James Tanner: Caps vs Pens (Again) (and again, and again, and again, and again....) Here's hoping it's not an out of control DJ Penguin spinning terrible jams of elimination.

ahhh, the "if the Caps win, they're the better team, if the Pens win, they got lucky" argument...

ahhh, the "if the Caps win, they're the better team, if the Pens win, they got lucky" argument...
- cap1681

Quite literally the opposite of what I wrote.

Unfortunately I need the caps to lose so I can win a bracket. So go pens go.

ahhh, the "if the Caps win, they're the better team, if the Pens win, they got lucky" argument...
- cap1681

It would help if he actually knew the definition of "lucky."

It would also help if he actually knew something about hockey. It's amazing that someone who understands so little about a subject is hired to write about it.

Sounds like someone Trump would hire.

From dictionary.com

noun
1.
the force that seems to operate for good or ill in a person's life, as in shaping circumstances, events, or opportunities:

A force. Not that one, Luke, but something guiding the outcome that would be out of their power.

A goalie rising to the occasion is no different than a forward going on scoring rampage or his overall play carrying his team to success. For some reason, goaltending doesn't count to Tanner the same as other players.

Luck would mean that somehow, outside of Fleury's ability, a force made those goals not go in or just somehow easier to save. It would also mean that the goals the Pens scored, when given the scoring chance, had nothing to do with their abilities.

But hey, what do I know? I don't write for EK.

I've not attempted either. While I may be indeed trolling you a bit, you have yet to give a good argument against what I'm saying.

Your responses are that of someone who knows their wrong, but doesn't have the testes to admit their wrong.
- Rinosaur

Always been his MO. He only replies to keep the hits-counter going. I realized long ago, if he wasn't rude, ignorant, inflammatory, belittling, and abrasive, no one would entertain his nonsense.

Lives to infuriate readers, plays dumb when called out, and wages a war with anyone in his path. He is the ultimate troll.

So pathetic.

Always been his MO. He only replies to keep the hits-counter going. I realized long ago, if he wasn't rude, ignorant, inflammatory, belittling, and abrasive, no one would entertain his nonsense.
He is the ultimate troll.
- IRON.MAIDEN

Best point ever made in any of his threads.

Best point ever made in any of his threads.
- Rinosaur

Haha.

I got sick of his Ferris wheel of nonsense when he was a Yotes blogger. Now it seems he's taken his silliness to an entirely different team.

Ya know, if people stopped commenting on anything related to him in his posts, he'd have like 4 comments a blog. He is well aware of this, and it's in fact, why he plays this stupid game with readers.

Im sure he could pump out good content, be a respected blogger, but he'd rather be reactionary..

Haha.

I got sick of his Ferris wheel of nonsense when he was a Yotes blogger. Now it seems he's taken his silliness to an entirely different team.

Ya know, if people stopped commenting on anything related to him in his posts, he'd have like 4 comments a blog. He is well aware of this, and it's in fact, why he plays this stupid game with readers.

Im sure he could pump out good content, be a respected blogger, but he'd rather be reactionary..
- IRON.MAIDEN

His replies have clearly dropped considerably because of how he behaves.

I also think our D is significantly better than the Pens.
Maybe you'd even say "sneaky good" Tanner?

I was just reading (after Philly won game 5) all the Pens-fanboys comments about how overrated Letang is, and how brutal he is/ waste of money/ should have traded him, yet he is their 'best' defenseman.

Schultz is the NHL's best conman. If the Pens hadn't won 2 years ago, I'm pretty confident Justin Schultz would be in the AHL or Europe. Instead he is making 5 million a year. #NHL

Maata is fieldable, but he looks a shadow of what his potential was. I suppose health-scares and injuries will eventually do you in (I know, I've had 3 ACL surgeries).

And then who? Dumoulin?....

Carlson and Orlov are a tier above all of them (unless Letang produces some magic).

Niskanen has got a bit of his MarcusJohansson going, and KEMPNY has been amazingly effective /visible /and has speed? Who knew. (his stick might have saved a few goals yesterday).

