Maybe. However their defense is having a good bit of difficulty clearing the puck reliably. Hard to be confident when you are in your own zone so much. As much as Flyer fans want more offensive talent it's the other end of the ice they need a solid stay at home defenseman. Pens were unimpeded much of the night.
- powerhouse

Coburn, Grossmann, and Schenn all fit the defensive defenseman role. Team defense remains a concern, though.

If he did hurt it during the wiffle ball practice I don't care. That kind of team bonding stuff has great positive benefits and is great for morale. I don't want them to stop doing it because of a fluke injury.
- Ryan_Wilson

I'm not saying that. I was just giving the other part of the rumor.

Still, If true, I'll bet you $20 they won't be playing wiffle ball for a while......or ever...

Maybe. However their defense is having a good bit of difficulty clearing the puck reliably. Hard to be confident when you are in your own zone so much. As much as Flyer fans want more offensive talent it's the other end of the ice they need a solid stay at home defenseman. Pens were unimpeded much of the night.
- powerhouse

Sorry I disagree. I mean yea that is a problem, but it's not the reason they can't complete a tape to tape pass on a 3 on 2.

Can a team have an ugly 6-1 record? Because that's what it feels like to me. There are some major issues that need to be corrected, playing 3 full periods would be at the top of my list. I felt we were lucky last night.

But that second period looked like me and my friends on the outdoor rink against a bunch of kids on skates for the first time. Gunner you're a numbers guy, can you track down an offensive zone time of possession stat for that period?
- canadianpenfan

Nobody really tracks it by time. The few times people have tracked it by actual time found that Corsi/Fenwick was very accurate.

I'm not saying that. I was just giving the other part of the rumor.

Still, If true, I'll bet you $20 they won't be playing wiffle ball for a while......or ever...
- madmike71

I hope they continue to play wiffle ball.

Maybe. However their defense is having a good bit of difficulty clearing the puck reliably. Hard to be confident when you are in your own zone so much. As much as Flyer fans want more offensive talent it's the other end of the ice they need a solid stay at home defenseman. Pens were unimpeded much of the night.
- powerhouse

I think the Sabres defense is having a rough time this year, but a lot of that is because the forwards they distribute the puck to stink. I don't think the Flyers D can say the same thing.

I think the Sabres defense is having a rough time this year, but a lot of that is because the forwards they distribute the puck to stink. I don't think the Flyers D can say the same thing.
- Ryan_Wilson

I watch alot of hockey, too much really, but i will say i haven't seen an entire period of Sabres hockey yet this year and i don't see that changing anytime soon.

I watch alot of hockey, too much really, but i will say i haven't seen an entire period of Sabres hockey yet this year and i don't see that changing anytime soon.
- canadianpenfan

I'd say you are doing just fine then.

Sorry I disagree. I mean yea that is a problem, but it's not the reason they can't complete a tape to tape pass on a 3 on 2.
- canadianpenfan

If anything, I think we need a two way defenseman (or two) in our lineup. But the blueline is going to look bad regardless until the forwards show more commitment in the defensive zone. There are forwards on this team who simply aren't showing enough enthusiasm for that side of the puck.

I watch alot of hockey, too much really, but i will say i haven't seen an entire period of Sabres hockey yet this year and i don't see that changing anytime soon.
- canadianpenfan

I haven't watched a Sabres game yet this season. On a related note, I also haven't jammed my johnson into a blender.

If anything, I think we need a two way defenseman (or two) in our lineup. But the blueline is going to look bad regardless until the forwards show more commitment in the defensive zone. There are forwards on this team who simply aren't showing enough enthusiasm for that side of the puck.
- BulliesPhan87

That's pretty sad when you're already spending about 30 million on your blueline without factoring in Pronger.

I haven't watched a Sabres game yet this season. On a related note, I also haven't jammed my johnson into a blender.
- BulliesPhan87

You don't know what you're missing.

That's pretty sad when you're already spending about 30 million on your blueline without factoring in Pronger.
- canadianpenfan

Tell me about it. Anyways, I'll just be down here on the floor, feel free to kick as needed folks.

Tell me about it. Anyways, I'll just be down here on the floor, feel free to kick as needed folks.
- BulliesPhan87

Nah, you're one of the good ones and the bad ones are staying away for some reason so nobody has any reason to pile on.

