GDT: Game 73: Columbus vs. Pittsburgh | 3/28 7:00PM EDT

[blahblah]

it's looking more and more likely we are a wild card team that will get trounced in the first round by either Pitt or Boston.

I'm less and less confident that we'll figure things out in the offensive zone and will miss out on the playoffs.

After Carolina we have the Flyers and 2 teams approaching 100 points.

I'm really beginning to think we'll miss out by 2 or 3 points. We might get saved by Detroit's injuries and a total collapse by Toronto. I think if we make it; we back our way in.

 

[major major]

I agree.
Comeau doesn't really do anything other than take foolish hit from behind/boarding penalties. I'd rather have Tropp in, or as you said, Jack Skille. Even in a 4th line role Skille was scoring goals, and that's what the team needs - goals. Enough of that damn grinder crap, which, by the way Richards, has not won us many games.
He's trying to duplicate the low-scoring games of last season, even though up until a month ago when we were filling the net, we were just fine.

Has Todd Richards lost his mind?

I said it so many times that I got tired of calling for Skille to get put in. But this club seriously needs a sniper right now. He's big, fast, tough, and has a great shot. He's having his best year ever in the AHL, might have been an NHL breakout season for him if we gave him a chance.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

I'm less and less confident that we'll figure things out in the offensive zone and will miss out on the playoffs.

After Carolina we have the Flyers and 2 teams approaching 100 points.

I'm really beginning to think we'll miss out by 2 or 3 points. We might get saved by Detroit's injuries and a total collapse by Toronto. I think if we make it; we back our way in.

I agree here

 

[EdwardG]

We will always be that little brother to the pens. Always trying to beat up big brother, but falling hilariously short time and time again but keep coming back for more.

Looks that way now and into the near future, but things can change quickly. It seemed that way endlessly with the Wings.

Skill-wise they are just in a different league at this point, especially on the offensive side.

There are a lot more Steelers fans around now than there were in the early 90s, and there will be a lot fewer in a few years if the Steelers continue their current trajectory. Same will be true of the Pens. Frontrunners are all the same, no matter what sport or team.

 

[Cash for Nash]

I agree.
Comeau doesn't really do anything other than take foolish hit from behind/boarding penalties. I'd rather have Tropp in, or as you said, Jack Skille. Even in a 4th line role Skille was scoring goals, and that's what the team needs - goals. Enough of that damn grinder crap, which, by the way Richards, has not won us many games.
He's trying to duplicate the low-scoring games of last season, even though up until a month ago when we were filling the net, we were just fine.

Has Todd Richards lost his mind?

I think he has....I wonder if he went crazy when Jarmo went nuts..

 

[EspenK]

I think we back in due to Toronto collapsing and either Washington or Detroit not succeeding against a fairly tough schedule. But it sure doesn't appear we will go in on a roll.

As far as figuring out the offense, sheesh, other than whacking it around in front and praying there is no offense.

 

[blahblah]

As far as figuring out the offense, sheesh, other than whacking it around in front and praying there is no offense.

They are completely and totally lost and I'm not just talking about the players. I have seen no adjustments.

 

[EspenK]

I said it so many times that I got tired of calling for Skille to get put in. But this club seriously needs a sniper right now. He's big, fast, tough, and has a great shot. He's having his best year ever in the AHL, might have been an NHL breakout season for him if we gave him a chance.

See you have identified the problem. He has offensive skill. We apparently don't value that here. I am really in a bad mood after watching yet another inept offensive performance.

 

[EspenK]

They are completely and totally lost and I'm not just talking about the players. I have seen no adjustments.

I agree. Its lather, rinse and repeat. Over and over. Freakin' groundhog day.

 

[MFRONE]

I'm pretty sure Skille is hurt.

He's only played in 6 games since early February.

 

[Cash for Nash]

See you have identified the problem. He has offensive skill. We apparently don't value that here. I am really in a bad mood after watching yet another inept offensive performance.

King of regulation close losses. The CBJ!!!

 

[blahblah]

I agree that Skille should be up here. We need a spark and he's capable of providing one.

There are two or three candidates that we can safely put on waivers and let them head down to the minors. We have plenty of cap space.

 

[Cash for Nash]

I agree that Skille should be up here. We need a spark and he's capable of providing one.

There are two or three candidates that we can safely put on waivers and let them head down to the minors. We have plenty of cap space.

Horton??

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Horton??

Seriously? We get it he's sucked this year. But if we were so quick to make a call on a player (what, it's been 30 games or so with him?) Johansen would be long gone. I'm fine with the scratching talk, but waivers? Yeah right. We should just take a deep breath and take our bumps with this guy and get off his back because he's going to be here for 6 more seasons. I think he'll turn it around next year, or maybe in the playoffs

 

[Speedy Sanderson]

When we went the first ten minutes of the third without scoring, I knew the Jackets were done. I've seen it so many times - hang with the elite team for most of the game, and then bam, it's over in a flurry. Winning organization versus one that still doesn't know how to win. Hopefully they figure it out next season.

Horton really needs to sit. I think he's trying, but the mental and physical side of his game is really bad right now. How many times is he going to turn it over at the blue line? Too bad, because we could really use a player of his caliber right now.