BUT BEYOND ALL THIS, Holtby looks to poised and on point. Murray does not.

Can Pens win while having terrible D? Sure, they did it two years in a row. But at some point you'd hope (fingers crossed) that such a weakness is their downfall.

I also think our D is significantly better than the Pens.
Maybe you'd even say "sneaky good" Tanner?

I was just reading (after Philly won game 5) all the Pens-fanboys comments about how overrated Letang is, and how brutal he is/ waste of money/ should have traded him, yet he is their 'best' defenseman.

Schultz is the NHL's best conman. If the Pens hadn't won 2 years ago, I'm pretty confident Justin Schultz would be in the AHL or Europe. Instead he is making 5 million a year. #NHL

Maata is fieldable, but he looks a shadow of what his potential was. I suppose health-scares and injuries will eventually do you in (I know, I've had 3 ACL surgeries).

And then who? Dumoulin?....

Carlson and Orlov are a tier above all of them (unless Letang produces some magic).

Niskanen has got a bit of his MarcusJohansson going, and KEMPNY has been amazingly effective /visible /and has speed? Who knew. (his stick might have saved a few goals yesterday).

BUT BEYOND ALL THIS, Holtby looks to poised and on point. Murray does not.

Can Pens win while having terrible D? Sure, they did it two years in a row. But at some point you'd hope (fingers crossed) that such a weakness is their downfall.
- ghostibator

Sounds like sour grapes as none of your assessments are accurate. That whole thing about Schultz is just weird.

I also think our D is significantly better than the Pens.
Maybe you'd even say "sneaky good" Tanner?

I was just reading (after Philly won game 5) all the Pens-fanboys comments about how overrated Letang is, and how brutal he is/ waste of money/ should have traded him, yet he is their 'best' defenseman.

Schultz is the NHL's best conman. If the Pens hadn't won 2 years ago, I'm pretty confident Justin Schultz would be in the AHL or Europe. Instead he is making 5 million a year. #NHL

Maata is fieldable, but he looks a shadow of what his potential was. I suppose health-scares and injuries will eventually do you in (I know, I've had 3 ACL surgeries).

And then who? Dumoulin?....

Carlson and Orlov are a tier above all of them (unless Letang produces some magic).

Niskanen has got a bit of his MarcusJohansson going, and KEMPNY has been amazingly effective /visible /and has speed? Who knew. (his stick might have saved a few goals yesterday).

BUT BEYOND ALL THIS, Holtby looks to poised and on point. Murray does not.

Can Pens win while having terrible D? Sure, they did it two years in a row. But at some point you'd hope (fingers crossed) that such a weakness is their downfall.
- ghostibator

Holtby and Ovi look locked in. Already faced some pretty heavy adversity in the Columbus series..
This should b a really entertaining series. I don't think the Pens will be a cake walk, probably more of a battle to the death, but I'm hopeful this is the year the Caps put it all together vs. them!

Always been his MO. He only replies to keep the hits-counter going. I realized long ago, if he wasn't rude, ignorant, inflammatory, belittling, and abrasive, no one would entertain his nonsense.

Lives to infuriate readers, plays dumb when called out, and wages a war with anyone in his path. He is the ultimate troll.

So pathetic.
- IRON.MAIDEN

And according to him, this blog is what is going to send his kids to college. God help them, I think they are destined for culinary or trade school.

His replies have clearly dropped considerably because of how he behaves.
- Rinosaur

Absolutely.

The act has worn thin. The entertainment of "what outlandish thing he will say next" is long gone. Once people see through you, they move on to something more worthwhile.

Some, like me, stick around to chat with the other real hockey fans in the comments

Humorous blog. Enjoyed it muchly.

Schwein’s official prognostication is Capitals in 6.
Caps outplayed in every one of their wins.
Caps PP makes the difference.
Holtby plays out of his mind.
Minimum 8 goals a game.

And according to him, this blog is what is going to send his kids to college. God help them, I think they are destined for culinary or trade school.

- Katana777

No comment! nothing I say here will be productive and will likely lead to a ban!

