Post-Game Talk: Cole's Plus/Minus: Sid walks into Montreal and stone cold stuns them all

[SEALBound]

+'s

Murray. Let's be honest, he was a f***ing stud this game and he was cool as a cucumber doing it. He made so many key saves it became boring. He stopped several breakaway and high danger chances that I can't help but give him the #1 star of the game.

Sid/Jake/McCann. Do we have something here? We very well could. Jake and Sid were Jake and Sid. McCann played flat out tremendous though. I am actually really excited about having this kid. I just have a feeling that he could really come into his own here. If not in the next 20 games+playoffs, then quite possibly next season. I think playing with guys like Jake and Sid could do wonders for his confidence.

Geno. Played very well tonight but I mean, hey, it's Geno, right?

Simon/Horny/Bugs. I thought this was a very effective 3rd line for us. They need to start producing but overall I thought they did very well.

Gudbranson. I am cautiously optimistic. I will take it game by game and judge him on a game by game performance. Tonight, I thought he had another good game. I didn't see any major blunders or lapses. His physicality is much appreciated.

Trotzman. For what he is, he did well. He's very easy to dismiss because once anyone comes back, he's gone, but I've got to give him props. He did well again tonight.

-'s

ZAR and Kessel. They didn't play bad per say but they did Geno zero favors.

Non-Game +'s

Crosby's 4 points puts him at 1199 and OFFICALLY ahead of Ovechkin in career points. Pretty tremendous. Also puts him 4th in scoring now. f***ing what? Doubt he catches Kucherov but catching Kane for 2nd is within his grasp.

Just want to put something into perspective. I don't think this is our year but hey, crazier things have happened. Looking at our team though, I like where we are at for the future. Looking at young guys like: Jake, Rust, Simon, Blueger, McCann, Bjugstad, Pettersson, Riikola, Murray...I like the future of the team. I think we have some really solid guys. I think if we can swing a Kessel trade in the summer and get a new top 6 threat that's younger and speedier, I think we could be dangerous.

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

Pleasantly suprised by Gudbranson thus far.

But man, Peterssen struggled again. At least I thought he did.

At his age hes gonna have ups and downs. Hes shown so many good flashes tho that im excited about his future. Hes confident out there...and that's a great sign for his age.

 

[harmonica]

Fourth line needs to get some credit for the way they played, exactly what you need from that line. Teddy needs to be a regular and let ZAR and Simon fight for a spot once Rust is back.

 

[chethejet]

Really great win for many reasons. I hope they are buying time for the return of Dumo and Letang. With out them, it is over. If pens are close to the playoffs by the end of March, three relatively easy opponents in April. Murray can perhaps steal a game or two next week. Jake and the speedy McCann are hard to defend with Sid. But third line really needs McCann.

 

[Ugene Magic]

-Why is Wilson playing? Do we not have any better options on the farm?

They do, but for the 4th line? Probably not.

 

[LOGiK]

Next 3 games are big. Win those 3 and then probably drop the boston game as its a b2b after CBJ. Then caps buffalo blues flyers canes. Rough stretch coming up.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

Man, Sid is so solid right now.

Sid's been on a mission all year.

 

[Andy99]

We need to balance out the forward lines more with Rust missing...
Would it hurt to try...

McCann-Sid-Phil
Jake-G-Horny
ZAR- Bjug-Simon

 

[SHOOTANDSCORE]

+Jake is so good. He's really stepped up his two way game lately. I wonder if the line changes were in part to free him up a little bit.

+Murray was great. He scared me a bit at the end when he came out to the dots to play that puck and shot it into traffic. MAF flashbacks.

+Teddy was better tonight. Very solid game. Had the sandwich of the game too.

+Much credit to the D for stepping up without Letang/Dumo.

+Guds with an assist and a +3. People don't know whether to cry or wind their watches.

And a + to the team in general. Everyone stepping up and the F's are finally buying in. The injuries and their place in the standings might end up a blessing in disguise. Nothing but their best will get them into the playoffs and they know it. If they make it a habit, they could actually make a run.

 

[Burn]

Cap stepped up. Sids just the C of C's.

