Post-Game Talk: Penguins 5, Flyers 1 - Pens Undefeated in 2018

[The Greatest 101]

I like these reclamation projects.Hope JR aims more.

 

[Empoleon8771]

The Penguins have 18 division games left. So far this year, they are 7-3 against Metro teams (.700 winning%). Last year, they were 20-8-2 against Metro teams (.700 winning%). The year before, they were 19-9-2 against the Metro (.667 winning%). So basically, you're going to get probably 12-14 wins of those 18 games. Let's say they go 12-5-1 (.694 winning%), that puts them at 32-23-4 on the season, which has them at 68 points in 59 games. To hit 96 points (which probably puts them in the playoffs), the Penguins need to go 14-9 in the other 23 games. I think that's certainly doable, so I'm starting to think that the Penguins are actually going to be fine this year once they start getting more division games.

 

[Gurglesons]

Kind of a fluke game getting those goals from the 4th line, that wouldn't happen again all season.

Sid and Letang still look terrible, nothing will change with this team as long as those players keep on playing like this.

I mean there are ways it can happen.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Nope. They don't have a LW for Geno in this organization. Their best option for RW isn't playing with him either.

I think that if you get Sprong on Geno's RW, some of our LWs might be more palatable. I'd like to see if Rust could support those 2.

But as with most issues with the Pens this year, it depends on getting a 3C who can play a little offense.

 

[vodeni]

glad we got some goaltending...Murray looked so much more confident, no flopping and jumping around
Shultz and Cole with not great game, Cole was especially bad, liked Oleks' game, Cole compares him with Gill but that's just when he is mad...he is way better skater, good hands, he could be decent No.6...Letang skated well and actually looked good at times, but also made some brutal plays
Sid with solid game, although shuffling lines did not help, maybe, maybe its time to try Phil and sid, but won't happen
I would keep playing 15 on the 4th line, you never know chemistry is weird thing,

and for spronger, I mean that quick release, beautiful, he had a very solid game backchecking, working hard, just solid all over the place, he should be with Sid or geno, I think Geno with his pull up passes and Sprong trailing, could be a lethal combo, if they could get a gritty but skileed 2LW that could be somekind of line...

 

[Power Surge]

The Penguins have 18 division games left. So far this year, they are 7-3 against Metro teams (.700 winning%). Last year, they were 20-8-2 against Metro teams (.700 winning%). The year before, they were 19-9-2 against the Metro (.667 winning%). So basically, you're going to get probably 12-14 wins of those 18 games. Let's say they go 12-5-1 (.694 winning%), that puts them at 32-23-4 on the season, which has them at 68 points in 59 games. To hit 96 points (which probably puts them in the playoffs), the Penguins need to go 14-9 in the other 23 games. I think that's certainly doable, so I'm starting to think that the Penguins are actually going to be fine this year once they start getting more division games.

The most important ones are vs the NYI

 

[Shaffer]

Matthews and Kuhnhackl played tonight.

Kuhnhackl scored a goal and Matthews didn’t.

Kuhnhackl is the best #34

 

[Jaded-Fan]

I have every confidence that the next game will cure Cole of his completely unacceptable positivity regarding this team.

 

[vodeni]

I remember there was one shift Geno was centering Guentzel and Sprong and G went back to support defense immediately.Kind of interesting. I don't think he trusts the young guys and Sully never put them back together the rest of the game.

that ended up with a delay of game, so they could not show anything anyways..

 

[Tom Hanks]

I think that if you get Sprong on Geno's RW, some of our LWs might be more palatable. I'd like to see if Rust could support those 2.

But as with most issues with the Pens this year, it depends on getting a 3C who can play a little offense.

If we are going to play Rust on the left we should just trade him

 

[Empoleon8771]

If we are going to play Rust on the left we should just trade him

If you keep Hornqvist, trading Rust might be the right option. This team really needs LWers, especially with Sheary and Hagelin apparently being trade bait.

I'd rather keep Rust and play him on LW, but if he's not on LW, he should be trade bait because he doesn't have a spot here on RW.

 

[ColePens]

f*** you Bellows!! f***ing right!

 

[Mrs Crosby's Dryer]

Get Sheahan to L4 and it will be a good line. I'm telling you, Reaves can play with the right fit. This is the second time I remember seeing Sheahan and Reaves together, and this is the second time they put the puck in the net.

