Ryan Wilson: What the Halak What the Halak

First!

Bjugstad for Toffoli

The Pens were playing pretty well before Geno came back.

One things for sure, the PP isn't any better. They were all over the place last night. No real structure at all.

The Pens were playing pretty well before Geno came back.
- Thorny87

Yes, they were, but they've also played their most dominant hockey since he's been back, so there's that. You can dominate games and lose. Sometimes thems the breaks. Overall though that style of play leads to wins in the long-run.

Also, I hate when people point out goaltending in a 6-4 loss. This wasn't a goaltending battle or a game that hinged on goaltending. Yes, they both let in some softies, but this was a game of mistakes and the Pens made more.

I'm not saying the Pens goaltending didn't need to better, but you can basically say that for any game that is lost by any team. A goaltending battle IMO is a 1-0 game or 2-1 game, not 6-4.

When both teams are letting in that many goals, it's a game of mistakes and the Pens made a few more. This will happen though.

Malkin could have played that better, maybe go thru Marchand to get the puck. Don't forget Marchand didn't have control of the puck when Malkin went after it. I liked his aggressiveness, timing may have been bad with a one goal lead.

Plays like that are why Crosby is in the top 100 and Malkin is #101.
- Thunderbolt

Can't believe you said that Thunderbolt

Malkin could have played that better, maybe go thru Marchand to get the puck. Don't forget Marchand didn't have control of the puck when Malkin went after it. I liked his aggressiveness, timing may have been bad with a one goal lead.

Plays like that are why Crosby is in the top 100 and Malkin is #101.
- Thunderbolt

Can't believe you said that Thunderbolt
- Barnaby36

Yeah, that's why I told him to delete his account lol

I mean, Sid has NEVER made any egregious turnovers... NEVER.

Bjugstad for Toffoli
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I think it's a fair trade there but I wouldn't want to trade Bjugstad. Can't teach how to be 6'6", a good skater and good defensively.

I'd explore another option for Toffoli though.

Yeah, that's why I told him to delete his account lol

I mean, Sid has NEVER made any egregious turnovers... NEVER.
- Rinosaur

I almost believed in you lol

It's a joke to hear Malkin is not a Top 100 player in the NHL. That list is insane. You could take at least 20 people out of the list and insert Geno there.

To me there's only two scenarios you trade Bjugstad:

1) He's part of a deal to upgrade the defense.

2) Cap dump for a much larger move.

To me there's only two scenarios you trade Bjugstad:

1) He's part of a deal to upgrade the defense.

2) Cap dump for a much larger move.
- Rinosaur

I'd do it if it was for Parayko. I mean Bjugstad is part of what's been working on this team and a nice piece to have on the 3rd line.

Also, I hate when people point out goaltending in a 6-4 loss. This wasn't a goaltending battle or a game that hinged on goaltending. Yes, they both let in some softies, but this was a game of mistakes and the Pens made more.

I'm not saying the Pens goaltending didn't need to better, but you can basically say that for any game that is lost by any team. A goaltending battle IMO is a 1-0 game or 2-1 game, not 6-4.

When both teams are letting in that many goals, it's a game of mistakes and the Pens made a few more. This will happen though.
- Rinosaur

Halak made 40 saves and had a .909 sv %.

Murray/Jarry made 20 saves combined and had a combined .792 sv %

So yeah, I think bringing up the goal tending last night is pretty valid.

It’s all Malkin’s fault.

Honestly wouldn’t blame any penguin on that play and just give straight kudos to Marchy for being a beast. That goal was all him. Pens did everything they could to get that puck off him and he somehow got it over to Krug for a (frank)ing laser beam.

Just one of those plays you tap your stick to an elite hockey player.

Penguins have played really well these last two games against playoff bound teams...
They are playing the same way that allowed them to go on a run in 2015-2016 all the way to the cup.

If they can keep it up and fingers crossed they can STAY HEALTHY... they’ll be contenders.

Halak made 40 saves and had a .909 sv %.

Murray/Jarry made 20 saves combined and had a combined .792 sv %

So yeah, I think bringing up the goal tending last night is pretty valid.
- MattStrat

100%. Halak couldn't really be faulted on any of those. I think the Pens had 4 breakaways and scored on three of them.

It’s all Malkin’s fault.

Honestly wouldn’t blame any penguin on that play and just give straight kudos to Marchy for being a beast. That goal was all him. Pens did everything they could to get that puck off him and he somehow got it over to Krug for a (frank)ing laser beam.

Just one of those plays you tap your stick to an elite hockey player.
- j.boyd919

Yup. That was a couple inches from being a breakaway for Geno. He kept his feet moving in anticipation and Marchand recovered. Krug caught that as clean as you possibly can.

It’s all Malkin’s fault.

Honestly wouldn’t blame any penguin on that play and just give straight kudos to Marchy for being a beast. That goal was all him. Pens did everything they could to get that puck off him and he somehow got it over to Krug for a (frank)ing laser beam.

Just one of those plays you tap your stick to an elite hockey player.
- j.boyd919

Indeed. Geno almost broke free there too....almost. Cant knock him for trying.

100%. Halak couldn't really be faulted on any of those. I think the Pens had 4 breakaways and scored on three of them.
- Thorny87

Exactly and 3 or 4 of the B's goals were quite savable.

To my eyes Geno is only at about 80% of his capabilities yet. He doesn't look as fast as the game he was injured. He will get better. Two games ago, his first game back, he had sloppy hands but I didnt see as much of that last night.

To my eyes Geno is only at about 80% of his capabilities yet. He doesn't look as fast as the game he was injured. He will get better. Two games ago, his first game back, he had sloppy hands but I didnt see as much of that last night.
- MattStrat

Definitely gonna take some time.

Bjug looked 100% better than he did last game.

I think the bottom 2 lines are pretty dam good. The second is one big returning injury so we have to wait. The first line need some more defensive presence going against that top line last night. I love Jake but he is not very good defensively. Can't take him off that line because of his finishing but I think a swap of Tanev or even ZAR for Simon in those situations isn't the worst idea. Not for every game, just in ones where they need some help in the corners and defensively.

That was a tough loss. The Pens were the better team for most of the game but lost, due in large part to the soft goals that Murray let in earlier. I can't stand Marchand and he is one of my least favorite players in the league. I have to admit that he is a real sniper, though. Seeing him get the GWG was nauseating.

Also, if a follow-up is ever made for this it will need to include the Lundqvist incident and Halak last night "14 Minutes of Pissed Off Goalies":
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4enzxe

Halak actually was pretty good. The Pens mostly scored on breakaways and odd-man chances (in other words, difficult goals to stop for the goalie). He was probably more mad at his team than himself.

"Early word is it may be a groin injury for Kris Letang, but there’s been limited information yet about his status or availability moving forward."

I'll take that Malkin line last night over the Johnson-Blandisi-Lafferty line. It's a while different level. And that play Malkin missed on is exactly how they want to play: in your face aggressive. Force the other team to make a play fast instead of waiting all day for them to make one.

Halak made 40 saves and had a .909 sv %.

Murray/Jarry made 20 saves combined and had a combined .792 sv %

So yeah, I think bringing up the goal tending last night is pretty valid.
- MattStrat

Yeah, this exactly. Pens goaltending hasn't let them down often this year, but did last night.