Ryan Wilson: Penguins Sprong Back Into The Win Column Penguins Sprong Back Into The Win Column

Great game by the 2nd, 3rd and 4th lines last night. All three were hustling and cycling the puck well. The first line had times of brilliant play but just couldn't get a goal. Once that line clicks watch out!

As many others have said, Clendening wasn't great, but without Scuderi in the lineup the PK looks better and the defense looks more structured and gets a shutout. Probably not a coincidence there. And Clendening has a good chance of improving as the season progresses. Scuderi is more like to wear down as the season goes.

Matt Cullen has been a revelation. What an outstanding play for the 4th line center to be able to make.

Cullen, Rust, and Farnham were suuuper fun to watch. The 3 man forecheck!

Can't wait to see the full squad with Duper, Fehr, Bennett, and Pouliot.

Boy was it nice to watch a hockey game without that dead weighted anchor, Rob Suckderi out there. No blatant stupid passes to nobody, no off the glass dumps to nowhere. Maybe the coaching staff has finally figured him out. So they are paying him a large amount of money. That is not going to change whether he plays or not. So put your best players out on the ice and if he is NOT one of them.....too F'ing bad.

Matt Cullen has been a revelation. What an outstanding play for the 4th line center to be able to make.

Cullen, Rust, and Farnham were suuuper fun to watch. The 3 man forecheck!

Can't wait to see the full squad with Duper, Fehr, Bennett, and Pouliot.
- poopmouth

So far Farnham is proving me wrong. He isn't turning the puck over and making terrible plays out there in his limited time. Porter, Farnham, Rust, Cullen are vastly superior to every single one of Goc/Lapierre/Adams/Sill. And it makes a huge difference when Johnston can put them out in important situations instead of relying on the top 6 players.

Great game yesterday.

Lovejoy has been solid this season.

Dumoulin has been great like I expected.

Clendening took 2 lazy penalties, he looked okay and bad at the same time. It was his first game so I'll cut him slack. Hopefully we stick with him. Bye Scuds.

BB... He's looked awesome as expected, but who knows what held him out.

Sid, Kunitz and Kessel need to stop deferring and start shooting.

Power play looked great even though we didn't score.

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F Scuderi

This is exactly what I think as well, great comments.

Best surprise is Dumo....followed closely by Sprong. I was not sure what to expect from Dumo, but the kid looks like he can be at least a 3 or 4. Nice passes and he makes some of those slick little (under the radar) plays like Martin used to do.

Didn't watch the game (cuz I had early work) but got information from a kid at work (I work in elementary school)
That is a Karlsson fan. I got sucha grin on my face

It's like a lot of people here have said: let the young D play and make their mistakes. You have to remember how good Dumo and Cole looked last year in the playoffs vs the Rags. They did not look out of place at all.

You see what happens when you move Dumo away from Scuds. He made some great passes and plays.

The defensive zone exits and forward defensive support last night were a thing of beauty and hardly any offside calls on offensive zone entries. They were gel'n last night. Gotta keep it going.

Its a bit surprising we are leading the league in goals allowed, but are still struggling to score. Not sure what that means.

Best surprise is Dumo....followed closely by Sprong. I was not sure what to expect from Dumo, but the kid looks like he can be at least a 3 or 4. Nice passes and he makes some of those slick little (under the radar) plays like Martin used to do.
- madmike71

Dumoulin has been a lot better than I expected. I never thought he was more than a bottom pairing dman and he is showing good potential and most importantly he is getting better every game. He might be a legit 3-4 dman by the time the postseason starts. Maatta needs to get back to what he was before injury when he was giving a good 20+ mins/game.

...

Sid looks a step slower than his usual self.

Dumoulin has been a lot better than I expected. I never thought he was more than a bottom pairing dman and he is showing good potential and most importantly he is getting better every game. He might be a legit 3-4 dman by the time the postseason starts. Maatta needs to get back to what he was before injury when he was giving a good 20+ mins/game.
- jfkst1

I preached that Dumo was the perfect defensive style D-man for this team most of pre-season. Simply because he will quietly make good offensive plays and go unnoticed for it. I was very angry with him in pre-season for looking shaky but he seems to be past that for the time being. He will never be a 1st line guy and that's just fine, teams need quiet contributors and that's what Dumo is.

I preached that Dumo was the perfect defensive style D-man for this team most of pre-season. Simply because he will quietly make good offensive plays and go unnoticed for it. I was very angry with him in pre-season for looking shaky but he seems to be past that for the time being. He will never be a 1st line guy and that's just fine, teams need quiet contributors and that's what Dumo is.
- Zac_O

Should be a quality second pairing D man

I really like Bonino so far. The only thing I liked better about Sutter was his speed. That's been my only knock so far. His speeds it noticeably slower than everyone else on the team. He makes great defensive plays

Really don't see the benefit for anyone sending Sprong back to junior.

