Poor coverage by Letang. Fun fact, some guy on the Chicago forum was trying to tell me Hyman is a 4th liner

This is really getting worse and worse.
- Rinosaur

4th game in 6 nights. Don't have last change. Playing a fast talented team. This was always gonna be a tough one

Do you watch TO much? They’re a solid team for the most part and I think now that they have Muzzin this stalwart D game is going to be the new normal. Babcock also loves to match lines and he has a number of forwards who will likely get Selke votes
- WSCTeton17

They’re a great team.
Marner and JT are great together.

4th game in 6 nights. Don't have last change. Playing a fast talented team. This was always gonna be a tough one
- MattStrat

I'm aware. Doesn't change the fact this game is getting worse as it goes on lol

I'm aware how good Toronto is and said prior to the game that this will be tougher than Tampa. Doesn't mean the Pens can't make adjustments.
- Rinosaur

I wasn’t asking you sarcastically, I was asking literally if you watch them. What adjustments would you suggest? Pulling Simon from the top 6? Lol

I'm aware. Doesn't change the fact this game is getting worse as it goes on lol
- Rinosaur

Oh yeah, to be expected, they're getting gassed. It's too bad they couldn't of of held a lead until the 3rd.

I wasn’t asking you sarcastically, I was asking literally if you watch them. What adjustments would you suggest? Pulling Simon from the top 6? Lol
- WSCTeton17

They're not fast enough to keep up with Toronto, so they need to play a slightly more conservative game and not play so deep. They're allowing far too many chances right in front of Murray, so that adjustment will allow them to spread Toronto out a bit.

Conversely, they need to get more traffic in front of Sparks. That will draw some more Toronto players inward which won't keep the Pens to the perimeter as much.

Oh yeah, to be expected, they're getting gassed. It's too bad they couldn't of of held a lead until the 3rd.
- MattStrat

A very tough matchup WITH Geno in the lineup.

Games like this one are why I don't think Simon belongs on the 1st line. Dude gets lost in fast, tight checking games. He doesn't open up any space for his linemates. I'd swap out Simon for Hornie. At the very least move Rust back up.

Games like this one are why I don't think Simon belongs on the 1st line. Dude gets lost in fast, tight checking games. He doesn't open up any space for his linemates. I'd swap out Simon for Hornie. At the very least move Rust back up.
- madmike71

Is Simon the new whipping boy with Brass gone?

Is Simon the new whipping boy with Brass gone?
- Rinosaur

Not at all. I just don't believe he's 1st line winger. Nothing more than that. I think they have better options.

@WSCT

Also, if you watch the Penguins zone entries, there's no support. It's either one or two guys entering the zone, getting one shot and done. There's no support to help generate a cycle.

I can think of maybe three times they actually established a cycle.

@WSCT

Also, if you watch the Penguins zone entries, there's no support. It's either one or two guys entering the zone, getting one shot and done. There's no support to help generate a cycle.

I can think of maybe three times they actually established a cycle.
- Rinosaur

When I coach and teams are playing us tight down low (TO often plays a 2-3 forecheck and they always have a high guy) how do you beat that? They’re so defensively aware so even if you break it out to your center down low, they’re still so tight on him he can’t make much a play. So how do you beat it? You start flipping pucks into the neutral zone and you create foot races. Maybe you don’t win those foot races initially but it also gets the defenders turned and sometimes they make forced plays and turn it over or they toss it back in and now you have time to break it out. How many times have we lobbed the puck out tonight? Not many that I can recall

When I coach and teams are playing us tight down low (TO often plays a 2-3 forecheck and they always have a high guy) how do you beat that? They’re so defensively aware so even if you break it out to your center down low, they’re still so tight on him he can’t make much a play. So how do you beat it? You start flipping pucks into the neutral zone and you create foot races. Maybe you don’t win those foot races initially but it also gets the defenders turned and sometimes they make forced plays and turn it over or they toss it back in and now you have time to break it out. How many times have we lobbed the puck out tonight? Not many that I can recall
- WSCTeton17

And it’s the coaches job to get everyone on the same page so the wingers know to expect it. Who does this benefit? This is huge for guys like Phil and Rust

