GDT: PO Game 2: Columbus at Pittsburgh | 4/14 7PM

[ca5150]

I'm shocked at how bad Bob has been both games. He lost both games for them, they haven't had a quality goal yet. We should have won both games 1-0. Games 3 and 4 are must wins. It's not a series until someone wins on the other teams ice so we are still in this. Win games 3 and 4 and then it's a best of 3 and hopefully we get Vezina Bob back and not whatever version this is

 

[JacketsDavid]

Pens fan thinks we are a bunch of thugs gooning it up. This is the second instance of a CBJ player breaking their stick over one of their players, combine that with Prout doing it last year against the Devils I think, I can see how they would say that.

That being said, Pitt fan thinks if you even look at one of their guys it's a penalty and outside of Calvert losing it I haven't seen anything to cry about. I also agree about the Pens announcers magnifying the problem.

It's hard to say your team is not a bunch of thugs when we have a history of doing this like cross checking players in the back. I could have done without the extra stuff. It was unnecessary and just feeds the narrative.

We're not a bunch of thugs, but we certainly played like it at end of game.

The tem isn't going to be inspired by thugging it up, their only hope in doing so was getting Malkin or Crosby into an altercation, which those guys are too smart to do and also every player on the ice jumps to their side when needed.

For the CBJ it's simply no offense. We haven't scored much in a long while and getting 1 goal a game vs the Pens isn't going to win. THrow in the fact that Bob isn't Vezina Bob right now.

 

[Ar-too]

"Should have won both games 1-0". Yeah, that's totally reasonable.

 

[Jaxs]

Shots were 10-0 Jackets, when Bob coughed up the puck behind his net. Crosby scores on their first shot on goal.

Jackets tie the score on a Saad snapper, 51 seconds later, boom it's 2-1 trailing again.

If the puck (and the puck is really the Jackets,that can't seem to make a play so far in this series) continues to bounce the way of the Monongahela, it's good night, thanks for coming.

 

[213 Sentinel]

Everything about why I didn't want to play Pittsburgh in this series is playing out. Obviously losing (games) but there's just enough stuff to feed false negative narratives. I hate it. I hate the whole ****ing thing.

This encapsulates my feelings perfectly. Not enough to lose, gotta feed the beast at the same time, too. Nice job, fellas.

 

[blahblah]

For the CBJ it's simply no offense. We haven't scored much in a long while

Yes, the offense has been stale for a while. Having said that, 2-1 OT scores are very common in the playoffs. I wouldn't say that 1 goal in regulation won't get the job done.

Take care of the defensive end let other teams have a chance to make mistakes. We aren't giving ourselves a chance right now.

I'm actually more concerned with the defense of our forwards than offense. The second goal was an illustration. Where was the forward who was supposed to cover Savard when he pinched in? I'd have to look at it again. Did he try and change when JJ came off the ice and Carlsson jumped on?

Torts is screwing us too. Carlsson has no business being exposed to 2-1's with Crosby this early in his career. A "slow" Quincey plays that a lot better. Not to mention Harrington on that Kessel goal in Game 1.

We tend to not look at root cause here. We are not giving ourselves a chance to win. it's just easier to make generalizations that don't mean much; like "The forwards just don't have enough skill".

 

[Dr. Fire]

I would rather be us then the Wild. At least in our 2-0 deficit we are coming home. Note to Bob, start playing like Jake Allen!

We have played the Pens pretty damn well at home, so we win both of these games and we are in good shape. Just have to find a way to win in Pittsburgh.

I am not ready to throw in the towel yet, but we don't win both of these games and we are all done, obviously.

 

[KCbus]

Not defending it, but those sticks can break catching or making a pass.

And it's rich having the Pens calling anyone dirty (especially our team with very few suspended players) when they employed Matt Cooke and Tom Sesito, a guy called up for the sole purpose of taking a run at guys

You know what else can cause a stick to break? CROSS-CHECKING A GUY IN THE DAMN NECK.

Not to mention the follow-up punch he gave the guy afterward, and the fact that he drilled a different guy three seconds earlier. All the indications were that he was looking the hit anything that moved, and he succeeded.

He's going to sit for at least one, probably two, and it wouldn't surprise me if he misses the rest of the series.

