We're giving up an insane amount of shots for play off hockey. I'm not complaining about the points we're getting but I'm not sure we're playing playoff brand hockey yet.
- Victoro311

20 shots against last night...21 against Saturday night. A lot of the shots on the nights they were grossly out shot were perimeter non quality shots as well.

I don't understand the "one of the weakest teams in the league at even strength" when the Pens only have 5 PP goals and 2 SH goals, yet are 9-4. They are top 5 in GF% at even strength.
- cap1681

They're on the defensive more often than not. It's not a recipe for playoff success. Even the 2011 Bruins were average in that regard and they had historically good goaltending.
Pens are 15th in ES GF%.
http://www.naturalstattri...=2&sit=ev&score=all&gp=82

Fast moving effective offence? How do you know that before this season started with all the new parts? When there's that much of a roster turn over its a chemistry experiment. Experiments don't always work out. As for he's not doing his job...its a coaches job to get winning results with the personnel he's given by the GM. If his players cant execute a certain way because of deficiencies here and there, then he has to make adjustments in order for them to succeed. I know you want them to score 4 or 5+ goals a game and they might start doing that again yet, but right now they are really starting to get the D side of it down.
- MattStrat

How do I know that? Because that's his style. Every coach has a style. His is fast moving offense that scores a lot. That's why they hired him. Yes I know there needs to be time to gel for new players. And I know winning is the ultimate goal. But if we are winning with something other than his system why is he needed? Just because things are good doesn't mean improvements can't be made.

Ryan Wilson: Sidney Crosby Leads Penguins Over Canucks + Derrick Pouliot News
Sidney Crosby Leads Penguins Over Canucks + Derrick Pouliot News
- Ryan_Wilson

I guess expectations are not that high when 1 goal and a -2 on the night is the definition of "leads"...

We're giving up an insane amount of shots for play off hockey. I'm not complaining about the points we're getting but I'm not sure we're playing playoff brand hockey yet.
- Victoro311

It's also November. The fact that this team has rattled off 6 wins in a row and people are female doging and moaning is hilarious to me. No team is going to play perfect hockey in November. You show me a team playing its best hockey this early in the season and i'll show you a team that gets bounced early in the playoffs. They have a long way to go.

How do I know that? Because that's his style. Every coach has a style. His is fast moving offense that scores a lot. That's why they hired him. Yes I know there needs to be time to gel for new players. And I know winning is the ultimate goal. But if we are winning with something other than his system why is he needed? Just because things are good doesn't mean improvements can't be made.
- Zac_O

I totally agree with your last sentence. With regards to them playing something other than his system, I don't totally understand what you're saying. He's modified his system and they are playing it. It's still his system.

20 shots against last night...21 against Saturday night. A lot of the shots on the nights they were grossly out shot were perimeter non quality shots as well.
- MattStrat

Two bad teams. I agree that we're improving as the season goes on but I don't think we're there quite just yet. I want us to play against good teams the way we did against the Capitals in the third period. Like I keep saying, we'll get there and be fine by the New Year. I'm not worried.

It's also November. The fact that this team has rattled off 6 wins in a row and people are female doging and moaning is hilarious to me. No team is going to play perfect hockey in November. You show me a team playing its best hockey this early in the season and i'll show you a team that gets bounced early in the playoffs. They have a long way to go.
- cap1681

Agreed on that. The Pens start dominating early January and take it into the stretch.

I totally agree with your last sentence. With regards to them playing something other than his system, I don't totally understand what you're saying. He's modified his system and they are playing it. It's still his system.
- MattStrat

But its not the system he was hired to use. If they wanted a defensive system there are better coaches out there for it.

Two bad teams. I agree that we're improving as the season goes on but I don't think we're there quite just yet. I want us to play against good teams the way we did against the Capitals in the third period. Like I keep saying, we'll get there and be fine by the New Year. I'm not worried.
- Victoro311

Interesting enough, the two times the Pens playing Dallas, they gave up 23 and 24 shots, but lost both games.

Penguins quietly have won 8 of 9. Looks like the division is starting to take shape.
- MidnightMarauder

we still suck more than the people last in the league though acording to fans here

well it was a good game. happy I was awake from 04:00 am to 06:40 am to watch it

But its not the system he was hired to use. If they wanted a defensive system there are better coaches out there for it.
- Zac_O

Yeah, one is an assistant coach with the Penguins. Maybe Martin is putting the defensive system in for Johnson.

Two bad teams. I agree that we're improving as the season goes on but I don't think we're there quite just yet. I want us to play against good teams the way we did against the Capitals in the third period. Like I keep saying, we'll get there and be fine by the New Year. I'm not worried.
- Victoro311

The Canucks are a good team. That was only the 3rd game this season they didnt at least get a point. They are 3rd in the league in goal differential. They are tied for first in the Pacific.

EDIT: Also want to add that not good Leafs team you mentioned managed almost 60 shots vs the Habs a few Saturdays ago.

