Martin had at least 3 instances early (Fleury, Fleury, Despres) where if he wanted to be dirty those guys would be dead. He made efforts to avoid dangerous plays. Guy gets a bad wrap because of the 1 game imo. I would love to have him on this team.

Thought it was just a really good game for 50 minutes. The Isles just wanted it more in the 3rd and then Downie selfishly stole their chance for one last push to tie it. I'm not going to crucify the guy, he's been good for the most part and has been a useful player. Coach doesn't have to have him out with 2:30 left in a 1 goal game right after he has a mini meltdown over his broken stick though.
- canadianpenfan

Good post, I agree 100% with the Steve Downey analysis. Count me in as a Matt Martin fan.

Right now the Islanders are better than the Penguins, period. Better team defense, better transition game, more physical and more disciplined. The difference isn't that great and the Pens can make up the difference by getting healthy and staying healthy.

Martin had at least 3 instances early (Fleury, Fleury, Despres) where if he wanted to be dirty those guys would be dead. He made efforts to avoid dangerous plays. Guy gets a bad wrap because of the 1 game imo. I would love to have him on this team.

Thought it was just a really good game for 50 minutes. The Isles just wanted it more in the 3rd and then Downie selfishly stole their chance for one last push to tie it. I'm not going to crucify the guy, he's been good for the most part and has been a useful player. Coach doesn't have to have him out with 2:30 left in a 1 goal game right after he has a mini meltdown over his broken stick though.
- canadianpenfan

Nailed it..............

Good post, I agree 100% with the Steve Downey analysis. Count me in as a Matt Martin fan.

Right now the Islanders are better than the Penguins, period. Better team defense, better transition game, more physical and more disciplined. The difference isn't that great and the Pens can make up the difference by getting healthy and staying healthy.
- Thunderbolt

The Pens can easily make it up by playing smarter. One poor decision after another. Especially on the go ahead goal. HCMJ has to get through to them that preventing goals is just as important as scoring them.

Anyone see Carbomb's cheap shot yet ? You will ! Glad we didn't sign him , that arm of Perrault's is broken, has to be , look at the replay. Shame for the Jets but at least they got the last laugh , won the game and SWEPT the 'Hawks' at home this year !!! Carcillo what a $&@& !!!!!

Anyone see Carbomb's cheap shot yet ? You will ! Glad we didn't sign him , that arm of Perrault's is broken, has to be , look at the replay. Shame for the Jets but at least they got the last laugh , won the game and SWEPT the 'Hawks' at home this year !!! Carcillo what a $&@& !!!!!
- Bradlee3

Shut your mouth... that's how the game is supposed to be played remember... goons and dumbasses skating around jumping and hurting guys... retaliating and hurting someone is okay... need more of this and less finesse and scoring

Downie was getting top 6 minutes previously too. More of an opportunity for him to have jackass plays. Isn't Martin on the 4th line?

Even with Hornqvist back, as I predicted and will maintain, Perron will be the best winger on the team. I was going to wait for a contract extension, but F it, time to get a Perron jersey.

Arcobello looked like a smaller Spaling ...but hard to gripe about the immensely small sample size.

I was worried that Downie wasn't look right in this game (aka reverting back to the balance issues he had last year). But then he took that terrible penalty at the game and assured me he is back to normal.

Good post, I agree 100% with the Steve Downey analysis. Count me in as a Matt Martin fan.

Right now the Islanders are better than the Penguins, period. Better team defense, better transition game, more physical and more disciplined. The difference isn't that great and the Pens can make up the difference by getting healthy and staying healthy.
- Thunderbolt

Martin is a slightly better version of Tanner Glass. I squirmed that entire game thinking our guys were going to be injured from the 75 hits he threw....so I guess I can see why you would want him on our team.

We need to do something about our 4th line.

This is what is wrong with nhl...I don't give a crap how many penalties a player gets or a reputation he has...a freaking penalty needs to be a penalty all the damn time..or none of the damn time....reputation should only come into play for suspension
- taleisyreXIII

Yea, if the NHL would stop using the name on the back of jersey as some sort of determining factor (penalties or suspensions) it would be a huge step in the right direction.

This sucks.


PS

Thank god michalek and or gardener are on their way.

Que gif of my hand making wak off gesture

Downie was getting top 6 minutes previously too. More of an opportunity for him to have jackass plays. Isn't Martin on the 4th line?
- drummer829

Isles roll 4 lines constantly. our 4th line can match anyones 2nd or 3rd line.

I thought your ass would be at work by now! Go do your work Aussie

- Topshelf Mountain

I only work Saturdays when I have to - I am half a day in front of you guys.

This. Gonna be a lot of fun.
- potvin05

Yeah man not gonna lie, Isles are damn impressive. Penguins said this was a big game for them and couldn't handle the play 5 v 5.

In the marathon we are hitting mile 14.

B's catching fire,

Rags have that king and 4 lines that could ruin a season,

mon price and pure speed plus experience from last year.

Caps are being way overlooked, their defense is light years ahead of last year (more trotz than Orpik n Nisky).

