Ryan Wilson: Penguins effort not rewarded Penguins effort not rewarded

What was with the Officiating last night? It was non-existent.

What was with the Officiating last night? It was non-existent.
- Doogs

NHL officiating is questionable on most nights, but it's obviously to varying degrees. Last night was just ridiculous.

Officiating aside, it was a frustrating loss. The Pens were so good. DeSpite playing a bad team, I will still applaud the Pens domination of the Sens.

Too often we've seen the Pens play down to their competition and that was not the case, so that's a major positive IMO.

Hopefully these lost points won’t come back to haunt them. Poor conference record especially against teams destined for the bottom of the standings.

Hopefully these lost points won’t come back to haunt them. Poor conference record especially against teams destined for the bottom of the standings.
- Dr Blob

Any loss certainly doesn't help when it's against teams they should beat. That loss against Philly was a game that could come back to haunt them.

We're only entering the second quarter of the season, but I'd say that they can't afford to lose any divisional games right now. They have three this month and one of them is against the Caps.

Unless the Metro doesn't have any major fluctuation, December could likely be the make-or-break month for the Pens.

December Opponents: NYI, CHI, BOS, LA, ANA, WSH, MIN(2), CAR, DET, STL.

Teams they SHOULD beat: CHI, LA, CAR, STL

Tough teams: BOS, WSH, MIN(2)

NYI, ANA and DET are three teams they SHOULD beat, but are overachieving at the moment and shouldn't be taken lightly.

Out of these 11 games, three are must wins IMO (divisional) and if they can take four out of the other eight they should still be in the hunt.

That slew by Rust was bad. How was it missed? The first elbow looked accidental but the second should’ve been a dbl minor. That game had the feeling of a loss the whole time. Outplaying them for long stretches with nothing to show for it.

At least it wasn’t the 2-1 loss to the Caps where they didn’t even get the point. That one really hurt.

Hopefully these lost points won’t come back to haunt them. Poor conference record especially against teams destined for the bottom of the standings.
- Dr Blob

Well, compared to that 1-8-1 stretch or whatever it was... getting a point instead of zero is a massive improvement... we are... 6-2-3 in our last 11 now?

This team still needs some changes. Games like that are where you really miss Hornqvist. Anderson saw a lot of those shots.

Many of the shots were attempted on the right side of ice for Pittsburgh. Is this a byproduct of the Pens strength on the right side or is this what Ottawa dictated? Either way, is this something that can be exploited next game?

Many of the shots were attempted on the right side of ice for Pittsburgh. Is this a byproduct of the Pens strength on the right side or is this what Ottawa dictated? Either way, is this something that can be exploited next game?
- Thunderbolt

Only right winger worth anything was Kessel. Also attack from the right side on the PP usually

I really hope Rust finds his game. I've brought up trading for Dzingel and Nyquist, but it's funny, when I do all the analytics comparisons, Rust edges out Dzingel for he most part and isn't really that far off Nyquist and even edges him out some categories.

Even with the injuries I think it's time to have Rusty sit for a few.

The better team doesn’t always win in hockey. Games like last night will happen. This is why we need to step the hell up and play better than the other team consistently. I think this team is turning some sort of corner and we’ll see more dominant efforts moving forward

The better team doesn’t always win in hockey. Games like last night will happen. This is why we need to step the hell up and play better than the other team consistently. I think this team is turning some sort of corner and we’ll see more dominant efforts moving forward
- Victoro311

I agree on turning a corner of sorts. Something that made the 15/16 cup team so good was their transition/attack game. They were a team that made short, quick passes through center ice so they could enter the zone with possession of the puck, but began to deviate from that into longer stretch passes that led to a dump-and-chase type of game. It seems like they're going back to the 15/16 style.

I agree on turning a corner of sorts. Something that made the 15/16 cup team so good was their transition/attack game. They were a team that made short, quick passes through center ice so they could enter the zone with possession of the puck, but began to deviate from that into longer stretch passes that led to a dump-and-chase type of game. It seems like they're going back to the 15/16 style.
- Rinosaur

Also gotta say that I was wrong about that fourth line. It looks like absolute garbage on paper, but they were really solid last night. Grant and Wilson have been competent and it’s time I give them a fair shake. Still think Sheahan should be playing center and that the third line is atrocious, but the 4th line isn’t a papercut right now, and that’s really all you can ask for.

