Call me crazy, but Dumo is quickly becoming their best Dman. Sure he doesn't have Letang's skill, but the kid is a 200' player. There's something to be said for having patience with young D.
- madmike71

Dumoulin is showing noticeable improvement. It's been very impressive. I'd like to see him get a chance with Letang.

Call me crazy, but Dumo is quickly becoming their best Dman. Sure he doesn't have Letang's skill, but the kid is a 200' player. There's something to be said for having patience with young D.
- madmike71

nah we need more scudz players. flooping all around the ice veteran defensemen for the win

Dumoulin is showing noticeable improvement. It's been very impressive. I'd like to see him get a chance with Letang.
- jfkst1

I've been pitching the idea that he's got some Paul Mart qualities. Makes a bunch of small plays that might not be noticeable but overall makes him a pretty slick player in every zone. I hope he continues this trajectory.

if this offense ever starts clicking... man look out. but a lot of puck luck tonight. 4 posts for edm.

I've been pitching the idea that he's got some Paul Mart qualities. Makes a bunch of small plays that might not be noticeable but overall makes him a pretty slick player in every zone. I hope he continues this trajectory.
- madmike71

Yep. He's controlling the puck well and puts some good touch on it. I also like how he appears confident enough to get involved offensively. Johnston put Dumo with Letang to end the game.

if this offense ever starts clicking... man look out. but a lot of puck luck tonight. 4 posts for edm.
- buckster2342

they had some bad luck but so did we. I wish we could have a game where we totally blow out the opposition. feels so long ago I saw a 5 or more in our favor

Overall I thought the Pens were better defensively. Oilers are fast as hell and threatened on the rush. They couldn't sustain pressure though. Maatta was god awful. Cole wasn't good even before the penalty. Top 6 still looks uncomfortable with each other. Solid game by Zakoff.

Bazinga Another win although not very entertaining

Overall I thought the Pens were better defensively. Oilers are fast as hell and threatened on the rush. They couldn't sustain pressure though. Maatta was god awful. Cole wasn't good even before the penalty. Top 6 still looks uncomfortable with each other. Solid game by Zakoff.
- jfkst1

The defensive system is incredible. I for one will need 50 games to get used to it.

The Pittsburgh Penguins # 1 in defense WTF??

9-4....I can work with it.

Overall Maatta was god awful. Cole wasn't good even before the penalty.
- jfkst1

For all the dogging #4 receives on this board, deserving it or not, it needs to be more equally distributed among #3 - #28 and #58. Maatta looks lost, physically weak, and needs to sit. Cole is one-dimensional and a bottom six or seven D at best. Letang leads the team in give aways (2X the next guy). I agree about Dumo; he's quietly going about his business.

For all the dogging #4 receives on this board, deserving it or not, it needs to be more equally distributed among #3 - #28 and #58. Maatta looks lost, physically weak, and needs to sit. Cole is one-dimensional and a bottom six or seven D at best. Letang leads the team in give aways (2X the next guy). I agree about Dumo; he's quietly going about his business.
- out_of_market

thank you for making me laugh before I go to bed

Bazinga Another win although not very entertaining
- holeinone

I thought the Pens had numerous great chances. Especially early in the game. Not getting a ton of "puck luck". I know most people don't agree with luck being a part of the game, but I thought the Pens dominated large stretches of the game but couldn't get a bounce. Credit their tender too. He made some very nice saves.

Yohe reporting that the tests on Duper were negative. Won't play tomorrow and will be further evaluated back in the burgh.

Good News!

thank you for making me laugh before I go to bed
- martox

No-one plays error proof hockey – they all make mistakes. The difference w/ #4 however, is low/ slim expectations (in a limited role) to begin with. Should he play every night? No. He will though. The only way he probably loses his job is through injury. The other guys have much higher expectations and SHOULD be performing as such. They're not really doing so,

I thought the Pens had numerous great chances. Especially early in the game. Not getting a ton of "puck luck". I know most people don't agree with luck being a part of the game, but I thought the Pens dominated large stretches of the game but couldn't get a bounce. Credit their tender too. He made some very nice saves.
- madmike71

Nice to see them not getting frustrated with the bad puck luck too. I like the approach of this team, defence first, ok winning games 1-0 or 2-1. They just seem like they aren't letting their emotions affect their game anymore.

