Post-Game Talk: Jerks 5 - Penguinos 1 : Buncha Jerks Indeed

[Honour Over Glory]

• They keep wanting to make the issues about Karlsson and it’s stupid, holy f*** like he had a fantastic game in a shit show vs the Isles where he was on the ice for 2 goals for and they controlled the play a lot more with him and a dipshit like Yohe still went on about how he missed an assignment on a scoring chance, lol, like really?
• Pettersson-Karlsson weren’t even bad as a duo, the Canes were just the better team with their scoring chances, because they controlled shots for and against pretty well but the forwards weren’t really helping them much at all, Doc-Eller-Glass was not great as a trio, a surprise to literally no one paying attention.
• I feel for Ned, poor lad is blaming a lot on himself and he just looks spent trying to come up with answers for this shit, leave the lad alone, that’s the most sympathy I feel for a Cleveland Browns fan and that already feels wrong.
• Ned wasn’t even sure if he was playing tomorrow or not, it seemed like Sullivan wasn’t even sure if he was going to play Blomqvist yet given how Ned reacted to that question.
• Canes usually put up the least amount of shots, but they only needed half of what the Pens threw on net to score 5…Kochetkov was stellar, not a surprise there. But a lot of perimeter shots too from the left point and further out, a few in close but the Canes made sure they cleared those quickly or Pyotr smothered it.
• Lizotte and JP had a good game, Puljujarvi still hasn’t gotten the assist on NHL.com.
• Doc & Eller were shit today with their line, they just were ass defensively and somehow Eller got punished more than Doc when Glass is already hurt, you limit Eller to 12mins? Lol.
• Bunting-Lizotte-Puljujarvi was great.
• Bunting-Acciari-Puljujuarvi was absolute trash, gee I wonder what the reason could be…

Lol Sullivan’s post game…

A lot that played hard.
A lot that didn’t.
“They scored…” - lmao
He felt some people didn’t play hard enough - I mean how much of that is his fault for how he used them and the minutes? Dipshit, that’s all you Sully.

TK - It’s gotta be tough right now for Mike Sullivan - to say he’s frustrated with the team, not that he’s at fault, typical.
Caufield - Another Sully glazer, talks about minutes and the bench, mate this has been the same shit over and over again. It’s 5-1, who the f*** cares about benching players, play all of them to get them some positives to focus on vs the Caps.

The nice thing about election season over the past week or so: it made me forget the Pittsburgh Penguins were playing games.

That basically sums up my feelings about this team at this point.

It just made me focus the dread from that came true and then the continued dread of Sullivan being teflon continuing.

 

[Pancakes]

@Pancakes - I just brought this over so our PGT has more discussion…


Mate I am legitimately having a hard time not posting an entire rant loaded with expletives about how much Mike Sullivan sucks.

I am trying to find something to latch on to and hope for…

- Agree that TJ getting his form back would be for the best for all involved. I hope his recent spurt of strong play in WBS allows him to come back up and at least be a solid NHL goalie again. The problem for him is our team is so bad defensively that even if he has regained his form, he's still gonna get dunked on up here. Blomqvist is at 2 goals saved above expected and has generally played well, but the kid still has to accept having a 3.4 GAA because our team is that bad. Jarry might come up and play well only to still be giving up 3 goals a game just because this team plays defense so poorly.

- I've liked how Poolparty has played when he's been in the lineup. I don't know why they ever take him out, but Sully gonna Sully

- I don't think as highly of Puustinen as some but with how bad the team is there's no reason not to trot him out and give him lots of ice time. Let the young kids play. I'd rather Puustinen be out there than like Noel f-ing Acciari. At least Puustinen has theoretical upside. Where he ever hits it, who knows, but we know Acciari is what he is and he's not gonna turn into anything else.

- DOC's a tricky one. I like him but he's a UFA. Why would he stay? He seems like someone they should cut bait with at the trade deadline rather than risking losing for nothing.

- EK seems like he might be playing hurt. He missed most of his camp and then was miraculously healthy and ever since he's had more bad games than I would like. Probably someone they should move on from if they can.

- Geno getting his 500th was definitely cool. Seems like that will be the highlight of the season lol.

- Special teams do seem solid in general. I guess that's one of the few bright sides of the Pens this season. And naturally Sullivan has little to do with either. Shocking, right?

- And yeah, I'm with you on most of the negative stuff you cited. Tired of it. Very tired

 

[Andy99]

And those players who "Did not" will still play against the Capitals.