Also gotta say that I was wrong about that fourth line. It looks like absolute garbage on paper, but they were really solid last night. Grant and Wilson have been competent and it’s time I give them a fair shake. Still think Sheahan should be playing center and that the third line is atrocious, but the 4th line isn’t a papercut right now, and that’s really all you can ask for.
- Victoro311

X2 on the fourth line. This also isn't the first game Grant and Wilson looked good together.

Lucky for us though, Cullen is coming back soon... that was sarcasm by the way.

I'm up 469 to 303 and twice the amount of players today. I think I won.

Also gotta say that I was wrong about that fourth line. It looks like absolute garbage on paper, but they were really solid last night. Grant and Wilson have been competent and it’s time I give them a fair shake. Still think Sheahan should be playing center and that the third line is atrocious, but the 4th line isn’t a papercut right now, and that’s really all you can ask for.
- Victoro311

The Sheahan thing will only last as long as Hornie is out....probably not long. I'm worried about when Cullen returns. The crumbs at the bottom of my toaster have more life in them than Cullen.

I just don't know what you do with the 3rd line. ZAR and Rust are struggling and Brass isn't doing anything either. I can't stand watching them. I feel bad for Rust.... He looks like a guy that's completely lost with no answers to fix it. I'd let him watch for a few games and keep Dea up.

As far as the 4th line goes... They play a classic grinding style. Decent on the cycle. Hard to knock off the puck. Tough on the boards and occasionally they find a good soft spot for a shot. I hate to take any of them out of the game while it's working.

Only on this team would Sidney Crosby take that beating. It’s a real shame. Two plays that stood out. Rust breaking his stick and just giving up, and Guentzel dogging it to the bench. Two little entitled wieners riding the jock straps of Crosby and Malkin.

carryover from last blog:

Yeah, I guess they think Garrett Wilson will provide more than some of the other guys. I really think you just call up whomever from WBS who brings the most tenacity/passion/speed and play them until its time to swap them for someone else. I thought Archibald was a good example of that..

To be honest, while I agree Dea doesnt really standout.. Dea looks a heckuva lot like this years version of Bryan Rust . I truly wonder if Rust has any trade value left...

I really hope Rust finds his game. I've brought up trading for Dzingel and Nyquist, but it's funny, when I do all the analytics comparisons, Rust edges out Dzingel for he most part and isn't really that far off Nyquist and even edges him out some categories.

Even with the injuries I think it's time to have Rusty sit for a few.
- Rinosaur

Im sure someone's already brought it up... what is the price for Nyquist?

Im sure someone's already brought it up... what is the price for Nyquist?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I'm guessing a 1st.

my $.02 on officiating in the NHL... I think they are generally pretty terrible and the the refs have egos that make it worse than other sports. Sometimes they do manage to let little things go for both teams and make it fair but letting things go gets out of hand quickly.

the two things that really grind my gears...
-when a team is obviously trying to target a player (like OTT did to Letang last night). to me, the player that kept his cool and baited the other team earned drawing a penalty (both for his safety and for playing the right way)

-embellishment... seriously hate how infrequent embellishment calls are made, and furthermore, 99% the time it should either be a penalty OR embellishment. calling both players is pointless. I know its a tough call sometimes because you are judging "intent" ...but if a player embellishes, he should get a penalty....

not a fan of PHN but they did an article with some middle six winger options just for fun... Zuccarello, Nyqvist, Sam Bennett, and Charlie Coyle

In order of whom I am most interested in: Coyle, Nyqvist, Bennett, Zuccarello.

I think there is some intrigue with Zuc and Brass together... but I just feel like were trading away assets to get Sheary back. I just think we need a different type of player. (and Zuc is expensive so thats a tough deal anyway).

my $.02 on officiating in the NHL... I think they are generally pretty terrible and the the refs have egos that make it worse than other sports. Sometimes they do manage to let little things go for both teams and make it fair but letting things go gets out of hand quickly.

the two things that really grind my gears...
-when a team is obviously trying to target a player (like OTT did to Letang last night). to me, the player that kept his cool and baited the other team earned drawing a penalty (both for his safety and for playing the right way)

-embellishment... seriously hate how infrequent embellishment calls are made, and furthermore, 99% the time it should either be a penalty OR embellishment. calling both players is pointless. I know its a tough call sometimes because you are judging "intent" ...but if a player embellishes, he should get a penalty....
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Pens got hit in the face 3 times last night with only one call. Beyond that, the Pens absolutely dominated the puck. It was inconceivable they only get 2 PP's. I think the Sens got 5 or 6. It was typical NHL officiating.....incompetent.