Post-Game Talk: Blackhawks 2, Penguins 1 - At Least It Wasn't 10-1

[wheelz87]

+Murray. Couple of posts helped, but really this game could have been 6-1.
+Awesome individual effort by Sheahan on the shorty.

-Crosby. Invisible.
-Schultz. Rough one.
-Letang. The icing call where he doesn't catch the red line after an extended period of time on the PK just sums it all up. Dumbest player in hockey.
-Maatta. WTF was he doing on the Anisimov goal??? And the goalie interference of course.

 

[Andy99]

I mean the bottom line is Sid is not himself, and we rely on him to score.

Malkin has not been particularly great either. If it weren't for Kessel I shudder to think where we'd be. Good thing JR didn't trade him.

True, but they need help after two long seasons. The other top six wingers besides Kessel haven't been great either. Bottom six scoring would help greatly too

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

Hard to believe no one is on here bitching about the PK...

It was the reason they lost tonight and it's been hurting them for weeks on end.

Edit: I see Sullivan realizes it from the tweet above...

 

[Nakawick]

True.

I also wouldn't mind seeing Sid or Geno kill, but that won't happen.

They can't afford to lose either of them because of a blocked shot off the foot or something. I think that both are under instruction to take it easy as they can't afford either of them to get hurt.

 

[KareemTrustfund]

I thought Sheahan had his best game thus far. Great effort on the Hunwick goal.

Malkin is a hard guy for me to analyze recently. It looks like he's finally getting his feet moving, but he just doesn't want the puck on his stick. When he cut to the middle and made that pass over to Kessel while he was in the slot... come on Geno, that's gotta be on net. He's so reluctant to shoot it, and when he does he's flubbing it. In fact, his shot has looked bad for most of the year, especially his one-timer which is usually deadly.

Guentzel continues to be underwhelming for me. I don't know how many passes he had intercepted tonight, but it wasn't good.

Crosby was mediocre, again.

Letang and his penalties were actually starting to piss me off, and I do my best to try and not let the games affect my mood. There is no way that his hissy fits are sitting well with the team. I have that feeling that Schultz is sticking on the first PP unit now.

It pains me to say it, since Kuhnhackl was my favorite since we drafted him, but damn, he does not add a shred of offense anymore. We could put Archibald in, but its not going to help the 4th line score more. I'd like to Sprong and Simon come up, but that's wishful thinking, as Archibald will get in before either of them.

 

[KareemTrustfund]

+Murray. Couple of posts helped, but really this game could have been 6-1.
+Awesome individual effort by Sheahan on the shorty.

-Crosby. Invisible.
-Schultz. Rough one.
-Letang. The icing call where he doesn't catch the red line after an extended period of time on the PK just sums it all up. Dumbest player in hockey.
-Maatta. WTF was he doing on the Anisimov goal??? And the goalie interference of course.

I think Letang iced the puck like three times in the first two periods while under no pressure at all. He's just missing passes.

 

[Ugene Magic]

After the efforts in the first two periods the boy and me spent the 3rd in Pens central and watched the game there while he picked out what he wanted.

Sully was right in that the 2nd/3rd guy in wasn't getting to the puck fast enough. I just don't get this team against the Hawks.

Minus everyone save Murray and Hunwick scoring.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Sully is so disingenuous. Yes, the PK gave up a couple goals but it wouldn't matter if we could actually score a couple ourselves. How about addressing the twin problem of our lousy PP? How about addrsssing the offensively challenged fourth line that he stopped putting out there in the third period because it was so bad?

Edit...other teams are adjusting to his system and how they play on special teams and he needs to adjust more himself

Seriously. Sure, the PK might not be helping. But how can you focus so much on how lousy the PK is, but ignore the fact this team cannot score at even strength and has looked like trash on their own PPs?

It would be one thing if we were looking fantastic everywhere but the PK. But to focus on that one aspect, as though it's the cause of the problems, is mind boggling.

That's also not touching on the fact that Kuhnhackl is only in the lineup because of the PK. So if the PK sucks, why exactly is Kuhn even playing?

