It sure was heartening to see our Penguins stave off the Rangers Sunday afternoon in a rousing 6-5 scoring duel to kick off Hockey Day in America. It marked the black-and-gold’s third win in four games…one that at least temporarily vaulted them back into a wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
But make no mistake…our boys are in a battle. And, as I’d noted a couple of weeks earlier, the playoffs are anything but a sure bet.
I’m especially concerned about our defense…or lack of. The Pens haven’t allowed less than 30 shots on goal in a game since a 5-2 loss to San Jose on January 15. Since that time, they’ve yielded an average of 36.6 shots per 60 minutes. Overall, they’ve yielded 33.6 shots on goal per game…fourth most in the league.
Broadening the scope, we’ve yielded a staggering 2908 shot attempts in five-on-five play. Only the rebuilding Senators have allowed more.
Factor in the countless breakaways and odd-man breaks against, goalies Matt Murray and Casey DeSmith are facing down a veritable blizzard of rubber, not to mention sustained pressure on a nightly basis.
While our success has never been predicated on defense, that’s way too much shot activity, never mind all the pucks trickling past Murray and DeSmith of late. Dating back to a 5-3 loss to Chicago on January 6, the Pens have leaked for 67 goals over an 18-game stretch, a bloated average of 3.69 goals against per game.
It’s hardly surprising that our games have taken on the feel of track meets, where our only recourse is to rely on our supremely talented core to outscore the opposition. The victory over the Rangers was a prime example. Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang potted four of our six goals while Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel chipped in with five assists combined.
That’ll only get you so far.
Frankly, Carolina worries me. The Hurricanes, perched a lone point behind our guys in the Eastern Conference playoff chase, have gone 15-5-1 since New Year’s Eve. Fast, skilled and hungry, they’ve evolved into a legit playoff-caliber team under first-year coach Rod Brind’Amour.
In stark contrast to the Pens, they’ve allowed the fewest shots on goal in the league…an average of only 28.2 per game. The ‘Canes five-on-five shot attempts percentage…an enviable 54.96 compared to our shabby 49.13.
Dating back to a 5-2 victory over Vancouver on January 23, the Hurricanes have yielded just 18 goals over a 10-game stretch, including three shutouts in their past seven.
Talk about a team “playing the right way,” to coin one of Mike Sullivan’s favorite catchphrases.
Which team would you rather be at this juncture?
Fortunately, the locals aren’t the only Metro heavyweight to battle with inconsistency. Although they’re 5-2 in their last seven, the Blue Jackets have blown hot-and-cold all season long. Likewise, defending Cup champ Washington has struggled (9-8-3 since New Year’s Eve). But we can’t count on them taking a bow and fading from contention any time soon.
Which means Sullivan and his staff must somehow address the Pens’ mounting defensive issues, to say nothing of the team’s nagging tendency to play in spurts. An embarrassing trait that’s resulted in countless lackluster efforts, not to mention blown opportunities for points. None more glaring than the team’s three losses to tonight’s foe, New Jersey, by a combined score of 15-6.
While the addition of Justin Schultz should help with the team’s defensive play, there’s only so much one man can do. Especially since Olli Maatta, quietly effective, went down with a separated shoulder. The fact that Sullivan seems mostly unwilling to tweak his attack-oriented system doesn’t help.
Just my opinion. But perhaps it’s time to give assistant coach Jacques Martin a greater say. During a highly successful coaching career that spanned 1294 NHL games, Martin’s teams always played sound defense. That included the undermanned Montreal squad that used a box defense to upset our defending Cup champions back in the 2010 playoffs.
My guess is Martin could devise a hybrid system that would help the Pens cut down on the grievous amount of shots and shot attempts against, without robbing the team of its offensive identity.
It’s certainly worth a try. Especially with a playoff berth hanging in the balance.
