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Forums :: Blog World :: Ryan Wilson: Kris Letang and his overlooked greatness
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Barnaby36
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Former Orpik44
Joined: 02.22.2013

May 13 @ 11:24 AM ET
Amazing story about Crosby and Malkin's relationship


https://www.google.com/am...l-quiet-friendship/%3famp

- Beatnic57

Too bad we can't read it....unless you showed us all lol
10inchTerror
Joined: 10.13.2019

May 13 @ 11:37 AM ET
Pens gave up 2.82 goals per game from 2003-2017
Vegas has given up 2.69 goals per game from their creation.


.13 goals per game ain't that big of a difference.

- j.boyd919


But what are the average goals per game from a decade ago till now as well. Mcdavid wouldn’t nearly be averaging 2 points per game in the dead puck era. Goals have gone up, Maf’s stats went down. The brodeur comparison 668771 used is bang on. That applies to all players. A guy on an all defence systemic team will look like a bust being traded to a Pitt type team when his numbers drop and vice versa. Same with forwards or defenceman. A teams type of play, where he is in the lineup, usage on special teams can drastically alter stats. But people will just label it as a bust or holy cow, where was this type of play his whole career he’s a beast all of a sudden.
Rinosaur
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Somewhere, NJ
Joined: 01.21.2016

May 13 @ 11:37 AM ET
Game 1: Sunday at noon.
MattStrat
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: ...serial abuser...and misuser...of the ellipsis , NF
Joined: 12.12.2014

May 13 @ 11:48 AM ET
Game 1: Sunday at noon.
- Rinosaur


That is garbage. 1:30pm here....on top of the Pens looking sh!t in afternoon games I have a 4 year old's bday party 12:00 to 2:00 and my own game to play at 3:00

I had this sneaking suspicion/fear the first game would be a f'n matinee.
Rinosaur
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Somewhere, NJ
Joined: 01.21.2016

May 13 @ 11:51 AM ET
That is garbage. 1:30pm here....on top of the Pens looking sh!t in afternoon games I have a 4 year old's bday party 12:00 to 2:00 and my own game to play at 3:00

I had this sneaking suspicion/fear the first game would be a f'n matinee.

- MattStrat


He/she is four. They're never going to remember what cake they had or what presents they got, let alone who was there. LOL
j.boyd919
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Tampa, FL
Joined: 06.14.2011

May 13 @ 11:53 AM ET
But what are the average goals per game from a decade ago till now as well. Mcdavid wouldn’t nearly be averaging 2 points per game in the dead puck era. Goals have gone up, Maf’s stats went down. The brodeur comparison 668771 used is bang on. That applies to all players. A guy on an all defence systemic team will look like a bust being traded to a Pitt type team when his numbers drop and vice versa. Same with forwards or defenceman. A teams type of play, where he is in the lineup, usage on special teams can drastically alter stats. But people will just label it as a bust or holy cow, where was this type of play his whole career he’s a beast all of a sudden.
- 10inchTerror


Nearly identical.

Highest GF per Game from 2000-2010 was 3.18
(2 teams in the 3's, 6 in the 2.9's)
Lowest GF per Game from 2000-2010 was 2.41

Highest GF per Game from 2010-2020 was 3.14
(4 teams in the 3's, 3 in the 2.9's)
Lowest GF per Game from 2010-2020 was 2.43
MattStrat
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: ...serial abuser...and misuser...of the ellipsis , NF
Joined: 12.12.2014

May 13 @ 11:58 AM ET
He/she is four. They're never going to remember what cake they had or what presents they got, let alone who was there. LOL
- Rinosaur


Oh I've already messaged my buddy, who's daughter is having the bday party, to confirm it'll be no problem to have the game on at his house where the party is taking place. All good he said hahaha.

Problem is the party will be over and time to leave about 15 mins into the 1st...