Good game for Malkin. When hes dialed in he's such a different player. Battled, on pucks, no stupid PIMs.

Kessel isn't scoring but he is moving his feet and not loafing. I can deal with a slumping player. It will come for him sooner or later. I would love to see McCann up with him on Malkins line.

Murray needed a game like this. Get that chip back on his shoulder.

 

[MrBurghundy]

Man, Murray detractors certainly look dumb.

My problem with Murray is his consistency. If he can string a bunch of games like this together, then I won't have a leg to stand on.

He's 100% a different goalie when he's confident and challenging guys.

 

[Ugene Magic]

@Jaded-Fan when the percentages come out, let me know what it moved to after all the results tonight. The color graphs don't do me well because i'm colorblind.

This explains your avatar.

 

[Peat]

Sid/Jake were awesome. McCann looks like he can play wing with skilled pivots, which is a nice add.

Murray was a stud, but should have been traded a long time ago.

Kessel blows

Pens are essentially a one line team right now, with random Geno outbursts.

By right now, you mean this season right?

 

[Nakawick]

L1 won the game. Sid is just a beast. Except being more worried about Jake's hat trick than getting himself a goal and ending the game.

Can't get too complacent, but a simple game has been passing the eye test.

 

[ColePens]

Story of most coaches...

It's the story of the NHL. I wrote on trade deadline day, Toronto beat writers were on Sirius talking about Toronto needing to get bigger. It is insanity. The NHL will never change.

 

[Jacob]

Crazy to think that Crosby is the cagey veteran carrying around a couple whippersnappers in McCann & Guentzel.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

+Jake is so good. He's really stepped up his two way game lately. I wonder if the line changes were in part to free him up a little bit.

+Murray was great. He scared me a bit at the end when he came out to the dots to play that puck and shot it into traffic. MAF flashbacks.

+Teddy was better tonight. Very solid game. Had the sandwich of the game too.

+Much credit to the D for stepping up without Letang/Dumo.

+Guds with an assist and a +3. People don't know whether to cry or wind their watches.

And a + to the team in general. Everyone stepping up and the F's are finally buying in. The injuries and their place in the standings might end up a blessing in disguise. Nothing but their best will get them into the playoffs and they know it. If they make it a habit, they could actually make a run.

+ to you. Guds is a more acceptable nickname. Guddy is something you name a cat. Or stripper.

 

[cygnus47]

Man, how great is Jake Guentzel btw. Even 6M could prove to be a steal.

Also, I really love McCann's game. I think he's going to be big down the stretch here and I wouldn't be surprised if he broke out next year. He plays fast and hard for his size and he has the skill to give himself an extra second with the puck PLUS he's a shoot first guy. Great combo to have.

 

[lastcupever75]

+++++++ 5/6 points without Letang/Dumo/Maatta/Rust. Are you serious? Pretty damn incredible.

a point in 6 staraight road games as well.. montreal's 1st loss at home in regulation since Jan 18th.

anyone thinking we are not going to make the playoffs needs to have a little more faith

 

[Andy99]

+ to you. Guds is a more acceptable nickname. Guddy is something you name a cat. Or stripper.

How many strippers have you named exactly?

 

[3074326]

+ to you. Guds is a more acceptable nickname. Guddy is something you name a cat. Or stripper.

Well, we do have a guy named Horny.

 

[pensfansince88]

just realized points wise we're only 4 points out of 1st place, but isles have a game at hand. didn't know it was that close.

 

[Shady Machine]

By right now, you mean this season right?

Yes but even more so right now with Phil playing like ass.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

How many strippers have you named exactly?

That I remember?

 

[Don'tcry4mejanhrdina]

Sid is insane. He has more than lived up to the hype. He might be adding a Selke to his trophy case this year. I can't express enough how lucky we are as fans to have him on this team. Not to mention he's a class act off the ice. I know we all appreciate him as Pens fans but we should try to enjoy watching him as much as possible because he is an all time great.

Guentzel becoming just the 2nd winger of Sid's to score 30 goals. He's locked up long term too, thankfully. Keep scoring goals, I want Sid to climb much higher on the all time points list.

Huge win. Murray with some big saves.