Ovechkin, Kuznetsov or Carlson by any means, but Wilson’s impact in this series can’t go overlooked.
Wilson has 4 assists in three games, is at 54% in possession during the series, 57% in Scoring Chance For Percentage and has been on the ice for To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
His biggest strength, though, is how the dangerous nature he plays the game in that his presence puts the opposition, notably d-men on their heels at every moment when trying to exit the zone.
You always gotta be aware of wilson because if not he’ll take your head off and as one scout said, Wilson is a ‘premium forechecker’ with the physicality and strong angles he takes below the dots.
In the 2016 postseason series between the Penguins – Capitals, Brooks Orpik is a 2nd-3rd level type player like Wilson, but Orpik’s stupidity in concussing Olli Maatta crushed the Capitals defensive depth in that series and it will be interesting if Wilson’s stupidity ends up haunting the Capitals again.
— For the Penguins tonight, all signs point to Carl Hagelin being cleared to play. That’s a great trade off for the Penguins in getting Hagelin back to fill a second-line role and the Capitals being forced to play Devante Smith-Pelly in a top-line role tonight.
Mike Sullivan ready to turn to Daniel Sprong also tonight? To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
–Derick Brassard has 0 points and 4 shots on goal this series. A source says there has been internal discussions of giving Brassard some shifts with To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
I think it’s cool TIOPS’ coverage is always one game behind. It keeps me in suspense. It’s like getting to relive each game twice.
Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom came off the ice, threw his stick in the dressing room hallway and screamed “F— this league” after the game
What a puzzy! Damn you NHL for suspending Tom Wilson! Good I’m glad they are acting this way. Stay on top of them and they will fold. Finish them!
If Washington needs Tom Wilson to win…then they suck. Wilson is not a good player. I don’t ever remember a Matt Cooke suspension being the reason the Pens lost. Any blow to the head should be an immediate penalty and after multiple penalties, then suspensions. Take head shots out of the game period. So you should have to have 100% control of your stick at all times not to hit the face, but not be expected to be able to control your body????
Tom Wilson doesn’t score a lot but does a lot of little things for the team
Yeah like cheapshot guys. He’s a joke and his the poster child for what’s wrong with this league.
Oh, so he’s their sidney crosby?
BAZZINGA!!! Well done lol
If you actually believe the loss of Wilson is going to stand in the way of a Washington win youre a bigger idiot than we already think.
He is gritty, kills penalties and has found an offensive flare yes… he adds some passion to the line up sure… but you can look up and down that roster and name more than a handful of guys more important to the team than Wilson. Guy makes the team better no question but they are not living and dying on 43 jackass
Not sure I agree with that. “Living and dying” no. But I think he’s more valuable than you’re giving him credit.
I think I gave him plenty of credit in that post, I also think he is about the halfway point on the roster in terms of importance to the team while some are talking like his suspension has handcuffed the Caps.
I agree. This just shows how fragile this team is. They have so many guys on their team that are boarder line dirty. Oshie did his best last night to replace Wilson with that cheap shot last night. That hit should be reviewed. He launched himself into Letang! Ridiculous he got no penalty on that play.
It’s good to see a player with that level of composure coming unglued. It’s good for the Pens. I do worry about their continued cheap shots but if the Pens send them packing again regardless of what happens next round I will have really enjoyed these playoffs lol. PS. NHL DoPS: “This video clearly outlines what the NHL seen with respect to the suspendable offence” TJ Oshie ” I wish someone would explain to me how that was a suspension, I’m a fucken idiot” Also TJ Oshie: “Welp here is my opportunity to take a head shot run at Kris… Read more »
Let’s not overlook Crosby’s game. He was dominant despite not scoring (or shooting enough). Guy won battles and created offense throughout.
With no Crosby there is no Guentzel Remember that.
With no incest there is no Sam the virginal bandwagon. Remember that.
I’d seriously sit Phil. He’s clearly hurt. At a minimum replace him in the top PP with Guentzel, pens best player.
Maybe Brassard is pisssed the Pens traded Reaves.
Big Game Brass. He’s due. He’s the most frustrating player on this team. Ruewedel looked good again tonight.
The line was actually pretty affective tonight….mostly Rust and Kuhnhackl, but they played well.
I think playing for Boucher stunted his offensive ability.
Good rebound game for Murray. He’s going to need to keep it up.
Our D as well. Holding Ovy to zero shots is a recipe for success.
Must be all Murray since ovi had no shots as I said Murray didn’t steal this game team played in front of him they played like last year playoffs blocking shots for him
Remember when Sam called Guentzel a one-hit wonder? Good one Sam.