Honestly, I do not see Duchene staying with Columbus that long and having a great relationship with Tortella that will benefit him. He’s wants to be on contending team and special group of players. I see Panarain, Bob and Duchene not on this team after this season.
He’s a pure rental that is not gonna sign there. Columbus May be small strong contend and reach nowhere deeper on the playoffs.
I really want to know to see again what Rutherford offer Colorado two years ago to get Duchene… I can’t help it. Picks and prospects he gave up for Brassard could’ve easily went for Duchene. Hell Charlie Coyle and Bottom Defensemen like Nick Jensen.
Pretty inexplicable. I wondering not signing well trading him years ago would have put Penguins defense open to have money for new defenseman and L/R wingers for two top lines..
Rutherford needs get his act together and do something about coaching on defense structure , two better Defensemen,a fowards that can beat players butt, Goalie and ditch Johnson. I don’t wanna be rude to Murray at all. It just time to move on.i appreciate his services for B2b cups. He just isn’t the 1A type goalie for this team.. I think he should have play last night and tomorrow night .
Teams are getting stronger and tryna be top contenders that wanna walk over them.
I really wish we could John Gibson from Anaheim.. Something is very off and not exciting about this team. It like they can be themselves and they do that Mike Sullivan will axed them ..
Rutherford has wasted a lot of money on Johnson, Sheary, Sheahan,Jimmy Hayes,Grant among other things..He should’ve kept RyanReaves and Ian Cole .. Whether Mike Sullivan likes it not..
I think Penguins should’ve went after Charlie Coyle and two other players.. I feel a bad situation will happen with Blueger, McCann and Bjugstad being misused like Brassard among other players mismanagement on the team.
I stand firm on 87,71 59,81,72,8,4,3 are untouchables.. they are the untouchable cores on this team. Moving players like them will leave a sour taste in their mouth especially 87 and 71.. 81 72 means a lot to them..
Hey Everyone,
I tried to keep myself thoughts to myself and conversations that I had withom around this team. I can’t. I stated many times this season about Penguins biggest problems and disconnect thst have some players struggling a lot.
I will continue to rooting for the organization , 87, 81, 72, 81, 4,2,3 17,and 59 I could careless about anyone else. Others needs to be traded and two coaches needs to be fired.
I saw this last season from a mile a away..it has carry over and consistently gotten worse this team.
I find it very disheartening that all speed, hungry, essential, work hard and devoting supporting cast has dismantled and not replaced around two elite players that go out their way to carry this team on their back.
I’m more baffling that Rutherford wants to back up a bad player and have no idea bout giving Prow a chance on defense. He’s worrry about Zack Trotmam..
That a coach have no structure that have game in adjustments and game plans to beat teams against their forecheck. Mike Sullivan’s system is weak. He’s repetitive and has inability to objectively put players in position to succeed, play deserving players and this team a place to be a better hard team on those. He’s stale , in denial and very lost. He’s embarrassing the Penguins every game. He continues to play Johnson in top 4 capacity and have not limited Letang minutes.
Dumoulin is the best defenseman on the blue line. I would it too Schultz if he didn’t get injured. I know he will find his big stride as season move along.
Penguins are over coached and have no identity to together. Mike Sullivan doesn’t let that happen. He thinks lines shuffling and bad line combos will help them win games. Schultz should be Penguins top powerplay goalie.
I see consistently Crosby and Malkin are getting run over and fighting when they should not be doing for this team at this stage of their careers. Not all. 81, 59 and 72 as well.
Unreal. That Crosby and Malkin best year ahead years are being wasted and have no real support cohesion cast. I see the constant frustration and defeat on Crosby and Malkin face.
There’s no way a team with so much talent is constructed like this on the ice.
I blame Rutherford ina sense that he doesn’t not lay his foot down that he wants this player to play on this team. He speaks it among others in organization and media. He lets Mike Sullivan do whatever that’s different that he has plans for this team. He’s scrambling to much to trade players and strengthen the root of issues on this team. Mike Sullivan has push put out players that are capable to get the job done.
