Post-Game Talk: Caps 3, Pens 1 - NOW Geno is Playoff Ready

[KIRK]

my ideal would be throwing either ZAR or Simon there. Sid and Jake can make stuff happen anyway. Tell them to play smart and safe. Horny and Rust have both looked better elsewhere imo this year, so let them do work against lesser defenses on different lines. Dare teams to put their d focus somewhere else.

Well, IF Sully were willing to scratch Kuhn, then IN THEORY he could run Jake-Sid-Simon, HGR, ZAR-Brass-Phil, and Sheary-Sheahan-Horny (and then give Sid and Geno shifts with those bottom six guys and sometimes shorten the bench to make sure the minutes are allocated appropriately and the WBS kids aren't overused).

I just think my winning the powerball is more likely . . .

 

[Andy99]

The only other thing I can add to positives....

+ I only wasted 30 minutes of my life watching this hockey game instead of the full 60.....

 

[Ogrezilla]

Well, IF Sully were willing to scratch Kuhn, then IN THEORY he could run Jake-Sid-Simon, HGR, ZAR-Brass-Phil, and Sheary-Sheahan-Horny (and then give Sid and Geno shifts with those bottom six guys and sometimes shorten the bench to make sure the minutes are allocated appropriately and the WBS kids aren't overused).

I just think my winning the powerball is more likely . . .

I won't be surprised if Jooris is in instead when Brassard is back. He could want that 2nd PK center imo.

 

[StaalForOne]

The Flyers are 2 points back. They also finish at the Isles, then home to the Canes and Rangers. I'm not sure the Pens won't need to win out to clinch home ice.

That said, beating the Blue Jackets is the key. Beat the Blue Jackets, and the Pens pretty much are locked into a 2/3 with the Flyers.

I don't know that I necessarily WISH to play anyone, but I think the Flyers, relatively speaking, are the best matchup for the Pens.

It does sound odd to wish for the Flyers, but I agree. I think they're the worst of the 3 (CBJ, PHI, NJD) of remaining Metro teams.

Last season I felt like any playoff win was house money. Expected nothing, thought they wouldn't even make it to the ECF. This year, I have mixed feelings. I feel the same way as last year, and because of that I can't write them off. Flip the Switch ™

 

[Treent1]

 

[Tom Hanks]

Phil is a major worry

The defense, really ALL the pairings, is a major worry (Dumo-Letang is a skittish first pair, Maatta-Schultz leaves a lot to be desired for a 9.5M per pairing, and Hunwick-Oleksiask is a complete train wreck).

I’m taking the skaters games with a grain of salt right now and it’s a conserving energy thing. Whether that’s accurate or not we’ll find out pretty soon.

 

[KIRK]

I won't be surprised if Jooris is in instead when Brassard is back. He could want that 2nd PK center imo.

Okay, Jooris in. Give me your lines . . .

 

[WayneSid9987]

Well, IF Sully were willing to scratch Kuhn, then IN THEORY he could run Jake-Sid-Simon, HGR, ZAR-Brass-Phil, and Sheary-Sheahan-Horny (and then give Sid and Geno shifts with those bottom six guys and sometimes shorten the bench to make sure the minutes are allocated appropriately and the WBS kids aren't overused).

I just think my winning the powerball is more likely . . .

True.

I won't be surprised if Jooris is in instead when Brassard is back. He could want that 2nd PK center imo.

This is our only hope but it's Jooris+one of ZAR, Simon getting a jersey over Kuhn+Rowney.

 

[chethejet]

After two cups runs, Pens are not good enough on D to repeat. Murray is spotty and that will bite them in a series. Lines simply are not cohesive and the fore check pressure simply isn't there. This is not the 2016 Pens and GMJR and Sully think they still are. Said the TDL deal was horrendous in not recognizing the Pens were really coming on and everyone was finding their roles. GMJR over played his hand here. He may not know it now, but he will as the playoffs begin. MAF bailed them out last year.

 

[imouttahereEdWinger]

in other words, they seem to be having the same struggles that they have had (poor defense, etc.)

With Cole gone and defensive depth destroyed, just wait for when the inevitable defenseman goes down from blocking shots.

 

[KIRK]

It does sound odd to wish for the Flyers, but I agree. I think they're the worst of the 3 (CBJ, PHI, NJD) of remaining Metro teams.

Last season I felt like any playoff win was house money. Expected nothing, thought they wouldn't even make it to the ECF. This year, I have mixed feelings. I feel the same way as last year, and because of that I can't write them off. Flip the Switch ™

The Flyers really expose the Pens transition defense, but their defense and goaltending and depth outside of their top six is really suspect.

 

[StaalForOne]

Kessel has been mediocre to bad since he first got dinged up a few weeks ago. If it weren't for his streak I'm assuming he would have missed a few games.

 

[Dey so soff*]

Horny will continue to be abused in front of the net.

Refs will continue to allow it.

It’s really beating a dead horse here. If Cam Ward slugging Horny in the face with his blocker while he was laying on his back didn’t convince anyone, nothing will.