...I'm going to miss a lot of this game no matter what and Im not very happy about it haha
Beatnic57
Pittsburgh Penguins
Joined: 10.08.2019

May 13 @ 11:58 AM ET
That is garbage. 1:30pm here....on top of the Pens looking sh!t in afternoon games I have a 4 year old's bday party 12:00 to 2:00 and my own game to play at 3:00

I had this sneaking suspicion/fear the first game would be a f'n matinee.

- MattStrat



Make it a Penguins party for them!
Rinosaur
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Somewhere, NJ
Joined: 01.21.2016

May 13 @ 11:59 AM ET
Oh I've already messaged my buddy, who's daughter is having the bday party, to confirm it'll be no problem to have the game on at his house where the party is taking place. All good he said hahaha.

Problem is the party will be over and time to leave about 15 mins into the 1st...

...I'm going to miss a lot of this game no matter what and Im not very happy about it haha

- MattStrat


She's four years old. Maybe it's time to sit her down and teach her about hockey? LOL
j.boyd919
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Tampa, FL
Joined: 06.14.2011

May 13 @ 12:01 PM ET
Pt 6 (final)

Once upon a time, in Tampa, their friendship wasn’t on display for the world to see.

Rather, it was just those two. Crosby and Malkin. Sidney and Evgeni. Sid and Geno. The two greatest athletes to grace Pittsburgh in a generation. Two icons from very different places who, above all else, just decided to be friends.

“I remember that day well,” Crosby said. “We knew what we had to do.”

That conversation they had at Amalie Arena, that moment in time when it was just the two of them sitting in an otherwise silent locker room, triggered everything.

Malkin may be the most decorated hockey player to come from Russia, and make no mistake, that means so much to him. Crosby was about to embark on a 12-month tour de force — 2016 Cup champ, 2016 Conn Smythe winner, 2016 World Cup of Hockey champion, 2016 World Cup of Hockey MVP, 2017 Cup champ, 2017 Conn Smythe winner — that would cement him as one of the five greatest players in history.

They had already accomplished much before May 24, 2016.

“We just wanted more,” Crosby said. “We still do, too.”

Their friendship stronger than ever, Crosby and Malkin teamed up and lifted the Penguins to great heights that season. And the next one. And maybe more winning remains.

The duo that bonded because of a ravenous desire to win realized something along the way.

“I hope we win more,” Crosby said. “That’s always the goal. But no matter what, he’s my friend for life.”

(Illustration: John Bradford / The Athletic; photos: Joe Sargent, Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)

- Beatnic57


that was an awesome read. I really, really hope Geno retires a Penguin with Sid.
Rinosaur
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Somewhere, NJ
Joined: 01.21.2016

May 13 @ 12:09 PM ET
that was an awesome read. I really, really hope Geno retires a Penguin with Sid.
- j.boyd919


I just get the feeling that's either Pens or Russia for Geno. From all the interviews I've read about him, he seems too big on comfort with friends/family, so I personally don't see him uprooting to go to another team.
burgh4life87
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Joined: 04.22.2014

May 13 @ 12:10 PM ET
They are wearing the gold third jersey for the playoffs
Beatnic57
Pittsburgh Penguins
Joined: 10.08.2019

May 13 @ 12:11 PM ET
that was an awesome read. I really, really hope Geno retires a Penguin with Sid.
- j.boyd919



Let's hope he's willing to take a bit of a pay cut on his next contract...
10inchTerror
Joined: 10.13.2019

May 13 @ 12:18 PM ET
that was an awesome read. I really, really hope Geno retires a Penguin with Sid.
- j.boyd919


Yeah great read! I imagine he retires in the nhl as a pen. But will prob go to Magnitogorsk for a bit. Hope him and tanger take a nice pay cut for 3 years and they can all ride off into the sunset together. And fluery comes back as a $1m backup once his contract is up too haha
10inchTerror
Joined: 10.13.2019

May 13 @ 12:19 PM ET
They are wearing the gold third jersey for the playoffs
- burgh4life87


Love the yellows!
burgh4life87
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Joined: 04.22.2014

May 13 @ 12:30 PM ET
Love the yellows!
- 10inchTerror

It's not out of hate of the yellows, it's just that the black home jerseys are a top 5 jersey for me. They are perfect.
MisterBrown
Toronto Maple Leafs
Joined: 08.10.2020

May 13 @ 12:41 PM ET
Oh I've already messaged my buddy, who's daughter is having the bday party, to confirm it'll be no problem to have the game on at his house where the party is taking place. All good he said hahaha.

