How about the pk doing a complete 180 and not allowing a goal in the last 6 (22 attempts). Also Hornqvist has been a mini machino. Imagine malkin with someone like that on his line. Has a team ever had 4 100 point players
- drummer829

I would think the old Oilers teams would have done that once or twice. Don't know for sure though.

How about the pk doing a complete 180 and not allowing a goal in the last 6 (22 attempts). Also Hornqvist has been a mini machino. Imagine malkin with someone like that on his line. Has a team ever had 4 100 point players
- drummer829

The 1992-93 Penguins had 4 100 point scorers (Lemieux, Francis, Tocchet, Stevens) and almost had a fifth with Jagr (94 points).

Edit: 95-96 almost had it. Lemeiux, Jagr, Francis had 100 or more, Nedved had 99.

Kunitz - Crosby - Hornqvist
Dupuis - Malkin - Bennett
Comeau - Sutter - Downie
Spaling - Goc - Megna

Nope 9 games in and they are already engraving their name on the cup.
- sammy87

We are enjoying our team playing well, wouldn't you? Buzz off!

I would think the old Oilers teams would have done that once or twice. Don't know for sure though.
- JoeAvg

82-83: Gretzky (99) 196, Messier (11) 106, Kurri (17) 104, Anderson (9) 104

83-84: (99) 205, (Coffey 7) 126, (17) 113, (11) Messier 101 and (9) Glenn Anderson had 99

85-86: (99) 215, (7) 138, (17) 131, (9) 102

The astounding thing is Coffey's numbers.

That makes two of us. I wasn't thrilled with his addition initially, but he's been great. Good wheels, hits, decent skill......all at a dollar store price. Good job GMJR.
- madmike71

Same here. I thought the signing was pretty meh but he's done his role well for the team and is contributing. Can't ask for more than that.

That makes two of us. I wasn't thrilled with his addition initially, but he's been great. Good wheels, hits, decent skill......all at a dollar store price. Good job GMJR.
- madmike71

When he flattened Doughty in the first period I got a little bit of a boner.

When he flattened Doughty in the first period I got a little bit of a boner.
- Ben37

Some things you just can't un-read...

We are enjoying our team playing well, wouldn't you? Buzz off!
- powerhouse

But instead of actually enjoying watching good players play an entertaining sport, it's much more fun to just make up your mind about a player being bad, and then get to say "I told you so" if they struggle.

And the best part about beating the "Dupuis and Kunitz are showing their age" drum is that if you do it long enough, it will absolutely come true. Then you'll look all smart and stuff.

Some things you just can't un-read...
- s0rcerer1984

When was the last time one of our grinders put another teams star down. Cooke on Karlsson? Orpik on Stamkos in the playoffs? Normally we are watching Malkin or Crosby get whacked around. Seeing Doughty on his ass was ...exhilarating.

Kunitz - Crosby - Hornqvist
Dupuis - Malkin - Bennett
Comeau - Sutter - Downie
Spaling - Goc - Megna
- gdsmack267

This is my ideal forward combinations with the current players on our roster.

ANd I agree, Comeau has been great, for all you Gibbon's whiners, I'd take Comeau at 700k vs Gibbons at 550k any day. Hopefully GMJR can extend Comeau for 2-3 years at a decent salary. Ideal bottom 6 player.

Kunitz - Crosby - Hornqvist
Dupuis - Malkin - Bennett
Comeau - Sutter - Downie
Spaling - Goc - Megna
- gdsmack267

Yes! This man gets it. That lineup is pretty damn solid even without a trade to push a few players down and downie onto the fourth.

When was the last time one of our grinders put another teams star down. Cooke on Karlsson? Orpik on Stamkos in the playoffs? Normally we are watching Malkin or Crosby get whacked around. Seeing Doughty on his ass was ...exhilarating.
- Ben37

OK OK enough already. I enjoyed the hit, it made me smile, but I won't go any further than that.

have a #spooky halloween erbody

Yes! This man gets it. That lineup is pretty damn solid even without a trade to push a few players down and downie onto the fourth.
- ImScore71

Since no one has mentioned it...I'm fine going bargain bin shopping for Loktionov. He is an upgrade over both Adams and Sill and maybe even Megna, and would be nice depth, imo. The issue obviously would be cap space, what to do with Adams, etc as I'm sure he wouldnt want a 2 way deal. But someone will offer him more than $700k I imagine so its probably moot anyway.

There is no evidence across the board that either player is in decline using traditional or new stats.... So other then the pure speculation of you and others what is the evidence? Please back it up with some facts so "we can learn"?
- Brianandr1

Duper was average last year pre-ACL tear. He just was. And that was playing with 87. You want stats? OK. 2013-2014 pre-ACL tear: 7G, 13A, 39 games. 40 point pace for the year. That enough of a stat?

Kunitz was terrible down the stretch last year and in playoffs. Injury? Fatigue? So what. He was terrible. Stood by watching 87 get his ass beat. He is 1/2 the physical player he used to be. Rarely does he play the body anymore. He's turned into a finesse player.

Both are doing great this year. No doubt.

We'll see in March/April how they are doing. I hope you're right on both that they will keep this level of play up through a Cup run. I really do. I just don't think you will be.

