My goal was to answer your question about previous bloggers, not yo evaluate RWs style vs those who came before. I appreciate the fact that RW puts out something every day, Im sure that isn't easy to do. His content is a bit analytics heavy for my tatste, but as you say, its fairly unique in terms of coverage and its well written, even if I dont always agree with the conclusions he reaches..and while I've been critical of his tendency to insult those who don't worship analytics in the past, he has toned down that rhetoric a great deal lately.
- Emperor Filonius

That would be because the numbers aren't supporting the results!!

Reading the discussion about analytics you cannot objectively disagree with them as they cannot see anything outside their own opinion. What they say is right - the numbers tell them that!

More shots = more goals. (Just ask the Ducks today!) It took a while, but I think most now know that is a fallacy. It appears now if the team with less shots wins they are lucky!

Well this thread went down hill faster than a Tanner thread
- Mordecai

That's not possible.








Nuff said!

Wow Ducks comments thread is brutal!

(frank) I hope we don't lose the next 2 games - I'd hate to think what's going to happen.

At least it's clear Kesler has lots of non Ducks fans fans.

I do want to say I think RW has one of the most consisitently excellent blogs on the site. Sometimes I agree with his conclusions and sometimes I don't, but the effort is always there and he definitely helps the readers understand analytics better.

Dear Penguins. Please end your series tonight and get some rest. I need you to absolutely smoke those cocky Nashville fans. I cannot stand them, their fans are like crabs. They come and go, it's inevitable, and their only purpose is to piss you off. GOOOO PENS! Get bent Preds fans

Wow Ducks comments thread is brutal!

(frank) I hope we don't lose the next 2 games - I'd hate to think what's going to happen.

At least it's clear Kesler has lots of non Ducks fans fans.
- Aussiepenguin

Didn't we have a chance of geting Kesler a few years back? During the trading Brandon Sutter saga during the season... could have SWORN he was considered a real chance with Vancouver?


Just rambling a tad if anyone remembers...

Dear Penguins. Please end your series tonight and get some rest. I need you to absolutely smoke those cocky Nashville fans. I cannot stand them, their fans are like crabs. They come and go, it's inevitable, and their only purpose is to piss you off. GOOOO PENS! Get bent Preds fans
- Tweaterben

When another fanbase wants us to smoke... another cocky fan base.

Dear Penguins. Please end your series tonight and get some rest. I need you to absolutely smoke those cocky Nashville fans. I cannot stand them, their fans are like crabs. They come and go, it's inevitable, and their only purpose is to piss you off. GOOOO PENS! Get bent Preds fans
- Tweaterben

I've been to one game in Nashville. Although it was only one, I found it to be a very energetic, very knowledgeable fan base. Their fans have really bought into the team and were actually very nice. Can't understand what anyone would have against them.

You know a touchdown is only worth 6 points right?
- Wetbandit1

Except the Penguins didn't kick 'wide right.'

Didn't we have a chance of geting Kesler a few years back? During the trading Brandon Sutter saga during the season... could have SWORN he was considered a real chance with Vancouver?


Just rambling a tad if anyone remembers...
- Guile

I 'member. Shero had a hard on for him. If I recall correctly Shero wanted him at the TDL and couldn't get him but said he'd try to get him in the offseason. Luckily Kesler was traded to Anaheim and that died out. I can't stand Kesler.

RIP James Bond. (Roger Moore)

What's people's opinion whether or not Sid meant to direct the puck into Andersons arm/stick to go into the net on his goal last game?

He's had a couple this season now where he looks like he is purposely directing the puck for a ricochet into goal.

A guy with a .912 regular seasons career average save percentage and .908 career playoff average playing at a .924?

Yeah that was extremely unlikely. Especially given the amount of shots and quality of chances the Penguins were giving up. Fleury hasn't played that well in the playoffs since 2008, with the exception of Grinder (Gotta give credit where credit is due.), no one expected Fleury to carry the team like that.

