While reading my first thought was, I know Sid scored against Buffalo around this time last year and voila was the same day. That was a cool stat to include RW!

We all seem to focus in on different things here on the board, so maybe its just me or am I noticing some rather "bantam level" defensive break downs from the Pens, like stuff you may see once a year thing, but seeing a few times a game. The shorty last night, don't think a penguin defender was within 20 feet of the guy. It is stuff to easily fix though....does seem a few guys are checking out mentality on some shifts. Positive it will all come together playoff time, if any team knows how to kick it up when they collectively want, its this team.
- Darklight11

The problem is how often it's been Letang. Love the guy, but he hasn't gotten his game in order all year.

Sid definitely paces himself during the season now though it's a bit late in the year for that. Mostly he avoids the dirty areas more early in the year.

Agree though that this team knows how to turn it up. I'm ready for the playoffs. Don't think we're the favorite, but see them among the 4 or 5 teams that are best positioned to win and all the others play each other in the 2nd round.

The problem is how often it's been Letang. Love the guy, but he hasn't gotten his game in order all year.

Sid definitely paces himself during the season now though it's a bit late in the year for that. Mostly he avoids the dirty areas more early in the year.

Agree though that this team knows how to turn it up. I'm ready for the playoffs. Don't think we're the favorite, but see them among the 4 or 5 teams that are best positioned to win and all the others play each other in the 2nd round.
- Tojo.

The Letang/Dumo pairing is one of the best d-pairs in the league right now.

Letang, like Sid and Geno, has always been guilty of terrible turnovers or defensive lapses... always. Players like them always take risks and sometimes they pay.

Letang has absolutely turned his game around. He, like quite a few other Pens, completely turned his game around since the new year.

The Letang/Dumo pairing is one of the best d-pairs in the league right now.

Letang, like Sid and Geno, has always been guilty of terrible turnovers or defensive lapses... always. Players like them always take risks and sometimes they pay.

Letang has absolutely turned his game around. He, like quite a few other Pens, completely turned his game around since the new year.
- Rinosaur

It's not his turnovers. It's being out of position. He seems to be playing as a 4th forward half the time. That being said there has to be a forward that recognizes it and covers for him. Too often Dumo is left as the only player above the circles.

It's not his turnovers. It's being out of position. He seems to be playing as a 4th forward half the time. That being said there has to be a forward that recognizes it and covers for him. Too often Dumo is left as the only player above the circles.
- Thorny87

Letang gets walked like once or twice a game, and it seems like every time the puck ends up in the back of the net. If he could fix those one on one mistakes, the perception of his "bad" season would go away a bit. All of his numbers are solid, it's just those singular instances that end up in goals against.

Letang gets walked like once or twice a game, and it seems like every time the puck ends up in the back of the net. If he could fix those one on one mistakes, the perception of his "bad" season would go away a bit. All of his numbers are solid, it's just those singular instances that end up in goals against.
- j.boyd919

They are not yet tracking data on mistakes that end up creating a high danger chance or goal against. I feel that negates a possession edge.

Letang gets walked like once or twice a game, and it seems like every time the puck ends up in the back of the net. If he could fix those one on one mistakes, the perception of his "bad" season would go away a bit. All of his numbers are solid, it's just those singular instances that end up in goals against.
- j.boyd919

I'm not sure if he gauges himself solely on the points he generates but I'd be happy with a defensively responsible Letang. One that makes good outlet passes and carries the puck out of his own zone if need be. He gambles a lot and is often caught because of that.

From @AGretz on twitter

Over the past seven periods of hockey the Penguins have played there have been 16 goals scored (for them/against them). Kris Letang has been on the ice for 13 of them.

He's definitely high event

The Letang/Dumo pairing is one of the best d-pairs in the league right now.

Letang, like Sid and Geno, has always been guilty of terrible turnovers or defensive lapses... always. Players like them always take risks and sometimes they pay.

Letang has absolutely turned his game around. He, like quite a few other Pens, completely turned his game around since the new year.
- Rinosaur

Never said he's not a good player. But still, he makes more than his share of mistakes that end up in our net.

Never said he's not a good player. But still, he makes more than his share of mistakes that end up in our net.
- Tojo.

It's funny, I don't remember him making this many mistakes in the past. His poor decision making this season is unlike anything we've seen from him before the injury.

On a positive note, I think his skating is pretty much back to form. Dude is flying.

They are not yet tracking data on mistakes that end up creating a high danger chance or goal against. I feel that negates a possession edge.
- Tojo.

Among Penguins defenders, Dumo and Letang lead the Pens with the least high danger events against per 60 at 11.19 and 11.29 per 60. So diving deeper than only corsi, they still give up the least amount of high danger, but yeah I know what you mean with the mistakes ending in the back of the net, that would be an interesting thing to track. But Dumo and Letang are actually the only positive high danger defenseman. Ruhwedel is at 50%, everyone else is under 50%. Take that for what it's worth though, I guess. I'm curious to how many of Letang's goals against are due to poop goaltending, and how many are due to him getting walked or being out of position, or just a combination of both, ya know?

