Game 16 vs. Sabres - Thopughts from the morning after

[Idoit40fans]

I feel bad for all my previous Martin bashing moments last year. I knew that Martin, Z pairing was responsible for a lot of goals against but I'm starting to think it was more of Z's inability to adjust to our uptempo style that threw that pairing out of synch. Martin once again had a huge game and is our bounceback player of the year so far. Great for him.

I am not going to go back and look for the old posts, but I said multiple times last year that Michalek was the anchor around Martin's neck. Didn't realize how good Marting would be, but I knew he would be better for getting rid of his partner.

That argument is fine, but then how to you explain the previous season? I think Martin just had a bad year.

I think Michalek was horrible both years, and Martin wasn't very good in either of those years as well. I'm assuming you are saying Martin was good in the 1st year, but I don't agree. He was worse last year for sure, but he wasn't very good in year 1.

To me the pairing suffered more from Michalek's complete ineptitude last year - and Martin ended up trying to do too much. He's a player that thrived in NJ adding just a little creativity from within a very structure plan there. Now being paired with Orpik, they have a much more structured way of playing - not to mention that Orpik doesn't lose every puck battle in the corner or get muscled in front. The fact that Michalek was so soft didn't really augment Martin's game either - since he is a "stick on puck" guy instead of a banger.

I didn't think Martin was good, but he wasn't hurting the Pens most nights he played.

[Guinness]

The Malkin-Crosby-Neal tic-tac-toe play was only topped by The Tang's pass to Dupuis, as well as and unfortunately by the the lolwut save by Miller on the aforementioned Neal shot.

[Luckybreak]

-Pens played 5 minutes of good hockey to start the game and 10 at the end, Flower did the rest.
-BB flubbed a few but hard to go from 3rd line duties with uncomfortable Sutter and invisible TK to top line with Evbrainfogi Malkin.
-Who needs Kunitz more, Sid n Duper or Geno n Neal? Reunite them HCDB!
-Vitale and Adams are playing great, Glass not far behind but I'm a little underwhelmed (but not sure why).
-Nisky doesn't look to be bouncing back as well as Letang, I'd pair Letang-Despres, Nisky-Bortuzzo while he gets his game back.

[iWonTheCup87]

man if geno starts to catch fire this team will be unstoppable. Its not like hes playing bad but every time he walks in with a shot i expect a goal or at least most times since hes done it in the past. I feel like too often hes trying so hard to pick spots and hes missing wide a lot. Hes had his chances but needs to convert more and if he does he will be fine. Maybe its mental i dont know but i know when he isnt scoring he gets down so i know a few goals will give him loads of confidence.

also sort of feel bad for sutter because hes playing well and could have a few more goals but his linemates are always changing. I hope he can get some consistent line mates so he can develop some chemistry. Still really like him though.

[Pitt87]

Looks like we found a pretty good PP QB in Paul Martin, even though PKers do not have to worry about his shot from the point.

No, but he makes that Gonchar-style shot-pass that tends to get through pretty often. They do have to worry about Sid lurking around the net in that circumstance, and it gets difficult to defend 60 feet.

[Froggy]

martin is also like gonchar in the sense that he is really good at keeping the puck in at the blue line

[iWonTheCup87]

Looks like we found a pretty good PP QB in Paul Martin, even though PKers do not have to worry about his shot from the point.

No, but he makes that Gonchar-style shot-pass that tends to get through pretty often. They do have to worry about Sid lurking around the net in that circumstance, and it gets difficult to defend 60 feet.

i agree his shot isnt spectacular or anything but he knows how to get it on net and throws shots through that get deflected home. Like he did in the Caps game and Flyers game and he might have done it a few more but those 2 stand out. This team looks for a perfect shot but as much as you hate people saying it, playing simple like getting it on net looking for deflections is how you are going to score.

[thepittman]

I take the risk of posting the DB seizure dancing pic. Do to me as you will.

