Not sure I agree that the shot volume was just too much for Vasilevskey to handle, I think the 25-10 high danger scoring chances differential or the 17-7 high danger shots on goal differential had a bigger impact on the outcome last night than the 48 shots the Pens put on net.

Not sure I agree that the shot volume was just too much for Vasilevskey to handle, I think the 25-10 high danger scoring chances differential or the 17-7 high danger shots on goal differential had a bigger impact on the outcome last night than the 48 shots the Pens put on net.
- jaydogg1974

I've always advocated that it was about quality of shot, and not necessary quantity. I mean, I think we can all agree that 100 unscreened shots from above the circles probably leads to fewer goals than 15 shots from within 5 feet of the net, right?

But the Pens were starting to get some of those quality 2nd chance opportunities last night & in the 3rd period of Game 2 that really made the difference. They also weren't really giving up a lot of decent 2nd chance opportunities either.

For all the credit the HBK line is given for their offense I think they deserved recognized for some of the great defense they have played as well, especially Hagelin & Bonino. That sliding stick save Bonino made late in the game could have ended up being a game saver even though they had a 2 goal lead, I want to say there was around 45 seconds left which isn't much time but that would have been a huge momentum boost and there's no telling what may have happened if TB scores there to bring it within 1 goal.

Hot dog Phil does not deserve a cup. That heartless fatty lol. He'd permanently stain the cup with ketchup and cookie crumbs
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- cesareborgia

Not sure I agree that the shot volume was just too much for Vasilevskey to handle, I think the 25-10 high danger scoring chances differential or the 17-7 high danger shots on goal differential had a bigger impact on the outcome last night than the 48 shots the Pens put on net.
- jaydogg1974

Vasy looked worked in the third, he was tired and it was starting to show.

Now that we're in full-blown Wrestling-Hockey convergence mode, it just dawned on me that Kessel in the photo brings to mind the 80's/90's wrestling jobber The Brooklyn Brawler. And now I love it even more.

Vasy looked worked in the third, he was tired and it was starting to show.
- stackthepads

Not only did he look absolutely gassed he also looked really rattled. He was saying sh!t to his own teammates, rolling his eyes at them and threw his stick down the ice at the bench.

Hot dog Phil does not deserve a cup. That heartless fatty lol. He'd permanently stain the cup with ketchup and cookie crumbs
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- cesareborgia

what happened to those posters who were still wishing we had Sutter instead of Bonino?

Not only did he look absolutely gassed he also looked really rattled. He was saying sh!t to his own teammates, rolling his eyes at them and threw his stick down the ice at the bench.
- MattStrat

Honestly he was probably shell shocked after all that rubber.

Honestly he was probably shell shocked after all that rubber.
- powerhouse

He's faced 115 shots in 2.75 games.

Funny thing is, he's given up 8 goals in those 2.75 games, yet has a .930 save %

He's faced 115 shots in 2.75 games.

Funny thing is, he's given up 8 goals in those 2.75 games, yet has a .930 save %
- cap1681

Must be what Corey Schneider feels on a nightly basis.

Must be what Corey Schneider feels on a nightly basis.
- Victoro311

Not really, the Devils played good defense. They were in the top 10 this season in shots against. Schneider has to worry about giving up 2 goals and most likely not winning.

what happened to those posters who were still wishing we had Sutter instead of Bonino?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

They realized NHL centers need to be able to win a puck battle occasionally to have an impact.

what happened to those posters who were still wishing we had Sutter instead of Bonino?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I'll be the first to admit that I was very down on Bonino for the first 50 games or so of his time here, but in my defense, that was because he appeared to be mostly invisible and did nothing to drive play, let alone score during that time period. I can't ever remember seeing a guy make such a complete and dramatic turnaround like this during a season. Its quite remarkable and full marks to him. I keep wishing someone would interview him and ask what changed...was it truly the coaching or a matter of just taking a while to get comfortable on a new team within a new system?

They realized NHL centers need to be able to win a puck battle occasionally to have an impact.
- madmike71

And not score only 1 goal (skate down the right wing boards, shoot near the top of the circle) over and over. They need to put the puck in the net from other places and in other game situations.

I'll be the first to admit that I was very down on Bonino for the first 50 games or so of his time here, but in my defense, that was because he appeared to be mostly invisible and did nothing to drive play, let alone score during that time period. I can't ever remember seeing a guy make such a complete and dramatic turnaround like this during a season. Its quite remarkable and full marks to him. I keep wishing someone would interview him and ask what changed...was it truly the coaching or a matter of just taking a while to get comfortable on a new team within a new system?
- Emperor Filonius

Id say it's a combo of new coach, getting comfortable and having better wingers.

what happened to those posters who were still wishing we had Sutter instead of Bonino?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

There weren't many to begin with. The only ones I can think of off the top of my head were Hardnosed because he didn't think there was a suitable replacement, Aussie because he wanted to make a stand against advanced stats, and maybe one or two other people.

Even when Bonino sucked I would have done that trade any day of the week. Sutter at 4+ mil a year is horrendous and letting him walk for nothing would have railed.

what happened to those posters who were still wishing we had Sutter instead of Bonino?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Bonino was good for a huge chunk of the season and look flat out bad at times.

I dont think anyone here predicted that Hagelin-Bonino-Kessel would be the top line ending the season and into the playoffs. Also nobody predicted that Wilson, Rust, Kuhnackl, Sheary would be actual good players to help out this roster. Those are huge steps this team made that nobody predicted.

I'll be the first to admit that I was very down on Bonino for the first 50 games or so of his time here, but in my defense, that was because he appeared to be mostly invisible and did nothing to drive play, let alone score during that time period. I can't ever remember seeing a guy make such a complete and dramatic turnaround like this during a season. Its quite remarkable and full marks to him. I keep wishing someone would interview him and ask what changed...was it truly the coaching or a matter of just taking a while to get comfortable on a new team within a new system?
- Emperor Filonius

He has been interviewed. He said he got trapped in bottom six mentality and wasn't mentally concerned with offense because he felt like he was in a defensive role. Coaches that make hard devides between roles like that perplex me. Especially coming from Johnston who seemed to champion the four scoring lines model. He said Sullivan had a talk with him after coming back from injury and told him that regardless of what line he was playing he needed to get back to his offensive game. That was the switch that was flipped.

Bonino was good for a huge chunk of the season and look flat out bad at times.

I dont think anyone here predicted that Hagelin-Bonino-Kessel would be the top line ending the season and into the playoffs. Also nobody predicted that Wilson, Rust, Kuhnackl, Sheary would be actual good players to help out this roster. Those are huge steps this team made that nobody predicted.
- sammy87

by good I mean not good.

by good I mean not good.
- sammy87

I thought sheary could have an impact but never the other ones. was proven wrong and I like it

I thought sheary could have an impact but never the other ones. was proven wrong and I like it
- martox

I've been championing Rust for a year and change now since he first came up with Farnham (who I still think was maybe cast off too soon) because I saw him as a player that could add spark & cause chaos for opposing defenses, even if he wasn't going to put the puck in the net with any regularity.

I thought sheary could have an impact but never the other ones. was proven wrong and I like it
- martox

What a national shame it must be to see your Sweden dressing a team like that. A f'n disgrace. Heads will roll and/or players gonna be banned...?

Not sure I agree that the shot volume was just too much for Vasilevskey to handle, I think the 25-10 high danger scoring chances differential or the 17-7 high danger shots on goal differential had a bigger impact on the outcome last night than the 48 shots the Pens put on net.
- jaydogg1974

Offensive zone time Pens had a lot Tampa did not