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

[forty_three]

Bylsma won't reveal lineup.

It's not that he's being coy, he genuinely doesn't remember some of the players' names.

 

[Gooch1034]

It's not that he's being coy, he genuinely doesn't remember some of the players' names.

 

[dash]

Dan Bylsma is Newman?

 

[thedddd]

He hasn't specifically said yes Scuderi yet, either, so I guess there's something like hope.

Good point.

 

[element1286]

It's not that he's being coy, he genuinely doesn't remember some of the players' names.

Judging by his press conferences he seems to have trouble remembering much of anything.

 

[element1286]

He hasn't specifically said yes Scuderi yet, either, so I guess there's something like hope.

No don't that to me. Last thing I need is to think Dan actually figured out dressing the best players is the best way to win a game.

 

[pixburgher66]

I'll give Scuds some credit: in his now limited role he's done fairly well. I really like the D as it is currently established...soooo, stay injured Brooksy.

 

[element1286]

I'll give Scuds some credit: in his now limited role he's done fairly well. I really like the D as it is currently established...soooo, stay injured Brooksy.

So everyone is healthy you dress Scuds over Bortuzzo?

 

[Darkstone42]

I'll give Scuds some credit: in his now limited role he's done fairly well. I really like the D as it is currently established...soooo, stay injured Brooksy.

Imagine how much better he could be still if his role was further limited to being scratched!

We need more speed against New York. It's a matchup thing. This would be the ideal series for Despres to get into the lineup.

 

[thedddd]

Imagine how much better he could be still if his role was further limited to being scratched!

We need more speed against New York. It's a matchup thing. This would be the ideal series for Despres to get into the lineup.

Too bad he is with WBS in the playoffs. Because winning there is more important than the NHL club winning.

 

[element1286]

The part that terrifies me, I don't see how you can split up Martin and Letang now. So if Orpik is back, he will play, and so will Scuderi. Which means either Scuds and Letang which was really bad or Scuds and Orpik which is light myself on fire watching them play bad.

 

[thedddd]

So everyone is healthy you dress Scuds over Bortuzzo?

If healthy it truly should be Martin, Letang, Maatta, Niskanen, Orpik and Bortuzzo.

Then Despres should be in there but he is in WBS in the playoffs and I guess they value him too much there to call him up?

 

[Darkstone42]

Too bad he is with WBS in the playoffs. Because winning there is more important than the NHL club winning.

That just seems silly.

 

[element1286]

Yeah, I hear everyone on Borts vs Despres, but we know that situation. There is no excuse for Scuds over Borts.

 

[thedddd]

The part that terrifies me, I don't see how you can split up Martin and Letang now. So if Orpik is back, he will play, and so will Scuderi. Which means either Scuds and Letang which was really bad or Scuds and Orpik which is light myself on fire watching them play bad.

These two would be faster at getting to the puck than those two out there together.


Seriously it seems right now Scuds with anyone looks bad. When Maatta was with him he looked bad.

 

[pixburgher66]

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.

 

[thedddd]

That just seems silly.

It truly does but I have no clue why Despres would be in WBS outside of the fact they would never play him unless Orpik, Scuderi, Bortuzzo and Engelland were all hurt.

 

[Darkstone42]

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.

Despres is also a much better skater than any of those guys. He makes mistakes, but he can recover. The rest don't even have to make a mistake to get beat.

I don't want a guy on the back end who is just a PK specialist. If another defenseman goes down, you have to play him more, and I want someone I can trust with appreciable 5v5 time.

Scuderi can block passes and shots, but he loses all the puck races, can't move the puck up (which puts more pressure on his partner, which is probably why everyone looks bad with him), and turns the puck over a lot. He looks lost once the puck is on his stick, and that's a problem.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Play your slowest defensemen, please that way we can utilize our speed against you guys!

And, Maatta is now the enemy to me, as much as I like him.

 

[thedddd]

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.

The issue with Scuderi is has been super slow, hasn't played the body and became a human turnover machine.

If Orpik is healthy I would not mind Scuderi getting scratched in his place.

If Scuderi was only getting 10 minutes a game we probably wouldn't see him getting exposed but he is averaging 18 minutes a game.