Game 3 vs. Toronto - Thoughts from the morning after

[penny lane]

The first "morning after" thread after a loss turns into a Tangradi slam-fest? Color me shocked.

him & a person who wasn't even in the line-up.

[DropEmJayBird]

http://www.ryanmill.com/

I'm amazed how many other things he's done... I think he has the voice to turn it down.

[marek]

They simply have to keep Kennedy-Sutter-Cooke together. I agree that mixing up three lines because of one guy does not make sense.

Tangradi... sigh
The guy has had opportunity after opportunity and the harsh reality is that he does absolutely nothing exceptional.
And in order to hold down a roster spot in the NHL you need to be able to handle a role. Any role.
Mucker... Grinder... Goon... PP specialist... Sniper... he isn't capable of doing any of these jobs well. And he surely doesn't have the wheels or hands to be on the top two lines.

It has become increasingly probable that any success the guy has achieved is because of his size. He was probably always bigger than everyone else in the lower leagues (and growing up as well) so he didn't have to play overtly physical to shine.
His physical attributes gave him that advantage any ways. He cannot use his size as a crutch in the NHL and it shows.

He's simply average-sized by NHL standards. Plenty of guys his size are better skaters, play with a sharper edge, and/or have better hands.

To be honest, I feel bad for the guy. It's gotta be difficult for him. Nobody wants to look like they aren't trying.

[DropEmJayBird]

Well - After watching 3 games now of Fluery getting run in some way shape or form, I wouldn't mind of Tangredi did one thing - run into the goalie at least twice a game. Just go to the net and run into something at outside the crease. It seems to be legal, and if you can knock a d-man down, even better.

He doesnt need to be nasty to do that, just skate full speed to the front. Crisis adverted.

[PghSkins]

Can I possibly be the only one who thinks Ryan Mill is much improved from when he took over?

[RxBandit66]

TK or Cookie could temporarily fill in on the Geno line without hurting it. However, it could hurt the third line. You could put Glass in for Cooke and not lose much there, but then the 4th line loses its best guy.

One thing about the season being so short is that unexpected teams may be out of the playoff hunt early on, and a few unexpected teams could be sellers at the deadline. So perhaps RS should wait to go get a defenseman, as Despres and Eaton will work for now. But at forward, he needs a linemate for Malkin and Neal pretty much immediately.

Quite frankly I don't know how the hell he even went into the season without one, considering the amount of cap space available

[DelPen]

No one knew how the cap would shake out and the market was pretty much garbage after Parise for what would ahve fit in with thise team. Granted, Boyes and Armstrong would have been an upgrade over Tangradi and Jeffrey.

[GSdrums87]

Drove all the way from Harrisburg for that glorious display of puck mis-management. Couldn't believe Geno's turnover to JVR or the "boarding" call on Kunitz. And the crowd...my god. I mean, this is only my third game at the CEC and it was DEAD quiet. Had my entire face painted and was jeering and yelling and everyone just sat there quietly. Even got scolded for standing at my seat during an intermission. What a depressing experience...

[slappybrown]

The first "morning after" thread after a loss turns into a Tangradi slam-fest? Color me shocked.

"Slam-fest"

Um, he was bad. What's the problem with pointing that out? That spot in the top 6 is one of the few that is open for competition in this early season, so its not surprising that the performance of the person currently filling that role is scrutinized. Its also why people like to talk about the bottom pairing. People have also repeatedly pointed out the bad turnovers from Sid and Gino. SLAM-FEST

[tfrizz]

The first "morning after" thread after a loss turns into a Tangradi slam-fest? Color me shocked.

"Slam-fest"

Um, he was bad. What's the problem with pointing that out? That spot in the top 6 is one of the few that is open for competition in this early season, so its not surprising that the performance of the person currently filling that role is scrutinized. Its also why people like to talk about the bottom pairing. People have also repeatedly pointed out the bad turnovers from Sid and Gino. SLAM-FEST

It'd be more of a competition if there was anyone suitable to fill the spot. For now we'll see Cooke/Kennedy plugging in, but they belong on the 3rd line.

[netwolf]

I'm too lazy to type my thoughts in, so I will cut/paste some recent Twitter commentary for those that do not engage there...

From the 20-20 hindsight dept: would #Pens have been better off resting Mon & practicing yesterday instead of vice versa?