Problem is the party will be over and time to leave about 15 mins into the 1st...

...I'm going to miss a lot of this game no matter what and Im not very happy about it haha

- MattStrat

Wait until intermission, or stream it while driving back home.
Thorny87
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Calgary, AB
Joined: 10.17.2014

May 13 @ 12:42 PM ET
What is the Pens record for afternoon games of late?

This first game is huge for a team that has underachieved mightily in the last couple playoffs. Coming out flat isn't an option.
Rinosaur
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Somewhere, NJ
Joined: 01.21.2016

May 13 @ 12:51 PM ET
What is the Pens record for afternoon games of late?

This first game is huge for a team that has underachieved mightily in the last couple playoffs. Coming out flat isn't an option.

- Thorny87


I feel like the "bad at day games" narrative has followed this team since Sid started here. Lots of teams have day games during the playoffs.
Rinosaur
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Somewhere, NJ
Joined: 01.21.2016

May 13 @ 12:53 PM ET
Another thing I've seen talked about by a few writers and I honestly think this is they key to not just winning, but running away with the series is Sully matching the Trotz system.

Sully has been able to have this team playing the same way Trotz plays the Isles, and IMO if he has them playing that way the entire series then the Pens have this in the bag. If they try and get too fancy, always looking for the perfect setup, then the Pens have ZERO shot at breaking Varlamov.
burgh4life87
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Joined: 04.22.2014

May 13 @ 1:04 PM ET
What is the Pens record for afternoon games of late?

This first game is huge for a team that has underachieved mightily in the last couple playoffs. Coming out flat isn't an option.

- Thorny87


Per Bob Grove from April 17th
"Pens are 75-45-13 in afternoon GP with Crosby in the lineup, and he's 67-109-176 in those games (1.32 points/GP).

He scored a goal in his first NHL afternoon GP on Dec. 17, 2005 @ Buffalo (3-4 loss)."
Thorny87
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Calgary, AB
Joined: 10.17.2014

May 13 @ 1:05 PM ET
I feel like the "bad at day games" narrative has followed this team since Sid started here. Lots of teams have day games during the playoffs.
- Rinosaur


Agreed. I feel like they have been better in day games of late anyway?

I was hoping for a bit more rest for Geno but Sunday it is!
Thorny87
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Calgary, AB
Joined: 10.17.2014

May 13 @ 1:05 PM ET
Per Bob Grove from April 17th
"Pens are 75-45-13 in afternoon GP with Crosby in the lineup, and he's 67-109-176 in those games (1.32 points/GP).

He scored a goal in his first NHL afternoon GP on Dec. 17, 2005 @ Buffalo (3-4 loss)."

- burgh4life87

There you have it. Thanks!
burgh4life87
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Joined: 04.22.2014

May 13 @ 1:07 PM ET
Another thing I've seen talked about by a few writers and I honestly think this is they key to not just winning, but running away with the series is Sully matching the Trotz system.

Sully has been able to have this team playing the same way Trotz plays the Isles, and IMO if he has them playing that way the entire series then the Pens have this in the bag. If they try and get too fancy, always looking for the perfect setup, then the Pens have ZERO shot at breaking Varlamov.

- Rinosaur


I was chatting with someone on twitter about this. Over the last 25 games (basically when Lee went down) the Pens are better at suppressing shots and scoring chances at 5v5 than the Isles. The Penguins are just as effective playing a team defensive game. If they break away from that and try to do too much individual stuff, the isles will exploit that.
burgh4life87
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Joined: 04.22.2014

May 13 @ 1:10 PM ET
There you have it. Thanks!
- Thorny87

Someone retweeted it into my timeline yesterday so it was fresh on my brain lol
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