Wings are right there again, man. Sniffin at the playoffs...knocking on the door and might get in.
- MattStrat

This week is a make or break week. Rags, bolts and sens twice. 2nd toughest remaining sos.

hahaha should I take offense to this? I'm like the only one posting underlying stats around here usually. Nah, its all good. I love hard hitting physical hockey players but they also have to be smart and productive too..in my opinion smart and productive is far more important than just tough n rough. Truth is every NHL player is tough to a degree and most likely tougher than you or me.

Pens are 4th in the league in hits...and yes, I know, rarely do we see massive hits from the Pens but can you point me in the direction of the team that is laying massive hits every single game? Like for instance, Rangers have Trouba...he's not laying big hits every single game. Its kinda funny...of the top 15 teams in hits only 3 are currently in a playoff position.

"....Doesn't really matter if we outscore teams, just get more shots." hahaha you off your meds, or what?
- MattStrat

These recent Islander games, even if the Pens “Carried the play” and had better advanced fancy metric underlying stats, did you ever really get the feeling like they were going to win?

These recent Islander games, even if the Pens “Carried the play” and had better advanced fancy metric underlying stats, did you ever really get the feeling like they were going to win?
- Grinder47

If I didnt have trust issues from the load of blown leads the past month or so, yes, absolutely I would think they were going to win. I try not to look at things in a vacuum every game...but if I were to look at just that game in a vacuum, yes, I would think they were going to win...because they majorly carried the play, outshot, out chanced and had a lead. I think if it wasnt Jarrys first game back, after not playing much the past two months, they would of won. He just doesn't let in those trickily goals on the post when he's in form. The game before was even more pronounced in out chancing, outshooting and carrying the play....but CDS let in 5...so 4 goals against Sorokin wasn't enough to win....

This week is a make or break week. Rags, bolts and sens twice. 2nd toughest remaining sos.
- Feds91Stammer

Thats tough but not impossible. Never know. Its crazy how many teams are right around those two wild card spots right now. Very interesting stuff every night.

These recent Islander games, even if the Pens “Carried the play” and had better advanced fancy metric underlying stats, did you ever really get the feeling like they were going to win?
- Grinder47

LOL it was the first game I've watched in a few weeks. All I could think was great OT and its already past my bedtime. Wow was i surprised.....Isles didn't even need OT.

Also, if you didn't know any better it almost felt like a home game for the Isles. There is 0 energy from the fans at this point. Every game I watch a game its like Covid and nobody is in the stands.

So they play EDM tomorrow and its not on ESPN? LOL NHL is a joke!

Also, Mccann has 26 G this year. Spring 15. interesting to see those 2 chugging away.

as constructed, this is not a good team. how many years in a row of inconsistent goaltending. then you have a GM who is in a coma and a stubborn head coach who continues to roll out the same lines and leans too heavily on the top 6. would never think to hold anyone accountable. at least ruff and torts have 1 standard. sullivan will punish DOC but not carter? dumo would never be benched. what a waste of the years that sid and geno have provided this year.

hahaha should I take offense to this? I'm like the only one posting underlying stats around here usually. Nah, its all good. I love hard hitting physical hockey players but they also have to be smart and productive too..in my opinion smart and productive is far more important than just tough n rough. Truth is every NHL player is tough to a degree and most likely tougher than you or me.

Pens are 4th in the league in hits...and yes, I know, rarely do we see massive hits from the Pens but can you point me in the direction of the team that is laying massive hits every single game? Like for instance, Rangers have Trouba...he's not laying big hits every single game. Its kinda funny...of the top 15 teams in hits only 3 are currently in a playoff position.

"....Doesn't really matter if we outscore teams, just get more shots." hahaha you off your meds, or what?
- MattStrat

No offence, I respect and value your opinion. Sometimes I agree, sometimes I don't. I agree, I wouldn't last one full shift in today's game. Although one thing my wife used to say was our son plays like you did, go to the front of the net.