[Froggy]

that was DB's attempt to get a Harlem Shake video started



that's a thing right? harlem shake?

[Guinness]

I take the risk of posting the DB seizure dancing pic. Do to me as you will.

Seems like he was holding back from blowing up about something... I think he should have just let 'er rip...

[shmenguin]

Looks like we found a pretty good PP QB in Paul Martin, even though PKers do not have to worry about his shot from the point.

No, but he makes that Gonchar-style shot-pass that tends to get through pretty often. They do have to worry about Sid lurking around the net in that circumstance, and it gets difficult to defend 60 feet.

i agree his shot isnt spectacular or anything but he knows how to get it on net and throws shots through that get deflected home. Like he did in the Caps game and Flyers game and he might have done it a few more but those 2 stand out. This team looks for a perfect shot but as much as you hate people saying it, playing simple like getting it on net looking for deflections is how you are going to score.

i mean...we saw over 20-30 games last year that his shot from the point was completely ineffective. i'd wait for a bigger sample size before coming to these conclusions.

[thepittman]

I take the risk of posting the DB seizure dancing pic. Do to me as you will.

Seems like he was holding back from blowing up about something... I think he should have just let 'er rip...

It was right after the second goal for buffalo or the crosby penalty I can't remember. I really thought he was about to strangle someone on the bench.

[Beveridge]

Think it was after glass's penalty to put them down 2 men.

[penny lane]

those head moves are from the Disco days~ was it when miller made the save james neal? maybe?

[Tico Rick]

That gif has Harlem Shake potential. Not that there's anything right with that.

[joe icepick]

I think there was some foamy **** coming out of his ears and mouth. Getting to Martin on the point. One thing about a slower shot it is easier to deflect and he does put on net.

[Penspal]

- Sabres missed a lot on good quality chances (that makes me uneasy and I'm not taking anything other than the 2 pts from this game)
- I see that Glass tweeted some respect out to McCormick for not breaking his face when the jersey got up early
- Tyler Myers is a beast and he was benched two games recently. GMRS needs to keep an eye on him and Buffalo, if it goes off the rails, and he's available, I'd trade TWO d prospects for this guy, plus a roster guy.

[MRandall25]

I'd like Myers, but not at what he would cost + his cap hit (he's making $5.5 mil)

[Gaucho]

- Tyler Myers is a beast and he was benched two games recently. GMRS needs to keep an eye on him and Buffalo, if it goes off the rails, and he's available, I'd trade TWO d prospects for this guy, plus a roster guy.

Kennedy, Grant, and Ruopp?

[MRandall25]

- Tyler Myers is a beast and he was benched two games recently. GMRS needs to keep an eye on him and Buffalo, if it goes off the rails, and he's available, I'd trade TWO d prospects for this guy, plus a roster guy.

Kennedy, Grant, and Ruopp?

He's more valuable than that. Would start with Despres, Harrington +

[Gaucho]

- Tyler Myers is a beast and he was benched two games recently. GMRS needs to keep an eye on him and Buffalo, if it goes off the rails, and he's available, I'd trade TWO d prospects for this guy, plus a roster guy.

Kennedy, Grant, and Ruopp?

He's more valuable than that. Would start with Despres, Harrington +

Pass.

[Shakes]

- Tyler Myers is a beast and he was benched two games recently. GMRS needs to keep an eye on him and Buffalo, if it goes off the rails, and he's available, I'd trade TWO d prospects for this guy, plus a roster guy.

Kennedy, Grant, and Ruopp?

He's more valuable than that. Would start with Despres, Harrington +

Pass.

[meecrofilm]

Whoa, Grant in a trade proposal (even as a joke)? Craziness.

[Gaucho]

Whoa, Grant in a trade proposal (even as a joke)? Craziness.

How so? I mean, it was a joke, obviously.

[meecrofilm]

I mean, just any mentioning of his name, really, hahaha