Ryan Wilson: Stop intentionally playing Crosby against Bergeron. It isn't working Stop intentionally playing Crosby against Bergeron. It isn't working

Bruins are the worst matchup for a multitude of reasons. Silly deployment of Crosby line, competent defense and elite goalie. At the least I hope we avoid this matchup in the first round and that the coach will come to his senses in a division final and throw whatever defensive line he wants to construct to the wolves against Bergeron.

I definitely agree the deployment is odd, but at the same time once playoffs come around Geno will be back and Boston would have a whole other problem on their hands.

Well that certainly doesn't bode well for Crosby's selke campaign lol.

I definitely agree the deployment is odd, but at the same time once playoffs come around Geno will be back and Boston would have a whole other problem on their hands.
- Rinosaur

Yea it definitely becomes a different animal if Geno and Kap are playing like they were. And hopefully Tanev is back too.

Guentzel-Crosby-Rust
McCann-Carter-Kapanen
Zucker-Blueger-ZAR
Sceviour-Gaudreau-Rodrigues

Lines at practice. I wonder if when Malkin returns Carter slides down the 3rd line RW.
ZAR to the 4th with Gaudreau and Rodrigues. Tanev comes back at 4th line RW in the playoffs?

I mean, lines change a lot but that's a good forward core.

Canes have noticed a pattern similar to this which is odd.

When the play Jordan Staal against the opponent's top line, he doesn't score much but neither does the opposition.

When they play AHO against the opponent's top line instead, Aho still scores but J.Staal actually creates offense as well and more than the amount that is given up by no longer matching him up as a checker.

The fact is that Marchand and Pasternak are better than Jake and Rusty, especially defensively. It's not just Crosby vs Bergeron. Marchand is arguably the best player in the east right now.

Begeron eats Sid alive on the dot and that line is so strong possession wise, that Sid's line plays on their heels unless the win a faceoff.

Freddy practicing on the 4th line. Looks like he'll be back Thursday.

Malkin practiced a little with both PP2 and PP1. Still non-contact jersey.

Molinari said he doesn't look like he's lost a step or anything with the injury. Skating really well.....FWIW.

Freddy practicing on the 4th line. Looks like he'll be back Thursday.

Malkin practiced a little with both PP2 and PP1. Still non-contact jersey.

Molinari said he doesn't look like he's lost a step or anything with the injury. Skating really well.....FWIW.
- madmike71

Anything that knocks Jank out of the lineup is a good thing. Sully was praising Geno too. I can't wait for him to get back.
EDIT Sully said Malkin was cleared for full contact and was technically full contact today. Great to hear.

Couldn't agree more. I think Blueger, Tanev and ZAR line would be a much better match up strategically against Boston. At this point, hoping the Pens draw the Isles as their first round match-up and leave the Bruins for the Caps.

Anything that knocks Jank out of the lineup is a good thing. Sully was praising Geno too. I can't wait for him to get back.
EDIT Sully said Malkin was cleared for full contact and was technically full contact today. Great to hear.
- burgh4life87

Per Rossi: "Malkin, Tanev and Freddy will travel with team, per HCMS"

Yea it definitely becomes a different animal if Geno and Kap are playing like they were. And hopefully Tanev is back too.
- 668710

Even with this logic, it still doesn't make sense. Why wouldn't you want TWO lines to produce? I really don't think the Bergeron line would double their production against the ZAR-Blue-Tanev line and it would free up not only Sid but also Geno's line to do damage. I don't really see a different animal here.

I just realized the rangers are 5 points back of the islanders and they have 2 games against them coming up. rangers are 7-2-1 while isles are 4-5-1.

Crosby was on the ice for all three of Boston’s goal. Watch Crosby get schooled by hall on the third goal.

Even with this logic, it still doesn't make sense. Why wouldn't you want TWO lines to produce? I really don't think the Bergeron line would double their production against the ZAR-Blue-Tanev line and it would free up not only Sid but also Geno's line to do damage. I don't really see a different animal here.
- j.boyd919

Well I'm talking when on the road and Boston puts Bergeron against Sid.

Crosby was on the ice for all three of Boston’s goal. Watch Crosby get schooled by hall on the third goal.
- Villanelle

He did get smoked by Hall. Wasn't a good game from him at all.

Crosby was on the ice for all three of Boston’s goal. Watch Crosby get schooled by hall on the third goal.
- Villanelle

That was a sick move.

https://www.google.com/am...injury-return-history-nhl

Great article about historical stats of when Geno has come back from injuries. And I was surprised at how many times this has happened and how similar his 1st 5 games back are...

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.pensburgh.com/platform/amp/2021/4/28/22407534/penguins-stats-evgeni-malkin-injury-return-history-nhl

Great article about historical stats of when Geno has come back from injuries. And I was surprised at how many times this has happened and how similar his 1st 5 games back are...
- Beatnic57

Malkin having 11 points in 5 games against CBJ to start the playoffs was ridiculous.

Even with this logic, it still doesn't make sense. Why wouldn't you want TWO lines to produce? I really don't think the Bergeron line would double their production against the ZAR-Blue-Tanev line and it would free up not only Sid but also Geno's line to do damage. I don't really see a different animal here.
- j.boyd919

Not going on the narrative of the blog, but what I originally meant is that having Geno and Gaudreau back gives Boston, or any team for that matter, a much more difficult task. Carter's line, whatever that looks like, will now be playing against lesser competition, etc... If Geno returns strong then I'm really like the Pens chances of going deep.

I now firmly believe that when Geno, Tanev and Gaudreau come back that they're the best team in the division.

It was only one game but it was also another case of a team dialing up their intensity and the Pens not matching it. The B's out hit 2-1 and blocked 3x the shots we did.

This is the game we're gonna get regardless of who we meet in the playoffs. Pens have to find that other gear.

Crosby was on the ice for all three of Boston’s goal. Watch Crosby get schooled by hall on the third goal.
- Villanelle

Yes, Hall does in fact show up sometimes .

It was only one game but it was also another case of a team dialing up their intensity and the Pens not matching it. The B's out hit 2-1 and blocked 3x the shots we did.

This is the game we're gonna get regardless of who we meet in the playoffs. Pens have to find that other gear.
- Thorny87

I think the Pens' compete level ass season has been solid. We got outplayed. I think we'll be fine in the long run.

I think the Pens' compete level ass season has been solid. We got outplayed. I think we'll be fine in the long run.
- Victoro311

I'd say their regular season compete level is on par. But in the last couple years they haven't been able to up it and have been beaten by lesser teams that did.