His replies have clearly dropped considerably because of how he behaves.
- Rinosaur

In the honor of charity, I visit his blog once a day, similar to handing a dollar to the bum on the highway off ramp, in exchange for a good laugh.

Sounds like sour grapes as none of your assessments are accurate. That whole thing about Schultz is just weird.
- Rinosaur

How so?
Letang is far and away your best dman, despite the sour-grapes of your fellow fanners.

Schultz was dropped from Edmonton for a reason. He is super leaky.
Ya he has a bomb. Lots of guys can shoot the puck...doesn't mean he is a good defenseman.
Basically he is NFL kicker for hockey.

Did you not watch any of your own games? When he was forced to defend, he is brutal.
BUT he has two Cups...so must be Norris quality I guess.

No comment! nothing I say here will be productive and will likely lead to a ban!
- IRON.MAIDEN

Bans are good. They are a tangible sign that you got under the intended target's skin.

I also think our D is significantly better than the Pens.
Maybe you'd even say "sneaky good" Tanner?

I was just reading (after Philly won game 5) all the Pens-fanboys comments about how overrated Letang is, and how brutal he is/ waste of money/ should have traded him, yet he is their 'best' defenseman.

Schultz is the NHL's best conman. If the Pens hadn't won 2 years ago, I'm pretty confident Justin Schultz would be in the AHL or Europe. Instead he is making 5 million a year. #NHL

Maata is fieldable, but he looks a shadow of what his potential was. I suppose health-scares and injuries will eventually do you in (I know, I've had 3 ACL surgeries).

And then who? Dumoulin?....

Carlson and Orlov are a tier above all of them (unless Letang produces some magic).

Niskanen has got a bit of his MarcusJohansson going, and KEMPNY has been amazingly effective /visible /and has speed? Who knew. (his stick might have saved a few goals yesterday).

BUT BEYOND ALL THIS, Holtby looks to poised and on point. Murray does not.

Can Pens win while having terrible D? Sure, they did it two years in a row. But at some point you'd hope (fingers crossed) that such a weakness is their downfall.
- ghostibator

I was probably going to do a defense vs defense blog tomorrow if there's time, but I think it's probably pretty even. Without looking up their stats, I'll guess now and we'll see what I think tomorrow after some research. Call this my eye test. But I'm not going to pretend I know the Pens 5/6 guys much if at all.

Letang > Orlov
Doumalin = or slightly < Niskanen
Matta < Carlson for the points, but I'm guessing Matta is better at D
Shultz > Kempny
Oleksiac > Orpik everyone is better than Orpik
Rundwell = Djoos couldn't even tell you.

Being generous to Washington and giving the edge to Niskanen, the Penguins win the matchup 3-2 with one tie. Assuming Djoos is better than Rundwell would make it even, except that he has to play with Orpik so the best third pairing probably is going to be more effective. ON paper I can see how Washington would look to have the by far best top four, except I think the three non-Letang Penguins are probably pretty underrated.

This was a pretty honest assessment of the plight that is the Caps vs. the Pens.

Still, I feel as though we've already seen this movie, and it won't be the Director's Cut with a different ending.

How so?
Letang is far and away your best dman, despite the sour-grapes of your fellow fanners.

Schultz was dropped from Edmonton for a reason. He is super leaky.
Ya he has a bomb. Lots of guys can shoot the puck...doesn't mean he is a good defenseman.
Basically he is NFL kicker for hockey.

Did you not watch any of your own games? When he was forced to defend, he is brutal.
BUT he has two Cups...so must be Norris quality I guess.
- ghostibator

Schultz has been awesome for the Pens. What you're saying about him could be said about soooo many players. If they were a bust they'd be playing elsewhere.

Dumoulin has been outstanding and Letang has been far better than fans have been giving him credit for.

Maatta? You gotta be kidding. Fieldable? He's be as solid as you could hope any top-four dman to be.

Now, you want to simply argue who has the better d-core that's a different story, but your assessments of the Pens' dmen is just off.

Go Caps Go