Post-Game Talk: Cole's Plus/MINUS: Pens need a 40 goal lead to close it out! (Pens/Bs)

[HandshakeLine]

I'd like a coach who wasn't so arrogant or thick that he could actually explain what the f*** his game plan is because this makes no sense and Sully's got the flop sweats anytime anyone asks a question.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I mean the team including Petry looked pretty okay up until 6 games ago. I'd expect a player or two to slump or to start slow, but it's really weird to see a team come up firing on all cylinders and then utterly collapse within the span of a month.

Like maybe we had a 4 game fluke and this is the actual regression to mean (certainly possible) but you'd expect there to be a little more variation in how the team plays. It's either complete horseshit or looking pretty good, trending more towards the former than the later.

I could maybe see this idea that they were just so jazzed coming out of the gate and operating on peak adrenaline that it covered some HUGE problems and now this is REALLY them. But that seems... thin. A team with this massive and wild of swings with what should be a solid group usually is an indicator of mass dysfunction. But surely THAT can't be!

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I'd like a coach who wasn't so arrogant or thick that he could actually explain what the f*** his game plan is because this makes no sense and Sully's got the flop sweats anytime anyone asks a question.

We heard time and again that Sullivan and Torts were best friends and Sully's pretty much Tortorella's apprentice. We've seen it in practice now for years.

 

[eXile3]

I’ve been a big Sully fan and reluctant to say move on unless we have a better option. That said Trotz is out there.

 

[HandshakeLine]

We heard time and again that Sullivan and Torts were best friends and Sully's pretty much Tortorella's apprentice. We've seen it in practice now for years.

Say what you will about Torts, but he's too stupid to get scared. Sully's looked weirdly shook in the last few postgames.

And you know what Mobb Deep said:

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

not sure if you dreamt this up...that was never the case last year. They were collapsing so easily even when the PK was producing excellent results all due to above .900 saves from Jarry. There was a period before the last season that they were agressive, I loved it, unfortunately they got scored once or twice due to some mistakes and ever since they reverted to this crappy, collapse, waive your sticks system. Last night they tried agressive approach and they looked great until for whatever reason they just dropped back for one PK, and that lead to the Marchand's onetimer. I think they finally realized that with Archie, McGinn, Kappy and Poehling/Rust they should be able to pressure more so I expect that PK will get better unless it coincides with jarry shiting the bad

Now that I think about it, it MAY have been the year prior. Man getting old sucks lol

 

[Zbynek]

I watched the first 2 periods. I was like damn 5-3 we can win we are getting out played but now we can counter attack and play smart.

I check the score later 6-5.
I see Crosby played 25 minutes.

What are we doing?

Recipe of disaster.

Also I don't harp on GCR as much as other people but how come GCRak looked good and ZMR was fine and then we switch it for no reason.

Also Rakell minutes 14? Huh!!!!

I'd like to see a system where the players playing the best get more time and the players putting up stinky poos play less.

The TOI charts have made no sense whatsoever in this 5 game stretch. Heinen averaging 10 mins a game. No other explanation except Sullivan is grasping at straws.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I love Sid but playing him 25 minutes is some dumb desperate shit.

And then your best player this last miserable stretch 14. Brilliant.

 

[HandshakeLine]

I mean, whoever compared this to the MJ years wasn't far off. It has the same sort of reek of flop-sweat desperation going on. But unlike MJ, Sully has shown that he can coach on occasion, so it's really puzzling that he's floundering so badly.

If Sully were smarter, I'd say he were betting against the team.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Also missing Blueger, one of our best last season, and Dumo gets a lot of minutes and he’s a step slower…also Letang was really good on the PK and he’s getting fewer minutes there…but it’s the same scheme for better or worse…I don’t think the scheme is good…wedge +1 is a better one but whatever…mostly Jarry has been bad is #1 reason

I disagree here and it's philosophically driven. I believe anyone can PK. Doesn't matter if your name is Crosby or ZAR. PKing and PP is more about structure vs individual talent. Hell our limp dick PP is a prime example.

If you gave me 5 Heinens and I established a continual motion PP, I bet I'd produce better numbers than whatever number our current group is producing.

 

[LOGiK]

Really , I'm shocked Sullivan is still coaching this team.
What does he have to do to get canned........miss games without calling in sick?
Last 5 play off series - eliminated.
Last 5 regular season games - all losses
Powerplay - lousy
Penalty kill - lousy
Protecting leads - lousy
Playing according to score and clock - lousy

What does he actually bring to the team anymore? Pep talks about " getting swagger back"
Come on....it was a goid run......but it's over. Time for a change.

Looks good on the bench?
Streak of correct overturning goals against challenges? (if he even does that or someone tells him to).
That's all I've got.

 

[HandshakeLine]

I disagree here and it's philosophically driven. I believe anyone can PK. Doesn't matter if your name is Crosby or ZAR. PKing and PP is more about structure vs individual talent. Hell our limp dick PP is a prime example.

If you gave me 5 Heinens and I established a continual motion PP, I bet I'd produce better numbers than whatever number our current group is producing.

Also remember when we ran that insane inverted PK scheme? I don't think Vellucci or Reirden are some strategic geniuses; I think they got most of their ideas from The Mighty Ducks 4 : Gordon Bombay Goes to Court Mandated Anger Management Class

 

[LOGiK]

I guess you need to do something to distract you from your shit team.

