Someone made an argument last blog about Pearson. I thought he was invisible again last night. I even think I read he had one shot on goal. He's been underwhelming for a while now. He's got to score or Hagelin brought way more value.

It's becoming slightly concerning...
- YouMeAndDupuis9

They’ve replaced a useless Hags with a useless Pearson. It’s not like they got worse because of it.

I stopped reading after he said fighting was lowbrow. Does not know hockey.
- l19f9

Who are you?

I don’t agree about the Geno injury. To just assume it was during a fight to push your opinion on everyone is more ridiculous than him fighting. I like the fact our sport lets players stick up for each other/themselves. I don’t think we should employ a goon however I REALLY don’t want Sid and Geno having to sit in the box all night or get hurt. Having a guy that can throw down and score points is a something I think we need. Honestly look at the Tampa game. They took liberties with our guys and we have no one to do anything. We dont even have Cole or Kuni that will lay a guy out. I love our team for sure but we don’t have anyone who is physical.

I stopped reading after he said fighting was lowbrow. Does not know hockey.
- l19f9

So because his opinion of fighting in hockey is different than yours he doesn't know hockey?

I’ve got a game for hockey media. Duck, duck, shut the (frank) up.

LOL

I think there’s a difference between guys (frank)ing around after the final whistle blows and guys forcing a stoppage in play because they felt like it would be fun to have bout. Granted, I don’t think staged fights are a cancer on the game or anything, I just think they’re super dumb and belittle real fights when guys actually drop the gloves for a reason.
- Victoro311

Agreed

I don’t agree about the Geno injury. To just assume it was during a fight to push your opinion on everyone is more ridiculous than him fighting. I like the fact our sport lets players stick up for each other/themselves. I don’t think we should employ a goon however I REALLY don’t want Sid and Geno having to sit in the box all night or get hurt. Having a guy that can throw down and score points is a something I think we need. Honestly look at the Tampa game. They took liberties with our guys and we have no one to do anything. We dont even have Cole or Kuni that will lay a guy out. I love our team for sure but we don’t have anyone who is physical.
- Chuck-Norris

Pens lead the league in hits....hits don't need to be bone crushing, they need to be smart. Kunitz wasnt a bone crusher but he was an extremely smart and effective checker. I think Wilson, Guentzel, Pearson, ZAR, Letang, Rikki, Dumo all hit and intelligently. Wilson probabky hardest hitter of those.

They do have a pretty hard hitter in JJ but unfortunately pretty much every other faucet of his game blows and he shouldn't be dressed every (or any) game.

What you're looking for is a Wilson type player...top 6 guy like that is pretty rare.

My main concern moving forward is that Rutherford will mandate that McCann be 3C when the lineup is healthy. I think that’d be a mistake. I really like Bjugstad in thag 3C role.
- Victoro311

I’m also concerned. He’s fit well at center and along side Kessel. I’m hoping these last two games will convince them to try him out at center a little longer when Geno comes back.

On a side note, I like how Bjugstad goes to the net.

Pens lead the league in hits....hits don't need to be bone crushing, they need to be smart. Kunitz wasnt a bone crusher but he was an extremely smart and effective checker. I think Wilson, Guentzel, Pearson, ZAR, Letang, Rikki, Dumo all hit and intelligently. Wilson probabky hardest hitter of those.

They do have a pretty hard hitter in JJ but unfortunately pretty much every other faucet of his game blows and he shouldn't be dressed every (or any) game.

What you're looking for is a Wilson type player...top 6 guy like that is pretty rare.
- MattStrat

Actually Kunitz come playoff time was always a heavy hitter.

I mean I can see both sides of the celebrations thing. It is for fun which I understand but it doesnt seem right for the environment. Could you imagine how this would look in other professions? These are professionals and they should look the part.

i like the canes celebrations. they seem to be having fun with it. when they start to look like they are just going thru the motions is when they should stop. But for now, who cares what anyone outside their locker room thinks. if it works for them, it works.

