Post-Game Talk: Penguins 3, Wild 2 - Vanilla Ice With the Game Winner

[Ugene Magic]

Kessel is have a good game.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Minny is really trying to hit hard. Geno at one end and then Pettersson in the D-zone.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Kessel!!!

 

[Ryder71]

lol.. happy new year

 

[Ugene Magic]

I have to stop reading the GDT 'til the game catches up...

 

[Ugene Magic]

Great 1st shift for Sid's line in the second, guentzel with solid work/shot.

Pettersson getting clubbed again.

 

[Ugene Magic]

De Smith with a great save and then post..

 

[Ogrezilla]

Desmith with a great save and then post..

he's a moose

 

[Ugene Magic]

De Smith again...

 

[XanderCrews34]

That's not really how the story went. That was part of it, sure, but not the whole story. Not even close. They didn't compete anywhere close to how they are competing now. And kudos to the players for being able to progressively turn that switch up. They are really playing a solid team game night in/night out. It's impressive. But they weren't playing anything close to their capability early in the season.

The only part you got right is that people overreacted. Badly.

In fairness, there were tons of issues that led to the losing skid but I think the relative continuity they’ve had in the lineup (particularly the back end since the MP pickup) has been part of what got the team back into a rhythm.

It just felt like a ton of guys were unsure of what they were supposed to be doing and couldn’t effectively read off each other. Now they’re playing much more confidently and it’s making them look quick again.

But really the biggest difference is the goaltending. MM being MM really does change the entire outlook for this team and CDS playing at this level has been another godsend.

 

[XanderCrews34]

Oh, he is lazy, he is just smart lazy. He works when he needs to and he always produces.

I don’t think he’s lazy. I think he’s just always trying to play offense. So his effort is just almost always geared to getting scoring chances when mayyybe he could be defending a little more diligently.

 

[Ugene Magic]

No goal for Minny, stick was too high.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

Pens up to a Mean Joe Greene chance of making the playoffs.

 

[td_ice]

That’s an easy conclusion to jump to though.

Brass has 9 goals and 20 points in his first 43 games as a Pen

Bones had 3 goals and 11 points after his first 50, and I wanted him gone so badly by January that season. However, he then caught fire in March and and we know how that all ended.

Bones had a rep as a playoff performer just like Brass as well.

Bones simply caught fire at the right time, and that’s exactly what they needed then.

Not sure why Brass can’t do the same as he’s done it before and he’s a more talented guy than Bones.

I think if the lines can stabilize that will do wonders for Brass. In the media scrum the other day, the impression that I got from Brass was that constantly being juggled on various lines was getting to him. "what consistency?, we haven't had any. This line could change tomorrow." Not verbatim, but that was the gist of his response when asked about playing on the same line a few games in a row. It definitely seemed like a sore spot for him. (and that was on a night he had two goals.)

 

[Ugene Magic]

Foligno is a dirt bag with a late hit. Zar fighting back. 4 on 4.

 

[LOGiK]

De Smith again...

Was my choice for #1 performer of the game, wasn't even really close, he came up big a lot.

MAN.............. damn new years, wifey got me another beer when I was fixin to go cook something and get in my night-night gear and watch a movie and crash. Now I'm up for awhile.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Wow.. Minny with some breaks and sick saves... De Smith..

 

[Ugene Magic]

Sweet zone entry by Riikola and skate backwards for a shot.

 

[Ugene Magic]

What a pass and nice shot, Riley!!!

 

[LOGiK]

What a pass and nice shot, Riley!!!

Did you see Riikola wipe out interfere with guy on the boards right before that goal? Ref's were horrible all game, missed / no call many.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Was my choice for #1 performer of the game, wasn't even really close, he came up big a lot.

MAN.............. damn new years, wifey got me another beer when I was fixin to go cook something and get in my night-night gear and watch a movie and crash. Now I'm up for awhile.

I have Kessel #2 so far... Unfortunately I know the fireworks are all done for the Pens.

 

[LOGiK]

Funny thing about being 8-2 in the last 10 is that the capitals and penguins are both 8-2 and CBJ and Isles are both 7-2-1.
So while the pens sucked it up they didn't lose that much ground, but since they turned it up they only gained 1 pt on cbj and isles and 0 on caps in the last 10 games.
That is ridiculous.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Did you see Riikola wipe out interfere with guy on the boards right before that goal? Ref's were horrible all game, missed / no call many.

Yes.

The fans were not happy. But Minny is also being a bit dirty themselves so I don't even care.

 

[LOGiK]

I have Kessel #2 so far... Unfortunately I know the fireworks are all done for the Pens.

I had Smitty with three +++ Crosby and Kessel at ++, both were really good. Sid above Phil though, sid is just insane.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Three guys waiting at the Pens blueline on the breakout.