Ryan Wilson: Time to change the defense pairings Time to change the defense pairings

up 2-0 in the series, given up 2 goals total, and you are complaining about Daley being in the lineup

He's (Calvert) in the 25th percentile in both possession and even-strength offense.

Are you saying he is the best player we have?

I don't know what means less in this series - advanced stats or number of hits?

http://www.post-gazette.c...169?pgpageversion=pgevoke

The Penguins likely will start the same set of defense pairings for the third consecutive game, affording them a sense of consistency along the blue line they hadn’t had very much over their injury-plagued stretch run of the regular season. That consistency has helped with what have been two solid defensive efforts through two games against Columbus.

In the final 20 games, the Penguins were able to keep the same defense pairings three nights in a row just twice. The downside, obviously, is that the shuffling came because players were in and out of the lineup because of injury.

It's sad that the Pens refused to spend top draft picks on defensemen.

What, they did draft dmen?

Where are these dmen?

/sarcasm

seeings how the stats are generally solid when extrapolated over a significant period of time and lots of samples, do they remain relevant in a playoff series? not a whole lot of data to pull from to establish patterns for analysis... and if the playoffs are different then the regular season how relevant is the data from then?

No reason to change it yet.

Retrieving the puck and exiting the zone is a better defense than allowing high volume low percentage shots and blocking the inside, and RW is saying there are defensive pairings that have been better at that.

What's the problem here?

up 2-0 in the series, given up 2 goals total, and you are complaining about Daley being in the lineup
- Thorny

This.

Until necessary, why change anything?

"If it isn't broke, why try and fix it" is a popular sentiment for a reason.

I dont see any issues with the way the Pens have been defending. CBJ can have all the shots they want from the perimeter, the defense is doing an incredible job of keeping the slot and crease clear. I promise you Fleury is loving this, high volumes of easy saves keep a goalie in the game and in a good head space.

Retrieving the puck and exiting the zone is a better defense than allowing high volume low percentage shots and blocking the inside.

- eNDSo

Sure it is. But Letang is hurt, and they've adapted to it brilliantly by changing up what they do. Doesn't mean it will be the same strategy for the next series, whatever that is, but this is the strategy they've decided on to beat the BJ's.

Sure it is. But Letang is hurt, and they've adapted to it brilliantly by changing up what they do. Doesn't mean it will be the same strategy for the next series, whatever that is, but this is the strategy they've decided on to beat the BJ's.
- hardnosed

This is where I get a smidge worried. I don't like looking ahead too much but the way C-Bus has played so far makes it hard. We can beat CBJ the way we're playing now because they're bad at scoring. We want to play crease protection defense against them, that's fine. Pushing them out to the perimeter totally neuters them because they have few players that excel at sniping and making the ultra-skilled passes needed to break through a crease protection defense.

However, I just don't see that working against a higher skilled team like Washington or Toronto. Gameplan aside, we can't make a clean breakout to safe our lives right now, and that's a problem. Hopefully its just 100% gameplan and if we advance, Sullivan will get the boys to open up some when we have to play against a team that can fill the net. But given what I've seen, I am extremely worried.

This is where I get a smidge worried. I don't like looking ahead too much but the way C-Bus has played so far makes it hard. We can beat CBJ the way we're playing now because they're bad at scoring. We want to play crease protection defense against them, that's fine. Pushing them out to the perimeter totally neuters them because they have few players that excel at sniping and making the ultra-skilled passes needed to break through a crease protection defense.

However, I just don't see that working against a higher skilled team like Washington or Toronto. Gameplan aside, we can't make a clean breakout to safe our lives right now, and that's a problem. Hopefully its just 100% gameplan and if we advance, Sullivan will get the boys to open up some when we have to play against a team that can fill the net. But given what I've seen, I am extremely worried.
- Victoro311

One series at a time. I just like the fact that Sullivan isn't trying to fit square begs into a round hole. And I would argue that when the Penguins HAVE been getting breakouts, they're really great breakouts that turn into something dangerous. But yes, there have been a lot instances where the Penguins have just cleared the zone with no attempt at a breakout, which won't fly against more offensively talented teams.

I've also never seen such a cautious playoff forecheck from the Penguins. That's probably going to change against another team.

Great write-up.

One series at a time. I just like the fact that Sullivan isn't trying to fit square begs into a round hole. And I would argue that when the Penguins HAVE been getting breakouts, they're really great breakouts that turn into something dangerous. But yes, there have been a lot instances where the Penguins have just cleared the zone with no attempt at a breakout, which won't fly against more offensively talented teams.