I mean I can see both sides of the celebrations thing. It is for fun which I understand but it doesnt seem right for the environment. Could you imagine how this would look in other professions? These are professionals and they should look the part.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

NFL players do group celebrations after every touchdown and they’re professionals. It’s a sport. A game. (frank) it. Have some fun. Hockey needs some personality.

NFL players do group celebrations after every touchdown and they’re professionals. It’s a sport. A game. (frank) it. Have some fun. Hockey needs some personality.
- j.boyd919

Hey, they have tons of personality. Um... Pierre McGuire? Not enough personality for you?

I'm gonna beat my drum a little bit from last night's game...

IMO one of the major things that made the Pens so dominant in 15/16 was their ability to keep teams to the perimeter in their own zone. This in-turn allowed them to have a wider transition out of the zone.

People talked about how fast that team was, but the fact is they weren't THAT much faster than they were now. Yes, a few key players made them a faster team, but they were simply playing more aggressive in their own zone forcing teams to the perimeter.

Watching last night's game that's exactly what the Leafs were doing and what the Pens eventually did in the 3rd period. The Pens are still completely capable of this, but for some reason don't snap into that mind-set until it's too late and that's what is more frustrating than anything.

I don't think ability is hampering this team; I truly believe there is a mind-set that keeps them from "getting to their game." Even with some weak links on defense if most of the guys on the ice are committed to that style which requires a certain amount of effort and awareness they can take on anyone.

This team isn't bereft of people who can score, nor are they a team that bleeds goals. I wish they'd watch the 3rd period from last night and just stay there.

Please don't compare Cullen to Craig Adams. Since Cullen has returned from his injury he's been fine at 4C. I would give him a breather every now and then but Adams was a black hole of nothingness. Plus Cullen is well liked in the locker room unlike Adams.

Please don't compare Cullen to Craig Adams. Since Cullen has returned from his injury he's been fine at 4C. I would give him a breather every now and then but Adams was a black hole of nothingness. Plus Cullen is well liked in the locker room unlike Adams.
- acdc1206

Nobody is comparing Cullen to Adams. They're comparing a situation where a coach sticks with a "favorite" when there are other players not dressed who can be more effective.

I have no major complaints about Cullen, but when Malkin is healthy it wouldn't hurt to have a Bleuger-McCann-Wilson line and give Cullen time to rest and have more energy for the playoffs.

I'm gonna beat my drum a little bit from last night's game...

IMO one of the major things that made the Pens so dominant in 15/16 was their ability to keep teams to the perimeter in their own zone. This in-turn allowed them to have a wider transition out of the zone.

People talked about how fast that team was, but the fact is they weren't THAT much faster than they were now. Yes, a few key players made them a faster team, but they were simply playing more aggressive in their own zone forcing teams to the perimeter.

Watching last night's game that's exactly what the Leafs were doing and what the Pens eventually did in the 3rd period. The Pens are still completely capable of this, but for some reason don't snap into that mind-set until it's too late and that's what is more frustrating than anything.

I don't think ability is hampering this team; I truly believe there is a mind-set that keeps them from "getting to their game." Even with some weak links on defense if most of the guys on the ice are committed to that style which requires a certain amount of effort and awareness they can take on anyone.

