Ryan Wilson: Why Improved Possession Has Not Meant Goals For Penguins in 2013-2014 Penguins great puck possession has not led to goals, here is why.

If this team dominates possession tonight and can't score on Carter freaking Hutton then something will give. Bennett on the first line would be interesting (he said he is willing to play lw/rw.

Here are your gameday stats for the Penguins Predators tonight:

Injuries

Paul Martin is expected to make his return to the lineup tonight

No Kris Letang at the morning skate. He is sick but expected to play.


No other updates on Scuderi, Vokoun, or Kobasew


Line Combos

Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis
Jokinen-Malkin-Neal
Bennett-Sutter-D'Agostini
Adams-Vitale-Glass

The defense rotated through with one another and there were no set pairings.

1st PP unit: Martin and Malkin on points. Kunitz, Neal and Crosby down low (Hallelujah!).

2nd PP unit: Niskanen and Maatta on points. Jokinen, Sutter and Bennett down low.

Fleury is in for the Penguins.


Power Play

Penguins power play is 7th overall at 21.9%.

Predators have the 13th power play in the NHL with 19.3%.

Penguins are 19th in the NHL with 62 opportunities while the Predators are 27th with 57.

Penalty Kill

Penguins are 15th overall at 82.4%

Predators are 21st overall at 81.0%

Fenclose%

The Penguins are 5th overall with 55.4%

The Predators are 16th overall at 49.9%

Even Strength Save Percentage

The Penguins are 21st sitting at .918%. Marc Andre Fleury is at .923%

The Predators are 27th overall at .906% Carter Hutton has a .892%.

Preds are clearly feeling the loss of Rinne.

Goals

Goals For/Game

Pittsburgh 13th overall at 2.78

Nashville 25th overall at 2.11

Goals Against/Game

Penguins are 10th overall at 2.33

Predators are 25th at 3.06

If this team dominates possession tonight and can't score on Carter freaking Hutton then something will give. Bennett on the first line would be interesting (he said he is willing to play lw/rw.
- kgrpitt

Then that's the death blow, now it will for sure never happen. Just like when Iggy said he wanted to play with Sid, Bylsma went out of his way to make sure that never happened because it wasn't his idea.

So basically Malkin and Dupuis need to get their stuff together and Neal needs to stay on the ice.

So basically Malkin and Dupuis need to get their stuff together and Neal needs to stay on the ice.
- Genev21

Yep

Paul Martin is expected to make his return to the lineup tonight

- Ryan_Wilson

Most overlooked part of the last stretch. Different team with PaulMart on the ice.

Most overlooked part of the last stretch. Different team with PaulMart on the ice.
- canadianpenfan

Can't have both Martin and Scuderi out. They are the glue.

Most overlooked part of the last stretch. Different team with PaulMart on the ice.
- canadianpenfan

How was Taiwan I think it was? Glad it wasnt the Phillipines?

How was Taiwan I think it was? Glad it wasnt the Phillipines?
- Deadstar

That's an understatement. Terrible to see what happened there.

It was Thailand/Vietnam and it was great. Except having to wait up until 1am just to begin watching the scores roll across ESPN because the online links are blocked in those countries. I had at least 7 days where i just didn't sleep at all. Life of a sports junkie.

http://media.zenfs.com/en...QhSIMAA2USX.jpg_large.jpg

Saw this pic of a sign a fan made for Crosby, pretty good. Still not as good as the chic that had me+Jagr=69 back in the day.

If this team dominates possession tonight and can't score on Carter freaking Hutton then something will give. Bennett on the first line would be interesting (he said he is willing to play lw/rw.
- kgrpitt

Marek Mazanec tonight.

The problem here is not possession of the puck. Not many guys are willing to get dirt in front of the net (like Kobasew and Kunitz did in the start of the season). It's a mindset. We tend to lose it during the season.

Marek Mazanec tonight.
- canadianpenfan

Same thing different name.

