Ryan Wilson: Pittsburgh Looks To Avoid Worst Start To Season Since Crosby's Rookie Year Pittsburgh Looks To Avoid Worst Start To Season Since Crosby's Rookie Year

The only explanation for splitting Malkin from the first pp unit is because of his playing time. It must be. He has been playing on the second unit of Pk sometimes and maybe MJ thinks he'll be too tired playing in all situations??

I don't know, I refuse to see how playing Perron instead of Malkin on the first unit is better.

Who is this ghost writer? No graphs?

#chasingthecorsi

Sid gets some points, Kessel gets at least one point, Scuds gives up a goal, but I think the Pens will win!

The only explanation for splitting Malkin from the first pp unit is because of his playing time. It must be. He has been playing on the second unit of Pk sometimes and maybe MJ thinks he'll be too tired playing in all situations??

I don't know, I refuse to see how playing Perron instead of Malkin on the first unit is better.
- Conse

I just think HCMJ has Sid and Kessel in his DFS hockey lineup and not Malkin. He needs to make some extra money on the side for his retirement.

For the Pens to win this game they will have to show better puck support, a better forecheck and a killer instinct we have hardly seen a whiff of so far this year. Will they rise to the occasion? Who knows but here is hoping.

F Scuds and the two unit PP.

F Sutter

Like the adjusted lines w/ Perron and Plotnikov switched:

Kunitz-Crosby-Kessel
Perron-Malkin-Hornquvist
Plotnikov-Bonino-Bennett
?????-Cullen-Sprong

Gives Perron a more offensive role w/ higher skilled linemates & lets Plotnikov get accustomed to the NHL at a 3rd line role against lesser competition. Plus, its not like Bonino and Bennett are without any skill whatsoever (ie, Farnham) so its not anyone is being buried on the top 3 lines.

As for the 4th...Well, Sprong is stuck with what is left. This is where losing Dupuis & Fehr hurts the most. A 4th line of Dupuis-Fehr-Sprong would basically be 3B line, but without those to the Pens are left with Cullen and 'LW Occupant' on the 4th line. Not a great place to throw in a skilled rookie and get a good read on what he's got.

As for the D, given that I'm not in favor of shipping out more assets for another rental, it is what it is. Pens need another top-4 D, but one isn't going to magically appear. Lovejoy isn't going to get it done, but none of the others look the part either:

Cole-Letang
Matta-Lovejoy
Dumoulin-Scuderi

Still, dressing Clendening and sitting Scuderi would be an upgrade. Lovejoy, Dumoulin, and Clendening are all 5/6 Dmen, but better than 7th Dman, on his best day, in Scuderi.

F Sutter
- Nucker101

Sorry man. We are not taking him back.

The only explanation for splitting Malkin from the first pp unit is because of his playing time. It must be. He has been playing on the second unit of Pk sometimes and maybe MJ thinks he'll be too tired playing in all situations??

I don't know, I refuse to see how playing Perron instead of Malkin on the first unit is better.
- Conse

I thought it was obviously to have 2 good PP units instead of 1 very good one and an ok 2nd one. You know kinda like they did to the entire team this year. Made every line good instead of just 2 very good ones and 2 bad ones.

I thought it was obviously to have 2 good PP units instead of 1 very good one and an ok 2nd one. You know kinda like they did to the entire team this year. Made every line good instead of just 2 very good ones and 2 bad ones.
- Zac_O

What other team in the league runs split PPs? Run one good PP unit for the majority of the PP time and then put another unit out there to finish it up. It's what most teams do. It's what Bylsma did for years with great success. I don't see the purpose in exploring an alternative.

Pens offence is going to break out at some point, just hoping it's not tonight. Hopefully it's a good game all around and no one mails it in

What other team in the league runs split PPs? Run one good PP unit for the majority of the PP time and then put another unit out there to finish it up. It's what most teams do. It's what Bylsma did for years with great success. I don't see the purpose in exploring an alternative.
- jfkst1

And its not like running a 1st PP unit of Hornquvist, Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, & Letang leaves the 2nd PP unit to be anchored by Bobby "Goals are for Losers" Farnham. The 2nd PP unit could be Kunitz, Perron, Bennett, Maatta, & Dumoulin/Cole. It may not be as superstar laden as the 1st unit, but it could nonetheless be effective with the remaining 40sec or so.

