This really isn't the game I expected from the Pens. Certainly MAF killed their chances in the game, but I expected a better defensive effort. They need to adopt a tighter checking strategy until we get some players back.

Well Hagelin has come back down to earth in a big way. This game was always going to be too hard to win and they played well until the last 5 minutes or so. Sundqvist is an NHL player and so is Pouliot. Pouliot will make mistakes but the good outweighed the bad tonight. This team needs to get healthy fast.

I forgot you guys are gonna have to pony up this summer on maatta.
- Just5

3 years 6.6 million contract total isn't going to hurt anyone and next year he will be a beast again.

Well Hagelin has come back down to earth in a big way. This game was always going to be too hard to win and they played well until the last 5 minutes or so. Sundqvist is an NHL player and so is Pouliot. Pouliot will make mistakes but the good outweighed the bad tonight. This team needs to get healthy fast.
- Dcoms

Hagelin was awful this game. Dumoulin too. And yeah, they don't have any luxuries this season in the standings. Goaltending and health can't be major question marks like they are right now or they are screwed.

Well Hagelin has come back down to earth in a big way. This game was always going to be too hard to win and they played well until the last 5 minutes or so. Sundqvist is an NHL player and so is Pouliot. Pouliot will make mistakes but the good outweighed the bad tonight. This team needs to get healthy fast.
- Dcoms

Tough loss, Tampa looks like the team to beat in the East. They are going to be tough to beat especially without Malkin. Give the Pens credit, they didn't quit and the young guys played hard. Just need to keep our heads up and make the playoffs. This team is definitely head and shoulders above where they were earlier.

Just 1 more time for the jackass!

So... goaltending has suddenly gone out the door since the break. Kinda odd but after 2 years of above average goaltending, I'll just assume it'll work itself out pretty quickly.

Offense is still putting up points, Pouliot and Sundy looking good... lets just grab tomorrow for a win and call this a successful 2 games without Malkin and Fehr?

Decent effort given the lineup we had to work with. If I take the coaches classic cliche...the process was fine.

Well Hagelin has come back down to earth in a big way. This game was always going to be too hard to win and they played well until the last 5 minutes or so. Sundqvist is an NHL player and so is Pouliot. Pouliot will make mistakes but the good outweighed the bad tonight. This team needs to get healthy fast.
- Dcoms

At least they only have 3 more years of him left on the roster.

Decent effort given the lineup we had to work with. If I take the coaches classic cliche...the process was fine.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I think the process needs tightened up. MAF sucked but way too many defensive lapses.

At least they only have 3 more years of him left on the roster.
- sammy87

It's unreal the difference a competent GM makes

It's unreal the difference a competent GM makes
- Just5

Yeah, Flyers are real contenders this season with Hextall...wait they are even worse than the Pens.

Yeah, Flyers are real contenders this season with Hextall...wait they are even worse than the Pens.
- jfkst1

Lol

It's unreal the difference a competent GM makes
- Just5

Its unreal that there are so few competent GM's.

Its unreal that there are so few competent GM's.
- sammy87

Not really. Look at how much nepotism takes place in the NHL front offices. Almost all of them come from either getting hired through family connections (Murray, Shero, Bowman, etc.) or playing careers (Yzerman, Rutherford, Francis, etc.). Very few guys start from the bottom of a hockey team's operations side and work their way up like what happens in most industries.

Its unreal that there are so few competent GM's.
- sammy87

This coming from the guy that wants to trade Pouliot for Pulkanen straight up. We would hate that trade for years.

So... goaltending has suddenly gone out the door since the break. Kinda odd but after 2 years of above average goaltending, I'll just assume it'll work itself out pretty quickly.

Offense is still putting up points, Pouliot and Sundy looking good... lets just grab tomorrow for a win and call this a successful 2 games without Malkin and Fehr?
- Guile

I told everyone that I was afraid maf was gonna regress BIG time. ever since 7 games back maf have been playing worse and worse. we ain't getting into the playoffs if maf ain't playing like maf the last 2 years. I mean maf has completly lost his confidence. the team needs to play a confident defensive game once so maf can get back his confidence. I mean when you get outdone and swapped for zatkoff you know things are bad. not been in meltdown mode for the season. but if this keeps up I will be. last 7 games maf has allowed 21 goals and 2 of those games were shutouts. so 21 goals in 5 games... that is... just the worst I have ever seen him play... he has a nice 87.9 save% though

MARLIES ARE GONNA BREAK THE AHL WINS RECORD. NYLANDER, KAPANEN LEADING THE TEAM. LEAFS DOMINATION TO FOLLOW
- Allstarzz

think you need to go a troll class good sir. been a long time since I saw a troll as bad at trolling as you

Well Hagelin has come back down to earth in a big way. This game was always going to be too hard to win and they played well until the last 5 minutes or so. Sundqvist is an NHL player and so is Pouliot. Pouliot will make mistakes but the good outweighed the bad tonight. This team needs to get healthy fast.
- Dcoms

perron didn't get any points either for anaheim

perron didn't get any points either for anaheim
- martox

He didn't need to this game because 1. Ducks won 5-2 & 2. He scored a goal & 2 assists last start!

