Game Thread: Penguins GNT/GDT week 11 (Dec 14 - Dec 20

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Sorry for getting this up late guys,

But this week's schedule...

Monday, Dec 14th vs Washington Capitals

Wednesday, Dec 16th @ Boston Bruins

Friday, Dec 18th vs Boston Bruins

Saturday, Dec 19th vs Carolina Hurricanes

 

[element1286]

Well, 45 shots against the Caps isn't nothing. Results sucked, and the team looked lost at times during changes. But at least they generated offense.

 

[scoutyjones2]

What offense? They scored 1 goal

 

[element1286]

Shots are offense. More shots generally means more goals.

 

[scoutyjones2]

Goals are offense...shots are just noise

 

[evolver115]

Goals are offense...shots are just noise

Advance stats say otherwise.

This was the possession chart from the game. Pens in black, Caps in blue:


This was the Corsi Shot For/Shot Against chart:



Both charts show that the Pens dominated in both shots and possession. Yes, Holtby was brilliant. That happens in hockey. The important thing to take away from the stats above is under Sullivan, if the Pens out shoot and out chance their opponent like they did on Monday, their chances of winning will improve. You can already see a major difference between Sullivan's coaching philosophy and Johnston's.

With the money that the organization has invested in scoring, Sullivan's approach to pushing for more offense seems to make the most sense. He isn't going to pull out all the stops like Bylsma, and constantly look to push the puck up ice. Sullivan has ties to Tortorella, after all, but he does encourage a more offensive approach.

 

[scoutyjones2]

Here's a stat...one goal. You can shoot all freaking day but if the shots are stopped 99% of the time...you lose. This team is horrible on the PP when they should be scoring in buckets, 25th in scoring...25th!!!! Look at their shooting pct...freaking horrible. Shoot all day and can't score even if there wasn't a goalie!

Oh, and anybody remember when Letang cold play more than 40-50 games? No? Letang either...

This team is crap...maybe Sullivan wakes them up but Fleury being out and he was the only thing keeping them in the games. Now we get a boatload of Zatkoff...anybody think that's good?!

 

[evolver115]

Here's a stat...one goal. You can shoot all freaking day but if the shots are stopped 99% of the time...you lose. This team is horrible on the PP when they should be scoring in buckets, 25th in scoring...25th!!!! Look at their shooting pct...freaking horrible. Shoot all day and can't score even if there wasn't a goalie!

Oh, and anybody remember when Letang cold play more than 40-50 games? No? Letang either...

This team is crap...maybe Sullivan wakes them up but Fleury being out and he was the only thing keeping them in the games. Now we get a boatload of Zatkoff...anybody think that's good?!

Right, one goal. That was the underlying problem during Johnston's tenure. They didn't score enough. They didn't generate potential scoring opportunities enough. He had them playing an insulated style and selling out to prevent goals. Evidenced by Fleury's numbers under Johnston, you can see why both his GAA and Save % had huge upticks compared to his career numbers. Johnston was preaching defense so much that he handicapped their offensive output.

Sullivan was promoted to try and find a balance for this group. Maybe he won't be successful at it. And, if he isn't, then maybe this will be the end of the Sid/Geno led Pens. Only time will tell. They're not that far gone in the standings where a few W's in a row will have them right back in the thick of the divisional race.

 

[scoutyjones2]

4th worse shooting pct in the league...shoot all you want, won't generate more than 1- 2 goals/game.

 

[evolver115]

4th worse shooting pct in the league...shoot all you want, won't generate more than 1- 2 goals/game.

That's a stat that I expect to increase. It has to. Everyone outside of Malkin is currently shooting well below their career percentages. Crosby is at 7.2%. His career average is 14.2. Hornqvist, Kessel and Perron are all in the same boat shooting well below their career averages.

Sooner or later, it will probably balance out.

You're so pessimistic, Scout. You sure you aren't a Phlyers fan is disguise?

 

[scoutyjones2]

LOL...no, not a Philthies fan at all!

Just highly disappointed in this team and the evident decline of Skid...Maybe he needs to go practice in his parents basement on a dryer

Toss in the really meh D (thank god for Fleury...which is now gone for 2 weeks!) and if the O doesn't pick it up and light up the scoreboard, then this team will go on a prolonged losing streak.

 

[evolver115]

LOL...no, not a Philthies fan at all!

Just highly disappointed in this team and the evident decline of Skid...Maybe he needs to go practice in his parents basement on a dryer

Toss in the really meh D (thank god for Fleury...which is now gone for 2 weeks!) and if the O doesn't pick it up and light up the scoreboard, then this team will go on a prolonged losing streak.

I'm right with you on the disappointment. They've obviously underachieved through what now is 1/3rd of the NHL season. Frustration is expected. The organization feels the same. Cutting loose a coach after not even allowing him two full seasons, while it's not unheard of in the NHL, probably isn't quite so common. But, Rutherford and Co. weren't willing to wait and I can't blame them.

The clock is ticking on the core of this team. If Sullivan can't get them to contend through the end of this season, I think it's fair to guess that major changes of the roster are on the horizon.

I'm not ready to concede defeat yet on 2015/16. I still think that this is a team that can contend for a SC. They have their warts, but I don't see a dominant team in the east. With the way Fleury's been playing this year, I think they have a good shot. Hopefully Sullivan can find a way to jump start Crosby and his line. If that were to happen, it would change everything about this team.

 

[scoutyjones2]

You all are more optimistic than me, that is a given...but when you want to jump start the offense, why don't you play Malkin-Kessel-Skid? Oh wait, they do that all the time with a man up and they still suck balls.

I am gently warning you who still have hope for this season...

 

[Darkstone42]

The Bruins notched a powerplay empty net goal to ice this one, but there was no reason the Pens should have been killing a penalty. McQuaid ran Hornqvist away from the puck, initiated the contact, but fell over. Hornqvist went to the box for it. That's inexcusable officiating. It didn't decide the game, but the refs have to be better than that.

 

[scoutyjones2]

It doesn't and didn't matter at that point. Pens can't score...they are the worst shooting team, by far, for the talent they put on the ice. Absolutely horrific. The ship is sinking and can't be saved...They make every goalies GAA go down.

Oh wait, I have a New Years resolution to be more optimistic...

Great offense tonight!

 

[element1286]

Congrats to Connor Sheary

Can't believe they are wasting Malkin on the left point on the pp, just idiotic coaching.

 

[thedddd]

Seriously tonight was just brutal come the third period.
As for the player rotation it stunk totally of a desperate team/coach throwing any s**t against the wall hoping it would stick.

 

[thedddd]

Side note Rob Scuderi's return to Pittsburgh: 160 games, 1 Goal
Trevor Daley: 2 games, 1 goal.

I hope with Daley here now the Warsohsky playing time will end when Letang is back. Yeah he might shoot but he is showing that he is a minor league replacement filler.

 

[scoutyjones2]

This team scored 2 goals! Holy shit...

 

[scoutyjones2]

Now I'm Freeeeeee...free fallin