Post-Game Talk: Pens vs. Caps: The big dog gets 1000!!!!

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Good to see Sid finally get over that 89 point hump. Two years in a row was long enough. 10 points in 12 games to his 6th 100 point season.

 

[cheesedanish87]

Did anyone else notice on Phil's goal how the entire net was open and he barley made it into the net?

It was so close to hitting the post and not going in, hes just having a hard time right now.

 

[KIRK]

Not really sure how anyone is criticizing Murray since December. He’s been a horse.

Oh, he's laid a random egg, but yes, since returning from injury/mental health break, he's been a horse.

 

[TNT87]

What an awesome comeback! Thank you McCann for lighting the fuse. Congrats to Geno on his incredible milestone.

Oh and they did this without some key players in the lineup. This definitely feels good man.

I just realized now that McCann blew past Orpik on that first goal. Sweet.

 

[Gurglesons]

Oh, he's laid a random egg, but yes, since returning from injury/mental health break, he's been a horse.

That second goal tonight was hilarious.

 

[Gurglesons]

What an awesome comeback! Thank you McCann for lighting the fuse. Congrats to Geno on his incredible milestone.

Oh and they did this without some key players in the lineup. This definitely feels good man.

McCann # @ColePens and I win.

 

[TooManyHumans]

Did anyone else notice on Phil's goal how the entire net was open and he barley made it into the net?

It was so close to hitting the post and not going in, hes just having a hard time right now.

Phil noticed.

 

[Pancakes]

So with 85 points I'd say if we get 6 more wins we're in pretty much for sure. 5 wins might be enough as well. Feeling pretty good right now about our chances.

 

[KIRK]

That second goal tonight was hilarious.

It was.

And the big saves at the big moments tonight were vintage Murray.

 

[Gurglesons]

It was.

And the big saves at the big moments tonight were vintage Murray.

Pens fans seem to forget he gave up bad goals throughout 15-16 and 16-17. Thing was he shut it down after. He’s back to that level.

That should be a scary thing for the rest of the league.

 

[radapex]

They aren’t a pair.

I must've been seeing 4 and thinking 44. Been watching while gaming lately, so my attentiveness isn't there.

 

[TNT87]

It was.

And the big saves at the big moments tonight were vintage Murray.

He responded really well after giving up that second goal. He just brushed it off and stayed focus.

 

[TKalltheTime]

Why are folks considering rearranging the personnel on D right now (other than the obvious Letang for Trotman). Sully is finally managing ice time, situations and partners to a degree we can't complain about, and it's going to get even easier with Tanger. You don't mess with that.

Just hope the team doesn't suddenly start playing dumb again when healthy.

Once you add in a Letang the IQ of this team drops about 97 points...

 

[KIRK]

Pens fans seem to forget he gave up bad goals throughout 15-16 and 16-17. Thing was he shut it down after. He’s back to that level.

That should be a scary thing for the rest of the league.

The scarier thing would be a healthy Letang and a L2 that crystallizes like L1 and L3 have

#RustReturn, #PhilNoLongerPreseasonMode

 

[SEALBound]

Here’s a booklet of a bunch of stats on Geno

Evgeni Malkin 1000 Points

Last page has a list of every player he has gotten a point with. Gladams was there

Man there are some throwback names on there!

Zigomanis
Sydor
Skoula
Caputi
Archobello
Nasreddine

Oddly, there is one name that is NOT on there...Eric Tangradi. Hilarious.

 

[TKalltheTime]

Congrats to 101 on 1,000 PTS.

If only he was as good as Towes...

 

[Jaded-Fan]

The scarier thing would be a healthy Letang and a L2 that crystallizes like L1 and L3 have

#RustReturn, #PhilNoLongerPreseasonMode

Yeah, that has been an ongoing worry for me.

The team seems to have rallied around the challenge of Rust going down, as well as 3 of their top 4 defensemen right after that outdoor game. In response everyone has picked up the slack and supported, worked hard, and played the way we have wanted them to all year.

The fear is what happens when they get people back? Do the returned players fit into this new found responsible play? Do the ones who are playing hard and responsibly now keep it up when Letang and the others are back?

Far too often this year the team, and I use the word 'team' every loosely, seemed way too much like a collection of talented players, and some of questionable talent, each acting independently and seemingly far too often without a clue where anyone else was. They could not complete a pass if their lives depended on it. Can they remain a 'team' as they are playing now once healthy again?

That question and its answer will determine how far they go in the playoffs.

 

[Gurglesons]

Yeah, that has been an ongoing worry for me.

The team seems to have rallied around the challenge of Rust going down, as well as 3 of their top 4 defensemen right after that outdoor game. In response everyone has picked up the slack and supported, worked hard, and played the way we have wanted them to all year.

The fear is what happens when they get people back? Do the returned players fit into this new found responsible play? Do the ones who are playing hard and responsibly now keep it up when Letang and the others are back?

Far too often this year the team, and I use the word 'team' every loosely, seemed way too much like a collection of talented players, and some of questionable talent, each acting independently and seemingly far too often without a clue where anyone else was. They could not complete a pass if their lives depended on it. Can they remain a 'team' as they are playing now once healthy again?

That question and its answer will determine how far they go in the playoffs.

We have three defensemen without a cup.

We have a member of each line without a cup.

I don’t doubt our core in crunch time.