 

[Richard]

Shots were 10-0 Jackets, when Bob coughed up the puck behind his net. Crosby scores on their first shot on goal.

Jackets tie the score on a Saad snapper, 51 seconds later, boom it's 2-1 trailing again.

If the puck (and the puck is really the Jackets,that can't seem to make a play so far in this series) continues to bounce the way of the Monongahela, it's good night, thanks for coming.

The Jackets one strength over the Pens is that they have a couple of horses on the blue line. Torts has the you guys pinching so aggressively, dare I say "safe is dead"? It's generating a ton of shots, from the outside. Look at the shot charts.

Basically the only way to frustrate the pens would be to play a emotionless neutral zone trap, NOT a physical high pinching attack. The Jackets are playing right into the Penguins hands.

The Pens know they simply have to wait it out, catch the Jackets in odd man rushes and their talent will seal the deal. And that's what happened so far.

Jackets, if they want a prayer in this series, need to cool the jets a bit and play good neutral zone defense and frustrate the Pens. This "bam out physical beat the pens into submission" is a joke and will never work. You have to use your young high skating Defense to make the pens forwards work for everything. The pens are not the best at hard work, especially hard work needed to defeat a well played trap.

 

[KCbus]

Well, color me surprised. Pierre LeBrun on Twitter:

"Things could certainly change, but the sense right now is that Calvert may avoid a suspension. Perhaps get fined."

 

[Monk]

Well, color me surprised. Pierre LeBrun on Twitter:

"Things could certainly change, but the sense right now is that Calvert may avoid a suspension. Perhaps get fined."

Not surprised at all. Looked worse than it was.

 

[Columbus Mike]

Glad to see the Dispatch has pulled the Crosby mask idea. Put them in the closet with the Boomer costume.

 

[BADoglick]

dumb as ****.

The irony of whiners whining about Sidney Crosby whining always seems to elude non Penguins fans.

Down 2-0, the Pens are focused on winning, the BJs are focused on head hunting and goonery. No wonder they can't score, their priorities aren't exactly straight. Then you have Matt Calvert losing his **** and cross checking Kuhnackl up high 100 ft away from the puck, and then circling back for more dirty baby crap. All that work that Torts put in trying to change the perception that he's a thug coach just went out the window.

And then to have the audacity to make crying Sid masks going back home. Immature, petty, bush league, amateur hour garbage. I can assure you that no one in Pittsburgh, up 2-0, is crying right now. Take a note from Sullivan and 'just play'.

 

[DarkandStormy]

I'm shocked at how bad Bob has been both games. He lost both games for them, they haven't had a quality goal yet. We should have won both games 1-0. Games 3 and 4 are must wins. It's not a series until someone wins on the other teams ice so we are still in this. Win games 3 and 4 and then it's a best of 3 and hopefully we get Vezina Bob back and not whatever version this is

Guys. We did it. We found the worst take of 2017.

 

[SuperGenius]

The irony of whiners whining about Sidney Crosby whining always seems to elude non Penguins fans.

Down 2-0, the Pens are focused on winning, the BJs are focused on head hunting and goonery. No wonder they can't score, their priorities aren't exactly straight. Then you have Matt Calvert losing his **** and cross checking Kuhnackl up high 100 ft away from the puck, and then circling back for more dirty baby crap. All that work that Torts put in trying to change the perception that he's a thug coach just went out the window.

And then to have the audacity to make crying Sid masks going back home. Immature, petty, bush league, amateur hour garbage. I can assure you that no one in Pittsburgh, up 2-0, is crying right now. Take a note from Sullivan and 'just play'.

You do realize this is something the local rag and a editorial cartoonist were going to do, not the team or organization, right?

Calvert made a dumb decision. There have been no other plays even close to that so it's a little silly to say the entire team is gooning it up and headhunting. See what you see, not what you want to think you see.

 

[Jive Pawnbroker]

And then to have the audacity to make crying Sid masks going back home. Immature, petty, bush league, amateur hour garbage.

This sounds like whining to me. Spare us all the lecture, hypocrite.

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

Glad to see the Dispatch has pulled the Crosby mask idea. Put them in the closet with the Boomer costume.

I think Boomer needs to make a magical re-appearance tomorrow.

 

[blahblah]

The irony of whiners whining about Sidney Crosby whining always seems to elude non Penguins fans.