May not seem fair, but despite the PP going 1/5, it was a negative. After going down 3-2, they had 3 straight chances & didn't do much. Biggest prob on PP? Refusal to simplify. Too many passes forced into PK box. #Pens need to learn that doesn't get you bonus points.

Distribution of ice time was an issue again, though it's more understandable in a special teams game like this one.

Maybe the most damning stat of the game: #Pens entered 3rd down 3-2, didn't get a shot on goal until period was half over.

I am OK w/ a tighter enforcement of boarding, given it's communicated to teams & applied consistently. Given past, doubt the latter happens. Kunitz says they've not received anything from the league indicating any kind of change or renewed emphasis regarding boarding calls.

[penmyst]

The first "morning after" thread after a loss turns into a Tangradi slam-fest? Color me shocked.

"Slam-fest"

Um, he was bad. What's the problem with pointing that out? That spot in the top 6 is one of the few that is open for competition in this early season, so its not surprising that the performance of the person currently filling that role is scrutinized. Its also why people like to talk about the bottom pairing. People have also repeatedly pointed out the bad turnovers from Sid and Gino. SLAM-FEST

/sarcasm
Hey, don't you know that noticing bad play by any player, and commenting on it creates an atmosphere of negativity? Why, you should only note when good things occur. Always pretend like you didn't see that Penguin player turn a puck over or a guy make a bad pass or a dude forget to cover somebody in his end of the ice. Sort of like paid-by-the-team announcers and broadcast guys are expected to do. What? You aren't paid by the team? Do you think that means you can comment on what actually went on out there, instead of shining it all up and glorifying the Pens? Here's a tip to make it easier: always blame the refs. They are the impartial whipping boys, so you can pile on them and nobody will ever get up in your face for it. /off

Trust me, anything less would be uncivilized. And get you called a Debbie Downer. Somebody should be along soon to post that pic of Debbie Downer in regards to your post slappy, in place of refuting what you actually said.

I've heard plenty of Pens fans get upset by Mike Lange because sometimes, when a Pen effs up he'll actually call it out. Totally negative. Pirate fans hate Bob Walk for the same reason. We should all be more like Greg Brown and Steigy.

[pulp22]

The game itself wasn't great, but the crowd hate is kind of redonk. It is hard to scream the whole game especially when you are trying to watch what's happening. People who paint their faces and scream nonstop are just looking for attention. Besides there wasn't much to cheer about last night anyway.

[Froggy]

- Froggy is hilarious

I've snipped the important parts of the original post

[Great58]

And in order to hold down a roster spot in the NHL you need to be able to handle a role. Any role.
Mucker... Grinder... Goon... PP specialist... Sniper... he isn't capable of doing any of these jobs well. And he surely doesn't have the wheels or hands to be on the top two lines.

Forecheck, backcheck, paycheck. It's a simple, effective formula for success for role players in the NHL that I haven't seen from Tangradi. On the Toronto goal that he was one the ice for, he stopped skating on the backcheck before he reached his blueline, and coasted into the zone. A couple more skating strides and he may have been present to disrupt the Leafs scoring shot taken from the top of the circle?

[awsumpens]

Drove all the way from Harrisburg for that glorious display of puck mis-management. Couldn't believe Geno's turnover to JVR or the "boarding" call on Kunitz. And the crowd...my god. I mean, this is only my third game at the CEC and it was DEAD quiet. Had my entire face painted and was jeering and yelling and everyone just sat there quietly. Even got scolded for standing at my seat during an intermission. What a depressing experience...

To me the CEC doesn't have the atmosphere the old barn did. Just my opinion.

I feel your pain, I drove all the way from Altoona to see that mess. I was glad I got to be there and part of a record crowd, but the Civic Arena was louder. Not sure why.

[guiner]

Tangradi is useless in a fourth line role.

[IMFC]

1) for all the 'Gino is in mid-season form 'cause he been playin' in da khl!' talk - last night couldn't have been farther off. 'Gino-the-turnover-machine-o' needs to check himself. Fleury does not handle turnovers well - the team has got to get that through their heads and make the solid plays. The spectacular plays will take care of themselves.

2) agree that Nisky and Martin look solid. keep it up boys.

3) HCDB really needs to understand that there is NO 'unstoppable' system - has to be a move ahead of the adjustments, not a move behind.