And players like McCann, Gudbranson, Johnson, Bjugstad are all 1st round picks on underachieving teams that have never had a taste. That’s huge. They are used to being winners.

 

[Shady Machine]

Loving McCann's confidence to fire at the open net from in his zone. Pens usually overpass their way to missing empty nets. Nice to have a guy that can hit it from long range.

 

[Allie Kitsune]

The scarier thing would be a healthy Letang and a L2 that crystallizes like L1 and L3 have

#RustReturn, #PhilNoLongerPreseasonMode

No Letang, but JJ and Guddy Mob knowing they have to watch their asses?

Or intermittent Letang scoring, but JJ playing like vomit all over the ice?

 

[Gurglesons]

No Letang, but JJ and Guddy Mob knowing they have to watch their asses?

Or intermittent Letang scoring, but JJ playing like vomit all over the ice?

JJ is back to mediocre / bad levels.

 

[KIRK]

Yeah, that has been an ongoing worry for me.

The team seems to have rallied around the challenge of Rust going down, as well as 3 of their top 4 defensemen right after that outdoor game. In response everyone has picked up the slack and supported, worked hard, and played the way we have wanted them to all year.

The fear is what happens when they get people back? Do the returned players fit into this new found responsible play? Do the ones who are playing hard and responsibly now keep it up when Letang and the others are back?

Far too often this year the team, and I use the word 'team' every loosely, seemed way too much like a collection of talented players, and some of questionable talent, each acting independently and seemingly far too often without a clue where anyone else was. They could not complete a pass if their lives depended on it. Can they remain a 'team' as they are playing now once healthy again?

That question and its answer will determine how far they go in the playoffs.

There 100% is a spot for Rust. It's beyond obvious given how L1 and L3 have crystallized. It reminds me of 2016, when you saw HBK come together and it just became so obvious that a returning from injury Geno would slot between Kunitz and Rust.

While I'm not as much of a fan of Rust on Geno's LW as his RW, the fact remains that we've seen Rust-Geno-Kessel play big in big games, including in the playoffs.

And, Geno's game, again save for the hesitancy to shoot, seems to have rounded into form . . . and more importantly, he's healthy, knock on wood.

Honestly, the great unknowns for me are (a) whether Phil will realize preseason is over by the time April rolls around and (b) whether Sully will **** up the obvious because, well, he's Sully.

BUT, IF we get Rust-Geno-Phil, then I'm not worried about how that line meshes into the team. I think the potential is there to complete the picture up front.

On the other hand, I do get wondering what happens when Letang returns. I mean, OBVIOUSLY you're better. And, there's a great trickle down effect for L2, because they'll more regularly have someone who can support the offense from the blueline.

BUT, are you going to get 2016 Letang . . . or 2018 Letang, and how will Letang's return effect, if at all, the team's renewed commitment to collective defensive play?

I'm guessing this is where you're going, yes?

I'll put it this way . . . I see LEGIT potential for something special, because good Rust and good Letang 100% are the pieces that can complete the team. That's more than I can say about how I felt about this team in late March a year ago.

JJ is back to mediocre / bad levels.

Reducing his role a little with a Letang return could help.

 

[Ms Maggie]

Team is really fun and likeable lately. Florida trade gets better every day and Gudbranson continues to make me feel like an idiot.

Congrats to Geno, a real one if there ever was one.

Yep. Don't feel like an idiot. Few saw the G trade as positive. I'm delighted I was wrong!

 

[Gurglesons]

There 100% is a spot for Rust. It's beyond obvious given how L1 and L3 have crystallized. It reminds me of 2016, when you saw HBK come together and it just became so obvious that a returning from injury Geno would slot between Kunitz and Rust.

While I'm not as much of a fan of Rust on Geno's LW as his RW, the fact remains that we've seen Rust-Geno-Kessel play big in big games, including in the playoffs.

And, Geno's game, again save for the hesitancy to shoot, seems to have rounded into form . . . and more importantly, he's healthy, knock on wood.

Honestly, the great unknowns for me are (a) whether Phil will realize preseason is over by the time April rolls around and (b) whether Sully will **** up the obvious because, well, he's Sully.

BUT, IF we get Rust-Geno-Phil, then I'm not worried about how that line meshes into the team. I think the potential is there to complete the picture up front.

On the other hand, I do get wondering what happens when Letang returns. I mean, OBVIOUSLY you're better. And, there's a great trickle down effect for L2, because they'll more regularly have someone who can support the offense from the blueline.

BUT, are you going to get 2016 Letang . . . or 2018 Letang, and how will Letang's return effect, if at all, the team's renewed commitment to collective defensive play?

I'm guessing this is where you're going, yes?

I'll put it this way . . . I see LEGIT potential for something special, because good Rust and good Letang 100% are the pieces that can complete the team. That's more than I can say about how I felt about this team in late March a year ago.



Reducing his role a little with a Letang return could help.

Lol f*** you.

 

[Andy99]

What an awesome comeback! Thank you McCann for lighting the fuse. Congrats to Geno on his incredible milestone.

Oh and they did this without some key players in the lineup. This definitely feels good man.

I just realized now that McCann blew past Orpik on that first goal. Sweet.

Is McCann the real Piece? If it turns out we win some hardware this year, I vote yes....
Discuss amongst yourselves...