Can somebody explain to me what Simon brings to the table? And even if you are going to play him, why the hell did he go from the 2nd line to the top line?
Can somebody explain to me what kessel brings to the table? From 2nd line to 4th line and in 3rd period barely saw his chubby asss play. Must be the most expensive 4th liner in the league. Im sure he hangs out with Bobby Ryan come summer time
He was a top 10 scorer in the NHL this year and our most consistent playoff producer over the last 2 years. That’s what he brings to the table. He’s in a slump, but I’m sure will get out of it at some point in the playoffs. Trying to explain something to you though is comparable to talking to my coffee table, so I guess there’s no point.
It’s funny how he will talk up Crosby ad nauseum through Sids slumps but as soon as Kessel or Geno have a lull in the performance he claims victory in the idea that they were frauds and pats himself on the back. Kessel has been slumping since it looked like he injured his shoulder in Feb… Clown shoes
Totally agree. I was there tonight and is always fumbling the puck or passing to late. I get why he’s on the top line
I am thinking since Crosby and Guentzel are playing well MS moved Hornqvist down to Malkin to get him going and bring in some secondary scoring. Simon looked pretty good tonight. Plus having your three hottest players on one line makes you a one line team. Brassard is garbage. Except that the trade was a waste. Kessel is not shotting which to me means he is hurting.
Shooting he is not even skating
I’d rather see Rust and Simon flip flop.
Jets game is terrific… Subban on the board… man Montreal could use a guy like that. Huge defensive play then the big goal
Subban has puck luck.
Hear he is regularly followed by a creep van…. Quebec plates, sig rune bumper stickers
https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/police-investigating-after-pair-of-shocking-neo-nazi-matters-in-montreal-1.3914183
What? You advertising your services?
Malkin game winning goal. He looked great tonight. Welcome back!
Now he may take a few games off
As a team this was the best hockey pens played they are blocking shots
And npl Murray did not steal this match team in front played for him.
Ill take it. The Pens used to have a goalie that couldnt save the routine shots so its hard to take that for granted.
If this were 2012, we would have lost 5-2.
Yes because pens had bunch of washed up players outside of sid and Geno you had dinosaurs like ponikarovsky fedotenko ,morrow, iginla. Those are the type players pens were getting under a DB system
You had tk and Cooke on 3rd line you had no secondary scoring for years then you had clowns like orpig Douglas Murray engo all slow defence playing under DB. You are right pens would’ve lost 5-2 if not 10-2 tonight
This is funny coming from a guy who pleaded for Marty St. Louis over Phil Kessel, the day before his oldass retired
Don’t forget about Rick Nash and Joe Thornton. One is hurt and the other is making 7 million for 3rd line production.
Rick Nash at 50% salary retained anyday over sheary and his 4.5m
Lol Sheary doesn’t make anywhere near that. You’re terrible at this. I also like how you admit Nash is making about twice as much as he should.
Hows chubby doing with his salary on the 4th line today oh forgot he is amazing since he had a point today
In two Cups he was one of the teams best and that includes getting fucked royally out of a Conn Smythe… Nash isn’t qualified to do his hotdog bib laundry…
He now wants keith tkachuk!!!
Didn’t know tkachuck in flames hasn’t retired. Moron. I wanted his son in a trade for Murray package
So Kessel, Sheary, Guentzel and co are better?
Letang got rocked by Oshie. He should know better than to fight an American.
Letang was trying to get a whistle before Guentzel scoref the empty netter. What a moron,
Pop quiz: if Murray only gives up 1 goal, how many goals do the Pens need to win?
18?
Close. 2.
Trick question, the answer is Fleurys ballsac something something creepvan
Did kessel play in the 3rd period.
TJ = Tom Wilson jr.
Oshie his was 3feet in the air launching on letang
Oshie is a bitch
How much of Brassard’s salary is Ottawa responsible for ?
Too soon to playing defending the lead
So Jets round out your top 5? Gotcha
Jesus christ it’s like a game 7 for pens 3rd period and they are up 1 goal and the crowd is dead.
Let’s hope they don’t go overtime
Can’t wait to watch jets game
You must be watching live footage of Montreal.
Yes, the brilliang idea of having a “white out” when the road team wears white and the home team is in dark colors.”
Brian Burke just said it malkin line has to step up. So far it has been a special teams battle.
