Post-Game Talk: Game #III Pens vs Flames Win: 2-0 when BlindWillyMcHurt is left outside

[EVGENIMERLIN]

EK is so smooth and elusive out there. Scary to think what it will be like in a couple of months when the team really learns how to play with him.

Garland would be a sick pick up.

 

[Coastal Kev]

Sullivan is spot-on with this assessment. Probably what has impressed me most so far is how smart of a player Smith is. Terrific offensive instincts, too. He hasn't been blessed with the greatest shot arsenal but he thinks the game like a goal scorer. Definitely something possibly big cooking there between he, Malkin and Raks.

But man... to flip to a less pleasant topic... this bottom six amirite? Holy smokes, boys. I dunno if I'd call it a problem yet. But they look like they might not score a goal all year... as a group. I hate to pile on the guy but DOC especially just ain't it. I dunno how much it'll actually accomplish but I'd at least shuffle that group around a little.

It's a major problem, two line teams aren't sustainable. Even more so when your top two lines have an average age of 33.

I'll bet anything they won't change jack and the good time vibe will be very sour here before the end of October. I know Sully...........he's a stubborn fool and he'll ride and die with that same 6.

 

[BusinessGoose]

Sorry @BlindWillyMcHurt

It's for the betterment of the team

You have been chosen for the sacrifice

Funny going back and reading GDT 1 and post GT 1.

Keep it real

You can't hold me to my comments there

It was before the blood omen was read and BWMH was selected

 

[NewAgeOutlaw]

Aside from his perfomance as a whole, I really like Nedeljkovic's stickhandling. He helped the team clear the zone a few times tonight.

 

[EVGENIMERLIN]

Has this happened to anyone else in the first 3 games: Seeing a D man skate it out of danger through traffic and make a sick pass look easy and you think to yourself “Woah who was that!? Oh right Erik Karlsson plays for the Pens now”

 

[PenguinSuitedUp]

Nobody is talking about Erik Karlsson and it’s absolutely nuts. Every time he’s on the ice he’s an absolute game changer. Could easily be deemed the best Penguins’ player through these first 3 games.

 

[66-30-33]

Nobody is talking about Erik Karlsson and it’s absolutely nuts. Every time he’s on the ice he’s an absolute game changer. Could easily be deemed the best Penguins’ player through these first 3 games.

Yeah he has a bright future. Can’t wait to see him in his prime.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

It's a major problem, two line teams aren't sustainable. Even more so when your top two lines have an average age of 33.

I'll bet anything they won't change jack and the good time vibe will be very sour here before the end of October. I know Sully...........he's a stubborn fool and he'll ride and die with that same 6.

We'll see. Obviously you cannot lean entirely on your top six alone to score all your goals. If they do make the playoffs it will be especially perilous when the games get tighter and you need guys to step up. But that's a long way off if at all. And until they prove otherwise I have faith that management will find a way to add to the team as the year goes along to address those issues. This isn't Ron Hextall in a coma sitting there with his mouth agape collecting passing flies, anymore. Dubas seems pretty aggressive.

Besides I'm not under any illusions that this team is some kind of contender, really. I'm just here for bonus time fun at this point. And so far it's been more fun than not. So hopefully more of that.

Sorry @BlindWillyMcHurt

It's for the betterment of the team

You have been chosen for the sacrifice


You can't hold me to my comments there

It was before the blood omen was read and BWMH was selected

Yeah I just realized that I'm banished again next game.

Hey... thems the breaks for being the sacrificial lamb, I suppose.

Think I'll do smashburgers and bourbon next game. The bourbon will at least keep me warm.

 

[PenguinSuitedUp]

Has this happened to anyone else in the first 3 games: Seeing a D man skate it out of danger through traffic and make a sick pass look easy and you think to yourself “Woah who was that!? Oh right Erik Karlsson plays for the Pens now”

Elite vision and passing, huge poise and skill with the puck in tight spaces even when pressured. The ice looks way bigger for the Pens when he’s out there. He’s so fun to watch.

 

[PensPlz]

Nobody is talking about Erik Karlsson and it’s absolutely nuts. Every time he’s on the ice he’s an absolute game changer. Could easily be deemed the best Penguins’ player through these first 3 games.

Because through 3 games Letang has played much better.

EK hasn't broken through yet. He still might. But Letang seems motivated and is leading the D right now.

