Ryan Wilson: Penguins and Islanders going about things differently Penguins and Islanders going about things differently

Brassard was crap with Pens, Panthers and Avs...but Trotz's D-first stingy system seems to be helping him...and the goalies...and the PDO...and their place in the standings.

Trotz is the man.

Brassard was crap with Pens, Panthers and Avs...but Trotz's D-first stingy system seems to be helping him...and the goalies...and the PDO...and their place in the standings.

Trotz is the man.

Brassard wants to be a 1/2 C, which he could not be on the Pens. As a result I think he did not put in a full effort and cooperate with the Pens' plans for him on the team. Rutherford should have discussed with him his role on the team before pulling the trigger on the trade. Oh well, it is in the past now.

I saw noticeable effort differences when he was a winger from sid.

The isles remain elite in creating high danger chances and save percentage. They are not good at suppressing anything (shots, scoring chances, high danger chances) which is what makes this run so weird. This team isn't one of Trotz better teams, but somehow they are killing it.

The Pens on the other hand are the best team in the league in high danger chances for %. They need to be on the ball tonight and get Murray to pull one out of his ass.

What kind of NHL coach would say something like, "Shot quality is more important that quantity"? Trotz is an idiot for not reading/adhering to RW's blog.

What kind of NHL coach would say something like, "Shot quality is more important that quantity"? Trotz is an idiot for not reading/adhering to RW's blog.
- pens_4ever

That wasn't in the blog.

Has there been anything on Letang since the "week to week" prognosis?

What kind of NHL coach would say something like, "Shot quality is more important that quantity"? Trotz is an idiot for not reading/adhering to RW's blog.
- pens_4ever

Lol wut

Has there been anything on Letang since the "week to week" prognosis?
- Thorny87

This is right off the Pens Facebook page:

Injury updates from Coach Sullivan:

1. Bjugstad - Still being evaluated, longer-term.

2. Hornqvist - Rejoined team skate today in a full-contact jersey. He won't play tonight, but is getting closer to return.

3. Letang - Skating on his own and making progress, but not joining team practice quite yet.

Sounds like a good time to kick the tires on him (TJ Brodie)
- 10inchTerror

Wow, really?
- 668710

See EK agrees with me haha

This is right off the Pens Facebook page:

Injury updates from Coach Sullivan:

1. Bjugstad - Still being evaluated, longer-term.

2. Hornqvist - Rejoined team skate today in a full-contact jersey. He won't play tonight, but is getting closer to return.

3. Letang - Skating on his own and making progress, but not joining team practice quite yet.
- MattStrat

Thanks!

See EK agrees with me haha
- 10inchTerror

Ek also gets his rumors from spaghetti-o’s so that’s not saying much.

Ek also gets his rumors from spaghetti-o’s so that’s not saying much.
- j.boyd919

Haha true. Gonna start my website up next week now.

Brassard wants to be a 1/2 C, which he could not be on the Pens. As a result I think he did not put in a full effort and cooperate with the Pens' plans for him on the team. Rutherford should have discussed with him his role on the team before pulling the trigger on the trade. Oh well, it is in the past now.
- PghPens668771

I agree Brassard wanted to be a 1 or 2 C, but I doubt his role as 3C wasn't discussed with him by GMJR... just too big of a subject for any GM to ignore. I think rather players always weigh their chances of a Cup, and maybe him coming to the Pens was his best shot at doing so, so he took the deal.

But like you said, it's in the past, and we'll probably never know either way.

Haha true. Gonna start my website up next week now.
- 10inchTerror

you wont do it

13-0-1 is decent. Really? ROFL. Have we learned nothing from last spring.

The bottom line is, a 1-0 win is just as good as 7-1. Toronto crushed us in the analytics, yet everyone agreed the Pens dominated that game. As much as people who love the analytics part want this to be a totally offensive game, it is not. It is a game of defense and more often than not the team that wins was the one that played better defense.

13-0-1 is decent. Really? ROFL. Have we learned nothing from last spring.

