So, I have the Penguins winning a grueling series against Columbus and the Capitals giving up a fair amount of goals but coasting to a relatively easy (physical wise) series against Toronto. I'll never give Washington the benefit of the doubt until they actually get past the 2nd round, but things are lining up nicely for them with Pittsburgh going into a harder matchup down Letang.

Probably the same.

I'm a closet Flames fan.
- BINGO!

Most Flames fans usually come out of the closet at some point

WBS has a playoff run to worry about too. Teams usually do not carry 3 healthy goalies in the playoffs. If there was an injury and Jarry needed to be called upon he could be from WBS to Pittsburgh very swiftly. The big club does need 2 goalies for practices though.
- MattStrat

This is what I was thinking. But that means Murray isn't 100% and if he isn't 100% I say start Fleury for the first game on wednesday.

This is what I was thinking. But that means Murray isn't 100% and if he isn't 100% I say start Fleury for the first game on wednesday.
- Zac_O

Can they sign Vokoun to an emergency contract?

I get the sense that Ryan Wilson would like more penalties to be called.

I get the sense that Ryan Wilson would like more penalties to be called.
- pensfan024

I get the sense Ryan Wilson has never tried officiating or played hockey above rec league level.

The belief that calling penalties to the letter of the book to reduce the number of infractions over time is great in theory, but flawed in practice at the levels higher than high school varsity.

Not sure about his contract, and I'm not trying to speculate on if Murray is hurt or not. But in my opinion, if he's not and Jarry sits in the press box... I am completely okay with that.
- j.boyd919

I'm not sure I can get on board with having Jarry sit in the pressbox if Murray is healthy. If Murray or MAF did get hurt Jarry could then be recalled but in the meantime have him gain playoff experience for himself and his teammates with a long AHL run. Yes the big club it top priority but some of those young guys in Wilkes barre with be future Penguins so develop them as best you can.

I'm not sure I can get on board with having Jarry sit in the pressbox if Murray is healthy. If Murray or MAF did get hurt Jarry could then be recalled but in the meantime have him gain playoff experience for himself and his teammates with a long AHL run. Yes the big club it top priority but some of those young guys in Wilkes barre with be future Penguins so develop them as best you can.
- willi

If Jarry does play in WBS, he would be the starter.. injury happens, fly him up the day after he plays a WBS game on an NHL gameday... sounds exhausting. Also risks puts him at risk at getting hurt too, by playing him. Who's the goalie after Jarry? Exactly. The kid's development is going to be fine. I am 100% more invested in the Penguins Stanley Cup run than the development of a prospect a this time. He can develop next season.

If Jarry does play in WBS, he would be the starter.. injury happens, fly him up the day after he plays a WBS game on an NHL gameday... sounds exhausting. Also risks puts him at risk at getting hurt too, by playing him. Who's the goalie after Jarry? Exactly. The kid's development is going to be fine. I am 100% more invested in the Penguins Stanley Cup run than the development of a prospect a this time. He can develop next season.
- j.boyd919

I fully support this as a fan of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Honestly, if Murray deems himself healthy, I'd make him the backup. He's likely not going to get worse on an off-day, which gives Jarry a minimum of 2 days off if he needs to be recalled. Also, this happens to goalies all of the time when the starter/backup goes down whether it's the regular season or playoffs. Unless Murray is unable to go, he is the backup, no need to keep Jarry in bubble wrap.

If Jarry does play in WBS, he would be the starter.. injury happens, fly him up the day after he plays a WBS game on an NHL gameday... sounds exhausting. Also risks puts him at risk at getting hurt too, by playing him. Who's the goalie after Jarry? Exactly. The kid's development is going to be fine. I am 100% more invested in the Penguins Stanley Cup run than the development of a prospect a this time. He can develop next season.
- j.boyd919

Casey DeSmith 21-4-2, 2.05 GAA, 92.5% save percentage, one shutout. Pensburgh had a write up today about WBS.

