And right on cue, Pouliot shows his inexperience.

Fartsmell.
- hardnosed

Yep

I'm a huge Pens fan, but I do think it's time we accept that even if we make the playoffs (seems likely at this point) that we are no threat amongst our Division rivals so why waste an asset like Martin? I think you do what you can to package Martin and Sutter and get early round picks and hopefully some talented F's...our team lacks real scoring depth everywhere amongst the 3rd and 4th lines.

This season is not going to end with us and the cup, barring some extreme luck and a whole crap-ton of health which is highly unlikely with this team. When everyone knows how to get our first two lines off their games, and there is no scoring threat on the 3rd and 4th lines I don't see much in the way of a chance of us with the cup. So let's look towards next season, we have assets to move and no draft picks.
- iworkatinitech

Or you know we can watch the poop ton of hockey games left and see what happens. Look it's OK to to doubt our chances, and you're not as bad as two to three of the asshats around here who threw in the towel weeks ago yet feel the need to talk about it every day. But please remember that this team was kicking ass and taking names before we made any moves, this team can get back to form or maybe it won't.

But JR has done a he'll of a job in under one season, so yes it'll be easy to take the next step and be ever better next season but it makes no sense to anyone who's not an idiot to give up in February of all effing months.

So... thought this was a 730 game for some reason, and was still 15 minutes late... how we looking so far?

Or you know we can watch the poop ton of hockey games left and see what happens. Look it's OK to to doubt our chances, and you're not as bad as two to three of the asshats around here who threw in the towel weeks ago yet feel the need to talk about it every day. But please remember that this team was kicking ass and taking names before we made any moves, this team can get back to form or maybe it won't.

But JR has done a he'll of a job in under one season, so yes it'll be easy to take the next step and be ever better next season but it makes no sense to anyone who's not an idiot to give up in February of all effing months.
- ImScore71

im not positive with the overall play and direction of the team right now, but thats mainly due to the players themselves and how they are performing.

i think all things considered, JR has done really well.

So... thought this was a 730 game for some reason, and was still 15 minutes late... how we looking so far?
- Guile

Worst period of the season

First of all I don't think a goalie who averaged giving up 3 goal a game in the Columbus series or having a sv% of .9 or less really played well in the playoffs. Did he play better than previous years - yes -but he couldn't be worst than being outplayed by Roloson, Halak, Brz, Nabokov or Lundqvist.

What is his record this year vs Holby, Halak, Lundqvist, etc. Last year his record on the road vs playoff teams was 6-9 with 3 shootout wins and in the other 3 wins the Pens scored an average of 4 goals.

I agree he has been better this year but the concern is that in big game match-ups like Sunday against the Hawks he will play well but lose! He always seem to blink first!

Honestly the team this year in my mind has no shot at winning any cup despite who they trade for. If you are right and he is the MVP he will show in the playoffs and carry this team - if not they will be gone early first/second round.

I would like nothing more than to come on this website in June/July and tell you how wrong I was and how right you were but don't think that's going to happen.
- Vegasman

Do you watch Penguin hockey at all? If so and you were paying attention, Fleury wasn't the problem in the play-offs last year. Not even close. One can argue he is the primary reason we are a play-off team this year. So ...

You are bringing an example of a Fleury loss, the one in a "skills competition" to Chicago? Do you not know there aren't any shootouts in the play-offs?

Try again.

Bennett already demoted to 4th line....

He's been truly exception lately, under heavy duress most games.

MVP and it's not close.
- hardnosed

Without MAF, I think we'd be getting nervous about dropping out of a playoff spot. This team is really lacking inspiration. Terrible first period.

Worst period of the season
- Deadstar

We bleeding all over the place?

Or you know we can watch the poop ton of hockey games left and see what happens. Look it's OK to to doubt our chances, and you're not as bad as two to three of the asshats around here who threw in the towel weeks ago yet feel the need to talk about it every day. But please remember that this team was kicking ass and taking names before we made any moves, this team can get back to form or maybe it won't.

But JR has done a he'll of a job in under one season, so yes it'll be easy to take the next step and be ever better next season but it makes no sense to anyone who's not an idiot to give up in February of all effing months.
- ImScore71

No argument, I'm not entirely throwing the towel but to me, I think we need to consider moving Martin. If we were hanging with other teams and managing chemistry etc with the recently-healthy team I'd definitely say we should hang with what we got but I'm tired of hearing we need scoring depth so let's trade away more picks for non-scoring forwards because that'll make us a shoe-in for the ECF. I can't see any one piece that puts us in that equation. We have a lot of dead wood on this team (Sutter, Lapierre, Adams, Sill, etc.) that we continue to trot out there as if they will somehow wake up and start scoring in the playoffs. I don't think Sutter's will replicate last years' playoffs and if we bow out in the 1st rounder, or maybe 2nd then we wasted getting something for Martin. I think we let our kids play (otherwise why keep drafting D-men). Who know's maybe more youth will wake up the team to get them to actually care.

Impressive period folks. We are losing to an AHL team right now. They are outworking us; out chancing us; winning the face-offs and every battle. Our stars have one shot on goal. Glad to see people think we need to improve that third line instead of finding a long term solution in the top six.

Good thing Fleury is on, otherwise this is 4-0 Columbus.

Without MAF, I think we'd be getting nervous about dropping out of a playoff spot. This team is really lacking inspiration. Terrible first period.
- madmike71

agreed. and that is sickening.

im not positive with the overall play and direction of the team right now, but thats mainly due to the players themselves and how they are performing.

i think all things considered, JR has done really well.
- stayinthefnnet

Totally agreed, I mean I don't see the Goc for Lapierre trade but otherwise I'm fine with what he's done.