 

[WayneSid9987]

I mean if the PK isn't working then give it another look with Hunwick back(give Maatta a break) and Archibald at your disposal(get Kuhn the hell outta there). Ain't exactly rocket science. Puck pressure is how Sully's successful teams operate on 5on5 and the PK.

Also could use Rowney back who the staff trust more than McKegg or did before he went down.

 

[Pancakes]

What in the world was Maatta doing on Anisimov's goal btw? Terrible stick position. That was a stoppable play.

I also was rather pissed off to see us have the puck in the Hawks zone for a good 30 seconds or so with 2 mins left and then Sid comes out as the extra attacker and gets beat to a loose puck behind the Hawks net. You've got fresh legs dude. f***ing skate.

Team is very frustrating this year.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

The PK is absolutely the biggest issues right now. Bar none folks.

It's below 78% which is ill... and this is what? The fourth time they have given up more than two goals on the PK in the last 5-6 games.

It needs cleaned up and it's probably also time to play Archie or bring up DiPauli, or put both in and let McKegg and Kuhn sit. Those guys are only in for their PK abilities and well...

 

[Shaffer]

I want Di Pauli up here, too. Does he still play C at all?

 

[Captain Hook]

Hell of a goalie battle. Feel bad for Murray. He did everything he could.

1st period was really bad for us. Pens held their own in the 2nd and 3rd but continue to struggle to score, especially the stars.

I've been a little encouraged by Sheahan recently but I still see him as more of a 4th line center on a championship caliber team. JR needs to keep looking around for a #3 center.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

The PK is absolutely the biggest issues right now. Bar none folks.

It's below 78% which is ill... and this is what? The fourth time they have given up more than two goals on the PK in the last 5-6 games.

It needs cleaned up and it's probably also time to play Archie or bring up DiPauli, or put both in and let McKegg and Kuhn sit. Those guys are only in for their PK abilities and well...

Jiggy, I agree it's an issue. But the team isn't exactly doing much at 5 on 5 or on the PP, either. Even if the PK was perfect tonight, the Pens scored 0 goals at 5 on 5 and on their own PP. They weren't winning tonight no matter how good the PK was.

The Pens are 3rd last in goals for at 5 on 5 this season. They have only 30 goals in 22 games. The two teams below them (Buffalo and San Jose) have 29 in 20 and 24 in 17, respectively. There is absolutely zero excuse for their futility at 5 on 5 with the amount of weapons this team has.

I just can't get myself to be too angry over a bad PK when they've got bigger issues doing anything at even strength.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

McKegg is a border line NHL center.

Reaves is what he is, but to have any real effect, you need to construct a line for him.

Kuhn is ColePens' favorite for a reason.

And building a line around a player like Reaves is f***ing stupid.

If they were really worried about the PK Kuhnhackl would be feeling the burn as a f***ing pk specialist, Archibald would be getting a shot there and they’d find a way to get a WBS guy up to try. I don’t think I’m as miserable about Kuhnhackl as some others but this is gladams and vitale circa 2017; maybe a bit better.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

I want Di Pauli up here, too. Does he still play C at all?

He's flanking Blueger right now...

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

Jiggy, I agree it's an issue. But the team isn't exactly doing much at 5 on 5 or on the PP, either. Even if the PK was perfect tonight, the Pens scored 0 goals at 5 on 5 and on their own PP. They weren't winning tonight no matter how good the PK was.

The Pens are 3rd last in goals for at 5 on 5 this season. They have only 30 goals in 22 games. The two teams below them (Buffalo and San Jose) have 29 in 20 and 24 in 17, respectively. There is absolutely zero excuse for their futility at 5 on 5 with the amount of weapons this team has.

I just can't get myself to be too angry over a bad PK when they've got bigger issues doing anything at even strength.

All those issues are more difficult to fix than a bad PK unit, and this unit is costing them games.

It's all about details and when you see this many goals, it means guys aren't on their assignments.

