I feel like sometimes missed shots like that can be on the defensive team. The rags are a very decent team at getting in shot lanes and blocking shots. These misses can be a product of shooting around them somewhat...I give a free pass on them last night....unless it becomes a consistent thing.
- taleisyreXIII

yeah im sure a large part of it is overcompensating for that. they just need to trust in themselves and what works. if they continue to use that set up, trust it, and bring the effort, i think they can cash in from time to time.

yeah im sure a large part of it is overcompensating for that. they just need to trust in themselves and what works. if they continue to use that set up, trust it, and bring the effort, i think they can cash in from time to time.
- stayinthefnnet

You don't think 18,000 yinzer coaches yelling "SHOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" is part of the problem do you?

A few thoughts on last night's game.

- The bottom-6 looks very solid. It was such a weakness all year, but the return of Bennett, Vitale, and Goc as well as the emergence of Gibbons and Sutter has really turned this into a solid group. Without this depth, I don't think the Penguins have the ability to press a very tired Rangers team as much as they were able to do in Game 2.

- Bortuzzo has added in an element of toughness to the line-up. Makes me feel very comfortable about letting Engelland walk this offseason, as Bortuzzo can play tough without being a major liability on the ice.

- Really wish the Pens could have found a way to win Game 1. Would have made this a very short series as the Rangers just looked so tired last night by the 3rd period. Can't imagine they will have much jump come 2nd or 3rd period tonight. Still, need to win tonight; Pens can't let an advantage like this slip away.

- I think Gibbons should be given another shot on the 1st line. See below. Sid was blowing by Girardi and McDonough last night & Gibbons would be able to do the same. Kunitz-Crosby-Gibbons would have a lot of speed entering the zone & cycling the puck. Plus, Stempniak showed some chemistry with Sutter and Bennett early on in the CBJ series. Would love to see that grow.

14 Chris Kunitz- 87 Sidney Crosby - 49 Brian Gibbons
36 Jussi Jokinen- 71 Evgeni Malkin - 18 James Neal
19 Beau Bennett - 16 Brandon Sutter - 22 Lee Stempniak
46 Joe Vitale - 57 Marcel Goc - 27 Craig Adams

Honestly, I thought you just made them up as you went in MS Paint. Color me disappointed.
- BulliesPhan87

- canadianpenfan

joke's on you, I don't do core workouts

joke's on you, I don't do core workouts
- BulliesPhan87

Would have been better if it was a 52" flatscreen.

Cats suck.

A few thoughts on last night's game.

- The bottom-6 looks very solid. It was such a weakness all year, but the return of Bennett, Vitale, and Goc as well as the emergence of Gibbons and Sutter has really turned this into a solid group. Without this depth, I don't think the Penguins have the ability to press a very tired Rangers team as much as they were able to do in Game 2.

- Bortuzzo has added in an element of toughness to the line-up. Makes me feel very comfortable about letting Engelland walk this offseason, as Bortuzzo can play tough without being a major liability on the ice.

- Really wish the Pens could have found a way to win Game 1. Would have made this a very short series as the Rangers just looked so tired last night by the 3rd period. Can't imagine they will have much jump come 2nd or 3rd period tonight. Still, need to win tonight; Pens can't let an advantage like this slip away.

- I think Gibbons should be given another shot on the 1st line. See below. Sid was blowing by Girardi and McDonough last night & Gibbons would be able to do the same. Kunitz-Crosby-Gibbons would have a lot of speed entering the zone & cycling the puck. Plus, Stempniak showed some chemistry with Sutter and Bennett early on in the CBJ series. Would love to see that grow.

14 Chris Kunitz- 87 Sidney Crosby - 49 Brian Gibbons
36 Jussi Jokinen- 71 Evgeni Malkin - 18 James Neal
19 Beau Bennett - 16 Brandon Sutter - 22 Lee Stempniak
46 Joe Vitale - 57 Marcel Goc - 27 Craig Adams
- s0rcerer1984

I actually agree with you that this is their best lineup. Everyone wants to always surround Sid with A+ wingers but he and Gibbons actually have a good rapport. Definitely more so that Stemps or Bennett on that line.

PLus, these lines balance things out and gives 3 lines the Rags need to worry about since Stemps/Sutter/Bennett have some good chemistry as well.