I found it strange a player like Ethan Prow and Rudwedel has not play a lot games. Johnson has sat multiple game in the press box where he deserves to be. Riikola and Pettersson should play in WBS or in a trade to get a proven ready nhl player to spark this team defensively on the back end.
Penguins Defense is very weak and get outmuscled on the ice. Bad transition that doesn’t connect to fowards. Malkin and , Kessel , Guentzel, Hornqvist, Crosby are constantly defending and defending with no way to get offensive pressure. They are tired and fatigued every shift.
Everyone can suck up to Kris Letang. He isn’t not very good . He’s defensive liability. A lot times offensively bad hole with bad decisions and awareness that hurts this team. He’s bad defensively.
It seems to me he can be very bad all game with some decent ok plays with Crosby’s hard for him to get a point. He get passes and a lot. Letang isn’t not shutdown guy , two way hockey defenseman and quality natural quarterback. I get it. You can blame all players on top pp unit for different reasons. C’mon. Penguins powerplay is mess with him. It’s to much passes, bad, shots, unaware farts and cuteness from that hurts the top unit powerplay. From I’ve seen multiple times Schultz is better Defensemen with awareness, calmness and consistency to let the powerplay flow to get a goal through goals.
Penguins needs to shore up their defense core. That’s removing Letang and Johnson. IMO. Dumoulin and Schultz should be the top pairing. I don’t know how many times I can put that on here to speak it in existence. Johnson needs to go. Bad and Brutal that he’s a toxic to every player on this team. Every player is weighing down with him on the ice. Eye test is very sad to see.
Goaltending is very poor and very badly run for games. Murray is a very coddled goalie. I see that organization know he isn’t their number 1 guy and don’t know what to do. It starts with Mike Sullivan. Call me out. I don’t care Murray should’ve play last night and Saturday..
I have a lot more to say.. I will leave it. .. I know Penguins are in trouble. Mike Sullivan should’ve been firing last year.. in November.. Rutherford needs to go after type 1A durable goalie.. Give Prow and A.Johnson a chance .. Trade Pearson and Simon..Bad Trade.. idc .. Penguins should’ve kept Hagelin.. Zar too..limit Letang minutes.. Request better from Mike Sullivan.. Fire him later..I will stick to my guns about Mike Sullivan that his expiration date is here. He’s to concern about game to game not good solution. He isn’t evaluating and bring solutions to this team on the ice…
I see a coach and general manager dismantling team slowly to straws without no one holding them accountable. Players are getting blame to much and hiding behind two stars to get them to the finish line..
I hope Lemieux jumps in to put people in their places.. To many passengers ,
coddling weak goaltending and weak coaching thats detriment of this team.
Penguins needs to trade:
Letang
Murray
ZAr
Simon
Pearson
Johnson
Hey Dee,
I am in agreement with most of what you say.
It is getting tough to watch the same old song and dance with
the brain trust expecting different results.
The team has average 37.7 shots against through this month (February).
This is the time teams start buckling down.
Not Sullivan.
37.7 shots against isn’t good defense.
Numbers like that suggest that the team check the waiver wire for help.
Prow? H. E. Double Hockey sticks, with numbers like this you could have half of WBS up here and get the same result. Keep Dumo and Letang and change out the rest.
Our only diverging point is goaltending.
Our Goalies have been under seige but are doing a pretty solid job of weathering the storm – that is why there still appears to be some hope (albeit false hope.)
Despite the deluge of shots the 2 goalies have stopped 36 of 414 shots they have faced with 1 ENG. DeSmith and Murray have a combined Sv% of 0.913 which isn’t all that bad; Murray’s personal Sv% is 0.925 while DeSmith’s is 0.900.
(MAF this month has a Sv% of 0.894)
Murray’s 0.925 Sv% puts him in the top 3rd of the league even though he is being left hung out to dry by AHL defensemen playing in the NHL and old time Rovers employed as D-men.
