Pens at Jackets, September 15th, 2013

[Polaris922]

    Watched the preseason game and have to say, I enjoyed it even though it was a loss.  They skated a lot of prospects and AHL kids, some of whom will comprise our third or fourth lines.  I really liked what Kobasew brought to the ice, and I think he's a lock to make the team.  He's on a tryout but he scored twice, willing to go to the net over and over.  The roster was mostly youth, but it was fun to watch.  Malkin and Neal had Bennett with them, and I loved seeing that.  Kid fit right in, assisting on Neal's goal in the first minute of the game.  

    They gave up five goals, but Dumoulin, Pouliot, Samuelsson and Harrington on the ice made it exciting.  I really like the potential those guys have.  The future is definitely bright on defense.  Pouliot looked good on the power play.  But Dumoulin got hurt towards the end of the game.  Have to wait and see what happens there.  Kuhnhackl was a brute out there, banging bodies in the Jacket's slot and even crease all night, wreaking havoc for both of Kobasew's goals.  

     It's going to be interesting to see who makes it as a third liner... or even fourth.   Glass was his usual useless self.  Taking a penalty on the PK to put them down 5 on 3....  I really wish they would can him.  Useless.  

[yave1964]

Have to agree with the kids, Pouliot especially looked very mature out there IMHO. His confidence level is what impressed me.

[nossagog]

    Watched the preseason game and have to say, I enjoyed it even though it was a loss.  They skated a lot of prospects and AHL kids, some of whom will comprise our third or fourth lines.  I really liked what Kobasew brought to the ice, and I think he's a lock to make the team.  He's on a tryout but he scored twice, willing to go to the net over and over.  The roster was mostly youth, but it was fun to watch.  Malkin and Neal had Bennett with them, and I loved seeing that.  Kid fit right in, assisting on Neal's goal in the first minute of the game.  

    They gave up five goals, but Dumoulin, Pouliot, Samuelsson and Harrington on the ice made it exciting.  I really like the potential those guys have.  The future is definitely bright on defense.  Pouliot looked good on the power play.  But Dumoulin got hurt towards the end of the game.  Have to wait and see what happens there.  Kuhnhackl was a brute out there, banging bodies in the Jacket's slot and even crease all night, wreaking havoc for both of Kobasew's goals.  

     It's going to be interesting to see who makes it as a third liner... or even fourth.   Glass was his usual useless self.  Taking a penalty on the PK to put them down 5 on 3....  I really wish they would can him.  Useless.  

 The real deal will be how makes it onto the team for the PK. Figure it this way, the top two lines are:

Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis

Bennet-Malkin-Neal

 

Of those guys, only Dupuis takes a regulay PK shift.  So we need 3 more solid forwards for the PK.  I don't think that they'll toss any young gun out there, so you figure that Sutter, Adams and possibly Vitale. so that makes the start of the bottom three

xxx-Sutter-xxxx

Adams-Vitale-xxxx

 

leading contenders would probably be Jefffery, Conner, jokinen(probably trade bait for salary) and maybe Kobasew based on camp.  Just don't see any young forwards making it at the moment. But wouldn't mind seeing Kuhnhackl in there though, big body in front of the net.

 

Also remember that the Pens are over the cap still, so someone has to go, and they can't pick up a tall salary.  Sadly, Glass doesn't make enough to make a difference if he was jetisoned.