So plenty of bodies entering local rivers in Pitt. I'll try to keep things positive.

1. Sid is beginning to look more like the old Sid. I've been critical of him at times this year but I like his play more over the past 10 games or so. My hope all season was that he was saving it for the playoffs. He's ramped it up.

2. Sutter has played better the past few games. Perhaps we get good Sutter in the playoffs?

3. They are getting tons of good looks. If they haven't had this same issue the past few seasons by making goalies look better than they are, I'd be even less concerned. Eventually, some of these have to go in. Right? Don't they? I refuse to believe their offensive core of 87, 71, 72, 14, 39 will remain this ice cold over the next few weeks.

4. Ian Cole has been a very pleasant surprise. Upgrade over Borts and I was a Borts guy.

5. Cant wait to see Horny in the playoffs.

6. We all said at various points that the regular season is meaningless. Just get in and go from there. I'll take my chances against the Habs or Rags. Actually think we can win either of those series. All of the playoff pressure would be on those 2 as opposed to the Pens.
- 87_71_11_29

I can't wait to get horny in the playoffs, either/

So plenty of bodies entering local rivers in Pitt. I'll try to keep things positive.

1. Sid is beginning to look more like the old Sid. I've been critical of him at times this year but I like his play more over the past 10 games or so. My hope all season was that he was saving it for the playoffs. He's ramped it up.

2. Sutter has played better the past few games. Perhaps we get good Sutter in the playoffs?

3. They are getting tons of good looks. If they haven't had this same issue the past few seasons by making goalies look better than they are, I'd be even less concerned. Eventually, some of these have to go in. Right? Don't they? I refuse to believe their offensive core of 87, 71, 72, 14, 39 will remain this ice cold over the next few weeks.

4. Ian Cole has been a very pleasant surprise. Upgrade over Borts and I was a Borts guy.

5. Cant wait to see Horny in the playoffs.

6. We all said at various points that the regular season is meaningless. Just get in and go from there. I'll take my chances against the Habs or Rags. Actually think we can win either of those series. All of the playoff pressure would be on those 2 as opposed to the Pens.
- 87_71_11_29

This nickname is never gonna get old.

They should have called Kunitz for 2 minutes for unsportsmanlike...even though its not in the rulebook. But I don't know why the Flyers were so mad anyway, the puck didnt even go in lol.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Because he slapped the puck in the direction of opposing players on an obvious delayed penalty against the Penguins. It was clever, but definitely something I can understand the Flyers' getting upset over.

Anything but that... you should read the article Dupuis wrote for the Trib on the subject and his injury. Pretty good insight into the mind of most hockey players (probably near all athletes) when it comes to their career, love of the game, and hiding injuries.

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/in-my-blood/
- Guile

Thats an awesome read! Any hockey fan regardless of team should read. Thanks!

Because he slapped the puck in the direction of opposing players on an obvious delayed penalty against the Penguins. It was clever, but definitely something I can understand the Flyers' getting upset over.
- jfkst1

But there weren't even players around. Still, shooting the puck at an empty net when touching up for an icing is like when C. Lemieux used to do it at the end of the pregame skate. It's not written anywhere, you just don't do it.

He didn't say it was boarding. He said it was unfortunate that he was at his position when he took the hit. Being in the traditional "boarding" area would have probably not injured him at all. Just wrong place, wrong body position, taking a heavy hit at the wrong time.
- jmatchett383

Doesn't the timing and more importantly placement of the hit with regards to the proximity of the boards mean the player should understand that before deciding to blow a guy up who doesn't have the puck with the hit not being for the purposes of dislodging the man from the puck?

Everybody wants to see giant hits, until it knocks one of the key players on their own team out for a period of games.

The bigger problem is the giant increase in board play during games. Calling all the penalties again and injecting some badly needed speed to the game would cut down on the boarding issues as the play wouldn't be in that area almost all the time as it is now.