So... thought this was a 730 game for some reason, and was still 15 minutes late... how we looking so far?
- Guile

Not good. Malkin generated a good chance but for the most part Columbus controlled the play. Pens had two penalties too.

Geno Machino earning his paycheck tonight.

BB sucks, time to move on.

DP, not always NHL ready.

Sutter, BB, Spaling=worst line in the NHL

Pens getting outplayed by a depleted CBJ team at home, can't wait for the playoffs!

Impressive period folks. We are losing to an AHL team right now. They are outworking us; out chancing us; winning the face-offs and every battle. Our stars have one shot on goal. Glad to see people think we need to improve that third line instead of finding a long term solution in the top six.

Good thing Fleury is on, otherwise this is 4-0 Columbus.
- Oneonta Penguin

i agree to an extent, but really, there shouldnt need to be a ton of outside help brought in for the top 6. the guys here simply need to play better, from 87 and 71 on down.

this team needs a shakeup and they need it bad...if thats trade Martin, Kunitz or even getting rid of the coach, something has to be done. There is no emotion in their play and they are just going through the motions...they were flat out dominated and are lucky they are only down by 1 goal. Good to see BB got demoted to the 4th line, just like that....wish the coach held some other players to the same standards.

but it makes no sense to anyone who's not an idiot to give up in February of all effing months.
- ImScore71

Preach it.

What bothers me is that before the season started, people talked about wanting some mid-season adversity so the team wasn't coasting towards the playoffs. They talked about wanting the team to have low expectations.

Well, we've got adversity in spades, and low expectations. Primed for a run by some people's logic.

Me, I'm not happy with some things. There's stuff going on with the team that I don't understand. But ultimately, I choose to believe until they lose their last game, or better yet until they win their last game.

It's way more fun that way.

It's also one of the reasons I hate fancy stats, beyond their flawed premises and questionable meaningfulness. They add to the Internet-fomented urge by fans to tear down their own players. It didn't use to be like that.

Totally agreed, I mean I don't see the Goc for Lapierre trade but otherwise I'm fine with what he's done.
- iworkatinitech

yeah i didnt like that deal either, but realistically if a swap of 4th line guys is my biggest gripe, hes doing a pretty good job to me.

Geno Machino earning his paycheck tonight.

BB sucks, time to move on.

DP, not always NHL ready.

Sutter, BB, Spaling=worst line in the NHL

Pens getting outplayed by a depleted CBJ team at home, can't wait for the playoffs!
- sammy87

It looked like Sutter was with Downie and Spaling and Bennett was on the 4th line to me.

this team needs a shakeup and they need it bad...if thats trade Martin, Kunitz or even getting rid of the coach, something has to be done. There is no emotion in their play and they are just going through the motions...they were flat out dominated and are lucky they are only down by 1 goal. Good to see BB got demoted to the 4th line, just like that....wish the coach held some other players to the same standards.
- Thorny

Do you realize getting rid of Martin and or Kunitz brings prospects or picks back, not anything that lands in the roster and plays immediately. I'm all for dealing Martin at the deadline to recoup some assets that we can use to help with the future of this organization, something that has been ignored for quite a while.

I'm not busting on you ... don't take my tone as such. Just offering some reality.

Preach it.

What bothers me is that before the season started, people talked about wanting some mid-season adversity so the team wasn't coasting towards the playoffs. They talked about wanting the team to have low expectations.

Well, we've got adversity in spades, and low expectations. Primed for a run by some people's logic.

Me, I'm not happy with some things. There's stuff going on with the team that I don't understand. But ultimately, I choose to believe until they lose their last game, or better yet until they win their last game.

It's way more fun that way.

It's also one of the reasons I hate fancy stats, beyond their flawed premises and questionable meaningfulness. They add to the Internet-fomented urge by fans to tear down their own players. It didn't use to be like that.
- hardnosed

definitely no reason to just tune out and throw in the towel for the whole season. i still think this team makes the playoffs, and in the playoffs, a lot of things can happen.

but, i dont think its also fair to say that this team should inspire a lot of confidence to be one of the favorites.

This Johnston's x's and o's are fine idea is trash. If I see a defenseman flying the defensive zone while the other makes a risky pass to a stationary forward at his own blue line I'm going to lose it. It's bad enough seeing Letang doing it let alone f'ing bortuzzo

Grinder. I heart you! You represent me! Armstrong IS awesome! Gibbons! Is awesome! Just cause! Mancrushes broseph! Let's lick some balls!
- ChrisMS

See now I understand your a teenage kid whose only outside source of hockey knowledge is Ryan Wilson. Its making sense.

im not positive with the overall play and direction of the team right now, but thats mainly due to the players themselves and how they are performing.

i think all things considered, JR has done really well.
- stayinthefnnet

Oh he'll yeah things could be better, but I'm not going to throw MJ under the buss after one season cuz his guys don't have their poop together in February. We've seen what this team can do, but will they come full circle?

This team won't be (frank)ing perfect. 09 team team was no where close, so somehow we can't win it all? It's frustrating to read. You know exactly who I'm talking about.

Ironically these were the ones saying our regular season play didn't mean squat, we would have to prove ourselves on the playoffs a lot of people said this. But we face some adversity and injuries so they've got the cheese graters out ready to cut themselves because we're not coasting into the playoffs with our problems glossed over.