Post-Game Talk: Habs 3, Pens 2 - To Me It Looks Like Monkeys Trying to Hump A Football

[Saints11]

A major problem with our forwards is they still like to be cute. Drop passes are cute, and make for fancy, highlight reel plays. Hence, they always drop pass, especially to open areas so the defenseman or trailing forward can skate into them. However, they are better playing off the rush. Look at our forwards; Kessel is better, Bennett better, Sid better, Malkin better, Sprong better; those people who are, or should be in the Top 6, are better off the rush. The only ones who are not are Perron, Hornqvist, and of course the black hole who is no longer skilled enough to rush. Rush the puck, shoot the puck and crash the net looking for rebounds. Screw the concept of setting up the perfect play.

 

[ColePens]

Kirk said it best... Geno is playing a different game than Hornqvist and Perron. I don't know who is to blame.

 

[ColePens]

A major problem with our forwards is they still like to be cute. Drop passes are cute, and make for fancy, highlight reel plays. Hence, they always drop pass, especially to open areas so the defenseman or trailing forward can skate into them. However, they are better playing off the rush. Look at our forwards; Kessel is better, Bennett better, Sid better, Malkin better, Sprong better; those people who are, or should be in the Top 6, are better off the rush. The only ones who are not are Perron, Hornqvist, and of course the black hole who is no longer skilled enough to rush. Rush the puck, shoot the puck and crash the net looking for rebounds. Screw the concept of setting up the perfect play.

Agree. We missed so many wide open shots to try the perfect pass. We have passed off the pads since 2009 for whatever reason. Would like to see that concept back.

 

[UnderratedBrooks44]

A major problem with our forwards is they still like to be cute. Drop passes are cute, and make for fancy, highlight reel plays. Hence, they always drop pass, especially to open areas so the defenseman or trailing forward can skate into them. However, they are better playing off the rush. Look at our forwards; Kessel is better, Bennett better, Sid better, Malkin better, Sprong better; those people who are, or should be in the Top 6, are better off the rush. The only ones who are not are Perron, Hornqvist, and of course the black hole who is no longer skilled enough to rush. Rush the puck, shoot the puck and crash the net looking for rebounds. Screw the concept of setting up the perfect play.

They love that drop pass but sometimes all it does is get you further away from the net. It's either the drop pass or the "oh well there's nothing open so I'll flick it to the middle and get intercepted" play. That's the two options, because heaven forbid you'd keep skating down the wall, lean on the Dman and get to work. Honestly does the top 6 ever do that? Anyone? If you're not going to work the puck then you're resigned to pulling up and hitting a trailer whether it makes sense to or not.......because you're lazy and/or uncreative. Of course even when we hit the trailer they like to try and pass it to someone that's not open as opposed to getting the damn puck on net.

As far as on the rush, this has been an issue since Johnston got here IMO: They seem to struggle with simply getting the puck and coming up ice as a forward unit. Some games it's a rare bird to see all three forward coming through the neutral zone with speed. Why the hell is that such a problem? I know the D isn't flubbing every single pass up to them.

 

[billybudd]

Bennett's line was awesome, and he was the one doing the driving in what I thought was his best game as a pro by a mile. Great chemistry from everyone, though. The only blemish from them were two turnovers at the offensive zone blueline. The first was inconsequential (everyone recovered) and the second was a horse **** non-call, so as blemishes go, it's tough to get worked up about them. Dumoulin and Letang both looked pretty great, though Bourque was trashing BD, so maybe I'm missing something.

The bad news is that Kevin Porter was much, much better than Sidney Crosby. That cannot happen. Your 28 year old $10 million multiple MVP can't be upstaged in the home opener by a nondescript, fringe AHL journeyman having a zero point, so-so game. Especially not when the team's already 0-2.

Scuderi this, Kunitz that, Johnston the other thing...none of this matter if Crosby continues to play like this. It's not even the lack of production; it's the general disengagement that's concerning. He's just...unplugged on most shifts.

 

[xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

I don't know if line combos even matter if guys don't seem to give a **** for the majority of their shifts.

I'd see if Hornqvist was comfortable playing LW. Couldn't hurt. It's not like he's flying down the RW boards and firing off lasers. The guy just goes hard to the net in a straight line on the rush, or forechecks like crazy to retrieve pucks and battle. I know he's said he doesn't feel comfortable on LW and prefers RW, but I'd give it a shot. I'll be damned if it can get any worse.

