Ryan Wilson: Evgeni Malkin continues to star in December Evgeni Malkin continues to star in December

FIRST!!!

I hope you at least read my long winded reply at the end of the last blog comment section, Tojo! hahah

BREAKING NEWS!!!

Evgeni Malkin is very good at playing ice hockey.

BREAKING NEWS!!!

Evgeni Malkin is very good at playing ice hockey when the game is all but decided in the Pens favor, for he suffers with FWS of the highest degree, even a bit more than Rust.
- jmatchett383

Fixed that for you.

Dumoulin and Ruutta deserve a shout out for the game they played last night. I realize the Robertson-Pavelski-Hintz line out corsied them, but they kept them off the board. Letang and Pettersson were out there when that line scored.

Fixed that for you.
- MattStrat

I thought his goal last night broke a tie. I thought I also read that this GWG put him in 2nd place in franchise history for GWGs. I am sure you are right about him being a front runner and all. You just need to ignore the facts and tell yourself that it is true.

I thought his goal last night broke a tie. I thought I also read that this GWG put him in 2nd place in franchise history for GWGs. I am sure you are right about him being a front runner and all. You just need to ignore the facts and tell yourself that it is true.
- iamscore2day

Sir, I believe you need a new sarcasm detector.

I thought his goal last night broke a tie. I thought I also read that this GWG put him in 2nd place in franchise history for GWGs. I am sure you are right about him being a front runner and all. You just need to ignore the facts and tell yourself that it is true.
- iamscore2day

Hahaha it was sarcasm.. a joke... I love Geno and don't think what I said there is actually true...just poking at some of the other members of this community because I can be an A-hole like that sometimes. Cheers.

Going into last night's game the Penguins were 4th on the TSN power ratings
Only Boston Toronto and N J. They will continue to prosper as long as Jarry (who will be Team Canada's goalie) stays healthy. Jarry has the attitude and confidence that we have been waiting for in Pitt He is a little cocky but you need to have attitude to be the best. He is heading in that direction

Going into last night's game the Penguins were 4th on the TSN power ratings
Only Boston Toronto and N J. They will continue to prosper as long as Jarry (who will be Team Canada's goalie) stays healthy. Jarry has the attitude and confidence that we have been waiting for in Pitt He is a little cocky but you need to have attitude to be the best. He is heading in that direction
- broncohorvath

But but but fat wallet syndrome

But but but fat wallet syndrome
- jmatchett383

Jarry won't suffer that affliction until next year.

Jarry won't suffer that affliction until next year.
- Pags

So what they need to do is have Brayden Schenn injure Jarry a week before the playoffs, call up Dustin Tokaraski (because DeSmith will be suffering an injury as well) for a few days, then have DeSmith come back and go on a magical run so that they can sell Jarry to an as-of-yet-unnamed expansion team for cap savings.

DeSmith will lead them to back-to-back Cups until his game falls off of a cliff, then call up Lindberg and the cycle begins anew.

hahaha Im only having some fun, Tojo. Glad you can handle it. I think you meant to say since moving Dumo off the top pair, not bottom. His deployment is a factor here for sure. I also think the same for Marino, as you know I dont think he's top pair material. I was also saying in this blog I dont think Letang should be getting top mins. I agree that age could very well catch up with them as this season progresses.

Since November 1st Dumo and Marino's deployments are very, very similar. At 5 on 5 their time on the ice in that time frame is only off by 5 mins, with Dumo having the 5 more mins. Dumos combined def zone and neutral zone starts are 210, Marino's are 212. Dumo offensive zone start % is 41.03%, Marino's is 40.82%. They are getting very, very similar deployments since November 1st. Dumo is outshining in this time period though, he has a xGF% of 53.03, Marino is 48.58% and Dumo has a HDSC% of 58.33% while Marino's is 51.20%. However, we really should look at their PDO and on SV% as well. Dumo is 0.976, Marino 1.019 and the on ice sv% for Dumo is only 89.76, Marino 94.84%. Those are really big differences.

