This ain't over yet... Like no, really, literally, it's not hahah

They can bang off 4 with the players they have... Probably won't, but they can. I think in an elimination game Olli deserves the respect of a spot. He's been on this team longer and he's been a starting dman the majority of games through two cup winning runs... We'll see what coach thinks...

Next game gets my full attention. Could be the last until September.
- MattStrat

Maatta is the slowest defenseman and the isles attack off the rush. Don’t see why he deserves a spot.

He was crap during the regular season and was crap last game. That being said, the defense isn’t the issue. It’s the players being paid to score not scoring

All this hate on johnson, but where is Crosby ? The best player in the league can’t be invisible. Can’t blame your 6th defenseman when your captain can’t even record a point
- jchst22

He’s not the 6th defenseman though. He’s playing top 4 minutes. That’s the problem.

He has no points. Best player in the game has nothing. Malkin is awful. We can discuss defense and line ups but these two should be on the board regardless.
- jchst22

I don’t think you understand how much of an impact defensemen have on the forwards games.

I don’t think you understand how much of an impact defensemen have on the forwards games.
- j.boyd919

Shouldn’t matter for the best player in the league. Answer for the power plays that have not generated anything. Crosby Malkin Kessel Letang on the ice and cant generate. It’s easy to blame a 6th damn but come on.

Time to retool. Expect big changes as this team is trending down and nothing at WBS to help. This may be GMJR’s final shot. Trader Jim goes out in a ball of flames. I can see Maatta, Kessel, Hornqvist all on the block.
- Dr Blob

If I have the choice I am sending Kessel and Maata and trading a high pick to dump Johnson. Then I'm asking Malkin where he would accept a trade to.

Also, get rid of all of the vanilla... Simon, ZAR, even Rust with the way he has played at times. Too many guys that are decent players but have no ability to generate anything unless they are playing on a top line.

Get as much young talent as you can and sign Duchene in free agency. Put together a team of players who are hungry and can be taught to play within a system. I'd rather lose with a bunch of guys busting their asses than with some coddled aging star players.

Shouldn’t matter for the best player in the league. Answer for the power plays that have not generated anything. Crosby Malkin Kessel Letang on the ice and cant generate. It’s easy to blame a 6th damn but come on.
- jchst22

You are right that PP has been awful. I’ll agree with that.

He’s not the 6th defenseman though. He’s playing top 4 minutes. That’s the problem.
- j.boyd919

Johnson played the least amount of minutes this game. Look up the box score before you comment

Maatta is the slowest defenseman and the isles attack off the rush. Don’t see why he deserves a spot.

He was crap during the regular season and was crap last game. That being said, the defense isn’t the issue. It’s the players being paid to score not scoring
- jchst22

Maatta is better than Johnson that's why. He makes better plays. Thinks the game better and faster.. But is a bit slower skating, yes.

Scoring is a huge issue obviously and so is Murray going subpar...if Murray was lights out the scoring might be manageable or vice versa, if they were scoring like capable then Murray wouldn't matter as much. He should of had the 2nd goal for sure today. The overall team D is a factor in Murray being subpar.

Maatta is better than Johnson that's why. He makes better plays. Thinks the game better and faster.. But is a bit slower skating, yes.

Scoring is a huge issue obviously and so is Murray going subpar...if Murray was lights out the scoring might be manageable or vice versa, if they were scoring like capable then Murray wouldn't matter as much. He should of had the 2nd goal for sure today. The overall team D is a factor in Murray being subpar.
- MattStrat

Murray has played well enough to win. How can you win games when scoring one goal? You have Crosby Malkin Kessel Letang and blame Murray?

If I have the choice I am sending Kessel and Maata and trading a high pick to dump Johnson. Then I'm asking Malkin where he would accept a trade to.

Also, get rid of all of the vanilla... Simon, ZAR, even Rust with the way he has played at times. Too many guys that are decent players but have no ability to generate anything unless they are playing on a top line.

Get as much young talent as you can and sign Duchene in free agency. Put together a team of players who are hungry and can be taught to play within a system. I'd rather lose with a bunch of guys busting their asses than with some coddled aging star players.
- MacPatty

Lol.

