Game Thread: Penguins GNT/GDT week 1 (Oct 5 - Oct 11)

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Scouty is right, there's no excuse for Sid to be a complete nonfactor with Kessel on his left and Kunitz on his right. No excuses for Sid this season at all, this is a very talented lineup, they should be like a power play whenever they're on the ice.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Coyotes look a lot faster than us and are pushing us hard in our own zone. Look for the Yotes to take a quick 1-0 lead

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

OMG, Yotes are toying with us

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Puck possession is all Yotes, even on our own PP

 

[thedddd]

FInally showing some life late in this game. Sprong seems to be their best player right now.
And I still can't believe Smith made both those saves.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Mike Smith was outstanding, but funny how every goalie we face seems to be in the zone. Now we face Carey Price. If we get just 1 goal I'll be happy.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Jagr had 2 goals last night against the Flyers. That's twice as many goals as the Pens have this whole season

Not a big fan of this Mike Johnston system. If you can't put up goals with this much star power then it's a sign that you have no clue what you're doing. Defense isn't as bad as I thought it would be tho.

Oh well, first time since circa 2002-04, Pens are a boring team to watch. But in fairness to those early 2000s teams, they played for a lot less than the players we have now.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

We have guys like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel, & Kris Letang running the power play yet we can't even apply any offensive pressure with a man advantage...

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Only good thing about all this is that no one could blame MAF for the Pens' struggles anymore, he's by far been our best player during the Mike Johnston era.

 

[scoutyjones2]

Yeah, I had high hopes with the Johnston era...but it appears it was a bad move. That said, zero shots on goal...Skid Crosby, zero shots on goal. Dudes a hugely over hyped bum...I wonder if he can even shoot?

Platy looks good, although he might have Skid disease...not shooting when he gets the chance vs passing.

Man, I miss Duper

 

[scoutyjones2]

I've said it before and will again, Ollie isn't as great as you all think he is...dude is pushed around like a janitor with a broom

 

[thedddd]

They look weak right now, but the positive I see in this that 4th line brings a lot of energy. The sad thing is that when your 4th line is the only thing working you won't ever win.

Not spelling doom and gloom yet, I think the system will work too much talent on the Penguins. Just worried on when it will click.
As for the defense I really think Scuderi is killing them. He can't be trusted with any partner especially ones that don't skate as well as Letang (meaning ANYONE else).

 

[scoutyjones2]

It is funny to listen to and watch the Pens broadcast and here all the glowing comments about these "stud" goalies...and yet it's every freaking game! The Pens aren't very good shooters/scorers and it will now affect Kessel...just keep watching. And listening. Every goalie they play will make "impressive," highlight reel stops...LOL

 

[element1286]

Eh, it's 2 games, see what happens after 10. But it is pretty stunning to see Sid tied with Farnham with 0 shots.

In general, I'd love to see Sid start shooting more, he was getting 4ish shots per game in 09-10 and 10-11 and scored 80 goals in 120 games, but those years have been the exception for him, most of the time he is around 3-3.5 per game.