TB when healthy is full of talent and that plus sized bishop.

Detroit finds players in dumpsters and makes them stars.

Then Fla and Tor (not much going on to jump up and down about there). But could suprised in a series or two.

Awesome 2nd half coming up.

So, to recap;

Once a Flyer, always a Flyer.

D slotting isn't right.

Pittsburgh is trying to pay the
gold price. They need to pay the iron price.

Martin is a slightly better version of Tanner Glass. I squirmed that entire game thinking our guys were going to be injured from the 75 hits he threw....so I guess I can see why you would want him on our team.

We need to do something about our 4th line.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Matt Martin plays the game tough, simple, good position, he hustles and he has better hands than people think. I see him as a poor mans Matt Cooke, without the cheap shots.

I would like to see us grind out a third period against a good team once in a while. Especially against a team that has more speed than us, and that would include just about anybody we play in the playoffs. All three Cup teams, in my opinion, had the ability to be patient and win tough low scoring games. The players are here, we need to get healthy, stay healthy (tough thing to do) and play a more disciplined game both offense and defense.

Yeah man not gonna lie, Isles are damn impressive. Penguins said this was a big game for them and couldn't handle the play 5 v 5.

In the marathon we are hitting mile 14.

B's catching fire,

Rags have that king and 4 lines that could ruin a season,

mon price and pure speed plus experience from last year.

Caps are being way overlooked, their defense is light years ahead of last year (more trotz than Orpik n Nisky).

TB when healthy is full of talent and that plus sized bishop.

Detroit finds players in dumpsters and makes them stars.

Then Fla and Tor (not much going on to jump up and down about there). But could suprised in a series or two.

Awesome 2nd half coming up.
- Sell My Monkey

Exactly, there are very few gimmes in this whole league, forget just conference. We go from Madison Square Garden, to you guys at our Barn, right to the Bell Centre in Montreal tonight. Definitely not for the faint of heart.

Interesting folks coming on the Matt Martin bandwagon. I've been there all along. Our blogger RW seems to think he's worthless. You need guys like that to win. We don't have guys like that.

Isles just better than Pens. Younger. Faster. Hungrier. More skilled. Throw in MAF plays like poop in Nassau and you officially have a problem.

They have 2 legit power forwards in Lee and Okposo. We don't have 1.

They have 3 legit thumpers in their lineup in Martin, Hamonic, and Boychuk. We don't have 1.

They have 4 complete lines with skill, grit, experience, and youth. Perfect mix.

Isles are a veteran defenseman away from being the favorite to come out of the East. They're that good.

Finally, who is the Pens leader? Who is the teams backbone? Who is the dude with the balls? Who is the guy that's going to say "enough is enough boys, we're f-ing winning this game"? I don't think we have that guy. Sure as hell aint 87, 71, or 58.

Pens will meekfully bow out of the playoffs again this year.

Pens have a good team. Not a Cup team.

One more thing on the Isles...

If you're not a believer in them, watch their recent game vs Rags at MSG.

Total ass-whipping. Dominated from start to finish.

Made the Rags, who came in winners of 13 of 14, look like the Oilers.

One more thing on the Isles...

If you're not a believer in them, watch their recent game vs Rags at MSG.

Total ass-whipping. Dominated from start to finish.

Made the Rags, who came in winners of 13 of 14, look like the Oilers.
- 87_71_11_29

Thanks for the acknowledgement

funny u mentioned the Rags game bc the 2 periods of our game, the isles didn't play that similar game like they did against the rangers, until the 3rd period. I was there last night and analyzed a few things that maybe most know, besides having the talent u guys have, u all recognize that u need a better 4th line, which I agree. But another aspect I feel is needed are 2 NHL dman. I like ur kids and believe ur defense has a bright young future but for now, u need that bridge & experience for these type of games for this year, if u get my point?

Another question I have is, is ur GM willing to sacrifice more picks this year & maybe next to improve team??

thanks...........

Interesting folks coming on the Matt Martin bandwagon. I've been there all along. Our blogger RW seems to think he's worthless. You need guys like that to win. We don't have guys like that.

Isles just better than Pens. Younger. Faster. Hungrier. More skilled. Throw in MAF plays like poop in Nassau and you officially have a problem.

They have 2 legit power forwards in Lee and Okposo. We don't have 1.

They have 3 legit thumpers in their lineup in Martin, Hamonic, and Boychuk. We don't have 1.

They have 4 complete lines with skill, grit, experience, and youth. Perfect mix.

Isles are a veteran defenseman away from being the favorite to come out of the East. They're that good.

Finally, who is the Pens leader? Who is the teams backbone? Who is the dude with the balls? Who is the guy that's going to say "enough is enough boys, we're f-ing winning this game"? I don't think we have that guy. Sure as hell aint 87, 71, or 58.

Pens will meekfully bow out of the playoffs again this year.

Pens have a good team. Not a Cup team.
- 87_71_11_29

Martin is a prototypical 4th line player, not dirty at all.... To me, he comes across as Ryan Reeves light.