What’s worse? Playing hard knowing it’s futile when your goalie gives up like 2 goals in 4 shots to start the game against a team you never beat, or not playing hard to conserve energy for a b2b tomorrow against an opponent you have a better chance of beating? …tough choice lol

 

[Miro4Norris]

Didn't watch the game because i don't want to waste my time for Sullivan but crazy that the shots were 36-18 for the Pens. Anyways, F(ire/u*k) Sully. I mean, F FSG and Duba, its's them who aren't doing their jobs

 

[Pancakes]

The nice thing about election season over the past week or so: it made me forget the Pittsburgh Penguins were playing games.

That basically sums up my feelings about this team at this point.

The Pens would rather lose their way (with Sullivan) rather than risk trying someone they might have a chance to win with and who might have alternative views on hockey/coaching.

I can't quite put my finger on what political party has the same problem....Actually I can but I don't want to drag that bullshit in here as I'm already way tired of post election stuff being all over the place. But there are eerie similarities between the Pens and a certain political organization

 

[Jaded-Fan]

The nice thing about election season over the past week or so: it made me forget the Pittsburgh Penguins were playing games.

That basically sums up my feelings about this team at this point.

If it has gotten to the point where suffering through the election season was preferable to the watching the Pens, we have hit a new low.

I left the country for the last week until Monday night. Not kidding.

 

[Pancakes]

If it has gotten to the point where suffering through the election season was preferable to the watching the Pens, we have hit a new low.

I left the country for the last week until Monday night. Not kidding.

You know it's weird. I've watched far worse Penguins teams. Most of us here unless they're too young have watched the Rico Fata Pens. Some real campaigners might have even been young enough to watch the pre Mario tank Pens.

But there's something about this particular team that rankles way more than those teams. Probably the fact that even though it doesn't seem like a good roster on paper any more there's just no way it should be as bad as it is.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

- Agree that TJ getting his form back would be for the best for all involved. I hope his recent spurt of strong play in WBS allows him to come back up and at least be a solid NHL goalie again. The problem for him is our team is so bad defensively that even if he has regained his form, he's still gonna get dunked on up here. Blomqvist is at 2 goals saved above expected and has generally played well, but the kid still has to accept having a 3.4 GAA because our team is that bad. Jarry might come up and play well only to still be giving up 3 goals a game just because this team plays defense so poorly.

- I've liked how Poolparty has played when he's been in the lineup. I don't know why they ever take him out, but Sully gonna Sully

- I don't think as highly of Puustinen as some but with how bad the team is there's no reason not to trot him out and give him lots of ice time. Let the young kids play. I'd rather Puustinen be out there than like Noel f-ing Acciari. At least Puustinen has theoretical upside. Where he ever hits it, who knows, but we know Acciari is what he is and he's not gonna turn into anything else.

- DOC's a tricky one. I like him but he's a UFA. Why would he stay? He seems like someone they should cut bait with at the trade deadline rather than risking losing for nothing.

- EK seems like he might be playing hurt. He missed most of his camp and then was miraculously healthy and ever since he's had more bad games than I would like. Probably someone they should move on from if they can.

- Geno getting his 500th was definitely cool. Seems like that will be the highlight of the season lol.

- Special teams do seem solid in general. I guess that's one of the few bright sides of the Pens this season. And naturally Sullivan has little to do with either. Shocking, right?

- And yeah, I'm with you on most of the negative stuff you cited. Tired of it. Very tired

Line up wise…it’s time to split Sid & Geno up, this shouldn’t have been kept on as long as it has and with Glass likely hurt now as well, Hayes is also hurt, Rust is skating and so is Nieto.

• Beauvillier, Acciari, O’Connor - was a line that controlled the play well and I think could be one that Sullivan should look into but likely won’t.
• Bunting, Lizotte, Puljujarvi - this is a line that should also stick together.
• That leaves Eller, Puustinen, Crosby, Malkin, and Rakell to figure out where they fit for lines.
• Sid + Rakell should be kept together
• Malkin + Puustinen is what I would go with based on the other 2 lines above being good for 3rd and 4th line options.

Like I almost go Eller, Crosby, Rakell just to make sure Sid is insulated or I bet if Rust is ready to go this is what Sullivan will do…

Rakell, Crosby, Rust - lol. If Rust is back then I would just go:

Rakell, Crosby, Rust
Eller, Malkin, Puustinen
Bunting, Lizotte, Puljujarvi
Beauvillier, Acciari, O’Connor

Last 2 lines are basically just used as two third lines.

Hayes was hurt in that Flames game and finally just needed to be out, I don’t know if they should be playing him until he’s healthier if he’s had it lingering that long, I am curious who they recall from WBS.

