Three things I'd like to point out:
- the shot total differencial Was due to our inept PP. We passed on at least 8-10 shots on the PPs we got;

- the game Was Hard fought and anyone who scored first would clearly win the game. LA Was a little better in the game but we were good too.

- please don't talk about Ehrhoff when the guy is down. He's a starter on this team no matter What and is playing fine hockey.
- Barnaby36

True. Hopefully he comes back soon so he can shake the rust off before playoffs start. Pens have a good problem on d. Everyone playing solid. Hate to see who gets scratched once Hoff is healthy.

Good points on the zone entry and the static player movement. It's hard to imagine with so much talent they can look so horrendous virtually every PP.

Good points on the zone entry and the static player movement. It's hard to imagine with so much talent they can look so horrendous virtually every PP.
- madmike71

I thought the problem wasn't the zone entry at all. What I saw Was too much passing and no rotation. Too many players flat footed. You need to move your ass to open up lanes and shoot.

I thought the problem wasn't the zone entry at all. What I saw Was too much passing and no rotation. Too many players flat footed. You need to move your ass to open up lanes and shoot.
- Barnaby36

When you rotate and move it causes the defense to move and thus causes open lanes and mistakes. watch Detroit play on the PP.

Good write up on our d:

http://mweb.cbssports.com...defensive-teams-in-hockey

When you rotate and move it causes the defense to move and thus causes open lanes and mistakes. watch Detroit play on the PP.
- hipcheck_goalie

I say that and Detroit just gave up a Shorty versus Boston.

For all the sutter hate, how do you think Detroit feels about Weiss? God is he bad and making almost 5mil with multiple years left. Ouch

For all the sutter hate, how do you think Detroit feels about Weiss? God is he bad and making almost 5mil with multiple years left. Ouch
- jchst22

Yeah they let Filpula walk and then signed Weiss. Not 1 of Hollands better moves[/img]

I say that and Detroit just gave up a Shorty versus Boston.
- hipcheck_goalie

Still. I watched Lidstrom, Datsyuk, and Kronwall execute a center drive from the blue line. Lidstrom worked a give and go with Datsyuk (way up high on left half-wall) from the left point; Lidstrom took off in a straight line to the net. F1 followed him.

Kronwall came over from the right point while Datsyuk held the puck. Kronwall got the pass and had perhaps 25 feet of open ice to step into. There was just this giant vacuum he could draft into behind Lidstrom. Holmstrom and now Lidstrom and 2 PK forwards were in front of the net. Zetterberg and Datsyuk have a 3-on-2 with Kronwall as options. Kronwall ended up shooting the puck cleanly into the net with a medium-strength wrist shot, stick low. Goalie disgusted.

Pittsburgh just doesn't use the ice and the pass effectively to create odd man situations, both at even strength and especially on the PP. It's much more of a few players trying a herculean individual effort to score, which is essentially choosing to play into a man disadvantage.

I agree the PP is too static. Looks like they are overthinking.
- powerhouse

Exactly to many passes, bad zone entries, to much standing around... its bad top to bottom... Need to separate Crosby and Malkin... This reminds me of the Pens teams from the 90's that would always try to make the perfect pass... 4-5 HOF on a PP, but not always great results.... Martin and Pouliot or Hoff when he comes back should run the points... Simplify... shoot and let Horny and Kuni do the dirty work in front. saw this in the Ducks game with the second unit just after the PP expired on the Horny goal...

Beyond the X's and O's that seemed to be a pretty galvanizing win. That's the kind of win that can really boost a teams confidence. Defensively this team is far better prepared for the playoffs.

Unlike many around here, I watch every game. And until Winnik came in, anything the 3rd line did good offensively was because of Sutter.

And he's been on the ice for 10 goals during that same 15 game stretch.

You must have been in the lavatory for those.
- hardnosed

Im not huge on Sutter, but I'm not a huge Sutter hater either. I think he is overpaid. Riding passenger to goals doesn't do much for me. The games I see him play, he's not creating much, very little pressure, his FO % isn't that great. I do think that Sutter brings more than BB at this point. Thats not saying much though. I don't really see him shutting down OV or anyone. He has 13g this year. 20 would be an acceptable $ for a 3C.

Edit, the past 3 games he's been above 50%. So thats not bad at all. If he could add 15-20 lbs, it would help him immensely.

Im not huge on Sutter, but I'm not a huge Sutter hater either. I think he is overpaid. Riding passenger to goals doesn't do much for me. The games I see him play, he's not creating much, very little pressure, his FO % isn't that great. I do think that Sutter brings more than BB at this point. Thats not saying much though. I don't really see him shutting down OV or anyone. He has 13g this year. 20 would be an acceptable $ for a 3C.
- sammy87

What's an acceptable number for your first line center then?

What's an acceptable number for your first line center then?
- jchst22

for as much as 87 and 71 are getting paid, 87 should always be looking at 30+ for a healthy season. 71 should be hitting 40. If your star players are making that much $$$ and can't put up big pts, whats the point?

Because beating the league points leader and cup champs on the road in back to back games isn't impressive?

Tough crowd.
- Sell My Monkey

Yeah but u start out playin ur in conference opponents, which we can't beat for some reason.

We can only hope the Isle and rags have to play each other first round. So that means we need to take over first. Our remaining schedule is favorable and should help us gain some ground.