Agree on some points.
I’m not keeping Kris Letang.
It time to move from him. He’s the main culprit via eye test that very brutal with the puck. Defense liability and only care about points. I’m very sorry I may be really bad Letang not so apologist on here. He turns the puck over to much , not great powerplay quarterback among things. Määttä , Schultz and Dumoulin should stay and surround other name around them. I see no problem with them and I see them being held back from catering everything to Letang. Like I said over and over I believe removing Letang with two years on his contract will benefit this team.
Johnson, Riikola , Pettersson have no business on this team. Not very good players … I guess will disagree on Letang and Murray
We can sit up here defend Murray all we want. Murray is not it. Yes . Defense needs to be better. Regardless, numbers and stats that goes for Letang eye test tells a different story on them.
Murray struggling a lot in net. A lot of times unprepared, leaky, out of control , off angle, very injured prone, bad glove, and not a reliable goalie that will take over game consistently to get a win. He’s happens to be coddled. I do not care about b 2 b cups and some save prevent from a month ago. Murray is below average goaltending that can play a full season. He has been very bad for the last two – three years.
I’m trading Murray and Letang for picks, prospects and proven players. Penguins need better solid goaltending and shore up defensively..
I will continue to say it Pens will not win a cup with Letang and Johnson still on the roster together. Letang is having ok decent season where you trade him. A lot of games he turn the pucks over 3-5 badly, weapon for opposing teams and I’ll advised passing with brutal out of position defensively..He seems to wants to only work hard for offensive and hid behind Crosby..
With removing Johnson and Letang .. you get about 11 million dollars ..it is what it is…
MAF isn not in this conversation. I get it.
Penguins needs to get 1 a type goalie. I would go after Jimmy Howard with giving up a first pick..
I have no faith in Murray, Letang, Johnson, Pearson, Simon, Zar, Wilson and Pettersson on this team. Mike Sullivan as well. I’m sorry. I’m tired of the emotions and free passes to Letang and Murray . I’m tired of seeing Letang too busy jumping into rush and aggressively pinching. Not defending and bad powerplay quarterback. Passing to defenders and very high risk hockey from him.. I’m tired of see Johnson deploying and bad hockey on the ice that wears this team down..
All I see is people give free passes for him getting points and not his overall game from start to finish.. Johnson always coughing up the puck to keep fowards to defend in their zone. Letang does it too…
Hockey is business. It time to move from Murray and Letang..
Everything should be about Crosby and Malkin. They deserve better and better supporting cast with reliable goaltender that isn’t getting coddled and fill with excuse..better coaching.. 59, 8, 72, 81, 4,3 has nothing to do with it. They are trying hard to do their job with assignments given to them with Mike Sullivan..
Defense can better and Murray needs to be better. Several times he geting out play on the ice from other goalies. Very leaky goalie and make himself very small in the net. Murray deserves to criticize and should be on trading block soon or later.. MURRAY IS NOT TOP NUMBER 1 type goalie that can get this team through the season and playoffs. He can’t play a least 35-45 games without being consistent..
Without giving first round pick ****
Määttä?
Määttä is very great sound defensive quiet defenseman that has been saddled with bottom level replacement players that do not help him and anchor him on the ice. Hes very good offensively and very sound positioning. Great Pk defender.. Very great gap control and consistency with awareness.. he’s good with transition when skates out with puck and have defensive/offensive assignments that speak to his skill set that have a better partner..
High hockey iq and takes hits to get puck out..etc…
He’s has multiple different partners with no consistency. Take on more defensive work to prop up others to accommodate bad Jack Johnson who do not belongs to play in the top4 . Solid on both ends of the rink.
Great shot when he use it.
He’s top #4 with partner that can defend and put out sane things he does on the ice. I bet Määttä not injury will be great with Schultz again or better RHD partner if Dumoulin and Schultz get paired together..