Got to love paying those superstars a lot of money so they can just show up on the power play. Fuckk – u kessel. You thief. Hope pens can trade this con man over the summer he doesn’t fit the teams system relies on others work and pp
Lmmfao… Guy was one of the teams best until the shoulder in February… you’re such a fucken fraud
Oh look our 4th liner. Chubby got a point thanks to pp
Parallax… primary use is near and mid range stars but these assholes think that it’s relative to the depth at which the red paint is with a total disregard for how light acts as it moves through different mediums… the digital explanation don’t work on real world examples ffs! Goal!
It’s nbc for you
Closest star to earth is approximately 24 trillion miles away… we know this by parallax measurement… these fucken idiots wanna use it for feet vs inches and the claim being made in light travelling through ice vs TV screens… fuck right off. So absurd
8-10 rare ones that was in (parallax goals)… so these assholes now think that parallax views change? Jesus fucken Christ. Most of these assholes are high school dropouts trying to understand a basic concept of our physical world that won’t apply the way they’ve attempted to apply it
Wonder what npl thinks of his favourite channel
Orpig suckss
Should be a goal for our pp specialist
2-1 I’m good with that… you should be too if you were not such a fucken loser fake ass Pens fan
That is in!!!
So that is what a good PP looks like. I forgot.
Wow… refs are sensitive now… blow two obvious calls and to punish everyone they are showing how little they understand the difference between a call and nothing. Fuck off lol
Pretty ticky tac call right there.
Good first period
Good news is Murray hasn’t let a goal yet
Bad news is chubby and sheary still sleeping
And even better news
npl is not watching the game
Hags is back!
Hopefully his forecheck factors! I want him to do to them what he used to do to the Pens when he was a Rag
Ok time to get all positive we will over come the sleazy horde from DC tonight to even things out.
As long as that jinx npl keeps his tv off we are fine
You couldn’t go more than 2 minutes without being a stupid fucken assholee hey?
I’m down with that! LGP!
You down with LGP?
Let’s Go Pens.
They are all like “win it for Wilson”… like poor fucken Wilson was the victim in all this shit! Fuck Washington
Another sinkhole situation in Florida
Why is this always happening in Florida
Is it because it’s a shitthole
Let us not lose sight of the fact that Vegas needed 5 last night. I’m told thats not a good thing.
Yeah it’s not a good thing for Vegas since they are not used to it like the pens
“I’d like for them to watch the hit. I’d like for them to break it down for me,” Oshie told NHL.com’s Brian McNally. “From what I see, it’s two guys that see each other. It’s a north-south hit. Tom goes straight through his body. Yes, the head gets hit. But there’s been a million times when I’ve gotten hit, I go to the ref, I say: ‘I was hit in the head,’ and the ref just says ‘he’s bigger than you.”
They did TJ. It’s called the internet. Look into it.
It was a surprisingly good, informative explanation of their ruling.
Not to Turkey Jizz.
Good one! Turning into on of my favorite posters on here!
“I want someone to break it down” the league literally did this when they announced he suspension. Fuckk Oshies a stupid human being lol
This game is Pittsburgh’s Game 7. If they go down 3 games to 1 with the way the secondary scoring has dried up and MM playing like a first year goalie this team will not have the ability to win 3 in a row. This Washington team is different then the past teams. Their expectations are not burdoned by the Presidents trophy and they seem a lot looser and Ovie is getting help.
The year they beat sharks that year team had hbk line and gave them the additional goals needed when I said they are one hit wonder but happy for the cup Last year fleury stole them 2 series when they had no business to go conference finals. And they had a lot of puck luck team would out played then and managed to win random goals from rust ,sheary This year they have none going They better have kessel, sheary going . this will be their game 7 it’s make or break if they lose tonight their series is over… Read more »
Possibly, but shifting the pressure on the Caps to close the series could be the death of them. I prefer the win tonight obviously, but ill never underestimate the Caps ability to crumble in the playoffs.
You should never underestimate Murray’s glove
Like I said in the other thread if Murray, Kessel, Brassard and a couple other relied on for depth and timely offence cannot wake up then the Wilson suspension wont matter
MORNING SKATE
*The Pens held an optional morning skate.
*Projected lineup:*
Guentzel-Crosby-Hornqvist
Simon-Malkin-Rust
Sheary-Brassard-Kessel
Kuhnhackl-Sheahan-Rowney
Hunwick-Letang
Maatta-Schultz
Oleksiak-Ruhwedel
Murray
*Not official
Forgetting Dumoulin?
It was optional so gee probably took it off and they threw Hunwick in his spot.
Move Kessel up with Malkin, see if that wakes him up, move Sheahan up to third line Center with Rust on his right and shove a piece of dynamite up Brassard’s ass and see if being a 4th line Center will wake him up. If Hags is back sit Simon or Sheary. And keep MM on a short leash tonight.