Ryan Wilson: Sidney Crosby Bails Penguins Out Against Capitals Penguins get huge effort from Crosby in 3-2 win over Capitals

They struggled in the 2nd. It was good to see a bounce back 3rd of sorts

They struggled in the 2nd. It was good to see a bounce back 3rd of sorts
- Deadstar

Malkin penalty was lazy and inexcusable ... Malkin Neal jokinen need to be better tonight ... That would help our possession numbers immensely

They struggled in the 2nd. It was good to see a bounce back 3rd of sorts
- Deadstar

Malkin penalty was lazy and inexcusable ... Malkin Neal jokinen need to be better tonight ... That would help our possession numbers immensely

Malkin penalty was lazy and inexcusable ... Malkin Neal jokinen need to be better tonight ... That would help our possession numbers immensely
- Brianandr1

You mean Malkin & Neal need Jokinen in order to be better tonight. They had Taylor Pyatt last night while Jokinen played bottom-6 time last night.

How was the Malkin penalty lazy? He didn't get the puck in I get it. It was probably a 2 minute shift. Was he responsible for the 6th player jumping onto the ice way too soon?

So Crosby lost interest in hockey, huh?

How was the Malkin penalty lazy? He didn't get the puck in I get it. It was probably a 2 minute shift. Was he responsible for the 6th player jumping onto the ice way too soon?
- Deadstar

I half agree with him. It was lazy in that he took his jolly good time getting back to the bench on his change, but Adams shouldn't have jumped on that damned soon either. Or right in front of an oncoming player.

Had malkin not been doing a swamp walking impression on his skate back to the bench, it would have been a significantly closer call that the refs MIGHT not have called. But considering he sauntered over there with all the urgency of an accountant going in for a prostate exam, he was only somewhat near the red line by the time Adams hit the ice and was way too far away from the bench to get the benefit of the doubt with the call.

You mean Malkin & Neal need Jokinen in order to be better tonight. They had Taylor Pyatt last night while Jokinen played bottom-6 time last night.
- ScienceJesus

I just added a factoid about Pyatt in the blog, it isn't good.

So Crosby lost interest in hockey, huh?
- BulliesPhan87

Yup. He didn't care at all last night and it showed. Only 3 points. Pftttt. He's considering becoming a hand model instead.

How was the Malkin penalty lazy? He didn't get the puck in I get it. It was probably a 2 minute shift. Was he responsible for the 6th player jumping onto the ice way too soon?
- Deadstar

Because after not getting the puck in deep he did not hustle off the ice ... Even the clueless Washington commentators pointed that out ... Even pee wee hockey players know that ... It's inexcusable... Did Malkin show up for the game last night??? Totally invisible ... Don't get me wrong I love Malkin, but he seems to have lapses of concentration for shifts, periods... Sometimes for an entire game of two ...

Because after not getting the luck in deep he did not hustle off the ice ... Even the clueless Washington commentators pointed that out ... Even pee see hockey players know that ... It's inexcusable
- Brianandr1

He was trying to. He was tired. It's lazy of you to just throw the "lazy Russian" label to everything Malkin does when its not. It was a dumb play to not get it deep. It happens when youre that tired. Even Pee Wee hockey players make more mistakes when theyre tired.

Pyatt was really bad last night. He's like a bad Mike Rupp.

Yup. He didn't care at all last night and it showed. Only 3 points. Pftttt. He's considering becoming a hand model instead.
- ScienceJesus

Somebody should make a "controller unplugged" GIF where he clearly scores a goal. That'd be something worth posting!

EDIT: And yes, I can put my hate for the Penguins aside for my love of good GIFs

He was trying to. He was tired. It's lazy of you to just throw the "lazy Russian" label to everything Malkin does when its not. It was a dumb play to not get it deep. It happens when youre that tired. Even Pee Wee hockey players make more mistakes when theyre tired.
- Deadstar

I did not say "lazy Russian" , those are your words ... Tired from what exactly??? Standing at the blue line and taking that shift off... Go back and re watch that shift! I call it like I see it .. He did not get the puck in deep, so hustle off the ice

Somebody should make a "controller unplugged" GIF where he clearly scores a goal. That'd be something worth posting!
- BulliesPhan87

+1

does it look like stemniak is staying on sid's line? i hope so, i picked him up mid game in my pool!

