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Penguins year in review


yave1964

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OFFSEASON OUTLOOK As always the Pens would have to be considered a SCF contender with guys like Malkin and sid around, they did deal Kessel away even up for Galchenyuk, Tanev was brought in to play his heavy game playoff style hockey. They were a serious contender. 

 

FINAL RECORD 40-29-6 3rd in Metro. Lost in the first round to Montreal in four games.

 

STRANGE STAT OF THE YEAR  Crosby isnt the kid anymore, his home/road splits are among the biggest around, home he played 21 games with an insane 35 points and plus 9, on the road he played 20 and had a very average at best 6 goals and 12 points and was a horrible minus 17 in 20 games. He has slipped and when teams get last change they manage to shut him down nightly. When Sullivan takes advantage of last change and getting Crosby out there with proper matchups he still can bring it. An aging semi star, his road numbers are revealing. Numbers dont lie, he isnt the same player.

 

HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR When the Penguins bested Toronto (led by Crosby, at home, natch) on February 18th 5-2 it was their third win in a row and they were streaking, three in a row and on a 12-3-1 tear and with Zucker added for the underwhelming Chuckie, they looked like they would be in it to win it.

 

LOW POINT OF THE YEAR Pretty much everything from there. Murray lost confidence or something, Jarry played a bit better but the goaltending was a problemdown the stretch, they lost 8 of their final 11 giving up four or more goals in seven of those games. They were outscored 42-28 in their final 11 games. It didnt get better as they lost weakly in four games to the Canadiens in the first round.

 

WHAT WENT RIGHT Zucker was a great add but the cost might be high at a first plus Chuckie. Malkin missed 14 games but had 74 points in only 55 games and is aging well. Crosby missed a lot of time and was very average on the road but nobody in the game had a higher points per game average at home than he. Rust scored 27 goals and had over a point per game. Guentzel was injured but in 39 games scored 21 goals. Letang was fantastic. Kahun, Hornqvist and Mccann were great as depth scoring. Marino and Pettersson were solid on the back end as rookies. Tristan Jarry may have stolen the net with his brilliant play.

 

WHAT WENT WRONG oh the injuries!! No team suffered more injuries to key players Crosby missed 28 games, Geuntzel missed 30, Malkin 14, in fact the following key performers all missed double digit games and keep in mind the shortened season: Crosby, Guentzel, Malkin, Rust, Hornqvist, Marino, Kahun, Dumoulin, Bjugstad and Schultz. Letang barely missed this list missing 8 games. 

  On the ice Schultz was injured but innefective when on the ice. Sheary and Marleau came aboard at the deadline and both did squat. Matt Murray was very ordinary and may lose time moving forward, already there are rumors that he is going to e shopped in the offseason.

 

FREE AGENTS Schultz would be invited back but may be unaffordable, Sheary and Marleau will be let go. 

 

OFFSEASON QUESTION MARKS Can an aging core continue to be relevant? How do they avoid the injury bug? Is Crosby slipping, and if so how much? Do you deal Murray and go with Jarry and DeSmith in net? Will Guentzel return as the stud on the wing that he was pre injury?

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1 hour ago, yave1964 said:

OFFSEASON OUTLOOK As always the Pens would have to be considered a SCF contender with guys like Malkin and sid around, they did deal Kessel away even up for Galchenyuk, Tanev was brought in to play his heavy game playoff style hockey. They were a serious contender. 

 

FINAL RECORD 40-29-6 3rd in Metro. Lost in the first round to Montreal in four games.

 

STRANGE STAT OF THE YEAR  Crosby isnt the kid anymore, his home/road splits are among the biggest around, home he played 21 games with an insane 35 points and plus 9, on the road he played 20 and had a very average at best 6 goals and 12 points and was a horrible minus 17 in 20 games. He has slipped and when teams get last change they manage to shut him down nightly. When Sullivan takes advantage of last change and getting Crosby out there with proper matchups he still can bring it. An aging semi star, his road numbers are revealing. Numbers dont lie, he isnt the same player.

 

HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR When the Penguins bested Toronto (led by Crosby, at home, natch) on February 18th 5-2 it was their third win in a row and they were streaking, three in a row and on a 12-3-1 tear and with Zucker added for the underwhelming Chuckie, they looked like they would be in it to win it.

 

LOW POINT OF THE YEAR Pretty much everything from there. Murray lost confidence or something, Jarry played a bit better but the goaltending was a problemdown the stretch, they lost 8 of their final 11 giving up four or more goals in seven of those games. They were outscored 42-28 in their final 11 games. It didnt get better as they lost weakly in four games to the Canadiens in the first round.

 

WHAT WENT RIGHT Zucker was a great add but the cost might be high at a first plus Chuckie. Malkin missed 14 games but had 74 points in only 55 games and is aging well. Crosby missed a lot of time and was very average on the road but nobody in the game had a higher points per game average at home than he. Rust scored 27 goals and had over a point per game. Guentzel was injured but in 39 games scored 21 goals. Letang was fantastic. Kahun, Hornqvist and Mccann were great as depth scoring. Marino and Pettersson were solid on the back end as rookies. Tristan Jarry may have stolen the net with his brilliant play.

 

WHAT WENT WRONG oh the injuries!! No team suffered more injuries to key players Crosby missed 28 games, Geuntzel missed 30, Malkin 14, in fact the following key performers all missed double digit games and keep in mind the shortened season: Crosby, Guentzel, Malkin, Rust, Hornqvist, Marino, Kahun, Dumoulin, Bjugstad and Schultz. Letang barely missed this list missing 8 games. 

  On the ice Schultz was injured but innefective when on the ice. Sheary and Marleau came aboard at the deadline and both did squat. Matt Murray was very ordinary and may lose time moving forward, already there are rumors that he is going to e shopped in the offseason.

 

FREE AGENTS Schultz would be invited back but may be unaffordable, Sheary and Marleau will be let go. 

 

OFFSEASON QUESTION MARKS Can an aging core continue to be relevant? How do they avoid the injury bug? Is Crosby slipping, and if so how much? Do you deal Murray and go with Jarry and DeSmith in net? Will Guentzel return as the stud on the wing that he was pre injury?

I honestly believe the Pens weren't ready for this type of playoffs. They lost something in the layoff. In my opinion there wasn't any hunger.

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