Post-Game Talk: | Game #1 | Pens win over Yotes | Zucker and Geno appreciation thread

[Ugene Magic]

The poll needs a "I just don't care" selection.

 

[chethejet]

I think the Pens played a physical game when it was needed. Last year soft D just was a killer. give Hextall credit for the upgrades on D and probably will make a move or two down the road. Petry will take pressure off Letang and he didnt play on the PK until the 3rd period I believe. Teddy B adds so much on the PK and his smarts. He was missed somewhat. Poehling not sure what he is but he isn't Teddy B. Mcginn was a nothing burger and love to see him moved and if it takes an add so be it. He is not bad, jut not as impactful as his contract suggests.

 

[vodeni]

View attachment 593768

That is a welcome sight for L2. Hope they can have a solid outing on Saturday.

maybe it has something with the fact that they finally have a competent defensman behind, Petry and Petts almost exclusively behind

 

[Empoleon8771]

One more comment on TOI: with Pettersson being used on the PK, the Penguins are suddenly getting a ton of special teams usage out of their blue line. When Smith gets back up, I think they'll be using all 6 defensemen with at least 1:30 of special teams minutes per game, which is a terrific way to distribute minutes.

If you assume the Penguins will have 5 minutes of PP and PK time per game, I think the numbers will be split really well:

PP: 3:30 for Letang, 1:30 for both Petry and Smith per game
PK: 3:00 for Rutta and Dumoulin, 2:00 for Pettersson and Petry per game

That's a great way to even out minutes for all of their players. Petry and Letang will still be notable minute eaters for this team, but both should be in the 22-24 minute range instead of the 25+ minute range. Everyone else should be getting regular minutes (more than 16 minutes a night) as well.

 

[Pittsburgh1776]

maybe it has something with the fact that they finally have a competent defensman behind, Petry and Petts almost exclusively behind

can't be overstated

 

[Glamor Toad]

+ To Rust and the boys celebratory huddle after the scrum

Hell yeah. One of the (dozen) things missing the past three years was that fire in the belly

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Fun game to watch which is all I give a shit about. The guys you'd want to show up, did. Arizona's complete dogshit though, so not much insight to be gained here, imo.

 

[66-30-33]

++++ Caps lose in regulation again
++++ Another game no points for Ovy...Crosby remains 2 up!

 

[Pancakes]

Fun game to watch which is all I give a shit about. The guys you'd want to show up, did. Arizona's complete dogshit though, so not much insight to be gained here, imo.

Gonna enjoy it anyways and then panic after our first loss as is custom

 

[Andy99]

I liked the forward player usage from Sully…I know it’s AZ and we were up but L4 played 10-12 min and L1 like 18…G and Carts being kept to 16 min…way it should be

 

[Glamor Toad]

Good players looked good. Nobody looked bad. I don’t think it’s prudent to take much away from that game aside from the PK maybe needing to be better. Yotes aren’t a good measuring stick and they gooned it up for much of the game.

That said, thought the new guys from MTL were encouraging.

Was Poehlinalinaling good? I mean I noticed him in exactly once shift during the second and he had some puck fumbling but recovered well. It made me nervous for when he had less time and space.

 

[Andy99]

We play Tampa after they come off a b2b…hopefully Vasy plays the night before lol

 

[Jobeycool]

Well they played a physical game against a team that is rebuilding their team... which I liked.. A win is a win.. looked like they had bigger bodies.. Hopefully they don't go lazy, lethargic looking the next game...

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Gonna enjoy it anyways and then panic after our first loss as is custom

I stopped caring about the latter part a while ago. I'm just cruisin' down the lazy river now.

 

[ncm7772]

Missed ya maniacs!!!

Good start!

 

[AlphaMikeFoxtrots]

+++ That was way more fun to be at than the season opener in 2019, especially since my STH friend is probably giving up his tickets after this season for age reasons, so really glad it worked out that this is the one game I got to go to with him

+++ This is the best they've looked in any opener I've been to, which probably will mean very little by game 82, but a pleasant surprise

+++ Geno's skating looked really, really good, and clearly, he was feeling it, too

+ Credit where, the Yotes outplayed us through a lot of the second. The Pens woke back up after they scored.

- penalty-fest

 

[Empoleon8771]

Petry is good

 

[AuroraBorealis]

maybe it has something with the fact that they finally have a competent defensman behind, Petry and Petts almost exclusively behind

True but I'd also give credit to JZ and EM for better decision making and passing when together than usual.

 

[Pancakes]

A small thing but I loved how many times Zucker was used in the bumper spot tonight. He kept getting into that spot and firing heavy one timers. One of them went in. A few missed the net. They all looked dangerous.

Nice to see him taking heavy shots like that

 

[Deport Ogie]

Holy crap guys....Evgeni Malkin may be good at hockey! I look forward to learning more!

Top 6 was dominant. I think I saw where L2 had something like an 88% xG rate. That's just stupid.

4th line and PK were the minuses. Kind of meh.

 

[ChaosAgent]

Great game one!!

Geno looks fast out there. Zuck causing havoc. Like to see it.

Petry looks really good at ES too.

 

[66-30-33]

Petry is good

Yep, been wanting him for years back when Oilers had him. Several years ago Habs fans said Petry was better then Letang though...nope but he's still good. Now to replace POJ with Smith.

 

[Pens x]

Entertaining game. They came out buzzing. I know it was against an AHL team, but entertaining regardless.

 

[Gurglesons]

Torts is a specialist at squeezing out something from nothing. Respect.

People massively overrated how bad the Flyers are. They aren’t good, but they have decent forward depth and were absolutely wrecked by injuries last year.

 

[AjaxTelamon]

Really happy with Petry and Rutta, just what we needed on this D. Those two combined take such a load off Letang. All the guys who really needed confidence boosts got them, Zucker, Kapanen, and Geno.

We actually have three NHL D men not in our starting 6. I think they are all probably better than POJ, but POJ isn't the end of the world as your #6.