Comments on: Pens top Habs in 2013′s highest-scoring game

By: ironman721

ironman721 — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 11:30:38 +0000

@ handsofweed, I do believe even a blind squirrel can find a nut once in a while (or in this case medication). However if it is one thing the Trojan war taught us, if someone puts a wooden troll out side your gate, never let it in. You burn that wooden troll to the ground. In closing “🚫don’t feed the trolls!”

By: ucaneverscorenoughgoals

ucaneverscorenoughgoals — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 21:10:12 +0000

You’re right Boudreau is doing well with the ducks, and I would agree part of the problem is Ovechkin’s ability as a captain. But, I’d also argue Washington’s main problem occured when they convinced themselves they had to turn an offensive beast into the new Jersey Devils.

Doing so went against everything they were built for and wasted years of players talent. Torts in NY is doing the same things with the rangers after having them spend all that money on offensive weapons.

I’m not against defense but overcoaching players to sacrifice what they do best to prevent an odd man break is bad for hockey, boring for the fans and detrimental to the TV viewership and exposure of the league!

By: spavs412

spavs412 — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 18:27:13 +0000

I think 8 goals the last 2 games were a direct cause of Orpik not clearing the paint. More blocked shots from our fw’s and ww need our D to clear the crease. Start there our mentality must change or the pens are ousted in the first 6 games with a quality team

By: handsofsweed

handsofsweed — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 17:28:21 +0000

Ahh, Don Cherry. Professional Wrestling Announcing needs you. Answer your true calling. Answer it.

By: handsofsweed

handsofsweed — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 17:18:28 +0000

Whoa! What got into you? That may have been the fairest post you’ve ever had regarding Pittsburgh. I’ve got one for you in return:

As much as I’d love to see your Flyers miss the playoffs, it ain’t happening. No way in hell is Philly sitting this one out.

By: odj810

odj810 — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 16:38:59 +0000

One or two players won’t help. They have to get back to attention to detail and structure to give them a cup run. It’s a team issue I think they will figure it out.

By: eigglesnosuperbowls

eigglesnosuperbowls — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 16:36:29 +0000

You know I understand your reasoning but like you said you get a valuable 2 points on the road, bottom line ! I believe the Pens are in sprint mode due to the shortened season and are quite capable of scoring goals at a good clip foregoing defense slightly for the quick points and some little parts of their game are just not being tacked up right now but when the playoffs begin I think the Pens will go into marathon mode if I could compared this season to a runner running a race and the attention to detail on defense will be executed ! As long as the pens get average to above average goaltending in the playoffs I don’t see a repeat of last year ! If I could just rap things up I think the Pens know a playoff spot is a foregone conclusion and the real season starts at the end of this sprint to it !

By: m1k3g

m1k3g — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 16:31:12 +0000

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed but Mr. BBQ Wings seems to be doing all right these days.

I think the real problem in Washington is becoming pretty clear at this point. Think A.O. – and I ain’t talking about Adam Oates.

By: jimw81

jimw81 — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 16:17:19 +0000

it’s surreal that pens are psychologically raddled since they lost to flyers. Montreal turned that game into how the flyers play the penguins and penguins barley got out with a win. flyers showed the league the blue print how to beat pens.

By: pwilson264

pwilson264 — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 16:09:50 +0000

wow, what a game good end to end, but pens D needs to clear the net, sure VoKoun should of had some of the goals, but the D needs to help.

By: tsi431

tsi431 — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 15:53:02 +0000

I don’t believe the whole defense is the issue.
Fleury SV% is the same it has been his whole career. Fleury’s GAA is lower this year then his career numbers.

The difference is Vokoun, he has been terrible this year.
.883% SV%, well below his average and he has given up 22 goals in his last 4 games. 3.61 GAA when his average is 2.57 over his career.

By: tomahawk12

tomahawk12 — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 15:48:43 +0000

You my friend, are the reason I have lived in Washington for 40 years and find Capitals and Redskins fans the most obnoxious I have seen. Rarely have a winner, but can’t wait to show their arse.

Go Pens!

By: ucaneverscorenoughgoals

ucaneverscorenoughgoals — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 14:32:37 +0000

Doc Emrick is a broadcasting saint………..blasphemy I tell you, blasphemy!

By: ucaneverscorenoughgoals

ucaneverscorenoughgoals — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 14:30:47 +0000

The difference is that our coach won’t be buring in a tub of BBQ wings when the playoffs start.

By: ucaneverscorenoughgoals

ucaneverscorenoughgoals — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 14:29:06 +0000

Or 9-0, or 11-0…….25-0 is probably asking too much huh?

By: govtminion

govtminion — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 14:25:37 +0000

Can’t we kill him and give his clothes to goodwill or something?

By: ucaneverscorenoughgoals

ucaneverscorenoughgoals — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 14:23:27 +0000

Suit yourself…….I LOVED THE GAME!

I wish the defense was better…..but 1-0 shutouts and 2-1 games are almost a waste of entertainment value for 2 and half hours of people’s tiime. A team can shore up their defense by simply playing better positionally.