When I coach and teams are playing us tight down low (TO often plays a 2-3 forecheck and they always have a high guy) how do you beat that? They’re so defensively aware so even if you break it out to your center down low, they’re still so tight on him he can’t make much a play. So how do you beat it? You start flipping pucks into the neutral zone and you create foot races. Maybe you don’t win those foot races initially but it also gets the defenders turned and sometimes they make forced plays and turn it over or they toss it back in and now you have time to break it out. How many times have we lobbed the puck out tonight? Not many that I can recall
- WSCTeton17

I don't mean this to sound like a dyack, but that sounds like Dan Bylsma hockey. You have guys skate in and park themselves in front of Sparks. You'll have on or two leafs not like that and skate in to clear them away leaving more open ice for the Pens.

By the way... When Simon scores tonight....you can thank me.

That rush right there was a prime example of what i'm talking about. No puck support. Two guys into the zone, one and done. No support to help establish a cycle.

I don't mean this to sound like a dyack, but that sounds like Dan Bylsma hockey. You have guys skate in and park themselves in front of Sparks. You'll have on or two leafs not like that and skate in to clear them away leaving more open ice for the Pens.
- Rinosaur

Literally EVERY decent coach knows you can’t get a net front presence until we possess the puck and as you’ve already said we haven’t dominated zone time. Btw FIRST ES shift for the Crosby line, Dumo flips it out and it leads directly to an offensive chance but we missed the pass. I’m not talking about high and hard off the glass, I’m talking about putting pucks into areas where you can either get them or try to put the opposition in a bind

JJ softly flips one across after a change and leads to offense for the RBK line. So I would say Sullivan has made an adjustment as flips are 2 for 2 so far for creating offense

Literally EVERY decent coach knows you can’t get a net front presence until we possess the puck and as you’ve already said we haven’t dominated zone time. Btw FIRST ES shift for the Crosby line, Dumo flips it out and it leads directly to an offensive chance but we missed the pass. I’m not talking about high and hard off the glass, I’m talking about putting pucks into areas where you can either get them or try to put the opposition in a bind
- WSCTeton17

I think you're missing what I'm saying.

Good news is the Islanders and Jackets are both losing tonight.

EDIT: Oh well, Isles tied it

By the way... When Simon scores tonight....you can thank me.
- madmike71

You got your wish. Rust up with Sid.

Brutal icing call

I think you're missing what I'm saying.
- Rinosaur

Dude I know exactly what you’re saying. You’re talking about forechecking. How do you forecheck when you’re constantly in your own zone? It’s tiring to defend so you finally chip it up the boards over the red line and you go change. I say to start flipping pucks to create foot races and keep their D honest, you tell me that’s Bylsma hockey, and the Dumo and JJ flip pucks out and it leads directly to offensive chances

You said it yourself earlier, we’re not generating enough offensive zone time. You said get one to two guys around the net to create more room on the outside, but that only works when you actually have the puck. So if you’re not making adjustments to get the puck back then how do you get on offense?

Btw all of this came from clear cut possession by the Leafs. They were fine chipping out some pucks earlier and instead they’re throwing it up the boards directly to the Pens 1st liners. All this is is a role reversal

Dude I know exactly what you’re saying. You’re talking about forechecking. How do you forecheck when you’re constantly in your own zone? It’s tiring to defend so you finally chip it up the boards over the red line and you go change. I say to start flipping pucks to create foot races and keep their D honest, you tell me that’s Bylsma hockey, and the Dumo and JJ flip pucks out and it leads directly to offensive chances

You said it yourself earlier, we’re not generating enough offensive zone time. You said get one to two guys around the net to create more room on the outside, but that only works when you actually have the puck. So if you’re not making adjustments to get the puck back then how do you get on offense?

Btw all of this came from clear cut possession by the Leafs. They were fine chipping out some pucks earlier and instead they’re throwing it up the boards directly to the Pens 1st liners. All this is is a role reversal
- WSCTeton17

That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about more than two players entering the zone. they need more support. Get more guys in on the rush, skate to the net (players without the puck).