Because the Pens don’t have a left half wall threat. You gotta respect Backstrom/Kuzy/Oshie in the triangle on the right side which helps keep Ovi open. The Pens don’t have that on the LW side because they don’t have talent that can make those passes or even come off as a shooting threat.
- j.boyd919

Yeah that's the biggest difference. Phil opened things up. Rust or Kapanen needs to take advantage of the extra space by becoming a threat.

But also, Malkin does pass on open looks. Maybe the elbow is still a problem or at least he still doesn't have confidence in it because he looked great on that one PP goal. But Ovie doesn't pass on shots.

When did he say that. The Yohe article from preseason was about how good he looked and how his new focus on offseason conditioning was paying off (obviously did not end up being true).
- Victoro311

Recent post-game interview I believe, but Malkin said it was frustrating with everything shut down he couldn't train like he wanted to. Also had elbow surgery which couldn't help. Might not have been laziness, but it seems he didn't get to train like he needs to at his age.

Now a couple years ago, he admitted himself he wasn't in good enough shape. If that's a narrative, it's one he gave credibility to at least for that one year.

Recent post-game interview I believe, but Malkin said it was frustrating with everything shut down he couldn't train like he wanted to. Also had elbow surgery which couldn't help. Might not have been laziness, but it seems he didn't get to train like he needs to at his age.

Now a couple years ago, he admitted himself he wasn't in good enough shape. If that's a narrative, it's one he gave credibility to at least for that one year.
- Tojo.

He said he could skate a lot but no weights due to gyms being shutdown.

Recent post-game interview I believe, but Malkin said it was frustrating with everything shut down he couldn't train like he wanted to. Also had elbow surgery which couldn't help. Might not have been laziness, but it seems he didn't get to train like he needs to at his age.

Now a couple years ago, he admitted himself he wasn't in good enough shape. If that's a narrative, it's one he gave credibility to at least for that one year.
- Tojo.

Yeah I mean that was my point. That he’s old and the COVID shut down and shortened off season (frank)ed up offseason conditioning. I was pushing back that he was out of shape due to laziness. On the same page here.

And yeah that was after the first Cup Run where he got hurt against CBJ and then wasn’t at full strength when he came back and was essentially relegated to a 3rd line role while HBK played as our 2nd line. He basically said I’m sick and tired of being hurt all the time so I’m going to ball out on conditioning. That’s what I was referring to when I said he’s demonstrated effort in working hard and staying in shape for the last five or so years.

What are the signs Malkin is hurt, injured or not in shape? Just playing like shiit? I have video evidence he still has a rocket this season in different games from slap shots to one timers so that cant be it? Hes played extended shifts some over 2 minutes and into overtime and still had enough wind left for breakaways and not shown hes completely gassed? Usually its very noticeable when a player is constantly outta breath but I havent seen that yet at all? Could it just be hes playing like shiit which happens to many players? Seems out of all the pens hes the only player we think is out of shape?

Onto the PP... we all look at the caps for the perfect PP %. fair enough. Leafs, Caps, Stars, Panthers, Blackhaws, Sabres, Bruins, Avs, oilers, Flames, Hurricanes, Canadiens, Flyers, Lightning, Kings are top 15 PP teams all about 10%or more higher then our PP % rate.... Do they all have a right handed Ovechkin that makes there PP work or is there other ways to have a good PP with the amount of skill we have?

What are the signs Malkin is hurt, injured or not in shape? Just playing like shiit? I have video evidence he still has a rocket this season in different games from slap shots to one timers so that cant be it? Hes played extended shifts some over 2 minutes and into overtime and still had enough wind left for breakaways and not shown hes completely gassed? Usually its very noticeable when a player is constantly outta breath but I havent seen that yet at all? Could it just be hes playing like shiit which happens to many players? Seems out of all the pens hes the only player we think is out of shape?

Onto the PP... we all look at the caps for the perfect PP %. fair enough. Leafs, Caps, Stars, Panthers, Blackhaws, Sabres, Bruins, Avs, oilers, Flames, Hurricanes, Canadiens, Flyers, Lightning, Kings are top 15 PP teams all about 10%or more higher then our PP % rate.... Do they all have a right handed Ovechkin that makes there PP work or is there other ways to have a good PP with the amount of skill we have?
- pens4life-66

We can make it work with who we have. You remember the detroit days with Datsuyk, Zetterberg, Lidstrom with either Holmstrom of Franzen in front? Can't remember who else was out there, Rafalski? Either way they were a machine, moved bodies, quick passes, quick decisions, quick shots. I always loved their PP. We can do that, but they won't...

