Pretty sure DeSmith is the back-up and D'Orio is the 4th string on the taxi squad. He's an extremely long shot prospect, but they went with 2 goalies on squad just in case.
- Tojo.

I thought so. Found it a little strange that no backups listed on the NHL.com, but TSN.ca has DeSmith.

Actually, I'm curious about your thoughts on the PK. Can't be because they will miss JJ.
- Tojo.

2 Reason, Jaques Martin ran the PK and he's now gone and I think PK is a little bit more of a crap shoot from season to season as you're always playing with the man down. I don't think it'll be terrible, but I think it'll be around middle of the road. 12-18th in the league or so.

I cant shake the feeling that they're going to look like a disjointed sloppy mess tonight hahaha

Did you watch the MTL series? Weber and Chiarot beat the crap out of him (as well as other Pens) so he shied away from going anywhere near the crease. I won't say that's the reason he had a bad series (probably more to do with coming back from injury), but any opposing coach who doesn't employ this strategy is a fool, IMO. Why wouldn't you? Refs are old school and don't care, especially in the playoffs. Nobody on the Pens is going to stick up for him (or make anyone think twice, anyway). Horny would go there and get the crap beat out of him with a smile on his face.

As much as the game changes, hockey is still hockey and those who make hay the dirty areas come playoff time are the ones who succeed. Those who don't, like the Pens and Leafs, get bounced early despite the top-end talent. The Pens may have become even more of a perimeter team than they were last year. I think Sully and JR got seduced by the speed game and forgot about the other part.

I think Crosby's line would greatly benefit with another grinder. People compare Kap to Dupuis, which is fine, but remember that Kunitz was on the other side. We are now relying on old man Crosby to do all of the grinding on that line. I haven't heard that Kap is much of a grinder - rather more of a straight ahead speed / shot / cycle type player. I hope I'm wrong about all of this but we'll see.
- Hockey66

Apparently Kap talks poop so we'll see. They could put Tanev with Sid and Guentz and move Kap to the third line. I guess we'll see what Sully does, but overall yes it's nice to have a good power forward or a guy who drives the net. The second line I'm not as worried about with Rust and Zucker, they don't shy from the net. We honestly just have to see how Kap plays here and go from there.

I tend to agree with you on Guentzel. You can do that deal where you sneak in and out around the net at ES, but on the PP where you want to provide a constant screen, you are just going to get abused at net front no matter who you are.

It's been a long time since the Pens haven't had a guy like Malone, Kunitz, or Hornqvist on the top PP. Basically the whole Crosby-Malkin era. I'm expecting a rude awakening for Pens fans who took that for granted.
- Tojo.

Yea I agree, we have always had that guy, even Guerin did that a little. Ruth should be looking for a guy like that.

Hard to argue who has the deeper forward group IMO...look at that 3rd line...


23 Oskar Lindblom - 14 Sean Couturier - 11 Travis Konecny
28 Claude Giroux - 13 Kevin Hayes - 86 Joel Farabee
25 James van Riemsdyk - 19 Nolan Patrick - 93 Jakub Voracek
12 Michael Raffl- 21 Scott Laughton- 62 Nicolas Aube-Kubel

Depends on the PP though, if Reirden runs what he was running in WSH in reverse, he won't need Guentzel to stand in front to take punishment. He'll have him lining up in the mid slot as the bumper pass with Sid down load, and Rust on the left wall. Guentzel only has to head to the front when they use Geno's 1T.

Although I haven't seen any reports on how their PP structure is going. Has anyone seen it?
- j.boyd919

Haven't heard or seen a damn thing about our pp.

Hard to argue who has the deeper forward group IMO...look at that 3rd line...


23 Oskar Lindblom - 14 Sean Couturier - 11 Travis Konecny
28 Claude Giroux - 13 Kevin Hayes - 86 Joel Farabee
25 James van Riemsdyk - 19 Nolan Patrick - 93 Jakub Voracek
12 Michael Raffl- 21 Scott Laughton- 62 Nicolas Aube-Kubel
- MattStrat

Yup. Gotta love that Matheson trade more and more lol

2 Reason, Jaques Martin ran the PK and he's now gone and I think PK is a little bit more of a crap shoot from season to season as you're always playing with the man down. I don't think it'll be terrible, but I think it'll be around middle of the road. 12-18th in the league or so.
- j.boyd919

Gotcha thanks. Was curious.