Hornqvist - Crosby - Bennett
Perron/Plotnikov - Malkin - Kessel
Perron/Plotnikov - Bonino - Sprong
Sundqvist - Cullen - Farnham

**** Kunitz. Sit in the press box and eat steak, you've earned it.

 

[EVGENIMERLIN]

I don't know if line combos even matter if guys don't seem to give a **** for the majority of their shifts.

I'd see if Hornqvist was comfortable playing LW. Couldn't hurt. It's not like he's flying down the RW boards and firing off lasers. The guy just goes hard to the net in a straight line on the rush, or forechecks like crazy to retrieve pucks and battle. I know he's said he doesn't feel comfortable on LW and prefers RW, but I'd give it a shot. I'll be damned if it can get any worse.

Hornqvist - Crosby - Bennett
Perron/Plotnikov - Malkin - Kessel
Perron/Plotnikov - Bonino - Sprong
Sundqvist - Cullen - Farnham

**** Kunitz. Sit in the press box and eat steak, you've earned it.

I'm not a huge Farnham fan, but I dig this line up.

Interested to see where Fehr slots in if Plotnikov/Bonino/Bennett are still awesome.

 

[madinsomniac]

see, I don't think the players are playing disinterested. I think they are playing as they are coached to, for the most part.

I am in this boat too... I think this is what the coach wants and I don't think its working, though I will say certain players may have given up because on this team effort and production are not rewarded any more than lack thereof is punished

 

[Zen Arcade]

Bennett's line was awesome, and he was the one doing the driving in what I thought was his best game as a pro by a mile. Great chemistry from everyone, though. The only blemish from them were two turnovers at the offensive zone blueline. The first was inconsequential (everyone recovered) and the second was a horse **** non-call, so as blemishes go, it's tough to get worked up about them. Dumoulin and Letang both looked pretty great, though Bourque was trashing BD, so maybe I'm missing something.

When Dumoulin gave the puck to Scuderi and Scuderi immediately turned it over, Bourque goes "Not a good play by Dumoulin there." I normally like Bourque, but what the hell? Yeah, we all joke about never passing to Scuds, but he had an easy out and he handed the puck to the other team, how is that on Dumoulin?

 

[madinsomniac]

maybe this is where the confusion lies: I see "B" as average. "B-" or lower to me signals playing poorly, not "C-"

A+ Perfect
A Exemplary
A- Great with flaws
B+ Very good
B Good
B- Good, but not completely solid
C+ Better than average
C Average
C- good effort, at least
D+ Average quality with subpar effort
D Below Average
D- Almost worthless
F+ Here is a plus to make you feel better about failing
F (or E) Failure
F- Just quit now

 

[madinsomniac]

Bennet had a great game tonight and so far season his play has been very good overall... is there any doubt, however, that if duper was healthy he would be on the short list to sit, even over Porter or Sprong?

 

[madinsomniac]

When Dumoulin gave the puck to Scuderi and Scuderi immediately turned it over, Bourque goes "Not a good play by Dumoulin there." I normally like Bourque, but what the hell? Yeah, we all joke about never passing to Scuds, but he had an easy out and he handed the puck to the other team, how is that on Dumoulin?

I think he was trying to say that it was his fault for not skating out of the zone right into the two Canadian players waiting for that pass at the line so he could get leveled and give it up anyhow.... there is 0.00% chance that pass (and I use the term "pass" lightly) was anyone but Scuds fault... he didn't have a horrid game, but he still makes horrid plays like that because he is incapable of skating the puck out or making good decisions even when totally not pressured

 

[WayneSid9987]

At this point putting Crosby back with Hornqvist is a no brainer. There's no chemistry to speak of and Kessel's only chances either come out of individual efforts or situations where poor changes resulted in Malkin being out with him instead of Crosby.

Bingo!
As much as Kunitz-Sid-Phil looked in that one pre-season game against a weak Canes lineup, theres zero chemistry there.
Zip.
Nada.
Zilch.

I guess were just gonna wait til they have that Carolina pre-season game again. I think thats a big part of MJ's problem. He's not seeing whats happening right in front of him. He sees something work in practice or games way beforehand and he's just waiting for it to magically come to fruition.

Geno's dying alive to get Kessel.
Sid's dying alive to get Horny. <ok that one sounded weird

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

I don't know what all the negativity is about. The Pens are clearly improving. They scored 2 goals tonight! That's more than they scored the past two games combined!

