2018 - 2019 Regular season

The team is still trying to find their game, but Letang and Kessel have both been excellent in the early goings. I've been especially impressed with how much battle has been in Phil's game.

Jack Johnson has been a pleasant surprise, too. Not great, by any stretch, but overall he's played a solid game. I thought he was slower than he is. Still like to get a little more offense out of him, but he's fine fine in his own end.

The team as a whole looked great against Toronto. They gave up a lot of shots, but there were only about five that actually looked dangerous, and Murray was up to the task on everything.

Murray, by the way, was a perfect goalie tonight. Square, quiet, and big in the net nonstop. He'd been shrinking in his posture last year, but he was tall tonight. There was nowhere to shoot. His save on Tavares for from the low left circle was, I thought, a perfect example of that. Read the play, got square, got big. There was no room.

Darkstone42 said:

The team as a whole looked great against Toronto. They gave up a lot of shots, but there were only about five that actually looked dangerous, and Murray was up to the task on everything.

Murray, by the way, was a perfect goalie tonight. Square, quiet, and big in the net nonstop. He'd been shrinking in his posture last year, but he was tall tonight. There was nowhere to shoot. His save on Tavares for from the low left circle was, I thought, a perfect example of that. Read the play, got square, got big. There was no room.

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Murray was very solid. Toronto is definitely the better team but can be beat by bodying up the fast moving talent. They didn't really test Murray's weakness...high glove side at all. Good for the Pens.

JJ has been a surprise for D. Needs to provide some O...but that goes double for Sid. And really, what has Brassard brought to the Pens? He is really been nothing but a turd...

Good win for the Pens.

A lot of down time between games so far...I'm jonesing for Penguins hockey!!!!

Great game to watch! Pens win and Crosby comes thru like he can...Way to go Pens!

Jack Johnson was exposed against a fast team. That's not a good thing to see. He's been solid for the most part, but he just couldn't keep up with the Oilers' speed up front. Most of the goals Murray allowed last night came right after Johnson in particular let him hang out to dry.

Speaking of Murray, he came up big I thought. Made a few very key saves, and in particular stuffing McDavid's breakaway attempt. That was a brilliant save. I actually only saw three of the goals he allowed, and none of the three I saw were on him at all. A 2-on-0, and two pucks squirting to the blades of uncovered Oilers in the low slot who elevated their shots. As a goalie in those cases, you just have to hope they hit you; you're not reacting to anything that close. Ultimately, he outplayed Talbot in a fast up-and-down game, and that proved the difference for the Pens. (And Crosby's brilliance, of course.)

Hornqvist had two goals, but his play has been underwhelming, and I thought mostly was last night, too. Sprong is really up and down, still seems to be trying to get his legs under him. Simon has been nearly useless. Brassard shouldn't be on Crosby's wing; they don't jive, and Crosby plays best when there's at least one righty out there with him. It plays into his game so much to have feed options in the slot from both wings, and to each corner of the cage for tap-ins on the rush, because he'll hit them. Rust hasn't been good, and neither has Hornqvist, so I get the searching, but maybe try Sprong, since he's got some skill and speed and size, but is still searching for his game and could use a jump-start.

Dumo and Letang are so good. Oleksiak and Riikola were strong last night. Maatta and Johnson are fine, as long as they're not out there together. Each has useful skills (Maatta made some good positional plays last night to disrupt Oiler rushes, for example), but they have the same useful skills and can't cover each others' weaknesses.

Murray playing solid. Sid with another "wow" goal...and Calgary sucks.

Well, the train kept a-rollin all night long
The train kept a-rollin all night long
The train kept me movin' all night long
The train kept a-rollin all night long

All the good the last few games went out the window tonight.
I guess Tom Kuhnhackl will be the new Penguin killer?

This year's version of Phil Kessel is the best version I think we've seen. It's the most active he's been defensively, and the feistiest and most physical version, too. And he's getting his shots off like he always does. Malkin's been spectacular so far, and Kessel is helping. A lot.

Darkstone42 said:

This year's version of Phil Kessel is the best version I think we've seen. It's the most active he's been defensively, and the feistiest and most physical version, too. And he's getting his shots off like he always does. Malkin's been spectacular so far, and Kessel is helping. A lot.

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LOL...if Kessel touches anybody from the other team, that's a huge improvement! He's been ok. Malkin has been dominant, as has his line. Sid needs Horny back on his line...sprong, simon, brassard all suck and should be on the 4th line. Hell, move Cullen to Sid's line

Totally dominated last night by the Leafs. Couldn't clear their own zone...shocker...not. And the Pens aren't going to win when Malkin, Crosby and Guentzel have 1 shot each, on goal.

Going down, going down now, going down
going down now, going down, going down, going down, going down
Going down, going down now, going down
going down now, going down
going down now, going down
Going d-d-d-d-down
Woo woo

Regards,

Zeppelin

Biggest bullshit call yet this season

NHL won't further punish Evgeni Malkin for hit on T.J. Oshie

Mangler said:

Biggest bullshit call yet this season

NHL won't further punish Evgeni Malkin for hit on T.J. Oshie

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Agreed. Long season for this old team...very long.

Can we please move Murray to the minors? He blows and De Smith is solid...not spectacular, but solid.

And the Pens keep falling. Many issues with this team from the horrible D, to Kessel to their age and lack of physicality and just plain bad talent once you roll past Crosby, Malkin, Guentzel. Long season people...long season. Seems like Sully is reaching and trying anything to stir the pot....must be time for him to go.

Uggg...resign Rutherford and trade Hagelin for Tanner Pearson

scoutyjones2 said:

Uggg...resign Rutherford and trade Hagelin for Tanner Pearson

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Whatever happened to JR is only here 3 years before turning the GM job over to a young protégée plan???? I know the 2 Stanley Cup wins altered that some but a 3 year extension. did Mario and company not learn from what JR did to/in Carolina???