what I mean is that we are in the same situation as before "kind of" except now it is the bottom six that is producing and our top 6 that are not. what happens when the bottom six go cold for a while? well then the top six is scoring hopefully but they are not now.
- martox

This is also about the only time the Penguins play a team with superstar forwards equal to our own.

If we are getting bottom 6 scoring and top 6 scoring its like the rangers series when we scored 5 goals a game. Washington was never going to be that easy.

When was the last time a Pens coached showed some fire?
- j.boyd919

The team was "allowed" to melt down before. Not with this guy. I remember Disco talking about dealing with a star laden team. How it was different. Fuk that. Put a boot in the ass of who deserves it. Geno's reaction there reminds me of a dog that pooped on the livingroom carpet. As it should be...

we looked like we would be the first to win our round. now we will probably be the last one. goddamnit... you need the rest when playing like we are.
- martox

I guess the slight upside of this is that we are getting bigger breaks between games, so hopefully that helps. 2 days between 4 and 5, now 2 days between 5 and 6.

Dude, you know nothing about goaltending

When a team is on the powerplay, the sole reason for the puck movement is to open up shooting lanes and get the goalie moving laterally. A Goalie who is consistently "at the top of his crease" will have too much distance to move to cover the net on one timers passed across the zone. He needs to play deeper in his net to be able to get his body on the puck

On the second goal, Murray did his job, he made the first save, Cullen and the other Pens player did not to theirs, by tying up the sticks of the Washington players and not allowing them a shot at the rebound
- TheGame316

I never have nor would I ever claim to be a goaltending expert, I do have the pleasure of consulting with goaltending coaches on the regular basis through various teams I've worked with over the years, to correct your misrepresentation of what I said, never once did I say Murray needed to be at the top of his crease all the time, what I said (and this comes directly from 2 different goalie coaches I've spoken with) is that on the Ovechkin goal he did a poor job of using his size (6'4" tall) by not challenging the shooter and instead choosing to stay deep in the net and rely on his reflexes to stop the shot. Ovechkin is the best pure sniper in the league and if your going to give him that much room high by not challenging and taking the angle away he's going to beat you more often than not.


Direct quote from my buddy who works primarily with D1 goalies, "no goalie 6'3" or taller should ever be beat over the shoulder by a shot from 20' out, if he's on the proper angle there is no physical way the puck can clear his shoulder and stay under the crossbar".

So with Olli Maatta on the ice with a contact jersey, what do we do now? These past few games have made me think that while when he can look atrocious at times and his blunders are really noticeable, Olli's presence is still missed due to his positioning and stick work. Who do you play out of Maatta, Lovejoy, and Schultz

So with Olli Maatta on the ice with a contact jersey, what do we do now? These past few games have made me think that while when he can look atrocious at times and his blunders are really noticeable, Olli's presence is still missed due to his positioning and stick work. Who do you play out of Maatta, Lovejoy, and Schultz
- Victoro311

Maatta goes back in. Schultz comes out. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I don't think Schultz has done anything to warrant his removal.

So with Olli Maatta on the ice with a contact jersey, what do we do now? These past few games have made me think that while when he can look atrocious at times and his blunders are really noticeable, Olli's presence is still missed due to his positioning and stick work. Who do you play out of Maatta, Lovejoy, and Schultz
- Victoro311

I was thinking the same thing. I thought Schultz was pretty good last game. Cole had the penalty, that for me, changed the game. I suspect they'll sit Schultz though. I' ll go with Maatta for Cole. Doubt it happens, but we'll see.

I think we see an extremely fired up Pens team tomorrow night. A full 60 minute team.
- MattStrat

They better come out from the start with a high level of desperation and urgency. While its not an elimination game for them, if they lose, they go on the road in a game seven knowing they blew two chances to end it. This team doesn't want to go to a game seven in Washington regardless how the history of these two in playoff series have gone.

Looks like Schultz is out.
https://twitter.com/PensI...status/729697727198711808

Looks like Schultz might be out unless they roll a Pouliot - Schultz pair which I find unlikely.
https://twitter.com/BWest...status/729696813079498752
- tpcg402

he said schultz - pouliot before cole - lovejoy

Looks like Schultz is out.
https://twitter.com/PensI...status/729697727198711808
- tpcg402

I imagine he wants to see how Maata performs first

he said schultz - pouliot before cole - lovejoy
- martox

I deleted and edited that. Was first tweet I saw. Def looks like Schultz is out.

Maatta goes back in. Schultz comes out. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I don't think Schultz has done anything to warrant his removal.
- madmike71

That's the thing. No ones really done anything to get taken out of the lineup besides Maatta, but I think through his absence he's proving that he should be playing. Even when he's not at his best, which he hasn't been this season, Maatta still does little things that go unnoticed which collectively make a big difference.