If not the lines above, the I'd like to put Malkin and Sid together just to finish getting those 2 stars going. Since Dan put them together late in the CBJ series, they have been steadily regaining their mojo. I'd like to build on that confidence and get them up to that superstar level again. If that happens, then we may have something.

You don't think 18,000 yinzer coaches yelling "SHOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" is part of the problem do you?
- Emperor Filonius

true. but im usually of the mindset that shooting first and asking questions later is a decent mindset on the powerplay. like i said, i dont really fault them too much for their efforts last night. i just wish theyd maybe take a few MPHS off the shot and focus just on getting it on net.

for all his warts, that was something neal was INCREDIBLE at. but i do understand what theyre trying to do with always having 2 defenders up top instead of the extra forward. cant fault DB too much for that one. he saw a flaw that was continually being exposed, and took a step to correct it. if we are going to point out all of his shortcomings, id at least like to acknowledge his efforts in the right direction.

- canadianpenfan

Love the guitar hitting him at the very end just to add insult. AND the cat not even looking to see what happened.

true. but im usually of the mindset that shooting first and asking questions later is a decent mindset on the powerplay. like i said, i dont really fault them too much for their efforts last night. i just wish theyd maybe take a few MPHS off the shot and focus just on getting it on net.

for all his warts, that was something neal was INCREDIBLE at. but i do understand what theyre trying to do with always having 2 defenders up top instead of the extra forward. cant fault DB too much for that one. he saw a flaw that was continually being exposed, and took a step to correct it. if we are going to point out all of his shortcomings, id at least like to acknowledge his efforts in the right direction.
- stayinthefnnet

I almost want Bylsma to go back to the prior set-up 4F-1D. The Rangers don't seem to be set-up as well as the Blue Jackets (or Flyers for that matter) to take advantage of the Penguins in this way. The Rangers PK-ers in Game 2 were as follows:

B. Boyle (F): 3:20
C. Haglin (F): 2:17
D. Moore (F): 2:06
D. Stepan (F): 1:23
M. St. Louis (F): 1:21
R. Nash (F): 0:17

R. McDonagh (D): 2:58
D. Girardi (D): 2:33
M. Staal (D): 2:24
A. Stralman (D): 2:24
K. Klein (D): 0:35

CBJ used a lot of speed among their F's on the PK. I don't see a lot of speed among this group. St. Louis and Haglin have some speed. Same can be said of Stepan. But overall the Rangers PK doesn't seem to pressure the points the way the Blue Jackets did. To me, it looks like a less aggressive, sit back & block shots PK which should allow for a more aggressive PP effort.

Would have been better if it was a 52" flatscreen.

Cats suck.
- canadianpenfan

Curious that the TV doesn't appear to be plugged into anything.

if thats the worst we have to say about him, im totally satisfied with him. id rather that occurred than him rifling one wide only to create a breakout the other way that he cant keep up with.
- stayinthefnnet

Ha Kennedy use to do that constantly!

I felt in the 3rd he didn't get too much ice time, wasn't sure what was going on.

I see now that Gibbons is now the new board favorite and his heroics have elevated him to near superstardom. Lets add him to the list of over hyped players, Tangradi, Despress, Caputi, Scuderi, the list goes on.

for all his warts, that was something neal was INCREDIBLE at. but i do understand what theyre trying to do with always having 2 defenders up top instead of the extra forward. cant fault DB too much for that one. he saw a flaw that was continually being exposed, and took a step to correct it. if we are going to point out all of his shortcomings, id at least like to acknowledge his efforts in the right direction.
- stayinthefnnet

Two things could help - shot fakes (the Rangers are very quick to commit to the shot block, fakes could open up lanes for shots and open up passing options) and slap passes, like the one Maatta had last night to Bennett.

