Ryan Wilson: Penguins looking to leave the East Division basement Penguins looking to leave the East Division basement

Giddy up its game day and I can watch this one in its entirety after I play 6:00 to 7:00.

No matter how Kap plays tonight, good or bad, there will be overreactions tomorrow. Can't wait.

When the Pens snagged Guds everyone's heads were rolling here. It took some time for people to like Guds game with the Pens. Matheson has only had two games yet and played through a chunk of the 2nd one with an injury that now has him on IR. I didn't want Matheson and I still dont but I do think there's some upside to his game we could end up liking yet.
- MattStrat

True Guds had to earn his way up on people's minds, but he largely did. Has gotten pretty good reviews in Anaheim too though I haven't checked the numbers. Like I think Rino said, I don't hold it against him that he couldn't play his off-side or with JJ. Salary was to much for what he did, but he turned out to be pretty solid as a 3rd pair guy instead of the top 4 he'd been most of his career.

Hags on the 4th line., Schultz on the 2nd pairing, Sprong on the 2nd and Sheary scratched. Don't tell me the Caps don't have Pens envy!

helped earn the win via shutout

Don't you mean shoot out?

Hahahaha. I'm petty. You got me a week ban last year since I said "Ryan has a holier than thou attitude"

In DeSmith we trust.

Predicting 2 goals from guentzel. Pens 4-2

In DeSmith we trust.

Predicting 2 goals from guentzel. Pens 4-2
- DeflatedPucks

Ugh....DeflatedwithJinx should be your username

That Orlov/Carlson pair is brutal.

That Orlov/Carlson pair is brutal.
- Blackstrom2

Have you seen our defense as a whole? Lol

What do you think about Schultz, Sheary and Sprong so far?

In DeSmith we trust.

Predicting 2 goals from guentzel. Pens 4-2
- DeflatedPucks

This is the most worrying part of the season to me so far. Two bad starts and already Jarry is sitting multiple games. And it wasn't like DeSmith was lights out, just good enough.

This is the most worrying part of the season to me so far. Two bad starts and already Jarry is sitting multiple games. And it wasn't like DeSmith was lights out, just good enough.
- Tojo.

He’ll get better as well as Malkin, Matheson, Dumoulin and Rust.

Have you seen our defense as a whole? Lol

What do you think about Schultz, Sheary and Sprong so far?
- Barnaby36

Schultz has been surprisingly adequate, him and Dillon make a good pairing. I shat on him the most this off-season, so if he keeps his play like the past few games, I'd be pleasantly surprised. He hasn't had much issue getting the puck out of his zone, and Dillon actually has been the one activating like crazy, leaving Schultz the lone D back. It's working so far.

Sheary and Sprong are both kinda of meh, but I liked what I saw out of limited Sprong last game compared to what I saw of Sheary for two games. I think that Vrana/Kuzy/Sprong line is kind of a disaster, but hopefully he can get some good looks in.

Schultz has been surprisingly adequate, him and Dillon make a good pairing. I shat on him the most this off-season, so if he keeps his play like the past few games, I'd be pleasantly surprised. He hasn't had much issue getting the puck out of his zone, and Dillon actually has been the one activating like crazy, leaving Schultz the lone D back. It's working so far.

Sheary and Sprong are both kinda of meh, but I liked what I saw out of limited Sprong last game compared to what I saw of Sheary for two games. I think that Vrana/Kuzy/Sprong line is kind of a disaster, but hopefully he can get some good looks in.
- Blackstrom2

Sprong and Schultz will be scoring this eve. Book it.

Schultz has been surprisingly adequate, him and Dillon make a good pairing. I shat on him the most this off-season, so if he keeps his play like the past few games, I'd be pleasantly surprised. He hasn't had much issue getting the puck out of his zone, and Dillon actually has been the one activating like crazy, leaving Schultz the lone D back. It's working so far.
- Blackstrom2

It is still early but considering how bad Schultz looked last year and apparently is doing better for the Capitals this year and the fact that nearly every Pens defenseman has looked bad so far this year (and going well back into last season for that matter) it really makes me question the Pens' coaching/strategy with regard to defense. Schultz was a turnover-machine last year.