Edit: Is Feds back yet to confirm with this?

Our new system on the power play Looks great! Are you kidding me? Sid and Malkin should run the power play. We have a head coach in HCMS that is in over his head; another coach brought in to be the next head coach who coached his whole career in the pee wee league, and Todd, who needs to go as well. #59 and Crosby grinding it out in front of the net, taking cross checking blows all night. We have 5 players on the power play that all play the same way. Our players are going down like hotcakes, and the ones not going down are playing playoff-style hockey 10 games into the season. My prediction is #59, or #17 goes down next. They are little, fast, and skilled guys taking a beating.

What a grind; Malkin needs the puck more and who is getting him it? He should be shooting and not working the corners so much. The players are playing hard, and we need to change our style. We ask our star players who were getting up in age to grind the puck out of the corners on both ends. They are not 25 years old anymore. Since it looks like we are not firing this Moron, HCMS needs to change things up, get Malkin away from Zucker, and put him with a few grinders, so he doesn't have to do the work himself.

So tired of Hering we need to get the puck up to our forwards quicker? How are we doing that when we are getting pushed all over the ice on the back end. POJ and Marino would be a good pair once they play more, but just because Marino played well in a sheltered role last year, he will never be a top defenseman. A top defenseman is either super skill Eric Karlsson, our a Letang type, skilled with a nasty side. #8 is done as well; he has not been the same since the injury. He needs to be part of the second pairing. I instead rather see letang paly with Matheson. At least we might be able to create some offense.

Anyone else feel Sami Kapanen cringe when he watched his son try to handle himself in an NHL game last night?

Powerplay issue is same as it has always been. No movement and Malkin refuses to try and score on wrist shots. That's what Kessel did that opened everything up. The problem isn't that we don't have threat on the other side, the problem is that Malkin isn't a threat on his side.

My Godfather cocktail. Added some bitters. Makes a huge difference. I felt like the fancy goblet tonight.

Anyone else feel Sami Kapanen cringe when he watched his son try to handle himself in an NHL game last night?
- Grinder47

I'm surprised you don't give him credit for being the only Pens player willing to dance when the Rags got chippy. I'm sure he got scolded by Sully afterward, though.

Anyone else feel Sami Kapanen cringe when he watched his son try to handle himself in an NHL game last night?
- Grinder47

No, I thought it was awesome that he at least did something about the pushing and shoving. I'm surprised I thought you'd be happy he did it even though it wasn't the best fight.

I'm surprised you don't give him credit for being the only Pens player willing to dance when the Rags got chippy. I'm sure he got scolded by Sully afterward, though.
- Hockey66

Jinx lol

My Godfather cocktail. Added some bitters. Makes a huge difference. I felt like the fancy goblet tonight.


- Rinosaur

Looks good!

Looks good!
- 668710

Thanks! There are times I really miss bartending, but then I remember how much I can't stand customers lol

So are the Pens really down to Pierre, Hextall and Macfarland as GM?

What are the signs Malkin is hurt, injured or not in shape? Just playing like shiit? I have video evidence he still has a rocket this season in different games from slap shots to one timers so that cant be it? Hes played extended shifts some over 2 minutes and into overtime and still had enough wind left for breakaways and not shown hes completely gassed? Usually its very noticeable when a player is constantly outta breath but I havent seen that yet at all? Could it just be hes playing like shiit which happens to many players? Seems out of all the pens hes the only player we think is out of shape?

Onto the PP... we all look at the caps for the perfect PP %. fair enough. Leafs, Caps, Stars, Panthers, Blackhaws, Sabres, Bruins, Avs, oilers, Flames, Hurricanes, Canadiens, Flyers, Lightning, Kings are top 15 PP teams all about 10%or more higher then our PP % rate.... Do they all have a right handed Ovechkin that makes there PP work or is there other ways to have a good PP with the amount of skill we have?
- pens4life-66

Good post. I don't know what's going on with Malkin, but it seems like it could be between the ears for whatever reason. A lot of mental errors and lack of effort. Someone suggested he lacks passion / his heart just isn't in it and that's what it looks like to me. He said all the right things after a recent game but then keeps laying eggs.

Definitely looks like a trade candidate while his perceived value is still high. We could do A LOT better with $9.5M in cap space. I don't get too sentimental in the last year(s) of the window, especially when we can always bring him back to retire here.

As for the PP, agree with your point. While some suggest using Zucker in the net-front role, I see him more like Guentzel who is good around the net, but not right in front taking cross-checks to the back and other abuse. We need a good back-to-the-net type guy, like Horny. Can O'Connor fill that role? I don't know but let's try it out. Not ideal, but we don't have anyone else on the team to fill that role. So f'ing stupid to trade away Horny.