Down 2-0, the Pens are focused on winning, the BJs are focused on head hunting and goonery.

No idea who you are, but there is no "irony" there. One of the most misused words in the dictionary. There could be some hypocrisy. Pointing out someone's tendencies is pretty common.

As far as the Pens, if they were getting thrashed they would resort to more physical play and start to look like goons. Teams do that to try and get their players engaged and try and get the other team off their game; not to mention it's a release for frustration.

For most of the game yesterday I didn't see goonery on our side, we were sticking to our game for the most part. That nonsense came out toward the end of the game when the game was decided and to be honest I was just listening after the EN was scored - I didn't see whatever Calvert did. For others out there, did Dubinsky try and stir up crap at the end of the second?

Your post wasn't helpful or even accurate.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

The irony of whiners whining about Sidney Crosby whining always seems to elude non Penguins fans.

Down 2-0, the Pens are focused on winning, the BJs are focused on head hunting and goonery. No wonder they can't score, their priorities aren't exactly straight. Then you have Matt Calvert losing his **** and cross checking Kuhnackl up high 100 ft away from the puck, and then circling back for more dirty baby crap. All that work that Torts put in trying to change the perception that he's a thug coach just went out the window.

And then to have the audacity to make crying Sid masks going back home. Immature, petty, bush league, amateur hour garbage. I can assure you that no one in Pittsburgh, up 2-0, is crying right now. Take a note from Sullivan and 'just play'.

Drive by post. Not worth refuting. You want to have a conversation about your weak ass post? Come back and prove you're interested in a conversation rather than a lecture.

 

[SCPens]

You know what **** it I'm with you. After trying to be reasonable to pens fans and give their team the benefit of the doubt but hearing them complain about everything and be beyond blind to their own faults it's obnoxious. There is being bias and a homer and then there is ignorance and lying. Hopefully Matty fires everyone up. Also I get the feeling bases on his reaction being escorted away that he thought the hit was being sold which is why he pushed him in the first place. Watch him mouth to the guy while he skates away and watch the guy on the bench as the game ends.


Also people ******** on Bob he is having to face WAY to many odd man rushes it's getting rediculous. He is stopping those hard ones. He made a bone headed play yeah and the PP goal by Malkin was soft but to be fair they should have never been on that PP. Cole jumped Dubi in what was a basic scrum and he legit thought he was in a fight and he never threw 1 punch after he realised his gloves were on just held the jersey. But apparently the Jackets get away with everything. And Crosby trying to put his stick in Hartnells skate and trip him had nothing to do with Crosby it wasn't his fault at all it was Hartnells own fault he was being tripped because Crosby was cleanly checked 30 seconds before that and rules state no hits on Crosby if you do he's allowed to do anything he wants and you can't defend yourself. It's weird.

I started tonight thinking I might drink a beer or 2... a twelve pack later and a 1/5 of vodka later I'm sitting here wanting game 3 to start right now. Anyone who says this isn't a top 3 rivalry in the game right now is stupid. The hate these teams have for each other's current players are much more weighted then history like a Chicago and St Louis and a N.Y.and Pitt. It's probably more heated then BOSand MTL are right now. Ask either teams players off the record who they would love to beat and **** talk them about it and they will say each other. I say off the record because I'm the record you will get political responses like Pitt saying Philly because the history involved or pretending that they couldn't care less about the other team and they are above them but these 2 teams are at Mich-OSU level hate. Long term it might not always be this waybut currently it is. As long as Crybaby is on the team it will be that way.


Side note I 100% respect and can not hate on MAF, Kessel, and Sullivan over there. Classy coach. MAF gets so much hate from.his own team and always has even though he is a huge reason they have been as successful as they have been over the years. Because they have Murray now they forget what a stud the flower has been. He is the #1 reason they are winning any of these games. It could easily be 2-0 us right now if Murray had been healthy. Phil was hates for years in FOR even though he was by far the best player they had in their franchise for the past like 15 years before this year. He NEVER even had a legit top 6 C or winger to play with. He was constantly mocked in the media and by the fans he played his ass off for. Look at what he has done since coming to Pitt. He should have won the con Smyth last year it was political he didn't.