Among Penguins defenders, Dumo and Letang lead the Pens with the least high danger events against per 60 at 11.19 and 11.29 per 60. So diving deeper than only corsi, they still give up the least amount of high danger, but yeah I know what you mean with the mistakes ending in the back of the net, that would be an interesting thing to track. But Dumo and Letang are actually the only positive high danger defenseman. Ruhwedel is at 50%, everyone else is under 50%. Take that for what it's worth though, I guess. I'm curious to how many of Letang's goals against are due to poop goaltending, and how many are due to him getting walked or being out of position, or just a combination of both, ya know?
- j.boyd919

Impossible to say for sure where all the blame gets assigned without manually tracking it. The top line and pairing have much worse GF% then their other numbers would indicate. I feel like too much of that got put on the goal-tender though it's certainly a contributing factor.

Letang is like Maatta last year where when he makes a mistake it tends to be a memorable one. Because of those mistakes, despite the positives he does bring, I don't feel he's been among the best defensemen this year. Same with Crosby, just not their best years.

Fortunately for the Pens, their 2nd and 3rd lines and pairings are very strong so their top line and pairing don't need to be the best in the league to win.

Impossible to say for sure where all the blame gets assigned without manually tracking it. The top line and pairing have much worse GF% then their other numbers would indicate. I feel like too much of that got put on the goal-tender though it's certainly a contributing factor.

Letang is like Maatta last year where when he makes a mistake it tends to be a memorable one. Because of those mistakes, despite the positives he does bring, I don't feel he's been among the best defensemen this year. Same with Crosby, just not their best years.

Fortunately for the Pens, their 2nd and 3rd lines and pairings are very strong so their top line and pairing don't need to be the best in the league to win.
- Tojo.

To me there is a stark difference in our ability to exit and enter zones with Letang back so I’m taking the bad with the good. Even bad Letang is an extreme net positive IMO and I don’t think he’s been nearly as bad as advertised the second half of the season. I wouldn’t say he’s playing like a top 10 #1 guy like he has in the past, but I still think he’s been successfully preforming the role of a #1 guy.

Among Penguins defenders, Dumo and Letang lead the Pens with the least high danger events against per 60 at 11.19 and 11.29 per 60. So diving deeper than only corsi, they still give up the least amount of high danger, but yeah I know what you mean with the mistakes ending in the back of the net, that would be an interesting thing to track. But Dumo and Letang are actually the only positive high danger defenseman. Ruhwedel is at 50%, everyone else is under 50%. Take that for what it's worth though, I guess. I'm curious to how many of Letang's goals against are due to poop goaltending, and how many are due to him getting walked or being out of position, or just a combination of both, ya know?
- j.boyd919

The defense generally is giving up too many high quality chances in prime scoring territory.

Do you think the Pens/Jackets rivalry would be as intense as it is if Torts wasn't the coach?

Do you think the Pens/Jackets rivalry would be as intense as it is if Torts wasn't the coach?
- Rinosaur

lol no. Torts is such a donkey he makes it easy to hate them.

Blue Jackets are smoking...

Blue Jackets are smoking...
- MattStrat

Tampa scoring a lot. And getting scored on a lot.
Rangers flyers has been good

Tampa scoring a lot. And getting scored on a lot.
Rangers flyers has been good
- Thorny87

I haven't caught those games...I'm just talking about them in general as of late. Looking like theyre gonna go full steam into playoffs which is always dangerous.

The Ian Cole effect. You really cant argue about what his absence on the PK has done to the Pens. Its been a drastic difference. They were almost 1st in the league on the Pk the beginning of February....and since the Jackets got him they have been on a tear.

I think McDavid is gonna win the Art Ross. He’s been on fire lately. 2 behind Kutcherov

I haven't caught those games...I'm just talking about them in general as of late. Looking like theyre gonna go full steam into playoffs which is always dangerous.

The Ian Cole effect. You really cant argue about what his absence on the PK has done to the Pens. Its been a drastic difference. They were almost 1st in the league on the Pk the beginning of February....and since the Jackets got him they have been on a tear.
- MattStrat

Seth Jones has been amazing for them in the second half. Seems like he scores every game right now.

To me there is a stark difference in our ability to exit and enter zones with Letang back so I’m taking the bad with the good. Even bad Letang is an extreme net positive IMO and I don’t think he’s been nearly as bad as advertised the second half of the season. I wouldn’t say he’s playing like a top 10 #1 guy like he has in the past, but I still think he’s been successfully preforming the role of a #1 guy.
- Victoro311

Oh, I agree, I'd much rather have him even with all the mistakes.

lol no. Torts is such a donkey he makes it easy to hate them.
- j.boyd919

He should just coach the Flyers to round out his career.

He should just coach the Flyers to round out his career.
- Rinosaur

Probably will, TBH. I keep hearing Jarmo is in the hot seat. I think if the Jackets miss this season or next he’s out and all my Flyers’ friends say their coach should still be ousted ASAP despite how well they do this season.

Probably will, TBH. I keep hearing Jarmo is in the hot seat. I think if the Jackets miss this season or next he’s out and all my Flyers’ friends say their coach should still be ousted ASAP despite how well they do this season.
- Victoro311

Jackets aren't missing

The Penguins are a team that have always had issues of playing down to their competition and the last few weeks have been no different.

I'm parroting here, but I think the Pens just aren't bringing it because they're trying not to gas themselves. When they turn it on, they are a well-oiled machine and when they mail it in they're a team that relies on their stars striking in the 11th hour.

I don't know what goes on in a pro locker room. We all know the message is you're supposed to bring every night and not rest on your laurels. A coach will never expect less than 100%, but I have to think the Pens turned on the jets in the new year, go where they needed to get and are now playing just good enough to maintain their playoff spot... at least that's what I'm hoping.
- Rinosaur

TL;DR