But there weren't even players around. Still, shooting the puck at an empty net when touching up for an icing is like when C. Lemieux used to do it at the end of the pregame skate. It's not written anywhere, you just don't do it.
- jmatchett383

I thought it was uncomfortably close for some of the Flyers. Especially with Kunitz shooting. He can't hit the ocean from the end of the pier with his shot recently.

Doesn't the timing and more importantly placement of the hit with regards to the proximity of the boards mean the player should understand that before deciding to blow a guy up who doesn't have the puck with the hit not being for the purposes of dislodging the man from the puck?

Everybody wants to see giant hits, until it knocks one of the key players on their own team out for a period of games.

The bigger problem is the giant increase in board play during games. Calling all the penalties again and injecting some badly needed speed to the game would cut down on the boarding issues as the play wouldn't be in that area almost all the time as it is now.
- kingcong39

It's on the players to let up, but I don't think that Doan thought, "Man, I hope Letang goes flying through the air and slams his head into the boards." Maybe he did, but Doan doesn't seem like that kind of player. He went for a hit that was maybe a second late (all players are taught to "finish your checks") and it was a very unfortunate play. Could he have let up? Sure. Did he have any obligation to? Not at all. Maybe next time he will. Just sucks that it turned out the way that it did.

I thought it was uncomfortably close for some of the Flyers. Especially with Kunitz shooting. He can't hit the ocean from the end of the pier with his shot recently.
- jfkst1

haha. I was actually traveling to my in-laws when it happened. I saw the replay of it, and it seemed like most of the Flyers were on the other side of the ice. Whatever, Richard move and a crazy overreaction by the Flyers.

But there weren't even players around. Still, shooting the puck at an empty net when touching up for an icing is like when C. Lemieux used to do it at the end of the pregame skate. It's not written anywhere, you just don't do it.
- jmatchett383

I don't think I will ever understand why that bothers hockey players so much, but yet across the board it does. Especially incidents like yesterday with Kunitz, when the player misses the net. If I were one of the Flyers I would have been laughing my ass off, no retaliation necessary on that.

Big believer in peak performance theory for hockey teams. Top players (forwards) peak out at age 26-27. More important, once top performance has been accomplished the player will begin to see a constant progressive decline in their performance.

Pens best players have clearly peaked. The decline will be constant and relentless as we go forward. The fallacy that people want to believe is that you can somehow effectively rebuild around an asset pool that is in clear decline.

Pens are at risk of missing playoffs and not having a 1st round pick. This is not good asset management.
- spatso

If having the leading scorer in the league, another just outside the top 10, potential Norris finalist before injury and a possible Veizna candidate is clearly declining then I'll take declining every day of the week.

Pens are at risk of missing playoffs and not having a 1st round pick. This is not good asset management.
- spatso

Everyone with a hockey IQ knows Pittsburgh's asset management has been poor. It's the worst in the league. It's not this year, but the last five or six years. This "win now" mentality has seriously caused this to happen. Trading away two second rounders for a fat, slow, healthy scratch from SJ; trading away a first for a soon to be hall-of-famer that wasn't a need whatsoever and four others have put us in major jeopardy. Everyone has at least two kids under the age of 24 contributing at forward. We have Beau Bennett. That should signal the problem.

So plenty of bodies entering local rivers in Pitt. I'll try to keep things positive.

1. Sid is beginning to look more like the old Sid. I've been critical of him at times this year but I like his play more over the past 10 games or so. My hope all season was that he was saving it for the playoffs. He's ramped it up.

2. Sutter has played better the past few games. Perhaps we get good Sutter in the playoffs?

3. They are getting tons of good looks. If they haven't had this same issue the past few seasons by making goalies look better than they are, I'd be even less concerned. Eventually, some of these have to go in. Right? Don't they? I refuse to believe their offensive core of 87, 71, 72, 14, 39 will remain this ice cold over the next few weeks.

