You know, I was thinking about the window closing and really it would be because the core is aging and cant perform anymore...the latter is not the case. Crosby (31) had a 100 point season, Malkin (32) was injured for a chunk but still over a PPG, Kessel (31) had one of his best seasons ever and Letang (31) was on track for one, if not, best seasons of his career. Murray is only 24 and has been a starter for 2 cups.

Look at the Tom Bradys, Tiger Woods and Roger Federers of the sports world. Athletes, with their new age nutrition and training regimes, are staying effective longer.

Jagr put up a 27 goal season at 44 years old. He had a 123 point season followed by a 92 point season when he was 33 and 34.

Long story short, these guys have not been given a good defensive supporting cast this year AND the coach hasn't been using whats at his disposal in an optimal fashion. With the right moves this team can be a contender past next year....but Ive kinda lost faith that the GM can pull this off with what they're handcuffed with now.
- MattStrat

Yeah but look at Z and Dats from the Wings. They hit mid 30's and fell off a cliff.

Tom Brady doesn't get hit. When he does he's not the same QB. Still probably the best ever but he is protected, Crosby and Malkin are going to get hit at some point in the game. Malkin has missed a ton of games in his career and this year looked like junk for most of it. I can see Crosby morphing into an Yzerman style C towards the end of his career and still be very effective.

The interior was saved and the stone roof and most of the outside but all the wood on the outside (roofs) are gone and the spire is gone. I thankfully think they can restore it but it will never be the same again. I am just thankfull I got to see it atleast once.
- martox

I was lucky enough to see this and Westminster Abby last year while the Caps were ousting the Pens. Very beautiful church and its hard to comprehend the amount of history that has taken place there. We also got to go up into the bell tower to see the bell and great views of the city. Fortunately this happened after closing because to getting down from the towers involves going down a long, narrow, slippery spiral staircase which takes time to get to the bottom. It wouldn't have been good.

Yeah but look at Z and Dats from the Wings. They hit mid 30's and fell off a cliff.

Tom Brady doesn't get hit. When he does he's not the same QB. Still probably the best ever but he is protected, Crosby and Malkin are going to get hit at some point in the game. Malkin has missed a ton of games in his career and this year looked like junk for most of it. I can see Crosby morphing into an Yzerman style C towards the end of his career and still be very effective.
- sammy87

Well...mid 30's is still 3 or 4 years away...

Although in saying that...Datsyuk was a PPG player when he was 35 and 49 points in 66 games is pretty good at 36 too.

I was lucky enough to see this and Westminster Abby last year while the Caps were ousting the Pens. Very beautiful church and its hard to comprehend the amount of history that has taken place there. We also got to go up into the bell tower to see the bell and great views of the city. Fortunately this happened after closing because to getting down from the towers involves going down a long, narrow, slippery spiral staircase which takes time to get to the bottom. It wouldn't have been good.
- all-pgh

I remember that stair case I think. It went down all the way to the ground. Was there with a friend and he had a bad day of gases and he went in front of me. He just let out a laugh then bursted the nastiest smelling fart I have ever smelled and he just ran down the stairs laughing while I couldn't breath going all the way down those stairs. damn him!

Yeah but look at Z and Dats from the Wings. They hit mid 30's and fell off a cliff.

Tom Brady doesn't get hit. When he does he's not the same QB. Still probably the best ever but he is protected, Crosby and Malkin are going to get hit at some point in the game. Malkin has missed a ton of games in his career and this year looked like junk for most of it. I can see Crosby morphing into an Yzerman style C towards the end of his career and still be very effective.
- sammy87

I’m not sure how 60-70 points a season is falling off a cliff but okay.

I’m not sure how 60-70 points a season is falling off a cliff but okay.
- j.boyd919

“If you’re not first, you’re last.” - Ricky Bobby

“If you’re not first, you’re last.” - Ricky Bobby
- Rinosaur

Dats and Z have never been first then because they never win an art ross.

Dats and Z have never been first then because they never win an art ross.
- j.boyd919

Bums, the both of them.

Penguins lines/pairs:
McCann-Crosby-Guentzel
Rust-Malkin-Kessel
Simon-Bjugstad-Hornqvist
ZAR-Cullen-Wilson

Dumoulin-Letang
Johnson-Schultz
Pettersson-Gudbranson
Maatta-Trotman (Ruhwedel rotating)

I'm guessing we've seen the last game Maatta will ever don a Pens' jersey.

Well...mid 30's is still 3 or 4 years away...

Although in saying that...Datsyuk was a PPG player when he was 35 and 49 points in 66 games is pretty good at 36 too.
- MattStrat

It's still very good, but neither were leading the Wings to glory at that point either. That can be roster management but to say that 87 and 71 will be as effective at 35 as they are now is a stretch. I think the field is already starting to catch up.

I'm guessing we've seen the last game Maatta will ever don a Pens' jersey.
- Rinosaur

F'n gross.

I'm guessing we've seen the last game Maatta will ever don a Pens' jersey.
- Rinosaur

Wow. I'll admit, I wasn't opposed to seeing how JJ would respond after Maatta's woeful 1st game. JJ been much worse. Not sure how the staff can't see it.

F'n gross.
- MattStrat

Yup. Get used to this d-core, because we are stuck with it for a while.

Wow. I'll admit, I wasn't opposed to seeing how JJ would respond after Maatta's woeful 1st game. JJ been much worse. Not sure how the staff can't see it.
- Thorny87

He's so terrible it defies description. I'm not going to pin this series on him at all, but dressing him over Maatta does not set the Pens up for success.

Yup. Get used to this d-core, because we are stuck with it for a while.
- Rinosaur

Don't worry, it's only one more game.

I'm guessing we've seen the last game Maatta will ever don a Pens' jersey.
- Rinosaur

At least the top 3 forward lines are reconstructed properly

He's so terrible it defies description. I'm not going to pin this series on him at all, but dressing him over Maatta does not set the Pens up for success.
- Rinosaur

All true. It's not entirely on him but he will handicap our chances at making a comeback.

I wonder if Maatta is injured?

Don't worry, it's only one more game.
- mgm986

Nope. It's for at least a few more years.

At least the top 3 forward lines are reconstructed properly
- kfinl170

We better see some loading up and double shifting tonight. Leave it all out there.

All true. It's not entirely on him but he will handicap our chances at making a comeback.

I wonder if Maatta is injured?
- Thorny87

That is totally a possibility here, that he's not 100%.

All true. It's not entirely on him but he will handicap our chances at making a comeback.

I wonder if Maatta is injured?
- Thorny87

Well he had a late season injury, but I don't think that's it. He simply had one bad game along with EVERYONE else on D who played like pure poop, i.e. Dumoulin and Letang.

Sadly, there is no way of rationalizing this decision.

That is totally a possibility here, that he's not 100%.
- MattStrat

It's also possible he had one bad game. Dumoulin was as bad as Maatta in Game 1, not to mention has exactly played well in games 2 or 3.

Yup. Get used to this d-core, because we are stuck with it for a while.
- Rinosaur

I really felt Maatta deserved the respect of being dressed in what might be their final game, let alone that he's a better hockey player than JJ. Like Thorny said though, he might be injured.

It's also possible he had one bad game. Dumoulin was as bad as Maatta in Game 1, not to mention has exactly played well in games 2 or 3.
- Rinosaur

Also not 100%. Perhaps Sully feels having too many injured players in the lineup could leave us shorthanded mid game.

We'll find out after tonight who's injured.