Dumoulin? Very , very good defensively. Very solid on both end of the rink. Great Boxing out players. Great gap control and stick work. Great positioning and transition with he get a chance to skate out with the puck. Määttä does it as well..He often doing his job and takes on Letang poorly work on the ice that get him in trouble. Great offensive and defensive instincts .Great speedy skater..High hockey iq. He can put up some more points here and there if he isn’t to busy covering Letang. I’ve seen many occasions that Dumoulin is very good with and without Letang. He can blossom more without propping up Letang all the time. He’s has matured every season and is great #1 defender… He’s evolved into quiet force on the ice. Great leadership..
Great shot when he get opportunity to display it.
Schultz? Very , very good offensively and defensively. Great transition game and awareness on the ice. High hockey iq. Very calm, quiet , effective demeanor with leadership. Sound positioning and great gap control..
Smooth effective speedy skater. Great natural quarterback for powerplay.. great offensive and defensive instincts.. Very unselfish and willing to do whatever it takes without thinking about points.. Hell of bomb shot on the ice. Great off the rush. Know when to pinch and to sit back on the blue line to defend when necessarily. That goes for Määttä and Dumoulin.. Can play in all game situations too. Määttä little hampers it at times. Etc..
I’m quite sure if they get equal ice time and better time to blossom on the ice. Penguins will be great defensively..
Schultz can still put up 40-50 points and still be defensively mature on the for the this team.
All I can say.. these players are doing what they supposed to do on the ice. They deserve better from coaching..
Schultz and Dumoulin are leaders to me .. they are better fit for team structure.. Määttä too. I will defend all of them to play in the top 4 with better partner..
I never thought Letang fit this team structure and business to lead this Defense core to be effective on the ice.. Penguins needs more defense and awareness from Letang.. not some garbage riding cock tails of Crosby and Malkin ..
I will continue to defend position on it. This all about Crosby and Malkin. Letang is not on the same level as them in any regard to this team.
Dumoulin-Schultz
Määttä-? ( RHD, Prow )
?-?
Hey Dee,
That was a typo, I meant to say Dumo and Schultz, not Dumo and Letang.
I was thinking about going into a Letang rant so that is probably why I accidentally put his name out there.
I am all for trading Letang, I agree 100%.
That 7.1 mil could go for Panarin, Duchene, or Stone.
I am not completely down on Maatta, I left him out of the conversation of who to keep because of his injury. He is young so part of me would give him a chance but he is $4 mil and between him and Letang ~ $11 mil could be freed up.
I have other thoughts on trades that will probably stir the pot here and I am saving them for another time. However, I will say this, I would definitely look to getting at least 2 of the 3 names I mention above for next season so I would need more $$$$ cap space.
Above all Sully and JR would be gone and Guerin would be the new GM.
Hey,
Well..
I’m not giving up Määttä and I think he deserves to stay.. his cap hit is not a problem to me. He does his job very quite and effectively.. So I don’t understand the reason everyone has their nose out to always put him off this team. He’s a top 4 to me with great effective partner..
He’s worth is cap hit and I would take him over Riikola, Pettersson, Letang and Johnson very day of the week..
He’s second best Pk, great defensively and do a lot of things that goes unnoticed that people only concern with his small foot speed..
I guess we will disagree there.. Letang and Johnson are my choices.. Pettersson and Riikola can get buried somewhere. I would get a new bottom effective LHDand RHD for Määttä.. Give Prow a chance on bottom pairing..
http://www.thepointofpittsburgh.com/potential-inflammatory-article-alert-olli-maatta-has-been-really-good-this-year/
I have more videos and other things that tell why Määttä deserves to stay with this team.
IT IS WHAT IT IS…
Määttä, Dumoulin and Schultz deserves to stay
One LHD and two RHD will do magic..
Hey Dee,
Sorry about the temporary block. PPoop’s spam blocker blocks anything with a link to another website in it. It is the only way to keep out spam comments.
