Feels weird to keep hammering the team being too top heavy when the third line is the only one that has scored and has had a fine 3 goals in 5 games. Fourth line is largely just a non factor.

Some of the top forwards are snake bitten, but largely the goalie sucks.

Feels weird to keep hammering the team being too top heavy when the third line is the only one that has scored and has had a fine 3 goals in 5 games. Fourth line is largely just a non factor.

Some of the top forwards are snake bitten, but largely the goalie sucks.
- Tojo.

Top line had some rough games in the first handful but someone around here wants to keep running with the narrative that they're not playing good at all haha, they are, just not burying. I'm really impressed with Rust so far. I was starting to feel like he might be headed towards cooked. His legs and skating are waaaay better than last season....and yeah Jarry is either getting a shutout (2 already) or being one of the biggest reasons they lose. No consistency there.

Add Ruh to that list of underperformers and you have 4 guys who could easily be switched out to at least try something different
- Thorny87

Agreed. Though he has had some excellent games as well. The 4th line hasn't had one good game this season. The 3rd line was garbage until Big Z was added as well, a few games ago.

Game 9....I said I'd give 10 - 15...to my eyes there's been a lot to like. Jarry needs to be better...the PP needs to be better....if Jarry saves an extra goal a game or the PP converts an extra goal a game, they're probably at least .500 right now

@Grinder....what are you talking about regarding the 4th line??....you have to be trolling saying they were the only good line last night....at 5 on 5 they had zero shots on the Ducks net...

Shots for/shots against

Carter 0/6
Nieto 0/6
Acciari 0/9
- MattStrat

How many goals did they give up because of stupid mismanagement of the puck?

At least this team is exciting, not to mention unpredictable. Not many teams can have a 5v3 for 1:49 in the last two minutes of a game and still find a way to lose.

He literally turned over half the team lol

Smith, Karlsson, Shea look to be good pickups
Eller and Zohorna have picked it up lately, first few games I thought Eller was cooked but he's looked really good as of late.
Neito and Acciari are useless.
Graves has not been very good, but Letang isn't exactly easy to play with.
That Jarry contract was awful the day it was signed lol

The bottom 6 being useless was avoidable had he brought in guys with an offensive pulse.

I think people has a misconception of Graves. Heavy shot, but not exactly a defensive stalwart.

PP struggles should have been expected too. Reirden has been dogpoop for quite some time. Doesn't he run the defense too?
- j.boyd919

I knew nothing about him going into this season but expected more given that contract.

He made some good plays last night and I'm hoping he's more capable and was just trying to cater to Letang's play style earlier.

Top line had some rough games in the first handful but someone around here wants to keep running with the narrative that they're not playing good at all haha, they are, just not burying. I'm really impressed with Rust so far. I was starting to feel like he might be headed towards cooked. His legs and skating are waaaay better than last season....and yeah Jarry is either getting a shutout (2 already) or being one of the biggest reasons they lose. No consistency there.
- MattStrat

We had a dozen shots last night where I said to myself "how did that stay out". They've been snake bitten for sure.

There's no making up for sh!tty tending however. I had no confidence in Jarry last night. You could tell by his body language he was struggling. No team that plays as wide open (sometimes sloppy) like the Pens, is going to win with a tender this uneven.

The thing that pisses me off about Sully is he won't experiment......even a little. He keeps running the same players out there in the same positions. He doubles down because he doesn't want to offend anyone. He won't adjust his system either.

I'd try Zohorna in front of the net on the PP. He's a much stronger player than the last couple of years.

At least this team is exciting, not to mention unpredictable. Not many teams can have a 5v3 for 1:49 in the last two minutes of a game and still find a way to lose.
- Thunderbolt

I was thinking mid way through the game only Ross Johnston could put the puck in the net and have it lead to a team meltdown. But the Pens would not be out done. They turned a 5-3 into a shorty and took the cake for sure.

Jake has not been great.

He has been getting points but is even weaker than usual on the boards. Last night he just gave up on several plays. I really think that first line needs some more jam as both wingers have become more offensive minded in their play style.

Hard to critique Rust, he seems to have his wheels back and is scoring but if we have 2 wingers only thinking offence it's gonna be tough to maintain any zone time.

We had a dozen shots last night where I said to myself "how did that stay out". They've been snake bitten for sure.

There's no making up for sh!tty tending however. I had no confidence in Jarry last night. You could tell by his body language he was struggling. No team that plays as wide open (sometimes sloppy) like the Pens, is going to win with a tender this uneven.

The thing that pisses me off about Sully is he won't experiment......even a little. He keeps running the same players out there in the same positions. He doubles down because he doesn't want to offend anyone. He won't adjust his system either.

I'd try Zohorna in front of the net on the PP. He's a much stronger player than the last couple of years.
- madmike71

I think that has been his biggest development. Starting to play a big mans game. That 3rd line is a handful when they play physical.

Jake has not been great.

He has been getting points but is even weaker than usual on the boards. Last night he just gave up on several plays. I really think that first line needs some more jam as both wingers have become more offensive minded in their play style.

Hard to critique Rust, he seems to have his wheels back and is scoring but if we have 2 wingers only thinking offence it's gonna be tough to maintain any zone time.
- Thorny87

Not a permanent thing... I'd put DOC in Jakes spot for a few games. His forecheck has been great. Jake....not so much.

Feels weird to keep hammering the team being too top heavy when the third line is the only one that has scored and has had a fine 3 goals in 5 games. Fourth line is largely just a non factor.

Some of the top forwards are snake bitten, but largely the goalie sucks.
- Tojo.

They said on the radio that the opposing goalie has been in the 3 stars post-game in 4 of the 9 games so far lol

Pens are 0-4 when peppering the goalie with 39+ shots.