Pyatt was really bad last night. He's like a bad Mike Rupp.
- Deadstar

Watching last night's game, I was having an internal debate as to who used their large body more inefficiently, Pyatt or Ponikarovsky. Watching Pyatt attempt to hit somebody is pathetic. He is 6'4", 230lbs, but hits like a teenage girl. And heaven forbid he got himself to the front of the net, something that might have actually benefitted Malkin and Neal. He just floated around out there in the offensive zone whenever that line was able to get it there last night. USELESS!!! I am ok with the idea of moving Jokinen down to the Sutter line to try and make that line more effective, but Pyatt just needs to go at this point. At least give someone like Megna a shot with the Malkin/Neal line.

Malkin penalty was lazy and inexcusable ... Malkin Neal jokinen need to be better tonight ... That would help our possession numbers immensely
- Brianandr1

I know Pyatt got some time there last night, but the thing about Jokinen - Malkin - Neal is that Malkin is a bit streaky, and like just about every good goal scorer, Neal and Jokinen are streaky too.

There are going to be stretches where that line scores a dozen goal in a couple of weeks, but there will be games where they disappear. You gotta take the good with the bad, and hope that they get hot at the right time.

does it look like stemniak is staying on sid's line? i hope so, i picked him up mid game in my pool!
- clark_griswold

I don't think anything is even remotely settled with regards to who is playing on the 1st line RW, 2nd line LW or anywhere in the bottom 6 until they get more game tape & practice to decide who plays best with who. He's more than likely to end up playing RW on the 3rd line when Bennett comes back? But he could stick on the 1st line or even end up on the 4th line.

I still think Bennett slots into the 1st line and Stemp ends up on the 3rd with Goc & Sutter when things are all said and done.

does it look like stemniak is staying on sid's line? i hope so, i picked him up mid game in my pool!
- clark_griswold

If he continues to play like he did last night, I'd say yes. They really don't have many other options. Bennett returning from injury is a wild card, but he likely won't be thrown into that spot after returning from such a long layoff.

So Crosby lost interest in hockey, huh?
- BulliesPhan87

Right ! Everybody was so worried about him(Bartley), I think he's back on track.

I said before that Stempniak's skills are close to what Dupuis brings, and so far, it looks like he can be a fit there. He doesn't seem as strong on the boards/forecheck as Dupuis, but he is a good skater, plays a straight line game, and shoots the puck.

Maatta keeps putting points up... He's now 7 points behind Krug for rookie scoring by defensemen, and Krug has 12 more power play points.

I don't think anything is even remotely settled with regards to who is playing on the 1st line RW, 2nd line LW or anywhere in the bottom 6 until they get more game tape & practice to decide who plays best with who. He's more than likely to end up playing RW on the 3rd line when Bennett comes back? But he could stick on the 1st line or even end up on the 4th line.

I still think Bennett slots into the 1st line and Stemp ends up on the 3rd with Goc & Sutter when things are all said and done.
- ScienceJesus

Yeah, things can still be up in the air, but Stemp has the inside track, just because he is healthy now and has the chance to develop some chemistry with Crosby and Kunitz. If he can have a few more games like last night before Bennett returns next week then Bennett might not even get a shot. For the first time in a while, that line looked pretty good throughout the entire game at even strength.

If he continues to play like he did last night, I'd say yes. They really don't have many other options. Bennett returning from injury is a wild card, but he likely won't be thrown into that spot after returning from such a long layoff.
- madmike71

Not if it also creates a void in the 2nd line as a result because you've gotta move Jokinen to fill in for Stemp on the 3rd line and you have to plug that hole with Pyatt.

They're still just throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks and going from there. They gotta get 4 lines that work and creating a hole in 1 place to fill a hole slightly smaller or bigger hole elsewhere isn't the solution. I think they're smart enough to know that.