Post-Game Talk: Canucks 3, Penguins 2 (OT) - Sid Half Asses Another OT Change

[Jaded-Fan]

Yes, because Sullivan is going to start changing the system after 5 games.

I think that the new system will rhyme with 'fetch lass'.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

I volunteer Maatta as tribute?

no, that's terrible. I'm sorry.

Can you send me a text when you get to hell tonight and let me know how bad it really is.

Asking for a friend...

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

My hot take for the evening is that we are gonna regret that Horny contract just as much, or more, than any other contract on the team currently, in a couple of years.

Only if they continue to use him this idiotically for the duration of the deal.

 

[Ryder71]

Yes, because Sullivan is going to start changing the system after 5 games.

He should at minimum however change how he utilizes certain players and the positions he places them in.

 

[heysmilinstrange]

Am I the only person who thinks DeSmith has looked a little bit worse each successive start he's had this season?

 

[Gurglesons]

If Boeser were used the way Sprong's been at the NHL level, I doubt it.

Sprong was an elite goal-scorer at every previous level, and everyone agrees that it's primarily because of his shot. Neither of these statements are controversial.

The crazy part is you really believe this shit..

You realize there have been multiple players like Sprong who come and go because their one move doesn’t work in the NHL. I think you believe Sprong will be like a 25 goal scorer immediately if moved and given 15-18 mins a night.

 

[Riptide]

Some thoughts. While happy Sullivan is trying Brassard on the wing... that trio just seems really odd. If Brass at LW is the goal, move Guentzel and put Hornqvist, Rust or Sprong on RW. Lots of options there... but that mix just seems wrong.

I know people are bitching about L3, and I get it. But one thing I have noticed about that line, is that we're seeing a more physical Sheahan. I'm not sure if that's because Hornqvist is there, and those two are trying to do their thing down low or what... but while that line has had some good shifts (more so the MTL game), an injection of skill is really needed if they're going to be productive.

I liked what I was seeing from Sprong in the 2nd period. Missed the 1st, and didn't see him much in the 3rd with us chasing. But I liked his 2nd period.

If the goal is Brasard on LW, and Sheahan at 3C, I'd try something like this:

Brassard - Crosby - Hornqvist/Rust
Hagelin - Malkin - Kessel
Guentzel - Sheahan - Hornqvist/Rust
Simon - Cullen - Sprong

 

[Turin]

Am I the only person who thinks DeSmith has looked a little bit worse each successive start he's had this season?

That shouldn’t be surprising, being that he’s a career AHL goalie.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Can you send me a text when you get to hell tonight and let me know how bad it really is.

Asking for a friend...

I'll let you know when I get down there

 

[Pancakes]

Everyone except Letang looks varying levels of bad.

Fixable? Or are we just old and slow now?

 

[Turin]

Some thoughts. While happy Sullivan is trying Brassard on the wing... that trio just seems really odd. If Brass at LW is the goal, move Guentzel and put Hornqvist, Rust or Sprong on RW. Lots of options there... but that mix just seems wrong.

I know people are *****ing about L3, and I get it. But one thing I have noticed about that line, is that we're seeing a more physical Sheahan. I'm not sure if that's because Hornqvist is there, and those two are trying to do their thing down low or what... but while that line has had some good shifts (more so the MTL game), an injection of skill is really needed if they're going to be productive.

I liked what I was seeing from Sprong in the 2nd period. Missed the 1st, and didn't see him much in the 3rd with us chasing. But I liked his 2nd period.

If the goal is Brasard on LW, and Sheahan at 3C, I'd try something like this:

Brassard - Crosby - Hornqvist/Rust
Hagelin - Malkin - Kessel
Guentzel - Sheahan - Hornqvist/Rust
Simon - Cullen - Sprong

Think Simon and Sprong need to play higher just to give the team more of a pulse. But I am in favour of temporarily sacrificing the sacred cow that is Guentzel-Crosby.

 

[Gurglesons]

Everyone except Letang looks varying levels of bad.

Fixable? Or are we just old and slow now?

Old and slow prolly..

 

[Riptide]

That's what happens when you load up your top 2 lines with all your talent. The way Rust-Sheahan-Horny looked, 12 minutes apiece was pretty generous. Does anyone want more of what they've been offering up?

Depends on the shifts. They've had some really good shifts. And they've had some really bad shifts. In general I don't like it, because we have the talent that we could be putting there whether that's one of Sprong, Guentzel, Kessel or Brassard, and we're choosing not to.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

I'm just glad you're local once more and able to get to Pens games more often. This Toronto game should do wonders for your marital rivalry.

I like seeing my wife happy, but she’s getting cocky this year and now she’s turned my daughter into a Leafs fan... so if the Pens lose Th I’ll never hear the end of it from the lovely ladies in my life...

Of course if the Pens win my wife won’t talk to me the rest of the night and my daughter will cry.

I’m kind of f***ed no matter what.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

The Hagelin-Malkin-Kessel line has been great all year.

Overall team transitional play from our D (being able to hit to our forwards with breakout passes) however has been seriously lacking. The D need to get our guys the puck and support them better than they have.

 

[Hockey Freak 7]

That needs to be said (Sid coasted like that against Montreal too, and Geno jumped in that one assuming he'd skate hard to the bench . . . stayed put this time).

- HMK played really well all game, which as @Ogrezilla said is why they struggled to score as much.

- Letang was great again.

- We pay Maatta, Oleksiak, and JMFJ about 9.25M per year.

- Jake isn't a RW.

- Our third line blows.