Murray has played well enough to win. How can you win games when scoring one goal? You have Crosby Malkin Kessel Letang and blame Murray?
- jchst22

No, when I blame the scoring they're all included. Also I said overall team D, they're also included in that... And I also said the team D was a factor in Murray being subpar.

No when I blame the scoring they're all included. Also I said overall team D, they're also included in that... And I also said the team D was a factor in Murray being subpar.
- MattStrat

“If Murray was lights out the scoring would be manageable”

What do you want him to do? Post a shut out every game?

Hard to argue much of what RW wrote.

If the Pens do in-fact get swept and Sullivan is not on the chopping block then my fear is they will bury their heads in the sand and make a series of rash trades that deviate even further from the identity they once had.

He’s not the 6th defenseman though. He’s playing top 4 minutes. That’s the problem.
- j.boyd919

Hey Chico

Maatta is better than Johnson that's why. He makes better plays. Thinks the game better and faster.. But is a bit slower skating, yes.

Scoring is a huge issue obviously and so is Murray going subpar...if Murray was lights out the scoring might be manageable or vice versa, if they were scoring like capable then Murray wouldn't matter as much. He should of had the 2nd goal for sure today. The overall team D is a factor in Murray being subpar.
- MattStrat

What scoring?

Hey Chico


- nyisles7

Sup baby?

“If Murray was lights out the scoring would be manageable”

What do you want him to do? Post a shut out every game?
- jchst22

Nope. Just be better than 0.902sv%. Subpar. I'm not a Murray basher, I like the guy and think he's a great goalie but I don't think he's been near as solid as we've seen in the two 2 runs or even down the stretch to these playoffs.

There's many, many factors to why the Pens are down 0-3.

Hard to argue much of what RW wrote.

If the Pens do in-fact get swept and Sullivan is not on the chopping block then my fear is they will bury their heads in the sand and make a series of rash trades that deviate even further from the identity they once had.
- Rinosaur

Why blame the coach when you have elite players not scoring. It’s not Sullivan’s fault Crosby Malkin Kessel and Letang are nonexistent

What do you want him to do? Post a shut out every game?
- jchst22

Honestly? I truly believe there are people on this board who believe he should. No saves, even the big ones, seem to come at the "right time" unless the Pens win in the end.

At the end of the day if the Pens aren't putting pucks in the net it doesn't matter if Murray is allowing five goals a game.

Nope. Just be better than 0.902sv%. Subpar. I'm not a Murray basher, I like the guy and think he's a great goalie but I don't think he's been near as solid as we've seen in the two 2 runs or even down the stretch to these playoffs.

There's many, many factors to why the Pens are down 0-3.
- MattStrat

Murray is the last person to blame. The best player in the league is garbage in this series. But let’s blame the 6th dman and goalie because it’s easier

Why blame the coach when you have elite players not scoring. It’s not Sullivan’s fault Crosby Malkin Kessel and Letang are nonexistent
- jchst22

I will blame the coach because top players go into ruts and you can't control when that happens. What can you control? The system/strategy the team as a whole plays.

I'm sure I sound like a broken record at this point, but they kept playing right into the Isles strategy which at the end of the day is not complicated. If you keep sending your players out and instructing them to do the same thing over and over when it clearly doesn't work, then you're to blame.

Murray is the last person to blame. The best player in the league is garbage in this series. But let’s blame the 6th dman and goalie because it’s easier
- jchst22

It's like you skim over the parts where I'm blaming others, even blaming others for his poor stats haha, and blaming many other things as well.

This team can absolutely win the next 4, but the stars have to shine. Garret Wilson has more goals than the captain

Murray is the last person to blame. The best player in the league is garbage in this series. But let’s blame the 6th dman and goalie because it’s easier
- jchst22

By the way... For the record, I do believe the stars not being stars to be a bigger issue than Murray.

I will blame the coach because top players go into ruts and you can't control when that happens. What can you control? The system/strategy the team as a whole plays.

I'm sure I sound like a broken record at this point, but they kept playing right into the Isles strategy which at the end of the day is not complicated. If you keep sending your players out and instructing them to do the same thing over and over when it clearly doesn't work, then you're to blame.
- Rinosaur

These aren’t good players. They are elite cup winning players who haven’t been noticeable in three games