Ryan Wilson: Sleeper agent Sleeper agent

I know this blogger piles on JJ, but he was absolutely brutal last night, even by his standards. And not just on the game-winning goal. JJ and Ruhwedel must sit once Marino and Dumo return. Riikola clearly deserves the #6 D spot.

But the blame has to be shared with the special teams. PP can't go 0-3 against that team, and terrible PK on the Kings' 1st goal. On the positive side, yes, all 4 lines controlled play, but not enough high-danger chances for my liking. For phux sake, post-deadline the Kings only iced 2 good players (Kopitar, Doughty). Unacceptable result.

Maybe I’m being overly optimistic but I look at these last two game and it reminded me if earlier the season once things started gelling. They were outplaying teams and just not breaking goalies, but then it all started clicking.

Their play has been back to that level with bad results. Couple that with dmen coming back soon. I’m starting to feel better about them getting back on track.

Meh. Typical pitt losing to league worst teams. The play is solid and reinforcement is on its way soon.

Would be great if someone blatantly asked JR or MS about JJ and his dismal play citing these stats. Once 6 & 8 get back, and if 3 is still playing, it will be like driving a Ferrari equipped with the first rock wheels ever invented......

I know this blogger piles on JJ, but he was absolutely brutal last night, even by his standards. And not just on the game-winning goal. JJ and Ruhwedel must sit once Marino and Dumo return. Riikola clearly deserves the #6 D spot.

But the blame has to be shared with the special teams. PP can't go 0-3 against that team, and terrible PK on the Kings' 1st goal. On the positive side, yes, all 4 lines controlled play, but not enough high-danger chances for my liking. For phux sake, post-deadline the Kings only iced 2 good players (Kopitar, Doughty). Unacceptable result.
- Leafs1aPens1b

Exactly what I was going to type. Even in the offensive zone it seemed like every time he got the puck it ended up going the other way.

Exactly what I was going to type. Even in the offensive zone it seemed like every time he got the puck it ended up going the other way.
- Tojo.

Look at the fancies, the Sid line had the worst stats, as did the JJ pair and guess which pair Sid’s line saw the most of?

Sheary was like the kid who skates faster than he can control and kept falling over, but I thought he was very disruptive on the forecheck and makes a nice pair with Zucker for that.

Marleau looked dangerous in a bottom 6 role. I wouldn't move him up at his age, but I can't wait to see him with more dangerous players like McCann. Should get some good supplemental scoring out of that line.

Rod looked like an upgrade from Aggozino and Blandisi which was needed, but I still have trouble seeing him keeping his line up spot if more guys get healthy.

I don't know if he was trying to earn his way back to Sid's line or juat realizing his line-up spot might not be safe, but I thought Simon had a nice game.

Shout out to Hornqvist for the efforr on the Rust goal.

I was encouraged by how they played since the Kings for all their faults have actually been a good possession team that can't score, but disappointed that we couldn't finish better or at least turn one of those scrambles in front into a goal.

If the JJ bashing were reserved for situations like these, I think these blogs would be more well received. Was last night Johnson’s single worst game as a Penguin? He’s had a lot of them but this one might be the tallest giant.

Look at the fancies, the Sid line had the worst stats, as did the JJ pair and guess which pair Sid’s line saw the most of?
- Rinosaur

Yeah we know this, yet he's going to play over a good bottom pair possession driver in Riikola.

I'd play Riikola and Ruhwedel over JJ and Schultz. Schultz and Ruhwedel have played an equal number of games and Ruhwedel actually has one more ES point. It's 6 to 5 so neither is good, but if Schultz isn't creating offense, he really isn't helping. I know he made a nice play on Sid's almost goal, but there hasn't been enough of that.

Sheary was like the kid who skates faster than he can control and kept falling over, but I thought he was very disruptive on the forecheck and makes a nice pair with Zucker for that.

Marleau looked dangerous in a bottom 6 role. I wouldn't move him up at his age, but I can't wait to see him with more dangerous players like McCann. Should get some good supplemental scoring out of that line.

Rod looked like an upgrade from Aggozino and Blandisi which was needed, but I still have trouble seeing him keeping his line up spot if more guys get healthy.

I don't know if he was trying to earn his way back to Sid's line or juat realizing his line-up spot might not be safe, but I thought Simon had a nice game.

Shout out to Hornqvist for the efforr on the Rust goal.

I was encouraged by how they played since the Kings for all their faults have actually been a good possession team that can't score, but disappointed that we couldn't finish better or at least turn one of those scrambles in front into a goal.
- Tojo.

