Post-Game Talk: Game IV Pens vs Wings: The Karlsson show

[Al Smith]

The problem is that they don't have anyone better and POJ isn't exactly playing better than Ruhwedel right now either.

Yes, both are correct. It's a problem that Ruh is a consistent starter and that we don't have anyone better to replace him as a number 6.

 

[WickedWrister]

Here’s to hoping there’s some roster movement before Saturday

Yeah, I said it sort of sarcastically in the GDT after he took that bad penalty that Harkins was gonna be out of the lineup.

I presume Z is the guy getting called up?

Could be multiple guys getting the nod from WBS if Acciari or Letang miss time.

 

[WickedWrister]

Re Chad: Just from the eye test I think it's clear his play has regressed over the last few years. He wasn't always this bad. I want to say like 2017-2018 when he was 27 he was pretty decent as a #7 in small doses. That team was much better offensively though.

I just notice him getting walked more, he used to be a solid skater that would make the simple play high hard off the glass, but he's getting exposed pretty bad now.

 

[Gurglesons]

Yes, both are correct. It's a problem that Ruh is a consistent starter and that we don't have anyone better to replace him as a number 6.

How do we know we don't have anyone better? Ty Smith made Brian Dumoulin look good last season.

 

[CascadiaPenguin]

How do we know we don't have anyone better? Ty Smith made Brian Dumoulin look good last season.

I must have missed that part...

Ironically, Dumo hasn't looked too awful for Seattle so far this season, much I as I expected otherwise. Kraken has much bigger issues on the offensive side right now, I guess.

 

[Al Smith]

How do we know we don't have anyone better? Ty Smith made Brian Dumoulin look good last season.

Smith didn’t really impress me as being a solid bottom pair NHL D last year. Maybe I missed something. He did clear waivers last month right? So no other team seemed to think he was ready to at least compete for an nhl spot.

 

[Ben White]

Is it only me or does Pettersson continually refuse to give the puck to EK when EK is open but rather pass it himself to forwards in bad positions or simply dump it in/out? Like he thinks he can be some kind of secondary playmaker option from the back end. Did y’all see when EK was giving him the puck, rushing up the ice for an obvious one-two, instead he chose to give it to a standing still Rust further up the ice (fortunately Rust was clever enough to tip pass it between his legs to Karlsson, as he saw what was going on, but EK had already lost momentum in his skating) and this happens all the time. I read in a pre season interview that Pettersson basically thought “it’s not only Karlsson who can/should join the rush”… If you’re the D partner to one of the greatest offensive Dmen off all time you don’t try to be the offensive weapon or playmaker when you get the puck, the #1 option should always be to find EK with the cross ice pass, if EK isn’t open then you choose another option. The few stints last night EK had with Letang instead it was like he could finally breath again, like the very knowledge of having a D partner with the hockey IQ of a rat out there makes him lose all confidence. Coincidentally it was when Pettersson was not on the ice when EK scored his goal. What to do about it? Playing Letang + Karlsson as a #1 offensive pairing and playing Pettersson + Graves as a pure shutdown pairing?

Opinions?

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Is it only me or does Pettersson continually refuse to give the puck to EK when EK is open but rather pass it himself to forwards in bad positions or simply dump it in/out? Like he thinks he can be some kind of secondary playmaker option from the back end. Did y’all see when EK was giving him the puck, rushing up the ice for an obvious one-two, instead he chose to give it to a standing still Rust further up the ice (fortunately Rust was clever enough to tip pass it between his legs to Karlsson, as he saw what was going on, but EK had already lost momentum in his skating) and this happens all the time. I read in a pre season interview that Pettersson basically thought “it’s not only Karlsson who can/should join the rush”… If you’re the D partner to one of the greatest offensive Dmen off all time you don’t try to be the offensive weapon or playmaker when you get the puck, the #1 option should always be to find EK with the cross ice pass, if EK isn’t open then you choose another option. The few stints last night EK had with Letang instead it was like he could finally breath again, like the very knowledge of having a D partner with the hockey IQ of a rat out there makes him lose all confidence. Coincidentally it was when Pettersson was not on the ice when EK scored his goal. What to do about it? Playing Letang + Karlsson as a #1 offensive pairing and playing Pettersson + Graves as a pure shutdown pairing?

Opinions?

Did Pettersson steal your girl or something? You started a separate thread about this. Apparently you didn't get the opinions you wanted if you're soliciting for more.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

We are 4 games in.... 4. Fire the coach 4 games in? Pipe dream. My hope is that he at least starts to make roster changes that force Sullivan's hand in some of his dumber lineup decisions. Dubas won't stand pat, of that I'm almost certain.