Fighting has been mostly taken out of the game. Some of it is the rules, the instigator rule comes to mind. Mostly it's the equipment, helmet and facemask. I don't blame anyone for wearing anything that makes you safer. Much like football, the padding has gotten so strong that the brain can't absorb the impact anymore.

Two things, one, anytime we get a physical type of player, the first thing is 'he's the worst player in the league.' Reaves, Gundbranson, and Ceci we wanted to run out of town before they got here. All three ended up being decent players. Not superstars but serviceable. Two, you don't have to play all-out attack hockey to win. You can play a patient, counterattack game. Our high school basketball team played run and gun. We were struggling I couldn't figure out why. My dad said you need to score 70 points, if a team slows you down and plays defense, you get frustrated. I see a lot of similarities in our high school team and Sullivan coached teams.

These recent Islander games, even if the Pens “Carried the play” and had better advanced fancy metric underlying stats, did you ever really get the feeling like they were going to win?
- Grinder47

It should be noted that the Islanders stink.

They're slow as hell.

It should be noted that the Islanders stink.

They're slow as hell.
- BINGO!

Skated all over the Pens in hte 3rd....wanna talk about slow....watch the Avs then watch a Pens game.

No offence, I respect and value your opinion. Sometimes I agree, sometimes I don't. I agree, I wouldn't last one full shift in today's game. Although one thing my wife used to say was our son plays like you did, go to the front of the net.

Fighting has been mostly taken out of the game. Some of it is the rules, the instigator rule comes to mind. Mostly it's the equipment, helmet and facemask. I don't blame anyone for wearing anything that makes you safer. Much like football, the padding has gotten so strong that the brain can't absorb the impact anymore.

Two things, one, anytime we get a physical type of player, the first thing is 'he's the worst player in the league.' Reaves, Gundbranson, and Ceci we wanted to run out of town before they got here. All three ended up being decent players. Not superstars but serviceable. Two, you don't have to play all-out attack hockey to win. You can play a patient, counterattack game. Our high school basketball team played run and gun. We were struggling I couldn't figure out why. My dad said you need to score 70 points, if a team slows you down and plays defense, you get frustrated. I see a lot of similarities in our high school team and Sullivan coached teams.
- Thunderbolt

You dont need 100% grit players like Chris Neil....those days are over. What you do need are players like Chris Kunitz that could score but also drop bodies if needed. Not all games are going to slug it out but come playoffs, you'll need some of that. Pens have none of it.

Skated all over the Pens in hte 3rd....wanna talk about slow....watch the Avs then watch a Pens game.
- sammy87

Even better...watch the Pens play the Avs, who had won 7 of their last 8, and beat them..around two weeks ago.

No offence, I respect and value your opinion. Sometimes I agree, sometimes I don't. I agree, I wouldn't last one full shift in today's game. Although one thing my wife used to say was our son plays like you did, go to the front of the net.

Fighting has been mostly taken out of the game. Some of it is the rules, the instigator rule comes to mind. Mostly it's the equipment, helmet and facemask. I don't blame anyone for wearing anything that makes you safer. Much like football, the padding has gotten so strong that the brain can't absorb the impact anymore.

Two things, one, anytime we get a physical type of player, the first thing is 'he's the worst player in the league.' Reaves, Gundbranson, and Ceci we wanted to run out of town before they got here. All three ended up being decent players. Not superstars but serviceable. Two, you don't have to play all-out attack hockey to win. You can play a patient, counterattack game. Our high school basketball team played run and gun. We were struggling I couldn't figure out why. My dad said you need to score 70 points, if a team slows you down and plays defense, you get frustrated. I see a lot of similarities in our high school team and Sullivan coached teams.
- Thunderbolt

I pretty much agree with all of that especially the "Two, you don't have to play all-out attack hockey to win. You can play a patient, counterattack game." There were a few of us saying, as they slowed down with age, the systems needed to change a bit and to be more so like what youre saying here. Rino was a big advocate of this. ..the problem is they weren't really built as a team for this.

Not much of a spoiler....I dont think any of that is far fetched at all hahah
- MattStrat

Yeah, that's the exact scenario I'm expecting. Didn't he get Rak with like 5 minutes left til the cut off?