I think the more people on here think Shags is the saviour the more the 2 will be compared points wise - which isn't fair really. For 4m Shags needs to score - simple. Perron got run out of town due to him not scoring & 'sucking' big time, but only very few here saw his off the puck work. Shags has scored less this year than Perron & that gap is growing, so I hope his 'off the puck' work pays dividends & he can jag assists if not score with his stone hands! (remember I'm a Pens fan & my name isn't Sammy! )

If Dinger gets some consistent ice time, there's even hope for his scoring!

He didn't need to this game because 1. Ducks won 5-2 & 2. He scored a goal & 2 assists last start!

I think the more people on here think Shags is the saviour the more the 2 will be compared points wise - which isn't fair really. For 4m Shags needs to score - simple. Perron got run out of town due to him not scoring & 'sucking' big time, but only very few here saw his off the puck work. Shags has scored less this year than Perron & that gap is growing, so I hope his 'off the puck' work pays dividends & he can jag assists if not score with his stone hands! (remember I'm a Pens fan & my name isn't Sammy! )

If Dinger gets some consistent ice time, there's even hope for his scoring!
- Aussiepenguin

nah he don't. he is on a line with malkin and kessel... they are the ones doing the scoring while hags is the space creator. space creators are essential... david perron was meant to score and he didn't. hags is here for his forecheck, speed and space creation to compliment the other two on his line and he has done a great job... plz don't tell me you are one of those stupid people thinking if a player don't score a buttload he ain't a player for the nhl... plz don't tell me that aussie...
also perron didn't do anything against san jose either...

nah he don't. he is on a line with malkin and kessel... they are the ones doing the scoring while hags is the space creator. space creators are essential... david perron was meant to score and he didn't. hags is here for his forecheck, speed and space creation to compliment the other two on his line and he has done a great job... plz don't tell me you are one of those stupid people thinking if a player don't score a buttload he ain't a player for the nhl... plz don't tell me that aussie...
also perron didn't do anything against san jose either...
- martox

I played & now coach a team sport since I could run. I know the value of moving parts that are part of the larger picture. As I've said I hope Shags can be successful with us (& for 4m & another 3.5 years........). But I disagree that he doesn't have to score - at any time any player should be able to score especially with a price tag that is top 6. Today late I believe he had a chance but didn't take it - that's someone that has no confidence in his own ability. that line was a -2 or -3 today, they were scored on & it's something that is becoming too regular but was there before Shags arrived so it's not his fault.

Lots of questions but some on this board thinks any player brought in will be the answer & certain players on/left/traded from the team is poop & the cause! Time will tell for Shags but I can see some hate going his way.

I played & now coach a team sport since I could run. I know the value of moving parts that are part of the larger picture. As I've said I hope Shags can be successful with us (& for 4m & another 3.5 years........). But I disagree that he doesn't have to score - at any time any player should be able to score especially with a price tag that is top 6. Today late I believe he had a chance but didn't take it - that's someone that has no confidence in his own ability. that line was a -2 or -3 today, they were scored on & it's something that is becoming too regular but was there before Shags arrived so it's not his fault.

Lots of questions but some on this board thinks any player brought in will be the answer & certain players on/left/traded from the team is poop & the cause! Time will tell for Shags but I can see some hate going his way.
- Aussiepenguin

that line was bad yes. but shags don't HAVE to score to be what he was brought in to do. but I can agree that with a 4 mil price tag he has to do some expected scoring but if he don't then whatever if he does everything he can to make sure malkin and kessel get the best chances they can. I love hags. if he had skilled hands we would be a really really good player in this league so think about that for a sec... we get what we should get for 4 mil (maybe a tiny bit much) cuz he could be a much much higher paid player IF he didn't have stone hands. it is just that this board expects so damn much from their players sometimes. I would be much more questionable about kessels play than shags... oh and modafuking fleury. the way he has played as of late completly ruins what he did earlier this year

that line was bad yes. but shags don't HAVE to score to be what he was brought in to do. but I can agree that with a 4 mil price tag he has to do some expected scoring but if he don't then whatever if he does everything he can to make sure malkin and kessel get the best chances they can.
- martox

If Geno & Philbo are scoring then ok because there's a good chance he will be assisting (scoring), but today Shags had a chance & passed it up - that is something he cannot do, & if he continues to then questions will be asked.

Geno's line has been getting hammered a lot, it's just he's putting up points to even it up (+-) talking here (you know that stat that everyone laughs at but is calculated the same way Corsi is ).

If Geno & Philbo are scoring then ok because there's a good chance he will be assisting (scoring), but today Shags had a chance & passed it up - that is something he cannot do, & if he continues to then questions will be asked.

Geno's line has been getting hammered a lot, it's just he's putting up points to even it up (+-) talking here (you know that stat that everyone laughs at but is calculated the same way Corsi is ).
- Aussiepenguin

sid did that before too. it happens.