The 1992-93 Penguins had 4 100 point scorers (Lemieux, Francis, Tocchet, Stevens) and almost had a fifth with Jagr (94 points).

Edit: 95-96 almost had it. Lemeiux, Jagr, Francis had 100 or more, Nedved had 99.
- Ryan_Wilson

I know in this age it's very unlikely, but it's very possible to see malkin and sid break 100 points. It'd be crazy if Hornqvist hit that number

Solid effort last night. Play like that, get good goaltending, pot a PP goal or 2, and they are going to win most of the time. That having been said, and I'll admit that the jaded fan in me was watching thinking...

"I bet they don't call all these hack and whack slashing calls on LA if this is a playoff game in April". How often have we seen teams like LA that are built for the spring under-perform in the regular season, only to come to the fore when the officiating changes for the playoffs? Such is life in the NHL. That's one reason I wouldn't mind seeing the Pens get a couple more sand paper/grit guys to add to this group.

This is my ideal forward combinations with the current players on our roster.

ANd I agree, Comeau has been great, for all you Gibbon's whiners, I'd take Comeau at 700k vs Gibbons at 550k any day. Hopefully GMJR can extend Comeau for 2-3 years at a decent salary. Ideal bottom 6 player.
- Willaged

Wouldn't be against extending Comeau and Goc for a couple more years @ their current price.

For the Ehrhoff haters, he's been good so far. I would extend him too.

BTW Adams and Scuderi have been a lot better than in the Bylsma era. I know they are old as F but lets appreciate what they are bringing right now. We know they won't be benched...

BTW Adams and Scuderi have been a lot better than in the Bylsma era. I know they are old as F but lets appreciate what they are bringing right now. We know they won't be benched...
- Barnaby36

I appreciate scuds playing better but at this point I'm still all for getting rid of him for the sake of the young guys getting better development than the Ahl. Several of them coulD make the jump without it hurting their personal progress. Any kind of picks would do unless JR. Is hoping a team is desperate near the deadline.

As for Adams, replacing him with anyone who doesn't have to have The idiotic excuses like "well he hasn't been on the ice for many goals against" made for them by this fan base would be huge to me. I dont know why they don't but hey there's still plenty of time for it to happen before the seasons over.

Ryan, another good write up. I don't often comment but I do check out your write ups quite often. You mentioned that Z and Dats play hard between the whistles and ignore the rest. My issue with that is I live in Detroit and watch plenty of Wings games and teams for whatever reason don't even try the extra curricular stuff with them. While teams go out of their way between the whistle and after to get under the skin of Sid and Geno. The couple of times I've seen teams go after Detroits stars they have shown some frustrations but its very few and far between.

Take last nights game against LA when Justin Williams went after Geno and I believe another Kings player as well they are getting cheap shots in and no call until Geno retaliates and then it's a easy call for the ref to take both players off. Is he suppose to be a punching bag all game long because the refs won't make a call. Z and Dats are good players but lets not pretend they get the same abuse that Geno and Sid get and they just skate away.

Has anybody watched any of the Lightning's games?? I would trade Pouliot or Harrrington in a heartbeat for Kucherov. That kids going to be special, and he would be a force playing with either Crosby or Malkin.
- cap1681

They have stable of good everythings haha. I highly doubt Kucherov is going anyone even for Pouliot or Harrington. Stevie Y signed Stralman and Garrison to very reasonable contracts... their top 4 is pretty set and after that they have Gudas, Barberio, Deangelo was drafted last year, Slater Koekoek, Nesterov... they don't really need a defensive prospect.

82-83: Gretzky (99) 196, Messier (11) 106, Kurri (17) 104, Anderson (9) 104

83-84: (99) 205, (Coffey 7) 126, (17) 113, (11) Messier 101 and (9) Glenn Anderson had 99

85-86: (99) 215, (7) 138, (17) 131, (9) 102

The astounding thing is Coffey's numbers.
- Ben37

Coffey was a beaaaaaaaast. One of my favorite players to watch, ever.

Ryan, another good write up. I don't often comment but I do check out your write ups quite often. You mentioned that Z and Dats play hard between the whistles and ignore the rest. My issue with that is I live in Detroit and watch plenty of Wings games and teams for whatever reason don't even try the extra curricular stuff with them. While teams go out of their way between the whistle and after to get under the skin of Sid and Geno. The couple of times I've seen teams go after Detroits stars they have shown some frustrations but its very few and far between.

Take last nights game against LA when Justin Williams went after Geno and I believe another Kings player as well they are getting cheap shots in and no call until Geno retaliates and then it's a easy call for the ref to take both players off. Is he suppose to be a punching bag all game long because the refs won't make a call. Z and Dats are good players but lets not pretend they get the same abuse that Geno and Sid get and they just skate away.
- Guins6687

They don't get the same abuse because other players don't waste their time, they know Datsyuk and Zetterberg won't engage. There is a blueprint out there on Crosby and Malkin right now that you can get under their skin. Teams will continue to do so until they prove that it doesn't get under their skin.

The Penguins tried to punk Zetterberg and Datsyuk in the 2008 Stanley Cup Final, they just brushed it off.