Marek Mazanec tonight.
- canadianpenfan

Ha, watch him be a Penguin killer.

Ha, watch him be a Penguin killer.
- Ryan_Wilson

Right hand catching goalies always seem to give the Penguins fits

Right hand catching goalies always seem to give the Penguins fits
- rival22

It would just be another case of a poopty goalie getting hot against us right?

The problem here is not possession of the puck. Not many guys are willing to get dirt in front of the net (like Kobasew and Kunitz did in the start of the season). It's a mindset. We tend to lose it during the season.
- Orpik44

This.^

Can't have both Martin and Scuderi out. They are the glue.
- Ryan_Wilson

I'd say Scuderi is the most important defenseman on the team. Letang is becoming increasingly harder to play with by the day it appears.

It would just be another case of a poopty goalie getting hot against us right?
- dbell646

Of course ... but we beat that horse enough yesterday I feel. haha

I know we get a lot of shots, but how many second and third shots do we get? Who is going to the net? Why aren't we getting more dirty goals?

I know we get a lot of shots, but how many second and third shots do we get? Who is going to the net? Why aren't we getting more dirty goals?
- powerhouse

That and how many shots are from the wall or the blueline with an open lane for the goalie to see the puck the entire way?

This team drives me nuts. They're too cute with the puck. They're always looking for the perfect play instead of keeping it simple and putting the puck on net.

Also, there's no toughness to this team. Tanner Glass makes up for 90% of the team's grit. The jobbers are all gone. This team is nothing but finesse players or guys that think they're snipers. Sutter isn't doing Richard out there. I'm sorry, but he's no replacement for Staal. The 3rd and 4th Lines aren't doing enough offensively.
Engelland is not a forward. Sorry, Disco Dan but it's true. Deal with it! He's not much of a defenseman either. Neither is Bortuzzo. And the rest of them are too busy worrying about the offense that they forget to play defense. It's pathetic.

This team continually shoots itself in the foot. And it doesn't help the fact that the coaching staff has no clue what to do when the opposing team adjusts their lines to play the match ups. They arrogantly believe that Sid and Geno can take on any line, any time, and that just isn't the case. How long are they going to keep that up? Maybe another early exit from the playoffs will sober them up quick and out the door.

It's ridiculous. This team has so much talent its sickening but they refuse to play simple, down and dirty hockey. It's all pretty passes and plays that teams have already figured out two years ago. Jesus Christ, Bylsma...get your team together already. Be a coach already.

It would just be another case of a poopty goalie getting hot against us right?
- dbell646

Miss the net enough and consistently hit the goalie in the crest and even Ray Emory can look like a hot goaltender. So yes, this dude tonight has a chance to look like Vezina candidate!

This team drives me nuts. They're too cute with the puck. They're always looking for the perfect play instead of keeping it simple and putting the puck on net.

Also, there's no toughness to this team. Tanner Glass makes up for 90% of the team's grit. The jobbers are all gone. This team is nothing but finesse players or guys that think they're snipers. Sutter isn't doing Richard out there. I'm sorry, but he's no replacement for Staal. The 3rd and 4th Lines aren't doing enough offensively.
Engelland is not a forward. Sorry, Disco Dan but it's true. Deal with it! He's not much of a defenseman either. Neither is Bortuzzo. And the rest of them are too busy worrying about the offense that they forget to play defense. It's pathetic.

This team continually shoots itself in the foot. And it doesn't help the fact that the coaching staff has no clue what to do when the opposing team adjusts their lines to play the match ups. They arrogantly believe that Sid and Geno can take on any line, any time, and that just isn't the case. How long are they going to keep that up? Maybe another early exit from the playoffs will sober them up quick and out the door.

It's ridiculous. This team has so much talent its sickening but they refuse to play simple, down and dirty hockey. It's all pretty passes and plays that teams have already figured out two years ago. Jesus Christ, Bylsma...get your team together already. Be a coach already.
- simethos

Very nice
12/19/13