Ryan Wilson: Banner night for Washington, again Banner night for Washington, again

Low hockey IQ posts only. Thanks.

When the Blue Jackets defeat the Red Wings tomorrow they will be tied with Pittsburgh.

Fixed that for you.

Id have to say that last years run would be tougher than this years due to all the banged up D last year. That's not me saying that the Pens are going to win it all again this year but I think IF they can get into playoffs healthy they are in better shape than last year. Also worth noting is that their overall play is better this year than last year heading into playoffs and I'm not just talking about the last 10 games.

Id have to say that last years run would be tougher than this years due to all the banged up D last year. That's not me saying that the Pens are going to win it all again this year but I think IF they can get into playoffs healthy they are in better shape than last year. Also worth noting is that their overall play is better this year than last year heading into playoffs and I'm not just talking about the last 10 games.
- MattStrat

Go look at the 95-96 Sens and Sharks teams.

I wasn't mad after last nights contest. They looked better than Saturday. Grub played great and made at least 3 amazing saves to keep us off the board. My biggest worry is that MM is still fighting pucks.

I wasn't mad after last nights contest. They looked better than Saturday. Grub played great and made at least 3 amazing saves to keep us off the board. My biggest worry is that MM is still fighting pucks.
- Thorny87

I didn't think Murray was that bad. The only one that really sucked for me was the Orlov goal, he had trouble tracking the puck through Maatta's legs. First one by Oshie was just a god damn good shot, the Wilson tip, not much he could have done on that. Pens D was rough. I feel like Murray made some odd man rush saves to keep the Pens in it.

Go look at the 95-96 Sens and Sharks teams.
- Feds91Stammer

I have...and why not look at the conferences as a whole over the years to see the differences in points/wins? Or why not look at goal differentials for those years? a decent indicator of the clobbering lesser teams were getting.

Points aside, the nightly competition wasn't near as close back then as it is these days. I'm not going to continue to argue that the league has more parity these days since the salary cap started. Not only is it common sense, its evident every night when watching the games.

EDIT: you mention two teams that were very close to their expansion year as examples...well how about an expansion team in the salary cap era, the Golden Knights this year?

I didn't think Murray was that bad. The only one that really sucked for me was the Orlov goal, he had trouble tracking the puck through Maatta's legs. First one by Oshie was just a god damn good shot, the Wilson tip, not much he could have done on that. Pens D was rough. I feel like Murray made some odd man rush saves to keep the Pens in it.
- j.boyd919

It's not so much the goals (I agree with all the above), it's the lack of control when making saves. It could be rust after coming back from injury but I'm more afraid of what happens after the puck hits him then the actual shot.

I have...and why not look at the conferences as a whole over the years to see the differences in points/wins? Or why not look at goal differentials for those years? a decent indicator of the clobbering lesser teams were getting.

Points aside, the nightly competition wasn't near as close back then as it is these days. I'm not going to continue to argue that the league has more parity these days since the salary cap started. Not only is it common sense, its evident every night when watching the games.

EDIT: you mention two teams that were very close to their expansion year as examples...well how about an expansion team in the salary cap ear, the Golden Knights this year?
- MattStrat

Rules for those expansion drafts were VASTLY different. They changed the rules a lot to give the Knights a chance to make a competitive team, back in the day, all the expansion teams got were scrubs.

But on the other note, I agree with you, I think the gap between teams is way smaller nowadays than it was back then.

The Pens didn’t play a great game defensively and I thought Murray made some key saves that prevented it from being 6-1. Despite the possession stats I thought the Pens did a good job of generating quality chances and Grub was just unreal.

I will say I was a bit frustrated with how the Pens keep giving up too many breakaways and 2-1s. Also, they passed up a few too many shots to go for the perfect play.

I didn't think Murray was that bad. The only one that really sucked for me was the Orlov goal, he had trouble tracking the puck through Maatta's legs. First one by Oshie was just a god damn good shot, the Wilson tip, not much he could have done on that. Pens D was rough. I feel like Murray made some odd man rush saves to keep the Pens in it.
- j.boyd919

I kind of agree with Thorny. I thought he looked like he was fighting the puck at times. He didn't look smooth or confident like he does when he's feeling it. I thought giving him both games of the b2b wasn't a good idea.

Still, the Pens had plenty of chances to bail him out and Grubaur was the star of the show last night.

Low hockey IQ posts only. Thanks.
- Feds91Stammer

Oh snap, my bad.

The shade is real.

I kind of agree with Thorny. I thought he looked like he was fighting the puck at times. He didn't look smooth or confident like he does when he's feeling it. I thought giving him both games of the b2b wasn't a good idea.

Still, the Pens had plenty of chances to bail him out and Grubaur was the star of the show last night.
- madmike71

Grubauer completely shut that game down; As good as the Caps played I think the Pens could have stolen that game if not for him.

I have...and why not look at the conferences as a whole over the years to see the differences in points/wins? Or why not look at goal differentials for those years? a decent indicator of the clobbering lesser teams were getting.

