Kessel's post game interview was hilarious. Ive never seen anyone so uncomfortable on camera.

I'm frustrated at the guy right now too...but deep breath...Kessel comes with warts but finishing ability aint one. He will start burying these chances.

Also, elevating the puck seems like a team wide problem. How many times have we seen forwards with an open net and shoot it right into the pad? Sullivan needs to run a full practice where everyone shoots top shelf for 2 hours straight.

Kessel's post game interview was hilarious. Ive never seen anyone so uncomfortable on camera.

I'm frustrated at the guy right now too...but deep breath...Kessel comes with warts but finishing ability aint one. He will start burying these chances.

Also, elevating the puck seems like a team wide problem. How many times have we seen forwards with an open net and shoot it right into the pad? Sullivan needs to run a full practice where everyone shoots top shelf for 2 hours straight.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Hopefully its not to late, Detroit and Philadelphia might figure their crap out before we do!

I'm almost positive ovi uses a stick flex around 75, and he can bomb the puck like no other. The flex isn't the reason he can't get a one timer or catch a pass
- drummer829

Alright, he also changes sticks between the PP and ES and has a different kick point and blade. So maybe the flex alone isn't the issue but the stick as a whole is.

Alright, he also changes sticks between the PP and ES and has a different break point and blade. So maybe the flex alone isn't the issue but the stick as a whole is.
- jfkst1

How fitting, ESPN does the Pens highlight, Melrose makes sure to elude to Kessel's miss in the 1st minute and in the last minute, all the while Ovechkin is in studio!

Anyone see the tweets of pissed of pens fans trying to call out Kessel only to tweet to his sister instead... (frank)ing hilarious at the same time makes us fan look like idiots.

So haven't seen or read any game reports yet but saw the result on the app - big game needed, big result required but we couldn't get it???

Just another game it appears that we cannot get right, cannot get consistency & win games we need to win - today in my opinion was a game we needed to win!

Oh well, we move on to the Ass Jackets so hopefully our up & down season gets a lift!! (frank)in Halak, let's in 4 last start & today his schfincter is so tight he can't poop!!! (frank)er!!!

Not sure if anyone has seen the NHL.com match report, but it's got a nice photo in it.

Philbo shooting the puck in the final seconds of the match. It's not even directed at goal? The net could have been clear of everyone & it still wouldn't have gone in. Maybe with puck luck it takes a deflection & goes in, but (frank) me a player of Philbo's level has to put that in the net!!! I just hope they go in when we need them to!

Can't really blame Flower on deflected goals, but again maybe a better goalie doesn't let the 2nd go 5-hole??? Power play (frank)ing special teams!!

Oh the paaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnn!!

How was See nothing, hear nothing, know nothing??

It was a well played game by both sides. However their PP scored and our didn't. That is what happened. We seemed to miss the net a lot also. Malkin seemed to be a bit of a head case as well. Oh well, that sucked.

I'm losing faith in this squad. We can't go the rest of the season winning every other game and expect to make the playoffs.

This team needs momentum going into the playoffs. Alot if it too

Fleury is not the problem gramps, doesn't your nursing home have a lights out curfew for 10? Get to bed and don't forget to soak your dentures.
- Dcoms

Back to being a moron again MAF blinked first again That is the bottom line Skippy

Learn the game grampers after you change your depends.
- Reverend Killtaker

I forgot more about hockey than YOU will ever know You are still cooking Not quite ready for the dinner table

holeinone is one of the biggest buffoons on this board. He is clueless regarding most of anything. Fleury could not do anything.
- Oneonta Penguin

Yes he could He could stop the puck in a tight game once more than the other goalie That is his frickin job Look it up Goalie Stop the Puck Not rocket science

If they didn't have Kessel they could have Fehr, but Fehr sucks this season and never plays anyway.

The D isn't good. Lovejoy, Cole, Scuds were all bad all season.

Never met one

Yes it is, ask a TOR fan. Have you ever seen throw his body around?

8.7, 9.5, 7.5, 6.8...name another team that has so much tied up into so little production.
- sammy87

6th, 19th , 77th (kessel) , 4th between defensemen 2 points from 3rd and with 10 games less played... the production from our players is FAR from the problem.

toews with his 10 mil cap hit has 47 points at 49th place....

though I CAN agree that kessel has been a disappointment BUT it is not that he is a bad player just his freaking stick. his heart has not been his weak suit here. sure I would like to seee him get more physical but if don't I don't care so much. he NEEDS to test a normal stick. his 65 flex stick just does not work when playing with more skilled players like crosby and malkin. he needs to be able to recive passes and finish them fast. that was what he was brought in to do.