Lol...

4 games in with a coach that has been showing this sort of shit for 6yrs is different.

So far they just waived Harkins and he feels like he has to bring something to the Pens roster that the coach clearly doesn't like to use at all - toughness.

This should be super fun to see go down. Dubas trying things, Sullivan continuing to misuse and f*** things up, then we're into next season rinse and repeat to more wasted shit.

I'm sure Zohorna will be the call up or White. Harkins was a useless pick up to begin with and his entire career was proof he was a waste over maybe just giving Hallander a f***ing shot before pissing him off and signing back home. Might seem like nothing to a lot but these are the type of prospects the Pens draft and should give opportunities to the way they do garbage vets that Sullivan's got a hard on for that Dubas thinks he could hopefully hit a diamond in a rough with for Sully.

Just won't happen. This isn't a coach where players with potential come and thrive. He doesn't give a shit to do that. He wants players to be seasoned and ready for how he feels they should play.

You should read what other coaches say and do/try. It's ridiculous the blinders Pens media and fans have for Sullivan and thinking the blokes he should use but doesn't are trash vs just his ignorance forcing people to buy that bs.

Funny that after 4 useless games, 0pts and a bad minor penalty has him gone.

Yet Ruhwedel being garbage to average (being generous) for years is someone the coach refuses to let go of.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Letang got so beat by Cobb and hasn't the legs to catch him.
Oldest team and all.


That would be a start.

Letang has needed his minutes managed for like 6yrs now. This is one of the biggest problems with this team - the coach panders hard to the leadership core and essentially let's them just dictate what they want if your name is Letang and Crosby.

Mostly just those two really. Players play and do their leadership bit. Coaches decide minutes and line up. When the players start to decide minutes and who they play with, they've lost the plot.

This team lost the plot when they figured Sullivan was unique still and gave him an extension when he's been worse than Bylsma at this point. That second cup doesn't buoy this need to hope he figures it out again, any more.

For f***s sake, he had two strokes and they didn't take long to keep playing him his usual minutes again. We literally added a Norris trophy winner and still see this bs.

It's comical.

 

[Zbynek]

I'll be that guy.

#1. Ruh/POJ allow two Wings get by them and a back door tap in.
#2. Ruh bumps into Jarry keeps him out of position disruption.
#3 Pens lose the puck Detroit cycles puck out to the point for the shot, a left alone Copp in front of the net blocking/screening Jarry's view deflects it past Jarry as he moves off to the side.
#4. He makes the initial save, but the puck was loose and Perron tapped it home.

The final two are EN's.

I struggle to even blame him on the 4th goal (PPG) considering Ruh gets pushed out and everyone is facing out while Perron turns facing in on the shot, again makes the initial save and Perron is left to pounce on the rebound uncontested.

Ruh strikes again being a pushover and no reactive push back and ends up being a screen and pilon, then pulling a reactive too late Orpik shove.

I don't blame Jarry for a single goal other than he has to play in front of these incompetent players.

Okay. And what I see is Jarry going 0/4 on saves he needs to make to steal us the game. 2 and 4 were soft, no ifs and buts about it - playoff contender goalies make those saves for their teams, that's what allows them to go on playoff runs.

Jarry doesn't steal games, Jarry doesn't outduel other goalies. It's ALWAYS the contrary for the Pens - we can't help ourselves but get stoned by Piotr f***ing Mrazek.

Amazing how people were scared of coughing up assets for Vezina winner Linus Ullmark, saying he's a product of their system, but they can't eye-test Jarry with the same criteria. Jarry's career stats (which some people here laughably claimed made him a top-6 goalie in the league - I wish this was sarcasm) are a product of the Pens being competitive during his entire tenure as our goalie. What happened to Jarry the one season we missed the playoffs and the wheels fell off?

Blows my mind that no one points the finger at Jarry. There's like 3 of us on here that do. The dude is soft and constantly gets outdueled by fringe NHL goalies.

Goaltending is the least of this team's concerns right now. They have both played well. Ruhwedel is not an NHL defenseman. There is a reason only one NHL coach thinks he is. But we already knew this. They are carrying 8 defensemen. For some reason, both extras are left defensemen. We need a right defenseman. So that Ruhwedel can be put out to pasture. The other five defensemen are more than fine. But you are only as strong as your weakest link.

So you're saying a 6D has more impact on our season than our 1G?

What happened the last time we won the Cup? Did we not have a clutch goaltender that stole us games and outdueled other goalies (Actual goalies, not Mrazeks and Hussos)?

