As part of the center ice package I get those two channels included so I can see all the games.

At the start of the season I had bought the sports package so I could watch on Root Sports and not have to pay for Center Ice. But with that package I couldnt get NHLN or NBCSN, so I had to give in and get Center Ice.

Next year Ill probably go with Gamecenter so that I can watch on my phone/tablet. I still cant believe you cant get one form of the package that lets you watch on every form of media.

Edit: on DTV its 220 for NBCSN and 215 for NHLN. For me it may be local market since I live in NJ, which puts the game on MSG. thats like channel 620 or somewhere near there.
- thickman1178

Our family gets channel 215 and 220 so I am covered there. I also have the Penguin's Gamecenter subscription package. I get all the Pens games and that's it. Any games on NHLN or NBCSN are blacked out on Gamecenter and I just watch them on TV. Whenever the Pens play the Wings it blacks out Gamecenter and I have to watch the game on Fox Sports Detroit, which is awful.

Maybe I'm just being bítchy but do Pens fans really care about Jagr anymore? I used to love him but he's been gone for so long at this point.
- jfkst1

I do, he's my favorite player off all time. I hope dude plays for another 3 years (whether it ever be in a Pens jersey again or not). I want him to become no. 2 all time on the points list.

Fehr has always killed us. Wanted us to make a push for him over the summer.
- Cptmjl

Fehr still kills the Pens by never being in the lineup and not producing even the few times he is.

No, but I think everyone is surprised he is playing at all. Much less on a prime contender's top pairing.
- jfkst1

While that's true, he had no chance of success here with our group. If you can't skate on the Penguins you'll look like a fool. LA is a bigger team. Low risk. I'm sure they shield him from a strong forecheck.

I guess what I'm saying is... If Scuds has anything left in him, I'm not surprised he's having a little success with a team like that. But yes, top pairing....didn't see that coming. He's played such limited minutes the last couple of months so he's probably pretty fresh. That won't last.

How can you say that about Wilson 5goals in 10 games and a couple of assists. This is what they should be doing. Putting the young guys that are producing on a top line. How do you think all those Russian kids (last name ending in -ov) in tamp gained experience and grew into scorers? Not by playing 3rd /4th line mins.

I'm happy as hell Wilson is up there and hopefully rust will take Kuni's slot next ur when he gets traded at draft


Ok I know he isn't going to get traded but moved down to 3rd line
- nh4442

I'm really not sure what you are talking about, both Kucherov and Namestnikov started out on the 3rd line(Kucherov has even spent time on the 3rd line this year and Namestnikov is currently centering the 4th line) and so did Palat, all of them gained their experience in a bottom 6 role and once they proved themselves earned top 6 spots. It's also the same way both Saad and Forsberg starter their NHL careers as well as the vast majority of young prospect who rarely get opportunities in the top 6 their first year outside of the occasional spot shift. I have no problem with Wilson getting a short term look on the top line with his current streak but to suggest that other teams thrust their young players into prominent roles to gain them experience couldn't be farther from the truth.

To Sammy

They won't carry the game on center ice if NBCSN is carrying it. Not blacked out, just not available at all.

I'm really not sure what you are talking about, both Kucherov and Namestnikov started out on the 3rd line(Kucherov has even spent time on the 3rd line this year and Namestnikov is currently centering the 4th line) and so did Palat, all of them gained their experience in a bottom 6 role and once they proved themselves earned top 6 spots. It's also the same way both Saad and Forsberg starter their NHL careers as well as the vast majority of young prospect who rarely get opportunities in the top 6 their first year outside of the occasional spot shift. I have no problem with Wilson getting a short term look on the top line with his current streak but to suggest that other teams thrust their young players into prominent roles to gain them experience couldn't be farther from the truth.
- jaydogg1974

Very true. Namestnikov is a beast though, that kid can slot up and down the lineup and contribute anywhere. Him and Kuch are so much fun to watch.

It's definitely a small sample size for how long the players have been with their respective teams but I think it says something when the 2 best possession teams in the league see value in using that type of player in a big role. As far as the turnovers, that can happen to any defenseman regardless of the possession numbers, look at the horrid turnover by Maata a few games back that led to a goal, not to mention that the top 5 defenseman in turnovers in the league are Subban, Doughty, Karlsson, Seabrook and Markov. Extending that a little farther,Russell at -14 and Scuderi at -16 have far better giveaway/takeaway ratios than players like Subban(-83) & Doughty(-71) so when looking at it strictly from a turnover standpoint the top guys like Subban, Douhgty & Karlsson are going to make far more costly mistakes that hurt the team than players like Scuderi & Russell will.