What’s worse? Playing hard knowing it’s futile when your goalie gives up like 2 goals in 4 shots to start the game against a team you never beat, or not playing hard to conserve energy for a b2b tomorrow against an opponent you have a better chance of beating? …tough choice lol

It’s probably harder knowing midway through the 2nd period, your minutes will be drastically cut and barely used in the 3rd period because the coach has zero understanding of bench management.

 

[the penitent]

You know it's weird. I've watched far worse Penguins teams. Most of us here unless they're too young have watched the Rico Fata Pens. Some real campaigners might have even been young enough to watch the pre Mario tank Pens.

But there's something about this particular team that rankles way more than those teams. Probably the fact that even though it doesn't seem like a good roster on paper any more there's just no way it should be as bad as it is.

You're right - I've watched this team for a long, long time. They've had terrible coaches with terribly untalented teams many teams., but this team has enough talent that they shouldn't be this bad. That's a reflection of the coach's strategy and/or his ability to motivate them. The only other explanation is that they have a boatload of really bad contracts that those 70's/80's/early 2000's team didn't really have. They do however have some throwback players - Karlsson is playing like an expensive Ron Stackhouse, Letang is playing like an expensive Mario Faubert, Tristan Jarry is playing like Gordie Laxton, and so on.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Happy they got blown up, even if they doubled the Canes' shots. This team needs to be embarrassed all season for anything to change moving forward. Gimme Martone or Misa.

The thing that's a bummer is Petts' continued dogshit play through 15 games. Would be nice to get a 1st for that guy, albeit a late one, at the TDL.

 

[Empoleon8771]

If it has gotten to the point where suffering through the election season was preferable to the watching the Pens, we have hit a new low.

I left the country for the last week until Monday night. Not kidding.

See, it genuinely is. Not getting into politics here obviously, but following the election results and seeing the betting markets and results shift further and further from the candidate I wanted to win was more entertaining than watching Pittsburgh Penguins hockey at this point.

At least I have hope at the start of the night watching the election results.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

You know it's weird. I've watched far worse Penguins teams. Most of us here unless they're too young have watched the Rico Fata Pens. Some real campaigners might have even been young enough to watch the pre Mario tank Pens.

But there's something about this particular team that rankles way more than those teams. Probably the fact that even though it doesn't seem like a good roster on paper any more there's just no way it should be as bad as it is.

Might be a blessing in disguise though. Forest needs a fire in order for new growth and all that. If this team somehow spirals to a top-5 pick, fires Sully, and starts next season without Rust, EK, Eller and Petts, they stand a real good chance at ending up with a shot at McKenna too.

Yeah it sucks, but they've been losers without a shot for years. It's time to get something for the losing now imo.

 

[Empoleon8771]

You know it's weird. I've watched far worse Penguins teams. Most of us here unless they're too young have watched the Rico Fata Pens. Some real campaigners might have even been young enough to watch the pre Mario tank Pens.

But there's something about this particular team that rankles way more than those teams. Probably the fact that even though it doesn't seem like a good roster on paper any more there's just no way it should be as bad as it is.

This is spot on. It's not even an expectation thing, I have no expectations for this team. It's just that they're so god damn unlikeable. They're not losing while offering any sort of entertainment bonus. If they had young players performing well, you can cling to them to be excited. If they had super skilled but flawed players (think a team full of Kessels), you can at least be entertained with the highs.

This team? It's stale and boring to watch while they're also bad. They don't have young guys to rally around and they don't have entertaining but bad players to watch. It's just a slog after a slog.

I think making an analogy to baseball makes sense here: they're a team that loses but also doesn't hit HRs, doesn't steal bases and doesn't do anything exciting or have anything exciting to look forward to. They'll just play a boring game, lose 4-2 every game and everyone goes home unsatisfied. What's even the point of tuning in? I'd rather watch a team that hits 4 HRs a game but loses 7-6 than watch a team that does nothing and loses 3-0 every game, even if the results are the same.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

See, it genuinely is. Not getting into politics here obviously, but following the election results and seeing the betting markets and results shift further and further from the candidate I wanted to win was more entertaining than watching Pittsburgh Penguins hockey at this point.

At least I have hope at the start of the night watching the election results.

True.

Watching the election everyone had genuine reason to believe that their candidate could win.

You had something to root for.