I forgot more about hockey than YOU will ever know You are still cooking Not quite ready for the dinner table
- holeinone

English grampers, please learn it as you learn the game. Your trolling has obviously eroded your brain.

6th, 19th , 77th (kessel) , 4th between defensemen 2 points from 3rd and with 10 games less played... the production from our players is FAR from the problem.

toews with his 10 mil cap hit has 47 points at 49th place....

though I CAN agree that kessel has been a disappointment BUT it is not that he is a bad player just his freaking stick. his heart has not been his weak suit here. sure I would like to seee him get more physical but if don't I don't care so much. he NEEDS to test a normal stick. his 65 flex stick just does not work when playing with more skilled players like crosby and malkin. he needs to be able to recive passes and finish them fast. that was what he was brought in to do.
- martox

He uses a 65 flex stick??

He uses a 65 flex stick??
- rangerdanger94

yes he does. it is why he is so freaking bad at reciving pucks and one timing

He uses a 65 flex stick??
- rangerdanger94

It's a 70 but it gets cut down so it goes lower than that.

It's a 70 but it gets cut down so it goes lower than that.
- jfkst1

In golf, when you cut the length of a shaft, the flex actually increases (think how easy it is to break a twig in half if it's 12 inches long vs 1 inch long). I always assumed it was the same for hockey sticks.

In golf, when you cut the length of a shaft, the flex actually increases (think how easy it is to break a twig in half if it's 12 inches long vs 1 inch long). I always assumed it was the same for hockey sticks.
- rangerdanger94

Good point. He might be using a freaking junior flex in the 50s or 60s then. Which is something a pee wee would use. His flex is so bad he looks like Glass out there trying stickhandling or one time. I wouldn't have an issue if he was scoring on his snap shots but that isn't happening either. So I fail to understand why he is using that stick in the first place.

It's a 70 but it gets cut down so it goes lower than that.
- jfkst1

A 70 cut down might be a 75 or 80 flex. Shocking that guys at the NHL level wouldnt just snap that in half every time they shoot.

I wont tell Kessel that he needs to change the flex of his stick.... but one thing to consider is he trained with Gary Roberts this summer and was admittedly in his best shape coming into the season. Could have gotten stronger and now outgrown his intermediate stick, its possible.

It's a 70 but it gets cut down so it goes lower than that.
- jfkst1

Actually it would be higher if he cuts it. I buy intermediate sticks myself as I'm only about 5' 9", usually get a 70 flex and by the time I cut it, its technically an 85 or so.

I think its plus 7 in flex for every 2 inches you cut off. (thats what she said)

Actually it would be higher if he cuts it. I buy intermediate sticks myself as I'm only about 5' 9", usually get a 70 flex and by the time I cut it, its technically an 85 or so.

I think its plus 7 in flex for every 2 inches you cut off. (thats what she said)
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Gotcha. All this stick technology came after my time. I had to heat the shaft up and put in the extension or blade. Now everything is one piece composite.

A 70 cut down might be a 75 or 80 flex. Shocking that guys at the NHL level wouldnt just snap that in half every time they shoot.

I wont tell Kessel that he needs to change the flex of his stick.... but one thing to consider is he trained with Gary Roberts this summer and was admittedly in his best shape coming into the season. Could have gotten stronger and now outgrown his intermediate stick, its possible.
- MacPatty

again, I feel like I should comment, cause its exactly the same stick that I use...

with those super low kick points on the Warrior sticks, even the 80 flex feels stiff as hell because the middle of the stick isnt designed to bend (at lease compared to mid kicks). That being said, Kessel is much larger and stronger than me, so I would say its a tad on the low side, but nothing dramatic. James Neal supposedly uses a 70ish flex as well. And hes even bigger and doesnt have an issue with one timers.

I wonder if Ryan Wilson was post a game recap blog

I'm going to go in a different direction with the Kessel talk and say his problem right now, and for the last little while, is that he doesn't seem to have his legs.

Think back to how Crosby was earlier in the season, and then consider how he looked last night. The difference is night and day and the biggest part of that is because of his skating.

To me, Kessel hasn't had that great burst or strength in his legs for a while now. He seems to be just a bit off balance most of the time.

Sticks do make a difference sometimes, but when a guy (NHL player) is skating the right way he could score with a Mylec street hockey stick.