 

[blahblah]

I agree. Its lather, rinse and repeat. Over and over. Freakin' groundhog day.

We are going to have to rely on individual, instead of team play, tomorrow to have any chance of scoring 2 or 3 goals. Well unless it's the PP. That shot from the point becomes a little more effective.

I would really love to talk some of the tape with a head coach. I'm seeing a lot of players not recognizing what the defense is giving them.

 

[The Jones Zone]

I don't even see Horton skating hard...He just floats around and tries to make cute passes which result in turnovers 100 times out of 100

 

[blahblah]

Horton really needs to sit. I think he's trying, but the mental and physical side of his game is really bad right now. How many times is he going to turn it over at the blue line? Too bad, because we could really use a player of his caliber right now.

To be fair I thought he had some good shifts, but his obvious mistake on the PP just got everyone one into "here we go again Horton" mode.

No where near he needs to be, but better in some regards.

 

[blahblah]

We are kind of a bit of no-mans land with Horton.

You really can't move him to the 4th line; the the player that moves up really isn't going to help the offense much and you screw with the energy line. You need to get him going so you really can't bench him. His minutes are pretty light.

That line is still getting chances, the Dubinsky line is going ok right now.

I'm not sure how much flipping Foligno and Horton, as an example, is really going to make all that much of a difference.

This is what happens when all you have is 2 or 3 players going and the one line that looks good really isn't producing much outside of chances.

This is down to Johansen, Jenner, Dubinsky, and Atkinson getting chances right now. One of the few chances that Foligon got, he buried. But he doesn't get many shots, nevermind chances.

How much different would things look like right now had we gotten a Cammalleri, as an example, at the deadline? Hell even a Legwand would have helped out. This is what happens when you are a youngish borderline team, kind of sell at the deadline, and watch teams around you improve.

 

[Speedy Sanderson]

To be fair I thought he had some good shifts, but his obvious mistake on the PP just got everyone one into "here we go again Horton" mode.

No where near he needs to be, but better in some regards.

He did have a couple of shifty through the leg passes that impressed me, but he needs to park his butt down low and score some ugly ones. My guess is that shoulder is really bothering him and he's hesitant to do so. Keep hoping Horton is going to break out, but I'm now resigned to it being in 2014-2015.

 

[Jyrki]

We should've gotten at least a point. The Pens were playing tight D, but their own D-men made mistakes often and we flat out didn't take advantage of that. Instead we were content to dump the puck in and change... we never really went after the Penguins on the forecheck, and it cost us the game. Richards played not to lose.

 

[blahblah]

He did have a couple of shifty through the leg passes that impressed me, but he needs to park his butt down low and score some ugly ones. My guess is that shoulder is really bothering him and he's hesitant to do so. Keep hoping Horton is going to break out, but I'm now resigned to it being in 2014-2015.

Tend to agree with most of it. He even said his shoulder was still bothering him a few weeks back. I'm just looking for improvement, of any kind, from him. If for no other reason than for him to come in next season with a clean slate with our overly dramatic fan base in these boards. More for my sanity than his since he doesn't have clue one about these boards and the majority of the casual fans won't give him a hard time.

I think I saw some progress. If he can't take the punishment down low, he's going to have to get his transition game going and we're going to have to minimize his PP time.

 

[blahblah]

Instead we were content to dump the puck in and change... we never really went after the Penguins on the forecheck, and it cost us the game. .

I don't buy this. If they changed after a dump in, its because they were at the end of their shift.

We had plenty of skate in entries and plenty of sustained offensive zone play.

 

[major major]

We are kind of a bit of no-mans land with Horton.

You really can't move him to the 4th line; the the player that moves up really isn't going to help the offense much and you screw with the energy line. You need to get him going so you really can't bench him. His minutes are pretty light.

That line is still getting chances, the Dubinsky line is going ok right now.

I'm not sure how much flipping Foligno and Horton, as an example, is really going to make all that much of a difference.

This is what happens when all you have is 2 or 3 players going and the one line that looks good really isn't producing much outside of chances.

This is down to Johansen, Jenner, Dubinsky, and Atkinson getting chances right now. One of the few chances that Foligon got, he buried. But he doesn't get many shots, nevermind chances.

How much different would things look like right now had we gotten a Cammalleri, as an example, at the deadline? Hell even a Legwand would have helped out. This is what happens when you are a youngish borderline team, kind of sell at the deadline, and watch teams around you improve.

I disagree here. Horton loses possession for his line on almost every shift, that really hurts Joey and Boone.

 

[SuperGenius]

I don't buy this. If they changed after a dump in, its because they were at the end of their shift.

We had plenty of skate in entries and plenty of sustained offensive zone play.

Completely agree. Sometimes I wonder if people see a different game than I did.

Not much to say about this one. Crowd was electric, even if half Pens fans. CBJ fans held their own. It's a shame that they kind of lost what they were doing for a few minutes, but they had a chance to tie at the end. It's hugely disappointing to not get a point our of it for the effort, but it is fun to see the team playing in 'big boy' games and not shrinking away from the challenge. Whether they make it or not, these are not the CBJ of the first 11 years.