Post-Game Talk: Cole's Plus/Minus: Pens vs. Caps - the one where Pens fans whine the entire time

[KIRK]

And he played 32 mins which made the D look much better than it is.

We need Schultz + 1.

+2 would be better.

BUT, if the +1 is an impact top 4 to partner with Schultz so we can protect the hell out of the third pairing, then okay.

 

[ColePens]

Loved it. Took the best the Caps had to offer and beat them.

I would think if it went to a best of 7, I'd put my money on the Caps in a 55-45% chance favoring them. But one mega encouragement is the possibility that the defense is not dead. Getting rid of Oleksiak and Maatta and somehow adding even a remotely decent player with playing Riikola surely closes a gap in a HUGE way. I am 100% certain now.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Main issue is any momentum is gone because of the break.

Not entirely. If you roll off a win tomorrow and another vs the Canes, you're heading into the break on a lot of positives and things to build off of instead of having a lot more to beat yourself up about.

God damn it man, work with me, I am trying to be positive.

 

[HuskerTornado]

Pens win the game, NBC talking about what an incredibly balanced, great player Wilson is. I must have taken crazy pills.

 

[Gurglesons]

Didn't he score the game-winner the other night?

I’m not saying move Kessel.

I’m just saying why you need to wait and see how a team develops. A couple moves on D and a LW in for ZAR and this could easily be a great team again.

 

[dogthateats]

Whats up? Not much just watching more Tom Wilson highlights after a game where his team lost.

 

[MrBurghundy]

While I think Geno didn't have a bad game, I think he looks kind of lost, so does Kessel. You have two lost players attached at the hip right now and whatever abomination Zach Abhorrent-Reese is.

Geno can do better. He will do better tomorrow.

That being said, he still had a point, and had a chance to score a few goals if the puck bounces the right way.

 

[Bingo71]

NBC gushing over Wilson.

 

[SHOOTANDSCORE]

+++++ Sid: Best player in the game. His hand eye is insane. I don't think it's close. He is the greatest player the game has seen since Mario. Pretty amazing that we had both guys.

++++ Murray: Some greatness and some luck. That was waaaay closer to the #30 I remember and love. But he needs to build on that. It can't just be 1 game. It needs to be multiple games for a long period of time. All while staying healthy.

++ JJ: Yes.. JJ made the pluses. He was actually very good. Some great blocks and some great plays. He's not the best passer but he played great defense tonight.

++ Defense without Oleksiak, except Maatta: The defense was so good WITHOUT Oleksiak. Take out Maatta, add Riikola, and add any real piece for that 4-6m and we'd be solid. I really believe that.

++ Sheahan/Cullen: What the hell got into those two?!?! They were out of this world good. Both had speed/grit. Both protected the puck really well. I could see a Cully/Sheahan/Rust line that would do serious damage.

That was Dad's best game since Game 6 of the SCF in 2017. Wowsa.


------- The vocal small group of Pens fans who whine and ***** and whine and *****. Just acting like we are the worst franchise of all time. Calling for goons and hitters. Jesus. I'll take a speed/skilled team who has 5 cups since 1990 and 3 in this era. It's ridiculous.

Agree with all of this.

I'm almost scared to give JJ credit around here. I liked his physicality on the boards too. Killing the cycle and pinning guys is much better than him looking for the big hit.

Sheahan got into Cully's roids or something. That's more like the play I was hoping to see from those two over the Summer. Good stuff.

Have to give Petts a shout for saving that goal.

 

[PensandCaps]

Yup, Letang played a very solid 32 minutes.

He would and could go 60 mins.

 

[Scandale du Jour]

Yea no Schultz for this long just shows how little offense there is in the depth.
If JR can manage to get a really solid 2nd pairing pivot with Schultz back, it'll help immensely.
Gotta happen if this team is gonna go anywhere anytime soon.

We will need to shed some salary to do so. Maatta or JJ or Oleksiak for sure.

 

[HuskerTornado]

That bloody mark on Letang's face surely isn't from Ovechkin's butt-end, is it?

 

[Konstantin Koltsov]

Good win.

f*** Tom Wilson forever.

 

[SomeDude]

Good to see even after winning a Cup, losing to the Pens still affects OV so much. Right back in their heads.

 

[WayneSid9987]

A win for Ovechkin is getting a good chirp off. A win for Crosby is scoring every goal for his team in a hard-fought game.

Did they give the 2nd to Sid?

 

[Scandale du Jour]

+2 would be better.

BUT, if the +1 is an impact top 4 to partner with Schultz so we can protect the hell out of the third pairing, then okay.

I'd be fine with a Petterson - Schultz, good new guy - Riikola bottom 4. Balanced.

 

[Gurglesons]

I don’t mean to rehash this, but it feels important: if Pens players wanted Sully gone, this game, with all of the stuff this morning, prime time NBC, no other game on, this was the game where you send that message loud and clear.

Were they perfect? Nope. But they were playing their asses off. Their issues are personnel. D still blows.

100% You can tell it is the players and roster make-up because they are capable of playing these types of games.

That being said if I’m Phil, Geno, or Brassard I’d get tired as f*** trying to carry the 2009 Penguins D around in 2018.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

NBC gushing over Wilson.

Wilson is their porn.

 

[Fatty McLardy]

man what a difference of two weeks for Rust. he's easily been one of our best players.

 

[troyerlaw]

Well, i hate you guys and your team, but ... hats off. Fun game to watch and gutsy effort by Pens, esp. with all the blocked shots. Intensity of game felt like the old days.

And now... back to our regular programming - i wish you guys very bad luck from here on!

 

[KIRK]

Good thing it’s December 19th. Right when the 15-16 team started to take shape.

If you’re going by “what on our roster right now would make us better”

Moving Phil Kessel is at the top of the list.

We need to find a true impact complement for Geno (one who helps Geno play to his strengths, which Phil doesn't do). We need to improve the defense. We need cap space. Leveraging Phil's value would help.

That said, he's not being dealt, and I think we're stuck with him with Geno because where the **** else is there to put him.

 

[MrBurghundy]

100% You can tell it is the players and roster make-up because they are capable of playing these types of games.

That being said if I’m Phil, Geno, or Brassard I’d get tired as **** trying to carry the 2009 Penguins D around in 2018.

Seriously, there's only one pairing that they can actually work with to create offense, and you can't play those 2 guys 60 minutes a game.

 

[Ryder71]

That bloody mark on Letang's face surely isn't from Ovechkin's butt-end, is it?

He'll wear it as a badge of honor. He was terrific this evening.

 

[Tacitus Kilgore]

Im happy to have Pettersson on the backend going into the playoffs, guy seems to do ok under pressure

 

[The GM]

NBC gushing over Wilson.

Garrett?