JR and Sully aren't going anywhere after this season so you might as well root for them to succeed. However, I agree that Sullivan is clearly treading into Bylsma territory. Stubborn as fvck and his personnel choices aren't always based on merit.
- madmike71

Lol Sullivan is no where close to Bylsma territory yet. Come on, guys. We dropped one game vs a weak opponent where we controlled the the tempo of the game. It’s hockey and poop happens. Johnson sucks and our PP is broken but it’s far from time to pull the plug.

Also the only pp goal Hornqvist was right in front causing havoc giving rust the opportunity to poke the puck in the net
- abcpens10

You'd think that would have been obvious. Watching Sully and Recchi gag with that hot mess of a PP last night gives me zero confidence they'll find answers. Maybe they need more time 'cause 10 months was clearly not enough.

Am I the only one that thinks using Crosby in Phil's old spot is almost as bad as converting Iggy into a left wing? But I digress...

By the way... Driving the net and making the goalies life miserable also works at even strength too.

Lol Sullivan is no where close to Bylsma territory yet. Come on, guys. We dropped one game vs a weak opponent where we controlled the the tempo of the game. It’s hockey and poop happens. Johnson sucks and our PP is broken but it’s far from time to pull the plug.
- Victoro311

No, we have dropped 7 straight playoff games, the last 5 of which were against weak opponents.

We can control all the tempo all we want but it's about scoring more than the other team. That's not going to happen with Murray, JJ and Sheary playing over superior players and getting more minutes than they should. Our PP is not going to improve because, like Sully, Recchi is incapable of adapting.

The only stylistic difference between Sully and Bylsma is discipline. But the net result is that both are wasting generational talents by refusing to adapt the gameplan or the lineup.

You'd think that would have been obvious. Watching Sully and Recchi gag with that hot mess of a PP last night gives me zero confidence they'll find answers. Maybe they need more time 'cause 10 months was clearly not enough.

Am I the only one that thinks using Crosby in Phil's old spot is almost as bad as converting Iggy into a left wing? But I digress...

By the way... Driving the net and making the goalies life miserable also works at even strength too.
- madmike71

You'd think that would have been obvious. Watching Sully and Recchi gag with that hot mess of a PP last night gives me zero confidence they'll find answers. Maybe they need more time 'cause 10 months was clearly not enough.

Am I the only one that thinks using Crosby in Phil's old spot is almost as bad as converting Iggy into a left wing? But I digress...

By the way... Driving the net and making the goalies life miserable also works at even strength too.
- madmike71

Oh it’s terrible. Crosby isn’t touching the puck enough of the PP and if him and Geno are in Phil’s spot; that is absolutely a waste of time. I don’t understand why they don’t try Letang over there and Schultz up high with Geno in the half wall, Sid down low and Horny in front.

Oh it’s terrible. Crosby isn’t touching the puck enough of the PP and if him and Geno are in Phil’s spot; that is absolutely a waste of time. I don’t understand why they don’t try Letang over there and Schultz up high with Geno in the half wall, Sid down low and Horny in front.
- j.boyd919

I was going to say about the same. Sid down low, Horny in the slot, and Malkin on the right half wall should be written in stone it's so obvious. Fill out the other two spots with what you say or something very similar (a mobile defenseman at the point and whoever on the left wall, it really doesn't matter too much).

So it’s a proven fact that Hornqvist is capable of scoring at a much higher rate than Sheary on Crosby’s wing, but he’s not the best option because you say so. 👍.

I was going to say about the same. Sid down low, Horny in the slot, and Malkin on the right half wall should be written in stone it's so obvious. Fill out the other two spots with what you say or something very similar (a mobile defenseman at the point and whoever on the left wall, it really doesn't matter too much).
- Hockey66

Obvious to everyone except the coching staff apparently.

Lol Sullivan is no where close to Bylsma territory yet. Come on, guys. We dropped one game vs a weak opponent where we controlled the the tempo of the game. It’s hockey and poop happens. Johnson sucks and our PP is broken but it’s far from time to pull the plug.
- Victoro311

He is 2 games from that... another first round sweep will crucify him as a HC coach.

He is 2 games from that... another first round sweep will crucify him as a HC coach.
- Guile

While I agree with Vic, getting swept would probably be a very different situation for Sully, but we're not there yet. I'm honestly expecting the Penguins to flex tonight.

Obvious to everyone except the coching staff apparently.
- powerhouse

Just think of what other coaches would do with this lineup. Would any of them put Sheary on the top line in the playoffs? I doubt it. Would any of them give JJ a sweater? We know Torts, for one, wouldn't. Some old school guys would probably start Murray over Jarry, but I bet a lot wouldn't. Would any not put Crosby down low on the PP? Would any play Horny the second fewest minutes against a goalie who saves everything he sees? It's almost a case study in how to sabotage a team's chances without being completely blatant about it.

While I agree with Vic, getting swept would probably be a very different situation for Sully, but we're not there yet. I'm honestly expecting the Penguins to flex tonight.
- Rinosaur

And that is why I disagree with my alternate account... 2 games in a row is pretty (frank)ing close.

