Post-Game Talk: Cole's Plus/Minus: Positive Thoughts Lead to Points!

[ColePens]

I will admit that I was willing to trade Rust to move JJ. I feel great shame.

Yeah.. just can't do that. Rusty and Tanev being in the lineup is the spark you need to get something going.

And I can't say it enough - this game was NOTHING like the playoff series last year. This Pens team was on the Isles asses all game.

 

[Ryder71]

Marino is ridiculously composed.

A 6th for this guy!!??!

I'm sure scouting led to that trade but ANOTHER hat tip to JR for that one.

Yeah, IF Marino keeps this up that trade is an absolute steal. He's exhibiting poise well beyond his years. Very high hockey IQ.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

See, gotta be positive. f*** those negative vibes floating around here lately.

 

[K Fleur]

This game has me f***ing amped!

 

[ChaosAgent]

We are in a pretty good place if Riko is our 7th defencemen. We also have great forward depth. I think the only thing that might be lacking is a top-6 RW or a LD.

Maybe he'll peter out after time, but our healthy defense ranking right now is:

Letang
Dumo
Marino
Riko
Schultz
MP

Marino and Riko have been THAT good.

 

[Trade]

I think you are missing our most important player there

ZAR’s getting special permission to be behind the bench so he can hold hands with Sully.

 

[Peat]

--- I watched the two crap goals in the second, then turned off, then only came back in OT. I guess that's on me for not showing enough faith, but if this team couldn't consistently do better when I wasn't watching, that'd be great. I swear I'm a curse.

+++ This is the Bryan Rust I'd never trade.

Based on the tiny amount I did see I thought that we were still playing the right way, but were maybe a bit anxious and frenetic. Hopefully a win settles the nerves. Riikola's decision making disappointed me, Guentzel's play disappointed me... Bjugstad is turning a corner and maybe finding his place. If he does, that's big. That's worth being patient over. Feels like there's a lot of hurry to cast off pieces when we're not even 20 games in and doing well.

We are now on a 5 game streak of 60%+ xGF%, which I think matches what most of us are seeing, and have 7 points out of the possible 10.

 

[Ogrezilla]

Yeah.. just can't do that. Rusty and Tanev being in the lineup is the spark you need to get something going.

And I can't say it enough - this game was NOTHING like the playoff series last year. This Pens team was on the Isles asses all game.

Rust has a point in all 5 games since he came back. 3 goals. Dude's playing out of his mind.

 

[IcedCapp]

This game has me ****ing amped!

drink a few red bull to calm the nerves

 

[KIRK]

Riikola looked like a young Letang (I know he's older than young Letang...if that makes sense)

Bjugs really making an impact.

ZAR should sit.

Like Chuky with Sid and Jake. McCann is a top 6 winger, apparently. Because he looked awesome with Geno and looked awesome with Sid last season.

Good stuff all around.

Funny thing is McCann played on Geno's LW in the playoff opener last year with Horny on the other side. The line actually generated a lot of chances (didn't score), and then McCann got hurt.

 

[BHD]

Yeah.. just can't do that. Rusty and Tanev being in the lineup is the spark you need to get something going.

And I can't say it enough - this game was NOTHING like the playoff series last year. This Pens team was on the Isles asses all game.

Trotz called a TO mid period. That doesn't happen unless the team is REALLY overwhelmed.

 

[cygnus47]

Can McCann just stay at wing now pls? And how you can think about scratching Riikola the way he's played whenever he's had a chance is beyond me.

 

[BHD]

I can't get over the way they are playing. They're relentless. I f***ing love it.

 

[KIRK]

Tada. Whoever says "trade Rust" is an asshat. Always.

I want to say that Sid needs to be better than the last two games, but he knows that as well as anyone.
Geno was awesome, and as almost always Geno and Rust is a great combo. I wonder if anyone has noticed that for many years and spend at lot of time talking about it?

Very nice to see Riiko and Marino at this level and another shout out for JJ who this season has been WORTH HIS CONTRACT! There, I dang did it.

Very important win. Very important showing. Third consecutive game where we pretty much double up on shots and chances and richly deserve to win against good teams. The only reasons we haven't is that we have gotten disproportionately few breaks and relatively much weaker goal tending.

Chucky..... if he is not for Malkin, he is not for this team. I have no doubt this Malkin will succeed with Rust and one of the other options who can play Sullivan hockey.

I'd actually argue Malkin is handicapped playing with the square pegs like Chucky. Kudos to Sully for NOT force feeding it when confronted with the obvious.

 

[JRS91]

I think you are missing our most important player there

Who's that?

 

[IcedCapp]

I'd actually argue Malkin is handicapped playing with the square pegs like Chucky. Kudos to Sully for NOT force feeding it when confronted with the obvious.

coaches always make changes when their jobs are on the line

 

[Ogrezilla]

Can McCann just stay at wing now pls? And how you can think about scratching Riikola the way he's played whenever he's had a chance is beyond me.

"can't have 6 Kris Letang's" or something like that per Rob Scuderi

 

[Extra Texture]

Hustle, hustle, hustle.

Do they pull that off last season? I don't think so. This team is focused.

No chance that happened last season. The youth and the speed are back, the spirit is back, and we’ve got a gravy train of young guns just itching to elbow in and make their mark.

 

[IcedCapp]

Who's that?

Zach Aston-Reese

 

[tom_servo]

Thrilling, big time win on my *ahem* BIRTHDAY.

Glad to see the clutch players still have it.

 

[KIRK]

I will admit that I was willing to trade Rust to move JJ. I feel great shame.

I got this one, @ColePens . . .

 

[KIRK]

@ColePens Shout out to John Marino for looking like a seasoned Vet on the top pair. I love this kid

Him for Guds was this year's Daley for Scuderi.

 

[ChaosAgent]

Thrilling, big time win on my *ahem* BIRTHDAY.

Glad to see the clutch players still have it.

HBD dude!

 

[vodeni]

liked JJ Riiko pair, Marino and Dumo, but 4 and 28 were outright scary...mostly because of Shultz...
I loved our game all along, we just needed a little bit more chaos around net...we got that in third...
They should keep that second line forever, move either Kahun or Simon to the first, drop chucky to third, still can't figure out what kind of line he could potentially work on...maybe two really hard working guys really not sure....

there is still a lot of room for improvement....but we are trending in the right direction

and kudos to Geno for that effort on Rusty's goal

 

[Ogrezilla]

Thrilling, big time win on my *ahem* BIRTHDAY.

Glad to see the clutch players still have it.