Listening to HCMJ's comments about him needing to work on his play away from the puck, it's hard to see that on TV. Maybe he does need to work on that like most young players. But, is he really going to improve that area of his game in junior? He'd the the best player on his team, and likely leaned on to push the offense more so than the defense there anyway.

He'd be better of being brought along this year in a bottom six role, and you'd have him to plug in to the top six in case of injuries or whatever.

The Pens forward depth in their organization is better than it has been in recent years, but they still don't have true skill guys in WB/S. I'd much rather have Sprong on the NHL roster to fill a top six spot if needed, than have to plug Brian Rust or whomever in there for a few games.

Sid looks a step slower than his usual self.
- brienstel

Probably more like stepping of the gas cuz he don't have to carry the line with kessel there which is why sid needs wingers that pushes him to perform like horny and kunitz. Honestly kessel is a better fit with malkin. Would love to see him tried on machino's line but if kessel and sid can show they are a force to be recond with then awesome

Really don't see the benefit for anyone sending Sprong back to junior.

Listening to HCMJ's comments about him needing to work on his play away from the puck, it's hard to see that on TV. Maybe he does need to work on that like most young players. But, is he really going to improve that area of his game in junior? He'd the the best player on his team, and likely leaned on to push the offense more so than the defense there anyway.

He'd be better of being brought along this year in a bottom six role, and you'd have him to plug in to the top six in case of injuries or whatever.

The Pens forward depth in their organization is better than it has been in recent years, but they still don't have true skill guys in WB/S. I'd much rather have Sprong on the NHL roster to fill a top six spot if needed, than have to plug Brian Rust or whomever in there for a few games.
- rival22

The whole situation with him scares me. He isn't really needed once Duper and Fehr are ready. But can he learn in the juniors? Maybe a trade is made to make room for him.

Really don't see the benefit for anyone sending Sprong back to junior.

Listening to HCMJ's comments about him needing to work on his play away from the puck, it's hard to see that on TV. Maybe he does need to work on that like most young players. But, is he really going to improve that area of his game in junior? He'd the the best player on his team, and likely leaned on to push the offense more so than the defense there anyway.

He'd be better of being brought along this year in a bottom six role, and you'd have him to plug in to the top six in case of injuries or whatever.

The Pens forward depth in their organization is better than it has been in recent years, but they still don't have true skill guys in WB/S. I'd much rather have Sprong on the NHL roster to fill a top six spot if needed, than have to plug Brian Rust or whomever in there for a few games.
- rival22

I'd agree here. Although if Sprong makes the team and starts to sputter halfway into the season, can he be sent do to the AHL? Or would he have to be scratched?

Part of me thinks having Rust up and Plot out served 2 purposes. To see if Rust could handle a bottom 6 role and to give Plot a rest.

I'd agree here. Although if Sprong makes the team and starts to sputter halfway into the season, can he be sent do to the AHL? Or would he have to be scratched?

Part of me thinks having Rust up and Plot out served 2 purposes. To see if Rust could handle a bottom 6 role and to give Plot a rest.
- Pens_Burgh

I believe he couldn't go to the AHL and would need to be scratched.

Rust looked good IMO. He handled the puck well and fought hard. Would be a better call up or forward #13 than Farnham.

The whole situation with him scares me. He isn't really needed once Duper and Fehr are ready. But can he learn in the juniors? Maybe a trade is made to make room for him.
- Zac_O

Having options should never scare you. The kids speed and shot are NHL ready. He sees the ice very well and hasn't been a defensive liabilty I can think of 4 or 5 guys I'd rather have him in over.

Game thoughts:

Is Sprong the Dutch Brandon Saad? Not that their playing styles are the same, but getting an above average NHL top 6 winger in the 2nd round at 18 years old, I mean is there anything we've clamored for more? Beyond the goal, I thought he was flying around the ice all night. Biggest problem, he is a right winger. Fehr, Dupuis, Plotnikov, and Bennett will be back at some point. Where does he fit? He needs to be in the NHL though if for no other reason than we are the Penguins, as someone will be hurt and I hate to see us have to call up Farnham or Rust when we have real talent. Furthermore, if he continues this kind of play, maybe we can comfortably trade a foward for D help.

Bonino >> Sutter. I like the way he plays. Solid two way playmaker is all we've ever really needed.

Dumoulin is gaining confidence.

Cullen, even if he ends up being the odd man out some nights, was an underrated pick up.

Crosby looks bad. I have no explanation for this. Just not making good passes, having trouble handling the puck, and not elevating his shots. They might have been our worst line last night. Hoping he and Kessel find some chemistry soon or I'm tempted to switch Kessel and Hornqvist's lines.

Lastly, hopefully HCMJ sees the potential in Clendening and lets him continue to iron out mistakes rather than bench him after a 2 penalty game.