There's a chance that Paul Martin and Olli Maatta will be the only Penguins defenseman in Sochi
- Ryan_Wilson

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 9m If I were picking the CDN Oly team, Subban would be on it. Based on intel gathered, at this pt, he's a longshot...behind Boyle and Letang.

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 8m ...Doesn't mean P.K won't make the Oly team, but, management concerns with high risk play still outweigh his offensive strengths.

I dont know who he's talking to, but they obviously are confusing Subban's style with Letang.

Hard to believe Fleury only had 21 saves. Seems like he made that many in the last minute. He played great.
- Deadstar

It's been a pleasant surprise for me to see him bounce back very strong. One of my favorite guys to see have success in sports.

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 9m If I were picking the CDN Oly team, Subban would be on it. Based on intel gathered, at this pt, he's a longshot...behind Boyle and Letang.

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 8m ...Doesn't mean P.K won't make the Oly team, but, management concerns with high risk play still outweigh his offensive strengths.

I dont know who he's talking to, but they obviously are confusing Subban's style with Letang.
- Deadstar

Yep, I just read that. Subban > Letang right now in this moment. We'll see a few months from now but Letang needs to get it going first.

Completely forgot there was even baseball still being played. Pens game was much more entertaining than any baseball game
- mw630

The most boring hockey game is much more entertaining than the most exciting baseball game

Went to the game last night, and that was as close to a playoff atmosphere in the regular season as you are going to get. Also, if Megna continues to drive the net the way he has the last 2 games, he is going to have a spot on this team going forward. It seemed like every shift he was on the ice he was taking defenders with him, and going right down the slot. I think he is a big reason Malkin looked better--he was creating room for Geno and Jussi all night.

Yep, I just read that. Subban > Letang right now in this moment. We'll see a few months from now but Letang needs to get it going first.
- Ryan_Wilson

I think Letang's decision making has gotten worse. He's making a couple of poor decisions every game. Can't see that going unnoticed by Team Canada. His offense will come, but making such glaring mistakes is disturbing for a guy that will soon be paid with the best in the world.

I think Letang's decision making has gotten worse. He's making a couple of poor decisions every game. Can't see that going unnoticed by Team Canada. His offense will come, but making such glaring mistakes is disturbing for a guy that will soon be paid with the best in the world.
- madmike71

He still has played in very few games since May. Give him 10 games and if he is making the same mistakes at that point then more aggressive criticism would be merited. Its not ideal to miss so much time in training camp and the beginning of the season. He is supposed to be amongst the best, so he should adjust quicker, we'll see.

He has done some good things, but those blue line turnovers are certainly clouding his better moments.

So.....the Red Sox. I hate baseball.
- Ben37

Once the Buccos lost, I didn't watch a single pitch of the play-offs, especially the world series. Boston fans are arrogant and I'm not a STL fan. This is the first year I didn't watch a single minute of any of the titles - MLB, Super Bowl, NHL or the NBA. There was no appeal to me in any of them.

He still has played in very few games since May. Give him 10 games and if he is making the same mistakes at that point then more aggressive criticism would be merited. Its not ideal to miss so much time in training camp and the beginning of the season. He is supposed to be amongst the best, so he should adjust quicker, we'll see.

He has done some good things, but those blue line turnovers are certainly clouding his better moments.
- Ryan_Wilson

It seems the more time he has the worse the decision.

He still has played in very few games since May. Give him 10 games and if he is making the same mistakes at that point then more aggressive criticism would be merited. Its not ideal to miss so much time in training camp and the beginning of the season. He is supposed to be amongst the best, so he should adjust quicker, we'll see.

He has done some good things, but those blue line turnovers are certainly clouding his better moments.
- Ryan_Wilson

I'm not in panic mode. I realize he's going to be rusty. I'm a Letang fan, but I have to be honest with myself. He's making some alarming decisions already. I'm expecting his decision making to improve considering there was some drama wrapped into his contract negotiation and the reports that management didn't believe he was their best dman. If reports were right, he was really indignant about those rumors.

Anyway, what a great game last night. You won't see many regular season games better than that!

I'm not in panic mode. I realize he's going to be rusty. I'm a Letang fan, but I have to be honest with myself. He's making some alarming decisions already. I'm expecting his decision making to improve considering there was some drama wrapped into his contract negotiation and the reports that management didn't believe he was their best dman. If reports were right, he was really indignant about those rumors.

Anyway, what a great game last night. You won't see many regular season games better than that!
- madmike71

I certainly think Letang is a great talent, and I certainly believe that some of these turnovers are maddening. The nice thing is that the great talent is way harder to come by than the fixing of those decisions.