Duchene gone. Hockey radio mention Stone and the Penguins today. They also mentioned Vegas and Calgary. Personally I think the Pens need to go after Jonathan Quick. I have never been a Howard fan.
If the Pens could somehow involve Johnson in the trade it would be a huge bonus. Any Penguins goalie + Johnson and a first round pick for Quick & Martinez would be perfect.
Probably for salary sakes, the Pens would have to send Murray and I would be fine with that. DeSmith starting last night against the #3 top scoring Sharks, shows the Pens have lost faith in Murray.
Hey Phil,
I totally forget about Quick and I thought Howard was the only available goalie to help this team.
I wasn’t looking at goalies on trade block that much.
I wouldn’t mind Quick . As long as he’s very durable and reliable for this team. He do what he need every game.
I believe Penguins been lost faith in mUrray long time go. People within the organization have been talking about that and some starting to see Sully seems to be coddling him to much. I think they keep giving him chance to be better. I see Rutherford is a little blind with blinders. He thinks his goalie abilities is fine. I disagree.
I know we have our disagreements on certain things. I just hoping you are seeing what I see around this team with Mike Sullivan.
Rutherford trading Murray and Johnson will be great in my book.
IMO. Crosby, Malkin, Kessel , Guentzel Hornqvist , Dumoulin and Schultz are all untouchable to me .
I know that Kessel , Malkin and Hornqivst gotta get going . I believe and have several talks with people that it’s Sullivan and weak system that Defensemen are not winning puck battle to transition to fowards.
Whether we agree on this. I would like to keep Kessel until his contract expires. Sullivan needs to be better to players with better line combos, consistency and well oiled evolving system that make them be hard to play against.
I’m little baffling to see others want to blame players and not the coaching staff.
I’m annoyed today they only practice special teams and did not practice way to have formula to be Flyers teams. Several times this season Penguins are not really practice stuff that help them..
Crosby and Malkin need help with names above to get this team to another level.
Penguins are 2013-2014 Penguins without Malkin and Crosby driving forces higher in points.
Rutherford needs to get it together and do something big pertaining to goaltending and defense. He missed his opportunity with Duchene two years ago.. Pretty sad.
I think Penguins organization needs to fired Sullivan and Reechi. Give Rutherford a chance to pull something off this TDL then you fired him. I do not mind Bill Gueurin at all. I think Penguins would be better off with new eyes that have nothing to do with organization with them assisting him.
I would looking to get Coach Q on board and probably Cullen ( someone else)to help behind the bench with Martin And Gochar.
Agree.
Trading Murray and Johnson is great recipe.. Give Jarry a chance to grow and get his fair shot that Sully seem to never want to give him.
On TDL Do you have faith Rutherford?
I don’t know if other comments on here about Määttä stick here..
I’m not giving him up.. that’s just me..
Duchene has been traded to Columbus Blue Jackets..
http://www.thepointofpittsburgh.com/potential-inflammatory-article-alert-olli-maatta-has-been-really-good-this-year/
Määttä is very, very good from what I have seen and deserves better partner with great cap hit.. Whether people want to admit he’s a very great defenseman that will be missed and has a great contract on this team.
I have video and stats to proof it.. I watch him closely and does his job quite effectively on the ice
Letang, Pearson, Johnson give you millions to move the needle for something on defense and goaltending..
Hi Rick
Talking to one of my local friends today about the Pen’s and he raised a good
point. League Parity. There are a lot of good teams that have an abundance of young talent in their minor systems and or currently playing on their 3rd and fourth lines. Come trading deadline they have the advantage over a team like the Pen’s who simply do NOT have the same numbers or caliber of talent.
We all talk about Jimmy making the big trade at the deadline and somehow all will be well and off we go to the play offs. That will not happen this year.