Casey DeSmith 21-4-2, 2.05 GAA, 92.5% save percentage, one shutout. Pensburgh had a write up today about WBS.
- tpcg402

So WBS will be fine without Jarry lol

I fully support this as a fan of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Honestly, if Murray deems himself healthy, I'd make him the backup. He's likely not going to get worse on an off-day, which gives Jarry a minimum of 2 days off if he needs to be recalled. Also, this happens to goalies all of the time when the starter/backup goes down whether it's the regular season or playoffs. Unless Murray is unable to go, he is the backup, no need to keep Jarry in bubble wrap.
- jmatchett383

Have you been following the Pens this year? bubble wrap might be necessary.

So WBS will be fine without Jarry lol
- j.boyd919

Didn't say that at all. Just copied and pasted the snippet from Pensburgh article. I'd say his numbers are really good though and would think WBS would be in good hands for a week or two wit Desmith once Murray is fully "healthy" if he is indeed hurt. Jeez

Have you been following the Pens this year? bubble wrap might be necessary.
- j.boyd919

Hmm, good point.

You know, I think the safest bet would be to not play the first game against Columbus. Someone may get hurt, so let's not risk it.

As for WBS, may as well just forfeit games for the rest of the season so no one gets hurt in case the Penguins need to call someone up.

Didn't say that at all. Just copied and pasted the snippet from Pensburgh article. I'd say his numbers are really good though and would think WBS would be in good hands for a week or two wit Desmith once Murray is fully "healthy" if he is indeed hurt. Jeez
- tpcg402

No, that's what I'm saying haha I think they'll be just fine.

We discussed it over weekend that Matt Murray looked a little hesitant after he made a save in Jersey..Did not even dress over weekend

— Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) April 10, 2017

This is from Pomp... I can't recall the save though.

Hmm, good point.

You know, I think the safest bet would be to not play the first game against Columbus. Someone may get hurt, so let's not risk it.

As for WBS, may as well just forfeit games for the rest of the season so no one gets hurt in case the Penguins need to call someone up.
- jmatchett383

Probably a good idea. I'm game for that too. I'd like Sid to wear 2 helmets if he dresses.

I get the sense Ryan Wilson has never tried officiating or played hockey above rec league level.

The belief that calling penalties to the letter of the book to reduce the number of infractions over time is great in theory, but flawed in practice at the levels higher than high school varsity.
- jmatchett383

Any way to prove that claim? It makes more sense that the players behaviour would change as long as the officiating is consistent year to year rather than just continuing to take penalties. It might be hard in practice to stop officials from changing, but not impossible. There were significantly fewer penalties in 2006-7 vs 2005-6 with presumably a very similarly called game, isn't that literally demonstrating it?

And the point isn't even to reduce the number of infractions, it's to open up the game and allow the stars to play without getting mugged every night.

Probably a good idea. I'm game for that too. I'd like Sid to wear 2 helmets if he dresses.
- j.boyd919

For some freaky reason, the Penguins seem to have ridiculously bad luck with injuries (no, it doesn't have to do with uncalled hooks/hold, Ryan). Some are unfortunate illnesses, the rest are seemingly fluke injuries, sometimes self-induced.

But in the end, you can't manage a team assuming that you're going to have guys get injured. You can make contingency plans for it, but you can't operate under the assumption that players x, y, and z are going to be injured for the next game. If an injury happens, then you call up the next available player at his position.

But making players sit out of games just in case there may be an injury (how exactly is Murray going to make his injury worse by sitting on the bench?) isn't a good idea, to me. If it was, every NHL playoff team would carry 3 goalies every year, just in case one of the starter/backup got hurt.

No, that's what I'm saying haha I think they'll be just fine.

We discussed it over weekend that Matt Murray looked a little hesitant after he made a save in Jersey..Did not even dress over weekend

— Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) April 10, 2017

This is from Pomp... I can't recall the save though.
- j.boyd919

Derp, my bad. I don't remember who the save was one or exactly when it occured,but do remember Murray looking a little gimpy after it. I believe Root interviewed him postgame and said he was fine, but obviously didn't even back up this weekends games. I guess we'll find out tomorrow when they practice

EDIT: Still haven't found video, but in the TRIb's blog for that game it says it was a Taylor Hall breakaway in the third.

