Post-Game Talk: |Pens vs Hawks | win | We won it for Geno.... Barely.....

[LOGiK]

Still only 1-point out of a playoff spot after that horrible run.
And on top of that, only 1 regulation win out of 3rd place.
Weird, that.

 

[SEALBound]

Still only 1-point out of a playoff spot after that horrible run.
And on top of that, only 1 regulation win out of 3rd place.
Weird, that.

That's where winning those games early and stealing a few we shouldn't have won help.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Mike Sullivan should be fired for the 2-9 record that began when he put Rust on L1 and ended when he was taken off.

The offensive output and record of this team with Rakell on L1 and Rust on L2 is too significant for the FO to just be like "Oh, well, what are ya gonna do, keep at it Mikey!"

No, that overall was a serious error in judgment that he doubled down on night after night despite the entire world screaming for the switch back. Back one game, 6 goals.

Sullivan even had the audacity to say "it's only one game, we'll see how it goes" after the Minnesota game.

Like how utterly ridiculous is he that he's still not sure Rakell works on that line, yet has no qualms putting Rust there game after game after shitty game for a dozen games in a row?

 

[Gurglesons]

Sullivan even had the audacity to say "it's only one game, we'll see how it goes" after the Minnesota game.

Like how utterly ridiculous is he that he's still not sure Rakell works on that line, yet has no qualms putting Rust there game after game after shitty game for a dozen games in a row?

Imagine having Sid produce 10 points in 3 games with Rakell on his line and then refusing to put Rakell on the PP which sucks.

 

[Al Smith]

This is from a poster on another site…

“Here's a look at the 4th line since Blueger returned:

vs Toronto - 60% CF, 4 SCF 1 SCA, 95.6 xGF%
vs Minnesota - 73.3% CF, 6 SCF 1 SCA, 92.6 xGF%
vs Winnipeg - 41.2% CF, 3 SCF 5 SCA, 56.1 xGF%
vs Chicago - 41.2% CF, 1 SCF 3 SCA, 44.87 x GF%

Through 4 games the 4th line has been on for 1 5v5 goal for and zero against. A little hemmed in their zone the last two games, but not being on the ice for a 5v5 goal against is nice to see.

Brock McGinn is a career 10.4% shooter. He's currently firing at a 20.0% rate.
Bryan Rust is a career 12.7% shooter. He's currently shooting 9.8%
Zucker is a career 12.3% shooter, he's currently 11.4% and shot a measly 7.8% last season. Injuries matter.

Over the last two weeks there are only 5 skaters with a CF% over 51%. Geno's line (which has been outstanding), Ruhwedel (3 games) and Rutta. McGinn is dead last at 38.46%. His high shooting % has kept him afloat. Not a recipe for success. Not far behind McGinn are Carter and Heinen. Maybe, just maybe that 3rd line isn't very good?

Kris Letang sits at an ugly 44.4 CF% over the last two weeks with a 43.9 xGF% and a 42.1 SCF%. His struggles are real right now.

The Pens are 5-3-2 in their last 10 with a 3 game winning streak, but the underlying numbers aren't great. Over the last 2 weeks, the Pens have a CF% of 48.89 and sit at 20th. They've been out chanced as well, albeit not by a huge margin. Their 5v5 shooting % sits 3rd in the league over this time, but you could actually say they're 2nd as the first two teams are only separated by .2. I'm not sure they can ride this shooting % all season.”

I thought L3 was uncommonly adequate last night. But we're just not going to get much out of that trio (If only it was a 27 year old Carter instead of a 37 year old Carter). Best hope is that they don't bleed goals.

 

[Shady Machine]

He ain't wrong though

It’s like saying “water is wet”. Anyway, I was just being a jag

 

[Shady Machine]

Sullivan even had the audacity to say "it's only one game, we'll see how it goes" after the Minnesota game.

Like how utterly ridiculous is he that he's still not sure Rakell works on that line, yet has no qualms putting Rust there game after game after shitty game for a dozen games in a row?

It just shows why all coaches have a shelf life. They generally come in and evaluate players as objectively as possible and put together what tends to work best. Then they eventually get married to their preferred lines, system, etc and human subjectivity increases. Unless desperate, they will stick with what they believe to be true rather than what may objectively be true. It’s human nature I suppose.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Imagine having Sid produce 10 points in 3 games with Rakell on his line and then refusing to put Rakell on the PP which sucks.

It's the height of arrogance at this point.

 

[Gurglesons]

It just shows why all coaches have a shelf life. They generally come in and evaluate players as objectively as possible and put together what tends to work best. Then they eventually get married to their preferred lines, system, etc and human subjectivity increases. Unless desperate, they will stick with what they believe to be true rather than what may objectively be true. It’s human nature I suppose.

I understand human nature, but how do you watch Sid with Rakell and not inject it straight into your vein.

