Game Thread: Pittsburgh Penguins(1) vs. New York Rangers(2) | Round 2

[element1286]

I understand Despres value as a puck mover, but I don't really trust him either. If our bottom pair is getting 10minutes a game, yes I want Scuds in there. He's still good to have on the PK, still blocks shots. I hate the idea of breaking up Letang/Martin at this point, they've looked pretty good. I also like the Niskanen/Maatta pair. That leaves Orpik, Scuds, Bortuzzo, Engelland, Despres to fill in the bottom 2. Bortuzzo/Scuds don't give me warm fuzzies out there, but I'm not sure any combination of those 5 does.

I know you're supposed to ride your horses, but 6th defensmen playing 10 minutes isn't ideal. If you only trust him to play 10, he shouldn't be playing. And the assertion that Scuds is good on the pk isn't backed up by the fact that he leads the team in PPGA/Min of SH time played.

 

[thedddd]

^ Shame of it is when Bortuzzo played he only got 13 minutes a game but the positive was Scuderi played 15 one game and his avg of 18 the other. So at least DB didn't use Scuderi to cover for Bortuzzo.

 

[pixburgher66]

I know you're supposed to ride your horses, but 6th defensmen playing 10 minutes isn't ideal. If you only trust him to play 10, he shouldn't be playing. And the assertion that Scuds is good on the pk isn't backed up by the fact that he leads the team in PPGA/Min of SH time played.

When you have two pretty great top pairs, that third pair isn't going to see much ice. Letang/Martin are minute eaters. 25 minutes is a normal night for them, and Niskanen/Maatta the same, especially when you consider those top two pairs are also on the PP for long shifts, etc. I agree Scuds isn't extremely valuable, but he's done well in his limited minutes. I highly doubt he gets sat when Orpik is healthy, right or wrong. There's no way that those two make a pair though...that'd be a car wreck.

 

[element1286]

Scuds is on the ice for a pk goal once every 7.5 pk mins (140 total mins), the next closest is Niskanen once every 11.5 minutes (60 total mins) and the best is Bortuzzo once every 23.25 minutes (70 total mins).

And Orpik who has played 210 pk mins is only out there for a goal once every 11.75 minutes.

 

[element1286]

When you have two pretty great top pairs, that third pair isn't going to see much ice. Letang/Martin are minute eaters. 25 minutes is a normal night for them, and Niskanen/Maatta the same, especially when you consider those top two pairs are also on the PP for long shifts, etc. I agree Scuds isn't extremely valuable, but he's done well in his limited minutes. I highly doubt he gets sat when Orpik is healthy, right or wrong. There's no way that those two make a pair though...that'd be a car wreck.

So if they don't make a pair, then you are playing Scuds with Letang? Letang is logging 25 minutes a game, and 18 mins 5v5/game. How exactly do you play Scuds 10 mins a game, and not pair him with Orpik?

 

[pixburgher66]

So if they don't make a pair, then you are playing Scuds with Letang? Letang is logging 25 minutes a game, and 18 mins 5v5/game. How exactly do you play Scuds 10 mins a game, and not pair him with Orpik?

Did I ever say I'd absolutely play Scuds? I don't remember saying that. I think Bortuzzo should be in the lineup regardless of who his partner is, because he has a lot of value. He's faster for a big guy, hits, and gets under other teams skin. I don't know who I'd pair him with in that other grouping of guys though. Honestly don't know. Scuds could easily end up being the odd man out, my point was that he's done admirably in his limited role (which is the role any of the bottom pair guys will be taking regardless of who it is).

 

[element1286]

Alright, well you said you wanted Brooks to stay injured, and liked the D as currently constructed.

Admirably is too kind, not as terrible maybe.

 

[Jims_Doors]

So everyone is healthy you dress Scuds over Bortuzzo?

He definitely should, but c'mon...it's Bylsma we're talking about here. No chance of this happening.

Plus he might be following orders from above? By sitting Scuds, it shows that the Pens acknowledge that they were wrong to bring him back while giving him that shitty contract.


edit: I posted the above thinking you said "dress Borts over Scuds"

 

[pixburgher66]

Pierre on Zuccarello: "He's not overly large" That's one way to put it.

 

[pixburgher66]

He definitely should, but c'mon...it's Bylsma we're talking about here. No chance of this happening.

Plus he might be following orders from above? By sitting Scuds, it shows that the Pens acknowledge that they were wrong to bring him back while giving him that shitty contract.


edit: I posted the above thinking you said "dress Borts over Scuds"

Yeah, I'm sure he's not going to take him out to not hurt Shero's feelings. Come on man.

 

[pixburgher66]

Carcillo: still a thug.

 

[Cobiemonster]

Smfh Fleury

 

[Darkstone42]

That is not a good one to give up.

 

[pixburgher66]

The shots on goal don't really illustrate how much the Pens have had the puck. Need traffic to score guys.

 

[Darkstone42]

A shot from out there with no traffic is not going to beat Lundqvist.

 

[Darkstone42]

Kunitz has to put that shot on the pads with Crosby and Stempniak crashing the net.

 

[mattola]

did Bob Cole just call Dominic - John Moore?

 

[David_son]

I think its been fairly even and defensive so far.

 

[Darkstone42]

Good work in front by Kunitz, four or so saves by Lundqvist, but the Ranger D had to take a penalty to stop the madness.

 

[Darkstone42]

That was a terrible powerplay.