Schultz will look good in the offensive zone and he doesn't make a ton of glaring mistakes. But he'll get pinned in his end all the time because he almost never gets the puck back and for an offensive defenseman isn't great at getting the puck up ice.
- Tojo.

He's been good at both of those two things tonight though. For what it's worth, Dillon has also looked good. Again, it's just the Sabres.

Schultz will look good in the offensive zone and he doesn't make a ton of glaring mistakes. But he'll get pinned in his end all the time because he almost never gets the puck back and for an offensive defenseman isn't great at getting the puck up ice.
- Tojo.

This and a major injury is imminent.

I wouldn't mind seeing Laf at 1rw until Kap gets there. Honestly, he looks even faster than before. Did he shave off a few pounds? He'll at least go to the net. Can't get any worse than Erod.

He's been good at both of those two things tonight though. For what it's worth, Dillon has also looked good. Again, it's just the Sabres.
- Blackstrom2

I think Dillon is good. He is exactly what the Pens need.

I wouldn't mind seeing Laf at 1rw until Kap gets there. Honestly, he looks even faster than before. Did he shave off a few pounds? He'll at least go to the net. Can't get any worse than Erod.
- madmike71

Totally agree with this. This should be his tryout while Kap is out. ERod is a known quantity which isn't that good.

I think Dillon is good. He is exactly what the Pens need.
- Hockey66

That's what I'm saying. The pairing looks good.

Totally agree with this. This should be his tryout while Kap is out. ERod is a known quantity which isn't that good.
- Hockey66

Yup

Totally agree with this. This should be his tryout while Kap is out. ERod is a known quantity which isn't that good.
- Hockey66

All the beat guys raved about Laf in the abbreviated camp. They all said Erod sucked. I'm sure Sully is thinking about lines getting chemistry and such, but doing that at the expense of the first line is dumb.

I know it's just been a half a game against the Sabres, but Schultz has looked good.
- Blackstrom2

I said several times last season that I had no idea if Schultz was cooked or if he was just floundering with Johnson over the past two seasons. He could still be fine if deployed correctly, but man that pairing was just so so bad that it was tough not to put some of it on Schultz.

Yeah... I've lost most of my confidence in him too.
- madmike71

Time for the old switch the head coach win a Stanley cup show to make another appearance here in 2021 lol. But seriously yeah he needs to go.

He's been good at both of those two things tonight though. For what it's worth, Dillon has also looked good. Again, it's just the Sabres.
- Blackstrom2

Dillon is a need for the pens. Don’t care who on LD goes. He was one of the primary players I wanted pitt to go after.

Time for HCMS to go he has lost this team. One game is not the sample size. The Habs and the islanders series should be the bench mark. We can’t rid of GMJR yet but he can do us the favor of getting rid of the other problem. We have a team of Perimeter players. It’s pond hockey with 2 of the top 5 players of their generation. What a shame😠😠

Time for HCMS to go he has lost this team. One game is not the sample size. The Habs and the islanders series should be the bench mark. We can’t rid of GMJR yet but he can do us the favor of getting rid of the other problem. We have a team of Perimeter players. It’s pond hockey with 2 of the top 5 players of their generation. What a shame😠😠
- Malkin

I mean it’s only 1 game. The top 2 lines will score. This is a slow starting team so honestly what else is new. Hopefully sully can make the obvious decisions this year though.

I mean it’s only 1 game. The top 2 lines will score. This is a slow starting team so honestly what else is new. Hopefully sully can make the obvious decisions this year though.
- 10inchTerror

But it's the same old stupid bullsh!t. He's probably the only coach in the league who thought it would be a good idea to put ERod on the top line. ERod sucks and is lucky to be on the roster, period. His ceiling is the 4th line. Why sabotage Crosby like that? Also, still no net-front presence, still no clearing the crease. These are fundamental coaching errors. All new assistants, same old team. Good chance we go 0-4 to start the season against two better teams, Philly and Washington. They play playoff hockey; we play pond hockey.

But it's the same old stupid bullsh!t. He's probably the only coach in the league who thought it would be a good idea to put ERod on the top line. ERod sucks and is lucky to be on the roster, period. His ceiling is the 4th line. Why sabotage Crosby like that? Also, still no net-front presence, still no clearing the crease. These are fundamental coaching errors. All new assistants, same old team. Good chance we go 0-4 to start the season against two better teams, Philly and Washington. They play playoff hockey; we play pond hockey.
- Hockey66

Is there any chance Kap plays tmmrw or is Sunday the earliest?

ERod had the highest TOI for forwards!

Just under 2.5 minutes of his just under 19 minutes was special teams.

That, right there, is a fireable offense.

ERod had the highest TOI for forwards!

Just under 2.5 minutes of his just under 19 minutes was special teams.

That, right there, is a fireable offense.
- Hockey66

Jesus, he did this with JJ too. I don't like this trend..

Rods time should drop once Kap gets in the line up. If he tests negative today is Sunday the earliest he can be in the lineup?

But it's the same old stupid bullsh!t. He's probably the only coach in the league who thought it would be a good idea to put ERod on the top line. ERod sucks and is lucky to be on the roster, period. His ceiling is the 4th line. Why sabotage Crosby like that? Also, still no net-front presence, still no clearing the crease. These are fundamental coaching errors. All new assistants, same old team. Good chance we go 0-4 to start the season against two better teams, Philly and Washington. They play playoff hockey; we play pond hockey.
- Hockey66

0-4 might be the only way to get rid of sully unfortunately. Especially if they let in 6 goals a game. But I mean it’s 1 game so far, and it wasn’t early but it was a daytime game technically which Pitt can’t win. Chemistry takes time, they are slow starters, and there were def some positives to take. If line 3 can play defence the way they did and put up some points here and there, and line 4 can return to form soon, maybe with zar back, Sid and geno will get their groove goin.

I def question a lot of sully’s decisions but so far it’s game 1. Hopefully we some SOME noticeable adjustments by the time kap debuts.

Here's my lines for next game:

Zucker-Sid-Tanev
Guentz-Geno-Rust
McCann-Jano-Lafferty
O'Connor-Blue-ERod

Dumo-Tang
Petts-Marino
Rikk-Rudy
- MattStrat

I call this the Blueger neuter line.

That's what I'm saying. The pairing looks good.
- Blackstrom2

Dillon and Cole play a similar game so it could totally work out. Cole-Schultz was awesome for us.

Game starts at 8:30 Newf time....I have 1.5 hours of hockey to play starting at 8:00 Newf time....gonna miss a chunk of this one tonight. Debated not going to play but if I dont and they lose its double fvckery.

Lets go .500 on the season, boys.

I call this the Blueger neuter line.
- Thunderbolt

It would be wise for Ruth to try and add a winger here. Idk how but try.

Game starts at 8:30 Newf time....I have 1.5 hours of hockey to play starting at 8:00 Newf time....gonna miss a chunk of this one tonight. Debated not going to play but if I dont and they lose its double fvckery.

Lets go .500 on the season, boys.
- MattStrat

At least you'll get to see the end. Id rather miss the beginning. Well if we're winning or it's close that is...

A lot of talk about Sully only after 1 game but I believe rightfully so. I wanted him gone after the Isles sweep....but then with mountains of injuries in the first half of last season the Pens were one of the best playing teams in the league...so I eased up a bit on it. His decisions in the play in round were garbage again though....and thats when coaching decision matter the most, playoff rounds.

I really cant help but wonder if he will scratch certain players and do different things this season in a much shorter one. There isnt near as much time to figure sh!t out and you cant just leave players in the lineup that are majorly negatively impacting the on ice product...we'll see what happens.