Post-Game Talk: You're Lehtonen too many goals: Pens - 5, Stars - 1

[Speaking Moistly]

+ Zatkoff was damn good
+ That Crosby guy did something, trade talks may be halted until his value rebounds but it may drop again. It's risky.
+ Stempniak, he has hands.
+ The defense looked less terrifying
+ Real hockey players were on the PK, it was effective.
+ Sutter did something

- Bylsma still Bylsma'd and Gladampik was still Gladampik
- Megna sat, Engelland wasn't at forward


You know how Crosby hasn't had any 4 point games in forever? Yeah, that may have something to do with Bylsma doing his usual stupids.

 

[KIRK]

Did Stemp really play less than Adams? Is that a mistake by NHL.com?


Honestly Goc, Vitale, Gibby get huge ups for me. The way they were used was tremendous. At least in my opinion. Top line looked dominant. Malkin line - meh. Stemp is finding his home w/ Sid & Kunitz.

No, it's not a mistake. Stempniak has the lowest time on ice tonight.

Agree on Stemp finding his home. I really never doubted that he'd look good there. Question comes in the playoffs and whether he'll help against the good teams. Will he give Sid MORE than Dupuis or even Guerin did, because Sid hasn't had an impact playoff series against a top defensive team since Hossa was on his wing?

As for JMN, they are this years Fedotenko-Malkin-Sykora. My only hope is that Bylsma sees it before the Pens are down 2-0 in a playoff series, although I am afraid that's less likely without Fitzie on the bench.

 

[IcedCapp]

Crosby has an 18-pt lead on the rest of the NHL at this point?

 

[SEALBound]

Kunitz-Crosby-Stempniak
Maatta-Niskanen
Zatkoff

A+'s

Jokinen(in particular)-Malkin-Neal
Scuds-Orpik

F's

 

[KIRK]

I thought Malkin played pretty well. Kinda sad that line didn't do more. But I'm sure it wasn't b/c of Juice.

Well, maybe if Malkin and Neal did more to get Juice the puck . . .

EDIT: Only a blind squirrel (or fish) wouldn't have seen this coming . . .

 

[Speaking Moistly]

Oh God. Ugly Zatkoff is growing a mustache, upping his ugly factor by a power of 100.

Now he's ugly Ryan Gosling with a mustache.

 

[alcanalz]

One line team tonight.

+Zatkoff, Sid, Stemps and Kunitz

With scoring, mostly yeah but I thought it was actually a really good team effort tonight. If Malkin's line had showed up for the first 40, I would have said it was pretty much a full-team effort.

 

[Michael8771*]

Still too sloppy in the defensive zone, but better than losing I guess.

 

[KIRK]

Cole, I think you owe Sutter an apology.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

Seeing Tanner Glass on the PP was one of the silliest things I've seen Dan Bylsma orchestrate since he's been our head coach.

I hate Dan as much as the rest of you, but let's not act like Glass was on the PP at an important juncture of the game...he was out there with 6 minutes left in a 5-1 game.

 

[mpp9]

No, it's not a mistake. Stempniak has the lowest time on ice tonight.

Agree on Stemp finding his home. I really never doubted that he'd look good there. Question comes in the playoffs and whether he'll help against the good teams. Will he give Sid MORE than Dupuis or even Guerin did, because Sid hasn't had an impact playoff series against a top defensive team since Hossa was on his wing?

As for JMN, they are this years Fedotenko-Malkin-Sykora. My only hope is that Bylsma sees it before the Pens are down 2-0 in a playoff series, although I am afraid that's less likely without Fitzie on the bench.

Sid only had 16 minutes tonight. It was obvious they were resting those three in third.

I'm alot more confident in Stempniak than I would be with a healthy Dupuis. I'll take that.

And as for Juice. DB sees it. He's been taken off that line several times this season. And was even moved down the lineup this game. I'm hoping Beau comes back with a vengeance and clearly outplays him. If Geno can't make an impact with Neal and a healthy Beau, he aint' the second best player in the world.

 

[flaneur]

+ Crosby
+ KCS
+ Zatkoff

- PP turnovers leading to possible SH

Rough game for Dallas tonight but they are a team that I think is going to be pretty scary very soon.

 

[Michael8771*]

I thought Gibbons had another strong effort, good to see.

 

[IcedCapp]

I hate Dan as much as the rest of you, but let's not act like Glass was on the PP at an important juncture of the game...he was out there with 6 minutes left in a 5-1 game.

yes, but the rest of that PP was:


Glass - Malkin - Neal

Niskanen - Maatta

I get that it's late in the game, but don't put 4 of your most important players out there if you're taking it easy

 

[WayneSid9987]

Team has to get the top 2 lines going before the playoffs.
Bylsma should be trying anything to get consistency on Geno's LW. JJ is way too inconsistent there.

Put Megna there til Bennett gets back. Do something.

 

[KIRK]

Sid only had 16 minutes tonight. It was obvious they were resting those three in third.

I'm alot more confident in Stempniak than I would be with a healthy Dupuis. I'll take that.

And as for Juice. DB sees it. He's been taken off that line several times this season. And was even moved down the lineup this game. I'm hoping Beau comes back with a vengeance and clearly outplays him. If Geno can't make an impact with Neal and a healthy Beau, he aint' the second best player in the world.

A healthy Beau . . . I concur.

A healthy Beau . . . I also believe in fairy dust.

 

[KIRK]

yes, but the rest of that PP was:


Glass - Malkin - Neal

Niskanen - Maatta

I get that it's late in the game, but don't put 4 of your most important players out there if you're taking it easy

You think Bylsma sees Malkin, Neal, Niskanen, and Maatta being as important as Sutter, Adams, Orpik, and Scuderi?

 

[KareemTrustfund]

Thought Suttsy had a solid game. Despres was looking smooth as well.

 

[pensfansince88]

yes, but the rest of that PP was:


Glass - Malkin - Neal

Niskanen - Maatta

I get that it's late in the game, but don't put 4 of your most important players out there if you're taking it easy

wouldn't be surprised if this was on DB's mind for the 2nd line if things stay bad

 

[Big McLargehuge]

yes, but the rest of that PP was:


Glass - Malkin - Neal

Niskanen - Maatta

I get that it's late in the game, but don't put 4 of your most important players out there if you're taking it easy

Well you can't play the bottom six non-stop for the final 6 minutes of a game.

One guy changing doesn't bug me one bit. Look at the ice time of the guys tonight and it was clear that there was a lot of resting going on in the 3rd period. We don't need to be running up the score against Dallas when the win is already in the bag.

That is pretty standard protocol for a late-game PP in an out-of-reach game.

 

[IcedCapp]

You think Bylsma sees Malkin, Neal, Niskanen, and Maatta being as important as Sutter, Adams, Orpik, and Scuderi?

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Things were chippy tonight and Glass was our only middleweight.

I mean, DB might well put Glass on a PP anyway, but at least there's some logic there.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Plus goes to him for tying a season high for himself in shorties.

16 C BRANDON SUTTER 68 11 12 23 -2 12 1 3 1 112 9.8

 

[vodeni]

++best Game of the season for Zatkoff
++Sid looking engaged enuff said
2-nd line meh but I liked Geno's game trending upward waiting for Nealer to pick up
I am not thrilled with Goc as everyone else, he is not showing me any offensive mojo I was hoping to see on the 3rd or 4th
defense was less than stellar, no one really stood up, it could have easily be multiple goals night

PK so passive waiting for a good team to kill us...

 

[Michael8771*]

So people are gonna complain as to who's on the PP with a 5-1 lead late in the third period? Really?