GDT: #14| Pens @ Islanders | Tue, Nov. 5 | 7:30 PM EST. | PPG | SN-PIT, ESPN+| The Small Hours....

[Ugene Magic]

GAME PREVIEW






5-7-1

Malkin, Crosby, Rakell
O'Connor, Eller, Glass
Bunting, Acciari, Puljujarvi
Hayes, Lizotte, Beauvillier

Grzelcyk, Letang
Pettersson, Karlsson
Graves, St. Ivany

Nedeljkovic, Blomqvist

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4-6-2

Lee, Horvat, Pageau
Tsyplakov, Nelson, Palmieri
Engval, Cizikas, Holmstrom
Fasching, Mclean, Wahlstrom

Romanov, Dobson
Pulock, Mayfield
Cholowski, Hutton

Sorokin, Varlamov

__________________________________________





LGP!


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[Le Magnifique 66]

Making a playoff push!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let's go Pens!!!!!

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

I think we’re due for another frustratingly boring loss.

Sid can’t do it all himself. Hopefully Geno can get a few points tonight.

 

[KareemTrustfund]

 

[pistolpete11]

If they have given up and are going to keep Crosby-Malkin together for funsies, fine.

If they still think they are trying to win, you gotta put Malkin back at 2C. Try Puusy, Poolparty, Glass, etc. with Sid and Malkin instead of defaulting to just DOC, Baeu, and Bunting. 1 line teams typically don't work in the long run.

 

[Coastal Kev]

Hate the coach (yes, actual hate). Hate the team he built. nowadays, I root for embarrassment to force change.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

If they have given up and are going to keep Crosby-Malkin together for funsies, fine.

If they still think they are trying to win, you gotta put Malkin back at 2C. Try Puusy, Poolparty, Glass, etc. with Sid and Malkin instead of defaulting to just DOC, Baeu, and Bunting. 1 line teams typically don't work in the long run.

Problem is Sid's attitude has been bad away from Malkin. That has a ripple effect on the team. This seems like the lesser evil right now.
It's not like the other lines weren't generating high danger looks the last few games. They just didn't score.

 

[pistolpete11]

Problem is Sid's attitude has been bad away from Malkin. That has a ripple effect on the team. This seems like the lesser evil right now.
It's not like the other lines weren't generating high danger looks the last few games. They just didn't score.

Level of competition. Playing these lines for 2/3rds of the game against good teams will get them eaten alive, especially given the team defense and goalie situation.

As far as Sid's attitude, if that's true and I'm not saying it's not, then they have a much deeper problem they need to figure out.

 

[Andy99]

The only question for this one is how many goals Brock Nelson gets, maybe Anders Lee too…with our terrible play in the crease, easy pickings for those guys…Ned is going to have to play lights out lol

Seriously though, this game should tell us a lot…about our one line team and alleged defensive improvement…we’re catching the Isles at a good time, and if we still cant win, well….

 

[Sike Mullivan]

At first glance, did anyone else think that was MAF instead of Ned?

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

Am not entirely excusing Sid’s attitude (if that’s even true), but given how badly this franchise has fumblef***ed itself deep into the toilet bowl so quickly thanks to a mixture of boneheaded ownership, our joke of a front office, and handcuffing ourselves to putrid, long term coaching for the next 1000 years…yeah I’d probably not give 100% of a shit most nights now at his age either.

Especially if I’m like 2 years away from retirement.

We were considered a premiere franchise for so long during his career, it’s a joke what we’ve become. Especially so soon.

Frankly, I think being superstitious is what mainly made him resign here again.

 

[vodeni]

The only question for this one is how many goals Brock Nelson gets, maybe Anders Lee too…with our terrible play in the crease, easy pickings for those guys…Ned is going to have to play lights out lol

Seriously though, this game should tell us a lot…about our one line team and alleged defensive improvement…we’re catching the Isles at a good time, and if we still cant win, well….