His trade with Florida was sheer genius while his trade to Dallas of big d man Jamie Oleksiak for only a 4th round pick was not a good one in my opinion.Jimmy does not have many pieces left to deal. Mattaa has gone down to injury.He was a possibility.
This 2019 Pens team has many holes compared to the previous years and at best we are first round and done team as currently configured. Maybe we do not make it at all. One more injury to a key player and we are gone for 2019 !
What happens next year? Justin Schultz, Matt Murray are expecting BIG raises. Jake’s new contract comes on line.There goes the salary cap increase. The future is getting dim and we must make the decision to trade one or more of the core to get any REAL improvement next year.
My thoughts …Many will disagree…
Cheers
Jim
Hey Jim,
Great to hear from you! Good comments as always.
I don’t see any way to make that big trade this year, either, though it’s fun to speculate and nice to hope. But, I’ll throw this out there anyway. I would give serious consideration to trading Kessel if an “interested” winger were available who would be a good fit. I don’t think Phil wants to skate for this coach anymore, and if you aren’t going to sit him then trade him. He’s thoroughly uninterested. I keep hearing and reading that at any moment he’ll snap out of it. He sure doesn’t look like a player intent on snapping out of anything, least of all the nap he’s been taking. Nice chunk of cap space to work with, too. A top six winger, and maybe a few high draft picks… Something to think about.
It may not get them to the cup, or even the playoffs. Trade or no trade, they have their destiny in their own hands, but another top six winger who gives a damn couldn’t hurt. It would be better than a top six winger who’s been asleep on his skates for the past month.
– 55
Hey Jim and 55,
I want to jump in on this. I liked Oleksiak, but he was pretty much the most expendable of the defense. I would have rather seen Johnson or Ruhwedel go, but I’m guessing there isn’t a team that would take them. The only other option would have been to ship Riikola or Pettersson down and neither of them had done anything to deserve that. It would completely send the wrong message to the player.
55 you bring up an interesting point with Kessel. I don’t think he is not playing for the coach as much as he is just a streaky player. He stops believing in his shot, then starts to force bad passes. I could be wrong.
Trading Kessel would open up a spot that could handle a superstar with “Brassard Syndrome” (I just used Brassard as the example for the acronym). A swap for Matt Duchene would be incredible, but you go from a Kessel who is signed for three more years to a guy who might not sign next year. Ottawa would have to let Rutherford talk to Duchene and see if he would be interested in signing.
Otherwise, I’m kind of digging the lines right now.
Crosby-Guentzel-Rust
Malkin-Aston-Reese-Kessel
Bjudstad-McCann-Hornqvist
Cullen-Blueger/Simon-Wilson
Sullivan is switching out Blueger and Simon depending on the other teams speed. Malkin’s line is cycling in the offensive zone for the first time in who knows how long. Crosby’s line has been doing it all year. Hornqvist finally has a spot that works for him.
Hi Phil,
I don’t know, re: Kessel. I think this rift has been brewing between Kessel and Sullivan since last year’s playoffs, even though Phil was good earlier in the season and things seemed to have settled. In any event, he’s excruciating to watch. While he still looks engaged on the power play, to some degree, five-on-five he’s nearly invisible, and it doesn’t appear to bother him.
I may be wrong, and in this case I hope I am. But, I’ve always been interested in what’s going on behind the scenes, in their heads. Some players, and coaches, give it away with their body language and sometimes what seem to be throw-away comments. They’re red flags for me, and right now, I’m seeing them. I’m still of the mind there’s something more here than a player on a bender.
I realized before it happened that Oleksiak was the odd man out. I realize, too, sometimes those deals have to happen. They happen all the time. And, they’re often in a player’s best interest. It wouldn’t have helped Oleksiak to sit in the press box night after night. I still miss him, though. Then again, I miss any player who knocks people down.
