Pre-Game Talk: Pens @ Panthers Tuesday at 7 PM: Feels good to be looking forward to games

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

@chessarmy is making the GDT but there is a bunch of news happening so I wanted to compile it into the OP:





Pens have been playing well while ravaged by injuries, they played their last game with 5 of their top 9 forwards out, and a 1st pairing dman. Jared McCann is expected to play but Malkin, Bjugstad, Rust, Galchenyuk, and Dumolin are all out for tomorrow's game

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[GrumpyKelly]

Raining Rats said the following:
"Ekblad has been good for the last two years. Ekblad not fixing his skating is his issue."

You stated the following:

"Neither player developed under Boughner. Math took steps back if anything."

Several posters rebutted this claim of yours stating Ekblad did improve last season, and thus did improve under Boughner. Because last season was his best season.

You then said the following:
“I don't know what you guys are reading.
I never said Ekblad hasn't been good. Skating aside, Ekblad looked good before Boughner and during his tenure. He probably looked the best in his rookie year (relatively speaking ofc). But was there any major development happening under Boughner? No.”

So you clearly stated than neither Ekblad or Matheson developed under Boughner. However, other posters disagreed with this and said he had his best season under Boughner!

Ekblad developing vs. being good. Two different things. I never said Ekblad has been bad or have never claimed that.

I disagree with Ekblad having taken any major steps forward under Boughner. Any major steps in his game would have to do with skating, since that has literally been the only thing stopping him from being a true #1. And his skating hasn't improved in any major way.

 

[Gentle Man]

@chessarmy is making the GDT but there is a bunch of news happening so I wanted to compile it into the OP:





Pens have been playing well while ravaged by injuries, they played their last game without 5 of their top 9 forwards out, and a 1st pairing dman. Jared McCann is expected to play but Malkin, Bjugstad, Rust, Galchenyuk, and Dumolin are all out for tomorrow's game

Q seems to love matching Acciari against the other team's top line.

So I'm expecting the same this game.

Doubt Pysyk slots in as wing if Tro plays.

Kinda curious to see who starts in goal. No word yet. I think Monty should get it tbh.

 

[pb1300]

@chessarmy is making the GDT but there is a bunch of news happening so I wanted to compile it into the OP:





Pens have been playing well while ravaged by injuries, they played their last game without 5 of their top 9 forwards out, and a 1st pairing dman. Jared McCann is expected to play but Malkin, Bjugstad, Rust, Galchenyuk, and Dumolin are all out for tomorrow's game

Nobody notice Acciari’s comment?

 

[WaitingForThatCab]

That Penguins lineup is absolutely decimated. Cats really need to win this one if they want to be a team in playoff contention.

When the opposition is missing that many players...

 

[RogerRoger]

Talking of players' numbers, it always trips me up seeing #6 with great defensive plays.

 

[I am not exposed]

Ekblad developing vs. being good. Two different things. I never said Ekblad has been bad or have never claimed that.

I disagree with Ekblad having taken any major steps forward under Boughner. Any major steps in his game would have to do with skating, since that has literally been the only thing stopping him from being a true #1. And his skating hasn't improved in any major way.

Exactly! Yet, some posters stated he had his best season last season, and that was under Boughner!

 

[GrumpyKelly]

Exactly! Yet, some posters stated he had his best season last season, and that was under Boughner!

Ok?

 

[Prominence Problem]

So are lines are looking like:

HBD
Hoff - Tro? - Conn
Frankie - Boyle -Malgin
HAS

Ek - Weegs
MM - Strals
Yands - Brown/Pysyk

Bob
Monty


If for some reason Tro can't play, would you think Malgin moves up to 2C and Hawk takes his place as 3RW?

 

[Boothinator]

That Penguins lineup is absolutely decimated. Cats really need to win this one if they want to be a team in playoff contention.

When the opposition is missing that many players...

We will get Pens on the front side of a back 2 back...I still dont wanna face Matt Murray. So maybe we get a break this time and face Tristan Jarry

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

We will get Pens on the front side of a back 2 back...I still dont wanna face Matt Murray. So maybe we get a break this time and face Tristan Jarry

Oops, nevermind.

 

[Drugs Delaney]

We will get Pens on the front side of a back 2 back...I still dont wanna face Matt Murray. So maybe we get a break this time and face Tristan Jarry

I don't feel like watching another backup beat them.

 

[PSLguy]

Nobody notice Acciari’s comment?

View attachment 267219

In case anyone doesn't get the Acciari comment to Weeger:

 

[Prominence Problem]

It'll be interesting to see if Brown is still holding his spot on the pair with Yands. He hasn't impressed much at all lately. Meanwhile, Pysyk has done a more than adequate job in forward the last two games. I wonder if he gets a shot on that pairing Tuesday?

 

[Sticksandsun]

Cannot use injuries as an excuse when you see what the Pens are competing through

 

[Egblad]

It'll be interesting to see if Brown is still holding his spot on the pair with Yands. He hasn't impressed much at all lately. Meanwhile, Pysyk has done a more than adequate job in forward the last two games. I wonder if he gets a shot on that pairing Tuesday?

Yeah, I haven’t really noticed much if anything Brown has brought to the blue line so far this season.

 

[batting1k]

Yeah, I haven’t really noticed much if anything Brown has brought to the blue line so far this season.

as a team that’s known to be easy to play against, he gives us some size, but that’s about it.

 

[Jean Luc Discard]

as a team that’s known to be easy to play against, he gives us some size, but that’s about it.

He's a big dude but so far this season he's kept the silk gloves on.

 

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

That Penguins lineup is absolutely decimated. Cats really need to win this one if they want to be a team in playoff contention.

When the opposition is missing that many players...

None of their injuries are new, they are 6-3-0 with these guys out almost all year. Dumolin is the only player newly injured.

 

[KW]

In case anyone doesn't get the Acciari comment to Weeger:

Good addition. I didn’t get it...now it makes sense.

 

[PJ817]

Newbie to Cats

What should I be looking for? I generally know Bob, Hoff, Bark, Huber (obv #9) what else?

Looking forward to the game; even planned my day around it so I can watch

 

[Gentle Man]

Jeez.

I cant unsee Rantanen's foot.

f***.

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

Newbie to Cats

What should I be looking for? I generally know Bob, Hoff, Bark, Huber (obv #9) what else?

Looking forward to the game; even planned my day around it so I can watch

If you like grittier players then you'll quickly fall in love with Acciari #55 (or our 4th line in general) who brings it every single shift, causing havoc and pressure on opponent's D with good fore-check and wrecking ball play/style.
Also Weegar (RD/LD) #52, who was a 7th round pick who worked his way through juniors, AHL, bottom pairing in NHL to now be paired with Ekblad on the top line.

Trocheck #21 (C), Malgin #62 (C), Vatrano #77 (LW) and Matheson #19 (LD) can all skate fluidly and have tons of speed to their game.
Barkov and Huberdeau are the main attraction though, they make magic happen. Dadonov ain't no slouch either when he's ON.

 

[ProjectPanthers]

Regardless of injuries to the Pens, this is going to be a tough one.

The Pens are playing some high-level hockey despite their injuries. This is going to be another tough challenge for this squad. I think they squeeze out a win but we will see...

 

[PanthersHockey1]

I want to see Barkov start taking over shifts and the game again.