Post-Game Talk: Islanders 4, Penguins 1 - Was It Over When The Germans Bombed Pearl Harbor?

[PensandCaps]

Man the people crying for JJ must feel so stupid. Im sorry but this guy was horrible in game 2 and 3. Like he has no idea what he is doing out there.

But atleast he's not slow

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

The Penguins were 19th in ES goals/60 from February 1st until the end of the season. This shouldn't be a surprise that they're getting smacked.

I said this on the main board playoff thread right when the series was announced, I don't know why I didn't think this was more likely to happen. The Penguins were a terrible offensive team down the stretch playing against a great defensive team, I don't know why I thought that would magically change going forward.

This team is dead in the water. I want to feel bad, but I really don't. I care about how they do as much as they do.

I don't know how many times I brought up concerns about their offense over the past month (all of March). And every time I was told "LOL Malkin and Letang are out. We'll be fine". I guess we're not fine after all even when those guys are back.

 

[UnderratedBrooks44]

I was just shocked to see with about 6 min left, getting a 4 on 4 down by two goals, the reaction was to allow the Islanders to lazily pass the puck around, controlling it the entire time, including Filpulla, who is old, dangling through two guys in slow motion and getting a clear shot off from the hashes. As surprised as i am I’m general at how this is going, I was stunned to see the complete lack of fire when basically the series was in the balance.

 

[KIRK]

I'm not going to put all the blame on Letang. But they had better structure and defensively when he was out. They looked like a playoff contender. The issue is you can't tell the team to play one way with a certain d pairing and one way with another. They tried last year to make him be more defensive and he wouldn't do it and gave up a lot of breakaways. Then in the off-season said he's "getting back to his game" Translation - not play how the coaches are telling me to. So they are stuck running a system to appease Letang and that's why Schultz is pinching and all this other nonsense. Islanders have no offensive d-men and working us. Sharks have arguably two of the best and tied 1-1. Just give me some real defense.

Much as my initial instinct is to agree, the playoffs are a different animal.

 

[Hank Plank]

It's the gum chewing isn't it?

That and I think he's a regular season champion coach.

 

[mrwirez]

Will be weird having no pens in May

I for one will get more spring chores done outside...

 

[Turin]

Man the people crying for JJ must feel so stupid. Im sorry but this guy was horrible in game 2 and 3. Like he has no idea what he is doing out there.

But atleast he's not slow

Sad part is that he is lol

 

[KIRK]

Sullivan's not the problem. The roster is. Has been all season.

Penguins have gotten dumber and slower while the rest of the league plays with more pace. Pens were at the forefront of playing with speed - not just physical speed, but quick and smart decisions, too - when they won the Cup. The rest of the NHL borrowed that and ran with it. The Pens lagged behind, made dumb decisions in the front office, and now they're being passed by.

Some of these players aren't bad. They're just bad fits. That's on Rutherford and the scouting staff.

In the meantime, Sullivan has to try something for Game 4. Blueger for Wilson. Maatta for Johnson. And if Ruhwedel is healthy, bring him in for Gudbransson. Maatta and Ruhwedel will provide better puck movement while sacrificing some size. At this stage, the Pens can't faster on D. They can get smarter.

McCann-Crosby-Guentzel
Rust-Malkin-Kessel
Simon-Bjugstad-Hornqvist
Blueger-Cullen-Aston-Reese

Dumoulin-Letang
Maatta-Schultz
Pettersson-Ruhwedel

You're just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

 

[PensPlz]

I know, but you aren't replacing the whole team, so what are ya gonna do?

I disagree.

Do you know how many Penguin players that were on the 2016 Stanley Cup team, that were also on the 2013 losing to the Bruins team?

5. Crosby. Malkin. Letang. Kunitz. Fleury.

In 3 years we replaced all but 5 players.

It's possible to (A) replace the whole team and (B) win.

 

[Pancakes]

I was just shocked to see with about 6 min left, getting a 4 on 4 down by two goals, the reaction was to allow the Islanders to lazily pass the puck around, controlling it the entire time, including Filpulla dangling through two guys in slow motion and getting a clear shot off from the hashes. As surprised as i am I’m general at how this is going, I was stunned to see the complete lack of fire when basically the series was in the balance.