He literally turned over half the team lol

Smith, Karlsson, Shea look to be good pickups
Eller and Zohorna have picked it up lately, first few games I thought Eller was cooked but he's looked really good as of late.
Neito and Acciari are useless.
Graves has not been very good, but Letang isn't exactly easy to play with.
That Jarry contract was awful the day it was signed lol

The bottom 6 being useless was avoidable had he brought in guys with an offensive pulse.

I think people has a misconception of Graves. Heavy shot, but not exactly a defensive stalwart.

PP struggles should have been expected too. Reirden has been dogpoop for quite some time. Doesn't he run the defense too?
- j.boyd919

Yes, he did overturn the roster by a good amount, but at the end of the day, a lot of the problem areas still exist as you note. The bottom 6 still doesnt have a real goal scorer and our goaltending still is at best league average.

I dont blame Dubas, the goalie market was limited and scoring bottom 6 forwards dont grow on trees. it's just a reality of where we are at.

At least this team is exciting, not to mention unpredictable. Not many teams can have a 5v3 for 1:49 in the last two minutes of a game and still find a way to lose.
- Thunderbolt

Yes, he did overturn the roster by a good amount, but at the end of the day, a lot of the problem areas still exist as you note. The bottom 6 still doesnt have a real goal scorer and our goaltending still is at best league average.

I dont blame Dubas, the goalie market was limited and scoring bottom 6 forwards dont grow on trees. it's just a reality of where we are at.
- SuperHenderson13

I agree on the goalie market, but there were definitely bottom 6 guys with offensive abilities in FA. Maybe none of them wanted to sign in PIT but, given the guys who did sign, it seemed like a very clear direction of trying to get defensively responsible guys with no offensive pulse.... BUT I will say the 3rd line has been pretty god damn good with the addition of Zohorna. IMO, the downfall has been a dreadful PP and a goalie that can't come up with key saves.

Jake has not been great.

He has been getting points but is even weaker than usual on the boards. Last night he just gave up on several plays. I really think that first line needs some more jam as both wingers have become more offensive minded in their play style.

Hard to critique Rust, he seems to have his wheels back and is scoring but if we have 2 wingers only thinking offence it's gonna be tough to maintain any zone time.
- Thorny87

Took him a long time to look great again after the last big injury on New Years Eve of 2019 and the surgery for it. Might take time, this time too.

- j.boyd919

Read somewhere they're making a second one about his son....not sure if true or not but I hope so. F'n love that flick.

I agree on the goalie market, but there were definitely bottom 6 guys with offensive abilities in FA. Maybe none of them wanted to sign in PIT but, given the guys who did sign, it seemed like a very clear direction of trying to get defensively responsible guys with no offensive pulse.... BUT I will say the 3rd line has been pretty god damn good with the addition of Zohorna. IMO, the downfall has been a dreadful PP and a goalie that can't come up with key saves.
- j.boyd919

This is where I am too. These are the two biggest issues. In a close third would be the non-finshing even though really outplaying opponents at times.

Some of the saves the Ducks goalies last night, they weren't even looking. That back on paddle on Sid? are you fvcking kidding me? hahaha

Then you look at their 1st and 3rd goals against the Pens...crazy bounces going on, especially their first goal. F'n puck looked like a high bouncer. The 3rd goal started with a Tanger mental blunder but there was still a really lucky bounce involved before it ended up in Pens net.

The penguins and steelers play the level of there opponents. They suck, penguins steelers will suck just as bad. Good team comes up they play half decent. When was the last time anyone watched a penguins or steelers team crush a horrible team by a large margin?

The penguins and steelers play the level of there opponents. They suck, penguins steelers will suck just as bad. Good team comes up they play half decent. When was the last time anyone watched a penguins or steelers team crush a horrible team by a large margin?
- jb55

Pens didnt suck last night. The skaters mostly played a very good game. The PP couldnt finish enough and Jarry couldn't give them a big save.

I agree on the goalie market, but there were definitely bottom 6 guys with offensive abilities in FA. Maybe none of them wanted to sign in PIT but, given the guys who did sign, it seemed like a very clear direction of trying to get defensively responsible guys with no offensive pulse.... BUT I will say the 3rd line has been pretty god damn good with the addition of Zohorna. IMO, the downfall has been a dreadful PP and a goalie that can't come up with key saves.
- j.boyd919

To your point about the dreadful PP, I’m worried that firing Sullivan will lead to interim coach Todd Rierden due to his head coaching experience and familiarity with the organization/our stars. Rierden clearly sucks

This is where I am too. These are the two biggest issues. In a close third would be the non-finshing even though really outplaying opponents at times.

Some of the saves the Ducks goalies last night, they weren't even looking. That back on paddle on Sid? are you fvcking kidding me? hahaha

Then you look at their 1st and 3rd goals against the Pens...crazy bounces going on, espeically their first goal. F'n puck looked like a high bouncer. The 3rd goal started with a Tanger mental blunder but there was still a really lucky bounce involved before it ended up in Pens net.
- MattStrat

Sully is cursed for letting Conor Sheary go.

To your point about the dreadful PP, I’m worried that firing Sullivan will lead to interim coach Todd Rierden due to his head coaching experience and familiarity with the organization/our stars. Rierden clearly sucks
- Victoro311

He fvcking blows, yeah

Sully is cursed for letting Conor Sheary go.
- j.boyd919

hahaha

To your point about the dreadful PP, I’m worried that firing Sullivan will lead to interim coach Todd Rierden due to his head coaching experience and familiarity with the organization/our stars. Rierden clearly sucks
- Victoro311

I mean the deadful PP is tied directly to Rierden, so I feel like if Sully goes, the whole coaching staff goes tbh.

Now is the time to bring in Bruce "BBQ Sauce" Boudreau