I thought Simon was one of the best players for the Pens last night. When I watch these games in recent weeks, all I see is how badly our D is playing from top to bottom. Losing Marino was the tipping point.

Maybe I’m being overly optimistic but I look at these last two game and it reminded me if earlier the season once things started gelling. They were outplaying teams and just not breaking goalies, but then it all started clicking.

Their play has been back to that level with bad results. Couple that with dmen coming back soon. I’m starting to feel better about them getting back on track.
- Rinosaur

No I agree with you, once those pucks start going in we'll be good. Wanna get hot at the right time...

Maybe I’m being overly optimistic but I look at these last two game and it reminded me if earlier the season once things started gelling. They were outplaying teams and just not breaking goalies, but then it all started clicking.

Their play has been back to that level with bad results. Couple that with dmen coming back soon. I’m starting to feel better about them getting back on track.
- Rinosaur

Nah, you're not. Thats what it looks like to me and thats what the stats say too. If they play like this every game, or most games, they're gonna be fine.

If the JJ bashing were reserved for situations like these, I think these blogs would be more well received. Was last night Johnson’s single worst game as a Penguin? He’s had a lot of them but this one might be the tallest giant.
- Victoro311

Rutherford was asked after the deadline closed, if he was comfortable with his LD. His answer was "NO".

Pretty much sums it up.

I thought Simon was one of the best players for the Pens last night. When I watch these games in recent weeks, all I see is how badly our D is playing from top to bottom. Losing Marino was the tipping point.
- madmike71

Yes Simon looked good. I'd like to see McCann centering Marleau and Simon.

Rutherford was asked after the deadline closed, if he was comfortable with his LD. His answer was "NO".

Pretty much sums it up.
- madmike71

He was in on Gustafsson, but was unwilling to bid as high as the market demanded. I think they recognize that Jack is way out of his role, but probably view Riikola as the same.

Rutherford was asked after the deadline closed, if he was comfortable with his LD. His answer was "NO".

Pretty much sums it up.
- madmike71

Hahaha, i hope like last year JJ gets the bench for the playoffs in game one and he stays this time.

Yes Simon looked good. I'd like to see McCann centering Marleau and Simon.
- 668710

IDK, Marleau and Bluegs had instant chemistry and it was fun watching Teddy get to work with a player with those instincts.

Not to add onto the piling on JJ but my lord when or where is the final straw, missing the playoffs? I mean Sully has to put on his big boy pants and bench him for the remainder of the contract (pending continued injuries) once Dumo and Marino return. Adding those two to the back end will be a night and day change to everyone's production/results.

IDK, Marleau and Bluegs had instant chemistry and it was fun watching Teddy get to work with a player with those instincts.
- burgh4life87

It was good to see...I thought Patty was very good defensively. He made some great plays in Pens zone.

Legare with B2B hat tricks. He's turned it up after a slow start and might hit 40 again. At 33 in 54 games.

Poulin 32 in just 44 games.

Personally I think a little slide in February can be healthy. Makes a team get back to the basics and what made them successful earlier in the year. You can see that in the past two games, that they're getting back to that.

Where were the Pens in February of 2009 and 2016? 12th in the conference.

Hopefully they can get another March of the Penguins going.

It was good to see...I thought Patty was very good defensively. He made some great plays in Pens zone.
- MattStrat

There was a play halfway through the first that really caught my eye, even tweeted about it. He broke up the breakout at the kings blue line, stole the puck, then got a clean zone entry from it. The pens then had about 2 or 3 quality scoring chances off of it. That's the kind of things you will get from him. It was great to see.

Personally I think a little slide in February can be healthy. Makes a team get back to the basics and what made them successful earlier in the year. You can see that in the past two games, that they're getting back to that.

Where were the Pens in February of 2009 and 2016? 12th in the conference.

Hopefully they can get another March of the Penguins going.
- MattStrat

14 of their remaining 20 are division games. That is the difference maker. Their remaining schedule is brutal so if they can get Dumo and Marino back and go on a run, now is the time.

Not to add onto the piling on JJ but my lord when or where is the final straw, missing the playoffs? I mean Sully has to put on his big boy pants and bench him for the remainder of the contract (pending continued injuries) once Dumo and Marino return. Adding those two to the back end will be a night and day change to everyone's production/results.
- iworkatinitech

Night and day is correct. I think Petts is greatly helped by Marino. Obviously Dumo does the same thing with Letang.