This won't be a popular opinion I'm sure.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

It's a major problem, two line teams aren't sustainable. Even more so when your top two lines have an average age of 33.

I'll bet anything they won't change jack and the good time vibe will be very sour here before the end of October. I know Sully...........he's a stubborn fool and he'll ride and die with that same 6.

It's three games into the season and Dubas is historically one of the most active GMs in the league.

Relax.

 

[PenguinSuitedUp]

Because through 3 games Letang has played much better.

EK hasn't broken through yet. He still might. But Letang seems motivated.

That isn’t even close to true. Letang is great, but he doesn’t come close to Karlsson. Doesn’t have nearly the same vision, poise, or passing ability.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Nobody is talking about Erik Karlsson and it’s absolutely nuts. Every time he’s on the ice he’s an absolute game changer. Could easily be deemed the best Penguins’ player through these first 3 games.

What can certainly be said, and I think it was by @Empoleon8771 early on after the trade, is that while Karlsson has had defensive deficiencies historically, his offense by far makes up for them, and to be honest Karlsson’s defensive play has been above average so far for us. He’s been absolutely stellar so far.

 

[3ladesof5teel]

That isn’t even close to true. Letang is great, but he doesn’t come close to Karlsson. Doesn’t have nearly the same vision, poise, or passing ability.

I'm pretty sure that was sarcasm.

It's pretty evident what EK has done for this team let alone the power play.

He's better than any winger we could have brought in this off-season. Just so happens he plays defense

 

[66-30-33]

Imagine we kept Petry.

 

[PenguinSuitedUp]

What can certainly be said, and I think it was by @Empoleon8771, is that while Karlsson had defensive deficiencies, his offense far outweighs them, and to be honest Karlssons defensive play has been above average so far.

Nothing to disagree with here. He’s going to get burnt on his stick work defensively, and it’s going to look bad. But he’s creating 1-2 solid scoring chances every time he’s on the ice. He sees the play in ways that nobody else on the ice can right now.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Imagine we kept Petry.

Imagine slamming your dick in a drawer, repeatedly.

 

[PensPlz]

That isn’t even close to true. Letang is great, but he doesn’t come close to Karlsson. Doesn’t have nearly the same vision, poise, or passing ability.

Right. But I was talking about through only these first 3 games.

I'm pretty sure that was sarcasm.

Nope. Great acquisition. But in just the first 3 games Letang has been the better player.

Idk why people omitting I'm only talking about 3 games.

 

[PenguinSuitedUp]

Imagine we kept Petry.

No thanks.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Karlsson hasn’t produced a ton yet but you can absolutely see the impact he’s having on the PP even if others are the ones getting the points. I don’t care if Karlsson gets 50 primary assists on 50 powerplay goals or no points at all on 50 powerplay goals, he’s clearly causing the PP to have success.

 

[66-30-33]

Imagine slamming your dick in a drawer, repeatedly.

No thanks.

We would be pretty bad, Karlsson has improved the team. Worth the trade in gold easily.

 

[PenguinSuitedUp]

Right. But I was talking about through only these first 3 games.



Nope. Great acquisition. But in just the first 3 games Letang has been the better player.

Idk why people omitting I'm only talking about 3 games.

Letang has not been the better player. Just tonight, he made multiple bad reads that resulted in turnovers, and created far fewer scoring chances than Karlsson. The skill gap is huge.

 

[3ladesof5teel]

Right. But I was talking about through only these first 3 games.



Nope. Great acquisition. But in just the first 3 games Letang has been the better player.

Idk why people omitting I'm only talking about 3 games.

It is only 3 games but I question if we are watching the same games : ).

 

[PensPlz]

Letang has not been the better player. Just tonight, he made multiple bad reads that resulted in turnovers, and created far fewer scoring chances than Karlsson. The skill gap is huge.

That's a weird way to spell Graves

 

[Rave7215]

Nobody is talking about Erik Karlsson and it’s absolutely nuts. Every time he’s on the ice he’s an absolute game changer. Could easily be deemed the best Penguins’ player through these first 3 games.

I can attest that seeing him live, twice now, it is apparent every time he is on the ice. I am saddened that it took until he was a Penguin (Outside of his insane run in the Ottawa series) for me to really appreciate how good he is. I'm just in awe watching him move up the ice and make these ridiculous passes like it's nothing. Don't even get me started about the power play, I need to sleep and not get that excited.