Ryan Wilson: Early season trend Early season trend

I was worried. For a second, I thought RW was going to write a full article without taking a shot at Ryan Reaves in an article that had absolutely nothing (directly) related to Reaves.

It seems Ryan Reaves is the new Jonathan Toews.

Great to see my Dutch homeboy doing well in the AHL. Impatiently waiting for him to be with the big club.

Definitely happy with the Pens start. They aren't playing great but they are getting points. If they can stay healthy and avoid an all out battle to get into the playoffs they will have a good shot at the 3peat.

It is a huge luxury having a sniper like Sprong fine tuning his Pro game in the minors and getting lots of minutes in the AHL. His time will come this year.

Definitely happy with the Pens start. They aren't playing great but they are getting points. If they can stay healthy and avoid an all out battle to get into the playoffs they will have a good shot at the 3peat.

It is a huge luxury having a sniper like Sprong fine tuning his Pro game in the minors and getting lots of minutes in the AHL. His time will come this year.
- MacPatty

Its kind of like that last cup run, especially the first two rounds. Being heavily outshout and at times outplayed....but still winning the games...

I was worried. For a second, I thought RW was going to write a full article without taking a shot at Ryan Reaves in an article that had absolutely nothing (directly) related to Reaves.

It seems Ryan Reaves is the new Jonathan Toews.
- jmatchett383

Forget it, RW is obsessed with Reeves.

turns out giving up 10 goals in a game will hurt your on-ice save percentage

turns out giving up 10 goals in a game will hurt your on-ice save percentage
- YuenglingJagr

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!!??!?

turns out giving up 10 goals in a game will hurt your on-ice save percentage
- YuenglingJagr

If Niemi continues to struggle, would GMJR call up Jarry to be the permanent backup? I don't believe they would, but I don't see it as a bad thing. I think it might actually help Murray to know that if he starts to slack that Jarry can possibly step in and take his position. The whole "healthy competition" angle.

turns out giving up 10 goals in a game will hurt your on-ice save percentage
- YuenglingJagr

If you do this by Olympic ice skating rules and throw out their best and worst games (Chicago and Nashville, respectfully), it's still an 88.9 SV%.

If Niemi continues to struggle, would GMJR call up Jarry to be the permanent backup? I don't believe they would, but I don't see it as a bad thing. I think it might actually help Murray to know that if he starts to slack that Jarry can possibly step in and take his position. The whole "healthy competition" angle.
- simethos

For now, I doubt that's a consideration. While Niemi hasn't been good, the guys skating in front of him in those games were comically bad. Can Niemi be adequately judged on 2 games when the team plays zero team defense?

I've been wondering if they should give Niemi the first night in b2b situations. Let's see what he does in those games.

Sucks that the first flyers pens game isn't until end of november. As much as I dislike the penguins I really like how they're playing under Sullivan. Want to see how the flyers measure up.

I was worried. For a second, I thought RW was going to write a full article without taking a shot at Ryan Reaves in an article that had absolutely nothing (directly) related to Reaves.

It seems Ryan Reaves is the new Jonathan Toews.
- jmatchett383

Reaves has more Leadership that Toews, Toews *might* be more clutch though

Reaves has more Leadership that Toews, Toews *might* be more clutch though
- PensWin87

There is no clutch, there is only Geno

#100PlayersWaaah

Reaves has more Leadership that Toews, Toews *might* be more clutch though
- PensWin87

Sucks that the first flyers pens game isn't until end of november. As much as I dislike the penguins I really like how they're playing under Sullivan. Want to see how the flyers measure up.

Would rather late November than early in the season when most teams haven't found level ground yet. By then you should see a better overall game and a better idea of where both teams are overall.

Typically, I like the November through December and early March - end of season windows to judge teams and matchups. All the other times in the season (early and mid-season blah around January-February) are hockey for hockey sake kinda games with some teams coasting ans others trying to work things out.

The again, I'd rather a 50 game season too. The best overall regular season hockey I've seen played from beginning to end was in the lockout shortened 2012-1013 season. Every game meant so much more and was played with more attention to detail and passion versus the typical long grinding season where some games were treated as burners and more focus was placed on pacing for the post season.

I could say the same thing about baseball too. Just too damn long a season and too many bad games because of it.

[quote=NJPensfan ]

All seasons sans football are too long. With baseball, I get all excited for opening day, and then I don't care for the better part of the season. I'd rather do something fun on a nice Saturday in June than watch game 79 of 162 of a bunch of guys standing around in a field.

Hockey could be a good 50-game season (preferably with balanced conferences), but there's no way the owners or players would ever allow for that.

The Chicago game is a season level outlier in this 6 game sample. The stats are gonna look horrible until you remove it or we get into the 2nd half of the season.

The Chicago game is a season level outlier in this 6 game sample. The stats are gonna look horrible until you remove it or we get into the 2nd half of the season.
- eNDSo

If you do this by Olympic ice skating rules and throw out their best and worst games (Chicago and Nashville, respectfully), it's still an 88.9 SV%.

The Pens played a pretty tough stretch of teams to start the season, so hopefully this bodes well for an 82 game season.

your confidence that the pens will admit they made a mistake with moving a 1st for a 4th liner when they have good youth is admirable... yet likely misguided.

[quote=jmatchett383]

Yup. Baseball especially. Wait until they make the wildcard game a 3-game series and we'll see baseball on Veteran's Day.

Football isn't too long a season and I'm ok with it from pre-season through the SB (even though I'd rather it start AFTER summer ends), but all the pre-draft, draft and off-season hyped events along with Thursday Night Football they are pushing to make it a 24/7/365 way of life, it gets annoying and smothering. If I can't get a break from even the things I like, then that will get old quick too. I get that it's the new national pastime and they are trying to get every dime from us they can, but after the SB, can we just put it on the shelf for a few months and not think about it until August at the earliest?

[quote=NJPensfan ]

Philly became a front-running baseball town from 2007-2011 (I was guilty, too), but it's all Eagles all the time. They talk a little bit about the Sixers, but that will fade as the season gets a few games in.

With Pittsburgh, I know a tradition used to be using a Terrible Towel to deliver babies, and that the Steelers are a way of life, but at least the Penguins can take a bit of the spotlight. But yeah, the NFL is going all-in to suck up as much money/spotlight as it can.

Only been 2 games, but Jarry's numbers don't look too hot right now.

Backup goalie is dueling with bottom pairing RD for 2nd biggest potential need IMO. (Hunwick doesn't look as good on the right side as he does the left.

Still, team is in a good spot. Maatta's play is encouraging and most of the holes are easily filled. I'm not the least bit worried about wing depth at this point.

Only been 2 games, but Jarry's numbers don't look too hot right now.

Backup goalie is dueling with bottom pairing RD for 2nd biggest potential need IMO. (Hunwick doesn't look as good on the right side as he does the left.

Still, team is in a good spot. Maatta's play is encouraging and most of the holes are easily filled. I'm not the least bit worried about wing depth at this point.
- Tojo.

All the Pens need to do is stay in a top-3 division spot, then pick up some help as needed at the TDL.