Did you give dbell the gears while I was gone or am I going to have to pick up the slack?






- canadianpenfan

He took it easy on me.

I'm really liking stempniak. He's smart. Skate hard and get the puck to 87 with speed.

He took it easy on me.
- dbell646

There should be crossing hockey sticks in the center of that maple leaf..

Solid puck possession game for the first 30 minutes. Solid defensive effort for the 2nd 30 minutes.

I still hate Gibbons on this team.

If they insist on using Stempniak on the 1st line, then at least use Vitale instead of Gibbons and Engo instead of Pyatt on the 3rd. Engo actually uses his body unlike Pyatt and can chip in a goal here and there. And Vitale has similar speed to Gibbons but goes into corners and has better size than Gibbons.

If they insist on using Stempniak on the 1st line
- ScienceJesus

They must be high, right?!?

Just kidding. Gibbons on the 1st line wasn't working, they acquired a natural right wing with speed, a good shot and who is defensively responsible - it was a no brainer for him to get 1st line minutes.

I am more worried when Orpik is on the ice, than any of the other dman. I get really really scared when he is on the ice, and the 4th line is out there also.
- Thorny

Saying that after the last two nights is untimely at best, and unfair at worst. Orpik played his tail off - I'm hoping it's business as usual and "playoff" Orpik is about to make his annual appearance.

Ovechkin, who leads the NHL in goals and shots on goal, did not register a shot on goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury during the game's first 50 minutes.

In fact, Ovechkin has been silent against the Penguins all season. Orpik mostly played against Ovechkin in all four matchups this regular season. Ovechkin finished with one goal and no assists, while his team stumbled to an 0-4 record.

http://triblive.com/sport...eriod-orpik#ixzz2vkhICEIA

They must be high, right?!?

Just kidding. Gibbons on the 1st line wasn't working, they acquired a natural right wing with speed, a good shot and who is defensively responsible - it was a no brainer for him to get 1st line minutes.
- hardnosed

Crosby's line hasn't looked this good since Duper went out. It's not a coincidence. Nice addition by Ray.

Pyatt has to go however. It doesn't matter where he's playing, he drags down the entire line. Time to bring Megna up.

Adams is not good 5v5 too, but at least he's still an effective PK'r.

Crosby's line hasn't looked this good since Duper went out. It's not a coincidence. Nice addition by Ray.

Pyatt has to go however. It doesn't matter where he's playing, he drags down the entire line. Time to bring Megna up.

Adams is not good 5v5 too, but at least he's still an effective PK'r.
- madmike71

I like Stempniak there. When you get Bennett back he slots in nicely on the 3rd line. Hopefully bumping pyatt off the roster. 4th line with Goc and Glass aren't as much of a liability anymore. Love how the mood of the board is so bipolar. We all wanted to just call it a season like 2 games ago.

They must be high, right?!?

Just kidding. Gibbons on the 1st line wasn't working, they acquired a natural right wing with speed, a good shot and who is defensively responsible - it was a no brainer for him to get 1st line minutes.
- hardnosed

I still think it's poor player management for him to be on the top line. Gibbons doesn't deserve an NHL jersey, but honestly, anybody that does would have been an upgrade. I still think they're high to play him there and that he'd be a better fit on the 3rd line with virtually anybody else that is a legitimate NHLer in that 1st line role that they haven't already tried and failed with. I also think that when it's all said and done, he's going to end up on the 3rd line with either Bennett or Megna playing on RW on the 1st line.

I'm really liking stempniak. He's smart. Skate hard and get the puck to 87 with speed.
- dbell646

It really seems like a specific recipe to play well with Sid... Like you said, skate hard, get the puck to him with speed, hunt down and win loose pucks, and basically be predictable and be ready for the puck.

It really seems like a specific recipe to play well with Sid... Like you said, skate hard, get the puck to him with speed, hunt down and win loose pucks, and basically be predictable and be ready for the puck.
- rival22

You only forgot, find open ice.

I still think it's poor player management for him to be on the top line. Gibbons doesn't deserve an NHL jersey, but honestly, anybody that does would have been an upgrade. I still think they're high to play him there and that he'd be a better fit on the 3rd line with virtually anybody else that is a legitimate NHLer in that 1st line role that they haven't already tried and failed with. I also think that when it's all said and done, he's going to end up on the 3rd line with either Bennett or Megna playing on RW on the 1st line.
- ScienceJesus

I disagree. It's only been two games, but Stempy has looked very similar to what Duper was providing. He's freeing up space, making smart plays, possessing the puck, not easily knocked off the puck.

This team will only go as far as the top two lines carry them. If Stempniak can make Sid's line better, he stays.

