nossagog

Hey Nossagog (sometime I will have to ask you about that moniker), not for nothing, but the Blues are FOURTH in the league in scoring (anaheim, boston, chicago are ahead of them). They are THIRD in goals allowed (Boston and LA ahead of them). They are second in goal differential, only trailing boston. 

 

I know it is a traditional misnomer that a "defense" first hitch system, stingy etc. But this is not your grandfathers hitch team. This team can put the puck in the net with the best of them (better than Pitts) AND be stingy on the other end (much better than Pitts). 

 

I would not want to play them in the playoffs. They can beat you many ways (much as Boston, Chicago and Anaheim). 

The point was that their goaltending was not the issue last year.  They gave up only 12 goals in 7 games, but only scored 10 and were outed in the first round.  You can't use the Fleury rule there, Elliot actually had better numbers in the playoffs than in the regular season last year, and they were still out in the first round. Their goaltending was fine, they addressed something that they didn't need to address.

We've now had Miller with the Blues for 16 games. So how's the upgrade in goaltending done?  Ah . . .   well there has been no great improvement.  Which was the point I was making when this trade happened.  If I look at pure numbers, how much of an improvement did they think they were going to get on Elliot's 1.98 or Halak's 2.23 GAA?

Really, tonight was a perfect example of the issues that the Blues have.   Against a playoff desperate team, the Blues score one goal and lose the game.  This is the same story as the Blues had last year in the playoffs.   Goaltending was never their issue, they need to be able to score goals, period.

But speaking of goaltending, with tonights game, Miller now has a worse win percentage, GAA average and Save % than Halak had, or Elliot has playing for the same stingy defensive team. What's up there, wasn't he supposed to be an "upgrade"? 

They should have went for someone like Vanek or Moulson on offensive instead of wasting a trade on a goaltender who seems to be no better, or worse than what they already had.

You get what you get from players like Rinaldo.  If he does not play on the edge of legality, he's not going to be in an NHL lineup.  His job is to go out and hit people and get them off their game. Provide energy for the team by playing a very physical game.  Sometimes, the adrenaline pumps too much maybe, and they go over the line.  Hopefully he learns from it, and doesn't go for the big hit as much.   Three years in the league and two suspensions, he's not on the right path if your not a protected "star" player.

@nossagog

 

 All the hype? You mean where most of us said "clean hit"?

Here I thought you said he launched himself to the head?

But I wasn't talking here in particular, but the whole Milbury tirade and such.

Yes, as Yogi would say, it ain't over till its over.  Well its over.  Sid has an 18 point lead, and Getzlaf has five games left, just not going to happen.    Its odd that Sid will be the only play over 100 points this year, especially with all of the injuries that the Pens have had this year.    Damn good year, even if you hate him, you got to admit, he's a damn good hockey player.

I may be able to spend some time in chat.  

 

Looks like Bryz in in goal.  --  :unsure:   The Wild could use at win at home.

 

I didn't see the hit Byfuglin made.

As big as he is, like 250 lbs, he came off his skates to make the hit.   I'm actually just whining HF,  but with all the hype over the Orpik hit on Teows, I had to do it.   I humbly apoligize :wub:

Zatkoff is in goal tonight, hopefully they play well in front of him.  Jokinnen is out tonight, wonder if there are after affects from the flying check from Byfuglin the other night, I was wondering if there would be multiple threads on that since we typically see them if a Pen did that.

Anyway, any Pens fans up for chat during the game tonight???

  With last nights victory over the Sabres the Wings are looking more like a lock for the postseason, a 4 point lead over 9th place Toronto with a game at hand it looks like the Wings have finally gotten healthy at the right time.

 

  Columbus lost a heartbreaker to the Blackhawks in regulation 4-3 on a goal by Ben Smith with 4 seconds to go. The Wings now have a 3 point lead over them with 5 games to go.

 

   More and more it appears the Wings will play the Penguins in the first round. I love it. Win or lose, they are a team I enjoy playing,

 

Datsyuk was back last night, he started on the third line with Abdelkader and Alfredsson but by the third period he was centering Nyquist and Franzen. The line constantly pushed the puck and had opportunities. Pavel played over 16 minutes and was a bit rusty but it was wonderful seeing him in the lineup.

 

  Dekeyser has developed so quickly, it is hard to believe he was still in college this time last year, just getting ready to make his NHL debut. A crisp shot, decision making like a 10 year vet.

 

  Helm in the lineup makes us so much better. And with Pavel back in the lineup, we have speed and skill 4 lines deep.

 

Luke Glendening signed a 3 year contract extention last night. Grit and determination make up his game and he is going to eventually score a goal and get that monkey off his back and then they will start coming in droves. Mickey loves this kid, his man crush oozes with every word whenever Glendening is on the ice.

 

  One last thought. Former Red Wing Ville Leino, signed to an absurd contract by the Sabres to provide offense after a solid post season run with the Flyers a few years ago has now played 53 games this season with zero goals. Not even one.