And that is why I disagree with my alternate account... 2 games in a row is pretty (frank)ing close.
- Guile

Mendoza Line Murray vs. Unobstructed Price

He is 2 games from that... another first round sweep will crucify him as a HC coach.
- Guile

Sure. But we can talk about a sweep when it happens. Unlike last year where we played pretty pooptily vs the Isles, we controlled this last game. If the team comes out tonight totally deflated and we go down 0-2, then there’ll be a lot of valid criticism to go around but after a good game that didn’t go our way, there is a lot of premature doomering going around here.

Sure. But we can talk about a sweep when it happens. Unlike last year where we played pretty pooptily vs the Isles, we controlled this last game. If the team comes out tonight totally deflated and we go down 0-2, then there’ll be a lot of valid criticism to go around but after a good game that didn’t go our way, there is a lot of premature doomering going around here.
- Victoro311

We controlled game 1 against the Islanders as well

Oh it’s terrible. Crosby isn’t touching the puck enough of the PP and if him and Geno are in Phil’s spot; that is absolutely a waste of time. I don’t understand why they don’t try Letang over there and Schultz up high with Geno in the half wall, Sid down low and Horny in front.
- j.boyd919

The one exception I might make to putting Sid in the Kessel spot is if Guentzel goes to his spot. He was good there with Crosby out. Malkin in Kessel's spot just takes away the best one-timer. Hornqvist in front us the most important change IMO.

Sure. But we can talk about a sweep when it happens. Unlike last year where we played pretty pooptily vs the Isles, we controlled this last game. If the team comes out tonight totally deflated and we go down 0-2, then there’ll be a lot of valid criticism to go around but after a good game that didn’t go our way, there is a lot of premature doomering going around here.
- Victoro311

My concern is we didn't really control the game after the 1st period and I don't expect us to against such a good possession team. Julien is a good coach and he already adjusted his fore-check to eliminate the gap the Pens were taking advantage of early. They need to make their chances count, that's their edge.

The one exception I might make to putting Sid in the Kessel spot is if Guentzel goes to his spot. He was good there with Crosby out. Malkin in Kessel's spot just takes away the best one-timer. Hornqvist in front us the most important change IMO.
- Tojo.

I thought Rust had a decent stretch in Kessels spot during the regular season but yeah I agree with keeping Geno in the other side of the ice. Biggest problem for me on the PP was how many perimeter shots there were. Too many forced shots from the point. They weren’t very good at exposing the 2v1s in the ice.

I thought Rust had a decent stretch in Kessels spot during the regular season but yeah I agree with keeping Geno in the other side of the ice. Biggest problem for me on the PP was how many perimeter shots there were. Too many forced shots from the point. They weren’t very good at exposing the 2v1s in the ice.
- j.boyd919

Rust did though he and Crosby were switching around. Rust is my first choice. If they want Guentzel that would be the way I would go and would also be good. They have to respect Sid over there and I think he'd get the puck more and be able to set up teammates at least.

It's just too easy right now as they don't need a defenseman to fight to keep things clean for Price and only need to defend Malkin's unscreened shot. They'll give us that point shot without traffic all day.

I thought Rust had a decent stretch in Kessels spot during the regular season but yeah I agree with keeping Geno in the other side of the ice. Biggest problem for me on the PP was how many perimeter shots there were. Too many forced shots from the point. They weren’t very good at exposing the 2v1s in the ice.
- j.boyd919

I would give Rust a shot with Hornie back in front of the net. That gives them 2 guys that will definitely drive the net and dig for pucks. I love Guentz, but he looks like a guy that hasn't played hockey in 7 months. He's taking some punishment that I'd rather have Hornie take....frankly. Perimeter hockey was the reason for all those Bylsma failures.

I’ve said it before, it should have been 20 teams. Top 3 from each division are automatically in. Two wild card teams play the two teams just outside the wildcard in a best of 5 to see who gets in. Would have been the most accurate representation.
- kfinl170

Dude, its such a point less argument to make about "how the playoffs should be formatted". No matter what the league chooses, there will be an equal amount of people complaining, that is wasn't fair or wasn't right or wasn't "most accurate".

The route the NHL choose is absolutely fair enough. If the 5s can't beat the 12s is a 5 game series, they just don't deserve to be in the playoffs.

Murray in net again per Sully.

My concern is we didn't really control the game after the 1st period and I don't expect us to against such a good possession team. Julien is a good coach and he already adjusted his fore-check to eliminate the gap the Pens were taking advantage of early. They need to make their chances count, that's their edge.
- Tojo.

We were a top tier possession team before the injuries started to hit. I don't think we're as good/complete as the Bruins or Tampa Bay, but we're not scrubs either and at least in TB's case, Sullivan should be able to out coach Cooper. We just need to get our skates under us and beat off some rust.

We were a top tier possession team before the injuries started to hit. I don't think we're as good/complete as the Bruins or Tampa Bay, but we're not scrubs either and at least in TB's case, Sullivan should be able to out coach Cooper. We just need to get our skates under us and beat off some rust.
- Victoro311

I actually think the Pens aren’t far behind either of those teams when

Murray in net again per Sully.
- Tojo.

Again, my preference is for Jarry, but based on Murray's play in Game 1 I really can't hold this against Sully. Outside of the second goal, he looked shaky on one or two other plays, but I felt he did what he needed to.