One of the toughest thing for shooters coming into the NHL is finding the space in those areas to get shots off. It's half the reason Zadina is in the AHL right now.
- Feds91Stammer

He isnt going to find it easier in the top six facing the leagues best defenders.

@j.boyd919: Beginning with Aussie (who got the Ryan_Wilson points), you got the points wrong. But i will accept this as the chosen red is .
- VeryModernMan

whoops

He isnt going to find it easier in the top six facing the leagues best defenders.
- stackthepads

Well if you're playing with Sid and Geno, who can often draw multiple defenders, there is a good chance there would be more space. Also I'd bet there are more controlled zone entries, which would allow the Pens to control the puck and give him time to find that open space.

Well if you're playing with Sid and Geno, who can often draw multiple defenders, there is a good chance there would be more space. Also I'd bet there are more controlled zone entries, which would allow the Pens to control the puck and give him time to find that open space.
- j.boyd919

If he isnt able to figure out where the soft spots are against 4th line competition why do you think he is going to find it in the top lines?

If he isnt able to figure out where the soft spots are against 4th line competition why do you think he is going to find it in the top lines?
- stackthepads

What I'm saying is that line doesn't have possession of the puck at the time of their entries, so he isn't looking for a soft spot because there's no possession, they're busy trying to dump and chase (Sprong included). Wingers look for soft spots when their team has the puck, if they're dumping it in, the wingers are going to try and win the puck, and lines are much less likely to win the puck battles on dump ins as opposed to controlled zone entries.

If he isnt able to figure out where the soft spots are against 4th line competition why do you think he is going to find it in the top lines?
- stackthepads

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say Sid and Geno create way more soft spots than Cullen does.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say Sid and Geno create way more soft spots than Cullen does.
- Feds91Stammer

Exactly.

What I'm saying is that line doesn't have possession of the puck at the time of their entries, so he isn't looking for a soft spot because there's no possession, they're busy trying to dump and chase (Sprong included). Wingers look for soft spots when their team has the puck, if they're dumping it in, the wingers are going to try and win the puck, and lines are much less likely to win the puck battles on dump ins as opposed to controlled zone entries.
- j.boyd919

The 4th line has had some time in the zones, it isnt just dump and done for them all the time. What I am saying is I am not seeing Sprong get off any shots that give me the impression that he can beat NHL goalies on a consistent basis.
He is also getting 2nd PP time isnt he (I honestly dont remember)?

Im just getting a whole lot of the same vibe I saw on here around Pouliot where he is being valued at what people think he could be rather than what he has proven he is. Scorers in the NHL find the net, we have seen enough of Sprong IMO to deduce that he has a quick shot but he doesnt know how to make it work in the NHL yet.

Maybe Sid can figure it out for him, or maybe it destroys his confidence because he hasnt had a real taste of what it is to face a Hedman every shift.

A game. Fn finally.

A game. Fn finally.
- MattStrat

With Sprong and no Grant.

Horny my man. Just giving away everything.

Great hit Riiky

good shift by riikola there

Nice goal.

Nice Sid.

Rikki looking very solid so far.

poop. Bob Errey said Lucic had a few good scoring chances there but he really just whacked them into Murray’s pads. So we’re they even really scoring chances? What IS a scoring chance? Do they even really exist? Or are they a figment if our imagination?

whoops
- j.boyd919

I have a worse record than Aussie, but more points. I guess advanced stats fail?

Odd man rush against the Pens while the 2PP unit is out. Does Sprong play any more this game?

was worried that sid was pulling a scotty gomez. good to see thats not the case

Odd man rush against the Pens while the 2PP unit is out. Does Sprong play any more this game?
- Rinosaur

He’s certainly not doing himself any favours

Odd man rush against the Pens while the 2PP unit is out. Does Sprong play any more this game?
- Rinosaur

People talking about Sprong finding soft spots... His performance on that PP was the exact opposite of trying to find a soft spot.

JJ mangled that.

People talking about Sprong finding soft spots... His performance on that PP was the exact opposite of trying to find a soft spot.
- madmike71

He was in no-mans-land.

WTF are the Pens doing? How many passes into traffic can they make?

He was in no-mans-land.
- Rinosaur

I thought he was trying to stay covered. It looked like he was comfortable being sandwiched between two defenders. Brassard must have been thinking WTF?

Then that shift... Yikes. Me thinks Grant will be getting a jersey next game.