Im not huge on Sutter, but I'm not a huge Sutter hater either. I think he is overpaid. Riding passenger to goals doesn't do much for me. The games I see him play, he's not creating much, very little pressure, his FO % isn't that great. I do think that Sutter brings more than BB at this point. Thats not saying much though. I don't really see him shutting down OV or anyone. He has 13g this year. 20 would be an acceptable $ for a 3C.

Edit, the past 3 games he's been above 50%. So thats not bad at all. If he could add 15-20 lbs, it would help him immensely.
- sammy87

He's just so weak on the puck... Even if your third line center scores 15 goals, if his line is controlling the puck, cycling in the zone and winning the territory battle, that's fine.

But Sutter (and the third line as a whole most of the season) pretty much seems to be just hanging on defensively, and getting a chance once in a while on a counter attack. It's hard to remember any sustained pressure that his line creates.

I can't imagine any opponent forward line, being apprehensive about going up against our third line.

Good write up on our d:

http://mweb.cbssports.com...defensive-teams-in-hockey
- joescullz

I really love Pouliot and, from what I've seen so far, Cole. He's not running out of position to be physical but still isn't afraid to put his weight into someone. Big upgrade on Bortuzzo. Lovejoy has been hardly noticeable so far (in a good way) and I think he supports DeePo well.

Being stationary is what has gotten the Pens PP in the dumps. Its extremely easy to predict whats going to happen. The puck is going to either 87 or 71 and neither are moving much. Watch OV on the Caps PP. He moves up and down that entire side of the ice. PH should be in front and also moving to open ice where he can utilize his shot.
- sammy87

That is absolutely false. You have 4 other guys moving around. A net front presence requires a defenseman to constantly battle him. Of course he can move a little bit to grab a puck or support a player. But that player in front of the net is crucial

That is absolutely false. You have 4 other guys moving around. A net front presence requires a defenseman to constantly battle him. Of course he can move a little bit to grab a puck or support a player. But that player in front of the net is crucial
- drummer829

There is very little movement on the Pens PP. 71 is on the R point to center point. 87 half wall. 58 L point. Rarely movement up and down for a back door on that side, same with PH. It is a very stationary PP from all bodies. Watch OV on the PP. Pens don't have that. Or even Iginla on the CO PP. There is no reason PH and 58 can be that fluid on the L side, while 71 and 87 do the same on the R side.

There is very little movement on the Pens PP. 71 is on the R point to center point. 87 half wall. 58 L point. Rarely movement up and down for a back door on that side, same with PH. It is a very stationary PP from all bodies. Watch OV on the PP. Pens don't have that. Or even Iginla on the CO PP. There is no reason PH and 58 can be that fluid on the L side, while 71 and 87 do the same on the R side.
- sammy87

Agree with most of what you said. But OV is a bad example. 90% of the time he's within 10 feet of the face off circle standing there waiting for the puck. It's the other Cap forwards that move around and open up the lanes....no 1 on the Pens have a 1 timer like that to try and copy their PP

Anyone else have their excitement about Murray tempered when they read the name Brust? who?
- ChrisMS

Never heard of the guy, so I hockeydb'd him... Playing in the KHL now lol.

Interesting that he never really made the NHL. His AHL numbers were up and down, but in his last few seasons, he was pretty good. In 52 games in 2010-11, he had a .925 sv% and a 2.53 GAA.

For as many bad goalies who get a cup of coffee in the league, he must have either been really unlucky in his numerous organizations or just had some flaws that topped him out in the AHL.

Never heard of the guy, so I hockeydb'd him... Playing in the KHL now lol.

Interesting that he never really made the NHL. His AHL numbers were up and down, but in his last few seasons, he was pretty good. In 52 games in 2010-11, he had a .925 sv% and a 2.53 GAA.

For as many bad goalies who get a cup of coffee in the league, he must have either been really unlucky in his numerous organizations or just had some flaws that topped him out in the AHL.
- rival22

I think the big difference is that Brust did it at 29 years old. Murray is doing it at the age of 20.

I think the big difference is that Brust did it at 29 years old. Murray is doing it at the age of 20.
- cap1681

And the other big difference is that Murray was playing EXCEPTIONALLY well before this little streak began.

That said, Murray needs to eat a sammich.

There is very little movement on the Pens PP. 71 is on the R point to center point. 87 half wall. 58 L point. Rarely movement up and down for a back door on that side, same with PH. It is a very stationary PP from all bodies. Watch OV on the PP. Pens don't have that. Or even Iginla on the CO PP. There is no reason PH and 58 can be that fluid on the L side, while 71 and 87 do the same on the R side.
- sammy87

With no net front presence you're just asking them to pass it more. Horn provides a massive screen and encourages more shots. He also takes away a defender as he is busy trying to push horn out of the way. If you want to generate more shots, that's the way to do it.

I think the big difference is that Brust did it at 29 years old. Murray is doing it at the age of 20.
- cap1681

Yeah..

BTW, Murray broke the record and it's still going. In the 3rd period now...

No one has scored on him in a month... He's let in one goal since January and it was a 5-on-3 PK goal.

Save percentage since February 1st is current .995, and 1.000 even strength

edit - Damnit, he gave up a goal... now save percentage since February 1st is .990...

Freakin' bum!