Game 80 vs Wings - Thoughts from the Morning After

[Penspal]

Pens win 4-3 Shootout

- Another Jussi winner - very lucky goal and win, but why not
- Another late goal against..... ugh, ugh, ugh
- Letang did keep it simple and was effective, some rust showing but to be expected.
- MAF was decent, great in the shootout. One more win for 40!!!
- Has Neal returned to form.... I'd say no, one was a backhand goal... a backhand goal.... backhand
- Wings were faster &seemed to hit our studs more than we hit theirs (Datsyuk on Crosby for example). HCDB to fix
- Wings D are suspect right now, in playoffs Pens need to hit them hard & often
- Gibbons has kept the motor running, shows heart where other guys... not so much. Gibbons keeps drawing penalties
- Coach Babcock has already started working on the refs regarding Pens talking to refs - Ihate it, but it will be effective

[shmenguin]

-letang looked good all things considered
-detroit is pretty good right now
-bylsma is a complete idiot with personnel

i don't have any other takeaways from this one

[DelPen]

Maybe they are talking to the refs because Detroit interferes every single **** shift.

[TwoSheds]

...and, we had a Ponakroncoski sighting!
His birthday yesterday, as announced during the telecast!

[Penspal]

Maybe they are talking to the refs because Detroit interferes every single **** shift.

good point, Pee-air even had a name for it..... some sort of interference allowing Wings D to be more mobile.

[Pruezy11881]

The Detroit Rub

[Hugo Stiglitz]

-a game of bad bounces on both sides
-Letang was shaky at first, but wound up playing a solid game despite the poor coverage on the first goal.
-Fleury was magnificent
-great to see that Neal decided to wake the F up
-Too many defensive lapses as per usual
-I honestly can't say the Wings play that much better than the Pens. It was a back and forth game for the most part.

All that being said, that game made me nervous for a series against the Wings because of how even-keeled it was.

[dodint]

Did Letang get an assist on that rush he made that setup one of the later goals? Good for him either way.

[thehockeyguru]

- When we have a full complement of players I hope that our bottom 6 pans out. Last night they really took advantage of our 4th in particular.
- I watched Scuderi last night more than usual because of all the people riding him. He really does look a step slow, and I wonder if things go south if Despres or Bortuzzo will get a shot.
- MAF really gave up a weak 3rd goal. I dont think he can be counted on to steal a series, but I hope he can steal at least a game or two.

[topshelf66]

There were some things to like in the win, but what keeps coming back is that the Pens end up losing in all of the areas that resemble playoff hockey.

- Net front battles.
- Along the boards.
- Trapped in their own zone.
- Holding on to late leads.

I get that these games mean nothing and it does not hurt anything to experiment but, Stempniak was being productive on Sid's wing. He has not been productive since leaving it. I have no trouble with Beau getting a look there, but so far he is not adding enough to make up for the loss of production from Stempniak there.

With Malkin back does Beau go to the third line with Sutter and either Glass / Pyatt / Gibbons?

[Hugo Stiglitz]

- When we have a full complement of players I hope that our bottom 6 pans out. Last night they really took advantage of our 4th in particular.
- I watched Scuderi last night more than usual because of all the people riding him. He really does look a step slow, and I wonder if things go south if Despres or Bortuzzo will get a shot.
- MAF really gave up a weak 3rd goal. I dont think he can be counted on to steal a series, but I hope he can steal at least a game or two.

That third goal changed direction last second.

As to your comment about the 4th line, it doesn't need to be when we are full and healthy. Bylsma is not dressing the right players. There's no reason that Megna and Engellend should scratched over Pyatt and Payerl.

[wondermoose]

-Our fourth line is beyond awful. I can't believe it exists.
-Craig Adams does all the hard work on the PK, gets the puck on his stick, and continuously turns it right back over at the blue line.
-Letang looked good. Didn't try to do anything stupid which is braggable.
-That second Detroit goal. Why, NHL, why?
-Fleury's playing with a lot of confidence. Even when he's letting goals in, it feels like he's got his head straight when the puck comes back his way.
-Putting him with Sid has caused Beau's play to dwindle. He's a playmaker and he was looking so confident with the puck the first few games. Why take it away when our other playmaker is injured?

[thehockeyguru]

With Malkin back does Beau go to the third line with Sutter and either Glass / Pyatt / Gibbons?

-I would hope that Bennett stays on the top line with Crosby and Kunitz
-Keep Neal, Malkin, Jokinen together
-Gibbens or Megna/Sutter/Stempniak
-Adams/Goc/Glass When Goc returns.

