Official GDT: Pens @ Panthers 3/23/25

[Zalapski33]

Florida's forecheck breaks down the Pens to get it tied.Geno got caught in no mans land and its a wide open shot.

[Pens4Life]

Thats was great pass from Luostarinen for Lundell's goal, broke whole D movement.

[penscup]

Did that shot really go off the knob of Jarry’s stick?
If so, WOW.

[Zalapski33]

Seems like every time the Pens play Florida its an OT Game.

With the way the Pens were hanging on late 3 on 3 might be a relief.

EK for the Winner.

[Crash66]

The 3 on 3 novelty has worn off, at least for me.

[Crash66]

Ok. Maybe not. That last minute was crazy.

[Zalapski33]

Jarry with some outstanding stops in the OT.
The Pens had the chance but the Sid pass to Letang just missed.

[penscup]

Crazy overtime. If it were that exciting every time I would be more for keeping it.

[Pens4Life]

This penalty shot by Sid was really baaad.. poor effort

[Crash66]

When was the last time they won a shootout? Any this year?

[Michael74]

We got one point too many.

[Zalapski33]

The Pens just aren't good scoring in these Shoot Outs,they just never seem to be able to beat Opposing Goaltenders.
Jarry was excellent again,he made many difficult saves.His play continues to be strong.
Malkin had a strong game,his skating and effort were on display.Rust had 2 real nice Goals with some strong plays.
Hayes was a Ghost with Heinen right behind him there.Barely saw them once again.
Overall not a terrible effort but this Pens Team isn't on the level of that opponent.But its another loss where this Coach's System spits up another lead.

[Zalapski33]

This penalty shot by Sid was really baaad.. poor effort

The deliberate approach seems to make it too easy for the Goaltender.
Would rather they enter with speed and make a quick decisive shot.

[Michael74]

This team loves mediocrity apparently, absolutely disgusting. Mushy middle for the third year in a row is not where you wanna be. And as great as Sid is he may never see the playoffs again. And yet there are many here cheering them on to win meaningless games. It's like punching yourself in the face, getting bandaged up and repeating the same pattern over and over again. I just don't understand that mentality. I think it's rather disturbing actually.

[FLPensFan]

Was at the game....was literally thinking to myself Jarry has been really solid so far, and 10 seconds later he gave up the 2nd goal....which was a stinker. Still, he made some good saves and was in good position. Nothing he could have done on the ripper from Reinhart on the first goal, and Malkin went for a controller disconnected spin covering nobody in the slot on the 3rd goal.

What I really need to see from Jarry though, is a bad game, where he doesn't play well...and he admits his own mistakes. That's what is really needed for a full Jarry evolution.

[Michael74]

Was at the game....was literally thinking to myself Jarry has been really solid so far, and 10 seconds later he gave up the 2nd goal....which was a stinker. Still, he made some good saves and was in good position. Nothing he could have done on the ripper from Reinhart on the first goal, and Malkin went for a controller disconnected spin covering nobody in the slot on the 3rd goal.

What I really need to see from Jarry though, is a bad game, where he doesn't play well...and he admits his own mistakes. That's what is really needed for a full Jarry evolution.

What we need to see is 10 straight losses. THAT'S what we need to see and YOU know it! Screw Jarry, he's awful. Only wins in garbage time.

[penscup]

This team loves mediocrity apparently, absolutely disgusting. Mushy middle for the third year in a row is not where you wanna be. And as great as Sid is he may never see the playoffs again. And yet there are many here cheering them on to win meaningless games. It's like punching yourself in the face, getting bandaged up and repeating the same pattern over and over again. I just don't understand that mentality. I think it's rather disturbing actually.

Fans in general are fanatical. We want our team to win every night they take the ice, even if it may not be the best long term strategy. In theory your philosophy makes sense -- tank now for better odds at a higher draft pick and better talent. But that strategy doesn't always work. Look at the Rangers lucking out and winning the right to draft Alexis Lafrenier five years ago. He was supposed to be an absolute guaranteed franchise game changer and yet has only managed to become a solid 2nd liner and the Rangers are struggling to make the playoffs once again. Or how about the Buffalo Sabres tanking for the right to draft Jack Eichel, another franchise savior who would wind up being traded after only 6 seasons and ZERO playoff appearances. Tanking did not work for those Sabres. Even if I partially agree with the philosophy to tank the rest of this season, it doesn't always work out. You can draft a guy like Patric Hornqvist last overall in the entire draft and have him turn into an absolute crucial part of multiple Stanley Cup winning teams. This team and this organization went into this season with the goal of at least making the playoffs after missing it the last two years. Until they are mathematically eliminated they are refusing to quit on this season which I admire them for, and many fans are refusing to quit on them too, even if a vocal minority like yourself and others fail to understand why. Management decided to keep Rakell at the deadline and try and still chase the final wildcard spot, even if that possibility was a long shot.