Sigh, I don't have a good feeling going into the post season still, and you want to lock up with us.    Bad matchup for the Pens, especially, if they can't get Letang back.

That being said, I think that this could grow into a good rivalry with the two cup finals that they played in previously. Its sad they can't meet in the SCF again though.

Didn't see the game tonight, but Martin returned to the lineup.  What a relief. And it sounds like DFB played with both Niskanen and Martin on the points on the Power Play.   Much better setup.  The fact that he scored is a bonus, get some games in and get used to the speed of play to get ready for the playoffs.

If Oates is calling out Ovechkin, then Oates time is limited.

Really, Ovie isn't going anywhere. The $9.7M contract is going to keep away most teams, as they don't have the money to spend. So if the coach and the player can get along, and you can't get rid of the player, what do you see happening?
 

This is news???  I guess Oates hasn't called him out before, but just about everyone else has. Wonder how that ratio has turned of people thinking Crosby is better...I think on the old board there was originally about 10% of us who'd take Crosby. My guess is over 90 now.

FC, those of us who were not fans of Ovie(regardless if they were homers for Crosby like us Pens fans) always called out his defensive play as his biggest fault. At the time, this was brushed off by his fans because of his offensive domination, and that " He'd grow into it". But Ovie has over time showed that he only focuses on one thing, scoring goals. The gifs of him floating back as teams are scoring on the caps are so numerous its funny(the controller disconnected one is my favorite). He has not improved on almost any of the aspects of his game that we noted as short comings since he's come into the league. I'm not sure if there is a coach in existence that can save him.

Anyway, as an original member of the "Crosby's better than Ovechkin" club, I'm trying to hold back the "We told you so's". . .


Sorry, can't do it. WE TOLD YOU SO! Neener neener neener! 

I saw the second and third, carolina clogged up the neutral zone, and forechecked hard.  The Pens couldn't handle it.  They were like turnover machines.    That said, if that's what the playoffs are going to be like, DFB better change his strategy and go with the same thing, might as well make the game as boring as possible if that's what its going to take to win games.

 

By Shelly Anderson / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Defenseman Paul Martin turned playful when asked when he might return to the Penguins lineup.

“I would like to play [tonight], but I don’t think that’s going to happen,” the injured defenseman said of the game against Carolina at Consol Energy Center.

The real answer didn’t take Martin too far into the future, though. He called the game Thursday night at Winnipeg “a long shot” and pointed squarely at the one Saturday against the Wild in his native Minnesota as a realistic target for returning from a broken right hand that required surgery and forced him to miss the past 17 games.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2014/04/01/Penguins-continue-to-get-healthier/stories/201404010051#ixzz2xeZl9ssc

 

That's some more good news for the Pens.  Keep getting healthy boys.

We're going to need a bigger font.

Rux,  maybe we can just put in a big image with the word SHOULDER in it.

To your previous post, my first point was to say that players going down along the boards to get the puck are taken into the boards by the defender several times a game.  Not to this degree, but that happens sometimes.

I've gone a browsed a few Caps friendly sites, and they're just about fed up with him too at this point.   I think about 35% of their fans at this point would not minde seeing him go.

Oh shoot,  sorry I had that sorted wrong.

Ovechkin in now LAST in the NHL in +/-.   I know that some people are not a fan of the stat, but this seems to be very telling.  I need to look back in the archives and see if there has been another Rocket Richard winner with such a bad +/- in general, let alone being last in the NHL, that's 858 out of 858.

Don't get me wrong,  I still think that Ovi is one of the, if not THE most dangerous players on the ice offensively. But this only solidifies what alot of people have said about him in the past.  He doesn't care about defense, and floats around if he's not in the offensive zone.

If my team was on a power play in overtime of game 7, damn Ovi is one of my first picks to be there. But for the rest of the game?  I'd rather have a few others.   I'm not sure if has just lost his passion, or whether he's given up on the Caps in general.  He just does not seem like the same player he was.

Stats are Stats, but this one is bizarre.

_{Okay, I've watched the Zepruder films, I've read comments, I've drank beer to ponder(not in list of priorities).  Take my throughts with a grain of salt as I am a Pens fan.}

_{My end thought on this is a clean hit that resulted in an injury.} 

_Reasons:

_{1)  Watch any hockey game, how many times to you see the forward going in to chip the puck deeper along the boards, and then get hammered by a defensemen.   Not how many GAMES do you see it, but how many times in ONE game.  (with forwards plastering defenseman too)}

_{2)  Orpik's body position at the time of the hit is almost 90degrees  to the ice. If you watch the video from the goal line, their actual first contact is with their skates/legs, with Toews leaning into the center of the ice. So he's not leading to the head.}