[DelPen]

Neal needs Malkin or another elite center to be an elite wing. I'd hope to see these lines next week:

Kunitz-Crosby-Stempniak
Jokinen-Malkin-Neal
Gibbons-Sutter-Bennett
Glass-Goc-Adams

Same defense as last night.

[Hawkeynut]

- I am convinced Fleury is over his confidence issues. I no longer feel like he is going to let that one in that breaks the back. I seriously believe he will rock it in the playoffs.
- Neal need to do more of that.
- I am hoping for a Wings 1st round, just what the Pens need to get the mojo going. And if they loose, it won't be as humiliating (than loosing to the Jackets).

[tfrizz]

- MAF really gave up a weak 3rd goal. I dont think he can be counted on to steal a series, but I hope he can steal at least a game or two.

Just curious. How is a shot going low blocker side that gets double-tipped (Martin then Sheahan) and knuckles up high glove a weak goal?

[SubtropicalPenguin]

- That fourth line of Pyatt-Adams-Payerl is one of the worst lines I have ever seen. Every time they stepped on the ice, it was a goal or a huge momentum swing to Detroit. For the love of God, stop playing Pyatt and Adams! That is not an NHL caliber line, and any good team will take advantage of it. It has to be demoralizing to the rest of the team knowing that every shift the fourth line plays is going to be an unmitigated disaster. This has to stop.
- Letang looked good. Nice to see him back on the ice.
- Nice win, hopefully preventing Detroit from securing the second point will lead to us playing Columbus in the first round. Detriot scares me way more than Columbus.

[RisslingsMissingTeeth]

... the Pens end up losing in all of the areas that resemble playoff hockey.

- Net front battles.
- Along the boards.
- Trapped in their own zone.
- Holding on to late leads.

This is nothing new. We have always done a terrible job with the 2nd and 3rd point. I watch a lot of games because of the Center Ice package and I've never seen a team come close to the level of awfulness of the Pens in gaining forward possession on board play.

My only other thoughts from last night:
- P Martin's defensive play was abysmal but DB played him 27 minutes! Maybe it was exhaustion.
- Could someone tell Bennett to SHOOT THE FREAKING PUCK?!?
- Pyatt over Megna...yeah that makes sense in no universe ever.

[thehockeyguru]

- MAF really gave up a weak 3rd goal. I dont think he can be counted on to steal a series, but I hope he can steal at least a game or two.

Just curious. How is a shot going low blocker side that gets double-tipped (Martin then Sheahan) and knuckles up high glove a weak goal?

It changed speeds and flipped over top of him, it wasnt a double tip with no reaction time. If he didnt spazz out and had good technique the puck doesnt go in.

[thehockeyguru]

Neal needs Malkin or another elite center to be an elite wing. I'd hope to see these lines next week:

Kunitz-Crosby-Stempniak
Jokinen-Malkin-Neal
Gibbons-Sutter-Bennett
Glass-Goc-Adams

Same defense as last night.

I wouldnt be against those, I think I am in the minority that likes Megna over Gibbens.

[PensFanInDC]

- MAF really gave up a weak 3rd goal. I dont think he can be counted on to steal a series, but I hope he can steal at least a game or two.

Just curious. How is a shot going low blocker side that gets double-tipped (Martin then Sheahan) and knuckles up high glove a weak goal?

It changed speeds and flipped over top of him, it wasnt a double tip with no reaction time. If he didnt spazz out and had good technique the puck doesnt go in.

lolwut?

You've never played in net before have you?

[thehockeyguru]

Yes, i have and probably longer than you.

[DelPen]

Neal needs Malkin or another elite center to be an elite wing. I'd hope to see these lines next week:

Kunitz-Crosby-Stempniak
Jokinen-Malkin-Neal
Gibbons-Sutter-Bennett
Glass-Goc-Adams

Same defense as last night.

I wouldnt be against those, I think I am in the minority that likes Megna over Gibbens.

I guess it depends on the opponant. Gibbons should be able to make the interference by the Wings look so blatant they have to call it but Megna would look maybe better vs the Jackets.

[sil]

The play were Sutter almost had his knee blown out is exactly why the league should crack down more on the Wing's patented "1-minute penalty" or "subtle interference," or whatever you want to call it. That was an illegal play, and one that almost ended Sutter's year, and that team never gets called on it.

Spoiler:

Okay, stepping off the soap box now...

[thehockeyguru]

Megna has shown good wheels too. Gibbens was too cute at times last night. He needs to simplify and get pucks to the net in the playoffs.