I'm not saying I would want Scuderi back on the roster(I did want Russell but not at that price) but I think their play and roles with their current teams show that they weren't in Scuderi's case and wouldn't have been in Russell's case the single-handed anchor on possession that many of RW's blogs have painted them out to be.
- jaydogg1974

Scuderi fits his current team a lot better. He can play low event hockey and never be out of position. If a team is really disciplined having one guy whose chaotic can be a big problem if he's out of position a lot because it can then lead other guys to needing to adjust their positioning leading to suboptimal outcomes.

I would like to see DP get back into lineup. He is playing well and shouldn't be sat. Maybe him and Dumo or him and putting Schultz with Daley
- nh4442

I would honestly rotating Schultz throughout the lineup. Pouliot needs more experience. Cole needs ice time too. Maata could probably use a day off here and there. Only guys I wouldn't want to take out of the line-up are Dumoulin/Letang since those two seem to be the guys who really make the 1st and 2nd pairings effective.

How can you say that about Wilson 5goals in 10 games and a couple of assists. This is what they should be doing. Putting the young guys that are producing on a top line. How do you think all those Russian kids (last name ending in -ov) in tamp gained experience and grew into scorers? Not by playing 3rd /4th line mins.

I'm happy as hell Wilson is up there and hopefully rust will take Kuni's slot next ur when he gets traded at draft


Ok I know he isn't going to get traded but moved down to 3rd line
- nh4442

I agree Wilson was the best choice of what was left to get moved up. My point was coming into this season, we were four scoring lines deep (on paper) and then all of the sudden here we are, yet again, with WBS call-up on the top line. When Wilson is on the top line, it trickles all the way down to Sestito. Guys like Bonino, Rust, Kuhnhackl, Sheary, and Sesito are pretty unlikely to score a goal so the whole bottom 6 is just out there trying not to get scored on. Once again, everything is on Sid and Genos shoulders for producing offense.

While that's true, he had no chance of success here with our group. If you can't skate on the Penguins you'll look like a fool. LA is a bigger team. Low risk. I'm sure they shield him from a strong forecheck.

I guess what I'm saying is... If Scuds has anything left in him, I'm not surprised he's having a little success with a team like that. But yes, top pairing....didn't see that coming. He's played such limited minutes the last couple of months so he's probably pretty fresh. That won't last.
- madmike71

Scuderi honestly wasn't that bad under Johnston. Which is the most negative indictment anyone could make on a coaching system as basically every other player suffered.
I was watching LAK last night. I expect Scuderi to get exposed badly in key matchups if they keep him there.

I would honestly rotating Schultz throughout the lineup. Pouliot needs more experience. Cole needs ice time too. Maata could probably use a day off here and there. Only guys I wouldn't want to take out of the line-up are Dumoulin/Letang since those two seem to be the guys who really make the 1st and 2nd pairings effective.
- sditulli

If the situation was right, I would even swap Schultz in for one of those guys for one game just to give them a rest.

And by right situation I mean playing a bad team who is on the back end of back to back games and they are playing their backup goalie. Preferably that bad team won their first game in a shootout, expending all of their energy and are primed for a let down.

He used to kill us too, but then we signed him, and he's been pretty mediocre.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Gotcha. Yeah I haven't really paid attention to him since you guys signed him. Was curious how he was doing and was wondering whether he'd be in the line up tonight. If he stays healthy he'll be a big help in the playoffs.

Gotcha. Yeah I haven't really paid attention to him since you guys signed him. Was curious how he was doing and was wondering whether he'd be in the line up tonight. If he stays healthy he'll be a big help in the playoffs.
- Cptmjl

Eh... I assumed this would be his worst year in his contract here. Offseason elbow surgery, came into the season late, was mostly played in the shutdown role on the 3rd line, and hasn't gotten to enjoy Sullivan's era here.

I only see improvement coming from him.

If the situation was right, I would even swap Schultz in for one of those guys for one game just to give them a rest.