I've also never seen such a cautious playoff forecheck from the Penguins. That's probably going to change against another team.
- hardnosed

Remember who our defensemen are. That system of slot/crease protection defense is fitting square pegs into round holes. This defensive core does not, generally, excel at that type of playing style. They are for now, and that's great, but like I said, I think its because of the current matchup and their lack of skill. I do think Mike Sullivan in gameplanning, and good for him. I respect the hell out of him as a coach and I do not doubt his ability, but I do doubt the ability of our defense, and I am worried that when its time for Sully to change the scheme, our defense is gonna get exposed.

I agree that Sully is going with what works against THIS team. Hainsey may have poor advanced numbers, but watching him live he seems fine. The Pens are actually nasty in their own crease area and a lot of blocked shots are going through other way just like outlet passes because Columbus' D is aggressive. Streit will be needed against lighter/quicker teams.

However, how awesome is it that Schultz is turning into a legit 2-way, top 4 D-man.

Remember who our defensemen are. That system of slot/crease protection defense is fitting square pegs into round holes. This defensive core does not, generally, excel at that type of playing style. They are for now, and that's great, but like I said, I think its because of the current matchup and their lack of skill. I do think Mike Sullivan in gameplanning, and good for him. I respect the hell out of him as a coach and I do not doubt his ability, but I do doubt the ability of our defense, and I am worried that when its time for Sully to change the scheme, our defense is gonna get exposed.
- Victoro311

I'd say that Hainsey, Dumoulin, Maatta and Cole are all pretty adept at the slot/crease protection defense.

I agree that Sully is going with what works against THIS team. Hainsey may have poor advanced numbers, but watching him live he seems fine. The Pens are actually nasty in their own crease area and a lot of blocked shots are going through other way just like outlet passes because Columbus' D is aggressive. Streit will be needed against lighter/quicker teams.

However, how awesome is it that Schultz is turning into a legit 2-way, top 4 D-man.
- cranktheradio

He has been that way all season but a lot of you so called experts have not noticed. He had a bad rap against him because of the times with the Oilers. But remember he was a high second round pick. What was Letang a third rounder. Sometimes it is the system and the team you are with not always the player by himself. Schultz is a very solid player and will only get better

I agree that Sully is going with what works against THIS team. Hainsey may have poor advanced numbers, but watching him live he seems fine. The Pens are actually nasty in their own crease area and a lot of blocked shots are going through other way just like outlet passes because Columbus' D is aggressive. Streit will be needed against lighter/quicker teams.

However, how awesome is it that Schultz is turning into a legit 2-way, top 4 D-man.
- cranktheradio

Have you seen Mark Streit attempt to skate lately?

He's a good puck mover mover time and space, but he needs about a 4 stride lead to keep up with average skaters blue line to blue line.

Have you seen Mark Streit attempt to skate lately?

He's a good puck mover mover time and space, but he needs about a 4 stride lead to keep up with average skaters blue line to blue line.
- jmatchett383

He's not quick. But, just like Bonino, he doesn't have to be in this system as long as he thinks quickly. Streit has always had good awareness and can play a "quick" game with other speedy players.

Shouldn't be trying to fix what isn't broken... but prepping for the likely next round with possibly changes is not a bad idea.

Nice column. IMO Sullivan won't change anything after 2 wins.

Shouldn't be trying to fix what isn't broken... but prepping for the likely next round with possibly changes is not a bad idea.
- Guile

Our dmen have been pretty tentative because they're getting hit so much. Credit to Cbus.....they're lining our guys up and creating havoc. Fortunately for us, they haven't figured out how to turn that into offense. I doubt anything changes if the pairings were different.

Looking forward (if we move on), I don't see any other team focusing this much on hitting. Sure the Caps play a heavy game, but not quite like this.

There is a reason Sully is coaching the team (Stanley Cup winner I may add) and Ryan is writing his opinions on here. Both are valid but I put my trust that Sully knows what he is doing, did I mention he won the Stanley Cup?

In a world of "stats and facts" there is one thing that makes them useless......passion. Being a Pens fan for about 30 years now, I must say I've never seen the Pens play with the passion Sully brings. When you spend your time on an article pointing out your options when they are up 2-0 and given up 2 goals....I wonder what reality you are living in??

I'd say that Hainsey, Dumoulin, Maatta and Cole are all pretty adept at the slot/crease protection defense.
- hardnosed

I don't know about that. This is pretty much the same defense that blew at doing so under Johnston if you consider Hainsey is pretty much Lovejoy.

But as you say, one series at a time. This is a fine strategy against CBJ.