They look like a team that knows it's over. I'll be surprised if they even win game 4 at this point. A sweep feels likely.

This team needs massive changes this summer.

 

[PensandCaps]

These days we love him too though

I mean atleast we have those back to back cups just very recently.

You guys losing in round 1 would be very horrific.

Please don't let CBJ win. I hate them

 

[ncm7772]

Look on the bright side: Sully will get fired around december next year and they will turn their season around to win the cup under the new coach.

And my buddy and I are getting together for Game 4. Last time we watched a Pens season end together was '08. We know what happened the next years!

 

[Ogrezilla]

Fair enough, but that's a lot easier said than done, as I know you already know.

I'm not saying we shouldn't change coaches either btw. I'm just not on board with the folks who seem to be singlehandedly blaming Sully as if we'd be up in the series if he played Blueger instead of ZAR or if McCann was with Sid.

 

[These Are The Days]

That and I think he's a regular season champion coach.

Say that in HF Lightning and you'll be a Mod tomorrow morning

 

[Ogrezilla]

It is a mix no doubt, but as I said before no way this team is as bad as the steaming pile of dung we are seeing on the ice.

I dunno, the defense might actually be worse

 

[Shady Machine]

I can't believe people tripping over themselves to blame Rutherford as the sole issue here.

Still refusing to blame Sullivan and his line up usage and not adjusting.

**** sakes is this 2011 again??

Both might have hit the end of their useful tenure

 

[KIRK]

I disagree.

Do you know how many Penguin players that were on the 2016 Stanley Cup team, that were also on the 2013 losing to the Bruins team?

5. Crosby. Malkin. Letang. Kunitz. Fleury.

In 3 years we replaced all but 5 players.

It's possible to (A) replace the whole team and (B) win.

Possible, yes, but the task may be even more difficult now than it was then.

 

[These Are The Days]

I mean atleast we have those back to back cups just very recently.

You guys losing in round 1 would be very horrific.

Please don't let CBJ win. I hate them

The struggle is real dawg. Y'all make it look so easy

 

[Turin]

JJ
Kessel
Gudbranson (even tho I don’t mind him)

We talking like 15 mill in cap space dawg

 

[Hell Yeah!!!]

Yah the dude single handedly cost us a chance at coming back.

He fumbles a puck 99% of Dmen control.

Now Maatta is no stud. But had he been in all three games, we have one game.

This team showed no trait that looks anything like the ability to come back.

 

[MrBurghundy]

I disagree.

Do you know how many Penguin players that were on the 2016 Stanley Cup team, that were also on the 2013 losing to the Bruins team?

5. Crosby. Malkin. Letang. Kunitz. Fleury.

In 3 years we replaced all but 5 players.

It's possible to (A) replace the whole team and (B) win.

In 1 offseason?

Sure, in 3 years a lot can happen.

 

[KIRK]

Both might have hit the end of their useful tenure

Spoiler: Spoiler

They have

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Is it really?

It's gonna be hilarious if JR retires or gets fired and Sullivan continues to drive this team into the ground and people finally admit it's Sully that's the problem after 4yrs of being mediocre, wasting more time of Geno and Sid's.

Sullivan has this weird God like power with people here and it's comical.

He's Bylsma levels of stubborn.

 

[MrBurghundy]

I'm not saying we shouldn't change coaches either btw. I'm just not on board with the folks who seem to be singlehandedly blaming Sully as if we'd be up in the series if he played Blueger instead of ZAR or if McCann was with Sid.

I blame Sully more on not figuring out a successful way to attack and defend the Islanders system.

 

[Ogrezilla]

In 1 offseason?

Sure, in 3 years a lot can happen.

gut the D and add a top 6 wing. That's the key for me. Easy peasy

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Both might have hit the end of their useful tenure

The only scary thing is Guerin might be in charge. But then I wonder if he might actually do well in the same way people are duped into thinking Sullivan is great.