And by right situation I mean playing a bad team who is on the back end of back to back games and they are playing their backup goalie. Preferably that bad team won their first game in a shootout, expending all of their energy and are primed for a let down.
- PensFan1103

You mean like against a Calgary team that has lost 7 in a row and is starting a goalie who belongs in the ECHL? Points a way too valuable to start resting your top players because the Pens are still in a situation where every point counts, if they build a little better led on Philly and are more comfortably in a playoffs spot then sure get the top guys some rest but until that point you can't risk losing points tinkering with the lineup.

Eh... I assumed this would be his worst year in his contract here. Offseason elbow surgery, came into the season late, was mostly played in the shutdown role on the 3rd line, and hasn't gotten to enjoy Sullivan's era here.

I only see improvement coming from him.
- Guile

I dont think Fehr has been bad at all and definitely better than mediocre. I dont just look at goals and assists when I assess a player.

While that's true, he had no chance of success here with our group. If you can't skate on the Penguins you'll look like a fool. LA is a bigger team. Low risk. I'm sure they shield him from a strong forecheck.

I guess what I'm saying is... If Scuds has anything left in him, I'm not surprised he's having a little success with a team like that. But yes, top pairing....didn't see that coming. He's played such limited minutes the last couple of months so he's probably pretty fresh. That won't last.
- madmike71

There are those rare combinations of players that for some reason just work well together. Doughty and Scuderi have in the past.

I also doubt it will last...but for right now it's working in LA.

Eh... I assumed this would be his worst year in his contract here. Offseason elbow surgery, came into the season late, was mostly played in the shutdown role on the 3rd line, and hasn't gotten to enjoy Sullivan's era here.

I only see improvement coming from him.
- Guile

Yeah I've always been a fan of his mostly because he is a one man wrecking crew every time we play against him. One particular game he just wrecked every player with an Islander sweater on the ice and scored the game winning goal. Defensively we couldn't get around him and we couldn't move him away from the net. He was a total force and like I said is pretty much every, single game we play against him. I honestly thought Snow would be aware of this just by seeing the same thing I and every other fan did and make an offer for him when he was available. I was really disappointed when he didn't but I could understand some GM's reluctance with his injury history.

So apparently Sid likes Sestito up.

So apparently Sid likes Sestito up.
- Pens_Burgh

Assuming that's from DK's site, will you elaborate on how that came about?

Assuming that's from DK's site, will you elaborate on how that came about?
- Topshelf Mountain

He basically said that guys respect Sestito's presence on the ice and that he brings a physical presence out there. He said that he loves having him up here in Pitt.

“I realize that everyone has their own opinion about that,” he said. “But I think there’s something to be said for having that element. I really do.”

Mark Masters ‏@markhmasters 2h2 hours ago Toronto, Ontario
Drouin on his chat with Yzerman: "I want to play hockey, I wanted to make sure Steve was alright with that & we had a good conversation"

NHL EXPERT PICKS ‏@NHLexpertpicks 2h2 hours ago
Drouin on his future w/ #TBLightning 'I think our relationship's fine...we're going to fix this in the summer & see how it goes from there.

'


Seems either trouble in paradise will be over soon, or that it's just a front and Drouin is gonna play until he's traded. Wonder if Schultz will continue to improve so that we can deal his rights at the draft for Drouin

'


Seems either trouble in paradise will be over soon, or that it's just a front and Drouin is gonna play until he's traded. Wonder if Schultz will continue to improve so that we can deal his rights at the draft for Drouin
- Pens_Burgh

Probably the reality that the situation was a lose-lose for Drouin and TBL if he sat the rest of the season.

He basically said that guys respect Sestito's presence on the ice and that he brings a physical presence out there. He said that he loves having him up here in Pitt.

“I realize that everyone has their own opinion about that,” he said. “But I think there’s something to be said for having that element. I really do.”
- Pens_Burgh

I'm not saying he doesn't like having him on the roster but would you honestly expect him to say "the guy's a no talent slug that has no business being on an NHL roster" even if he felt that way? Sid is the ultimate company man and is never going to disrespect a teammate or an organizational decision publicly even when he disagrees.

Probably the reality that the situation was a lose-lose for Drouin and TBL if he sat the rest of the season.
- jfkst1

Agreed. I mean I do think that they can recover from this and keep Drouin around, but 90% sure that he will be traded at the draft.