Hard to argue who has the deeper forward group IMO...look at that 3rd line...


23 Oskar Lindblom - 14 Sean Couturier - 11 Travis Konecny
28 Claude Giroux - 13 Kevin Hayes - 86 Joel Farabee
25 James van Riemsdyk - 19 Nolan Patrick - 93 Jakub Voracek
12 Michael Raffl- 21 Scott Laughton- 62 Nicolas Aube-Kubel
- MattStrat

Philly has sone of the better forward depth in the league, IMO. But I like us better at 1, 2, and 4 if we had Kapanen and ZAR.

My biggest question marks for Philly are the left side if their defense where they replaced Niskanen with Gustafson. And how many if those forwards beyond Couturier will by stars.

Hard to argue who has the deeper forward group IMO...look at that 3rd line...


23 Oskar Lindblom - 14 Sean Couturier - 11 Travis Konecny
28 Claude Giroux - 13 Kevin Hayes - 86 Joel Farabee
25 James van Riemsdyk - 19 Nolan Patrick - 93 Jakub Voracek
12 Michael Raffl- 21 Scott Laughton- 62 Nicolas Aube-Kubel
- MattStrat

How's their defense? I like Konecny a lot he's a star, might be their best forward IMO.

Yup. Gotta love that Matheson trade more and more lol
- Rinosaur

I think its somewhat possible that Matheson might out-produce Simon, Sheary, Marleau and Bjugs haha but yes, he wasn't necessary at the price...

I think its somewhat possible that Matheson might out-produce Simon, Sheary, Marleau and Bjugs haha but yes, he wasn't necessary at the price...
- MattStrat

It's just not even the price. He was simply unnecessary as a whole. The Pens had/have a surplus of LD. He was not needed and trading for him absolutely killed their ability to create a quality third line.

As most believe, I think Pettersson's days are numbered and I expect him to be moved sooner rather than later if Matheson looks good in the eyes of management.

How's their defense? I like Konecny a lot he's a star, might be their best forward IMO.
- 668710

It has question marks....like ours haha.

It's just not even the price. He was simply unnecessary as a whole. The Pens had/have a surplus of LD. He was not needed and trading for him absolutely killed their ability to create a quality third line.

As most believe, I think Pettersson's days are numbered and I expect him to be moved sooner rather than later if Matheson looks good in the eyes of management.
- Rinosaur

Yeah LD wasn't necessary at all haha, still though if he happens to do well, not many of us will care about the trade anymore.

We'll see what happens.

Did you watch the MTL series? Weber and Chiarot beat the crap out of him (as well as other Pens) so he shied away from going anywhere near the crease. I won't say that's the reason he had a bad series (probably more to do with coming back from injury), but any opposing coach who doesn't employ this strategy is a fool, IMO. Why wouldn't you? Refs are old school and don't care, especially in the playoffs. Nobody on the Pens is going to stick up for him (or make anyone think twice, anyway). Horny would go there and get the crap beat out of him with a smile on his face.

As much as the game changes, hockey is still hockey and those who make hay the dirty areas come playoff time are the ones who succeed. Those who don't, like the Pens and Leafs, get bounced early despite the top-end talent. The Pens may have become even more of a perimeter team than they were last year. I think Sully and JR got seduced by the speed game and forgot about the other part.

I think Crosby's line would greatly benefit with another grinder. People compare Kap to Dupuis, which is fine, but remember that Kunitz was on the other side. We are now relying on old man Crosby to do all of the grinding on that line. I haven't heard that Kap is much of a grinder - rather more of a straight ahead speed / shot / cycle type player. I hope I'm wrong about all of this but we'll see.
- Hockey66

100% They knocked the snot out of him. By the end of that series he couldn't get within 15 feet of the net. It was painful watching him try. I give him credit, for a smallish guy, he has no fear.

Yeah LD wasn't necessary at all haha, still though if he happens to do well, not many of us will care about the trade anymore.

We'll see what happens.
- MattStrat

Obviously if Matheson pans out and the Pens' defense is better for it, and allows the Pens to move Pettersson for a quality forward would be great. JR will look like a genius again, but while I'm not being so quick to judge Matheson as I was JJ, I just don't think he's going to prove to be a true 2nd pairing dman. I hope I'm wrong.