4. Ian Cole has been a very pleasant surprise. Upgrade over Borts and I was a Borts guy.

5. Cant wait to see Horny in the playoffs.

6. We all said at various points that the regular season is meaningless. Just get in and go from there. I'll take my chances against the Habs or Rags. Actually think we can win either of those series. All of the playoff pressure would be on those 2 as opposed to the Pens.
- 87_71_11_29

Depending on the severity of Pacioretty's injury the Habs may be a good match up for anybody now. Price is a great goalie but Max has nearly 20% of the teams goals

I don't think I will ever understand why that bothers hockey players so much, but yet across the board it does. Especially incidents like yesterday with Kunitz, when the player misses the net. If I were one of the Flyers I would have been laughing my ass off, no retaliation necessary on that.
- PensFan1103

Because that's your goal to defend. It belongs to you and you're vacating it in good faith that the other team won't intentionally try to score. Replace "goal" with "girlfriend" and you'll get the idea.

Depending on the severity of Pacioretty's injury the Habs may be a good match up for anybody now. Price is a great goalie but Max has nearly 20% of the teams goals
- willi

I'd rather have Tampa Bay or the Habs opposed to the Rangers. Seems like we are getting 1 of the 3 since we are locked in the bottom 3 position for the playoffs.*

* if we make it, shut up naysayers, I added the disclaimer

So plenty of bodies entering local rivers in Pitt. I'll try to keep things positive.

1. Sid is beginning to look more like the old Sid. I've been critical of him at times this year but I like his play more over the past 10 games or so. My hope all season was that he was saving it for the playoffs. He's ramped it up.

2. Sutter has played better the past few games. Perhaps we get good Sutter in the playoffs?

3. They are getting tons of good looks. If they haven't had this same issue the past few seasons by making goalies look better than they are, I'd be even less concerned. Eventually, some of these have to go in. Right? Don't they? I refuse to believe their offensive core of 87, 71, 72, 14, 39 will remain this ice cold over the next few weeks.

4. Ian Cole has been a very pleasant surprise. Upgrade over Borts and I was a Borts guy.

5. Cant wait to see Horny in the playoffs.

6. We all said at various points that the regular season is meaningless. Just get in and go from there. I'll take my chances against the Habs or Rags. Actually think we can win either of those series. All of the playoff pressure would be on those 2 as opposed to the Pens.
- 87_71_11_29

With you on all of this.

Because that's your goal to defend. It belongs to you and you're vacating it in good faith that the other team won't intentionally try to score. Replace "goal" with "girlfriend" and you'll get the idea.
- jmatchett383

The way I see that though is that it's like some dude dreaming he is scoring with your girlfriend, but in reality he isn't. Dream all you want bub, why would I be upset about some other dude dreaming he was with my girl? And then in the scenario where a player takes the shot and misses, that is like some dude dreaming he is scoring with my girl, but then he can't even get it up in his own dream. It's sad really.

It's on the players to let up, but I don't think that Doan thought, "Man, I hope Letang goes flying through the air and slams his head into the boards." Maybe he did, but Doan doesn't seem like that kind of player. He went for a hit that was maybe a second late (all players are taught to "finish your checks") and it was a very unfortunate play. Could he have let up? Sure. Did he have any obligation to? Not at all. Maybe next time he will. Just sucks that it turned out the way that it did.
- jmatchett383

It is also on the players to learn that is an area where you don't decide to crush somebody due to the potential result.

Finishing your checks is starting to be code for make sure you do something on the ice so the coach doesn't think you are useless when you make no impact on the game otherwise.