It is still early but considering how bad Schultz looked last year and apparently is doing better for the Capitals this year and the fact that nearly every Pens defenseman has looked bad so far this year (and going well back into last season for that matter) it really makes me question the Pens' coaching/strategy with regard to defense. Schultz was a turnover-machine last year.
- PghPens668771

I think it's too early. Schultz cold end up being a disaster.

Are the Pens now basically the same team as Edmonton? Two Elite forwards and some very good pieces to round out the Top 6. Nothing much to speak of in the bottom 6. Mediocre D and mediocre goaltending.

Are the Pens now basically the same team as Edmonton? Two Elite forwards and some very good pieces to round out the Top 6. Nothing much to speak of in the bottom 6. Mediocre D and mediocre goaltending.
- FoppaForever

I’d think goalie would be the toughest position to get back into form. Hard to mimic game day speed and situations in a short camp. That’s what I tell myself for Jarry at least. I think he’ll be ok

Are the Pens now basically the same team as Edmonton? Two Elite forwards and some very good pieces to round out the Top 6. Nothing much to speak of in the bottom 6. Mediocre D and mediocre goaltending.
- FoppaForever

Pens top 4 D is pretty damn good, I'm not going to judge them based on a 3 game sample size, but Letang-Dumo, and Petterson-Marino have been a proven commodity in the past and should be solid if tha tremains the pairings. Pens initial problems are the disappearing acts of Geno, Rust and Guentzel. We, or I thought the problem was going to be the bottom 6 and maybe the third pairing, but we've already seen the third pairing switched up and the third line is looking good at the moment.

Are the Pens now basically the same team as Edmonton? Two Elite forwards and some very good pieces to round out the Top 6. Nothing much to speak of in the bottom 6. Mediocre D and mediocre goaltending.
- FoppaForever

On paper the Pens still have a very formidable team. Aside from Sid and Geno you have Guentzel, Rust, Zucker, Kapanen, McCann, Tanev, Letang, Dumoulin, Pettersson and Marino, so they have a solid supporting cast, but poor asset management and questionable coaching has caused a lot of the issues they have.

If Sullivan is able to get this team playing the way they should, i.e. how they played in the 2nd & 3rd periods against WSH the other night, then with a couple of upgrades the Pens can absolutely be a contender, but those are big IFS.

This is the most worrying part of the season to me so far. Two bad starts and already Jarry is sitting multiple games. And it wasn't like DeSmith was lights out, just good enough.
- Tojo.

I'm thinking maybe Jarry has a minor injury and they are just going with Desmith. Idk just a guess because the radio shows here are just making a huge deal out of it and no one really knows.

On paper the Pens still have a very formidable team. Aside from Sid and Geno you have Guentzel, Zucker, Kapanen, McCann, Tanev, Letang, Dumoulin, Pettersson and Marino, so they have a solid supporting cast, but poor asset management and questionable coaching has caused a lot of the issues they have.

If Sullivan is able to get this team playing the way they should, i.e. how they played in the 2nd & 3rd periods against WSH the other night, then with a couple of upgrades the Pens can absolutely be a contender, but those are big IFS.
- Rinosaur

Don't forget Rust and our new boy Jankowski!

Pens top 4 D is pretty damn good, I'm not going to judge them based on a 3 game sample size, but Letang-Dumo, and Petterson-Marino have been a proven commodity in the past and should be solid if tha tremains the pairings. Pens initial problems are the disappearing acts of Geno, Rust and Guentzel. We, or I thought the problem was going to be the bottom 6 and maybe the third pairing, but we've already seen the third pairing switched up and the third line is looking good at the moment.
- j.boyd919

I'd put them three together and let them all get out of the funk on the same line and put Zucker-Sid-Kap.

Don't forget Rust and our new boy Jankowski!
- 668710

Yes, I forgot Rust. I went back an added him haha. I'm happy with Jank so far, but let's see how he looks after twenty games.

I think it's too early. Schultz cold end up being a disaster.
- Blackstrom2

Schultz is a solid NHL defenseman. He can look good at times and he can look bad at times. The thing about him is he is good offensively, he has a nice shot. He has a knack to get it on net thru traffic.

Defense is his weak spot and that gets him in trouble because some of his gaffs are quite noticeable. You just have to accept the good with the bad.

Yes, I forgot Rust. I went back an added him haha. I'm happy with Jank so far, but let's see how he looks after twenty games.
- Rinosaur

I was joking on Jank haha but yea he's been solid so far.