Way, way (waaaaay) back in the day, before Chuck Noll and Mean Joe Greene and Terry Bradshaw led the Steelers to Super Bowl glory, if you asked a local football fan about the team’s chances they’d have likely replied “S.O.S.”
Short for Same Old Steelers.
I confess, I didn’t see much of the Penguins’ 3-2 exhibition loss to a scaled-down Sabres squad last night at PPG Paints Arena. Only snippets and highlights. However, it was enough to make me wonder if we’re S.O.P.—as in Same Old Penguins.
I was especially alarmed by the lack of fire and intensity on display. Apparently so was coach Mike Sullivan, who took his charges to task following a somnambulant first period.
I mean, if ever there’s a time for guys to be going all-out to make an impression, it’s the preseason, right? Instead of being stoked, there was a whole lot of languid on display.
Does the training staff secretly slip these guys saltpeter mickeys so they won’t take penalties?
Seriously.
The poster child in my book for tepid play?
Defenseman Ryan Shea.
Along with his partner, Sebastien Aho, the former Northeastern Huskie was on the ice for all three Buffalo goals.
On the Sabres’ opening goal, Shea lost a puck battle along the back wall to defenseman Zach Metsa, not exactly a behemoth at 5’9” and 181 pounds. With the Sabres’ scoring play set in motion, Shea skated slowly to the right circle to check Graham Slaggert, who promptly deflected the puck home.
It was more of the same on the game-winner, a power-play goal 6:42 into the third period. Shea again lost a puck battle on the end boards and, again, was slow to cover his man, Tyler Tullio, in the left circle. Tullio’s shot caromed off Aho (who didn’t exactly bathe himself in glory, either) and onto the waiting stick of Anton Wahlberg, who fired it home.
For the record, Shea goes 6’2” 200 but plays much smaller. The very definition of Michel Therrien’s “soff.” Rather than play the man, as he had ample opportunity to do, he seemed content to probe with his stick.
In Shea’s defense, the Pens’ coaching staff has long stressed stick-on-puck defense. The better for our ‘d’ not to get entangled with opposing forwards so they can join the rush. In all likelihood, the Massachusetts native was doing just as he’s been instructed to do.
However, there comes a time when a defenseman simply has to put an opposing forward on his wallet.
With an increased emphasis around the league on aggression and net-front play, we simply can’t afford to keep guys who can’t, don’t or won’t get physical.
Blomqvist Bounces Back
My colleague, Other Rick, took me to task for suggesting goalie Joel Blomqvist had a leaky first outing on Saturday. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Blomqvist rebounded nicely last night, stopping all 11 shots he faced after entering the contest midway through.
Looks good on ya, Joel. Also credit Sullivan for putting the kid right back on the horse that threw him.
Personal favorite Jack St. Ivany scored our first goal and played a strong, physical game, in the process hopefully cementing his claim to the third right-d slot. Kevin Hayes notched the other black-and-gold tally off a pretty setup from Cody Glass.
Skating on a line with twin buzz-saws Noel Acciari and Blake Lizotte, Anthony Beauvillier unleashed nine shot attempts, seven of which found the net. The trio combined for seven hits.
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I'm really beginning to wish Sully took that New Jersey job back in the summer. This team could use a year or two of a Therien or even Mike Johnston to learn to play defense again and not be afraid to hit while getting ice time for the kids. Then bring in a Sully or Bylsma that lets the offense loose again. We can't afford another year of S.O.P. Get busy winning or get busy losing and drafting the next wave of talent.
Hey Nick.
I'm in total agreement on Sullivan. While I don't think he's a bad coach, I don't think he's a genius either. And like every other coach who's stood behind an NHL bench, he has a shelf life. I think Sully exceeded his freshness date in '22-23 and would've moved on from him when we fired Hextall/Burke.
While there's no arguing with his successes...or that he could be successful again in the right situation...I'm tired of his system and the restrictions he places on roster construction. In that regard he reminds me of a latter day version of Kevin Constantine, although not quite as rigid.
I do think adding David Quinn to the coaching staff might be a plus in terms of freshening things up a bit. He and Sullivan have an obvious chemistry that he hasn't had with any of his assistants, except for maybe Tocchet.
To your last point about getting busy winning or getting busy losing, I thought Dubas was setting the stage for a teardown earlier this summer. He now seems to have done an about-face in that regard. While I really liked the McGroarty trade (the Glass deal may pan out, too), it's hard for me to see us being much different...or better...than we've been the past two seasons.
Rick
Hey Rick,
1) So, is Beaulivier really Donimik Simon 2.0? Flying all over the place while accomplishing nothing. = According to the NHL web site, 7 SOG, 3 AB, and 1 MS, 10 total Shot Attempts and no Goals.
2) I like St. Ivany over Aho too, but the Goal he scored is part of the problem with the Defense - he drove the net after making a drop pass just inside the blue-line to Johnson. Fortunately for the Pens it worked for a change. If the Pens hadn't found the proverbial needle in the haystack on that play, and things ran their normal course, the Sabres would have come steaming back the other way with an odd-man break and a Penguins' defenseman (once again) trapped behind the opposing Goal.
3) It was a scaled down team Buffalo put against the Pens, perhaps even a tired team. they were on the back-end of back-to-back games, having beat Columbus the night before 6-1. And there 3 game in 4 days. They have had significantly less time to practice than Sully's squad. Even though the Pens were not playing their opening lineup several players that are projected to be in that opening lineup were in that lineup and they failed against that scaled down, tired team. Opponents were still getting behind their defense. They were still getting out muscled. And as you alluded to, that tried Sabres' team knocked down any Pens that tried to get to their net while our Pens just welcomed opponents with open arms and even showed them where the good silverware was. As you said, S.O.P.
4) You give Blomqvist half a chance to stop the puck and he will. Last night, thanks mainly to exhaustion and stripped down lineup the Sabres could not get the same extended zone time and 8 SOG in a 5 minute span (like the previous game) and the kid stoned them.