Everyone with a hockey IQ knows Pittsburgh's asset management has been poor. It's the worst in the league. It's not this year, but the last five or six years. This "win now" mentality has seriously caused this to happen. Trading away two second rounders for a fat, slow, healthy scratch from SJ; trading away a first for a soon to be hall-of-famer that wasn't a need whatsoever and four others have put us in major jeopardy. Everyone has at least two kids under the age of 24 contributing at forward. We have Beau Bennett. That should signal the problem.
- Oneonta Penguin

It's not the "worst in the league." I don't like what Shero did, but there are plenty of GMs that are/were worse. Nonis, MacTavish, Nieuwendyk, Sakic, Holmgren are some off the top of my head that were worse.

The way I see that though is that it's like some dude dreaming he is scoring with your girlfriend, but in reality he isn't. Dream all you want bub, why would I be upset about some other dude dreaming he was with my girl? And then in the scenario where a player takes the shot and misses, that is like some dude dreaming he is scoring with my girl, but then he can't even get it up in his own dream. It's sad really.
- PensFan1103

So...you're saying Kunitz has ED?

So plenty of bodies entering local rivers in Pitt. I'll try to keep things positive.

1. Sid is beginning to look more like the old Sid. I've been critical of him at times this year but I like his play more over the past 10 games or so. My hope all season was that he was saving it for the playoffs. He's ramped it up.

2. Sutter has played better the past few games. Perhaps we get good Sutter in the playoffs?

3. They are getting tons of good looks. If they haven't had this same issue the past few seasons by making goalies look better than they are, I'd be even less concerned. Eventually, some of these have to go in. Right? Don't they? I refuse to believe their offensive core of 87, 71, 72, 14, 39 will remain this ice cold over the next few weeks.

4. Ian Cole has been a very pleasant surprise. Upgrade over Borts and I was a Borts guy.

5. Cant wait to see Horny in the playoffs.

6. We all said at various points that the regular season is meaningless. Just get in and go from there. I'll take my chances against the Habs or Rags. Actually think we can win either of those series. All of the playoff pressure would be on those 2 as opposed to the Pens.
- 87_71_11_29

There's a lot of bad trends the 2nd half of the season....but props for pointing out the things that are going well. I agree with mostly everything here. Many of us said we wanted the Pens to face adversity and not coast into the playoffs, country club, yada yada yada...well here it is. And as RW's last blog pointed out...it may actually benefit us from a matchup standpoint being lower in the standings. (still scared of Price with current scoring woes).

One guy who deserves an A next year...Hornqvist. He is exactly what the Pens need. And for all of you that hated Neal, I'm sorry but I really liked him. He took bad penalties but I was afraid we didnt get enough in return for him. Hornqvist is a beauty of a hockey player right now. I find it funny how he gets pushed into the goalie and then they try to fight him. There's no real answer defensively to contain a guy like him wreaking havoc in front of the net.

It is also on the players to learn that is an area where you don't decide to crush somebody due to the potential result.

Finishing your checks is starting to be code for make sure you do something on the ice so the coach doesn't think you are useless when you make no impact on the game otherwise.
- kingcong39

Not gonna disagree with you there. I think that respect for other players has gone out the window in the "new" NHL.

So, lets talk playoff lines and such, since we should be assuming we still make it. Also assuming....

Letang and Ehrhoff are back and stay healthy. Perron gets over whatever, Kunitz scores a bit more, and Lap does something useful.

However... do we run 11 forwards and 7 D? 4th line is VERY limited in the postseason, and I know other boards toss around this idea. For us with Scuderi, seems even better to throw this out with him being the "4th line" of our defense in the 7D setup and heavy on the PK.

Oh, and does HCMJ get red in the face and yell at least once in the post season? Can we get Bill Cowher to give him a pep talk

So...you're saying Kunitz has ED?
- jmatchett383

BINGO!

It's not the "worst in the league." I don't like what Shero did, but there are plenty of GMs that are/were worse. Nonis, MacTavish, Nieuwendyk, Sakic, Holmgren are some off the top of my head that were worse.
- jfkst1

For what it's worth, Holmgren is no longer a GM.

Thank God. He was actually really good at first, then did a bandaid job and, well, you see the result.