 

[Shady Machine]

I understand human nature, but how do you watch Sid with Rakell and not inject it straight into your vein.

My best answer is arrogance but what the hell do I know? I’ve just seen this so many times with veteran coaches.

 

[Ragamuffin Gunner]

When you look at the stats and record with having Rak on the top line, it's even more upsetting that Sully deliberately f***ed the team so hard for those 11 other games. What an asshole.

 

[BigEezyE22]

Geno's wife definitely didn't look too thrilled to be there.

My best answer is arrogance but what the hell do I know? I’ve just seen this so many times with veteran coaches.

Don't forget, Rust is basically the last of Sully's boys leftover from his WBS days.

 

[Icarium]

I understand human nature, but how do you watch Sid with Rakell and not inject it straight into your vein.

IIRC, half of Sid's points in the last 3 games have been without Rakell on the ice. Then again, most of those were empty-net or gifts from Helleyback but we are talking about Sully here, he will use any excuse for not changing PP1.

 

[Gurglesons]

IIRC, half of Sid's points in the last 3 games have been without Rakell on the ice. Then again, most of those were empty-net or gifts from Helleyback but we are talking about Sully here, he will use any excuse for not changing PP1.

Oh no! He only has 5 points with Rakell in 3 games...

 

[3ladesof5teel]

Many of you are making a far bigger deal out of Rakell on L1 than Crosby just being in a slump and Rust sucking.

Rakell will do well anywhere we put him. Hes our 2nd best winger.

Rakell looked good on L2 as well. He's not just some magic pill that injected Crosby. Sids always going to get his.

Now Rust is a problem and L2 will suffer from it. But it's basically a 1 step forward 1 step back situation with L1/L2.

Rakell should definitely be in PP1

 

[Icarium]

Yeah but did you see the empty-net goals that Rust and Guentzel scored? [/Sully logic]

It cracked me up when Errey and Mears were waxing lyrical about Jake's empty net goalscoring prowess. Sure, it's nice to have that but shouldn't we be worried that his non-empty net goal production has cratered and his defense is often reminiscent of Kessel's 2019 form?

 

[Gurglesons]

Many of you are making a far bigger deal out of Rakell on L1 than Crosby just being in a slump and Rust sucking.

Rakell will do well anywhere we put him. Hes our 2nd best winger.

Rakell looked good on L2 as well. He's not just some magic pill that injected Crosby. Sids always going to get his.

Now Rust is a problem and L2 will suffer from it. But it's basically a 1 step forward 1 step back situation with L1/L2.

Rakell should definitely be in PP1

;(

Yeah but did you see the empty-net goals that Rust and Guentzel scored? [/Sully logic]

It cracked me up when Errey and Mears were waxing lyrical about Jake's empty net goalscoring prowess. Sure, it's nice to have that but shouldn't we be worried that his non-empty net goal production has cratered and his defense is often reminiscent of Kessel's 2019 form?

I’m not sure I feel that way about Jake.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Pretty cool that this team was losing games left and right for like... shits and gigs.

Congrats on 1000, Geno. Took you long enough. Hope you enjoyed your like less than 15 minutes of ice time or whatever.

 

[pistolpete11]

Many of you are making a far bigger deal out of Rakell on L1 than Crosby just being in a slump and Rust sucking.

You don't find it a little bit suspicious that Crosby's slump started immediately when Rust was put on his line and then ended immediately when Rust was taken off his line?

 

[Gurglesons]

You don't find it a little bit suspicious that Crosby's slump started immediately when Rust was put on his line and then ended immediately when Rust was taken off his line?

No, it's just completely random that every aspect of our team Rust touches fails and has nothing to do with Rust.

 

[3ladesof5teel]

You don't find it a little bit suspicious that Crosby's slump started immediately when Rust was put on his line and then ended immediately when Rust was taken off his line?

No I don't. Rust didn't help but Crosby has always done more with less in his career. He was going to come around no matter.

Don't get me wrong Rust wasn't help matters but taking Rakell off L2 isn't going to help out L2 either. Soon the hang Malkin chants will begin

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Don't get me wrong Rust wasn't help matters but taking Rakell off L2 isn't going to help out L2 either. Soon the hang Malkin chants will begin

This part IS undeniably true.

 

[Gurglesons]

No I don't. Rust didn't help but Crosby has always done more with less in his career. He was going to come around no matter.

Don't get me wrong Rust wasn't help matters but taking Rakell off L2 isn't going to help out L2 either. Soon the hang Malkin chants will begin

Why Malkin is on a 7 point game streak?

The fact is Rust is easier to hide when he isn't playing 19 minutes a night.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

With these 14 and 15 minute TOI games at least Malkin will be fresh to not use later in the year.

 

[Gurglesons]

With these 14 and 15 minute TOI games at least Malkin will be fresh to not use later in the year.

It's funny that Zucker and Malkin being a powerhouse duo has made you resort to being negative about something else. lol.