I like Johnson over Maatta as well. Isles best chance is to muck up the flow of the game as much as possible. They'll continue to throw chaotic forecheck at the Pens and I think when playing at Nassau the pens need a simplified road game. Neither Olli or JJ are fleet of foot, but JJ is stronger on his stick and better suited to handle an intense, playoff forecheck.

The only downside is how they affect Shultz. I can't imagine JJ doing much worse than Olli did tonight though.
- Le_Magnifique

Maatta has played for 2 cups and JJ has none. I’m not a believer that JJ is better suited for playoff hockey. That’s foolish imo.

Bodies are flying in San Jose.

Guile, bring in the gritboner chart. This board has a ton of it tonight and we need a visual.

Lots of blame to go around but give the Isles credit, they came to play.
- all-pgh

That they did. Their fourth line outplayed the Pens first line by a lot.

Stop predicting shït. You suck at it.

😘
- Thorny87

Maatta has played for 2 cups and JJ has none. I’m not a believer that JJ is better suited for playoff hockey. That’s foolish imo.
- j.boyd919

If Olli is hurt and is gonna play like it he’s gotta come out. It’ll only get worse for him.

Right now it’s JJ or Trots and I’m gonna take JJ. Tough to say cause I like Maatta but that was the worstgame than I’ve seen from him in a while.

Pavs just scored with his face

Maatta has played for 2 cups and JJ has none. I’m not a believer that JJ is better suited for playoff hockey. That’s foolish imo.
- j.boyd919

I don't disagree. I know it's a knee jerk to think someone's gotta come out. The isles just had an extra gear and that's the main story. Crosby line got owned by Czikas line. I just think the Pens could have benefited tonight from some stronger play behind their own goal line and a few extra pucks high off the glass as the Isles were about to establish zone time (keeping the game boring and the crowd involvement at a minimum). I like Olli better than JJ in those situations, but the atmosphere of the Coliseum and the intensity of the Isles forecheck tonight makes me reconsider a bit.

They did those kind of things all season. Somebody trying to do too much followed by a turnover during a line change. They largely fixed that until tonight. Hell of time for that sh!t to pop up again.
- madmike71

Especially on the long change. Not smart at all.

Olli's had his share of struggles in those cup runs as well (see Bobby Ryan).

Olli's had his share of struggles in those cup runs as well (see Bobby Ryan).
- Le_Magnifique

yeah but olli's dad wasn't an attempted murderer nor did he get publicly called soft in the olympic team selections

Especially on the long change. Not smart at all.
- acdc1206

That’s my knock on Letang. Not the good outweighs the bad type play which I agree with. It’s that he makes some really boneheaded decisions. A 1 on 4 during a line change is not a risk reward situation. Dump it and change. You’re not Mario.

Good players have bad games.

Bad players have good games.

Bad players have far less good than bad or they wouldn't be bad players.

You don't dress JJ over Maatta for a bad game.

Good players have bad games.

Bad players have good games.

Bad players have far less good than bad or they wouldn't be bad players.

You don't dress JJ over Maatta for a bad game.
- Rinosaur

All good points unless the reason for having a bad game is because the player isn’t 100%. Only the team will know for sure.

We all knew that if tonight was a loss, especially with the defensive woes we’d see JJ.

You can still cheer for the Pens with JJ playing.

Olli's had his share of struggles in those cup runs as well (see Bobby Ryan).
- Le_Magnifique

Olli was also a +7 at 5v5 during those two cup runs so his "struggles" are completely overblown as he was a +4 one cup run and a +3 the other cup run at 5v5. Sure, you can point to the one play that sticks out in your mind, but the fact is, he was absolutely fine in those cup runs.

Good players have bad games.

Bad players have good games.

Bad players have far less good than bad or they wouldn't be bad players.

You don't dress JJ over Maatta for a bad game.
- Rinosaur

Tell Sully that.

All good points unless the reason for having a bad game is because the player isn’t 100%. Only the team will know for sure.

We all knew that if tonight was a loss, especially with the defensive woes we’d see JJ.

You can still cheer for the Pens with JJ playing.
- Thorny87

It's scarier that some people actually WANT JJ in the lineup over Maatta.

Tell Sully that.
- j.boyd919

Hey All the hipsters say Hi

Hey All the hipsters say Hi
- nyisles7

Sup buddy? How’s them skinny jeans? You celebrating with a skim milk mocha latte with shaved almonds and schnozberries or you doing the full hipster thing and drinking your 2nd IPA of the night because you were already buzzed from the first one?

Sup buddy? How’s them skinny jeans? You celebrating with a skim milk mocha latte with shaved almonds and schnozberries or you doing the full hipster thing and drinking your 2nd IPA of the night because you were already buzzed from the first one?
- j.boyd919

Yup, how did you guess?

You shouldn’t be up so late. Gotta get up early and pick those oranges in the morning Chico.

Talk to you Friday troll

Olli was also a +7 at 5v5 during those two cup runs so his "struggles" are completely overblown as he was a +4 one cup run and a +3 the other cup run at 5v5. Sure, you can point to the one play that sticks out in your mind, but the fact is, he was absolutely fine in those cup runs.
- j.boyd919

Pick whatever stat you need bud. Maatta's been no stranger to the healthy scratch discussion/wish list on various occasions the last few years. I know your analytical thinking suggests that we look at the numbers to determine the one and only lineup to deploy. There is such a thing as personnel decisions based on opponent though. Just some hypothetical chatter after a game. Thanks for being no fun.

I would like to see Wilson with Guentzel and Sid. Both Guentzel and Rust cheat to the offensive side of the puck habitually. Sid was doing all he could to get the puck out at times with little to no help. I think the Guentzel-Crosby combo is more than enough offense. Need a work horse. Especially with who their matchup is.

It’s funny reading some of the Kuhnhackl comments from last night too. If you couldn’t recognize his puck skills in the amount of time he spent here I just don’t know. I don’t understand why Sully would be so quick to put a guy like Simon with Sid and never gave Kuhnhackl a shot. Don’t believe everything a blogger tells you.

Guile, bring in the gritboner chart. This board has a ton of it tonight and we need a visual.
- Victoro311

You had the ability to go back 20 pages and repost it... I went to bed

Did every team that most picked to win their series lose last night?

Tampa at home, yikes.

I'm not really worried until the Pens lose at home IF they dont win Friday. You have to be weary of these Islanders...they seem like a team that will sneak out 1 goal wins.