Game Thread: Penguins GDT/GNT's week 10 (Dec 8 - Dec 14)

[Darkstone42]

2-1 now. That was a tremendous play at the blue line by the Flames to spring the rush.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Another horrible power play

 

[Darkstone42]

Despres and Letang are on another level tonight. Both are skating circles around everyone.

 

[Burghfan]

Another horrible power play

What is wrong with their power play tonight? It is atrocious.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

What is wrong with their power play tonight? It is atrocious.

Flames are standing us up at their blue line and we insist on skating the puck in. A little dump & chase would prove beneficial here.

 

[Darkstone42]

What a play, Downie to Klinkhammer (who continues to look good) for the 3-1 lead!

 

[Darkstone42]

Fleury, Letang, and Despres were all excellent tonight. Good win for the Pens.

 

[scoutyjones2]

Lets not get too excited. Flames played back to back while the Pens had 4 day off. And I am sorry, I totally disagree about Maata. He is not very good....and hasn't been for almost a year. He's average

 

[Darkstone42]

I think Despres is going to get suspended for his hit. He left his feet and got the head, even if Smid was skating low.

 

[Darkstone42]

Lets not get too excited. Flames played back to back while the Pens had 4 day off. And I am sorry, I totally disagree about Maata. He is not very good....and hasn't been for almost a year. He's average

What exactly do you look for in a defenseman than makes you think Maatta is just average? He is at worst average, almost certainly above, with a decent case for being called "good." He fits comfortably in a contending top 4. He's got a booming shot, smart with the puck, good stick and good positioning. The kid can play.

 

[Darkstone42]

Also, Klinkhammer's been really effective. Disruptive, physical, responsible, and looks like he has some idea of what to do with the puck on his stick. He actually looks a little like Kunitz from time to time.

I'd like to see if he meshes with Crosby or Malkin for a few games while Kunitz is out. At the very least, he could do a lot to free the puck up for those guys. He just doesn't look like a fourth-liner to me. (Neither does Goc, of course, either.)

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Maatta is fine, it's Sid that's the issue right now. Hopefully the time off will give him an opportunity to find his game.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Pittsburgh Penguins @ Columbus Blue Jackets

Pittsburgh Penguins
Overall record: 19-6-3 (41 points)
Road record: 9-2-2
Last 10: 6-3-1
Streak: +1
GFA: 3.18
GAA: 2.29
PP%: 27.5%
PK%: 86.8%
Projected lineup:NHL Starting Goalies and Line Combinations | DailyFaceoff.com

Columbus Blue Jackets
Overall record: 11-15-2 (24 points)
Home record: 5-8-1
Last 10: 5-4-1
Streak: +5
GFA: 2.36
GAA: 3.25
PP%: 23.3%
PK%: 76.7%
Projected lineup: NHL Starting Goalies and Line Combinations | DailyFaceoff.com

Series notes
All-time: Pens lead series 14-4-1
Last season:
-Season: Pens won series 5-0-0
-Playoffs: Pens won series 4-2
Last meeting: 4-30-2014 @ CONSOL Energy Center, Pens won 4-3

Doob's take: Pens have traditionally had the Blue Jackets' number, but the Pens aren't playing too hot right now and the Blue Jackets have won 5 in a row. We've lost Sid but we got Letang & Hornqvist back, from last night's Flames game I'll take that tradeoff. Doob picks the Pens to win 4-2.

 

[Burghfan]

I think Despres is going to get suspended for his hit. He left his feet and got the head, even if Smid was skating low.

Yeah, he might be gone for 2 games on that one. Based on what the league has done over the past couple weeks, its impossible to say. I think they have a dart board and wherever the dart lands, that's the punishment. I didn't see them do anything about the hits on Hornqvist and Downie so I don't know what to think.

 

[evolver115]

Lets not get too excited. Flames played back to back while the Pens had 4 day off. And I am sorry, I totally disagree about Maata. He is not very good....and hasn't been for almost a year. He's average

You are of course entitled to your opinion, Scouty. I just find it really hard to try and understand what kind of expectations you are using to classify Olli as just an average hockey player. He's anything but average.

Scouts, journalists and opposing teams have all had nothing but glowing remarks about Maatta's ability. They usually all come back to the same point that he's doing this all before the age of 21 in the top league in the world. He was arguably one of the best players Finland put on the ice for the Olympics in Russia last winter when he was skating his rookie season in the NHL.

Like I said in my prior post, he just turned 20 years old at the beginning of this season. Maatta hasn't played well since he returned from his surgery last month, I will give you that, but there again, he had a tumor removed from his neck, and came back two weeks later. This kid is a special hockey player.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Scouty was right about Skid tho, as much as we wanted to act like nothing was wrong with his game, there was something wrong with his game.

 

[scoutyjones2]

I guess my expectations for Maata being above average aren't being met...he's not dynamic offensively or standout defensively. He posted a very good first half of year, last year, and I just don't see him improving or building upon that...perhaps its a sophomore slump and my rather large expectations!

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Pens look like shit to start this game.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Comeau!

We're tied 1-1!

 

[element1286]

Amazing how often Comeau scores on a straight wrist shot with no traffic.

Like the Pens tenacity tonight, they are clearly under-manned and have played with some guts. Clb players are out to hurt guys tonight.