_{3)  At the time of the hit, this is almost contact along the whole body line}

_{4)  No leading elbow or forearm, they are tucked in.}

_{5) This is not a head shot, for those trying to make is sound so, are you using that a variation on the age old adage by saying " Wow man, he hit him in the head so hard that his shoulder going hurt instead!"}

_{6) The hit is NOT late, if you think so, then you should petition the league to make the words "finishing a check" synonamous with "2 Minute Penalty".  Toews played the puck, and was hit before the puck went even 10 feet, not halfway to the intended recipient of the pass.  As in item one , how many times a game you see a player hit after he's already passed the puck, by a lot longer than this hit.}

_{Thoughts on others thoughts(both here and other locations).}

_{1) On Milbury, never mind, he's not worth the thought.}

_{2) On thoughts that Chicago should have retaliated against Orpik.  I'd like to go back and see if these would be the same people who in prior weeks have stated that you shouldn't have to fight after a clean hit.}

_{3) All the argument in this case is because of the result, not the hit.  If Toews gets back up its a great play.}

_{4) If I have a defenseman on my team that DOESN'T make some kind of hit in that situation, I don't want him on my team.  Did you want Orpik to let him go and head for the net?}

_{5) For commenters who state, "well how would you like if someone tried to do that to Cindy?".  They do, everyone "targets the other teams star players". Thinking otherwise is denial.}

_{6) Apcray happens, its a physical game.}

_{So do I have NO problems with this hit, actually no,  I do have one.   The only point that I'll conceede to some is that Orpik's body was rising into this hit.   I don't typically go with the "Well his feet didn't leave the ice until after the hit". They whole transfer of energy thing doesn't work out in my mind.   But in this case, as I stated above, he did not drive forward with the shoulder, but kept his body straight up in relation to the ice.  It had nothing to do with Toews SHOULDER injury.}

Shame for the Hawks and Teows, but apcray happens.   Kind of freaky to injure the shoulder on the side that your getting from, and not the one towards the boards.

Milbury just doesn't make sense. There was nothing wrong there.   The injury was looks like its a shoulder, which was where he was hit.  Over under on when the thread goes up on the main board?

I'm looking for both teams to come out trying to make a statement.  Its coming down to the end of the season, and all the cliches should be in place.  Want to play playoff hockey.  Want to go into the playoffs on a winning note.  blah blah blah.   

I want to see how Beau does in his second game back. He was outstanding against the Jackets,  build on it Beau.

Well Bennet reappeared in the lineup, what a fresh face that was.  Lots of speed, a goal to boot, he's a welcome site back on the ice.  

Didn't see the game, but its disapppointing to see 0 PP goals on 7 attempts.  Regardless of the bad call or not, you better be able to score goals on the PP. 

Never watched that show, but if you have Avery on it, you really must be scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Man, just when you think that the team is almost back to full health.    Good news is that bennet is down with the baby pens on a conditioning stint, so he should be back soo.

@B21

I understand what you're saying, but there are so many things that he does that don't make sense.  These are the things that make me scratch my head.

Have at these and explain them for the St. Louis game.

1) If you are playing what you think is a good playoff game and the score is tied in the third period, why do you split up your first line onto three different lines to mix things up.  If this is how you WANT to play, then keep playing it because its working.  Instead he put Crosby, Kunitz and Stempniak on different lines for a period of time in the third. What was the point? Kunitz and Stemp aren't going to make another line better tossing them there.  It effectively watered down the offensive potential of the Pens for about 5 minutes at a critical juncture of the game.

2) He states that due to the physical nature of what was expected in the game, you are going dress 7 defensemen so that you can have Deryk Engellend in the game for additional size. You then also dress your smallest player in Gibbons at 5'8" 170 lbs and scratch Pyatt at 6'4" and 230 lbs. Other than one sprint up ice to negate an icing, Gibbons was like a boy amoungst men. If you were worried about the physical nature of the game, why Gibbons?

3) He starts the third period on a 5v3 and you take out your only right handed shot on the first unit so that you have 5 left handed shots.  Jokinen didn't even LOOK like he was going to shoot the puck from the left point.

4) The goose egg on the PP was mostly due to playing on the perimeter of the offense zone, it was almost entirely passing to get the puck for a Malkin one timer from the right dot. They covered that, so all we did is try to get point shots off.  How many of those did the Blues block.   

He's just killing me.  The Blues did their homework and knew what to expect,  Coach Dan could not adjust. 

Yep, it's not a surprise that the natives are getting restless...

You would have to think that one more early playoff exit would be the straw that breaks the camels back in terms of his job security. On the other hand right now Disco Dan is keeping the heat of Ray Shero, that's the only reason I can think of that he has a job.

I just pray you keep Bylsma, if you had a better coach your team has the potential to be lethal.

My favourite DFB quote of the games last weekend... "We are a grind team"... Unfreakinbelievable that he says that, let alone is serious about it.

Yep, that was my face palm moment of the week.