We can find a compromise though, if our team plays better defensively and the league stops allowing goaltenders to puff themselves up like the michelin man, I can be entertained and you can have your defense.

By: bobc74

bobc74 — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 14:14:00 +0000

So you have this obviously offensively minded Pens team and then you have the minor league Pens team which seems to be defensively minded. The AHL Pens team won their game last night in a shootout, final score of game 2-1. Also the AHL Pens team has one of the lowest goals for AND goals against stats in the league. Maybe it’s time to sit Letang, Niskanen and Depres while Martin is injured and bring up some guys from Wilkes-Barre to show them how to play defense!

By: ironman721

ironman721 — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 13:36:29 +0000

I’d like to sacrifice Don Cherry’s wardrobe to the hockey gods!

By: drunk4thliners

drunk4thliners — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 13:35:15 +0000

While I agree that Letang and Co. are more offensively minded, we need to give some credit to them as well. I enjoyed seeing him join the rush and have some chances. What I enjoyed even more was when Kunitz cycled behind to cover the blue line. No one remembered Kunitz was there and he got a great shot past Price. Maybe the Pens FORWARDS need to be more defensively minded to help out.

Also, without Depres stepping up on 4-on-4, that last goal does not happen. The new mantra should be “if someone steps up to join the rush, someone else better cover his @$$.”

By: ironman721

ironman721 — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 13:32:24 +0000

Agreed, 7-0 would have been much better. Haha! Let’s go Pens🐧❗

By: letsgopens8771

letsgopens8771 — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 12:47:28 +0000

Great game. Pens definitely need to get the “all offense and no defense” mantra out of their heads. Sure, about 2 of those goals were Vokoun’s fault, but you need to change the way you play when you have a 2 goal lead. The Pens do not like playing defense. Letang is not our best defenseman. He’s our best offensive defenseman. Sometimes he is a little too aggressive, and that costs us. Still good game by him though. Shero needs to get a stay-at-home defenseman at the deadline, maybe Komisarek, Stuart, maybe Smid, I don’t know. I’m not pushing the panic button just yet, but if the Pens get ousted in the first round for the 3rd straight year, Bylsma needs to go.

Still, awesome game. Hooray for Brandon Sutter!! When he has that kind of performance, I say,”Jordan WHO??” IN SHERO WE TRUST!!!

GO PENS!!!

By: buffalomafia

buffalomafia — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 12:06:19 +0000

That was a great game!

By: somepeopleskidz

somepeopleskidz — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 09:52:29 +0000

I completely agree, the Pens defense has just been terrible lately. Sometimes they just seem downright lazy, letting the opposition just walk right in on goal way too much, not clearing pucks, or watching the back door, etc. And while it certainly isn’t easy being the net-minder in that situation, I have also seen far too many goals given up that should have easily been stopped. The goaltenders need to find a way to keep their composure, not let those soft goals happen, track the rebounds better, and in general do a much better job staying in position. Normally its Vokoun letting at least a couple “easy saves” go by him, but Fleury has been guilty too. I believe Pens and Flyers really have traded playing styles, but also this is typical of the Pens mid-season performance. Look for them to correct this soon though, as they usually start and finish the season strong. As a sidebar, if the Pens/Flyers have traded styles, who would win the playoff series this time? I know hockey fans would love to see that match-up again!

By: 1943mrmojorisin1971

1943mrmojorisin1971 — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 08:54:47 +0000

Maybe sacrifice Doc Emrick to the Hockey Gods?

By: 1943mrmojorisin1971

1943mrmojorisin1971 — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 08:53:16 +0000

Leafs fan here. Would’ve preferred 7-0 to 7-6 but I’ll take it.

By: 1943mrmojorisin1971

1943mrmojorisin1971 — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 08:51:58 +0000

Bruns or Bruins, whatever.

By: 1943mrmojorisin1971

1943mrmojorisin1971 — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 08:51:18 +0000

Meh, these games happen. Giving up seven when the other guy gives up six is a write-off. No way Budaj gets the start against the Bruns.

By: phillyphanatic77

phillyphanatic77 — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 07:03:18 +0000

They have played so many back to backs where the 2nd game they’ve been so exhausted that they’ve been blown out. Leading to an inflated number of losses. So yes it does make sense, bc when they have the energy to play solid team defense they can beat anyone. Bryz is playing a lot better because he’s getting help. Ask Vokoun how much he likes being on an island.

By: chanceoffleury1

chanceoffleury1 — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 06:50:43 +0000

I think Shero is just waiting until it gets closer to the deadline. 14 is still a number most teams would love to have in their “W” column right now. I don’t think any cliche describes the Pens’ season this year better than “When it rains, it pours.” They seem to be either incredibly good, or horrifyingly bad to the point where you are questioning whether they are in some sort of Black Sox scandel and being paid off to blow the game b/c it’s the only thing that could explain such poor play. Hasn’t been much in between.That being said, the Pens are still a pretty solid playoff lock. But other teams who are bubble teams will get antsy as the deadline approaches as they try to make a change to ensure their best chance at securing a spot. They’ll get rid of a defenseman that is underperforming this season for less than they normally would.