Game 43 vs. Habs - Thoughts from the Morning After

[Penspal]

Pens win 6-4

- The score was not reflective of how dominant the Pens were in this game
- Morrow is exactly what the Pens needed, he is this year's Billy G. Gordie Howe Hat Trick AND the only Penguin who has ever managed to get Subban to finally dance!!!
- poor Peter Budaj, he "might' now know what happened as its the morning after. In case he reads this, your defence sucked lemons.
- Couldn't you just feel that Murray was going to score? Nice play to keep the puck in, and simply get it on near the net
- Two great consecutive checking shifts by the 4th & then 3rd lines. Habs players were being hammered to the ice anytime they even looked like they had touched the puck.
- Pens played a portion of this game without two centers. Jussi left feeling ill, Vitale got hurt. Sutter had really good jump & he has more goals than Jordan (just sayin)
- Healing vibes to Joe Vitale for blocking that shot off his foot. He really brings energy to the team when he's out there. (likely see Dustin Jeffrey next game)
- Letang was at fault for the Gionta goal, he left mini mouse all alone. Impressed the Pens didn't go after Gionta for the "alleged" Fleury bumping incident (previous game)
- Congrats to Iggy on 1100 pts!
- TSN feed had some great dialogue w/R Ferraro (between benches). His description of the Glass chirps was hilarious. Ray also met Bennett (BB's childhood hero) & is impressed w/him
- Speaking of Bennett, another great game & what a great saucer pass to Morrow for his goal.

Spoiler:

"dishing the sauce to morrrow" I like writing that.

- Lots of quiet but strong performances in this game (Kunitz, Eaton, Vitale)

[columbia]

At times, it was mens versus boys out there. Pretty impressive.
I'm having a hard time imaging the team that played last night + Crosby, Martin, Malkin and Neal

[darkstar57]

Morrow chirping PK from the penalty box was hilarious, telling him how to properly take off his helmet during a fight was classic

[Penspal]

At times, it was mens versus boys out there. Pretty impressive.
I'm having a hard time imaging the team that played last night + Crosby, Martin, Malkin and Neal

Morrow was interviewed on TSN and was sheepishly grinning when that point was alluded to.

[Penspal]

- What happened to all the talk about how "slow" the Pens have gotten?
- Montreal is a speed team and they did score a goal or two with speed, but they gave up SIX with speed
- Gallagher's reckless stick really hurt his team. Cooke played him perfectly & it was a factor in the game.

[Gaucho]

If you had told me that at one point this season we'd have Dupuis, Sutter, and Vitale centering the lines...

[Penspal]

If you had told me that at one point this season we'd have Dupuis, Sutter, and Vitale centering the lines...

Don't forget Juicy, that makes the crazy sound ..... well even crazier.

[Hawkeynut]

- This game was when toughness met offense.
- That one sequence where there was at least 5 hits in one shift ware epic.
- If you told this team would dominiate the 2nd seed in the conference without Geno, Crosby, Martin and Neal I would have laughed at you.
- Special teams in this game were surely not conventional in the sense you never knew who was going out there.
- Flower got beat by a couple of surprise goals and some good shots. Could blame him on a couple but nothing to worry about.
- All 6 goals were scored by players who were not on the roster a year ago.

[Hawkeynut]

If you had told me that at one point this season we'd have Dupuis, Sutter, and Vitale centering the lines...

Don't forget Juicy, that makes the crazy sound ..... well even crazier.

With the winger depth the Pens have now, the reliance on centers is nowhere as great. Finally for the first time in 4 years the wingers can carry the team for awhile.

[Beveridge]

Pens need to get wingers for Dupuis.

[meow]

Vitale with some PK time - it makes sense why he isn't out there often, even though I think he should be
We finished the game with one legitimate center in Sutter
Murray's celebration was like he is a 50 goal scorer, like he's done it a million times
Pens are like 15-2 with Mark Eaton

[Gaucho]

I love Beau Bennett.

[Pitt87]

If you had told me that at one point this season we'd have Dupuis, Sutter, and Vitale centering the lines...

Don't forget Juicy, that makes the crazy sound ..... well even crazier.

With the winger depth the Pens have now, the reliance on centers is nowhere as great. Finally for the first time in 4 years the wingers can carry the team for awhile.

There is depth in so many dimensions on this team that it may be unprecedented, especially in the cap era. Toughness, physical play, forecheck, backcheck, scoring, puck control, leaders, role players... hell, we have two former captains that are happy to drop the gloves when the situation warrants.

[the wicked child]

Pens are like 15-2 with Mark Eaton

Actually like 18-1 with him in the lineup... he missed the NYR loss.

[the wicked child]

My main thoughts were... man, this team is good. I don't know what's going to happen in the playoffs, but I'm just going to enjoy the ride.

[DelPen]

Typical Pre-Therrien Montreal offensive game where they screw around and get weird goals. not liking giving up 4 goals and Fleury looked to be playing too deep.

Difference was shredding their defense to pieces.

[meow]

Pens are like 15-2 with Mark Eaton

Actually like 18-1 with him in the lineup... he missed the NYR loss.

Even better!

[penny lane]

If you had told me that at one point this season we'd have Dupuis, Sutter, and Vitale centering the lines...

And win!!
I'm trying to hold myself back ; but damn, I love these penguins. I've got to fully embrace J Iginla on the team. He's a penguin. I'm still a bit in shock that he is with the pens.

Dreaming of when I see Brendan Morrow school either / both, giroux and b schenn.

Flower-

I expect Kristopher Letang to receive a phone call from somebody after reading quotes regarding outdoor games.

I'm glad B Morrow chose Pittsburgh!

[Tico Rick]

Dreaming of when I see Brendan Morrow school either / both, giroux and b schenn.

Me too! It's a shame we won't be facing the Flyers in the playoffs this year.

[Shakes]

I love Beau Bennett.

Decent write-up on Beau-ner: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=666348

Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma has seen enough out of Beau Bennett to say that won't necessarily be the case when it comes to giving the 21-year-old a featured role when the postseason begins in two weeks.

"Beau's played a lot of games for us, he's playing in different types of games, he's played in big games, he's played on the second line and the fourth line in those games," Bylsma said after the morning skate in advance of a game against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night. "And I'm comfortable with him and the rookies we have stepping in and being able to contribute in whatever situation may arise down the road."

He was great last night.

As I said in the GDT, I can understand hesitating to play a rookie in the playoffs, but when's the last time BB played like a rookie? The problem is even if he's ahead of Glass and Vitale, he's not getting ahead of TK, Cooke, or Adams. I can buy that I guess. But if injuries hit, and he sits for Glass . . .

[newarenanow]

PK Subban has no balls.

[largegarlic]

The league should create the Gary Roberts Memorial "Get Off My Lawn" Award for gritty veterans who consistently and thoroughly show young punks what's up. Morrow would be the clear favorite for that award.

[Steve Dave]

Vitale with some PK time - it makes sense why he isn't out there often, even though I think he should be
We finished the game with one legitimate center in Sutter
Murray's celebration was like he is a 50 goal scorer, like he's done it a million times
Pens are like 15-2 with Mark Eaton

18-1 with Eaton in the lineup.

[PensFanInDC]

PK Subban has no balls.

[headh]

players just keep stepping up in a wide variety of ways

secondary scoring

toughness

skill

hustle

crashing the net

back-checking

standing up for each other

sending messages

paying the price

investing

it's a cup winning formula