It seems the more time he has the worse the decision.
- powerhouse

I'd be curious to see the success rate percentages of penalty shots vs shootouts.

Penalty shots are spur of the moment, you can't really prepare from them, you just let instinct take over. Shootouts you kind of plan out your move, probably have a scouting report to check over etc...

Weird to say, but it's sort of refreshing of the all of the stunned responses to the Varlamov charges, because that sort of thing is so rare in this sport. Unfortunately, if he was an NFL player, it would be hardly newsworthy.

Weird to say, but it's sort of refreshing of the all of the stunned responses to the Varlamov charges, because that sort of thing is so rare in this sport. Unfortunately, if he was an NFL player, it would be hardly newsworthy.
- rival22

I forget who posted it but that's just another Wednesday in the NFL.

Weird to say, but it's sort of refreshing of the all of the stunned responses to the Varlamov charges, because that sort of thing is so rare in this sport. Unfortunately, if he was an NFL player, it would be hardly newsworthy.
- rival22

Which is either an eye-opening commentary on the culture differences between NHL and NFL players or a really sad sad commentary on the general public's acceptance of that stark contrast.

Interesting...

Rich Thriller ‏@pensbender now
niskanen and letang spent basically all-night paired together, they were out for a combined 31 shots for last night, only 12 against.

It's sort of the give and take that we've come to accept with Letang. He makes some mind boggling gaffs, but no other Pens defensemen pushes the play like he does.

I know he didn't score but that was malkins best game of the season IMO. Most impressive part was at the end of the period iggy tried to bait him and he just went off the ice.

As good as Sutter's shot was, Jokinen's 3 poster was just as good. I love seeing the off the post, then crossbar, then far post and in goals lol.


Lange's call last night on Sutters goal was vintage Lange:
http://t.co/crQgiwmMTc

Interesting...

Rich Thriller ‏@pensbender now
niskanen and letang spent basically all-night paired together, they were out for a combined 31 shots for last night, only 12 against.

It's sort of the give and take that we've come to accept with Letang. He makes some mind boggling gaffs, but no other Pens defensemen pushes the play like he does.
- rival22

Holistically Letang is a beast, he is awesome. His isolated slip ups are destructive though. Oh well, he'll do way more good than bad IMO.

As good as Sutter's shot was, Jokinen's 3 poster was just as good. I love seeing the off the post, then crossbar, then far post and in goals lol.


Lange's call last night on Sutters goal was vintage Lange:
http://t.co/crQgiwmMTc
- rival22

I stole your tweet from last night, this will find its way into today's blog

Few things about the game last night:

Geno looked like he was shot out of a cannon last night. He must have had 2 or 3 great scoring chances in the 1st period alone. I really hope Neal gets back soon. Neal-Malkin-Jokinen has the potential to be a very dangerous line.

I know its only 2 games & you have to wait for the adrenaline to wear off to really see who a player is, but Megna looks like a quality Bottom-6 F. He just plays a simple game where he gets the puck on the net. Reminds me a little of TK, but a bigger body & seems to go for slightly hight quality shots, though doing better in that area compared to TK isn't really all that hard.

Nice to see Sutter get on the score sheet. I still think he & Bennett have the makings of a very solid 3rd-line. Just need to get Neal & Bennett healthy so Sutter & Bennett have some time to get this season.

A good read:

Highland Park Hockey ‏@H_P_Hockey 8m
A player-by-player report card on the #WBSPens progress through the month of October: http://bit.ly/1dPZ61M

Few things about the game last night:

Geno looked like he was shot out of a cannon last night. He must have had 2 or 3 great scoring chances in the 1st period alone. I really hope Neal gets back soon. Neal-Malkin-Jokinen has the potential to be a very dangerous line.

I know its only 2 games & you have to wait for the adrenaline to wear off to really see who a player is, but Megna looks like a quality Bottom-6 F. He just plays a simple game where he gets the puck on the net. Reminds me a little of TK, but a bigger body & seems to go for slightly hight quality shots, though doing better in that area compared to TK isn't really all that hard.

Nice to see Sutter get on the score sheet. I still think he & Bennett have the makings of a very solid 3rd-line. Just need to get Neal & Bennett healthy so Sutter & Bennett have some time to get this season.
- s0rcerer1984

I really just wish they would let Bennet play on Geno's line when he comes back. Let the guy play in the top 6 where you've been grooming him to play.

Holistically Letang is a beast, he is awesome. His isolated slip ups are destructive though. Oh well, he'll do way more good than bad IMO.
- Ryan_Wilson

He made on last night that really made me cringe.