I like Stempniak there. When you get Bennett back he slots in nicely on the 3rd line. Hopefully bumping pyatt off the roster. 4th line with Goc and Glass aren't as much of a liability anymore. Love how the mood of the board is so bipolar. We all wanted to just call it a season like 2 games ago.
- dbell646

delete

I also think that when it's all said and done, he's going to end up on the 3rd line with either Bennett or Megna playing on RW on the 1st line.
- ScienceJesus

It's possible that Bennett gets time there, but that's not going to happen if 14/87/22 continue to mesh so well together.

No chance in the world that Megna plays there, doesn't have the hands, 3rd line is his ceiling.

I disagree. It's only been two games, but Stempy has looked very similar to what Duper was providing. He's freeing up space, making smart plays, possessing the puck, not easily knocked off the puck.

This team will only go as far as the top two lines carry them. If Stempniak can make Sid's line better, he stays.
- madmike71

I remember Yohe I think during the Olympics saying that Sid like playing with a right handing right wing, and I thought that was strange with all his success with Dupuis. But Sid even mentioned Stempniak being right handed and being able to make more plays from that side last night in the post game.

It's possible that Bennett gets time there, but that's not going to happen if 14/87/22 continue to mesh so well together.

No chance in the world that Megna plays there, doesn't have the hands, 3rd line is his ceiling.
- hardnosed

I didn't watch last night, but figured that Pyatt was a placeholder on that 2nd line until Bennett comes back. Bennett's skill set meshes perfect with Malkin and Neal.

I didn't watch last night, but figured that Pyatt was a placeholder on that 2nd line until Bennett comes back. Bennett's skill set meshes perfect with Malkin and Neal.
- cap1681

Yep. With Jokinen and Sutter getting back together.

I don't know how it will shake out, but I do know that the priority over these last 17 games should be to build cohesion, which it seems they're looking to do.

That's why I wouldn't expect Stempniak to move, and it's why I don't think Megna will get called up unless there's an injury or when WBS' season ends.

I didn't watch last night, but figured that Pyatt was a placeholder on that 2nd line until Bennett comes back. Bennett's skill set meshes perfect with Malkin and Neal.
- cap1681

Pyatt was back on the 3rd line and Jussi was back on the 2nd. It fixed the problems with the 2nd line from the night before but recreated the problems with the 3rd that have plagued it all year with not having NHL-caliber wings next to a mediocre center that really relies on his wingers being able to help him out.

It's possible that Bennett gets time there, but that's not going to happen if 14/87/22 continue to mesh so well together.

No chance in the world that Megna plays there, doesn't have the hands, 3rd line is his ceiling.
- hardnosed

I don't doubt that they'll be stubborn and keep him playing on that line just because that's what Dan likes to do with grinding 3rd liner types. But he belongs on the 3rd line to sure that up. That doesn't make it a good player management decision. But neither did putting Iggy on his off wing on the 2nd line last year when he really should have been playing on the 3rd line in his natural position and providing grit and a scoring punch to a weak 3rd line.

As for Megna not having the hands... go back and look at every single criticism of Duper being on that 1st line before last year. Number one reason was "he doesn't have the hands".

I disagree. It's only been two games, but Stempy has looked very similar to what Duper was providing. He's freeing up space, making smart plays, possessing the puck, not easily knocked off the puck.

This team will only go as far as the top two lines carry them. If Stempniak can make Sid's line better, he stays.
- madmike71

I don't disagree that he's looked fine there, but it has only been 2 games. And can you honestly tell me that absolutely anybody else not playing out of position OR that shouldn't even be in the NHL wouldn't be just as effective? All he's doing is giving them a 5th actual player to be defended against on that line instead of them playing with 4 guys and the invisible man when Gibbons was there.

Saturday is coming

Saturday is coming
- BulliesPhan87

2 more easy points for the Pens.

I don't doubt that they'll be stubborn and keep him playing on that line just because that's what Dan likes to do with grinding 3rd liner types. But he belongs on the 3rd line to sure that up. That doesn't make it a good player management decision. But neither did putting Iggy on his off wing on the 2nd line last year when he really should have been playing on the 3rd line in his natural position and providing grit and a scoring punch to a weak 3rd line.

As for Megna not having the hands... go back and look at every single criticism of Duper being on that 1st line before last year. Number one reason was "he doesn't have the hands".
- ScienceJesus

Who would you have on the top line if you move Stempniak to the 3rd?

2 more easy points for the Pens.
- bixll

Uh huh, I hope Pens are just as confident. It'll make their tears all the sweeter.

There will be blood.

Uh huh, I hope Pens are just as confident. It'll make their tears all the sweeter.

There will be blood.
- BulliesPhan87

Home and home really get those juices flowing. Looking forward to it.