This was a statement game for the Caps and they made one. They smothered Geno all night and showed that their goaltending duo is capable of stealing games. And while some think that the Pens are in the Caps heads, it looked like it was the other way around to me. Horny lost his mind at the end with that slash on Orpik and cost the Pens any chance of making a comeback. And then Geno went crazy, flipping a stick into the bench and screaming at Kuzy like Trevor Gillies from the runway.

The Caps were laughing at the Pens at the end. Maybe that will **** the Pens off, maybe not, but make no mistake, the Caps are gunning to beat the Pens. Just like if the Steelers could manage to knock of the Pats in the playoffs, JUST ONCE, they would feel like they won the Super Bowl regardless. That is how the Caps and their fans would feel about beating the Pens, even if they got swept in the next round.

I don’t know what the Pens have been doing or she they have up their sleeve for the playoffs, but I hope the sandbagging theories are true...

 

[StaalForOne]

The Flyers really expose the Pens transition defense, but their defense and goaltending and depth outside of their top six is really suspect.

Yes, they are as top heavy a team as there is. Keep them off the PP, and shutdown their top couple of guys and you're golden.

 

[Ryder71]

I have less of an issue with this loss than I do in our victory last night. We gave up chances but I thought we were worse yesterday. And we garnered plenty of chances tonight but Grub played well. Our PK was much better tonight and we didn't give up four or five breakaways as we did last night. No it wasn't a good game for us to be sure.

An undoubtedly not everyone was fully engaged. Hopefully this will be the last lackluster and uneven effort we see. Because from here on out we need to turn up our intensity and have a greater appreciation for attention to detail. Otherwise it could be a short post season.

 

[xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

As long as Murray plays well, and the big guns show up (87, 71, 81), this team has just as much a shot as last year to go all the way. We're going to be awful defensively, just like we were last year, but that won't sink us if the stars show up like they have in the past. A solid goalie performance, big guns playing like we know they can, and a power play clicking at a good clip and we're in a good spot. Not great, and we won't steamroll anyone, but we can beat anyone in the East with this composition. Again, it's not gonna be easy and this team will look rocky at times, but if we win--and we can--it'll be purely on talent like last season.

Still hope JR makes moves this summer. Things need to change, and if they haven't after two seasons' worth of the same issues, new bodies need to be brought in at the expense of some bigger names like Letang and Sheary.

 

[Ogrezilla]

Okay, Jooris in. Give me your lines . . .

Jake-Sid-ZAR
Hags-Geno-Horny
Rust-Brass-Phil
Sheary-Sheahan-Jooris

Double shifting Sid, Geno, Brass, Phil, and Horny in place of ZAR and Jooris as often as possible.

 

[KIRK]

Gotta love Geno.

Between this and the half period of HGH, I'm not worried about Geno in a week and a half. In fact, he may be the least of my worries (unless Sully puts Kessel on his RW).

EDIT: Also depending upon where Rust is playing. I think Sid is playing great right now, but he's oil and water with Rust, and frankly Jake, points notwithstanding, has been pretty underwhelming back on Sid's LW. Sully may want to think carefully on Sid's line, because it's a losing situation if Sid is playing well but his line isn't putting consistent, quality pressure on the other team.

 

[Dey so soff*]

Looked like Wilson was doing a whole lot of talking at him from the bench.

 

[KIRK]

Jake-Sid-ZAR
Hags-Geno-Horny
Rust-Brass-Phil
Sheary-Sheahan-Jooris

Double shifting Sid, Geno, Brass, Phil, and Horny in place of ZAR and Jooris as often as possible.

1. Has ZAR played RW for the team? With Sid?

2. I don't get what Sully has been doing with him since his return.

 

[Dey so soff*]

I have less of an issue with this loss than I do in our victory last night. We gave up chances but I thought we were worse yesterday. And we garnered plenty of chances tonight but Grub played well. Our PK was much better tonight and we didn't give up four or five breakaways as we did last night. No it wasn't a good game for us to be sure.

An undoubtedly not everyone was fully engaged. Hopefully this will be the last lackluster and uneven effort we see. Because from here on out we need to turn up our intensity and have a greater appreciation for attention to detail. Otherwise it could be a short post season.

THIS was the game to turn up the effort and play with playoff intensity.

 

[KIRK]

Looked like Wilson was doing a whole lot of talking at him from the bench.

Yeah, but Geno doesn't give a **** about Wilson. Never has.

 

[Ryder71]

THIS was the game to turn up the effort and play with playoff intensity.

I'm not happy with our effort, but at least we didn't give up breakaways to the level or degree we did last night. And the PK was better.

No, tonight wasn't good, and if we play like this we'll get bounced early. But at least we weren't letting the caps have grade A chances to the level or degree we have over the last month. It's a minor positive, but certainly we need to be much much better.

Still, too many turnovers, that's been a huge issue and still we don't shore that up. Dumo and Maatta were maddening tonight in that regard.

 

[PensandCaps]

1. Has ZAR played RW for the team? With Sid?

2. I don't get what Sully has been doing with him since his return.

I know a certain RWer that has played with Sid....

 

[KIRK]

I know a certain RWer that has played with Sid....

Oh bless your heart . . .