If we ever figure out how to stay on side we're going to be a force!

The penguins have become the Broncos of the NHL. Tons of offensive firepower but somehow it's not clicking and the defensive play is winning games

The penguins have become the Broncos of the NHL. Tons of offensive firepower but somehow it's not clicking and the defensive play is winning games
- drummer829

Defence wins game Drummer - big D lots of poontang!

Man the way scuds is playing pens are going to be able to get a 1st back...

Now kuni needs to step up for his trade value... need to get 2 2nds for him



- nh4442

Too bad he had his two game point streak snapped. What's up with him being the least played d'man by over 1:30, he needs more ice. Scuderi for Norris!

Seriously, I liked what Eric Fehr brought to the Crosby line, a second physical presence and it seemed to open up some room for Crosby. Crosby was flying through the neutral zone, trying to split the defense and shooting a bit more.

Nobody is pushing that narrative, at all. At least I haven't read it.

I could care less how close a shot is on some shot chart. That tells me nothing about quality chances, and it's not the point I've been making.

And there's a difference between running a system designed to limit breakaways and odd man rushes and eliminating them altogether, which simply isn't going to happen.

Point is that Fleury isn't having to scramble like he did during the Flyers/Islanders series of a few years ago, it's because of the system, and it's got him playing near his potential, which based on talent is to be a top-tier goalie.

The confidence alone that he's been given due to a more conservative system is worth its weight in goal. Doesn't even really matter that much if it works or not, the presence of that kind of narrative alone has been a boon to his confidence, and he's playing like it.
- hardnosed

MAF isn't scrambling because he is staying deeper in the net and is being more efficient with his motions. We can't give up 50 shots a game. And statistics are very useful, frankly. It's true that skill can overcome some deficiencies but analytics give objectivity to evaluations of performance. When you assess a car, don't you look at horsepower and gas mileage?

MAF isn't scrambling because he is staying deeper in the net and is being more efficient with his motions. We can't give up 50 shots a game. And statistics are very useful, frankly. It's true that skill can overcome some deficiencies but analytics give objectivity to evaluations of performance. When you assess a car, don't you look at horsepower and gas mileage?
- powerhouse

We did that once & still won. Some teams are out shooting their opponents by considerable margins & losing. Corsi is a corrupt stat unless you like averages. A lot of these analytical stats are created from Corsi so.........

Shiny wheels.

Yohe reporting that the tests on Duper were negative. Won't play tomorrow and will be further evaluated back in the burgh.

Good News!
- madmike71

That is good news, best wishes for the Duper, seems like a super human being.

If Sprong plays tonight, and I would anticipate that he does, that puts him at ten games and in the NHL. After all he is tied for third in goals on the team.

That is good news, best wishes for the Duper, seems like a super human being.

If Sprong plays tonight, and I would anticipate that he does, that puts him at ten games and in the NHL. After all he is tied for third in goals on the team.
- Thunderbolt

Did he get any time LW against the Oil? Top 6? Pretty impressive in his 8 minutes on ice!

Thought they'd send him down so I'm glad I'm wrong! Now I hope they play him!

Did he get any time LW against the Oil? Top 6? Pretty impressive in his 8 minutes on ice!

Thought they'd send him down so I'm glad I'm wrong! Now I hope they play him!
- Aussiepenguin

I only remember him on the RW with Platnikov and Cullen. He is going to force Johnston to play him, he looks good.

I only remember him on the RW with Platnikov and Cullen. He is going to force Johnston to play him, he looks good.
- Thunderbolt

Cullen seems to be doing a real good job thus far so maybe they play 2 third lines & mix up the minutes - although what's not broken doesn't need fixing!

I actually thought we played a good overall game last night even though we didn't rack up goals. I was impressed with Zatkoff as well. That makes two good games by him. Glad he's bounced back from that abysmal preseason.