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

[SEALBound]

EDIT: for what it's worth, this week on the Athletic I think Yohe called Murray the smartest guy on the team

There's still a good number of fans that would rather the team lose under Murray than win with him. They are still that made about Fleury.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

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.

In my rambling way, yes. Basically will it disrupt a very good, for want of a better word, chemistry that the team has going on right now?

 

[SEALBound]

Teddy is a different shade of ZAR.

They should role Simon - Malkin - Hornqvist if they want to get L2 going.

Ah yes, another famous "Let's take what works and ruin it! That'll work" post. Perfect.

 

[Pancakes]

Hard to put into words how much Sid is carrying us this year too. He has 20 more points than #2 on the Pens. That's insane given #2 are Malkin/Kessel.

 

[AjaxTelamon]

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.

I know, right? And that was even the game winning goal he almost didn't score, and on that one touch primary assist between that guys legs for the 3rd goal, he almost didn't get it through either.

We hockey fans in Pittsburgh, it's possible we're a little spoiled.

 

[Night Shift]

Had to Miss this one, looking forward to Thursday!

 

[KIRK]

In my rambling way, yes. Basically will it disrupt a very good, for want of a better word, chemistry that the team has going on right now?

Well then in my rambling way . . .

1. Rust's return from injury, IF SULLY DOESN'T **** IT UP, has the potential to enhance already evolving chemistry by crystallizing L2 in the way L1 and L3 have crystallized over the last week or so.

2. Letang is the wild card. Do we get good Letang? How rusty will he be? Will the team as a whole remain committed to 5 man defense when he returns?

We're obviously now going anywhere in the playoffs IF L2 doesn't crystallize and with Trotman. So, when I talk about 'impacting chemistry', I'm looking at these two variables and thinking if things work out as they COULD the potential is there for something special.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Peaking at the right time. Keep up this level of effort when Letang gets back and we're poised for a surprisingly solid chance at going deep again.

 

[mpp9]

Side note. Kuznetsov looked f***ing atrocious. If that guy doesn't turn it around, I'm not too scared of Washington. One of the main reasons Washington beat us last year was because that player figured it out and had a monster playoff run.

 

[ChaosAgent]

Well then in my rambling way . . .

1. Rust's return from injury, IF SULLY DOESN'T **** IT UP, has the potential to enhance already evolving chemistry by crystallizing L2 in the way L1 and L3 have crystallized over the last week or so.

2. Letang is the wild card. Do we get good Letang? How rusty will he be? Will the team as a whole remain committed to 5 man defense when he returns?

We're obviously now going anywhere in the playoffs IF L2 doesn't crystallize and with Trotman. So, when I talk about 'impacting chemistry', I'm looking at these two variables and thinking if things work out as they COULD the potential is there for something special.

I agree with the second point here. Well, the first too but especially the second. The overriding story of the 2018 season was "we won the Cup without our #1D. We get him back. We'll be awesome." But there were a lot of issues with that #1D in his return and in the way the team played around him - the 5 man defense you allude to.

Letang was incredible before getting hurt but he's not the easiest piece to re-integrate. I hope he's back before the playoffs at least to see how we can do it.

 

[cheesedanish87]

I know, right? And that was even the game winning goal he almost didn't score, and on that one touch primary assist between that guys legs for the 3rd goal, he almost didn't get it through either.

We hockey fans in Pittsburgh, it's possible we're a little spoiled.

Pens fans are definitely spoiled, no doubt about that.

But Phil is really struggling.

 

[cygnus47]

My McCann boner just grows and grows every game. I called him having the potential to have a big breakout - next - year. He now has 6-4-10 points in his last 8 games. Plays fast, defensively aggressive, cranks empty nets like literally no-one in the Crosby era Penguins, and he still has an awesome shot that he hasn't even come close to utilising yet.

 

[OnMyOwn]

I know, right? And that was even the game winning goal he almost didn't score, and on that one touch primary assist between that guys legs for the 3rd goal, he almost didn't get it through either.

