Ryan Wilson: Oh for Letang Oh for Letang

first. (frank) this team and suck it jero

Was an exciting game to watch. We have been pretty good this year on the PK but I held my breath the entire time. You do after all have Crosby and Malkin. Kessel had an AWFUL game. It brought back nightmares. At least half a dozen times he failed to get the puck out of your end.

We generate offence but still haven't figured out how to stop it. If not for Freddy most nights we wouldn't even be in the conversation.

I really don't understand the 5 on 3 approach the Pens have used.
Watch the Caps and how they attack a 5 on 3. Absolute bombs coming from everywhere. Even when they dont score, there are tons of chances.

What a time to investigate a possible Maata for Trouba deal or even better, a Flower for that type of defenseman deal. IF only there were a) teams that need Flower b) those same teams having an extra mobile, puck moving d man to trade. Sounds like too much to ask.

The late 90's called last night and they want their referees back. Horrible calls ( and non calls) all night and they went both ways. These guys were just brutal. That 4:00 high stick penalty on Toronto was bogus. The refs didnt cause us to lose that game last night, er well the lack of penalty calls didnt....a ref getting in the way sure didnt help the pens out.

And why did Sully challenge that goal? You cant give up a goal :14 seconds after you score. Needed a big save there. Flower didnt give up a softy, but as has been the case a lot this year, fluky goals replace the soft ones. Neither is good for the team.

Lets just hope the lost points to Colorado, Buffalo, and now Toronto dont come back to haunt the team later on.

Last night was painful because our lack of defensive depth (in terms of puck movers) was exposed for the most part. I guess that's a great way to slow the Penguins down injure two of their puck moving d-men so they can't put up 5 + goals a game. Hopefully we can stay above water until Letang returns. On another scary note I think my two year old son may grow up to be a Leafs fan because he shouted "Nazem Kadri" after Jim Houston (Hockey Night in Canada commentator) mentioned him.

Last night was painful because our lack of defensive depth (in terms of puck movers) was exposed for the most part. I guess that's a great way to slow the Penguins down injure two of their puck moving d-men so they can't put up 5 + goals a game. Hopefully we can stay above water until Letang returns. On another scary note I think my two year old son may grow up to be a Leafs fan because he shouted "Nazem Kadri" after Jim Houston (Hockey Night in Canada commentator) mentioned him.
- MaDdMuNk87

Kids a beaut eh!

Last night was painful because our lack of defensive depth (in terms of puck movers) was exposed for the most part. I guess that's a great way to slow the Penguins down injure two of their puck moving d-men so they can't put up 5 + goals a game. Hopefully we can stay above water until Letang returns. On another scary note I think my two year old son may grow up to be a Leafs fan because he shouted "Nazem Kadri" after Jim Houston (Hockey Night in Canada commentator) mentioned him.
- MaDdMuNk87

Last playoffs the Pens won the game Letang was suspended and then won the last two series with Daley out. So I do not completely agree with your assessment. True, losing Letang for an extended period of time would be disastrous. Everyone else is replaceable, not desirable but replaceable.

I said this last thread and I will say it one more time, Pouliott just doesn't see the game fast enough. All his stats say he is a good player but when he needs to up his game it just isn't there. Maybe the only answer is to let him play through his mistakes at this level. If that is the case then both he and Pittsburgh would be better off if he goes somewhere else. It has worked for a number of players. Nothing personal just business.

They gave up 3 goals in two games. The sky is not falling. Give me a break. They quit scoring. That is why they lost. You score one goal in two games and you still get points in both games. Looks like a win to me. Get over it All the stats and nothing but stats. Points at the end of the game are all that counts.

Letang was a very close #2 to Sid as MVP of the playoffs, ahead of Phil IMO. He's a critical piece tp Pens success.

The ref didn't get in the way. He was in a perfect position. Pouliot had complete control of the puck and was supposed to just skate by. He bobbled the puck at the last second giving the ref no time to react. There's no reason for him to be stickhandling the puck behind the net like that.

There should be very little stickhandling in hockey in general unless you're deking a defender or goalie. This is how hockey is taught now.

Summary. Pouliot's error. Ref was fine exactly where he was. Marner was lucky he lost control of the puck and it landed right on Gardiner stick for an easy tap in.

The Pens were out-of-sync from the get go. I don't know how much this had to do with Letang. The Pens passing was 100% atrocious. Turnover city all night.

Pouliot played a very very good game last night. His sloppy turnover I can accept. If the Pens played a tighter game the whole night, the score would have probably been better, so I 'm not throwing Pouliot under the bus.

Well I'm seeing a lot of this 'poor poor Pouliot' shyte & the coaches not allowing him to stay & learn from his mistakes. Why then did they allow the WBS guys last year play through their mistakes staying with the big team? I doubt very much that the organisation is treating Pouliot any different from them, with the exception of trying to keep his off ice attitude in line - who knows, the guy might be the most arrogant guy in the room especially with all the hype he's had around him from day 1!

I wonder what the other players think of him? I wonder if they want him to stay up or down? At the end of the day, he made a rookie mistake because he is a rookie!

Wtf is Cole doing top pairing???? Don't we have Maatta & Dumo in there somewhere? Looks like coach Sully basically said (frank) it, the Leafs can have this 1 (maybe Sid said the same thing for his old mate Babcock - 1st sog late 3rd period??? Wtf is that poop?)!

We got worn down by the kings the night before, budaji stood on his head. We still got 2 pts .wtf was flower doing? Poke check? That was a belly flop. why isnt anyone talking about kessels stupid twigs that cost us an extra 2 pts lol

Thanks for giving Toronto some credit!

