Ryan Wilson: Potentially lucky break Potentially lucky break

If Phil is battling an injury it's from before the playoffs. He really should've taken some time off before they started.

So Oshie's hand is fine? Another player for them take a bad shot block too but I cant remember who.

So Oshie's hand is fine? Another player for them take a bad shot block too but I cant remember who.
- MattStrat

Kuznetsov I think. Trotz said they were all good yesterday I think. Just a broken nail or two.

That is great about Dumoulin. I was worried that it would have been a worse concussion.

As for Reaves, come on, it's time to give it a rest . The worst thing about him was the trade to get him. He wasn't that bad on the fourth line, although with Brassard on the team the team is too deep for him to make the lineup. He is a solid fourth line player on most other teams.

I think more than anything the "black eye" is on the league. The league says it is trying to reduce concussions but allows for a blatant headshot to a top defenseman from a habitual goon. The missed call on the ice was excusable but the lack of a hearing was not and just shows what a joke the league has become. I expect Wilson to do something similar tonight. I hope he misses with his cheapshot and injures himself.

The lack of a goaltender interference call on the one goal was also a joke. The fact that they didn't make the call forced them to count the goal since Murray had time to reset.

The worst thing about that official pairing is that they are not the worst officials of the league - McCauley and Peel have them beat.

Kuznetsov I think. Trotz said they were all good yesterday I think. Just a broken nail or two.
- Thorny87

hahaha...or they could be hindered and but not hindered enough to skip game 3 of round 2. Hopefully.

I've been pumping the breaks hard on Sprong since his stint up here this year concluded, but if Hagelin is out long term, I'll be joining the voices who'll be calling for him to play. The 4th line is once again a weakness. It should get substantially better with Sheahan bumped back down there, but I really, really hate what playing ZAR and Kuhnhackl together does to the line dynamics. If there's a possibility that Sprong gives that line a boost during its ~7 minutes of ES time, Kuhnhackl's ~2 minutes of PK time shouldn't take priority.

I've been pumping the breaks hard on Sprong since his stint up here this year concluded, but if Hagelin is out long term, I'll be joining the voices who'll be calling for him to play. The 4th line is once again a weakness. It should get substantially better with Sheahan bumped back down there, but I really, really hate what playing ZAR and Kuhnhackl together does to the line dynamics. If there's a possibility that Sprong gives that line a boost during its ~7 minutes of ES time, Kuhnhackl's ~2 minutes of PK time shouldn't take priority.
- Victoro311

Doesn't sound like Hagelin will be out long-term. He expects to come back this series.

I really wish Sully would keep the Sheary/Brass/Rust line together...They haven't been producing on the scoresheet but it seems like they have been absolutely pinning the Caps in their own zone. Its just a matter of time until they put a few in the back of the net. It would also give Kessel a bit of extra talent to play with to maybe catch a little fire.

I really wish Sully would keep the Sheary/Brass/Rust line together...They haven't been producing on the scoresheet but it seems like they have been absolutely pinning the Caps in their own zone. Its just a matter of time until they put a few in the back of the net. It would also give Kessel a bit of extra talent to play with to maybe catch a little fire.
- joecool2931

I haven't liked Kessel with Brass. Kessel should really be up with Geno.

lowest common denominator of fan eh..

Well I'm there then. If Reaves were still on the roster, I'd play him next game over ZAR or Simon. (I'd probably bench both and play Sprong too). He's not so oh well, not a huge deal, but these other guys aren't playing so well that Reaves would kill them, and they're getting pushed around.

I haven't liked Kessel with Brass. Kessel should really be up with Geno.
- Rinosaur

I just haven't liked Kessel's play period no matter who he's with.

lowest common denominator of fan eh..

Well I'm there then. If Reaves were still on the roster, I'd play him next game over ZAR or Simon. (I'd probably bench both and play Sprong too). He's not so oh well, not a huge deal, but these other guys aren't playing so well that Reaves would kill them, and they're getting pushed around.
- Tojo.

Ryan Wilson logic: If you don't agree with me, you're an idiot/neanderthal.

I wouldn't play Reaves because the last thing you need is more PPs for Washington, and Wilson would just smile at Reaves if he tried to fight him, and you really don't want Reaves playing more than 4-5 minutes, so it's not worth the roster spot.

Pens don't need Ryan Reaves; they have Jamie Oleksiak. Oleksiak just needs to lay him out a few times.

Pens don't need Ryan Reaves; they have Jamie Oleksiak. Oleksiak just needs to lay him out a few times.
- Rinosaur

Oleksiak needs to lay Oleksiak out a few times?

We are all lucky every day or so we don’t get injured by being Wilson’d

I just wanted to see Reaves in a playoff series for hits. He was a good hitter and over a 6-7 game series it adds up.

Oleksiak needs to lay Oleksiak out a few times?
- jmatchett383

Did that comment really go over your head?

I haven't liked Kessel with Brass. Kessel should really be up with Geno.
- Rinosaur

I'd like to put all the non-productive players on one line so they don't drag down every other line. I think I heard it referred to as the Non-Production Line. Maybe they can figure things out together, while everyone else puts up points.

I really wish Sully would keep the Sheary/Brass/Rust line together...They haven't been producing on the scoresheet but it seems like they have been absolutely pinning the Caps in their own zone. Its just a matter of time until they put a few in the back of the net. It would also give Kessel a bit of extra talent to play with to maybe catch a little fire.
- joecool2931

I agree. Really like that line and haven't been a fan of Phil and Brassard.

@Thorny87: I used to buy that philosophy when I heard Bylsma use it in 09 because we won the cup. The past two cups we've won have disproved it in my opinion. Every team has beat the poop out of us and as Sully says, "We just play." I'm not saying investing in the physical game can't have an affect and ultimately win you a series. I'm saying I'll take four balanced scoring lines any day over dressing players who consistently take the body. Look at Tom Wilson and all he's done for Washington the past few years.

Sick of hearing how Holtby is playing other-worldly. The Pens have hit him or the post so far.

I'd like to see ZAR with Geno or Brass. I know it was a small sample, but he looked very promising before he got hurt. It's obvious he's not a player that creates for himself but has looked very effective when paired with talent (Horny Jr.). I'm not sure what Simon has done to justify so much support from the coaching staff?

59 - 87 - 72
46 - 71 - 81
43 - 19 - 17
34 - 15 - 41

Sick of hearing how Holtby is playing other-worldly. The Pens have hit him or the post so far.
- Doogs

Agreed. He's a good goaltender, but his reputation is a little inflated IMO because he played behind some stellar teams the past few years. From the eye-test he doesn't make himself look big in net and he doesn't have other-worldly athletic ability. I think he's Tuuka Rask 2.0. Reads plays well, so he can post Vezina worthy numbers when he has the right team in front of him.

Ryan Reeves was not a deterrent for our opponents at all. He fought a total of 6 times for us, 2x in the Nashville game. He is hot garbage. Yeah, he hits, but he also likes to cough the puck up the slot and is generally useless. You could bring him out for one game to go after Wilson, but we'd end up short handed. Glad he's gone.