Exit questions:

1. Who's earning their keep this year?

2. How many touchdowns do the Pens give up to Toronto on Thursday?

@KIRK Lmao . Sid coasted, eh? I don’t think so.
You was at the game? Probably not.
I get it, if you want him to get a goal.

It’s bs. Sidney Crosby works hard every shift defensively and offensively generating chances to get goals . Sid’s line has been the great line that’s backing checking and not cheating all zones with the shitty defense passing/ problems in their zone. Forechecking hard to get the puck and create offensively. Work hard to cover his got damn defenseman asses on defensive coverage and always aware to help out.
Shit crazy.
They are generating and getting some zone pressure despite not have a consistent complementary RW. That help Sid and Jake play low and support their work to net. Brassard was differing to much.

Out of all problem. Sid isn’t one of them.
Sid’s line played well so far this season and in this game. They just not get the puck in the net. 9 or 10 Goalie is stopping it.
I just don’t think Pens Fanbase appreciates Sid’s hard workand I was don’t see he needs a better RW there.
It was like that last season. He worked hard and couldn’t get no bounces to go his way.

I understand if you want to get a goal and shoot more because he tend to be more selfish of playmaking for his wingers.
He had some shots..

Some fans don’t appreciate him nor see the value in what he does when he isn’t scoring..


HMK is doing well too . They can get little to cute with the puck.

 

[Freedom]

Try...
Brassard - Crosby - Rust
Guentzel - Malkin - Kessel
Hagelin - Sheahan - Hornqvist

Please...

 

[vodeni]

My hot take for the evening is that we are gonna regret that Horny contract just as much, or more, than any other contract on the team currently, in a couple of years.

hot take it is

 

[Andy99]

Yes, because Sullivan is going to start changing the system after 5 games.

Well he didn’t change anything after 40 games of suckitude last year, and he didn’t change anything in the POs that we lost, and he won’t be changing anything after 20+ games of this season either....so you’re right...why bother counting the games

 

[vodeni]

Am I the only person who thinks DeSmith has looked a little bit worse each successive start he's had this season?

no, sully thinks too

 

[vodeni]

@KIRK Lmao . Sid coasted, eh? I don’t think so.
You was at the game? Probably not.
I get it, if you want him to get a goal.

It’s bs. Sidney Crosby works hard every shift defensively and offensively generating chances to get goals . Sid’s line has been the only great line was backing checking and not cheating all zones with the ****ty defense passing/ problems in their zone. Forechecking hard to get the puck and create offensively.
They are generating and getting some zone pressure despite not have a consistent complementary RW. That help Sid and Jake play low and support their work to net. Brassard was differing to much.

Out of all problem. Sid isn’t one of them.
Sid’s line played well so far this season and in this game. They just not get the puck in the net. 9 or 10 Goalie is stopping it.
I just think Pens Fanbase appreciates Sid’s hard workand I was don’t see he needs a better RW there.
It was like that last season. He worked hard and couldn’t get no bounces to go his way.

I understand if you want to get a goal and shoot more because he tend to be more selfish of playmaking for his wingers.
He had some shots..

People don’t appreciate him nor see the value in what he does when he isn’t scoring..


HMK is doing well too . They can get little to cute with the puck.

who is 'people"?

 

[Hockey Freak 7]

who is 'people"?

Some fans **

It seems to be consistently on here .

 

[turd]

Only if they continue to use him this idiotically for the duration of the deal.

No, I think it will be regrettable regardless of how “idiotically” he’s used. He’s a power play specialist. He doesn’t really have a whole lot of talent aside from banging home the garbage in front of the net. I’m not sure that he really has a “fit” on any forward line. We know Sid doesn’t prefer him. Aside from a handful of games last year, he always looks like shit with Geno. So then you’re left with awkward bottom six lines because he’s gotta play somewhere.

I just don’t have much confidence, given the way he plays the game, and his limitations otherwise, that he’ll be an effective player over the term of his deal, and I wouldn’t at all be surprised if we had discussions a year or two from now about getting out from underneath an albatross contract.

 

[vodeni]

what I learned from sully's presser:

1. he is not all that displeased with the effort tonight, don't expect major chnages
2. Brass will stay on the first line a few more games at least
3. Casey deSmith will be bakck on the bench. Sully's comment on his performance was as lukeworm and as he ever gives about his players

 

[Tender Rip]

Yes, because Sullivan is going to start changing the system after 5 games.

As said after the Vegas and Montreal games, I don't understand what "system" we are supposed to be playing right now.
Or, quite clearly, we are rarely managing to impose ourselves enough on games to be allowed to play the way Sully would like.

Part of that, by far the biggest part, is simply that too many guys don't play with as much intensity as our opposition on a given night, and I am resigned to that being a recurring theme until later in the season (what Jaded prognosticates seems very likely to me ).
But another part is also that I see very little in the way of set plays to exit our zone. Usually when you see well coached teams, irrespective of talent level on D, there are options being made available for zone-exits through set plays. Forwards coming back to provide outlet options and options A, B, C to pass to that F, the D-partner or to skate it up ice depending on how opponent checkers come at you.
I'm sure the Pens have such also, but in reality, far too often the D don't have open forwards in support and must go to their D-partner or wire it up the wall.

The other side of the coin is that we have too few players who are in and off themselves good puck retrievers/able to cycle well through a combination of their physical strength and skating abilities. For us to be a team that puts other teams under this kind of pressure, we need that intensity/mindset where we overwhelm teams with four line skating non-stop like in 2016. We might not have the legs for that with this team anymore, and it might not be realistic to ask for from a veteran team in October either. But if we don't match other teams work effort, we sure need to be better at the other fundamentals and get better fits when it comes to lines.



OT: McDavid is now by far the best hockey player in the world.