I don't know, he took that slapshot point blank to the shoulder. That could easily cause a deep bone bruise making it difficult to shoot and move that shoulder. Deep bone bruises can be really painful for a weeks. They're probably being overly cautious so he doesn't injure it further.
- mw630

Malkin would be playing if this was the playoffs. With guentzel out that would give me added reason to get malkin back as winning the division seems really important.

I feel like we either rest guys now and just hope we win division or we push hard for it to get the easier first round so guys get more rest. Either can make sense to me.

2nd straight month Sprong has been player of the month in the Q.
"The 19-year-old forward scored 12 goals and had 22 points in just nine games in March"
- Thorny87

Here's hoping his team gets beat out in the first round.

Here's hoping his team gets beat out in the first round.
- Dcoms

I think they have a pretty good shot at winning the Q title.Especially with him performing this way.

Malkin would be playing if this was the playoffs. With guentzel out that would give me added reason to get malkin back as winning the division seems really important.

I feel like we either rest guys now and just hope we win division or we push hard for it to get the easier first round so guys get more rest. Either can make sense to me.
- sditulli

Yup.

I think they have a pretty good shot at winning the Q title.Especially with him performing this way.
- Thorny87

Oh I'm aware but we could really use him at this point. We need more scoring right now.

How long is Guentzel out?

How long is Guentzel out?
- TaxMan22

At least a week per concussion protocol. As with any concussion though, as we all should know by now, healing time is an unknown.

2nd straight month Sprong has been player of the month in the Q.
"The 19-year-old forward scored 12 goals and had 22 points in just nine games in March"
- Thorny87

Its pretty impressive even though its the lesser of the Junior leagues. Hopefully it can translate to the NHL. I'm cautiously optimistic. Having elite all-world offensive players around him can only help.

that stumble after trying to get up, did not look good.

St. Pavel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvb-R_3jV34
- Reverend Killtaker

I'm not even sure I would call it a questionable hit considering Datsyuk took a 10x worse hit just moments before.

Its pretty impressive even though its the lesser of the Junior leagues. Hopefully it can translate to the NHL. I'm cautiously optimistic. Having elite all-world offensive players around him can only help.
- MattStrat

It is really hard to gauge how that production will translate. But if he can get into a scoring position Geno or Sid can find him and he has a pro level shot bu all accounts.

Here's hoping his team gets beat out in the first round.
- Dcoms

Agreed. It will be awesome to see him in WBS and see if he can translate it there and have the same type of success Guentzel had for them last year in the playoffs.

"I mean please point to one player who never had a questionable play? The only reason why you're speaking about it is because it's Crosby. If it was Ian Cole it wouldn't even be in this thread"

Its questionable. Everyone has one at one time or another.

I actually love the hit, especially because its from a guy you typically wouldnt expect it from.
- Reverend Killtaker

Meh that wasn't questionable. It was a good hard hit. What was questionable was Datsyuk getting boarded prior to that hit.

"Would appear that Rust is again out of the lineup. He was a little annoyed when the Penguins decided to make Monday’s practice optional. Hardly anyone skated, which meant he was unable to absorb any meaningful contact in practice. Hence, he’s still out of the lineup. The Penguins aren’t holding another full practice until next Tuesday, March 28, by the way. So, I’m not sure when we’ll see Rust in the lineup. But he definitely seems to think he’s ready to go."

Interesting little snippet from Josh Yohe from the morning skate.

Theres obvious survivorship bias or something going on in those graphs.

Only took a quick scan, but theres no way data can be right that has defenseman peaking at 22. Nearly every defenseman who became a star hit that at a much higher age. I could buy 25-28 for the best defenseman years.

But all the star defenseman seem to have their best years much older than 22. Hedman was awful then. Letang started a good run around 22/23, but his performance hasn't slipped at all. Burns was a late bloomer. I can think of a few top defenseman who started really contributing at 22 but I can think of a ton of late bloomers or ones who maintained that level for a while.

Only a few guys I can think of who peaked early and declined. Phaneuf maybe tyler myers.
- sditulli

55 points in 75 games is awful eh?

Keep arguing with definitive data bud.

The Catholic in me detests you for throwing shade at Grandpa Francis, but the bumhole in me laughed hard.
- Victoro311

Archibald re called. No Rust tonight. I thought he woulda made a comeback tonight for sure. No word on Geno. That's a lot of time missed from a blocked shot. It has to be something else.
- Thorny87

Or a bruised shoulder restricts the ability to make accurate passes and rip off shots and clap bombs, while also effected your range of motion when receiving and stick handling the puck...

Lost in all this trolling, is the fact that the PP has been abysmal even more so with Malkin out. Sid's goal was great individual effort but it wasn't exactly a result of a pp setup. Pens need to get this figured out.

(for one, Phil should not be making zone entries)
- DeflatedPucks

Hopefully Letang will be back soon. The PP has struggled to produce in 11 of the 13 games he's missed. If you exclude the March 3rd game against TB(2 for 3) and the March 8th game against WPG(3 for 5) they're 5 for 31 on the PP since Letang went down, that's 16.1% less those 2 big games.

It is really hard to gauge how that production will translate. But if he can get into a scoring position Geno or Sid can find him and he has a pro level shot bu all accounts.
- Thorny87

Hopefully Letang will be back soon. The PP has struggled to produce in 11 of the 13 games he's missed. If you exclude the March 3rd game against TB(2 for 3) and the March 8th game against WPG(3 for 5) they're 5 for 31 on the PP since Letang went down, that's 16.1% less those 2 big games.
- jaydogg1974

How's it doing when you exclude really bad games?

How's it doing when you exclude really bad games?
- TheGame316

So you want to exclude 11 of the 13 games? I wasn't trying to suggest that the 2 big games didn't matter but in reality the PP hasn't been good since Letang went down despite having 2 good games. If your PP is only going to produce 2 out of every 13 games you're going to be in trouble come playoff time when you get a max of 7 game.

How's it doing when you exclude really bad games?
- TheGame316

Wait so it's stupid to bin data into a subset that supports your argument?

So you want to exclude 11 of the 13 games? I wasn't trying to suggest that the 2 big games didn't matter but in reality the PP hasn't been good since Letang went down despite having 2 good games. If your PP is only going to produce 2 out of every 13 games you're going to be in trouble come playoff time when you get a max of 7 game.
- jaydogg1974

If anything you should be looking at SCF60 and CF60 while Letang has been out. Also don't bin data. It is very wrong to do so.

If the NHL players don't take part in the Olympics but Ovi goes anyways I kinda want Malkin to go so he can win gold once in his career.

If the NHL players don't take part in the Olympics but Ovi goes anyways I kinda want Malkin to go so he can win gold once in his career.
- Zac_O

If Malkin goes... that coach will once again put them on the same line and they will suck. Those two just don't mesh together and they never seem to learn.