Ryan Wilson: Penguins kick off 2019 in New York Penguins kick off 2019 in New York

looks like 2-goal murray getting the start

lets hope they make it 7 straight bois and wash away the bad taste of mike tomlin's team collapsing once again.

new york is performing reasonably well inspite of this being a "rebuilding" year. sucks to be paying shatty so much for being so sh!tty. $6.65 for being on their 2nd/3rd pairing?

Ryan, nice article. I like the synopsis of team play vs goaltender play. I'd be interested in some analysis on the second line. They haven't been scoring. Do the underlying numbers look better or is that line just a bad fit?

Maybe Cullen just need better linemates, that was the argument with Sprong right?

This just in, beyond the initial "flash" Sprong sucks right now and ice time is being limited already

I understand puck possession. But, I said it a few years ago...some teams, like the penguins, don't always need to possess the puck (as far as shot attempts go) because they have so many threats to score at any second.

I guess I'm just tired of seeing corsi CONSTANTLY thrown out like it's an end all.

Maybe Cullen just need better linemates, that was the argument with Sprong right?

This just in, beyond the initial "flash" Sprong sucks right now and ice time is being limited already
- RoloTahmasee

Sprong looks like the Sprong that the Pens coaching staff told us he'd be...maybe they do know something.

There's also no real look at score adjusted metrics....

Of course when you're protecting 2 and 3 goal leads over the last few games, you're going to bleed a few shots. The only team that didn't do that was the 2016 team that was a possession buzzsaw.

Lol EK saying pens are interested in Howard. Not surprised but I did laugh.

Oh and the top 9 is ok but I'd still really like that LW for Geno and put Simon on the fourth line with Grant centering. Then we would be much deeper.

There's also no real look at score adjusted metrics....

Of course when you're protecting 2 and 3 goal leads over the last few games, you're going to bleed a few shots. The only team that didn't do that was the 2016 team that was a possession buzzsaw.
- Yonk1216

Yeah that 2016 team was amazing. There was not one point at all that I thought we were losing to San Jose. It was actually quite a boring finals imo. The exciting series was Tampa.

Sprong looks like the Sprong that the Pens coaching staff told us he'd be...maybe they do know something.
- cranktheradio

9 points in 28 games isn’t bad for a 3rd-4th line player. Puts him on pace for what... 25-30 points? ZAR has 9 and 26 but for some reason finds himself on Sids line? Get out of here hahaha

9 points in 28 games isn’t bad for a 3rd-4th line player. Puts him on pace for what... 25-30 points? ZAR has 9 and 26 but for some reason finds himself on Sids line? Get out of here hahaha
- j.boyd919

and he makes (frank)ing sh!tty choices on the PK!

11/10 would rather have signed Bill the Butcher than ZAR

9 points in 28 games isn’t bad for a 3rd-4th line player. Puts him on pace for what... 25-30 points? ZAR has 9 and 26 but for some reason finds himself on Sids line? Get out of here hahaha
- j.boyd919

Yeah that's what no one here understood. Simon and Garfunkel just get tossed up there and Sprong buried. Literally Sullivan didn't like him, I mean we all heard of the attitude issue so that had to be it plain and simple.

Edit: Don't know why my phone picked Garfunkel when I typed ZAR but I left it because it's (frank)ing hilarious!

I think my point with sprong is that he's been pretty awful defensively and will score...but not to the point where it's worth his defensive lapses. I've watched 2 Anaheim games and it looked bad to me. ZAR is MUCH better at the little things than Sprong and his offensive game is rounding out.

Sprong's more dynamic. ZAR at this point is a better player.

I understand puck possession. But, I said it a few years ago...some teams, like the penguins, don't always need to possess the puck (as far as shot attempts go) because they have so many threats to score at any second.

I guess I'm just tired of seeing corsi CONSTANTLY thrown out like it's an end all.
- cranktheradio

They are 11th in 5v5 Score and Venue adjusted CF%...

Corsi is relevant whether you accept it or not.

They are 11th in 5v5 Score and Venue adjusted CF%...

Corsi is relevant whether you accept it or not.
- Feds91Stammer

There is only 1 team in the top 11 below a .588 point percentage (96 point pace) and that is CAR who we all know lacks scoring/finishing talent.

9 points in 28 games isn’t bad for a 3rd-4th line player. Puts him on pace for what... 25-30 points? ZAR has 9 and 26 but for some reason finds himself on Sids line? Get out of here hahaha
- j.boyd919

Haha ya hard to disagree with that for sure. Could have been handled way better. The one thing that seems VERY clear to me is how fucckking bad Sprong can look from game to game where as ZAR seems to give a lot more effort from game to game. Kind of what got hagelin and to a lesser extent Hornqvist more leash. Nowhere does that say I think ZAR should be on the top 2 lines.

I watched Sprongs first 3 games for the Ducks and he looked like like a top 9 player with tons of energy, effort and obvious skill. Just seemed to be flying everywhere. I was making sure to listen to Carlyle after because I know if he fails people will say its Carlyles fault 100% but he mentioned him after all 3 games that he played really well. Ive watched 4 partial ducks games since and the effort or care just seems to be totally gone again. Just seems to not give a flying fack from time to time or game to game. I hope he does well but for a young player trying to stick there is a lot more bad efforts then good it seems to me.

They are 11th in 5v5 Score and Venue adjusted CF%...

Corsi is relevant whether you accept it or not.
- Feds91Stammer

I'm not disagreeing that it's relevant...it's just not the only thing to look at. Most people do understand that, and mix in a lot of other stats to show a clear picture...I just think that RW uses Corsi way too often to prove his agenda.

I hereby denounce my Swedish heritage. (frank)ers losing to switzerland. Biggest failure of a swedish team in junior world cup in 20 years. Losers!

Haha ya hard to disagree with that for sure. Could have been handled way better. The one thing that seems VERY clear to me is how fucckking bad Sprong can look from game to game where as ZAR seems to give a lot more effort from game to game. Kind of what got hagelin and to a lesser extent Hornqvist more leash. Nowhere does that say I think ZAR should be on the top 2 lines.

I watched Sprongs first 3 games for the Ducks and he looked like like a top 9 player with tons of energy, effort and obvious skill. Just seemed to be flying everywhere. I was making sure to listen to Carlyle after because I know if he fails people will say its Carlyles fault 100% but he mentioned him after all 3 games that he played really well. Ive watched 4 partial ducks games since and the effort or care just seems to be totally gone again. Just seems to not give a flying fack from time to time or game to game. I hope he does well but for a young player trying to stick there is a lot more bad efforts then good it seems to me.
- pens4life-66

I've seen the same thing...but, to me, it's not for lack of caring, it's because he doesn't think the game at the NHL level.

I'm not disagreeing that it's relevant...it's just not the only thing to look at. Most people do understand that, and mix in a lot of other stats to show a clear picture...I just think that RW uses Corsi way too often to prove his agenda.
- cranktheradio

I definitely agree with this. There’s so many numbers to look at and when I first started following him he seemed to be more interested. But now it’s kinda blah information. I get find more information on my own to better form opinions.

Rust in. 2-ring murray starting.

Murr is the only guy who’s started

Are they gonna play tonight? Seems like Murray is the only one who showed up