the kid has still played well. He's just not finding the back of the net. He had at least 4 posts in the last series. Maybe Sully is thinking a shift away from top pairings might get his confidence back. Who's with Sid?
- Thorny87

#Pens lines:
Kunitz-Crosby-Sheary
Wilson-Malkin-Kessel
Rust-Bonino-Rowney
Hagelin/Guentzel-Cullen-Hornqvist
-MC

— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) May 28, 2017

the kid has still played well. He's just not finding the back of the net. He had at least 4 posts in the last series. Maybe Sully is thinking a shift away from top pairings might get his confidence back. Who's with Sid?
- Thorny87

Kunitz-Crosby-Sheary
Wilson-Malkin-Kessel
Rust-Bonino-Rowney
Hagelin-Cullen-Hornqvist

Kunitz-Crosby-Sheary
Wilson-Malkin-Kessel
Rust-Bonino-Rowney
Hagelin-Cullen-Hornqvist
- madmike71

Wait... what.... is he hurt now? You can't take away the leading post season goal scorer from the entire lineup

Wait... what.... is he hurt now? You can't take away the leading post season goal scorer from the entire lineup
- Guile

That's what I thought looking at that. That's the banged up line.

Wait... what.... is he hurt now? You can't take away the leading post season goal scorer from the entire lineup
- Guile

Maybe they think he needs some more time off. I don't think he's been playing like he did earlier in the playoffs. He's taken a beating.

Who knows, but it's hard to not trust Sully.

I figured he was due for a demotion... but wouldn't that mean Sheary gets bumped up? I know he finally had a good game... but its not like Guentz played bad without scoring. He was still driving possession and play
- Guile

yes. sheary is on the top line with sid and kuni.
also for people thinking he is hurt. no he is not hurt. he swapped back and forth with hags on the 4th line

Kunitz-Crosby-Sheary
Wilson-Malkin-Kessel
Rust-Bonino-Rowney
Hagelin-Cullen-Hornqvist
- madmike71

Will Hornqvist be healthy for game one? If no, Hags Cullen Guentzel? That's a strange line ... two LW

Will Hornqvist be healthy for game one? If no, Hags Cullen Guentzel? That's a strange line ... two LW
- Brianandr1

Guentz technically can play all three forward positions... but not seeing him on the top two lines is odd for me.

Wait... what.... is he hurt now? You can't take away the leading post season goal scorer from the entire lineup
- Guile

He's got to be hurt, the kid weighs like 40lbs and has been playing top minutes against some monster of defenders. I give that kid alot of credit for the abuse he has been able to absorb. But he isnt scoring lately, and Kunitz Crosby Sheary were a menace last game.

This series is going to need some scoring from the 3rd and 4th lines, Guentzel could be just what the Doctor ordered.

Hornie back on the 1st PP. Guentzal on the 2nd.

He's got to be hurt, the kid weighs like 40lbs and has been playing top minutes against some monster of defenders. I give that kid alot of credit for the abuse he has been able to absorb. But he isnt scoring lately, and Kunitz Crosby Sheary were a menace last game.

This series is going to need some scoring from the 3rd and 4th lines, Guentzel could be just what the Doctor ordered.
- stackthepads

With the depth The Pens have at forward I have zero problems with Guentzal in the bottom 6. Just another threat that would have lesser matchups to play against. He might start scoring again from those lines.

With the depth The Pens have at forward I have zero problems with Guentzal in the bottom 6. Just another threat that would have lesser matchups to play against. He might start scoring again from those lines.
- MattStrat

Guentzel>Hagelin unless Jake is hurt.

Guentzel>Hagelin unless Jake is hurt.
- Brianandr1

I agree. Guentzal has the soft mitts.

I love Geno

"Hey guys, this is long interview for me. My voice is tired... is Sid still here?" - lols all around

Here's Jesse Marshall's breakdown of Nashville. Good stuff as always.
http://thesportsdaily.com...iew-pensblog-telestrator/

Here's Jesse Marshall's breakdown of Nashville. Good stuff as always.
http://thesportsdaily.com...iew-pensblog-telestrator/
- tpcg402

Yeah, Jesse is the man. Always puts out some great video stuff.

Yeah, Jesse is the man. Always puts out some great video stuff.
- j.boyd919

No doubt. Makes it so easy to understand for somebody like me who never played hockey.

The plan last game was to give Sid some extra shifts with the 4th line, it just worked so well that Kunitz and Sheary became his main linemates. Guentzel and Hornqvist on the 4th line looks like Sullivan is setting up something similar.

Nice as Rowney has played, I'd probably still sit him over Hagelin and run Hags-Bonino-Rust. Nobody really deserves to sit though.

The plan last game was to give Sid some extra shifts with the 4th line, it just worked so well that Kunitz and Sheary became his main linemates. Guentzel and Hornqvist on the 4th line looks like Sullivan is setting up something similar.

Nice as Rowney has played, I'd probably still sit him over Hagelin and run Hags-Bonino-Rust. Nobody really deserves to sit though.
- Tojo.

They've shuffled the deck so much almost everyone has played with Sid and Malkin at some point. Actually everyone but Rowney has played with both of them for substantial stints. I expect to see a lot of different looks.

Sullivan hasn't been afraid to send a young guy to the pressbox - if Sullivan thinks a game in the press box could get Guentzel firing on all cylinders again, I trust him.

I don't like how Ryan Wilson treats our D. Schultz and Daley have been good puck movers and I wouldn't call them any worse than Ellis.

Another thing: our bottom pairing on D is better than theirs.

Wait... what.... is he hurt now? You can't take away the leading post season goal scorer from the entire lineup
- Guile

I think it comes down to the pk. If you swap jake and hags then you only have 4 forwards who can kill a penalty. If bonino takes the penalty, who do you trust to fill the fourth spot

With regards to the Guentzal you have to realize this is his first full year of pro hockey and its gone the distance to finals. He is without a doubt fatigued. Same thing happened with Sheary last year and after being scratched and getting some rest he came back with a vengeance. If Sullivan thinks its best Guentz sits for a game or two then Im going to trust this decision.

They've shuffled the deck so much almost everyone has played with Sid and Malkin at some point. Actually everyone but Rowney has played with both of them for substantial stints. I expect to see a lot of different looks.

Sullivan hasn't been afraid to send a young guy to the pressbox - if Sullivan thinks a game in the press box could get Guentzel firing on all cylinders again, I trust him.
- hardnosed

Hard to argue that I guess.

Stanley Cup final game day and theres tumble weed blowing around in here

Guentzel has been struggling and I am sure he is beat up. He hasn't shied away from the physicality in these playoffs. If Kunitz and Sheary can keep up their games, I actually love the idea of having Guentz on a line with Hagelin and Cullen. Pens are going to need 4 scoring lines and I think this one could be a game changer if they get out against the Preds 3rd pairing.

Biggest concern now for me is Schultz health. He was good in game 7 but you can tell he is laboring with a rib injury. They are going to run the poop out of him in game 1.