I cant shake the feeling that they're going to look like a disjointed sloppy mess tonight hahaha
- MattStrat

After watching that "black and gold" game the other night. I'm concerned the defense will be given too much freedom to jump into the play and I don't think the forwards have the same defensive commitment like they did in the cup years. At one point I saw Marino and Matheson both below the dots.

I hope I'm wrong, but Yohe (who's been watching all the practices), said something similar.

After watching that "black and gold" game the other night. I'm concerned the defense will be given too much freedom to jump into the play and I don't think the forwards have the same defensive commitment like they did in the cup years. At one point I saw Marino and Matheson both below the dots.

I hope I'm wrong, but Yohe (who's been watching all the practices), said something similar.
- madmike71

The last two years we've seen the defense overcommit leading to countless odd-man rushes the other way.

The last two years we've seen the defense overcommit leading to countless odd-man rushes the other way.
- Rinosaur

It's my belief they're told to do that. I'm positive of that. It's the forwards who aren't reading the play. I have a handful of the games saved from the two cup wins and it's remarkable how different they look. They were like a machine. Dmen would jump up and the forwards would always cover.

It's my belief they're told to do that. I'm positive of that. It's the forwards who aren't reading the play. I have a handful of the games saved from the two cup wins and it's remarkable how different they look. They were like a machine. Dmen would jump up and the forwards would always cover.
- madmike71

Yeah, I remember that very well. I'm not sure what happened, maybe a lot of new faces, injuries preventing gelling, slow thinkers / low hockey IQ players, lack of PMDs, etc. But yeah, it was beautiful to watch. I could be wrong and it seems weird to say this, but I thought that style maybe began with Johnston of all coaches. It would explain Crosby and other forwards playing too much of a 90 foot game.

It's my belief they're told to do that. I'm positive of that. It's the forwards who aren't reading the play. I have a handful of the games saved from the two cup wins and it's remarkable how different they look. They were like a machine. Dmen would jump up and the forwards would always cover.
- madmike71

Yup

Yeah, I remember that very well. I'm not sure what happened, maybe a lot of new faces, injuries preventing gelling, slow thinkers / low hockey IQ players, lack of PMDs, etc. But yeah, it was beautiful to watch. I could be wrong and it seem weird to say this, but I thought that style maybe began with Johnston of all coaches. It would explain Crosby and other forwards playing too much of a 90 foot game.
- Hockey66

In 2009 the Pens had all the great defensive tendencies from Therrien as their coach and then he was axed mid season, Disco came in and set them free offensively so to speak, but they kept a lot of the good D habits from Therrian. They won the cup that year.

In 2016 the Pens had all the great defensive tendencies from Johnston as their coach and then he was axed mid season, Sullivan came in and set them free offensively so to speak, but they kept a lot of the good D habits from Johnston. They won the cup that year.

In 2017.....man, I still dont know how they did it. They were massively out played in 3 of the 4 series hahaha

In 2009 the Pens had all the great defensive tendencies from Therrien as their coach and then he was axed mid season, Disco came in and set them free offensively so to speak, but they kept a lot of the good D habits from Therrian. They won the cup that year.

In 2016 the Pens had all the great defensive tendencies from Johnston as their coach and then he was axed mid season, Sullivan came in and set them free offensively so to speak, but they kept a lot of the good D habits from Johnston. They won the cup that year.

In 2017.....man, I still dont know how they did it. They were massively out played in 3 of the 4 series hahaha
- MattStrat

Nice summary - thanks (my memory is terrible). I know Johnston was at the forefront of the PMD movement when he was in Portland (and coached our favorite draft bust Pouliot).

Nice summary - thanks (my memory is terrible). I know Johnston was at the forefront of the PMD movement when he was in Portland (and coached our favorite draft bust Pouliot).
- Hockey66

I saw a joke back around then that said something along the lines of " the only man to ever totally shut down Sidney Crosby is/was Mike Johnston" hahaha. MJ had them playing a very, very D first boring brand of hockey. Kessel didnt look like Kessel at all under him. It was bad from an offense standpoint but never the less I do think it was a factor in how well they played after Sully showed up.