This team isn't bereft of people who can score, nor are they a team that bleeds goals. I wish they'd watch the 3rd period from last night and just stay there.
- Rinosaur

I will agree that back then we did a really good job of keeping teams to the outside. What we also did A TON of was flip pucks out and trap teams more than we do now. The most common theme for forechecks last night was that the team who kept chipping it softly up to their own hash marks in their own zone continuously turned the puck over. Sullivan said he was going to change the way we play. My opinion is that Sullivan is always a step late in making adjustments

I don’t buy into the theory of “we should just play like we did in the third” because most hockey teams, including Toronto, are very content to just flip pucks out, create the occasional forcing of the issue by the weak side winger and maybe the center, and then to trap. The only time Toronto lost control in the 3rd was when they soft chipped or soft rimmed it from deep in their own zone. Dumo, JJ, and McCann all created offense off flip plays and Brassard picked up an assist yesterday because he softly banked it up to create a puck battle which Hoffman won in the neutral zone. If Hoffman doesn’t win that battle then Vegas likely just dumps it back in and you reset with a set breakout

The other thing I was going to say is that there’s definitely a difference between a team with fast skaters and a team that plays an up tempo north south game. For me, our breakouts are too predictable and easy to shut down. I’d like to see the odd aerial to Phil or Rust or Simon, whoever to keep the oppositions D honest and away from holding the blue lines constantly. It’s almost like watching women’s hockey or peewees but they continue to mash it up the boards as well

I have a feeling Tanner Pearson will end up being a nice player for the Penguins. I'm sure he's glad Brassard is gone. I'd have him on Geno's line. I definitely don't like Hornie and Pearson on the same line.

I'd do...

Guentz, Sid, Hornie
Pearson, Geno, Kessel
Rust, Bjug, Simon/ZAR
Wilson, McCann, Blueger
Cullen, ZAR

I think we have some nice pieces for the 3rd and 4th lines that will create competition for playing time.

The other thing I was going to say is that there’s definitely a difference between a team with fast skaters and a team that plays an up tempo north south game. For me, our breakouts are too predictable and easy to shut down. I’d like to see the odd aerial to Phil or Rust or Simon, whoever to keep the oppositions D honest and away from holding the blue lines constantly. It’s almost like watching women’s hockey or peewees but they continue to mash it up the boards as well
- WSCTeton17

If I remember correctly, the 15/16 team used that play a bunch.

If I remember correctly, the 15/16 team used that play a bunch.
- madmike71

Not a bunch. They didn't have to.

Pens lead the league in hits....hits don't need to be bone crushing, they need to be smart. Kunitz wasnt a bone crusher but he was an extremely smart and effective checker. I think Wilson, Guentzel, Pearson, ZAR, Letang, Rikki, Dumo all hit and intelligently. Wilson probabky hardest hitter of those.

They do have a pretty hard hitter in JJ but unfortunately pretty much every other faucet of his game blows and he shouldn't be dressed every (or any) game

What you're looking for is a Wilson type player...top 6 guy like that is pretty rare.
- MattStrat

No I mean hits that knock guys off the puck. We hit a lot but not effective at what we are trying to do. Chipping bodies is different than separating man from puck. Kunitz was very good at this. JJ hits hard but like you said he is just awful at everything else. I mean we need a guy like E Kane, someone who is good but also can handle the physical side. Or Simmonds, but he plays for the flyers so I have to hate him. Trust me I’m not a grit monger at all but when Geno/Sid have to start throwing punches I feel like we might need something there.. Every toolbox needs a hammer. Wilson isn’t terrible however I honestly didn’t hate Reeves as much as everyone else did.

If I remember correctly, the 15/16 team used that play a bunch.
- madmike71

As did the 16/17 team. It’s just a good hockey play when you’re all on the same page and know when to expect it. It can really back off a teams aggressive forecheck

I remember earlier in the season we did some high flip plays which alleviated pressure and led to offense and Errey was all over it. Then a game or two later Potash reported that Sullivan like it when they used that element in their toolbox and that he wanted to see more of it. So is it a poor job by the players that we aren’t seeing it more, is it that the coaches have told them to try to make more direct passes, or is it that the coaches just aren’t echoing that part of the strategy enough?

With the Caps losing we’ve tied them in the standings and aren’t far back from the Isles. It’ll be interesting to see how things shake out moving forward. I would think we would all agree the best case scenario is to win the division and play Columbus in the first round, right? Another date with Bob