Points aside, the nightly competition wasn't near as close back then as it is these days. I'm not going to continue to argue that the league has more parity these days since the salary cap started. Not only is it common sense, its evident every night when watching the games.

EDIT: you mention two teams that were very close to their expansion year as examples...well how about an expansion team in the salary cap era, the Golden Knights this year?
- MattStrat

Okay...

@Boyd, to be fair, I don't think the expansion rules favored the Knights a ton. They were supposed to only get scrubs, expiring contracts, and the occasional good prospect like Theodore that the parent team couldn't protect due to anchor NMC contracts. I think Vegas kind of fell ass backwards into this team of theirs with a lot of the guys they got really elevating their play. Like, I think we all knew Karlsson was a solid player, but who knew he was a legit 1C? To a lesser extent, Marchessault has also been a surprise. Vegas probably really sucks without those two guys and MAF having a career season.

Anyways, how it happened is beyond the point now. If they extend at least Neal and probably Perron too, Vegas has the ability to be good for a while after that great Tatar acquisition.

@Boyd, to be fair, I don't think the expansion rules favored the Knights a ton. They were supposed to only get scrubs, expiring contracts, and the occasional good prospect like Theodore that the parent team couldn't protect due to anchor NMC contracts. I think Vegas kind of fell ass backwards into this team of theirs with a lot of the guys they got really elevating their play. Like, I think we all knew Karlsson was a solid player, but who knew he was a legit 1C? To a lesser extent, Marchessault has also been a surprise. Vegas probably really sucks without those two guys and MAF having a career season.

Anyways, how it happened is beyond the point now. If they extend at least Neal and probably Perron too, Vegas has the ability to be good for a while after that great Tatar acquisition.
- Victoro311

The rules favored the Knights far more than any other expansion. It put teams in a position to have to give them good players in place of letting younger promising players away.

And Marchessault? How is he a surprise? He had a great season with FLA the season before.

The rules favored the Knights far more than any other expansion. It put teams in a position to have to give them good players in place of letting younger promising players away.

And Marchessault? How is he a surprise? He had a great season with FLA the season before.
- Rinosaur

He had one great season at age 26. Late bloomers are rare. I thought it was an aberration. It wasn't. I was wrong.

@Boyd, to be fair, I don't think the expansion rules favored the Knights a ton. They were supposed to only get scrubs, expiring contracts, and the occasional good prospect like Theodore that the parent team couldn't protect due to anchor NMC contracts. I think Vegas kind of fell ass backwards into this team of theirs with a lot of the guys they got really elevating their play. Like, I think we all knew Karlsson was a solid player, but who knew he was a legit 1C? To a lesser extent, Marchessault has also been a surprise. Vegas probably really sucks without those two guys and MAF having a career season.

Anyways, how it happened is beyond the point now. If they extend at least Neal and probably Perron too, Vegas has the ability to be good for a while after that great Tatar acquisition.
- Victoro311

@Boyd, to be fair, I don't think the expansion rules favored the Knights a ton. They were supposed to only get scrubs, expiring contracts, and the occasional good prospect like Theodore that the parent team couldn't protect due to anchor NMC contracts. I think Vegas kind of fell ass backwards into this team of theirs with a lot of the guys they got really elevating their play. Like, I think we all knew Karlsson was a solid player, but who knew he was a legit 1C? To a lesser extent, Marchessault has also been a surprise. Vegas probably really sucks without those two guys and MAF having a career season.

Anyways, how it happened is beyond the point now. If they extend at least Neal and probably Perron too, Vegas has the ability to be good for a while after that great Tatar acquisition.
- Victoro311

I thought there were at least a few instances where teams could have done more to protect their assets. At least get something for a player instead of losing them for nothing in the expansion draft.

I thought there were at least a few instances where teams could have done more to protect their assets. At least get something for a player instead of losing them for nothing in the expansion draft.
- madmike71

Yeah, there were a few weird moved I remember.

@Boyd, to be fair, I don't think the expansion rules favored the Knights a ton. They were supposed to only get scrubs, expiring contracts, and the occasional good prospect like Theodore that the parent team couldn't protect due to anchor NMC contracts. I think Vegas kind of fell ass backwards into this team of theirs with a lot of the guys they got really elevating their play. Like, I think we all knew Karlsson was a solid player, but who knew he was a legit 1C? To a lesser extent, Marchessault has also been a surprise. Vegas probably really sucks without those two guys and MAF having a career season.

Anyways, how it happened is beyond the point now. If they extend at least Neal and probably Perron too, Vegas has the ability to be good for a while after that great Tatar acquisition.
- Victoro311

Well the protection limits were far more restricting than in years past.

In prior years teams protected up to 15 players (nine forwards, five defensemen, one goalie), teams were only eligible to protect up to 11 players from Vegas (seven forwards, three defensemen, one goalie).

Yeah, there were a few weird moved I remember.
- Rinosaur

FLA failed miserably.

FLA failed miserably.
- Feds91Stammer

Still can’t wrap my head around that one. FLA is a real mismanaged organization. It’s a shame really, because they looked like they were on the verge of becoming a legit contender.