GDT: Game VI Pens vs Stars 1930hrs EST: Dancing with the Stars

[Big Poppa Pump]

Excellent period except the PP......

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Not quite sure why that was a tripping penalty. Looked like a nice hip check.

 

[vodeni]

Excellent period except the PP......

PP was fine, no score but fine

 

[K Fleur]

Guentzel playing awesome tonight.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Change 2 of these 4th liners and you may have a playoff team.

 

[Andy99]

Good period, let’s hope they can play a decent second period too for a change and build on the lead…

 

[Gumbercules]

Good period against a very good team. Consistency has been elusive for the Pens, so hopefully they can keep their foot down.

 

[Pancakes]

Nobody can deny GCR is tremendous in offensive transition. It's just everywhere else they struggle, ESPECIALLY playoffs.

That goal was started by strong defensive play by Sid tracking back.

That's how that line works when it is at its best. But too often they just float around and are too lackadaisical on defense

 

[Andy99]

Change 2 of these 4th liners and you may have a playoff team.

Woah…let’s not go overboard there, Errey

 

[Ugene Magic]

I was going to say this was a great period, but it is even greater with the Rust goal.

Thought the bottom pairing was solid, and the 3rd line is at least doing what it should outside of adding to the score sheet.

My only minus is a bad line change giving Dallas the numbers going into the Pens zone that they probably won't get away with in the second period.

 

[mpp9]

Nobody can deny GCR is tremendous in offensive transition. It's just everywhere else they struggle, ESPECIALLY playoffs.

We ain’t breaking them up. Good news is 71 is getting the support he needs from Smith and having a legit D behind him. Maybe we can shelter Sid a bit more if the bottom six can be figured out.

 

[66-30-33]

Rust's early season performance is exactly why I wasn't ready to write him off in the off-season. He is notorious for being streaky, not only during the season but also season to season. I don't know that he'll match his PPG performance he had in 2019-2020 and 2021-2022, but I bet he puts up closer to 60 points than 40 points this year.

He tends to up his play when he gets called out. I believe in the offseason they wanted more from him next season?

Anyway I liked Ludvig.

 

[vodeni]

Nobody can deny GCR is tremendous in offensive transition. It's just everywhere else they struggle, ESPECIALLY playoffs.

I see Sid really hustling back every play, thats when they dominate, they had only one extensive defensive zone sequence in the first

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Zero high danger shots against in the first period.

Good to see.

 

[Pancakes]

They look better based on the eye test and their analytics are a decent bit improved (not a ton, but a decent bit) for when Crosby and Malkin aren't on the ice. They need to start producing more but I honestly don't think they've been too bad, especially since calling up Zohorna.

What's really interesting about the bottom-6 so far (or rather when Crosby and Malkin aren't on the ice) is that their GF% numbers last year and this year are similar, but the bottom-6 this year is a much lower impact both offensively and defensively. If their performance continues through the entire season (2 GF and 3 GA in 5 games), the bottom-6 will end up with 33 GF and 49 GA for a goal differential of -16. Last year, they had 49 GF and 71 GA for a goal differential of -22. That may not seem all that different, but this team very likely would have made the playoffs last year if their bottom-6 was only a -16 instead of a -22.

Big Z has made a significant difference so far on the third line. Hopefully it's not just a short term blip and he can keep that going.

Imo Eller has been good the whole year so far. Doc has to start showing something soon though.

 

[Big Poppa Pump]

PP was fine, no score but fine

A lot of puck movement, guys too stationary, passed up a lot of good looks....not enough shots, far from fine.

 

[vodeni]

That goal was started by strong defensive play by Sid tracking back.

That's how that line works when it is at its best. But too often they just float around and are too lackadaisical on defense

exactly

 

[66-30-33]

Excellent period except the PP......

I'm going to call the PP trash every time until they score a goal. Come on already...

 

[Al Smith]

Not quite sure why that was a tripping penalty. Looked like a nice hip check.

Just means we're due to pick up a couple of cheap penalties next period.

Nice period by the guys. But they have a lot of nice periods, with shorter stretches of absolutely horrific play. Hopefully they can eliminate those stretches tonight.

Haven't noticed Ludvig and Shea much tonight so that's a good thing. Ludvig only got 3:32 and Shea 5:02.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Does it piss anyone else off that they can play like that vs contenders but then get owned by the Blues and Hawks?

 

[Al Smith]

Big Z has made a significant difference so far on the third line. Hopefully it's not just a short term blip and he can keep that going.

Imo Eller has been good the whole year so far. Doc has to start showing something soon though.

He looks faster this year than he has in the past. And he's light years better than Harkins.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Love seeing Ruppy

 

[Empoleon8771]

He didn't play a lot, but Ludvig was only on the ice for 1 shot attempt against in that 1st period. Shea also had strong results, he gave up a few more shot attempts but he had an extra shift with Letang that those shots occurred on.

With how Shea and Ludvig look pretty solid, I'm hoping Dubas doesn't hesitate to get rid of Ruhwedel. Hell, I'd even be down to trade POJ for a 3rd liner and just have Ludvig-Shea as the bottom pair with Ruhwedel as the extra.

 

[66-30-33]

More traffic Rust? more Hornqvist.

 

[Andy99]

Yep, we have to get Ott moving and we need more plays like that…