For the first part of the opening period I thought the the Pens were on track to take one in Detroit. They were dominating play in a very fast-paced first period. When Detroit’s Niklas Kronwall took a tripping penalty, I thought the Pens were poised to take this game over. Unfortunately, momentum has a way of shifting the flow of a game. Detroit did a marvelous job killing the Kronwall penalty. This penalty kill, much like Staal’s shorthanded goal, changed the momentum of the game. Pittsburgh was never able to mount any kind of a comeback. It was all Detroit for the balance of the game.
Notes:
- The Penguins have to be able to put this game behind them. They get to come home and play in front of what is hopefully a raucous home crowd and turn the series around again. This is where true character is defined. The Pens are going to have to really step up and send a similar message to Detroit as they head back to the “Joe” to determine the champion.
The Wings have outscored us 11 – 4 while even strength. The score of Saturday’s game is an indication of why you don’t want to get behind these guys. I really think the Pens respond well as these young kids don’t seem to let this affect them. If you spend too much time in the penalty box these type of scores happen. The Pens still have what I consider a good shot of sending this back to Detroit.
I keep reading about Hall Gill’s wing span and size and how Scuderi has to be signed in a few message boards and blogs. What for?
Neither of these two should be on the ice when Crosby’s or Malkin’s line is out there. There’s no inserting Goligoski at this point but you’d better believe he’ll be there next season. Scuderi gets that unsung hero stuff like the where’s Ziggy stuff. In reality Gonchar should be paired with Orpik, and Letang with Eaton every time it’s possible with Crosby and Malkin. This team is based on offensive pressure and Gill and Scuderi when on the ice with the first two lines . . . limit the offense.
Gill and Suderi aren’t doing either of them (Crosby and Malkin) any favors and frankly the word “shutdown” being used with these two doesn’t apply in this series. They aren’t shutting down anything and neither do much except get the puck out of their zone. Out of the zone doesn’t mean any on the money offensively oriented passes coming out of our own zone. Usually it’s out of the zone to the oppenent in the neutral zone.
Gill and Scuderi should be paired with Staal’s line and the 4th line. Let this offense play like they can instead of stymied by our “shutdown” guys.
I still confident we will take two, however.
Good points, there is no doubt that the Scuds and Gill should not be with the top two lines whenever possible. Aside from not making good passes out of the zone, they only know to dump the puck into the corners while in the offensive zone. Would it kill them to occasionally shoot at the net. That said, I do think (last game aside) they play well in the defensive zone. Scuderi has a knack for getting his stick on the puck and Gill can be effective in front.
I read somewhere on here that Ziggy was good to go if he was needed – I think the e-wall. I wonder if he is needed now?
Who were those mask men who played for the Penguins on Saturday night? I certaintly didn’t recognize any of them.
Back breaking game. Cannot believe the Penguins let themselves get out of control. LETS PUT UP OR SHUTUP!
I BELIEVE!
GO PENZ!
Does anyone know if Ziggy is ready?? We need to win some face-offs and we really don’t need a fourth line so put in Boucher and Ziggy out comes Satan, Dupuis
Marc-Andre should have had Cleary’s goal and the penalty on Kunitz for interfeence was stupid, even Edzo thought it was questionable, and he hates the Pen’s McGuire is an donkey. Bill should have asked him to be his MONSTER
The non-play of the night was when McGuire keep asking Guerin, “Are you alright – Are you alright, Bill?” and Guerin responded, “Yea, I’m alright.” Instead of punching the bald-headed jackasses lights out. At the very least he should have butt-ended him in the mouth.
One of Guerin’s other non-plays is coming back to the net and screening Fluery instead playing the Red Wing point players agressively. As for McGuire, he shouldn’t have to search reasons why he didn’t get that Minnesota job. What a tool.
By the way, I would like to thank Excuses on the South Side for having Krundle and Dunlop yesterday for their “Excuses Golf Outing”. It was a really great day. After the golf festivities, we got to watch the game on Excuses projection screen with some of the greatest Penguins fans in town. Unfortunately, the outcome was not as we had hoped, but we will get them next time.