So are the Pens really down to Pierre, Hextall and Macfarland as GM?
- 668710

I feel like Pierre gets thrown in there for fodder.

Thanks! There are times I really miss bartending, but then I remember how much I can't stand customers lol
- Rinosaur

Yea I always felt bad for bartenders, it's rough when the bar is super busy. Thanks for serving us drinks haha

Good post. I don't know what's going on with Malkin, but it seems like it could be between the ears for whatever reason. A lot of mental errors and lack of effort. Someone suggested he lacks passion / his heart just isn't in it and that's what it looks like to me. He said all the right things after a recent game but then keeps laying eggs.

Definitely looks like a trade candidate while his perceived value is still high. We could do A LOT better with $9.5M in cap space. I don't get too sentimental in the last year(s) of the window, especially when we can always bring him back to retire here.

As for the PP, agree with your point. While some suggest using Zucker in the net-front role, I see him more like Guentzel who is good around the net, but not right in front taking cross-checks to the back and other abuse. We need a good back-to-the-net type guy, like Horny. Can O'Connor fill that role? I don't know but let's try it out. Not ideal, but we don't have anyone else on the team to fill that role. So f'ing stupid to trade away Horny.
- Hockey66

Well Zucker seems like he has the hot hand right now. And I don't think it's all about a "net front guy". The 2 best net front guys the Pens had Sid/Geno era were Malone and Horny. However there was a gap between having the 2. Kunitz was good around the net and it worked that way as well. Also 2 of the best PP QBs the Pens had were Gonchar and Kessel(2 different positions but they both ran through them) again there was a huge gap between them where the PP was still good The Pens can make it work with what they have. They need direction (coaching) and gain some confidence and they can have a good PP. I'd like to try Matheson at the point as well to see if he's good at getting those hard shots on net, with Letang on th left wall. I've never really watched him in Florida on the PP so I have no idea.

Yea I always felt bad for bartenders, it's rough when the bar is super busy. Thanks for serving us drinks haha
- 668710

The restaurant industry is rough in general. I worked as a Sommelier, bartender and manager. The advent of Yelp has turned everyone into one entitled d-bag. This is why I turned to numbers lol.

Well Zucker seems like he has the hot hand right now. And I don't think it's all about a "net front guy". The 2 best net front guys the Pens had Sid/Geno era were Malone and Horny. However there was a gap between having the 2. Kunitz was good around the net and it worked that way as well. Also 2 of the best PP QBs the Pens had were Gonchar and Kessel(2 different positions but they both ran through them) again there was a huge gap between them where the PP was still good The Pens can make it work with what they have. They need direction (coaching) and gain some confidence and they can have a good PP. I'd like to try Matheson at the point as well to see if he's good at getting those hard shots on net, with Letang on th left wall. I've never really watched him in Florida on the PP so I have no idea.
- 668710

Good point, but if it hasn't been in his repertoire up to this point in his career, I don't see him as being particularly effective. Worth a try, though, because the alternative is the utter crap we've witnessed.

But, this is all just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. This team is not built for the playoffs. We know this. We need to ditch Sully and then assemble a playoff caliber team. Amassing wins and points against bottom-feeder teams during the regular season is pointless.

The restaurant industry is rough in general. I worked as a Sommelier, bartender and manager. The advent of Yelp has turned everyone into one entitled d-bag. This is why I turned to numbers lol.
- Rinosaur

Yea, I don't use any of that crap, it's a bunch of BS.

Yea, I don't use any of that crap, it's a bunch of BS.
- 668710

About all I use yelp for is seeing what restaurants are near by.

Well Zucker seems like he has the hot hand right now. And I don't think it's all about a "net front guy". The 2 best net front guys the Pens had Sid/Geno era were Malone and Horny. However there was a gap between having the 2. Kunitz was good around the net and it worked that way as well. Also 2 of the best PP QBs the Pens had were Gonchar and Kessel(2 different positions but they both ran through them) again there was a huge gap between them where the PP was still good The Pens can make it work with what they have. They need direction (coaching) and gain some confidence and they can have a good PP. I'd like to try Matheson at the point as well to see if he's good at getting those hard shots on net, with Letang on th left wall. I've never really watched him in Florida on the PP so I have no idea.
- 668710

Kunitz filled that gap completely. He wasn't one of the best like Hornqvist or Malone that year, yet very capable. Crosby was more involved in running the PP before and switched to playing down low more when Kessel came.