No longer true with the Pens.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Keeping track of the team through 20, yadda yadda:

2022-23: 10-7-3, 72 GF, 65 GA
2023-24: 10-10-0, 61 GF, 52 GA
2024-25: 5-8-2, 42 GF, 59 GA thus far

 

[Gurglesons]

We've been very lucky, but it is what it is. Some can argue this should have started last season or the one before, some still wanted to give a last push for 71 and 87, but we all knew we were cooked. Now, we can only hope and pray that KD doesn't f*** it up!

Kyle Dubas is a total failure.

He's turned this team into an embarassment of unbelievable proportions.

they're a team that loses but also doesn't hit HRs

You're right, these losers wouldn't even fight against my dumb ass if I was playing against them.

 

[Pancakes]

1) Draft James Hagens

2) Sign Mitch Marner

3) Hagens/Marner on one line, Sid/Geno on another

4) ????

5) Profit!

 

[Jaded-Fan]

All kidding aside, I loathe this period of Pens hockey.

Oh, I can, and will, watch.

But of the three life spans of a team, development, Cup contender, and sending your heroes off into the sunset on a three year or so goodbye tour, this is the worst.

At least with development you can see the seeds of the future. I remember Malkins first year. MAF two years prior. Crosby. Yeah, the teams weren't good. But still fun watching the kids.

This is just waiting for the old guys to get their wave goodbye before we can start it over again.

Like watching 80 year old Mick Jagger singing about teenage angst and rebellion. Great memories, but kinda sad too.

 

[Darren McCord]

All kidding aside, I loathe this period of Pens hockey.

Oh, I can, and will, watch.

But of the three life spans of a team, development, Cup contender, and sending your heroes off into the sunset on a three year or so goodbye tour, this is the worst.

At least with development you can see the seeds of the future. I remember Malkins first year. MAF two years prior. Crosby. Yeah, the teams weren't good. But still fun watching the kids.

This is just waiting for the old guys to get their wave goodbye before we can start it over again.

Like watching 80 year old Mick Jagger singing about teenage angst and rebellion. Great memories, but kinda sad too.

It doesn’t have to been THIS bad tho. The coach is awful with his lack of system and his inability to play any youth. The gm is awful for bringing in enough old players to give the coach a reason to not play youth.

At least if it’s bad play some young players more. Play guys who have heart instead of these corpse.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

This no man's land purgatory is so much worse than the Rico Fata, XGen Penguins imo. Like others have said, there's nothing to get excited about nowadays. During the post-Jagr, pre-Sid years you watched to see if anybody stood out as a potential guy moving forward, you followed prospects, you hoped to get lucky in the draft, the wins were so infrequent and unexpected that you got excited about them, etc. This? I guess you hope Sid and Geno score now and then but like, I dunno. Who cares? Their legacies are cemented. A few garbage points at the end isn't gonna make or break anybody's thoughts on them after 20 years in the league.

But yeah, following this Penguins team now? It's a habit, not a hobby anymore. Just tapping my foot impatiently while waiting for the chapter to close so they can move on. It shouldn't have been this miserable, even though the end was inevitable, but they're gonna ratf*** the final decade of Sid and Geno due to massive incompetence from Mario, FSG, JR, Hextall, Dubas, and of course the common denominator himself, Sullivan.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

It doesn’t have to been THIS bad tho. The coach is awful with his lack of system and his inability to play any youth. The gm is awful for bringing in enough old players to give the coach a reason to not play youth.

At least if it’s bad play some young players more. Play guys who have heart instead of these corpse.

Fine. It could be better.

Doesn't change my point about the phase that we are in, and why it is my least favorite.

 

[Kaptah]

lol..

https://x.com/i/web/status/1854720240585687052

-> Pulju will sit out next game.

 

[the penitent]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Dubas have an outrageously long contract, like 5 years left after this year? Too bad they can't invoke a "firing with cause" - if there were ever reasons for such a termination, the idiotic acquisition of Karlsson and the equally idiotic Jarry signing would qualify.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I doubt we'll ever know for sure, but I'm seriously curious if FSG allowed Sullivan to have some clause in his extension that says he gets paid most or all of what he's owed by the Pens even if he signs elsewhere. The consensus is teams are off the hook if a guy is fired early and he goes on to sign elsewhere, right?

I mean, ownership and Dubas love the dude so it's probably a moot point, but staring down three straight playoff losses, you have to imagine even this team would be seriously considering parting ways. Maybe a clause like that would be enough to keep him safe, I dunno.

Again, it's probably a non-issue because I've long thought Sullivan is here until he gets tired of coaching this team and makes the decision for them by leaving on his own, but I'm just trying to wrap my head around why he operates with such impunity.

 

[BusinessGoose]

This might have been the most feckless loss of them all

What a low point