I almost want Bylsma to go back to the prior set-up 4F-1D. The Rangers don't seem to be set-up as well as the Blue Jackets (or Flyers for that matter) to take advantage of the Penguins in this way. The Rangers PK-ers in Game 2 were as follows:

CBJ used a lot of speed among their F's on the PK. I don't see a lot of speed among this group. St. Louis and Haglin have some speed. Same can be said of Stepan. But overall the Rangers PK doesn't seem to pressure the points the way the Blue Jackets did. To me, it looks like a less aggressive, sit back & block shots PK which should allow for a more aggressive PP effort.
- s0rcerer1984

if they cant get going with what theyre doing, i wouldnt be totally against giving it another shot. im just saying that i liked the fact that DB recognized a probelm, and made a change. were all very quick to point out his flaws. and a lot of them have been with good reason. to me, one of his biggest was his inability to try something new when something clearly wasnt working. and every since the end of the columbus series, he really has.

the malkin on crosbys line.
2 defenders on the PP.
making letang earn his PP minutes.
getting gibbons back in there over glass.

Ha Kennedy use to do that constantly!

I felt in the 3rd he didn't get too much ice time, wasn't sure what was going on.

I see now that Gibbons is now the new board favorite and his heroics have elevated him to near superstardom. Lets add him to the list of over hyped players, Tangradi, Despress, Caputi, Scuderi, the list goes on.
- sammy87

gibbons is by no means a super star. but he is the closest thing the team has in its organizational ranks to dupuis right now. on a fully healthy cup contending team, no he should not be in consideration for a first line role. but he brings a good deal of speed, which makes him valuable to this current makeup. at the very least, he deserves to be in the lineup right now, and factoring in on the PK by pressuring the point men.

if they cant get going with what theyre doing, i wouldnt be totally against giving it another shot. im just saying that i liked the fact that DB recognized a probelm, and made a change. were all very quick to point out his flaws. and a lot of them have been with good reason. to me, one of his biggest was his inability to try something new when something clearly wasnt working. and every since the end of the columbus series, he really has.

the malkin on crosbys line.
2 defenders on the PP.
making letang earn his PP minutes.
getting gibbons back in there over glass.
- stayinthefnnet

Very true. Without the adjustments, I don't see the Penguins winning v. CBJ.

EDIT - I also would give him props for letting Letang work through his bad games v. CBJ. He looked like the All-Star Dman we signed to an extension last night. Heck of a game.

gibbons is by no means a super star. but he is the closest thing the team has in its organizational ranks to dupuis right now. on a fully healthy cup contending team, no he should not be in consideration for a first line role. but he brings a good deal of speed, which makes him valuable to this current makeup. at the very least, he deserves to be in the lineup right now, and factoring in on the PK by pressuring the point men.
- stayinthefnnet

Maybe. IMO, the best linemate is one that can bang on the boards with size and some cycling ability.

Maybe. IMO, the best linemate is one that can bang on the boards with size and some cycling ability.
- powerhouse

for crosby you mean? thats pretty much kunitz to me. i dont see another guy fitting that mold on the roster.

im not even really advocating for gibbons to be on the first line with crosby by any means. i just think he has a place in this lineup, even if just for his ability to pressure the guy up top on the PK.

Seriously though, why does that guy have a TV that isn't plugged in?

Seriously though, why does that guy have a TV that isn't plugged in?
- BulliesPhan87

its still bothering me as well.

Seriously though, why does that guy have a TV that isn't plugged in?
- BulliesPhan87

Why is he filming himself doing sit ups? Why is his cat so damn fat? Some questions will never be answered...

Seriously though, why does that guy have a TV that isn't plugged in?
- BulliesPhan87

My guess is he was in the process of moving...or he's a hoarder. That's alot of random crap in one small area.

for crosby you mean? thats pretty much kunitz to me. i dont see another guy fitting that mold on the roster.

im not even really advocating for gibbons to be on the first line with crosby by any means. i just think he has a place in this lineup, even if just for his ability to pressure the guy up top on the PK.
- stayinthefnnet

Yeah, for Crosby. I don't see anyone either but I was speaking hypothetically. If I were able to dream of his ideal linemate. Cory Perry comes to mind.

Why is he filming himself doing sit ups? Why is his cat so damn fat? Some questions will never be answered...
- canadianpenfan

They are both fat.

Yeah, for Crosby. I don't see anyone either but I was speaking hypothetically. If I were able to dream of his ideal linemate. Cory Perry comes to mind.
- powerhouse

that would be absolutely ridiculous. sniping ability. can get to the front of the net. has the snarl to create room for him.

crosby, perry, and kunitz would be unfair.