Pens @ Caps GNT | 7 PM ET 12.1.11 | NHLN

[pixburgher66]

Also, a reason I love Sid. He has an open net with :15, but because there were Caps in the zone, he just rags it. Good move buddy. That how you win games, not scoring races.

 

[ritari330]

GG Pens fans.

 

[pixburgher66]

Lol. Good counting, sir.

Congrats, P66. We gotta get the PP back on track and keep playing hard like tonight. It'll turn around.

I have a feeling with Green back that'll start to come more naturally. But, hey, my team has Letang, Sid, Geno, Neal, and Sully on a PP on a regular basis, and still sucks. Who knows.

 

[elocomotive]

LOL. Rit, did you just see the two little kids (one in Caps' jersey and one in Pens' jersey) fighting with each other and grabbing jersey in the post-game montage. Probably brothers, but hilarious.

 

[ritari330]

We gotta get the PP back on track and keep playing hard like tonight. It'll turn around.

Starts with a healthy Green.

 

[pixburgher66]

Another note: Paul Martin had his best game of the season. We need him to be confident while our defense heals up again. Despres looked very good, fluid, confident. Bortuzzo had a pretty nice game as well. Orlov was fantastic, another great offensive threat from the blue line there.

 

[ritari330]

LOL. Rit, did you just see the two little kids (one in Caps' jersey and one in Pens' jersey) fighting with each other and grabbing jersey in the post-game montage. Probably brothers, but hilarious.

Yeah, it was on right before they went to break durring the 2nd intermission. Think you must've missed that

 

[elocomotive]

Very few defensive lapses tongiht with Hamrlik out of the lineup. Make that a regular thing please?

Yeah, Orlov stays up! The odd man out will probably rotate - Erskin/Hamr/Schultz when Greenie is healthy.

Also, Eakin, like him, but I'd like to see Knuble back in the mix on the upper lines and Perreault on the 4th. I think Eakin's future is bright here, but he's not adding much to the 2nd line right now. I just don't think it's his time yet.

 

[ritari330]

I have a feeling with Green back that'll start to come more naturally. But, hey, my team has Letang, Sid, Geno, Neal, and Sully on a PP on a regular basis, and still sucks. Who knows.

25%+ with Green, <10% without Green.

 

[pixburgher66]

What the...the Caps registered 2 shots on goal in the 3rd? That...doesn't seem right. I mean, I felt that the possession was very evenly divided. They traded off insane offensive cycles with each other.

 

[Dacks]

Love the shut-down clinic the Pens put on in the last two minutes.

This was a weird game. There was intensity, but not a lot of clear scoring chances. Usually when these two teams play, I expect more goals. Also, all the big guns were held off the scoresheet.

 

[ritari330]

Yeah, Orlov stays up! The odd man out will probably rotate - Erskin/Hamr/Schultz when Greenie is healthy.

Also, Eakin, like him, but I'd like to see Knuble back in the mix on the upper lines and Perreault on the 4th. I think Eakin's future is bright here, but he's not adding much to the 2nd line right now. I just don't think it's his time yet.

Yes. all of that. Except I'd rather Schultz/Hamrlik get scratched more often.

The 2nd line looks so small. They play really small and Eakin is the most physical guy on that line. Move Knuble up either to the 1st and move Brouwer to the 2nd, or move Knubs to the 2nd. MP85 will get his opportunity under Dale and I think he'll stay. Ideal move? Move Semin and keep Eakin on the 2nd, but that's not gonna happen.

 

[elocomotive]

Starts with a healthy Green.

I agree, but you can't blame it on one guy. Others have to step up. The Pens have obviously done just fine without Crosby and I'd say he's a little more important than Green. Carlson and Wideman are both great puck handlers. They need to be the general a little more back there. To that end, they need to get moving a little more at the back. Too often we are standing flat-footed in our own zone and putting all the pressure on the forwards to get it up the ice. Green obviously helps with that.

Also, kinda funny everyone is jocking Green now. I don't here any more boos about him at games like I did a few years back. Nice to see the fans have wised up a little.

 

[pixburgher66]

3 stars:
1. Martin
2. Chimera
3. Ovechkin

Trying to beef up someones confidence? Hah. I suppose no one really stood out that much tonight. Team win.

 

[ritari330]

What the...the Caps registered 2 shots on goal in the 3rd? That...doesn't seem right. I mean, I felt that the possession was very evenly divided. They traded off insane offensive cycles with each other.

Again, we missed the net a lot.

 

[sbb122]

I only got to see the 3rd period but it seemed the Pens were blocking a pretty fair amount of shots.

 

[elocomotive]

Yes. all of that. Except I'd rather Schultz/Hamrlik get scratched more often.

The 2nd line looks so small. They play really small and Eakin is the most physical guy on that line. Move Knuble up either to the 1st and move Brouwer to the 2nd, or move Knubs to the 2nd. MP85 will get his opportunity under Dale and I think he'll stay. Ideal move? Move Semin and keep Eakin on the 2nd, but that's not gonna happen.

Yeah, agree with all of that too.

Semin for Iginla? One can dream...

 

[pixburgher66]

And so ends Mike Knubles 13 game Pens scoring streak. Amazing that neither he or Laich scored.

 

[elocomotive]

3 stars:
1. Martin
2. Chimera
3. Ovechkin

Trying to beef up someones confidence? Hah. I suppose no one really stood out that much tonight. Team win.

I thought OV played a great game. He set up open opportunities for Backstrom twice and Semin once. They mostly fanned. And he was all over the ice - created turnovers and backchecked well. He keeps playing like that they'll start going in.

 

[ritari330]

I agree, but you can't blame it on one guy. Others have to step up. The Pens have obviously done just fine without Crosby and I'd say he's a little more important than Green. Carlson and Wideman are both great puck handlers. They need to be the general a little more back there. To that end, they need to get moving a little more at the back. Too often we are standing flat-footed in our own zone and putting all the pressure on the forwards to get it up the ice. Green obviously helps with that.

Also, kinda funny everyone is jocking Green now. I don't here any more boos about him at games like I did a few years back. Nice to see the fans have wised up a little.

Yes, but Green has a better shot than either of them and his vision is better. Wideman can be really good on the PP IF he is a guy taking shots and not the QB. Same goes for Carlson. Laich is alright, but he's still not green.