Lol “play the game like a hockey player.” That dude is terrible lol it’s so funny that all these bums are the guys you’re a fan of. You go out of your way to try to turn these awful hockey players into something everyone just laughs at.
- j.boyd919

Ryan Wilson and his small ban of merry statsmen is something the entire hockey world laughs at. The real hockey world, like the people that get payed to be in it. I’m not saying the guy is great but (frank) the Senators were going to suck no matter what. And once again do you ever remember players leaving the bench to go to an injured player? You really skipped that part. That dude means something to that team. That dude makes people like hockey. But hey #controlledzoneentries

Perhaps, but he's 4th on the team in points (behind Sid, Jake, and Letang) and tied for 2nd in goals. I just don't see how that kind of production could play the role of "addition by subtraction". If someone with a "prettier" style produced that much, he'd make $6mil per.

I do like your point about going to the net more often. More often than not, it's stuff plays and recklessly jamming things that causes that havoc.

EDIT: Hopefully Lucic isn't there to get butthurt and assault someone.
- pens_4ever

Agree, losing Hornqvist doesn't make us better right now, he's been one of the team's top offensive players again. Glad we have a guy like Kahun to plug back in but still this is a loss.

Honestly the 4th line looked good. I don’t care what the “analytics” say, Pens should just put that snooze fest behind them.
- Grinder47

IMO Tanev should be with Galchenyuk and Malkin. Rust can ride the pine in the 3rd/4th line.

Ryan Wilson and his small ban of merry statsmen is something the entire hockey world laughs at. The real hockey world, like the people that get payed to be in it. I’m not saying the guy is great but (frank) the Senators were going to suck no matter what. And once again do you ever remember players leaving the bench to go to an injured player? You really skipped that part. That dude means something to that team. That dude makes people like hockey. But hey #controlledzoneentries
- Grinder47

You and I do not necessarily share the same opinions, but you are not allowed to criticize the bloggers. This is a safe space for him, per rule #5 of the CoC.

All that aside, I honestly believe that some coaches believe that running the Pens is the best strategy (e.g., Boudreau). I'm not doing the "grit boner", or whatever it's called, but I think STL's strength was their physical strength. I read a pretty good article about it on the NHL's website (sorry - can't find it immediately).

I almost wish there was a stat for winning puck battles. 1v1, 1v2, 2v1. It'd be interesting to try to quantify the cliche 50/50 puck situations to see who comes out of the corner with the puck more often than not. Or maybe it could be an engagement success rate or engagement denial rate (like who is taking Sid off of a puck?). I dunno

Tanev>Rust.
- Grinder47

In some capacities, sure. I’m not a Tanev hater at all. I said right from the get go he would be good for us, but I think Rust has a higher ceiling and I want to see if he can hit it this season or not

You and I do not necessarily share the same opinions, but you are not allowed to criticize the bloggers. This is a safe space for him, per rule #5 of the CoC.

All that aside, I honestly believe that some coaches believe that running the Pens is the best strategy (e.g., Boudreau). I'm not doing the "grit boner", or whatever it's called, but I think STL's strength was their physical strength. I read a pretty good article about it on the NHL's website (sorry - can't find it immediately).

I almost wish there was a stat for winning puck battles. 1v1, 1v2, 2v1. It'd be interesting to try to quantify the cliche 50/50 puck situations to see who comes out of the corner with the puck more often than not. Or maybe it could be an engagement success rate or engagement denial rate (like who is taking Sid off of a puck?). I dunno
- pens_4ever

Another option would be just watch and enjoy the game.

This team is going to hurt without Hornqvist, especially the already-struggling PP. Jake is great, but Hornqvist is obviously one of the best netfront guys in the league. Guys that can guarantee a 25-goal pace don't grow on trees.

I think it'd be worth giving Galchenyuk a good look on the PP1 (obviously not at netfront). He has very good PP numbers. I think it was actually one of the criticisms of him: "His 5v5 production isn't good, and he won't be on the PP in PIT, so he's a poor man's Kessel." I just have a feeling like he's got something that can be tapped on a team like the Penguins (vs. coming from ARI).

With some guys it just isn't a fit, but I think he can fit well. Perron was an almost-30 goal scorer that nobody gave GMJR credit for getting, but Doug Armstrong looks pretty smart for getting him (a Cup contributor last year and 7 goals in 14 games this year). Schultz gets no love and got over 50 points when Letang was on vacation in the 2nd Cup year. Stranger things have happened.
- pens_4ever

I agree. One thing he has that Kessel didn't have is a slapshot. For as much as the Pens like to pass the puck around on the PP, it would be nice to have some guys loaded up and ready to fire.

Wasn't there some discussion earlier about where he would play on the PP? I thought there was a position conflict with someone else on PP1.

Also, and not that I'm complaining about his game, but did anyone else think that both goals offered the opportunity for a pokecheck? The first one went right through his kitchen, and on the second, the dman draped all over the puck carrier makes him a little more susceptible to a sneaky poke (albeit perhaps less so than on the first goal).
- pens_4ever

That's one thing I really liked about Fleury. He was the King of the pokecheck and it was seemingly successful 9 times out of 10.

