Jay Greenberg: A Time Out at Last for the Penguins

I blame Sully on this Pens loss

After winning game 1, He rested on his laurels figuring getting a split in Washington was a win and rested Malkin for Game 2. Malkin was upset in practice when told he would sit, which leads you to believe he could go. At the very least, put him as the 4C and give him the PP time. That unit was lost without him. Didn't see game 2 as a "must win". They are all "Must win"

Couldn't take advantage of Washingtons depleted lineup. Had the "talent" spread out over 4 lines, Simon with Crosby, Hags with Malkin, Kuhnackel with Brassard. Didn't address it until the 3rd period of Game 6. Roll 3 lines, LOAD UP, get mismatches at HOME when you have last change. That 4th line was out way to much against OV

Whoever had the plan to have the D pinch so aggressively. Don't CHEAT FOR OFFENSE. Lead to way too many odd man rushes and breakaways, and they got burned way way too many times (and 1 time too many as it turns out)

Pens looked tired and complacent. Anyone who watched the last 2 playoff runs saw desperate hockey, tons of blocked shots and speed to burn. Wasn't the case in this playoffs for sure. Jake and Sid were the only cylinders firing

Sully wasn't a fan of Ian Cole, and he was thrown out at the trade deadline. He was they type of 3rd pairing D that we REALLY needed. Tough, Physical, Blocks Shots, Good on the PK. He should have been kept at all costs

Keep up the great work, Jay. I love reading your blogs. You and Bill Meltzer are the only 2 writers worth reading on this site.

Keep up the great work, Jay. I love reading your blogs. You and Bill Meltzer are the only 2 writers worth reading on this site.
- BiggE

Sheng Peng is also very good, even if he is a Vegas turncoat.

Pens looked tired and complacent. Anyone who watched the last 2 playoff runs saw desperate hockey, tons of blocked shots and speed to burn. Wasn't the case in this playoffs for sure. Jake and Sid were the only cylinders firing

I admit.....I’m ecstatic the Pens went down in flames!!

This partial quote from the first poster is the most relevant. The long two cup runs, plus the loss of their depth, doomed them. You could see it in the games leading up to the playoffs. Plus, they got the crap beat out of them in the first two series. Too heavy, too hard, and too long for that team.

Great write up, Jay! Perfect read over lunch at an outside cafe! Us Flyer fans are blessed to have the two best writers on HB!!

Nice read. Much obliged Sir😏

Defense wins games and the Pens D was very mediocre at best. Letang and Dumolin took too many chances and it backfired terribly. Factor in injuries to Malkin, Kessel and Austin Reese, and very little secondary scoring, it wasn't their year.

Maybe you can teach Bob Duff something about writing on this site. Or anywhere