HMPens
Registered User
- Dec 26, 2011
- 318
- 9
Do you actually think that?
It's what all the cool kids are saying.
Do you actually think that?
It's what all the cool kids are saying.
Ya, trust me I keep thinking of that scenario. Having Vitale and his clone on the same line would be a nightmare for other teams.
I'm just not seeing anything special with Glass. I know he may be more valuable in the playoffs, but having two guys who aren't great skaters on your fourth line, can be a problem.
The fourth line consistently gets trapped in their own zone for long stretches, and a big reason for that is the lack of foot speed from Adams/Glass. Their zones get stretched out and they don't cover enough ground on the wall to pinch off the point. It's frustrating to watch.
On the flip side, Vitale is always the one who initiates the forecheck and pressures the puck. He is the reason that line looks better than it is. Every time he is out that line looks a step behind.
I watched some highlights today and wanted to give Cookie a + for his offensive creativity tonight. That Cooke-Sutter-Dupuis line looks goooood.
Also, Bennett's goal was a little more difficult than I remembered. It took serious skill to uncork a hard one-timer against a big goalie that was anticipating the play. Not to mention that Crosby's pass as a bullet.
Forgive me if I'm rambling, but I'm excited!
I'm not sure how much credence I give the "Engo is in flux because 1)he is playing his offside or 2)he is playing with a dynamic D partner who isn't consistent" argument. Maybe this is just in my personal experience, but I have never had an issue switching from right D to left D. I have known a few guys that preferred it, but it was always because of the position that it puts your shot, not because of defensive positioning.
I just think that the guy is in a slump. We know both Despres and Engelland can (and must) play better. If we don't see them step it up by April, we are going to need a vet #5 physical, crease-clearing defensement to compliment Bort
Aside from the faceoffs i don't get the all out man crushes on Vitale. Nothing against him. He plays his role well. But he is nothing "special" (even among 4th line players). Nothing i have seen from him makes me think our record would be different if Victory Joe was gone.
I will admit, his wingers likely limit his opportunity to play 3rd line caliber hockey.
Ya, trust me I keep thinking of that scenario. Having Vitale and his clone on the same line would be a nightmare for other teams.
I'm just not seeing anything special with Glass. I know he may be more valuable in the playoffs, but having two guys who aren't great skaters on your fourth line, can be a problem.
The fourth line consistently gets trapped in their own zone for long stretches, and a big reason for that is the lack of foot speed from Adams/Glass. Their zones get stretched out and they don't cover enough ground on the wall to pinch off the point. It's frustrating to watch.
On the flip side, Vitale is always the one who initiates the forecheck and pressures the puck. He is the reason that line looks better than it is. Every time he is out that line looks a step behind.
Seeing those two forecheck and cycle would be a thing of beauty.
It would also be nice to have the Pens' 4th line getting under the skin of the skill players on opposing teams, we haven't seen that for a while.
I think Glass is fine, when Adams is done, Glass can fill his role. He and Adams are fairly similar in a lot of ways, which is probably more of an issue than either of their individual performances. I've been satisfied with the way they've both played thus far.
Ya, I'm thinking of next season, because obviously DB isn't benching Adams or Glass for an untested rookie in the A.
I'm ok with that line when Vitale is there to establish the forecheck and force the puck carrier to reverse the play, etc.
However, hearing DB talk like this can be a shutdown line is the reason I'm bringing up my concerns with Adams/Glass skating together. DB has to be pranking the media with that kind of insanity. There is no way he can't see the common weakness of those two.
Vitale is the ****, but he can't cover down low and push both points at the same time, cover the entire ice in quick transition, etc.
Speed kills and Adams and Glass don't have the skating to be shutdown guys agt top lines.
I'm just curious why people feel that our system, especially defensively, is bad? Why do people always insist that every goal that the other team scores is due to the opposing coach making these great adjustments, and "out coaching" DB?
Let's look at tonight's 3 goals against.
1) A bad turnover that Orpik flubbed 2-3 times. He had plenty of time and space and just failed to make the play. The puck comes back into our zone and eventually takes a bad bounce off of Orpik and in. That is on execution and a little bad luck.
2) 5-3 PP goal mainly because Adams took a needless penalty at a bad time. Whether you agree with the call or not, there was no reason he needed to chase the guy behind TB's net when we are short. That results in a wide open 5 on 3 PP goal for on of the leagues best scorers. Chalk that goal up to bad decision making on Adam's part.
3) Shot from the point that goes off of Vitale's skate right thru Orpik to Conacher wide open on the back door. Another Flukey bounce.
Why do people think that these are due to being "out coached" or "poor systems"?
Anyone else think TK has been looking better these past few games?
Anyone else think TK has been looking better these past few games?
Anyone else think TK has been looking better these past few games?
+Sid. Don't have to get into that one.
+BB. Welcome to the NHL! Looking forward to many more goals.
+DB using BB on the PP. Talent rules on the PP! Thank you for using him, and hopefully it will show what having a RHS on the left side of the PP can do. You want to over-committ to Sid and Geno on the right side? Fine! We have somebody on the other side that can beat you now.
+Fleury. 1st goal annoyed me, but another great game.
+Martin. Where the **** was this guy last year??
=Vitale. Played a great game, was getting under everyone's skin. (Why is Lecavlier such a ***** when he plays us?) Stupid fight at the end of the 1st up 3-0 though, woke up TB.
=Neal. Not particulary noticeable.. in fact I noticed Kunitz WAY more. And you gotta be the go to guy with Sid, not Kunitz.
-Despres. Thought he had a rough one. Unfortunately will probably get him benched for the next 10 games.
-Jeffrey. Was hoping to get more out of him than he showed last night.
hey, KIRK, since I know this was an issue for you in the past, did you check out the ice times for the centers against Tampa?
There is absolutely no weight given to how good you are. Times are based on what line you're on...
I saw. Sid's ice time actually was down. The other guys got more time with Geno out. You'd expect the opposite.
The one good thing is that Neal got top winger ice time ES instead of being a few minutes ES behind Kunitz and Dupuis like he usually is.
But, yeah, there's no rhyme or reason to any of it. The last thing you'd think, with Geno out, is that Sid would get less ice time.