Now why do I continuously state November 1st (even when that losing streak went until the 9th with 3 loses in first week of Nov)? Well if the Pens could have managed 3 wins out of that 7 game losing streak, that is managed to win less than half of the games of it, they would be tied with NJ for 1st in the division. You like to say NJ is a top team in the league without giving your own boys any credit. Since November 1st the Pens are 3rd in HDSC%, 5th in xGF% and 5th in points%. Again, this could all really start slowing down again, or perhaps even come to a crashing halt...or perhaps it doesn't.

As for Petry, I don't think its a coincidence that when he was moved to top PP it started thriving. Last night, with him out, the PP goal was by the 2nd unit. On top of this he hits hard and clears bodies around the goalies. He has a snarl that most around here wanted back there and without sacrificing much to the transition and offense. Again, he's older now. How will he look in March and April? How will all the mid 30's guys look? haha who knows.

https://www.naturalstattr...2-13&tgp=410&lines=single
- MattStrat

Of course. We've been having these discussions for years, I'm not going to take it personally. And yes, I meant top pair. I blame writing at 2 after watching the game on DVR lol.

I'll leave the discussion on Marino to agree to disagree. I'm not going to just look at November, we've watched him for years and have somewhat different opinions on him. It's done so doesn't really matter right now.

And I will give Petry his flowers. I do like the physical edge and extra offensive weapon he's added to the top four. And fortunately even where I see him slowing down, both Pettersson and POJ make great partners for him. They need net front help and he can use a defensively responsible but mobile partner.

Petry for Marino to me was a gamble. If Letang can play as a #1, I'd rather have Petry as a #3, he's been good enough for that. If he slips, even though Marino isn't a #1, I'd rather have him and divide the minutes differently and insulate Letang more. Hopefully works in our favor for a year or 2.

Sir, I believe you need a new sarcasm detector.
- jmatchett383

Heading in for a tune up right now!

So what they need to do is have Brayden Schenn injure Jarry a week before the playoffs, call up Dustin Tokaraski (because DeSmith will be suffering an injury as well) for a few days, then have DeSmith come back and go on a magical run so that they can sell Jarry to an as-of-yet-unnamed expansion team for cap savings.

DeSmith will lead them to back-to-back Cups until his game falls off of a cliff, then call up Lindberg and the cycle begins anew.
- jmatchett383

This will never work. It's the playoffs so DeSmith will just get injured again

Heading in for a tune up right now!
- iamscore2day

Haha I think it's ok. It's almost an inside joke directed towards some posters who say Geno only scores when it isn't important.

This will never work. It's the playoffs so DeSmith will just get injured again
- Tojo.

But management will foresee all this and trade to bring back spicy pork man at the deadline.

Petry on LTIR. He lied out his ass in the post game interview when he said he was fine lol

Now that things are rolling, once again it seems like this team needs a good 3rd line center to go anywhere.

Now that things are rolling, once again it seems like this team needs a good 3rd line center to go anywhere.
- madmike71

Since they have some cap space right now, wouldn't mind giving DOC a look. He's having a nice year as WBS top C.

Some morning reading entertainment for y'all hahah...Horvat to the Pens!

https://thehockeywriters....hbuKfQEpRsau10oW1bNkFwWxw

Now that things are rolling, once again it seems like this team needs a good 3rd line center to go anywhere.
- madmike71

What are we looking for in a 3C? I don't need names, I want potential. Are we looking for strictly offence or a two-way player?

To get one we will still need to trade either Dumoulin or Kapanen. Even then we are looking at spending between $3-4M.

Ovi is unreal...hatty for 800. We've been so blessed with this generation of hockey players. These guys are in their mid 30's still pumping out very high level hockey.

What are we looking for in a 3C? I don't need names, I want potential. Are we looking for strictly offence or a two-way player?

To get one we will still need to trade either Dumoulin or Kapanen. Even then we are looking at spending between $3-4M.
- Thunderbolt

Look at my post above. Horvat for 3C! not that I think its in the realm of possible but that would be absolutely bonkers if it happened hahah.