Post-Game Talk: Pens vs Wild Loss: We miss you Flower

[AuroraBorealis]

Can you tell me the lotto numbers?

Pedanticism aside, it sure would have been nice to find out if we could have beaten those other teams. But MAF single-handedly cost this team multiple playoff rounds. He also saved this team's ass in 2017 for a round.

Dems the facts

Sorry I just don't see how they were gonna beat the 2010 Hawks, 2011 Bruins or 2012 Kings. Do you?
I'm not convinced they would have even made the 3rd round in a few of those runs.

Yeah it bothered me that Flower lost us a few series, but looking back I don't believe he lost us Cups. Saying that would be disrespectful to the winning monster teams.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

How funny is it that 38 year old Evgeni Malkin playing out of position makes a far better top six grinder on the wing than the five bajillion this team's last 3 or 4 GMs have acquired for the same role? Not that that's really a good thing. Totally wasted, there. But at this stage who friggin cares.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I thought Geno was okay at wing. Gonna take a bit of adjustment if they keep the big two together. Even though Sid had 3 assists, I wasn't really all that impressed with his game. Rakell works well with those two, though.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I thought Geno was okay at wing. Gonna take a bit of adjustment if they keep the big two together. Even though Sid had 3 assists, I wasn't really all that impressed with his game. Rakell works well with those two, though.

He was working hard and doing the whole "facilitator" kinda thing. Playing the complimentary role.

It will help Sid and Raks put up some points. Yay.

 

[Gurglesons]

He was working hard and doing the whole "facilitator" kinda thing. Playing the complimentary role.

It will help Sid and Raks put up some points. Yay.

The typical Pittsburgh Sidney Crosby’s model by Mike Sullivan.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

The typical Pittsburgh Sidney Crosby’s model by Mike Sullivan.

I mean... I wanted to get Crosby going if for no other reason than it was getting depressing but I can't help but roll my eyes a little that that's now Malkin's problem when the reverse is never, ever true.

But again... who cares. This team is beyond cooked and not even remotely compelling in any way shape or form on top of that. I can't think of one interesting player to keep an eye on this season.

 

[Invalid cuz QoC]

It’s annoying knowing he won’t get fired, but I wake up hoping for good news after each loss.

 

[vodeni]

He was working hard and doing the whole "facilitator" kinda thing. Playing the complimentary role.

It will help Sid and Raks put up some points. Yay.

I am sure Sid will return the favor when Geno gets in his sleepwalking phase. Sid’s effort last night was dramatically different from all the games so far, and I have a hunch that that has something to do with it. I used to hate even an attempt to think about moving Gen to wing (especially all of that was really in bad faith) but now I don’t have problem to try to energize the team for a period of time. They were +1 last night and they actually look good. I stilll want to see them winning!

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I am sure Sid will return the favor when Geno gets in his sleepwalking phase. Sid’s effort last night was dramatically different from all the games so far, and I have a hunch that that has something to do with it. I used to hate even an attempt to think about moving Gen to wing (especially all of that was really in bad faith) but now I don’t have problem to try to energize the team for a period of time. They were +1 last night and they actually look good. I stilll want to see them winning!

Sid would. The coach won't.

I want to see them win. But we are past that, now. Whatever hope there may have been for that the GM stamped out pretty emphatically this past offseason.

 

[Beau Knows]

If we're gonna be bad, the games should at least be watchable. Crosby and Malkin together might be entertaining enough.

 

[Dennis Reynolds]

wtf was up with offensive deployment last night?? Yeah, we killed a lot of penalties, but still..

Beauvillier - 11
Bunting - 13

Meanwhile..

Hayes (who I don't even like) - 6:30
Puljujarvi - 5

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

I thought Geno was okay at wing. Gonna take a bit of adjustment if they keep the big two together. Even though Sid had 3 assists, I wasn't really all that impressed with his game. Rakell works well with those two, though.

Rakell works well with Sid, period. It's just ridiculous that our moron coach doesn't see it and insists on his pet Rust always being in that spot.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

wtf was up with offensive deployment last night?? Yeah, we killed a lot of penalties, but still..

Beauvillier - 11
Bunting - 13

Meanwhile..

Hayes (who I don't even like) - 6:30
Puljujarvi - 5

This team desperately seems to want to make Beau a thing. As for Hayes yeah I thought they would try him out a lot more. So far they are really limiting his role which... eh... probably the right choice in most ways. Pulju is seemingly always going to be the odd man out. And as for Bunting... they are likely trying to wheel the narrative back around to "he really made that Jake trade a win!"

 

[AuroraBorealis]

How funny is it that 38 year old Evgeni Malkin playing out of position makes a far better top six grinder on the wing than the five bajillion this team's last 3 or 4 GMs have acquired for the same role? Not that that's really a good thing. Totally wasted, there. But at this stage who friggin cares.

He was working hard and doing the whole "facilitator" kinda thing. Playing the complimentary role.

It will help Sid and Raks put up some points. Yay.

Most encouraging thing I saw was that Crosby chose to move his legs again. That created two of the goals.
Now, whether that was a one-off for Flower night and he'll go back to slacking or Malkin on his line made him try, time will tell.

 

[SomeDude]

wtf was up with offensive deployment last night?? Yeah, we killed a lot of penalties, but still..

Beauvillier - 11
Bunting - 13

Meanwhile..

Hayes (who I don't even like) - 6:30
Puljujarvi - 5

I thought Hayes was dreadful last night. Could have been the lines shuffling and he’s been fine so far this year, but he looked lost and took a bad penalty to boot.

As pointed out, Beauvillier was bad again and it showed on the scoresheet. -3. Woof.

On the plus side, I really like how Glass is shaping up. Could be a nice depth player or at least another pick at the deadline.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

How funny is it that 38 year old Evgeni Malkin playing out of position makes a far better top six grinder on the wing than the five bajillion this team's last 3 or 4 GMs have acquired for the same role? Not that that's really a good thing. Totally wasted, there. But at this stage who friggin cares.

2 Years ago I wanted to yo 2C hunting so Malkin can kick ass as a winger. Be that playmaker winger.
The issue Is we don't have a proper 2C to Let Malkin move to Wing permanently.

A guy like Trochek at 2C sure would be nice...

Beauvillier is not good.

People complaining about Flower my lord.
He won 3 cups. Went to 5 finals.
Let's appreciate him.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

No offense but this franchise has been celebrating Fleury emphatically every single season since he left. We get it. We're appreciative. The team is just using it to sell tickets and even that's not working anymore because these guys are so awful and boring.