Game 27 vs. Bruins - Thoughts from the Morning After

[Shakes]

We have a number of players that are accelerating as the year matures and that is exciting. Kunitz, Bennett, Sutter just keep getting better and better. We lose Malkin and nothing misses a beat!

only other thoughts:
- Jeffrey is not strong enough to handle the 2nd line. He looks minor league out there. He has ET moments out there where he looks like he is just trying to not make mistakes. There is a stunning difference between him and BB.
- Where did TK go in the 3rd period? Maybe it was my eyes, but I swear I didn't see him the final 7 minutes. I would've put him on the crash line instead of Glass but it did not happen.
- While I'm not an Eaton fan, I thought he looked pretty good last night. Oh well.

And my parting words, get ready for Bortuzzo or Despres to be traded. You just get that feeling...

I could not agree more about Jeffrey. That guy is a much worse substitute for Malkin on the second line than Sutter. Mercifully, HCDB recognized that and made the adjustment in the 3rd period. Jeffrey is a versatile minor leaguer, but has no business stepping on to the top six spots.

I think DB was trying to get something (anything) out of his bottom 6 by leaving Sutter on the 3rd line.

[columbia]

I think DB was trying to get something (anything) out of his bottom 6 by leaving Sutter on the 3rd line.

Yep.

We really don't want to see Cooke-Jeffrey-Kennedy.

[Gaucho]

*vomit*

[iWonTheCup87]

amazing comeback.

i thought after we failed on the 5on3 it was just one of those nights where we couldnt score. We played well after the 1st period and their goalie was sharp otherwise we win like 5/6-2.

Great game for everyone mostly except orpik and his stupid icings. Really no excuse for doing this AGAIN in a crucial situation, just made no sense to do that.

[guiner]

Limited the 3rd best shooting team in league to only 16 shots.

[columbia]

"The second period, we played really well," Letang said. "We got to our game and we tired them out."

[DudeMan2766]

I went last night and ironically the last time I was at a game vs Boston the Pens were up 2-0 the entire way until about 4 minutes left and the Bruins won 4-2 in regulation. Might have been the last game I went to actually.

[71Aj66ax87]

[DudeMan2766]

I liked what Yohe tweeted last night. Something about how last June Shero refused to trade Jordan Staal unless Brandon Sutter was involved.

But still fire RS

[tfrizz]

I liked what Yohe tweeted last night. Something about how last June Shero refused to trade Jordan Staal unless Brandon Sutter was involved.

But still fire RS

My mind is still blown away over that trade. How do you get Sutter + Dumoulin + 8th overall (Pouliot) when Staal made it very clear he had no intention of re-signing with the Pens because he wanted to play with his brother in Carolina? Could Rutherford not wait a year or something?

[shmenguin]

Staal made it very clear he had no intention of re-signing with the Pens because he wanted to play with his brother in Carolina

that's not really true. he wouldn't sign here because he'd be locking himself in as a 3rd line center forever. the brother thing was a factor in where he wanted to play - but only after he decided he wanted to leave

[Tico Rick]

I think I remember reading somewhere that Rutherford did not want to take a chance of losing out on Staal by waiting a year. RS did outstanding work with a bad situation.

But still fire RS. And DB while we're at it.

[DudeMan2766]

I think I remember reading somewhere that Rutherford did not want to take a chance of losing out on Staal by waiting a year. RS did outstanding work with a bad situation.

But still fire RS. And DB while we're at it.

Don't forget Steiggy

[Tico Rick]

I think the Pens already fired Steiggy but he still shows up for work.

[sil]

I think the Pens already fired Steiggy but he still shows up for work.

...and by some glitch in the system he still receives a paycheck every week. We went ahead and fixed the glitch...

[Beveridge]

I think the Pens already fired Steiggy but he still shows up for work.

...and by some glitch in the system he still receives a paycheck every week. We went ahead and fixed the glitch...

So Consol is going to burn down?

[silentom]

They put salt on steigy's margarita.

[DudeMan2766]

Same with TK

[stopper40]

I think the Pens already fired Steiggy but he still shows up for work.

...and by some glitch in the system he still receives a paycheck every week. We went ahead and fixed the glitch...

Priceless...................

[DelPen]

Staal made it very clear he had no intention of re-signing with the Pens because he wanted to play with his brother in Carolina

that's not really true. he wouldn't sign here because he'd be locking himself in as a 3rd line center forever. the brother thing was a factor in where he wanted to play - but only after he decided he wanted to leave

Rangers could have easily offered him more if they don't get Nash, and actually they could have still made a good offer even with Nash if they don't eventually pick up Hamrlik and by trading Boyle. That would have been scary.

[pittsburghsportsfan]

Brandon Sutter!

[penmyst]

1. Sutter is a slick player. That steal on the GWG was very Malkin like.

2. Games like this are great reminders that hockey games are 60 minute (sometimes 65) affairs.

3. I do like to see teams that sit on leads have it blow up in their face.

4. Good defensive effort by the Pens. The two goals they did allow were earned by Boston.

5. Nice to see other guys besides Crosby/Kunitz/Neal putting clutch pucks in the net.

[lemieuxReturns]

-I thought they were cooked after the terrible 5 on 3 showing.

you must've seen a different 5 on 3 than I saw...

I remember like 3 really good opportunities, and Neal hitting the post

I good 5 on 3 scores a goal.

[DesertPenguin]

We don't need Iginla to replace Dupuis, but we could use another Dupuis to round out the 3rd line. If that player could kill penalties, even better, so we wouldn't be handcuffed to playing Adams and Glass every night on the 4th. DJ - Vitale - TK could be viable as a 4th line.

On defense, I'm comfortable rolling with what we have.

Orpik - Martin
Eaton - Letang
Despres - Niskanen
Bortuzzo
Engo

If anyone in that group gets upgraded, it should be Eaton, but the replacement needs to play a similar style, maybe with a little more physicality. If you skate 7 defensemen and dress one of Bort or Engo just for their physical presence, that works too. Extra shifts for Crosby, Malkin and Sutter on the 4th, put Vitale at wing instead of Glass or Adams and we are set.

[Dr Rosenrosen]

Perhaps the Pens should watch some tape of the Bruins' PK. It is literally the exact opposite of what the Pens do.

They need not look at footage of the Bruins PK but of their own from last season. The Pens had a very similar PK last year that the Bruins are employing this year. Active sticks, getting in the lanes and faces of the point men etc.

"We've both watched a lot of video," Orpik said. "He said, 'I really don't see that many things we're doing that much differently,' compared to the last two years, when we were at 85 or 90 percent and first or second in the league."


Kinda like when my ex-wife would look in the mirror and couldn't see how fat she got.