The first goal is on Kuhn making a stupid mental mistake. When you lineup on the outside for a faceoff on the kill, you need to stay outside the dot and between the circles so you can pressure the weak side point.

Off the face off Kuhn ties his man up all the way into the dot instead of passing him off to Cole. Cole then had race from below the circle to cover Kuhn's assignment and Forsling was able to come down the lane and snap his shot off.

It was just a stupid f***ing mistake that shouldn't happen, and suddenly your team is down 1 and fighting back the entire game.

That can't happen and if Kuhn stayed in his zone, he's right there to stop Forsling from getting that low. He does his job, this would have been a different game.

Simple shit. Mental mistakes like that shouldn't happen on the PK, especially off the face off.

 

[billybudd]

In 22 games, Pens only have 7 regulation wins on the season. Rest came in gimmicky 3 on 3. That's not good.

Pens need to get their act together pretty quick, here, starting with 87.

 

[Gurglesons]

In 22 games, Pens only have 7 regulation wins on the season. Rest came in gimmicky 3 on 3. That's not good.

Pens need to get their act together pretty quick, here, starting with 87.

It is almost like.. our team became successful once we had two really good depth centers and now is right back to where we were in 14-15.

Whatever. Who cares at this point? Everyone on our roster is sucking at the same time, just ride it out and if you’re going to trade someone I guess put Maatta and Rust / Sheary on the market and see what people offer.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Pens should just change their uniform whenever they play the Hawks to a gimp mask and a ball gag.

I wonder if part of playing without enough urgency is a consequence of being a little too sure of their place in the line-up...

 

[ColePens]

Hard to believe no one is on here *****ing about the PK...

It was the reason they lost tonight and it's been hurting them for weeks on end.

Edit: I see Sullivan realizes it from the tweet above...

In the GDT it was mentioned many times. Kuhn is playing goalie. Period. He does nothing else. Our pressure on the PK is bad and Sully said he wants guys to sit back. It's silly. Maatta should have boxed out, but that was a heck of a goal.

Our PK has been a big issue. Speed/attacking PK is good for the Pens. Whatever the f*** Kuhn does is terrible. Stop standing there trying to play goalie. It's stupid. I like Sheahan's game, but he's not quick enough on the PK to keep that pressure up.

 

[ColePens]

++++ Murray: It's not his fault we are losing. That is for sure.
+ Sheahan: Lots of good 2 way play tonight. Noticeable in a good way.
+ Hunwick: Not becaucse his goal, as that was just luck, but his speed looked good. He had legs tonight.


- I'm a bit frustrated watching this team right now. The constant use of Kuhn is silly. While I like Reaves, playing him in a Hawks game is f***ing stupid. Get some speed/skill out there. Hags needs to figure his shit out. Sully needs to stop doing idiotic things over and over again. Letang/Schultz had bad ones. Sid is invisible. Geno had 2 glorious chances and passed them up both times.

It was quite frustrating. That's for sure.

 

[Human]

I was at work watching the game with no sound on and off between doing stuff.

I knew the game goes to shit when I saw Malkin in the first period giving up a great chance where instead of shooting the puck he did a half-assed drop pass to a guy on his off-hand. extremely dumb move by Geno.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

Which would be weird after back to back cups. Like a rich guy bored of money.

Yeah, but they do have motivation. They have secured their place in history, but win three in a row and they will secure their place in hockey immortality. That is something.

That said, winning in the regular season, be it just enough games to get into the playoffs or a President's Trophy does zero toward that goal. These guys know the real games begin at the end of April and if they are still going through the motions then we can talk. Right now let them sleep walk.

 

[Pancakes]

Yeah, but they do have motivation. They have secured their place in history, but win three in a row and they will secure their place in hockey immortality. That is something.

That said, winning in the regular season, be it just enough games to get into the playoffs or a President's Trophy does zero toward that goal. These guys know the real games begin at the end of April and if they are still going through the motions then we can talk. Right now let them sleep walk.

You can't just turn it on when the playoffs get here, and they're in for a rude awakening if they think they can.