Yeah, one is an assistant coach with the Penguins. Maybe Martin is putting the defensive system in for Johnson.
- cap1681

I have very little issue with how the defense has been playing. But Fleury does bail them out a lot. I'm just saying I'd like for Johnston's offensive mind to start showing on the score board. That way we don't need to worry about giving up two goals late. Like last night.

The Canucks are a good team. That was only the 3rd game this season they didnt at least get a point. They are 3rd in the league in goal differential. They are tied for first in the Pacific.
- MattStrat

They're a team behind a goalie who's extremely hot right now. I don't think their success is sustainable much like I think our play will improve as the season goes on. This early in the season with so small of a sample size I'm more concerned about processes than actual standings. Lots of bad teams high and lots of good teams low.

I have very little issue with how the defense has been playing. But Fleury does bail them out a lot. I'm just saying I'd like for Johnston's offensive mind to start showing on the score board. That way we don't need to worry about giving up two goals late. Like last night.
- Zac_O

They're averaging 3+ goals a game during the 5 game win streak. The offense is there, it's just coming from all over the place, which is a good thing. During this 5 game win streak, the Penguins have had 12 different players score goals.

1. Kessel, Bonino, Sprong, Fehr, Cullen, Plotnikov & Clendening are all new players to this team.
2. Dupuis, Maata & Bennett have been injured more than healthy the past year plus.
3. The Pens are 8-4 and fans are still complaining. I don't get it....

More than half of their roster are players are inexperienced with the Pens current system. I think its fantastic that they are doing so well while obviously still adapting to new teammates and systems.

And the bulk of us Pens fans are still far from happy with how the team is playing... and pretty sure its rightfully so with the offense far from where it should be.

Should that worry you guys?
- Guile

If Pittsburgh's goaltending continues to be stout, assuming their offense wakes up, Pittsburgh will be a force the rest of the way.

1. Kessel, Bonino, Sprong, Fehr, Cullen, Plotnikov & Clendening are all new players to this team.
2. Dupuis, Maata & Bennett have been injured more than healthy the past year plus.
3. The Pens are 8-4 and fans are still complaining. I don't get it....

More than half of their roster are players are inexperienced with the Pens current system. I think its fantastic that they are doing so well while obviously still adapting to new teammates and systems.
- MacPatty

Is the team playing well or is it just one position?

1. Kessel, Bonino, Sprong, Fehr, Cullen, Plotnikov & Clendening are all new players to this team.
2. Dupuis, Maata & Bennett have been injured more than healthy the past year plus.
3. The Pens are 8-4 and fans are still complaining. I don't get it....

More than half of their roster are players are inexperienced with the Pens current system. I think its fantastic that they are doing so well while obviously still adapting to new teammates and systems.
- MacPatty

These points we're winning now while we're still figuring it out are huge. Could be the difference between a low seed and home ice advantage.

Is the team playing well or is it just one position?
- jfkst1

The team is playing well enough to win 66% of their games.

They're averaging 3+ goals a game during the 5 game win streak. The offense is there, it's just coming from all over the place, which is a good thing. During this 5 game win streak, the Penguins have had 12 different players score goals.
- cap1681

I have no issue with it coming from all over the place. But the top 6 needs to be consistently scoring just in case the scoring stops coming from all over the lineup. If what is happening now continues and they keep winning the same way I have no issue. It's not safe to assume the bottom 6 will always get a goal per game. Especially in today defensive hockey. The main thing that needs to change is the PP. Get them to start scoring more and the team will be in even better shape than it is now. Seems they just need to actually try on PP. Standing around does nothing, they moved around last night and Sid got a goal. Hopefully they notice that it works and keep it up.

I have no issue with it coming from all over the place. But the top 6 needs to be consistently scoring just in case the scoring stops coming from all over the lineup. If what is happening now continues and they keep winning the same way I have no issue. It's not safe to assume the bottom 6 will always get a goal per game. Especially in today defensive hockey. The main thing that needs to change is the PP. Get them to start scoring more and the team will be in even better shape than it is now. Seems they just need to actually try on PP. Standing around does nothing, they moved around last night and Sid got a goal. Hopefully they notice that it works and keep it up.
- Zac_O

The Power play will come around. They have a PPG in each of the last 3 games. My point is that GMJR has built this team so they don't have to rely on 87 and 71 to provide all the offense. Yes, the top 6 hasn't been producing up to what we would like, but the bottom 6 has been light years ahead of what it has been in the recent past, and it doesn't seem to be a fluke. They have guys in the bottom 6 who are capable of producing, where in years past, the bottom 6 was a black hole for production, outside of Sutter. Not many teams have that.

@jaydogg: I was being highly highly sarcastic. I just don't believe in sarcasm faunt. Since the begging of the season people had been dogging the four scoring lines model because we weren't scoring enough goals as a team when really the bottom six was producing fine and it was the top 6 that was dropping the ball. Now that it's all starting to come together I'm just being a bastard about it.
- Victoro311

I thought that was a possibility which is why I started with maybe I misunderstood.