But rest assured if the Flyers win the next meeting they'll be out in full force.

Gotta love the buzz...

Good read from new blogger and ex ref Paul Stewart re: the instigator rule.


http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=54937

I hope they continue to play wiffle ball.
- Ryan_Wilson

I think it was just a one time deal for the pirates, I don't think there will be much more wiffle ball going on

So great game. I thought Harr Z looked solid against his old team. Glass finally is looking like the player we thought we were getting. I don't care how you score it 10 hits in 10 minutes is impressive. I gave Maatta grief last game for what I believed was his worst game ytd so I'm going to give him credit for an excellent game. I noticed 3 different times he made great plays to break up scoring chances. He joined rushes and was skating fantastically. I'm not even using the soccer kick pass in my analysis. And to my boy Sid what can I say he has been amazing aside from the faceoff dot last night. And I was on the trade Fleury bandwagon but it's looking like a great move to keep him.

So great game. I thought Harr Z looked solid against his old team. Glass finally is looking like the player we thought we were getting. I don't care how you score it 10 hits in 10 minutes is impressive. I gave Maatta grief last game for what I believed was his worst game ytd so I'm going to give him credit for an excellent game. I noticed 3 different times he made great plays to break up scoring chances. He joined rushes and was skating fantastically. I'm not even using the soccer kick pass in my analysis. And to my boy Sid what can I say he has been amazing aside from the faceoff dot last night. And I was on the trade Fleury bandwagon but it's looking like a great move to keep him.
- dbell646

It's no coincidence that Maatta's worst two games were with Engelland.

Harry Z is fast, there really isn't much else there. Reminds me of a faster Chris Bourque that will stir things up.

So great game. I thought Harr Z looked solid against his old team. Glass finally is looking like the player we thought we were getting. I don't care how you score it 10 hits in 10 minutes is impressive. I gave Maatta grief last game for what I believed was his worst game ytd so I'm going to give him credit for an excellent game. I noticed 3 different times he made great plays to break up scoring chances. He joined rushes and was skating fantastically. I'm not even using the soccer kick pass in my analysis. And to my boy Sid what can I say he has been amazing aside from the faceoff dot last night. And I was on the trade Fleury bandwagon but it's looking like a great move to keep him.
- dbell646

I really wonder if Maatta stays, does he eventually struggle with the workload and volume of games? The Pens have to be really struggling with that decision.

Yeah, whats up with Sid on FO's last night? Started out winning them all then went to practically losing them all. That was strange.

Nah, you're one of the good ones and the bad ones are staying away for some reason so nobody has any reason to pile on.

But rest assured if the Flyers win the next meeting they'll be out in full force.

Gotta love the buzz...
- canadianpenfan

I was really hoping we could get the bad blood a'boiling. It's too civil up in here, we're making your job easy, sheriff.

nice write up gunner. I agree about Jeffrey, I am a big jeffrey supporter and if he is being scratched for Engels, then they should just trade him.

Do you think him and nisk could be packaged together if they keep Maatta up when Letang gets back? Or just try to trade him for a 3rd or 4th?

I really wonder if Maatta stays, does he eventually struggle with the workload and volume of games? The Pens have to be really struggling with that decision.

Yeah, whats up with Sid on FO's last night? Started out winning them all then went to practically losing them all. That was strange.
- madmike71

Yes I'm sure he will and I'm sure they realize it. But he has to get used to 82+ games at some point.

nice write up gunner. I agree about Jeffrey, I am a big jeffrey supporter and if he is being scratched for Engels, then they should just trade him.

Do you think him and nisk could be packaged together if they keep Maatta up when Letang gets back? Or just try to trade him for a 3rd or 4th?
- nh4442

Jeffrey has no value.

Lines at #Penguins practice: Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis Jokinen-Malkin- Kobasew Glass-Sutter-Adams Zolnierczyk-Vitale-Engelland

Jeffrey and D'Agostini were the extra forwards

wtf!?!

Bennett needs to get back!

This is bs the way DB is treating Jeffrey

It's no coincidence that Maatta's worst two games were with Engelland.

Harry Z is fast, there really isn't much else there. Reminds me of a faster Chris Bourque that will stir things up.
- Ryan_Wilson

Speed is useful if you are willing to throw your body around as well.