The bottom line is, a 1-0 win is just as good as 7-1. Toronto crushed us in the analytics, yet everyone agreed the Pens dominated that game. As much as people who love the analytics part want this to be a totally offensive game, it is not. It is a game of defense and more often than not the team that wins was the one that played better defense.
- Thunderbolt

How so?

Also, you realize there's defense stats in analytics too, right?

13-0-1 is decent. Really? ROFL. Have we learned nothing from last spring.

The bottom line is, a 1-0 win is just as good as 7-1. Toronto crushed us in the analytics, yet everyone agreed the Pens dominated that game. As much as people who love the analytics part want this to be a totally offensive game, it is not. It is a game of defense and more often than not the team that wins was the one that played better defense.
- Thunderbolt

Also, the Isles only loss there comes from the Pens....so maybe, just maybe the Pens did learn a thing or two from last spring.

I'm hoping they can at least split these next two vs them but its a tall order.

you wont do it
- pensfan024

Nah. I’m still a guest when shopping online at Walmart for like 5 years now. If I can’t make an account there I’m probably not going to amount yo much anywhere else lol

13-0-1 is decent. Really? ROFL. Have we learned nothing from last spring.

The bottom line is, a 1-0 win is just as good as 7-1. Toronto crushed us in the analytics, yet everyone agreed the Pens dominated that game. As much as people who love the analytics part want this to be a totally offensive game, it is not. It is a game of defense and more often than not the team that wins was the one that played better defense.
- Thunderbolt

What did they crush us in? At 5v5 shots were even, scoring chances for 52% for the penguins, high danger chances for 69% to the pens, and dominated expected goals for and against.

He is saying their overall play has been decent, which, it has. They haven't been anything special outside of generating high danger chances and save %. Every other part of the game they are in the bottom half of the league.

What did they crush us in? At 5v5 shots were even, scoring chances for 52% for the penguins, high danger chances for 69% to the pens, and dominated expected goals for and against.

He is saying their overall play has been decent, which, it has. They haven't been anything special outside of generating high danger chances and save %. Every other part of the game they are in the bottom half of the league.
- burgh4life87

Yes to all of that and I would also like to add: Score Effects

13-0-1 is decent. Really? ROFL. Have we learned nothing from last spring.

The bottom line is, a 1-0 win is just as good as 7-1. Toronto crushed us in the analytics, yet everyone agreed the Pens dominated that game. As much as people who love the analytics part want this to be a totally offensive game, it is not. It is a game of defense and more often than not the team that wins was the one that played better defense.
- Thunderbolt

This is untrue. The pens had a significant advantage in both scoring chances and high danger chances through two periods at 5v5. 3rd period was likely score effects where the Pens took their foot off a little bit to play defense which is natural.

Nah. I’m still a guest when shopping online at Walmart for like 5 years now. If I can’t make an account there I’m probably not going to amount yo much anywhere else lol
- 10inchTerror

fair enough. at least you are honest

I saw the chart on the last blog but didn’t have time to comment until now. It’s funny how these “garbage teams” that people here don’t seem to watch/track can turn corners and go on runs. Whether it’s sustainable remains to be seen. I think all the teams below are competitive

The Hawks are healthy, 1 point back of a playoff spot with games in hand. Can the solid goaltending keep up? I think so. Murphy is finally back

Those garbage stars are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games. Little Joe is back

People were dumping on Bob and the Panthers early on but they’re 6-3-1 in their last 10

Montreal has been surprising to me. Didn’t think they’d be quite this potent offensively but it’s there

Even the Wild are 4-4-2 despite their poor goaltending. They continue to control play but man Dubnyk has been bad. All 4 of the goals against on Saturday he’s either cheating to one side or he’s just straight up off his angle. They continue to control play

Victor Rask btw had some awesome poise on their third goal on Saturday. He’s only got 3 points in 11 games but he isn’t seeing a ton of TOI, he’s well positive above his teammates. Small sample but pts/60 is currently 1.7

How long before there’s a coaching change in Toronto? I think that’s one of the most frustrating things in the NHL to watch