Forward lines remain the same. Lets just keep doing the same and hope it works out. I put a lot of the blame on Hextall for the failures, but Sully deserves a lot of blame as well. His hands are tied to an extent, but do something else besides throwing that 3rd line out there. What a joke.

Hextall will sink any ship. I was a diehard Flyer fan for close to 40 years but I moved on during the Hextall/Haskol shenanigans. Hextall is either blind or just plain stupid and maybe both. I used to love him when he played but he is a terrible GM imo. On the trade front it makes sense for a Demko to Pens for Jarry and picks. I can see Demko being traded and Jarry signing as a ufa in Vancouver. Element of doubt in both players for me. Is Demko damaged? Can Jarry stay healthy? Hextall will be sure to blow it, lol.

Even better...watch the Pens play the Avs, who had won 7 of their last 8, and beat them..around two weeks ago.
- MattStrat

Only won because Carter knocked Makar out for a few shifts during a vital part of the game. Veteran move.

Hextall will sink any ship. I was a diehard Flyer fan for close to 40 years but I moved on during the Hextall/Haskol shenanigans. Hextall is either blind or just plain stupid and maybe both. I used to love him when he played but he is a terrible GM imo. On the trade front it makes sense for a Demko to Pens for Jarry and picks. I can see Demko being traded and Jarry signing as a ufa in Vancouver. Element of doubt in both players for me. Is Demko damaged? Can Jarry stay healthy? Hextall will be sure to blow it, lol.
- joegreif17

The flyers ship has been in the bottom of the ocean since 97

The flyers ship has been in the bottom of the ocean since 97
- Feds91Stammer

Not true, they won the Stanley Cup during the 2012 series against the Penguins... Crosby passed the baton to Giroux for the best player in the world.

Forward lines remain the same. Lets just keep doing the same and hope it works out. I put a lot of the blame on Hextall for the failures, but Sully deserves a lot of blame as well. His hands are tied to an extent, but do something else besides throwing that 3rd line out there. What a joke.
- SuperHenderson13

Sullivan has never been a good coach. He brought up a few guys he knew from Wilkes, then JR gave him an incredible team. Not a lot there after that. He wrote down the lines last September and he’s sticking to it.

Not true, they won the Stanley Cup during the 2012 series against the Penguins... Crosby passed the baton to Giroux for the best player in the world.
- SuperHenderson13

Agreed and the 2010 Cup finals with the Hawks will always be remembered, lol, for the sneaky Kane goal that Leighton should have had with one eye closed.

Sullivan has never been a good coach. He brought up a few guys he knew from Wilkes, then JR gave him an incredible team. Not a lot there after that. He wrote down the lines last September and he’s sticking to it.
- Grinder47

I am super excited to see when V. Puustinen gets his chance. He should be up now, the kid has jam.

Sullivan has never been a good coach. He brought up a few guys he knew from Wilkes, then JR gave him an incredible team. Not a lot there after that. He wrote down the lines last September and he’s sticking to it.
- Grinder47

The team has never been the same since Kessel left. Malkin and Kessel were magic on the ice despite the off ice dislike for each other. Sullivan could never get a grip on this group and now they are getting old and Crosby Malkin Letang have no upcoming replacements.

I pretty much agree with all of that especially the "Two, you don't have to play all-out attack hockey to win. You can play a patient, counterattack game." There were a few of us saying, as they slowed down with age, the systems needed to change a bit and to be more so like what youre saying here. Rino was a big advocate of this. ..the problem is they weren't really built as a team for this.
- MattStrat

To me this is on Sullivan. I don't think his ego will let him.

You dont need 100% grit players like Chris Neil....those days are over. What you do need are players like Chris Kunitz that could score but also drop bodies if needed. Not all games are going to slug it out but come playoffs, you'll need some of that. Pens have none of it.
- sammy87

You need a mix of players, absolutely. I said it when Patric Hornqvist was on this team and after he left. I don't want 20 of him on my team but I'll absolutely take one.