You are such an addict, how many times in last 6 years you said this game should tell us a lot….

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Level of competition. Playing these lines for 2/3rds of the game against good teams will get them eaten alive, especially given the team defense and goalie situation.

We've already gotten eaten alive with the balanced approach. We're getting tripled in goals vs likely playoff teams.
Haven't won a single game against one.

Maybe a stacked L1 can at least provide some momentum, and help them dictate the terms more.
Balanced approach works when more wingers are contributing more than they are right now. Like if Bunting was going that would change things.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

With Rust out, its especially tough to put together 2 cohesive scoring lines.

If putting Crosby and Malkin together keeps the stars engaged and the team good enough to beat the dregs of the league, which it has, then ride that wave.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

I'll be having ribs and mac & cheese for dinner. Followed by an edible. Should be a decent night.

 

[eXile3]

I'll be having ribs and mac & cheese for dinner. Followed by an edible. Should be a decent night.

Interesting order of operation. I would take the edible, give it an hour, and then mow down.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Interesting order of operation. I would take the edible, give it an hour, and then mow down.

Yeah I'll probably have the edible about an hour before dinner.

 

[pistolpete11]

We've already gotten eaten alive with the balanced approach. We're getting tripled in goals vs likely playoff teams.
Haven't won a single game against one.

Maybe a stacked L1 can at least provide some momentum, and help them dictate the terms more.
Balanced approach works when more wingers are contributing more than they are right now. Like if Bunting was going that would change things.

They tried with certain line combos and it didn't work. I don't think that's reason to abandon the balanced approach. That's the point I was making. Try Puusy. Try Poolparty. Try Glass. Don't say "Welp, Sid didn't play well with Beau or DOC, so now we have to become a 1 line team."

 

[BusinessGoose]

Back at it

70 game win streak continues tonight

 

[AuroraBorealis]

They tried with certain line combos and it didn't work. I don't think that's reason to abandon the balanced approach. That's the point I was making. Try Puusy. Try Poolparty. Try Glass. Don't say "Welp, Sid didn't play well with Beau or DOC, so now we have to become a 1 line team."

Yes I still don't expect this L1 to be a fixture long-term, but I think they should ride out the wave. Rakell and Sid are on fire, and I wouldn't screw with it til they slow down. The PP is profiting from this Sid surge too. Not to mention overall team confidence, which is seeping into improved defensive structure.
I definitely wanna see Pulju tried on the 2nd line. His scoring was really solid this year and he didn't deserve to be scratched 3 games so far. That's been the biggest injustice so far.

I don't think the bottom-9 have been as bad as their lack of scoring suggests the last 3 games. I feel like Bunting is about to breakthrough and become a useful player for us again. Acciari was great on Saturday. Eller's been good. I liked a lot of what I saw from Lizotte vs. Montreal. I'm curious to see what Glass can do on L2 today as well.

I wanna see a bigger sample of scoring futility from this bottom-9 before declaring that it can't work. Try various combinations.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

I'll be having ribs and mac & cheese for dinner. Followed by an edible. Should be a decent night.

Damn. That sounds so good. My diet is super safe these days, and it wears on you.

A tropical hawaiian pizza with bacon and parmesan sounds like pure bliss right now

 

[Dennis Reynolds]

I don't really feel like watching. I might see if there's anything else on TV tonight.

 

[vodeni]

I don't really feel like watching. I might see if there's anything else on TV tonight.

There is that little thing going on all night long

 

[Randy Butternubs]

I don't really feel like watching. I might see if there's anything else on TV tonight.

There is that little thing going on all night long

Hence why I'm having an edible and will be watching the Pens game.

 

[Ugene Magic]

I'll be having ribs and mac & cheese for dinner. Followed by an edible. Should be a decent night.

I just made a huge batch of buffalo chicken dip. I don't know if it will make it to later on for the dinner/game.

I did my civic duty today, and I was shocked I was voter #1. I was sure there would be a line around the school. Out the door at 7:01.