Will it be a good choice or bad, only time will tell. An argument can be made that finishing this season on a high note while barely missing the playoffs will help attract interest from highly talented free agents like Mitch Marner to come play here next year. While I'm not sure if that is the correct strategy at this point it certainly would make for an interesting offseason discussion and its up to management to decide what future path to take. I will still support the team no matter which path they choose.

If you want to talk about a disturbing mentality look no further than your fellow Pittsburgh Pirate fans in this same city. Those are some truly disturbed fans who continue to support an organization that CLEARLY does not want to even TRY and win, year after year after year. Yet each season the same fans keep coming back and supporting that team just because they have a beautiful stadium and luck into drafting one good player like Skenes, or they just want to go do something on a warm summer night. That is truly disturbing. That entire organization from the very top on down CLEARLY only cares about stealing people's money and yet the fans continue to support them. At least the entire Penguin organization has the goal to truly WIN every year. They spend to the cap ceiling. They make big trades to bring in top talent like Iginla, Hossa, Kessel, and Karlsson. Some with better results than others. As fans, we may disagree with some of the decisions they make whether it be coaching or drafting or trading, but that is part of the fun, and is not going to prevent us from cheering them on every season and wanting to them to try and win every game until all hope is truly lost.

Otherwise they wouldn't call us fans.

[Pens4Life]

This penalty shot by Sid was really baaad.. poor effort

The deliberate approach seems to make it too easy for the Goaltender.
Would rather they enter with speed and make a quick decisive shot.

Yep, my thinking as well..

OVERALL, Pens dont want to tank, period! They didnt sell off the team to tank and players dont want to lose anyway, so there is that..

We will be middlers once again, pushing for the playoffs until its mathemathicly impossible to get in..

What will Dubas do next after season end will be VERY important..

but I dont expect much tbh! Sullivan we all wanted to be gone 3 years ago, will be very likely still here for one more or even two seasons.. UNLESS HE decides to leave for another organization like his hometown Bruins or NYR.
Youth movement next season, unlikely in degree we want.. maybe two make it thru the cracks, but otherwise Sullivan will keep his vets and we will sign 2-3 more for competition LOL..

I have zero trust in this management and Sullivan and Dubas being completely free to do what he wants. I dont think KD and HCMS see completely eye to eye. I think they are on different parts of land going forward. I believe KD wants more youth movement (next season at least 4-5 young guys from AHL with big club) and prepare for future, while also trying still to compete and same time develop as best as possible..

BUT Sully meanwhile wants 98% of roster of seasoned NHL players who can defend and PK and feels he doesnt have time to develop young guys at all, unless its new Crosby or Makar kind of talent.

[KG]

Saw some quotes in the post game. Team is saying it shows a lot about our character that we are still fighting. Sullivan said post game that he’s proud of the guys ??

I mean yay would you like a participation trophy or something?

Padding stats during garbage time is nothing to be patting yourself on the back over.

It’s the SOS with this team. They win meaningless games and start to say all of the ra ra stuff. Same act they pulled last year. Yet they never show up when the games mean something.

Another reason why you shouldn’t put stock in garbage time points and wins. Last seasons run made us believe that DOC could be a 1st line wing and Ned could be a bonafide 1 goalie.

Rip the bandaid off already.

[Puck-Lurker]

Sullivan handing out ribbons reportedly.

[Michael74]

This team loves mediocrity apparently, absolutely disgusting. Mushy middle for the third year in a row is not where you wanna be. And as great as Sid is he may never see the playoffs again. And yet there are many here cheering them on to win meaningless games. It's like punching yourself in the face, getting bandaged up and repeating the same pattern over and over again. I just don't understand that mentality. I think it's rather disturbing actually.

Fans in general are fanatical. We want our team to win every night they take the ice, even if it may not be the best long term strategy. In theory your philosophy makes sense -- tank now for better odds at a higher draft pick and better talent. But that strategy doesn't always work. Look at the Rangers lucking out and winning the right to draft Alexis Lafrenier five years ago. He was supposed to be an absolute guaranteed franchise game changer and yet has only managed to become a solid 2nd liner and the Rangers are struggling to make the playoffs once again. Or how about the Buffalo Sabres tanking for the right to draft Jack Eichel, another franchise savior who would wind up being traded after only 6 seasons and ZERO playoff appearances. Tanking did not work for those Sabres. Even if I partially agree with the philosophy to tank the rest of this season, it doesn't always work out. You can draft a guy like Patric Hornqvist last overall in the entire draft and have him turn into an absolute crucial part of multiple Stanley Cup winning teams. This team and this organization went into this season with the goal of at least making the playoffs after missing it the last two years. Until they are mathematically eliminated they are refusing to quit on this season which I admire them for, and many fans are refusing to quit on them too, even if a vocal minority like yourself and others fail to understand why. Management decided to keep Rakell at the deadline and try and still chase the final wildcard spot, even if that possibility was a long shot.