#Johnston4JackAdams

 

[Zen Arcade]

I don't know what all the negativity is about. The Pens are clearly improving. They scored 2 goals tonight! That's more than they scored the past two games combined!

#Johnston4JackAdams

We'll see who's laughing when they double their output every game for the rest of the season.

 

[Suzuki x 14]

- Sprong: Small minus but I want to talk about the kid because he has looked amazing all preseason. He couldn't catch a puck and lost a lot of battles tonight. He definitely looked like a young kid making mistakes, and that's completely ok. I just don't know why they are wasting him on the 4th line. He's a skill player. Play him with talent.

I noticed the same thing tonight in where Daniel was fighting the puck all game long. I personally put myself in his shoes and I think I understand. Picture youself as an 18 year old playing in his 3rd NHL hockey game, 1st in front of your teams crowd and you gotta play against your home town team, the team you've grown up watching and cheering for. I understand that the day he was drafted he became a Pens fan, but at 18 you idolized these guys for years and now your lined up at the faceoff circle against them. Can't be easy.

From my limited viewing of the game; thought Sprong looked poised. He's better off going back to the Charlottetown. Give him the playing time he needs. Him being on the fourth line is illogical. Even with the "four scoring-lines".

Outside of his immediate family, I don't think there is a person in the world that wants to see him succeed at the NHL level more than me (his ex coach) but I do agree with you. I think Daniel needs to be on the ice playing the game and getting better in all areas of play. Playing 8 minutes a game on the 4th line with no critical moments playing time is not going to do much for his much needed development.

1/3 of the way thru Sprong's NHL stint its obvious that they aren't giving him a real shot to stay this year.

Agreed 100% and couldn't have said it better myself

 

[Zero Pucks]

I never thought in a million years this would be the **** show I'd be seeing with Crosby and Malkin entering their prime. This is beyond pathetic.

So what is it now for Kunitz? 36 games on Crosby's line and only scoring 2 goals?

 

[Chessarmy]

Devils fan here would gladly take Kunitz off your hands.

 

[Zero Pucks]

Devils fan here would gladly take Kunitz off your hands.

For Gelinas?

 

[xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Devils fan here would gladly take Kunitz off your hands.

Deal. I don't even give a **** what we get back, but take him. I'll drive to Newark to pick him up at the airport.

 

[DFAC]

Having Malkin and Maata in my pool is killing me right now

wtf is going on in pittsburgh pls

 

[Headshot77]

I'll continue to use the same line of logic with this as I do with Kunitz on the first line, etc...


Go watch David Perron with EDM. Don't look at his stats, just watch him play.
Kessel's been good, but go watch him everywhere else (for point of relevance).

I could talk about Lovejoy and Scuderi, but they are who I thought they were, so whatever.

My point is, players who have never played a certain way get to Pittsburgh AND IMMEDIATELY START PLAYING IN THE SAME MANNER in which Sid and Geno play. Is this Sid and Geno just assimilating these players?

Well, maybe. Except I watch Sid and Geno at the Olympics and Worlds, and Sid and Geno there are not Sid and Geno in Pittsburgh.

The only thing that makes sense is that they are playing as they are coached.

It's so true.

Honestly, I think this man might be better for the head coaching job than MJ:

 

[cygnus47]

I never thought in a million years this would be the **** show I'd be seeing with Crosby and Malkin entering their prime. This is beyond pathetic.

So what is it now for Kunitz? 36 games on Crosby's line and only scoring 2 goals?

Few years too late for that.

 

[Penguinsyay]

I feel that I am a pretty loyal fan, but man I am just less and less excited to watch this team play this season... and it has only been three freaking games. The worst part is that there are so many things wrong with this team and coaching staff that you can't even blame these early losses on needing to "settle in" or "build chemistry." The problems stem from a lack of effort by the players, horrendous D, constant poor and incomprehensible decisions by the coaching staff, and an inability by the management to make tough decisions like getting rid of useless "veteran" players. The whole trifecta of players, coaches, and management is the problem. You don't just bounce back from a rocky start to become a cup winning team when your problem is everything.

Meanwhile, they constantly tell us how good certain players are, how good their D system is, and make excuses for each and every loss. Its like a cruise ship PR team trying to convince you take a ride on their ship after their septic tank exploded, but they haven't even cleaned up the **** yet. We're all just standing in the ****, waiting for it to overflow until they finally decide to do something about it.

/rant

 

[WayneSid9987]

So uh, atleast we have a good 3rd line now.