I was reading a quote today from Sid and it was in regards to dealing with all of the injuries and the fact that they are one win away from another Cup Finals...

“I think I had that appreciation coming in, but I think just going through it and understanding how tough it is to win, you need some bounces, you need some luck along the way. But we've done a great job of just going a game at a time here and embracing those challenges.”

If the (frank)ing captain can acknowledge that the Pens got some luck, why is it so difficult for the fans? It's comical.
- j.boyd919

Of course we gained some luck. Especially in the capitals series. Though the blue jackets and ottawa series I think we are just the better team.

If the team is as beat up as I think they are we will need luck in the nashville series.

Dude, Tanner watched every game of the Pens/Caps series. I agree with Tanner, the Pens were lucky as (frank). They were not the better team in 6 of the 7 games, I couldn't even believe that they were up 3-1 at one point. But in game 7, it was pretty even.
- j.boyd919

Tanner is still "trusting the process"

"If the team is as beat up as we think they are, we will need luck in the Nashville series"

Slow down bud, first we have to beat Ottawa. I'm blaming you if we lose the ECF in 7.

Tanner is still "trusting the process"

- all-pgh

Last years team felt dominant. Where the process was perfect and we just needed to avoid bad luck to win. This team feels mortal and we've needed a bit more. But no team is really dominant this year. The caps were close, but for whatever reason they lose to us.

Dear Penguins. Please end your series tonight and get some rest. I need you to absolutely smoke those cocky Nashville fans. I cannot stand them, their fans are like crabs. They come and go, it's inevitable, and their only purpose is to piss you off. GOOOO PENS! Get bent Preds fans
- Tweaterben

I like dynasties. I want to see Crosby/Malkin get 3-4 including a back-to-back. I think that is one of the best reasons to root for the pens.

"If the team is as beat up as we think they are, we will need luck in the Nashville series"

Slow down bud, first we have to beat Ottawa. I'm blaming you if we lose the ECF in 7.
- bochangs

Way too many people getting ahead of themselves...The Sens have been bouncing back all playoffs.

Way too many people getting ahead of themselves...The Sens have been bouncing back all playoffs.
- MattStrat

Agree. However it looks like a couple of their players are really banged up. Karlsson might be hurt even worse.

If the Pens come out and skate like they did last game, I think they win.

Way too many people getting ahead of themselves...The Sens have been bouncing back all playoffs.
- MattStrat

It doesn't matter who or how many people are getting ahead of themselves, as long as the folks in the visiting locker room tonight do not.

Agree. However it looks like a couple of their players are really banged up. Karlsson might be hurt even worse.

If the Pens come out and skate like they did last game, I think they win.
- madmike71

That seems to be an issue with this years team. Stringing together good performances I mean. The Sens are gonna gives us everything they have, gonna be tough to close em out at home.

What's people's opinion whether or not Sid meant to direct the puck into Andersons arm/stick to go into the net on his goal last game?

He's had a couple this season now where he looks like he is purposely directing the puck for a ricochet into goal.
- Aussiepenguin

Is this a joke Aussie?

Sully said Wilson was fine, good news, he's been one of our best players this series

Wingles not getting a suspension for that utter gutless move is a total miscarriage of justice. Just cause you're getting wooped doesn't mean you go head hunting. Have some class, if your out played why not take some notes and figure out how to play better next time. There is no place in hockey for that crap.

At the end of the day the guys are men with families and lives outside of hockey, they shouldn't have to pay with their health cause one guy is throwing a hissy fit and wants to hurt someone for it.


That being said the series isn't over and I can tell you there is nothing worse than a cornered animal. Do or die time for the Sens but whether or not they play like those cornered animals will be very obvious within the first five minutes.

I'm just hoping for a solid game. If we lose I want to lose because they got beat not cause they played like crap.

Good luck to both.

Keep it clean.