What's up with the Pens?

[laz2447]

That whole team played like ass in the 2nd period, which is what lost the game. It's bad enough this team is inconsistant from game to game, now it's period to period.........PATHETIC!!!!

that just about sums it up for me too! last nights effort for me was not the effort i expected from a team that had played so much better over the last handfull of games...and to know your going into the all-star break and not be able to put together a consistant effort aside from the usual guys who play their ass off night in and night out?

wtf...i still cant figure out how malkin and sid are still 1,2 in scoring...lol

i keep telling myself they have missed a ton of games combined with everyone being down with injuries, yet somehow i still get very frustrated...but when you compare it to the rangers who i think have a total of 10 games missed between all their players this season... that is like comparing apples to oranges...so i do tend to cut them alittle slack alot of the time...

which leads me to my favorite complaint right now...remember all that "wait till whitney comes back" talk...please...to me he looks lost with the puck, out of position a good bit on defense, and makes some terrible decisions with the puck when coming out of his own zone...i think i counted 3 times he turned the puck over and gave it right to one the 'canes last night...another frustrating thing to watch over and over again...

and i really wish they would stop making that one extra pass which leads to a turnover and no shot on goal...put the puck on net and get some sloppy, scrappy goals in 5 on 5 or the power play!

i hope that they get their act together and play some quality hockey on a consistant basis, i guess i'll continue to watch and do this every game!

Lets Go Pens!

[SonofaBish]

For the powerplay to be fixed, i think we need one of two things...

1.) get Gonchar back, or someone who will actually put the puck on net... as opposed to goofing around with the puck (Whitney) or when taking a shot, waiting about 5 seconds for the defense to get set up (Whitney)...
or,
2.) another thought would be splitting Malkin and Crosby up - i never would think of doing this, but Mark Madden brought it up today, and clearly things aren't working - so its a thought.... The Pens powerplay was great last year when Malkin ran it (while crosby was out) .. .there's no reason we can't have two #1 lines on the powerplay... but even if we do this, i think the key is still someone to make good decisions on the point....

[John4cam]

For the powerplay to be fixed, i think we need one of two things...

1.) get Gonchar back, or someone who will actually put the puck on net... as opposed to goofing around with the puck (Whitney) or when taking a shot, waiting about 5 seconds for the defense to get set up (Whitney)...
or,
2.) another thought would be splitting Malkin and Crosby up - i never would think of doing this, but Mark Madden brought it up today, and clearly things aren't working - so its a thought.... The Pens powerplay was great last year when Malkin ran it (while crosby was out) .. .there's no reason we can't have two #1 lines on the powerplay... but even if we do this, i think the key is still someone to make good decisions on the point....

Agreed, this team really misses gonchar badly. I think I know why. First, opposing team's D "respect" him, they give him space. You can see it while sid or malkin carry the puck as well at the point position.

Gonchar usually doesn't hit opponents in the shins on shots. I swear every freakin shot whitney, Goligoski, and Letang takes gets blocked then you know what happens.....frustrating!!

Wasn't madden a hockey coach of some sorts before???

[stieny]

Ok. I'll throw out some of my thoughts on this power play/Whitney rant thats going on here.

I'm not a huge Whitney hater. I actually don't mind him. And in his defense on turning the puck over, how about Sid hang onto the puck once and awhile. I know he's a great player and what not but lately he has been making absolutely terrible passes, most of them in the offensive zone. He is just trying to make too many of the "perfect" plays or ends up making a sloppy pass and they usually result in a turnover.

Also, Malkin is NOT good at the point on power plays. He has an awful time handling the puck. The power play would improve greatly with the return of Gonch. Gonchar was one of the highest scoring defenseman in the league. He had a mean slapper from the blue line that often times found the back of the net.

EDIT: Oh, its important to note that a slap shot from anyone on the point or blue line is almost useless unless you have someone screening the front of the net. Glad to see Cooke is starting to get in front but we need to see more of it.

[torchred v6]

Fire Mike Yeo, he runs the pp.

[Jper]

Crosby is a scratch for the all star game :(

[John4cam]

Crosby is a scratch for the all star game :(

I hate the all star break, no hockey games for over a week.....

[Shorty429]

does anyone have any tickets they want to get rid of?

[John4cam]

game tonight coming on in a while....GO PENS!!!

[HidalgoGT]

Not to piss off you who support them but, funny shit last weekend when we were out. Dan and I were sittin at the bar when this drunk twit came stumbling up and said "Go pens".. I looked at him and said What? He repeated in his slured speech and my responce was "They SUCK" he was in shock and walked away dumbfounded. I was watching them and I normaly don't they were doing good then its like they got their hearts ripped out and forgot to play. Wish them luck.Go STEELERS!

[stieny]

game tonight coming on in a while....GO PENS!!!

The game is indeed on soon. Lets hope we get another win from the Rangers.

[SonofaBish]

The line of Malkin-Crosby-Dupuis is looking daaaaaaamn good.... already had several good chances, and they're going to make some shit happen before the night is out!

Anybody see Geno's goal in the All-Star game? just plain sweet....

[John4cam]

I was watching whitney and he looks pretty shitty. He just fell backward and let that become a 2 on 1 for a ny score. This isn't the year...

[SonofaBish]

Wow, quite a 3rd period....

the Pens wanted it more and played well - but Lundquist (sp?) fell asleep on a couple of those goals... I'm not complaining though.... should build some momentum and a create a good jump for the rest of the season

[mr4teth]

Finally we get some bounces!!!!

.... Tanger was a man on a mission tonight!

[stieny]

I was watching whitney and he looks pretty shitty. He just fell backward and let that become a 2 on 1 for a ny score. This isn't the year...

I don't blame Whitney for that goal. That goal would probably have happened regardless not to mention he was interfered with a bit before he went down. That goal happened because the Rangers offense got past Bissonnette at the Rangers own blue line and that set up the odd man rush.

I thought Whitney looked good tonight as did the rest of the team. Like I've been saying, get the puck deep and forecheck. TK did that all night and it resulted in a bunch of good chances. Good to see some poopy goals as well. Thats what you need sometimes. Get the pucks to the net and opportunities will open up.

Good win Pens!

[mr4teth]

F**kING Britney .... I blame two goals on him tonight!

How pathetic is he? 17 games and his plus minus is -11 .... and he's on the #1 power play line?????

[SonofaBish]

Well, I don't think that goal that went off Whitney's skate was his fault... there's nothing anyone could do about that...

Losing a 3-1 lead is pretty frustrating though.... I don't even wanna talk about tonight's game... I'm soo pissed!

[mr4teth]

I was talking about his "soft" play in OT ....

[John4cam]

Just admit it, this isn't our year..