PP has sucked for a while. Adding another all star isn't gonna magically fix it if there is no plan.

So far EK has been as advertised. He's a great skater and made some sneaky passes that caught guys off guard. His breakouts and patience with the puck is a welcome sight too.

Both new pairs still need some time to adjust. More so Graves and Tanger from what I've seen.

Thoughts on Smith? He's not as visible in the offensive zone as the guy he replaced.

I really hope Geno was taking it easy in Halifax cause he looked a lot older/slower.
- Thorny87

Actually it might, it took a bit when we got Phil, but that PP was awesome. Give it some time.

Actually it might, it took a bit when we got Phil, but that PP was awesome. Give it some time.
- 668710

I don’t think the PP turned around until the coaching change though. System might just be stale.

I don’t think the PP turned around until the coaching change though. System might just be stale.
- Victoro311

Give it time. They already are improved in one major area (controlled zone entries). It's only a matter of time before they start to get a feel for one another and get some set plays. Can't believe everyone is overreacting to the new look this early.

Nice goal.

It's more entertaining watching these guys play than watching the regulars go through the preseason motions. Nice play.

Zohorna is going to be a useful bottom 6 guy. Puustinen>Nylander for me. Also going to give Poulin some credit. His game looks much better than I thought it would after missing all that time.

Zohorna is going to be a useful bottom 6 guy. Puustinen>Nylander for me. Also going to give Poulin some credit. His game looks much better than I thought it would after missing all that time.
- burgh4life87

Just seems like there's more upside with Puustinen. Yeah, Poulin's skating is so much better than when he first got here.

Just seems like there's more upside with Puustinen. Yeah, Poulin's skating is so much better than when he first got here.
- madmike71

He's such a smart creative playmaker. I just want to see him work with talent.
That's easily Poulin's most noticable growth. Could see him being a late call up to jump start the B6

What was Reirden drawing up there?

Even our scrubs think they need to pass the puck 50 times before they take a shot on the PP.

Even our scrubs think they need to pass the puck 50 times before they take a shot on the PP.
- madmike71

At least their getting lots of practice

Entertaining game

I don’t think the PP turned around until the coaching change though. System might just be stale.
- Victoro311

You may be right haha, I didn't think about that.

Zohorna is going to be a useful bottom 6 guy. Puustinen>Nylander for me. Also going to give Poulin some credit. His game looks much better than I thought it would after missing all that time.
- burgh4life87

Yea, we may have actual good call-ups this season and one could stick around.

Yea, we may have actual good call-ups this season and one could stick around.
- 668710

Ty Smith isn't one of them tho. He's a total bust.

Even our scrubs think they need to pass the puck 50 times before they take a shot on the PP.
- madmike71

Must be a systemic issue

It's more entertaining watching these guys play than watching the regulars go through the preseason motions. Nice play.
- madmike71

It was weird watching a Pens team that sought out contact and almost always had traffic in front.

Harkins is fun to watch. Always bumping into someone and clearly got under their skin.

Really enjoyed the Harkins-Poulin-Puustinen line. Felt like they pinned Detroit in a ton. I think Poulin is close. Credit to Puustinen who was able to look good in a chippy game where a lot of the other skill guys felt invisible.

Like what I've seen from Z and think he's my pick for the top open spot, but even still he feels a little below what you'd want from a middle six forward.

Neddy looked great. Wagner and Harkins might be an interesting battle for the last spot as their games are similar, but I thought Harkins looked a little more dangerous offensively and got that primary assist.

Wasnt going to be able to catch a second of that game last night but knew it was going to be a much better game of hockey to watch than the last one. Roster was chalked full of guys trying to prove something. Hungry.

Ty Smith isn't one of them tho. He's a total bust.
- burgh4life87

xGF of 7% last night? wtf. Now, he was probably top pair and Detroit had a lot of studs dressed...but still...that's horrendous.

Now, on the other end of the xGF spectrum Puustinen was 94.53%...thats the highest Ive ever seen...bonkers

EDIT: nope...the Hajek/Rudy pair had more 5 on 5 mins...and both over 70%....

did anyone see troubas dirty hit from behind on toffoli last night? unsurprisingly hes still a piece of poop and unsurprisingly the nhl will do nothing about it.

double post

Ty Smith isn't one of them tho. He's a total bust.
- burgh4life87

I was actually thinking about forwards, but since we're talking defense I do like Shea.

did anyone see troubas dirty hit from behind on toffoli last night? unsurprisingly hes still a piece of poop and unsurprisingly the nhl will do nothing about it.
- JLT168

Trouba is trash. We need Jagger Joshua up to end his season when we play them.

xGF of 7% last night? wtf. Now, he was probably top pair and Detroit had a lot of studs dressed...but still...that's horrendous.

Now, on the other end of the xGF spectrum Puustinen was 94.53%...thats the highest Ive ever seen...bonkers

EDIT: nope...the Hajek/Rudy pair had more 5 on 5 mins...and both over 70%....
- MattStrat

It was hard to watch. He just doesn't have much going for his game.

xGF of 7% last night? wtf. Now, he was probably top pair and Detroit had a lot of studs dressed...but still...that's horrendous.

Now, on the other end of the xGF spectrum Puustinen was 94.53%...thats the highest Ive ever seen...bonkers

EDIT: nope...the Hajek/Rudy pair had more 5 on 5 mins...and both over 70%....
- MattStrat

He has no confidence. His whole game seems worse than it did last year. Wilting under the competition