Ok I need a breather I am way to drunk to be typing this much let's be positive and believe though. We lost 2 road games we are supposed to lose and now it's our turn. They are the defending champs for a reason. Tribe and the warriors blew 3-1 leads recently let's remember that. Love you guys and go jackets go!!!!

Actually Crosby and Hartnell were already engaged in the scrum, Dubinsky proceeded to grab Sid around the neck from behind and start hammering him. Cole came in to even things up and pull Dubinsky away from the fray. It's probably tough to stay impartial when you've consumed so much alcohol.

And as for Fleury, he's been playing steady enough but by no means is he the #1 reason the Pens are up in the series right now. Most of the shots he's faced have been from the perimeter, it's been a full team effort defensively that have challenged the Jackets to get shots off in the higher danger areas.

 

[Gurglesons]

Honestly, as a Penguins fan I think you guys still have a huge chance in the series. You've out played us both games in terms of possession, you'll be able to exploit our D with last change, and every game I've seen between us at Nation Wide is incredibly intense. Pens take one game though in the next two and I think you guys are going to wilt.

Also, I get that it is easy to blame Bob for goals, but aside from the Sheary misplay he's been solid this series. Crosby, Malkin and Kessel have all shown up and the issue is that no team in the league really has the caliber to go toe to toe with that level of talent outside of Washington and Chicago.

Furthemore, anyone complaining about a team getting dirty at the end of a game that takes a team up 2 - 0 is kidding themselves. It is an attempt to swing the momentum. Every team does it. Calvert should possibly sit a game, but I doubt it. Its the playoffs!

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Actually Crosby and Hartnell were already engaged in the scrum, Dubinsky proceeded to grab Sid around the neck from behind and start hammering him. Cole came in to even things up and pull Dubinsky away from the fray. It's probably tough to stay impartial when you've consumed so much alcohol.

And as for Fleury, he's been playing steady enough but by no means is he the #1 reason the Pens are up in the series right now. Most of the shots he's faced have been from the perimeter, it's been a full team effort defensively that have challenged the Jackets to get shots off in the higher danger areas.

LOL hammering him. It's probably tough to remain impartial when you're a fan of one or the other team.

 

[neek21]

I think this shows what's really wrong with the team makeup: the real lack of 'skilled' players...grinder after grinder (which the CBJ has in spades) will eventually score after grinding it out for a while, but the lack of real playmakers is killing this team when it needs it...and what skilled guys the team has [i.e. Saad, Atkinson, maybe Bjork, Gagner] haven't played anywhere close to their potential in weeks...sure, the high SOG number has to yield something eventually, but putting pucks into a goalie's chest all night isn't going to win many games...[spoken from a season ticket holder, rant over, flame away] :-/

 

[blahblah]

I think this shows what's really wrong with the team makeup: the real lack of 'skilled' players...grinder after grinder

This is pretty much false. It would be nice to have an elite forward or two (remember those trying to say Atkinson was elite?) and a couple might develop into in that. However this is skill on this team, even at forward. I hardly classify Atkinson, Saad, OB, and Wennberg as "grinders". Our top pairing on D are highly skilled.

I think where we fail is in classification. We look at Crosby and think that is "skilled". No that is franchise/generational talent. Most teams don't have players like that.

 

[EspenK]

I think this shows what's really wrong with the team makeup: the real lack of 'skilled' players...grinder after grinder (which the CBJ has in spades) will eventually score after grinding it out for a while, but the lack of real playmakers is killing this team when it needs it...and what skilled guys the team has [i.e. Saad, Atkinson, maybe Bjork, Gagner] haven't played anywhere close to their potential in weeks...sure, the high SOG number has to yield something eventually, but putting pucks into a goalie's chest all night isn't going to win many games...[spoken from a season ticket holder, rant over, flame away] :-/

I for one agree in its entirety. We desperately need a Kane, Crosby, Kessel, Taresenko, etc. kind of player. Where do we get that kind of player? Beats me. Surely not from somewhere low 20's in a weak draft. Nobody trades that kind of player. So maybe we try the Bruins approach and hope Wennberg & PLD (or a guy like Duchene) can drop Dubi to the 3rd line. Maybe in a few years Wennberg, PLD, Milano, Bjorkstrand,Saad, Atkinson & Abramov give us a very skilled fast top 6 (with one in reserve). But we need more creative offensive players imo.