You guys are f***ing delusional if you think swapping out Chad Ruhwedel solves our woes but fixing the glaring issue in net doesn't.

 

[Zbynek]

Like dudes, I know Sullivan is a huge problem but to say that "goaltending is the least of our concerns" is a bold face lie.

 

[mephisto1812]

Lol...

4 games in with a coach that has been showing this sort of shit for 6yrs is different.

So far they just waived Harkins and he feels like he has to bring something to the Pens roster that the coach clearly doesn't like to use at all - toughness.

This should be super fun to see go down. Dubas trying things, Sullivan continuing to misuse and f*** things up, then we're into next season rinse and repeat to more wasted shit.

I'm sure Zohorna will be the call up or White. Harkins was a useless pick up to begin with and his entire career was proof he was a waste over maybe just giving Hallander a f***ing shot before pissing him off and signing back home. Might seem like nothing to a lot but these are the type of prospects the Pens draft and should give opportunities to the way they do garbage vets that Sullivan's got a hard on for that Dubas thinks he could hopefully hit a diamond in a rough with for Sully.

Just won't happen. This isn't a coach where players with potential come and thrive. He doesn't give a shit to do that. He wants players to be seasoned and ready for how he feels they should play.

You should read what other coaches say and do/try. It's ridiculous the blinders Pens media and fans have for Sullivan and thinking the blokes he should use but doesn't are trash vs just his ignorance forcing people to buy that bs.

Funny that after 4 useless games, 0pts and a bad minor penalty has him gone.

Yet Ruhwedel being garbage to average (being generous) for years is someone the coach refuses to let go of.

At least it might be entertaining, all I can ask for at this stage .

And let me be clear on one thing, I'm not a Sully defender.... I just have hope for Dubas.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Okay. And what I see is Jarry going 0/4 on saves he needs to make to steal us the game. 2 and 4 were soft, no ifs and buts about it - playoff contender goalies make those saves for their teams, that's what allows them to go on playoff runs.

Jarry doesn't steal games, Jarry doesn't outduel other goalies. It's ALWAYS the contrary for the Pens - we can't help ourselves but get stoned by Piotr f***ing Mrazek.

Amazing how people were scared of coughing up assets for Vezina winner Linus Ullmark, saying he's a product of their system, but they can't eye-test Jarry with the same criteria. Jarry's career stats (which some people here laughably claimed made him a top-6 goalie in the league - I wish this was sarcasm) are a product of the Pens being competitive during his entire tenure as our goalie. What happened to Jarry the one season we missed the playoffs and the wheels fell off?

Blows my mind that no one points the finger at Jarry. There's like 3 of us on here that do. The dude is soft and constantly gets outdueled by fringe NHL goalies.

I simply do not agree. You are counting on miracles happening. The defense was that bad. You also have him o/4 when he made the initial saves on some, including #4.

 

[Flying Dego]

Did Pettersson steal your girl or something? You started a separate thread about this. Apparently you didn't get the opinions you wanted if you're soliciting for more.

It's not M. Pettersson you gotta worry about around yo girl. It's his dad Daniel.

If you know. You know.

 

[Zbynek]

I simply do not agree. You are counting on miracles happening. The defense was that bad. You also have him o/4 when he made the initial saves on some, including #4.

Jarry never wins a game in spite of the Pens, it's always the contrary. You need 16 wins to get the Cup; of those, the goalie always steals a few.

We'll never win with Jarry in net. Mark my words.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Jarry never wins a game in spite of the Pens, it's always the contrary. You need 16 wins to get the Cup; of those, the goalie always steals a few.

We'll never win with Jarry in net. Mark my words.

You have the right to feel that way, I simply don't agree or feel that way.

 

[Sidgeni Malkby]

Jarry, Jarry, Jarry.....
What do we do with you. I think we just need to identify who he loses against (use last year as a benchmark) and start Nedel on those games.

Ruh?
We need a 4th option in the poll: "We don't have a better option".

Stuff:
- I know it's only a handful of games, but our bottom 6 is better, but not much better than last year.
- EK is amazing and worth all the work it took to get him.
- Our bottom pairing D sucks. I don't know if we can do much about it. I'm hoping come playoff time (assuming we make it), Letang/EK can play 55 minutes of the game between the 2 of them.
- what's cool is we showed some combackability. I missed that last year!

 

[vodeni]

Like dudes, I know Sullivan is a huge problem but to say that "goaltending is the least of our concerns" is a bold face lie.

I remember back in time it took me awhile that MAF is not that good of a goalie contrary to the popular opinion at that time, I think I am finally landing on Jarry is kind of meh, notch below average goalie

 

[Zirakzigil]

Locking this one up