We've all be harping on this issue since one of he first ten games. So many wasted opportunities. I agree with what someone else wrote that he should be the main guy on the second unit.

Why do I have a feeling the Jackets are going to want to win this more than the Pens tonight...
- MattStrat

There is no way we win tonight. No way

There is no way we win tonight. No way
- martox

Well...I think its quite possible and achievable for the Pens to win but I think the Jackets are going to be hungrier because not only do they have a chance to hurt the Pens playoff chances they're probably a little peeved about Ape's comments. With Fehr and Hags back will he even be in the lineup?

That's a terrible argument. What does a goaltenders weight have to do with his equipment???? I bet Kessel wears different pads too. the argument is about a STICK and no other piece of equipment.

You are also making the assumption that Kessel has used the exact same stick (flex, curve, model, etc) since he was 17rs old. where is your proof of that???
And since it was god enough for him to score 37 goals two years ago why is it different now?
- MiloslavHorava

quite obviously I have to make this simple for people to understand....

salient facts

1) two seasons ago Kessel scored 37 goals
2) last season ago he didn't score 37 - he scored mid-20s
3) this season his trajectory is consistent to last season - meaning he's not close to scoring 40

what you are suggesting is that nothing has changed... so why consider changing the equipment?
here are just few situations where a player might considering altering equipment
i) injury to ankle - change skates potential
ii) shoulder injury - alter type and size of shoulder pads
iii) broken finger(s) or hand - alter glove type and size
iv) gain weight - change pant size maybe

so... simple question - if your kids who's 13 comes to you and says I need a new stick cause the old one is too short - you buy him a longer stick correct? do you buy the same flex as he had before? when you 16 year old who has grown 2 inches in height and 20 lbs gets a new stick - does he get a short one because that was what he used before?

and about that insanity thing.... expecting a different result from repeatedly doing the same thing?

quite obviously I have to make this simple for people to understand....

salient facts

1) two seasons ago Kessel scored 37 goals
2) last season ago he didn't score 37 - he scored mid-20s
3) this season his trajectory is consistent to last season - meaning he's not close to scoring 40

what you are suggesting is that nothing has changed... so why consider changing the equipment?
here are just few situations where a player might considering altering equipment
i) injury to ankle - change skates potential
ii) shoulder injury - alter type and size of shoulder pads
iii) broken finger(s) or hand - alter glove type and size
iv) gain weight - change pant size maybe

so... simple question - if your kids who's 13 comes to you and says I need a new stick cause the old one is too short - you buy him a longer stick correct? do you buy the same flex as he had before? when you 16 year old who has grown 2 inches in height and 20 lbs gets a new stick - does he get a short one because that was what he used before?

and about that insanity thing.... expecting a different result from repeatedly doing the same thing?
- BorjeFan4Ever

How about the change of a brand new team and city. 2 different coaches in one year. The team itself had like 7 or 8 new pieces as well all trying to gel and get used to the new scenery and systems. Then there's the piles of injuries around him with the most notable one being Malkin going down when the Hags-Malkin-Kessel line really started clicking. The guy has had a lot of change but has been very successful with that stick in the past. I think he's having some confidence issues at times as well.

Why do I have a feeling the Jackets are going to want to win this more than the Pens tonight...
- MattStrat

Because the Pens have failed to show a killer instinct all year. You can always tell when a team has a singular focus and desire to win. I haven't seen that from this team AT ALL this year.

That loss against the Isle really stung. Outplay them for large stretches but can't score. Same story different year. I like the energy the young guys have brought to the team, but they simply aren't talented enough to regularly change the results.

Because the Pens have failed to show a killer instinct all year. You can always tell when a team has a singular focus and desire to win. I haven't seen that from this team AT ALL this year.

That loss against the Isle really stung. Outplay them for large stretches but can't score. Same story different year. I like the energy the young guys have brought to the team, but they simply aren't talented enough to regularly change the results.
- madmike71

Pens scored one goal that game. All the players besides the bottom 6, except one didnt score. The PP with no young guys on it didnt score. So its not just on the young guys at all.

I've watched pretty much every game this year, have only missed a period or portion of a period here and there. There's been plenty of nights they've had killer instinct. They've came back from deficits a to win games a bunch of times since Sully took over too. That's killer instinct.

Pens scored one goal that game. All the players besides the bottom 6, except one didnt score. The PP with no young guys on it didnt score. So its not just on the young guys at all.

I've watched pretty much every game this year, have only missed a period or portion of a period here and there. There's been plenty of nights they've had killer instinct. They've came back from deficits a to win games a bunch of times since Sully took over too. That's killer instinct.
- MattStrat

Meh... Killer instinct is stringing together 8 or 9 wins together in a convincing way. Playing an entire 60mins game after game with stars dominating. We've seen stretches of Sid and Geno dominating, but can you honestly say they were dominating that Isle game? They didn't. They played well, but that's not good enough for such an important game.

Teams with "killer instinct" don't lose to Calgary in such an ugly way.

I don't want to go all "sammy" here, but let's talk about our chances when we win the next 5 of 6 games.....'cause they're 3 and 3 in their last 6.

Meh... Killer instinct is stringing together 8 or 9 wins together in a convincing way. Playing an entire 60mins game after game with stars dominating. We've seen stretches of Sid and Geno dominating, but can you honestly say they were dominating that Isle game? They didn't. They played well, but that's not good enough for such an important game.

Teams with "killer instinct" don't lose to Calgary in such an ugly way.

I don't want to go all "sammy" here, but let's talk about our chances when we win the next 5 of 6 games.....'cause they're 3 and 3 in their last 6.
- madmike71

The sammy logic you have there... is why I was so restrained after the Ranger win we had. I wanted 3 or 4 in a row, something we seem to be unable to do.

The sammy logic you have there... is why I was so restrained after the Ranger win we had. I wanted 3 or 4 in a row, something we seem to be unable to do.
- Guile

They've been pretty good in the games following loses. Hopefully that trend continues this eve.

They've been pretty good in the games following loses. Hopefully that trend continues this eve.
- MattStrat

Tiops has a blog up talking about this exact issue. Out of the last 15, we've only won back to back games one time. It's crazy. Nearly every win is followed by a loss. Not going to get very far doing that.

Meh... Killer instinct is stringing together 8 or 9 wins together in a convincing way. Playing an entire 60mins game after game with stars dominating. We've seen stretches of Sid and Geno dominating, but can you honestly say they were dominating that Isle game? They didn't. They played well, but that's not good enough for such an important game.

Teams with "killer instinct" don't lose to Calgary in such an ugly way.

I don't want to go all "sammy" here, but let's talk about our chances when we win the next 5 of 6 games.....'cause they're 3 and 3 in their last 6.
- madmike71

Anaheim lost to Colorado