This is nothing against Lovejoy. I think he's played well all season and has been solid this playoffs, but I'd like to see what a lineup with Maatta and Schultz in it looks likes. But game 6/7 against the Presidents Trophie winners isn't really the time to expirament. I think for the rest of this series either Maatta stays out, or comes in for Jultz.

All things being equal its better to play lovejoy over schultz. But i want to resign Schultz so you remove some risks that he increases his value. I"m not exactly sure who I would play between Schultz/Lovejoy.

Reading comments and listening nationally you'd swear we are one game away from elimination

That's the thing. No ones really done anything to get taken out of the lineup besides Maatta, but I think through his absence he's proving that he should be playing. Even when he's not at his best, which he hasn't been this season, Maatta still does little things that go unnoticed which collectively make a big difference.

This is nothing against Lovejoy. I think he's played well all season and has been solid this playoffs, but I'd like to see what a lineup with Maatta and Schultz in it looks likes. But game 6/7 against the Presidents Trophie winners isn't really the time to expirament. I think for the rest of this series either Maatta stays out, or comes in for Jultz.
- Victoro311

I think it's similar with Washington. Orpik might suck, but it pushes everybody up a slot on the D depth chart. When Maatta is out it gives Cole and Lovejoy more minutes and a tougher workload. I think those two are more effective(or less noticeable, in a good way) in limited minutes and being our pk'ers.

I'm still saying Schultz should be in over lovejoy... More offensive skills

Reading comments and listening nationally you'd swear we are one game away from elimination
- dbell646

i feel that way because i am not confident in the prospects of a game 7 that returns to washington.

this needs to be handled tomorrow night.

Reading comments and listening nationally you'd swear we are one game away from elimination
- dbell646

How many of us would be comfortable going to Washington for a game 7, if we were to lose game 6 and knowing we had two opportunities to close out the series and blew it? Washington would have all the momentum heading into that game. There is a need for urgency for Pittsburgh to end it in game six. While its an elimination game for Washington, there is a tremendous amount of pressure on Pittsburgh Tuesday night to end it.

Everyone knew that to win the East you had to go thru Washington and Tampa in either order. So the Islander path is not that much different than the Penguin path. Does anyone really think that the Caps wouldn't have gotten thru the Islanders any different than Tampa did.

The Pens are due for a good game, game three was probably their worst performance of the post-season, they've played better in each of the last two games and I look for that to continue. A little more discipline and desperation will be the theme tomorrow. Adding Orpik will be a lift for the Caps, I just can't see where the Caps can play with any more desire than they showed last game. That was the first time I really noticed them going 100%; diving for pucks, taking hits, clearing the net and sacrificing themselves. The last change should benefit Pittsburgh and if we can eliminate the couple mistakes that lead to Washington's goals the Pens can prevail.

Sullivan has confirmed that Murray will get that start. It's the right decision. I'm probably not alone in being very hesitant about Maatta. Thats a tough call if he's ready to go.

Sullivan has confirmed that Murray will get that start. It's the right decision. I'm probably not alone in being very hesitant about Maatta. Thats a tough call if he's ready to go.
- MattStrat

I won't get mad at Sullivan for any personnel decision he makes in regards to the blue line unless he puts Pouliot in.

I won't get mad at Sullivan for any personnel decision he makes in regards to the blue line unless he puts Pouliot in.
- Victoro311

I really cant see that happening. If it's not Maatta, it'll be Schultz.

How many of us would be comfortable going to Washington for a game 7, if we were to lose game 6 and knowing we had two opportunities to close out the series and blew it? Washington would have all the momentum heading into that game. There is a need for urgency for Pittsburgh to end it in game six. While its an elimination game for Washington, there is a tremendous amount of pressure on Pittsburgh Tuesday night to end it.
- Oneonta Penguin

The Pens can't exactly say they've played their best hockey either. That's where concern comes in. Malkin was atrocious last game and Sid was decent but hardly great. They need these guys to play up to their paychecks. As much as we're blown away by depth guys, it's time to nut up for Sid and Geno. Frankly, they need some more offense from Letang too.

The Pens can't exactly say they've played their best hockey either. That's where concern comes in. Malkin was atrocious last game and Sid was decent but hardly great. They need these guys to play up to their paychecks. As much as we're blown away by depth guys, it's time to nut up for Sid and Geno. Frankly, they need some more offense from Letang too.
- madmike71

I kinda think both teams are playing very well. Its just that each side has the talent to take away a lot of the things the other team wants to do. Goaltending has been good to with the exception of Murray last game.