We hockey fans in Pittsburgh, it's possible we're a little spoiled.

I was just sitting here thinking. “My god, it was a rebound that he was lucky to get his blade on with how quick it came at him and we’re complaining about how he didn’t score...good enough?”

Thanks for this post.

 

[SHOOTANDSCORE]

Jake 10th in the league in goals with 35, 3rd in even strength goals. In the same number of games, he's tied with MacKinnon and ahead of guys like Stamkos, Kucherov, Scheifele, Marchand, Gaudreau. Really impressive season. I can't accurately convey how glad I am that JR got him extended.

 

[Dick Sledge]

Where's the McCann appreciation thread?!

 

[Andy99]

Where's the McCann appreciation thread?!

I just called him The Real Piece...how much more appreciation can you get....start the thread...there’ll be at least fifty people posting on it...

 

[Dick Sledge]

I just called him The Real Piece...how much more appreciation can you get....start the thread...there’ll be at least fifty people posting on it...

I'm not here for the thread baring attention.

I'm here for the appreciation.

 

[BmxHockey]

This team reminds me of a team we all hate; The Patriots. Played like shit and Brady finds a way. Then you get a guy like Gudbranson who is a stat night mare, and he is good now because he puts the bird that doesn’t fly jersey on and he’s playing above expectations.

“The Florida Boys.” I mean, never heard of McCann man. Now he is top line hitting 5 on 5s, SHG and ENG like on the reg.

 

[Tender Rip]

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

And that is what is going to happen - match-up wise also - the more so with PetterGud being effective at shutting things down so far. It'll mean Schultz-Johnson can get a lot of offensive draws and, I assume, will get to support Geno's line a lot with Letang-Dumo consistently getting out there with Sid's line.

Schultz has been great for Geno the last couple of years.

 

[EightyOne]

Wow. The Pens just ruin people's nights all over.

They either let us down. Or they casually destroy other teams.

Lol.

 

[HuskerTornado]

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.

I would start DeSmith vs Philly. They will run Murray like they always do.

 

[WayneSid9987]

And that is what is going to happen - match-up wise also - the more so with PetterGud being effective at shutting things down so far. It'll mean Schultz-Johnson can get a lot of offensive draws and, I assume, will get to support Geno's line a lot with Letang-Dumo consistently getting out there with Sid's line.

Schultz has been great for Geno the last couple of years.

Yea that x-Schultz pairing is the one i tinker with if JJ's game goes off the rails.
If theres any place to slot Olli in it's there and no place else.
I like MP-Guds as a shutdown'esque pair right now and putting JJ/Olli-Schultz out with very favorable starts.

Olli going down may be a blessing cuz if he didn't go down Guds is probably either not here or here playing with Olli or JJ. Instead he gets a spin with one of the 3LD(Dumo, MP, Riiko) i believe he'd do ok with.
Now it's looking like it might be a decent shutdown 3rd pair which can potentially let x-Schultz loose.

I still don't insert Olli til, well, till JJ costs you a game.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Congrats to Geno on his 1000 points. It came at just the right time, too. Hopefully him finally reaching the milestone will be the start of one of Geno's God-mode stretches.

That Florida trade is paying huge dividends. What more can you say about McCann? People saw him as the throw-in in the deal, and he's turning into such a key piece.

Great comeback win against a team that was scorching hot, too. Hopefully the real Penguins have finally shown up to play these last dozen games.

 

[EightyOne]

GOODBranson

Hey look a solid legal body check!

 

[Son Goku]

My McCann ***** just grows and grows every game. I called him having the potential to have a big breakout - next - year. He now has 6-4-10 points in his last 8 games. Plays fast, defensively aggressive, cranks empty nets like literally no-one in the Crosby era Penguins, and he still has an awesome shot that he hasn't even come close to utilising yet.

could be our best trade in a long time