As for Duchene, I’m not a fan of rental players for this team at this time. He most likely would be that. If they had a legitimate shot at another cup, maybe take a flyer on it. I don’t honestly think they do, and I’m not convinced that even someone with Duchene’s pedigree can change that. They have other problem areas that would have to go unaddressed to accommodate a Duchene, unless they traded Kessel, or a player at that level. Are they ready to do that? Probably not yet (though it wouldn’t surprise me).
– 55
Hey Rick,
Amen! But, these aren’t “mounting” defensive insufficiencies, they’ve been nagging for some time, going back to last year at least. I said it in my pre-season prediction, and I’ll say it again, this team needs to be an offensive powerhouse that no one can stop because they can’t stop anyone.
But, it’s a catch 22, isn’t it? The veritable rock and a hard place. Malkin has to be Malkin, or none of this matters. They need at least two scoring lines, and they need to stop the other guy from scoring. It’s the chicken or the egg.
I don’t see how they land a big time winger for Malkin, and a worthy defensive candidate. That would be the best case scenario. I’ve been cautiously optimistic with Aston-Reese’s recent showing on Malkin’s wing. Maybe that’ll hold ’em until they think of something else. They can plug in Rust there, too. Bjugstad is off to a bit of a slow start. Maybe he needs more time, but they don’t have that luxury. And, hopefully, they get Hornqvist back with Sid at some point, if he gets it going. Yes, there are questions on offense, but they’re somewhat better equipped in that department than they are on D.
Here’s the big thing for me: More than anything else I’m seeing, they stink in their own end more often than not. It’s been a glaring weakness for a long time. This Keystone Kops two-reeler playing in front of the net isn’t funny. It isn’t any wonder they spend what seems like two thirds of every game in their own zone. Our goalies have to be great. Every second shift there’s an unimpeded opponent, puck on stick, zeroing in on them at top speed. Over 200 hundred shots faced in the last five games ain’t the road to a cup, and maybe not even the post season. That has to change, too.
They need a defensive structure and they need to be serious about it. It has to be a priority. Solid defense is what wears down the other team. So, yes, by all means, turn Martin loose and let him give it his best shot.
If I had to guess, should they make another deal, I’m going with them getting a winger. I’ll, of course, be hoping it’s not a repeat of Phil’s heretofore monikered “The Brassard Syndrome.” However, I’d sure like to see another shut down guy on the blue line. Someone who’s gonna kick ass and take names. If they could play five-on-five defense with the dedication and urgency they play the PK, they’d have something working for them.
I don’t care if they have to play the dreaded trap, they have to get a hold on D or they’ll have two goalies in therapy for PTSD, and early tee times.
– 55
Hey 55,
Always so good to hear from you and read your comments.
Like you, I wince every time opposing teams set up shop in the Penguins’ zone. If I didn’t know better, I’d say our foes were playing with a man advantage because that’s what it looks like. We chase the puck around and wave our sticks in the general direction of opposing players, as if the composite appendage was some sort of magic wand with supernatural powers.
A small handful of players aside, we have absolutely no physical presence in our own end. And when one of our guys does deliver a check…like Marcus Pettersson had the temerity to do against Calgary over the weekend…he usually gets a butt whipping for his trouble.
You mention acquiring a shut-down defenseman capable of kicking some arse. When Maatta went down, all I could do was lament how nice it would’ve been to have Jamie Oleksiak step in. Alas, so much spilled milk at this stage.
I keep thinking back to your comments of the past fall, when you mentioned attending a training camp session and watching the defensemen work almost exclusively on stick-on-puck techniques and moving the puck to the forwards as quickly as possible.
Great in theory, perhaps. When the rubber hits the ice? Not so much.
Not that this is all on our defensemen. The forwards obviously play a huge role in the team’s overall defensive scheme. However, as you so duly noted, there almost seems to be a complete lack of structure. A fire drill waiting to happen, if you will.
I really hate to be negative. But if we don’t find a way to tighten things up, I don’t think we’re going to make the playoffs.
I only hope they prove me wrong …
Rick