Any way to prove that claim? It makes more sense that the players behaviour would change as long as the officiating is consistent year to year rather than just continuing to take penalties. It might be hard in practice to stop officials from changing, but not impossible. There were significantly fewer penalties in 2006-7 vs 2005-6 with presumably a very similarly called game, isn't that literally demonstrating it?

And the point isn't even to reduce the number of infractions, it's to open up the game and allow the stars to play without getting mugged every night.
- cygnus41

I've talked about this numerous times on here.

Yes, the idea is that calling more penalties "by the book" will lead to players not committing these infranctions for fear of getting penalties, thus opening up the game for Crosby star players.

However, I have never played at the CHL, ECHL, or NHL level. The highest level I played at was semi-pro. And even at that level, where we had a few ECHL guys and some guys who had attended NHL camps, it was impossible to play the game at that speed/intensity without committing incidental ticky-tack infractions
"by the book." The speed of the game lends itself to penalties occuring, and the referee used his discretion to decide which ones impacted game play. At the AHL/NHL level, the speed and intensity only goes up, and the game itself leads to a multitude of "by the book" penalties that are totally coincidental and unintentional. If you started calling it "by the book" you may eventually get down to maybe 15 PPs per game after a half season.

And no, a one-year difference in calls only shows that the referees are calling things tighter in some years than in other years, not that less infractions are occurring. If that were the case, players committing less infractions, you would expect to see this trend continue in later years. The NHL and IIHF referees have seminars every offseason and are told which penalties to stress or stress less. I don't agree with this method, but it's the truth.

Edit: I cannot prove this, only draw assumptions from my own experiences. Also, I'm not in favor of a half season of games with 80 PPs while players adapt.

I've talked about this numerous times on here.

Yes, the idea is that calling more penalties "by the book" will lead to players not committing these infranctions for fear of getting penalties, thus opening up the game for Crosby star players.

However, I have never played at the CHL, ECHL, or NHL level. The highest level I played at was semi-pro. And even at that level, where we had a few ECHL guys and some guys who had attended NHL camps, it was impossible to play the game at that speed/intensity without committing incidental ticky-tack infractions
"by the book." The speed of the game lends itself to penalties occuring, and the referee used his discretion to decide which ones impacted game play. At the AHL/NHL level, the speed and intensity only goes up, and the game itself leads to a multitude of "by the book" penalties that are totally coincidental and unintentional. If you started calling it "by the book" you may eventually get down to maybe 15 PPs per game after a half season.

And no, a one-year difference in calls only shows that the referees are calling things tighter in some years than in other years, not that less infractions are occurring. If that were the case, players committing less infractions, you would expect to see this trend continue in later years. The NHL and IIHF referees have seminars every offseason and are told which penalties to stress or stress less. I don't agree with this method, but it's the truth.
- jmatchett383

I have no issues with the refs letting a few minor stick infractions go, but it's when they don't call the brazen, obvious penalties that I have a problem.

There's entirely too much hooking and interference allowed to occur in the game today and if four penalties per period is what it takes to cut that poop out, then fine.

I have no issues with the refs letting a few minor stick infractions go, but it's when they don't call the brazen, obvious penalties that I have a problem.

There's entirely too much hooking and interference allowed to occur in the game today and if four penalties per period is what it takes to cut that poop out, then fine.
- BINGO!

Absolutely. If they want to call more hooking/holding/interference penalties that actually impact the game, then I have no problem with that at all.

Can they sign Vokoun to an emergency contract?
- jmatchett383

Save money by going in house. GMJR can be the emergency goalie.

Save money by going in house. GMJR can be the emergency goalie.
- Zac_O

I like the cut of your jib.

Save money by going in house. GMJR can be the emergency goalie.
- Zac_O

(frank)IN BRILLIANT.