Well I'm seeing a lot of this 'poor poor Pouliot' shyte & the coaches not allowing him to stay & learn from his mistakes. Why then did they allow the WBS guys last year play through their mistakes staying with the big team?
- Aussiepenguin

It's the same crap as with Despres. On a team with lots of young players earning trust, the FO and staff apparently just have it out for this guy because they don't like his stupid French last name or something.

I didn't think Pouliot was good last night. He's still trying to just stay afloat.

Number one line goes as Sid does. We're struggling to score goals. It's only been 2 games but the pens Should be icing the best possible line up. Please bring up JG and try him on the first line.

The only thing I admire about MLB is they still use wooden bats. NHL should do the same. Ovi would be an enforcer in the KHL.

Number one line goes as Sid does. We're struggling to score goals. It's only been 2 games but the pens Should be icing the best possible line up. Please bring up JG and try him on the first line.
- Thorny87

He should have never been sent down.

Last playoffs the Pens won the game Letang was suspended and then won the last two series with Daley out. So I do not completely agree with your assessment. True, losing Letang for an extended period of time would be disastrous. Everyone else is replaceable, not desirable but replaceable.

I said this last thread and I will say it one more time, Pouliott just doesn't see the game fast enough. All his stats say he is a good player but when he needs to up his game it just isn't there. Maybe the only answer is to let him play through his mistakes at this level. If that is the case then both he and Pittsburgh would be better off if he goes somewhere else. It has worked for a number of players. Nothing personal just business.
- Thunderbolt

People tend to forget that Letang was not the player he is now when he was 22 as well. He made the same mistakes DP made. Letang still makes mistakes, but he's allowed to play through them, as is Maatta and Dumo, etc... young players called up normally are not. That's what is wrong here. DP had a solid game, until that gaffe.

Also, the whole reason OT was changed to 3v3 was so that every mistake could lead to an exciting chance, or a goal. Holding that one play over his head would be stupid. Yes, it was a big mistake, but it's a game, on 3v3, it OT, in the middle of december after the Pens were on a 7 game win streak. That one play isn't really a big deal.

People tend to forget that Letang was not the player he is now when he was 22 as well. He made the same mistakes DP made. Letang still makes mistakes, but he's allowed to play through them, as is Maatta and Dumo, etc... young players called up normally are not. That's what is wrong here. DP had a solid game, until that gaffe.

Also, the whole reason OT was changed to 3v3 was so that every mistake could lead to an exciting chance, or a goal. Holding that one play over his head would be stupid. Yes, it was a big mistake, but it's a game, on 3v3, it OT, in the middle of december after the Pens were on a 7 game win streak. That one play isn't really a big deal.
- j.boyd919

Couldn't agree more. Tanger has made a couple really bad plays resulting in grade A chances. He can usually do something later in the game to redeem himself. DP should be afforded the same. He's playing an elevated role in a league he's only played a handful of games in this year. Gonna be an adjustment period. He got ahead of himself on that play and flubbed it. The ref being there made it worse.

People tend to forget that Letang was not the player he is now when he was 22 as well. He made the same mistakes DP made. Letang still makes mistakes, but he's allowed to play through them, as is Maatta and Dumo, etc... young players called up normally are not. That's what is wrong here. DP had a solid game, until that gaffe.

Also, the whole reason OT was changed to 3v3 was so that every mistake could lead to an exciting chance, or a goal. Holding that one play over his head would be stupid. Yes, it was a big mistake, but it's a game, on 3v3, it OT, in the middle of december after the Pens were on a 7 game win streak. That one play isn't really a big deal.
- j.boyd919

Therrien benched Letang plenty, he also did other stuff that, shall we call it bazaar.

Who do you bench to let Pouliott play through his mistakes? Pouliott is going to be in the NHL someday, it just not going to happen in Pittsburgh this year.

The Blowjackets have an impressive record. Gonna be a tough game coming up.

People tend to forget that Letang was not the player he is now when he was 22 as well. He made the same mistakes DP made. Letang still makes mistakes, but he's allowed to play through them, as is Maatta and Dumo, etc... young players called up normally are not. That's what is wrong here. DP had a solid game, until that gaffe.

Also, the whole reason OT was changed to 3v3 was so that every mistake could lead to an exciting chance, or a goal. Holding that one play over his head would be stupid. Yes, it was a big mistake, but it's a game, on 3v3, it OT, in the middle of december after the Pens were on a 7 game win streak. That one play isn't really a big deal.
- j.boyd919

Letang always possessed his incredible skating ability. Pouliot (like most) isn't on the same planet. When you see skating like Letang's, you give that player a lot of rope.

Madden was talking about Pouliot the other day and he said he knows for a fact Pens management is very "down" on DP.

Therrien benched Letang plenty, he also did other stuff that, shall we call it bazaar.

Who do you bench to let Pouliott play through his mistakes? Pouliott is going to be in the NHL someday, it just not going to happen in Pittsburgh this year.
- Thunderbolt

I'm all for giving DP his look this year while we're down a couple of Dmen, but I'm not convinced he's an NHL player yet.

Letang always possessed his incredible skating ability. Pouliot (like most) isn't on the same planet. When you see skating like Letang's, you give that player a lot of rope.

Madden was talking about Pouliot the other day and he said he knows for a fact Pens management is very "down" on DP.
- madmike71

He hasn't seemed out of place. Other than the two ref incidents he's been pretty solid.