This is 100% correct. Having a real 4th line center makes a huge difference.

Also worth noting that once again, when the game was decided, that none of the idiots on the Flyers took runs at our stars like they historically absolutely positively would have in the past.

Like it or not, Reaves presence has prevented the cheap shots and outright abuse directed at Sid and Geno all season. Not many on here will agree, and that’s fine, but the facts are indeed the facts.

 

[ColePens]

I have every confidence that the next game will cure Cole of his completely unacceptable positivity regarding this team.

If 87 and 58 play the same way, you will get your wish. They really need to elevate.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

If we are going to play Rust on the left we should just trade him

I don't know if things are quite that dire for him on the left haha.

 

[Tom Hanks]

I don't know if things are quite that dire for him on the left haha.

He’s ok there but he’s much better on the right. If he plays on the left we don’t get RW Rust, we get a lesser version. I always believe play your players in their best spots and if you have too many make a move.

Alternatively he could go the 4th line and push Reaves out.

Trade/Kuhnhackl-Sheahan-Rust is even better.

 

[Dinfire]

Gotta keep Sprong up. Kid is dangerous.

 

[Nakawick]

We beat a bad team. Lets win a few in a row and see how we look.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

If 87 and 58 play the same way, you will get your wish. They really need to elevate.

I suppose that I have a spot of some men like to watch the world burn. But wish may be a too strong a word.

Let's just say that I need more than one game where I saw much of the same sloppiness too often leavened with some luck to begin to believe.

I would have felt better with the result if they had come out flying. They did not. Three shots through most of the first period.

Same team with a bit of luck. They still have a lot to show me for me to believe.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

He’s ok there but he’s much better on the right. If he plays on the left we don’t get RW Rust, we get a lesser version. I always believe play your players in their best spots and if you have too many make a move.

Alternatively he could go the 4th line and push Reaves out.

Trade/Kuhnhackl-Sheahan-Rust is even better.

I mean it'd be nice to have everything, but given how much more of a priority it is to acquire a 3C than a 2LW, and how unlikely it is that we could trade Rust for a comparable LW in terms of age and skillset, I'm not sure if it's something worth pursuing even if he's not quite as good on the left as the right.

But to each his own. I certainly appreciate trying to get better wherever we can.

 

[Jacob]

This didn’t seem like some breakout game. Just for once we capitalized on a reasonable amount of our chances and the opposition didn’t. And no magic to the goals either. Pucks were actually elevated.

When any team gets even 1 goal from their 4th line, let alone 2 goals, they’re going to win more often than not. Even garbage teams probably have a good record when their 4th chips in.

The issue still is that neither of those things happen often enough. 1 outta 3 games isn’t enough.

 

[Tom Hanks]

I mean it'd be nice to have everything, but given how much more of a priority it is to acquire a 3C than a 2LW, and how unlikely it is that we could trade Rust for a comparable LW in terms of age and skillset, I'm not sure if it's something worth pursuing even if he's not quite as good on the left as the right.

But to each his own. I certainly appreciate trying to get better wherever we can.

We need both to contend and with Sprong, Kessel and Hornqvist in the top 9 he’s got to be trade bait to help bring in a 2LW or 3C. Being injured though doesn’t help but if it’s with a bottom team they likely won’t care.

 

[Will Hunting]

Philly was 8-4 in Dec, and just smacked around TBL their last game, so it’s not like they have been playing poorly.

That was a fluke, with TB playing B2B with Budaj in net. TB is for real. Flyers are a bad team. Or if I am being fair, they might be an average but very inconsistent team. Canes are solid. Let´s see how we follow this baby up vs them.

 

[Coastal Kev]

You also thought we needed to be big and tough to win Cups, then we won 2 with none of that.

I always find it funny what you remember and quote and the things you conveniently forget. I thousands of posts here, but that's ok, sum me up with a random quote that's completely taken out of context.

You... you're good you

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

That was a fluke, with TB playing B2B with Budaj in net. TB is for real. Flyers are a bad team. Or if I am being fair, they might be an average but very inconsistent team. Canes are solid. Let´s see how we follow this baby up vs them.

Ok well uh, the Pens had their backup in net, and TB wasn’t the only team Philly beat in December.

People can make whatever narrative they want about Philly being ass, but they are coming off playing a very good month of hockey.