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.
- Tojo.

Z was actually mixing it up a bit last night too. If he could add some more physicality to his game he'd stand out a lot more. Strange that his least impressive game came on Malkins wing.

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

It was dirty retaliation for Bahl cleanly annihilating Lindgen a few moments before.

It was hard to watch. He just doesn't have much going for his game.
- burgh4life87

I thought he looked great last season and decent in the early preseason games the past week or so, especially on the PP where I thought he looked good QB'ing it...didn't see any of that abomination last night, though hahaha

It was dirty retaliation for Bahl cleanly annihilating Lindgen a few moments before.
- MattStrat

yep it was a nice clean hard hit and trouba would never go after bahl so he found someone smaller to take it out on.

It was dirty retaliation for Bahl cleanly annihilating Lindgen a few moments before.
- MattStrat

So a dirty clear-as-day board is the appropriate retaliation for a clean body check?

I mean, (frank) both those teams (especially the Rags) but if anything, at least hit the guy who made the initial hit.

DOC on the first line...

DOC on the first line...
- burgh4life87

For Rust?

For Rust?
- Thorny87

No, LW. Jake is rotating but still not ready. I would like to see what DOC can do with some talent. He's had a great preseason.

No, LW. Jake is rotating but still not ready. I would like to see what DOC can do with some talent. He's had a great preseason.
- burgh4life87

Same. I'd prefer it with Rak and Sid but it's good to see Sully tinkering and rewarding strong play.

Same. I'd prefer it with Rak and Sid but it's good to see Sully tinkering and rewarding strong play.
- Thorny87

He has Smith-Malkin-Rakell together which I really like.

Jake Guentzel/Drew O'Connor - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Reilly Smith - Evgeni Malkin - Rickard Rakell
Jansen Harkins - Lars Eller - Radim Zohorna/Colin White
Matt Nieto - Noel Acciari - Jeff Carter

Also POJ back as full participant.

Makes sense bumping DOC up while nobody has stepped up and allowing Rackell to go back to his natural side.

Looks like Harkins made a great impression as the fringe guy who isn't rotating.

Sully mentioned White specifically was asked to check Larkin who had no shots. Didn't get headlines but battling Z today for a spot in the last game and potentially the roster.

Nylander, Hinostroza, and Wagner have all been in the main group. Not being in this one likely means their chances are getting slim.

Jake Guentzel/Drew O'Connor - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Reilly Smith - Evgeni Malkin - Rickard Rakell
Jansen Harkins - Lars Eller - Radim Zohorna/Colin White
Matt Nieto - Noel Acciari - Jeff Carter

Also POJ back as full participant.

Makes sense bumping DOC up while nobody has stepped up and allowing Rackell to go back to his natural side.

Looks like Harkins made a great impression as the fringe guy who isn't rotating.

Sully mentioned White specifically was asked to check Larkin who had no shots. Didn't get headlines but battling Z today for a spot in the last game and potentially the roster.

Nylander, Hinostroza, and Wagner have all been in the main group. Not being in this one likely means their chances are getting slim.
- Tojo.

So who's the odd man out to make room for DOC when Gentzel returns?

So who's the odd man out to make room for DOC when Gentzel returns?
- jmatchett383

I think it's still a competition. Jake isn't going on LTIR so they will probably have a 22 man roster including him. I don't think even all those guys make the team.

So Harkins, Zohorna, White for 2 spots? Maybe Wagner, Hinostroza, or Nylander sneaks in but not a good sign they aren't in consideration for the last game

So who's the odd man out to make room for DOC when Gentzel returns?
- jmatchett383

White is still on a PTO so unless he really impressed the coaches and we don't know it, he's probably the odd man out.

White is still on a PTO so unless he really impressed the coaches and we don't know it, he's probably the odd man out.
- burgh4life87

In my longer post mentioned Sully praised White after the last game. Said he may he'd him against Larkin all night and Larkin had no shots.

So a dirty clear-as-day board is the appropriate retaliation for a clean body check?

I mean, (frank) both those teams (especially the Rags) but if anything, at least hit the guy who made the initial hit.
- jmatchett383

No one here is saying that.

In my longer post mentioned Sully praised White after the last game. Said he may he'd him against Larkin all night and Larkin had no shots.
- Tojo.

Yah he was high on that line. He was really complimentary of Wagner. The way he talks about his on ice presence I can see him staying around.

Yah he was high on that line. He was really complimentary of Wagner. The way he talks about his on ice presence I can see him staying around.
- burgh4life87

I think Wagner had a good game to make it as a fourth line energy guy. Problem is we don't need a fourth line guy, or at least those jobs are locked. Wouldn't mind him getting a 2 way deal and trying to sneak through waivers though.

I think Wagner had a good game to make it as a fourth line energy guy. Problem is we don't need a fourth line guy, or at least those jobs are locked. Wouldn't mind him getting a 2 way deal and trying to sneak through waivers though.
- Tojo.

Oh yes, should have been more clear. I think they get a contract. They were both PTO and I think they earned a spot, not necessarily with the big club.

In my longer post mentioned Sully praised White after the last game. Said he may he'd him against Larkin all night and Larkin had no shots.
- Tojo.

This comment here by you plus the other post you had about which guys were alternating on wings and which ones weren't leads me to believe that White and Harkin are going to be in and Big Z will be out. Those two guys play much more of a game that Sullivan wants than Big Z does...

This comment here by you plus the other post you had about which guys were alternating on wings and which ones weren't leads me to believe that White and Harkin are going to be in and Big Z will be out. Those two guys play much more of a game that Sullivan wants than Big Z does...
- MattStrat

We'll see, but I agree they have seen enough of Zohorna to assess him. Harkins could end up being odd man out eventually but makes sense to give him another game.

Nylander's poor camp comes to an end. Waivers along with Johnsson and Koppanen.

Nylander's poor camp comes to an end. Waivers along with Johnsson and Koppanen.
- burgh4life87

Well I was rooting for him. Oh well.

Nylander's poor camp comes to an end. Waivers along with Johnsson and Koppanen.
- burgh4life87

Seems like it was his spot to lose. Shame, I was rooting for him.

Surprised nobody is upset about Nylander so far considering some wanted to push him to the second line to spread some talent down.