Pittsburgh Penguin fans or not welcome here

[Darkstone42]

I feel sorry for Marcus Pettersson.

Did you noticed how great a game he had when he got to play with Letang? He's clearly got some talent. Johnson's been an anchor on him.

 

[thedddd]

I think Simon has to stay in the lineup because he's capable of meshing with Sid and Geno better than anyone else in the bottom six, which allows them to spread out to three scoring lines.

Guentzel-Crosby-Kessel
Simon-Malkin-Rust
McCann-Bjugstad-Hornqvist
Pearson-Blueger-Aston-Reese

would be my fully healthy line combos. Cullen is too old to play every game, and he's faltering a lot lately. Maybe giving him games here and there makes sense, but not every single one. Wilson's played fine, but he's got no scoring threat at all. I think Aston-Reese can do everything Wilson can, but he's more likely to net a couple goals. Pearson, too, is a decent crasher who can also shoot, even if he's streaky.

For the love of God, though, scratch Johnson when Schultz gets back at least. I'd be playing Ruhwedel over him right now to at least have two pairings with a righty on them. But they'll probably scratch Riikola and let Maatta's game take a hit instead. (Olli's been solid for just about all season, but he's clearly at his best--and his most physical--when paired with Riikola.)

If Simon isn't on the top 6 he doesn't have much value. I agree with that lineup if he stays there, as soon as you put in on the 3rd/4th lines his value decreases. With that said I would like to see McCann get minutes with Malkin or Crosby to see if that ceiling can be reached.

 

[thedddd]

Did you noticed how great a game he had when he got to play with Letang? He's clearly got some talent. Johnson's been an anchor on him.

Totally different hockey player in that sense. Johnson is destroying Pettersson's value right now.

 

[scoutyjones2]

I think Simon has to stay in the lineup because he's capable of meshing with Sid and Geno better than anyone else in the bottom six, which allows them to spread out to three scoring lines.

Guentzel-Crosby-Kessel
Simon-Malkin-Rust
McCann-Bjugstad-Hornqvist
Pearson-Blueger-Aston-Reese

would be my fully healthy line combos. Cullen is too old to play every game, and he's faltering a lot lately. Maybe giving him games here and there makes sense, but not every single one. Wilson's played fine, but he's got no scoring threat at all. I think Aston-Reese can do everything Wilson can, but he's more likely to net a couple goals. Pearson, too, is a decent crasher who can also shoot, even if he's streaky.

For the love of God, though, scratch Johnson when Schultz gets back at least. I'd be playing Ruhwedel over him right now to at least have two pairings with a righty on them. But they'll probably scratch Riikola and let Maatta's game take a hit instead. (Olli's been solid for just about all season, but he's clearly at his best--and his most physical--when paired with Riikola.)

I can't wait for Shultz and ZAR to come back. I'd move Simon off the freaking team. I'd keep Blueger.
I think Cullen's play has been very good as he's getting pressure and scoring from his line...but I do have a soft spot for the old bastard.
Pearson is filler.

I think you keep
sid-guentz-rust
Maybe Kessel-Malkin-horny
McCann-Bugs-Simon
Pearson-Cullen-ZAR

rotate Bleuger and Wilson as needed into the mix

 

[Darkstone42]

I can't wait for Shultz and ZAR to come back. I'd move Simon off the freaking team. I'd keep Blueger.
I think Cullen's play has been very good as he's getting pressure and scoring from his line...but I do have a soft spot for the old bastard.
Pearson is filler.

I think you keep
sid-guentz-rust
Maybe Kessel-Malkin-horny
McCann-Bugs-Simon
Pearson-Cullen-ZAR

rotate Bleuger and Wilson as needed into the mix

Cullen, overall for the season, has been fine. But it's pretty clear how much playing everyday wears on him. He has real stinkers with some regularity when the team is playing frequently. Playing him less frequently, at least, will make him better when he's in. And Blueger has looked really good. Play him until he doesn't.

 

[dash]

Olli Maatta hit the boards hard courtesy of a Phil Varone hit - He went immediately to the room and I hope he's okay, but it could be a separated shoulder.

 

[Darkstone42]

Olli Maatta hit the boards hard courtesy of a Phil Varone hit - He went immediately to the room and I hope he's okay, but it could be a separated shoulder.

That was a very awkward tumble he took.

 

[thedddd]

Cullen, overall for the season, has been fine. But it's pretty clear how much playing everyday wears on him. He has real stinkers with some regularity when the team is playing frequently. Playing him less frequently, at least, will make him better when he's in. And Blueger has looked really good. Play him until he doesn't.

Cullen/Blueger rotation will work. I think some games you need to scratch Wilson depending on the matchup.

Crosby/Rust/Guentzel
Malkin/Kessel/Simon
Bjugstad/McCann/Hornqvist
ZAR/Pearson/<Wilson/Blueger/Cullen>/

I would also like to see.
Crosby/Hornqvist/Guentzel (even switch Kessel and Hornqvist)
Malkin/Kessel/McCann or Bjugstad.
Bjugstad or McCann/Rust/Pearson
ZAR/<Two of Blueger or Simon or Wilson or Cullen>

 

[Darkstone42]

Love Kessel's game tonight. He's buzzing. Disrupting without the puck, generating chances with it.

And good to see Bjugstad notch his first tally. He's earned it.

 

[thedddd]

Kessel, nifty move, pass to Johnson who dumps it into the corner.

 

[Darkstone42]

Kessel, nifty move, pass to Johnson who dumps it into the corner.

Looked like Phil wanted to pull the trigger but couldn't get the puck to cooperate after making the move. No idea what Johnson's excuse was for not just putting one on net.

 

[thedddd]

Thank you Refs for that one.

 

[Darkstone42]

Thank you Refs for that one.

Murray sold catching that clean with his body language to help out with the bad call.

 

[Darkstone42]

The Penguins' only consistent positives this season have been the Letang and Dumoulin pairing, and any forward line involving Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel playing together. Another goal for Jake.

 

[Darkstone42]

Geno will be suspended for that. Or at least he should.

 

[thedddd]

Geno will be suspended for that.

Yes he will and should. Typical Malkin, game was over and Malkin doing Malkin things.

 

[Darkstone42]

Yes he will and should. Typical Malkin, game was over and Malkin doing Malkin things.

And he might have cost the Pens the game on top of it by handing the Flyers a 5-minute Major powerplay. That's a lot of time with the talent the Flyers have and how they've peppered Murray tonight.

 

[Darkstone42]

Raffl deserved a 2, though, for the sucker punch. Probably shouldn't get away scot-free with a punch to the back of a guy's head after the puck's gone, even if Geno's stick swing was inexcusable in retaliation.

 

[Mangler]

holy crap! those last 5 minutes were TOO much..I'm too old for that!

 

[Darkstone42]

Pretty fortunate the Flyers' powerplay was in disarray during the major. Not a good win, but Murray stole it, and you'll always take a win against Philly.