Ryan Wilson and his small ban of merry statsmen is something the entire hockey world laughs at. The real hockey world, like the people that get payed to be in it. I’m not saying the guy is great but (frank) the Senators were going to suck no matter what. And once again do you ever remember players leaving the bench to go to an injured player? You really skipped that part. That dude means something to that team. That dude makes people like hockey. But hey #controlledzoneentries
- Grinder47

For the record I would hip check the (frank) out of you coming through the neutral zone and feed you a twig when you come to fight me.

Guddy with the goal and leading the time on ice. Looks like he’s doing ok over there lol

I agree. One thing he has that Kessel didn't have is a slapshot. For as much as the Pens like to pass the puck around on the PP, it would be nice to have some guys loaded up and ready to fire.

Wasn't there some discussion earlier about where he would play on the PP? I thought there was a position conflict with someone else on PP1.
- Hockey66

He's generally played the same spot on the PP as Malkin. He wouldn't be able to one-time the puck as effectively elsewhere.

Guddy with the goal and leading the time on ice. Looks like he’s doing ok over there lol
- 10inchTerror

That's nice. Guddy is a good guy and can have stretches of good play. He'll stick in Anaheim.

Another option would be just watch and enjoy the game.
- Grinder47

Per Marshall: The Penguins defense coming into the beginning of November:

Shot-Attempts Against/60: 4th
Expected Goals-Against/60: 5th
Scoring Chances Against/60: 6th

This team is playing some really great defense. And they haven't done this since the 15/16 Cup year.

Per Marshall: The Penguins defense coming into the beginning of November:

Shot-Attempts Against/60: 4th
Expected Goals-Against/60: 5th
Scoring Chances Against/60: 6th

This team is playing some really great defense. And they haven't done this since the 15/16 Cup year.
- Tojo.

They are just playing together as a unit, and have game breakers and solid goaltending. They play this way down the stretch and we'll make noise.

Per Marshall: The Penguins defense coming into the beginning of November:

Shot-Attempts Against/60: 4th
Expected Goals-Against/60: 5th
Scoring Chances Against/60: 6th

This team is playing some really great defense. And they haven't done this since the 15/16 Cup year.
- Tojo.

Thanks for this...I asked for someone to post some of the underlying defense stuff after Feds posted comparing 3 underlying offence stats from this season and last season saying he saw no reasons to think this Pens team was playing any different/better than last year.

Can you post what they were in those 3 stats for last season? I think they were towards the bottom of the league.

Per Marshall: The Penguins defense coming into the beginning of November:

Shot-Attempts Against/60: 4th
Expected Goals-Against/60: 5th
Scoring Chances Against/60: 6th

This team is playing some really great defense. And they haven't done this since the 15/16 Cup year.
- Tojo.

Definitely an encouraging start. If they can sustain this that would be great.

I wonder what it would take the Pens to get the Rangers to trade Kreider within the division.

Definitely an encouraging start. If they can sustain this that would be great.
- Rinosaur

Thanks for being realistically pessimistic

I wonder what it would take the Pens to get the Rangers to trade Kreider within the division.
- Rinosaur

I like Kreider a lot. He'd be a good fit for us. Probably Rust + would have to go.

Thanks for being realistically pessimistic
- Barnaby36

Well I personally believe that it's not just on the dmen. This has come along with a commitment team defense, i.e. puck support, making sure they're not getting caught deep over and over like last year and making the effort to get back when necessary.

Early season success for any team there's going to be sustainability questions for whatever is getting them there.

Thanks for this...I asked for someone to post some of the underlying defense stuff after Feds posted comparing 3 underlying offence stats from this season and last season saying he saw no reasons to think this Pens team was playing any different/better than last year.

Can you post what they were in those 3 stats for last season? I think they were towards the bottom of the league.
- MattStrat

Jesse said they were in the bottom third of every category last season.

Well I personally believe that it's not just on the dmen. This has come along with a commitment team defense, i.e. puck support, making sure they're not getting caught deep over and over like last year and making the effort to get back when necessary.

Early season success for any team there's going to be sustainability questions for whatever is getting them there.
- Rinosaur

Having a competent 2nd pairing also goes a long way.

Ryan Wilson and his small ban of merry statsmen is something the entire hockey world laughs at. The real hockey world, like the people that get payed to be in it. I’m not saying the guy is great but (frank) the Senators were going to suck no matter what. And once again do you ever remember players leaving the bench to go to an injured player? You really skipped that part. That dude means something to that team. That dude makes people like hockey. But hey #controlledzoneentries
- Grinder47

Lol this is some comical poop.

“That dude means something to that team.”

Every team in every sport does the same poop for injured players. Trying to make this about a 27 year old dog poop hockey player that’s a “tough guy” is just as funny as “because fancy stats.”

It’s hilarious.

Having a competent 2nd pairing also goes a long way.
- j.boyd919

It does, but there's also an overall effort that's different. I felt the forwards last year were for lack of a better word, lazy, in making sure once they entered the zone that they didn't keep themselves defensively aware to head off things like odd-man rushes.

One thing I'd really like to see and I don't know if this came from having faster players in the lineup in 15/16 was their ability to keep teams to the perimeter. That not only allowed fewer quality chances on net, but the ability to counterstrike fast.