Pens offence is going to break out at some point, just hoping it's not tonight. Hopefully it's a good game all around and no one mails it in
- ehabs9

Don't worry, the mail has already been submitted. 0-3 Here we come!

What other team in the league runs split PPs? Run one good PP unit for the majority of the PP time and then put another unit out there to finish it up. It's what most teams do. It's what Bylsma did for years with great success. I don't see the purpose in exploring an alternative.
- jfkst1

I'm not saying I'm for or against the split. I'm just saying why it was done. Also just cuz its not usually done that way doesn't mean its wrong. Way to crush creativity. If you think about it it makes sense to do. By the time Malkin is out there the PK units are tired and aren't gonna be ready to face someone as good as geno.

better right the ship quick. We need your draft pick.

Don't worry, the mail has already been submitted. 0-3 Here we come! []

Why so pessimistic?

Pittsburgh will not make the playoffs. Call it the Kessel factor. The Bruins traded away Kessel and proceeded to win the cup. He's a cancer.

Trading for the heartless floater Kessel was the worst decision this team has made in years.

I thought it was obviously to have 2 good PP units instead of 1 very good one and an ok 2nd one. You know kinda like they did to the entire team this year. Made every line good instead of just 2 very good ones and 2 bad ones.
- Zac_O

Yeah, but usually a first unit gets 1:10, 1:15 of ice time. Sometimes even 1:30.

So basically Malkin is playing 40-30 seconds of pp. And that's not counting the time sometimes the unit has to stabilish itself in the o-zone. Sometimes they have to try 2 or 3 times until they set up. If the second unit can't get set up right away they won't have time to do anything. It's basically a waste of Malkin.

Pittsburgh will not make the playoffs. Call it the Kessel factor. The Bruins traded away Kessel and proceeded to win the cup. He's a cancer.

Trading for the heartless floater Kessel was the worst decision this team has made in years.
- cesareborgia

Well, he does have our only goal so I guess that is a little deflating of your explainable hate for the man.

For the Pens to win this game they will have to show better puck support, a better forecheck and a killer instinct we have hardly seen a whiff of so far this year. Will they rise to the occasion? Who knows but here is hoping.

F Scuds and the two unit PP.
- powerhouse

Forecheck? You have Kessel on your team and forecheck is not in his dictionary.

dude is one of the only guys on offense actually moving his feet. im as big of a crosby/malkin fanboy as youll find, but they really havent been awake out there.

"Montreal is undefeated and leads the NHL in Score-Adjusted Fenwick at 63.11% That doesn't mean they are necessarily an elite team this year it just means they have been c rushing their opponents (Toronto, Boston, Ottawa)."

While I agree their opponents thus far haven't been "elite" yet, when you play middle of the pack teams and crush them you aren't just a good team, I think you are considered Elite especially its been all those road games in one week. Anyways, I'm just poking fun at the semantics and I get your point. I just find it funny, that no matter what success the habs have had they aren't considered an Elite team. But people have no problem saying the blues, pens, kings, even Columbus this off season, people are saying they are elite. cool story.

You know for a few years now, I think it's been pretty obvious the habs and pens would make incredible trade partners. I'm not sure Malkin fits anymore with out staal or a more balanced winger core. Mtl also has a back log of dman and probably in the top 5 NHL wide shut down 2 way centers in plekanec.

In no way am I suggesting malkin for plek's, but I wonder why a package hasnt or I wonder if a package could be made that would suit both parties. We need a #1 c you guys need top 2/4 def and an elite pk 2 way center.

One PP is obviously the best idea. The best use of pp2 is they never see the ice because the puck is in the back of the net. PP isn't nearly as high of energy as other spots in hockey once you gain the zone so there are plenty of times PP1 can play the full 2 minutes especially if you get a stoppage

PP2 has enough skill to get a few goals but the real goal is to rarely use PP2.

Sprong looks like he's getting sent back they really aren't trying to see what they have. Longer term I think it's better for the team to extend his elc one year.

Finding a defenseman is going to be tough. If the team is healthy in the fall and looks like their a number 3 from really making a run then packaging jarry plus a second will have to be done.

better right the ship quick. We need your draft pick.
- DavidSuzuki

Pens will barely squeak in the playoffs and lose in the first round, meaning the Leafs will get the 15th pick in a draft with a deep first round.