Poke fun at our **it team.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

But if we didn't place far too much emphasis on the individual player importance of the penalty kill HOW would we justify a spot for our favorite vet plugs on any given team?

 

[LOGiK]

Pens are an old team. N crosby for the first time is showing his age

Did sid say he will play until he no longer... what words did he use... play at an elite level?
So this is Sid's final three years?

 

[Zbynek]

I mean, whoever compared this to the MJ years wasn't far off. It has the same sort of reek of flop-sweat desperation going on. But unlike MJ, Sully has shown that he can coach on occasion, so it's really puzzling that he's floundering so badly.

If Sully were smarter, I'd say he were betting against the team.

The only way FSG parts ways with Sullivan: media leaks that he is gambling against the team.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

We are stuck. Plain and simple. Been that way for years now. New players from the outside seem to have trouble adjusting to Sullivan. So, Hextall keeps most of the team intact. He did great IMHO this off-season with reviving the defense, which needed reviving. But Smith is playing in the AHL for some bizarre reason, Joseph was about to be waived or traded before somebody came to his senses, Petry and Rutta are adjusting and the overall blueline lacks size, physicality and reliability (nothing new here).

It does not help that all of the media coverage for the Penguins is positive. There is no criticism whatsoever with this team outside of these walls. None. ESPN gushes over them. 16 straight playoff appearances, longest active streak in NA pro sports, yada yada yada. It is as if the pandemic never happened and we are living in 2018. For what it's worth, I would love SOMEBODY out there to mention on occasion that the Penguins failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2020 because the lowly Montreal Canadiens stole their ticket to the dance.

I suppose progress for this organization at this point would be to actually miss the playoffs instead of losing in Round 1 this time around.

But you know a winning streak is just around the corner. And the playoffs will be made because that has been what this team lives for now.

Congratulations, Mario. Your team now resembles that of your hometown...marketing past success into future business.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

The only way FSG parts ways with Sullivan: media leaks that he is gambling against the team.

"My buddy who lives in Squirrel Hill drove past Mike Sullivan's house and saw all his suits and hair gel in a giant pile in front of his garage!"

 

[HandshakeLine]

The only way FSG parts ways with Sullivan: media leaks that he is gambling against the team.

I'd be shocked if FSG wasn't betting against the team too.

Shit, I should bet against this team.

 

[Gurglesons]

We are stuck. Plain and simple. Been that way for years now. New players from the outside seem to have trouble adjusting to Sullivan. So, Hextall keeps most of the team intact. He did great IMHO this off-season with reviving the defense, which needed reviving. But Smith is playing in the AHL for some bizarre reason, Joseph was about to be waived or traded before somebody came to his senses, Petry and Rutta are adjusting and the overall blueline lacks size, physicality and reliability (nothing new here).

It does not help that all of the media coverage for the Penguins is positive. There is no criticism whatsoever with this team outside of these walls. None. ESPN gushes over them. 16 straight playoff appearances, longest active streak in NA pro sports, yada yada yada. It is as if the pandemic never happened and we are living in 2018. For what it's worth, I would love SOMEBODY out there to mention on occasion that the Penguins failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2020 because the lowly Montreal Canadiens stole their ticket to the dance.

I suppose progress for this organization at this point would be to actually miss the playoffs instead of losing in Round 1 this time around.

But you know a winning streak is just around the corner. And the playoffs will be made because that has been what this team lives for now.

Congratulations, Mario. Your team now resembles that of your hometown...marketing past success into future business.

This isn't true. We made the playoffs.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Hey at least as this goes on I'm worried less and less about a first round exit yet again.

I mean for grim reasons. But still.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Say what you will about Torts, but he's too stupid to get scared. Sully's looked weirdly shook in the last few postgames.

And you know what Mobb Deep said:

I dunno, Idon't see a coach shaken. I see a coach annoyed by having to explain himself to the lessers. I don't see a guy rattled by a team circling the drain, I see an arrogant dude reading off from a buncha pre-determined PR soundbites.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I dunno, Idon't see a coach shaken. I see a coach annoyed by having to explain himself to the lessers. I don't see a guy rattled by a team circling the drain, I see an arrogant dude reading off from a buncha pre-determined PR soundbites.

Yeah and why would he care at this point? He's invulnerable. His bosses came in and basically threw themselves at him. The flippin' GM would probably get shitcanned before he would.

If I were Sullivan I'd feel like I owned the place, too. Giving NHL head coaches near-total autonomy and security especially after a long tenure with the same team is super smart.

 

[Gurglesons]

Yeah and why would he care at this point? He's invulnerable. His bosses came in and basically threw themselves at him. The flippin' GM would probably get shitcanned before he would.

If I were Sullivan I'd feel like I owned the place, too. Giving NHL head coaches near-total autonomy and security especially after a long tenure with the same team is super smart.

Yeah, I gotta agree here. He looks like someone who thinks he is the smartest in the room and knows his guys and his way if they commit will have success.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Yeah, I gotta agree here. He looks like someone who thinks he is the smartest in the room and knows his guys and his way if they commit will have success.

And maybe he'd even be right if he put in the work, had the hard conversations and actually DID the accountability song and dance instead of just like... scratching Poulin or POJ or something. Yank Crosby/Malkin off the first unit if they are playing like zombies. Buck Dumo down to the bench for a game or five and run your BEST pairings if he can't hack it anymore etc.

It's a lot of sour faces and canned responses but no actual WORK.