4) enough of the 'stop whining, we're 2-1' nonsense. losing at home with a billion UNFORCED turnovers by your best players is not cool - really good teams don't do that. if you are happy with 'just make the playoffs and hope we get on a run', fine, but to the rest of us it seems like this team can be so much more than that.

[IntangibleBeer]

The in-game experience has been horrifying from the start, and nothing has changed in the games I have been to over the past few years. I think we are stuck with this monster truck show style fan experience permanently.

That's a shame. I was a season ticket holder in the 80's and 90's and now live 200 miles away. Crowd noise in the Igloo was spectacular and a real factor in the playoffs. During the first two cup seasons, the players reported chants of "Let's Go Pens" shaking their dressing room 10 minutes before the start of the game. It was absolutely deafening in there and not from the in-house entertainment system. It was the fans. It's too bad the CEC is different.

Watching the player introductions on TV last night and hearing almost no crowd noise (applause or anything), my kid asked "Aren't there any people in the building?"

It seemed very strange.

[guiner]

http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?i ... e#48-71-18

fyi, TK is practicing with Geno/Neal. And Tangradi has been moved to the 4th line. Sorry Dog, you don't have the wheels or physicality for that role (either,) you NHL days are numbered.

[BurghersAndDogsSports]

The in-game experience has been horrifying from the start, and nothing has changed in the games I have been to over the past few years. I think we are stuck with this monster truck show style fan experience permanently.

Started when they brought Ryan Mill in.

Mill is just the announcer though. Even when they do stuff it has no flow and the music has been horrid for years. It's like I'm at a scripted play written by someone who has never been to a sporting event. Videos are cool so play them, people love goals do a video.

It was much better a few years back when they used the game to assist the crowd, not pander to it as if the crowd wants wants or needs that. Make it fun and electric, create atmosphere for fans to get on board with. They are doing the opposite trying to create atmosphere for the fans to sit and watch as a supplement.

It's stupid. (Cue Peal Jam song over top of a penguins goals).

Couple that with creating no atmosphere with no place for us regular fans to party and get fired up with other fans prior to the game, by time you get to your seats you barely know you are at a hockey game.

Allow me to clarify:

It started with Ryan Mill because, prior to that, you had the soft vocal tones of one John Barbero. The in-game atmosphere was great, and they didn't have to play music that loudly (though they played similar music, but you get that in just about every arena). Even when you watch replays of playoff games and regular season games prior to 09-10, the music isn't overpowering the crowd. The same can't be said for when Mill took over.

Ryan Mill has a voice more suited for a monster truck atmosphere, and I think the people who run the in-game entertainment adjusted the in-game stuff to match Ryan Mill's awful PA announcing.

I agree with your assessment of that aspect but think its only part of the problem. The other part is the penguins front office or whoever think we go to the games to see their creations, and instead of using the game stuff to create atmosphere they are putting on a show sponsored by pearl jam I guess.

[penny lane]

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle
Toronto-Pittsburgh was the most-watched regular season NHL game on TSN since 2009: 1.4 million http://bit.ly/10Er7hC

when 2 meccas' collide.

[darkstar57]

Drove all the way from Harrisburg for that glorious display of puck mis-management. Couldn't believe Geno's turnover to JVR or the "boarding" call on Kunitz. And the crowd...my god. I mean, this is only my third game at the CEC and it was DEAD quiet. Had my entire face painted and was jeering and yelling and everyone just sat there quietly. Even got scolded for standing at my seat during an intermission. What a depressing experience...

To me the CEC doesn't have the atmosphere the old barn did. Just my opinion.

I feel your pain, I drove all the way from Altoona to see that mess. I was glad I got to be there and part of a record crowd, but the Civic Arena was louder. Not sure why.

its the open concourse designs, if you think back to the way any old arena was designed, you are basically inside of a box with small openings to get in & out, the sound had more place to rebound off off and stay contained, now with the open concourses in the new arenas, there is more space for the noise and sound to get out.

[frenchpens-fan]

i'm happy because Geno and Crosby had scored but it's true that the leafs were lucky for their 1st goal but they deserve the victory. Against the jets, the Pens must be more efficient and take care about the penalty because they lose 31min!

[PaLionking]

They played their typical game against Toronto. Why does it always seem that they have no gettup against both the Leafs & Isles. Plus all of the dumb passing turnovers that everyone had. Geno must still be getting used to the smaller ice surface than they were playing in the K