Official GDT: Pens @ Leafs 4/8/24

[KG]

Take the point clearly. But another game that the power play cost them a point. Maybe game 79 they will figure out the PP!

[KG]

This may not be the time for it, but can someone again remind me what makes Sullivan a great coach?

Line management?
Power play?
3 on 3 in OT?

Where does he shine when decisions have to be made?

The team wins in spite of Sullivan. He let's them play the way they want to play and tune him out for 90% of the season.

[Admin]

And honestly the current winning lineup is only due to injuries.

[FLPensFan]

Even Toronto media confused:

[KG]

Even Toronto media confused:

Would love someone in our media to ask Sullivan two questions: 1. How does Sid not start the OT. 2. Why does Carter get so much ice time on the PP and ES? The analytics show that he's a pylon.

Thanks!

[Maestro]

Sullivan doing his best to keep Penguins out of the playoffs
He's becoming an expert at it.

[Zalapski33]

Pens getting it tied to get a Point was huge.Late 3rd Period was a big push to nearly get it won.
Ned with many great saves.He battled once again and didn't give up anything when the Leafs were putting it on him.
Rust and Smith weren't good tonight.Rust was awful with the puck.Smith a non factor once again.
The PP as usual cost them.As did the OT strategy which was useless.30th PP.9 OT Losses.Coaching a key factor in both of those failures.
Sid and Geno were outstanding.Karlsson played a strong game.Letang was solid.Best players definitely brought their effort.

The Clown Show Officiating had an effect on how thus game went.2 Penalty calls that were simply not warranted.A missed call late on a trip on EK.
To expect a fairly called game in Toronto is clearly not a reasonable expectation.No doubt the kind of effort we saw from the Pens early and late was something that showed how serious they were about winning this one.They played it like a Playoff Game for much of it.

But Sully again hurt this team.He continues to give Jeff Carter too many minutes.His PP again netted zero.And his OT strategy gave up a valuable point.Never put out his best players.The Pens have a combined 12 points given up between the OT Losses and Shootout Losses.And God knows how many close games has this PP cost them-10?

[lemieuxReturns]

EK **** the bed in OT and Sully’s line management ate that ****.

Hahaha

[E-Ramone]

This may not be the time for it, but can someone again remind me what makes Sullivan a great coach?

Line management?
Power play?
3 on 3 in OT?

Where does he shine when decisions have to be made?

Is it being 0/5 in the last five seasons in the playoffs that makes you great?

[Zalapski33]

This may not be the time for it, but can someone again remind me what makes Sullivan a great coach?

Line management?
Power play?
3 on 3 in OT?

Where does he shine when decisions have to be made?

The team wins in spite of Sullivan. He let's them play the way they want to play and tune him out for 90% of the season.

9 Points lost with OT Losses.10 minimum if You get 5 Wins in regulation with 1 PP Goal.

Didn't put his best guys out there again.Carter was on the ice way too often,his inability to cover defensively cost them a Goal.

[Coffey Break]

I was hoping the OT would keep going just to see if Jeff Carter would get the second shift to be honest.

[KG]

I mean if Sully is starting Eller and OC he's saying he is just trying to defend the opening shift....then put MP out there instead of EK.

There zero rationale to not start Sid. I'm seeing Rossi say Sid has been outscored 5-0 in OT this season. I don't care, it's crunch time. You win or lose with your best.

[KG]

If this is true the I will calm down because I don't really trust Geno in OT either. But just a bad time for Sid to have a skate issue.

[Coffey Break]

If you're gonna lose, you go down with your best players. And the guys who are dragging the corpses of this team to playoff contention.

[Coffey Break]

If this is true the I will calm down and move on! lol

Doesn't explain why you don't then go with 71 and Bunting then.

[penny lane]

Big reach.......

Onto the next! Go Rangers. CAPS v Detroit ???

[Zalapski33]

I mean if Sully is starting Eller and OC he's saying he is just trying to defend the opening shift....then put MP out there instead of EK.

There zero rationale to not start Sid. I'm seeing Rossi say Sid has been outscored 5-0 in OT this season. I don't care, it's crunch time. You win or lose with your best.

I wonder how many of those took place with Letang on the Ice.
3-9 is a lousy record in OT.Coach can't figure it out.Has had 78 Games to address it.

[Zalapski33]

If this is true the I will calm down because I don't really trust Geno in OT either. But just a bad time for Sid to have a skate issue.

Same here.Nothing they could do about that.I'll temper that criticism a bit.

[BurghThing]

Sullivan is lying and he knows the Pittsburgh media won't call him on it.

[Antonio]

It is interesting to think that with a competent coach, this team could possibly have had even an adequate pp and a 3 on 3 where they, you know, practice it once in a while. Say everything else was the same and they had a decent pp and ot ability ... very easily this team could have 90 points right now and be basically a playoff lock. Pretty sad because as several of us have noted all season, this team really shouldn't be as bad as it's been. It's not a world dominator, but it frankly has had no business being in the running for the goddamn #1 pick either.

[FLPensFan]

Ouch...

[BurghThing]

Ouch...

Hey, but no need to practice it, right Coach Jeenyus?

[penny lane]

To not practice 3 on 3 are crimes against the organization.
To add 77 ice time needs revisited.

[ahawk9]

I'm truly flabbergasted by their inability to A.) fix the power play at least enough to become mediocre; and, B.) see their horrible 3-on-3 play and take measures to improve it (again, to at least mediocre). This isn't an aging team issue. Couple those major issues with their penchant for blowing 3rd-period leads (although some of that is down to both the above, since a power play goal here and there gives them a regulation win versus an overtime loss), and they have left 10-15 points on the table. Take just half those points (heck, even 5!) and they have clinched 3rd place in the Metro.

I've been impressed with their grit the last couple of weeks but it will be a shame if that is wasted by their absolute inability to fix these glaring problems.

[ahawk9]

All that said, they've played themselves into an easier decision re: this year's No. 1 pick. Ship it to San Jose, hope Carolina gets out of the east to get their first, and keep next year's pick. At the time, as a group we mostly thought the Jake trade was underwhelming but they immediately got themselves top prospects (at least for the Pens' system), and Bunting has been a great fit. He won't match Jake's scoring but he'll be close enough (at half the price!) if they can get some jump/goals from the bottom 2 lines next year.

They are in a better position than I thought they might be as an organization. But if they bring back the entire coaching staff then I take that all back...