Will it be a good choice or bad, only time will tell. An argument can be made that finishing this season on a high note while barely missing the playoffs will help attract interest from highly talented free agents like Mitch Marner to come play here next year. While I'm not sure if that is the correct strategy at this point it certainly would make for an interesting offseason discussion and its up to management to decide what future path to take. I will still support the team no matter which path they choose.

If you want to talk about a disturbing mentality look no further than your fellow Pittsburgh Pirate fans in this same city. Those are some truly disturbed fans who continue to support an organization that CLEARLY does not want to even TRY and win, year after year after year. Yet each season the same fans keep coming back and supporting that team just because they have a beautiful stadium and luck into drafting one good player like Skenes, or they just want to go do something on a warm summer night. That is truly disturbing. That entire organization from the very top on down CLEARLY only cares about stealing people's money and yet the fans continue to support them. At least the entire Penguin organization has the goal to truly WIN every year. They spend to the cap ceiling. They make big trades to bring in top talent like Iginla, Hossa, Kessel, and Karlsson. Some with better results than others. As fans, we may disagree with some of the decisions they make whether it be coaching or drafting or trading, but that is part of the fun, and is not going to prevent us from cheering them on every season and wanting to them to try and win every game until all hope is truly lost.

Otherwise they wouldn't call us fans.

I agree Pirates are a lost cause! And as a result stopped following them a while back due to the ineptitude of Nutting (cheap) and piss poor management.

The Problem with the Pens is they aren't being strategic here. Winning now only delays the inevitable and they're squandering a year where by they can get a potential cornerstone draft pick. BOS, PHI, SEA and DET have all of a sudden gone into a tail spin, but not us! We wanna give an honest effort every night, even to our detriment. Crosby is actually hurting himself and doesn't realize it IF he ever wants to see the post season. UNLESS they go hog wild in free agency this is an awful scenario for the Pens. Sure, They can draft a nice complimentary piece for the future but not a future member of a core. Why? Because they aren't being strategic or situational at all. They could choose to rest key guys if they wanted and give some young lesser guys a look. They could jumble the lines a bit making it harder to find chemistry. Or most obviously, They could have traded Rakell and taken away the ability of that 1st line to rack up meaningless points, accrued assets in the process and plummeted down the standings. Instead they're going nowhere fast. Sid will never see the post season again. And that's exactly what he and this team deserve if they continue to win meaningless games!

[Antonio]

I don't in any way ever expect the players themselves to tank it on purpose. Certainly not a player like Crosby who just isn't wired like that and I don't blame him or fault him at all. The fault is the organization. They got lemieux not because the players decided to get him and tank it but because the management knew their job, and their job was to build the long-term strength of the organization...not win the game that night and they made the moves necessary to put the organization in a position to benefit long-term. I fully expect the players that actually hit the ice will do their best every single night, especially since many of them don't care and shouldn't care about being here next year or what this team does in two years and for some of them they may not see the ice again in the NHL at any given moment.

[lemieuxReturns]

I don't in any way ever expect the players themselves to tank it on purpose. Certainly not a player like Crosby who just isn't wired like that and I don't blame him or fault him at all. The fault is the organization. They got lemieux not because the players decided to get him and tank it but because the management knew their job, and their job was to build the long-term strength of the organization...not win the game that night and they made the moves necessary to put the organization in a position to benefit long-term. I fully expect the players that actually hit the ice will do their best every single night, especially since many of them don't care and shouldn't care about being here next year or what this team does in two years and for some of them they may not see the ice again in the NHL at any given moment.

I am 100% positive the organization also wants to lose. They even showed us all that plan when they recalled the worst goalie in the league. Problem is, that damn POS decided to screw us all again by actually winning. The guy could not be counted on to win or play anything at all resembling an NHL goalie until we actually did not want him to play well.... then he showed up and showed up big. What can Dubas or the organization do at this point? We have no one worse than Jarry, and as others have said... guys like Sid and Geno are not wired to lose.

[Michael74]

They can sit veterans, Give Sid and Geno some days/games off, Reduce their ice time, double shift curtain jerkers, Play Ned instead of Jarry, have long grueling practices, jumble up the lines. IF only they had a few key injuries.

[Michael74]

I don't in any way ever expect the players themselves to tank it on purpose. Certainly not a player like Crosby who just isn't wired like that and I don't blame him or fault him at all. The fault is the organization.

Then bench him or take away his linemates. Play him with IMMA and Heinen or Acciari. Reduce his ice time, give him a game off.