Simon doesn't really have a specialty. Better than Sheary defensively. Much worse than Sheary offensively.

I think the Pens have been guilty of over-passing so far.....which as you say, will render Hornie useless. Regardless of the line, they have to get the puck on net to take advantage of what he does best.
- madmike71

Brassard likes to send the puck toward the net whenever he gets pressured. Which is why I like moving Hornqvist onto this line. The Pens have a long season and many injuries to sort thru before anything is set in stone. Malkin-Hagelin-Kessel is as close as you are going get as far a set line is concerned. Crosby-Geuntzel is an excellent fit. After that it is anybody's guess.

So you would be comfortable running a Hainsey/Dumo first pairing over the course of an 82+playoffs season and would be confident they would be on the positive end of goal differentials?
- j.boyd919

This question doesn't arise as Tanger is healthy... but those guys delivered when it mattered most, and currently Hainsey is doing a pretty decent job with the Leafs in a little reduced role (as mentioned above, most likely the better option over JJ)... easily outscoring a few of our offensive guys btw. (<- hell, just a little kidding ).

I honestly didn't see what Maatta was doing so wrong that got him benched. They need him for zone exits. JJ is not good at zone exits and Schultz is OK at them.
- Rinosaur

The entire defense stunk, Riikola played his way onto the team out of camp. Sullivan is giving him a deserved look, while sending a message that nobody is safe.

Riikola is still the number seven d-man, that hasn't changed. What has changed is Sullivan's tolerance for shoddy defense. Anyone who doesn't get the message here and now will be getting a new sweater to wear. This includes Johnson, Maatta, Shultz and Oleksiak. I think Letang and Dumoulin are safe, for now.

Ah. So we’re sheltering them with O zone faceoffs then because they’re unlikely to transition to offense then.
- j.boyd919

Hey, you and me are on exactly the same page on JJ. Just trying to figure out how they can minimize his liabilities.

He's decent on the D to O transition, he's good once in the d-zone, but everywhere else he's a mess.

This question doesn't arise as Tanger is healthy... but those guys delivered when it mattered most, and currently Hainsey is doing a pretty decent job with the Leafs in a little reduced role (as mentioned above, most likely the better option over JJ)... easily outscoring a few of our offensive guys btw. (<- hell, just a little kidding ).
- VeryModernMan

That didn’t answer my question though. Would you be confident having a top pairing of Hainsey/Dumo for 82+playoffs? Or are you conceding that whatever success that team/pairing had isn’t sustainable over the course of a season or more? Personally I think they got lucky.

The entire defense stunk, Riikola played his way onto the team out of camp. Sullivan is giving him a deserved look, while sending a message that nobody is safe.

Riikola is still the number seven d-man, that hasn't changed. What has changed is Sullivan's tolerance for shoddy defense. Anyone who doesn't get the message here and now will be getting a new sweater to wear. This includes Johnson, Maatta, Shultz and Oleksiak. I think Letang and Dumoulin are safe, for now.
- Thunderbolt

Maatta has ONE weakness as I see it and it's his foot speed against the rush; that's probably not going to change much unless he disengages offensively and hangs back more, but then he's not playing to one of his best strengths.

He's killer on skating the puck out of danger and zone-entries. He's better positionally than just about anyone on the team. I'll take his one weakness over most others.

Maatta has ONE weakness as I see it and it's his foot speed against the rush; that's probably not going to change much unless he disengages offensively and hangs back more, but then he's not playing to one of his best strengths.

He's killer on skating the puck out of danger and zone-entries. He's better positionally than just about anyone on the team. I'll take his one weakness over most others.
- Rinosaur

Totally agreed here.

Fantasy question since again, I'm really green to all this. Why do penalty minutes get rewarded?

This possession talk is all nonsense. Didn't our own Ryan Wilson tell us the Pens were lucky to win our back to back Cup? It's all luck. Goaltenders are lucky, shooters are lucky, Dmen are lucky, lucky bounce of the puck, lucky in off the post luck, some guy got very lucky last night, another is getting lucky right now and doesn't even play hockey!!

Aren't a lot of goals scored off the rush? Having a Dman that can't handle the speed off a rush is pretty critical.

How quick is Riiko on his skates?

Expecting another fast game by the Habs today. But if Price is out, that changes the landscape somewhat. Let's hope the Pens are engaged & rolling from the start.

Flower gets the shutout! God love him.

Sens on fire. I wonder if EK is regretting his decision at this moment?

That didn’t answer my question though.
- j.boyd919

I agree with Ryan that Dumoulin highly profits from Tanger, and partly[!] with you that Hainsey is better of on the second pair.

Flower gets the shutout! God love him.
- Aussiepenguin

Ya lucky _insert_yourself_...

Wow.... Brass to LW on Sids line.

Ya lucky _insert_yourself_...
- VeryModernMan

27 points!

He had to get 1 game where he found form & honestly he's been getting hammered to date.

Niemi is playing? Man, I should have bet the over!

Wow.... Brass to LW on Sids line.
- madmike71

I'll be surprised if that lasts the first period.

Wow.... Brass to LW on Sids line.
- madmike71

Nice, coaching staff seems to be also of impression that Sid needs a little more help.

Niemi is playing? Man, I should have bet the over!
- Rinosaur

Price is ill (flu).

Fantasy question since again, I'm really green to all this. Why do penalty minutes get rewarded?
- Rinosaur

Because it makes things fun? I dunno

Because it makes things fun? I dunno
- j.boyd919

LOL maybe. I was thinking maybe it was to put value on lesser players?

Maatta has ONE weakness as I see it and it's his foot speed against the rush; that's probably not going to change much unless he disengages offensively and hangs back more, but then he's not playing to one of his best strengths.

He's killer on skating the puck out of danger and zone-entries. He's better positionally than just about anyone on the team. I'll take his one weakness over most others.
- Rinosaur

Maatta will be tested tonight, Montreal is fast. Shultz and Johnson will be tested also. Riikola is the guy who will be sent down eventually, until then he will be getting a good look. This is much a test on the other six as it is a look at Riikola and if the team can trust him at this level.

Wow, the forwards are changed around quite a bit. I don't know what to make of that yet.

Maatta will be tested tonight, Montreal is fast. Shultz and Johnson will be tested also. Riikola is the guy who will be sent down eventually, until then he will be getting a good look. This is much a test on the other six as it is a look at Riikola and if the team can trust him at this level.

Wow, the forwards are changed around quite a bit. I don't know what to make of that yet.
- Thunderbolt

I don't know about that. If Riikola continues to be one of the best dmen the Pens may be seeing who they're going to move out to make room.

Fantasy question since again, I'm really green to all this. Why do penalty minutes get rewarded?
- Rinosaur

Its indeed funny that a misconduct can basicially win your weekly round... whether you call that fun or helpful for the corresponding team i will leave to others. I acknowledge penalties being "positive" for defenders, but offenders penalties should be minus points... with current pointing system offenders are basicially always >=0, while with defenders you may sometimes better off just using some always scratched 650k ones to secure the big zero.

That a boy Sprong.