Comments on:

By: copeland87.mc

copeland87.mc — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 02:16:10 +0000

such a bad game

By: Jonathan Hoffman

Jonathan Hoffman — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 02:15:06 +0000

Wow

By: cdeardo

cdeardo — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 19:56:58 +0000

@DJ 3 of the Pens 4 regulation losses are to Isles, Flyers and Rangers by a combined score of 14-4 against one regulation win (3-1 vs Isles). So they are 1-3 and minus 8 in those games versus 12-1 and plus 33 versus the rest of the league. Familiarity does seem to breed contempt for the Pens against these teams.

By: Bumr50

Bumr50 — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 16:15:33 +0000

If Johnson can’t make Sid and Kuni get the puck deep upon zone entry, I’m not sure who can other than Pascal Dupuis.
It seems that every team in the NHL knows that they’re going to make a lateral pass at the blue line in an attempt to get a D-man to bite and give themselves an odd-man break down low.
Nobody’s falling for it, and either the back checkers are picking it off or the D is playing tight and going for the puck when they make the now obvious pass. It results in an odd man break, usually 3-2 up ice quickly for the opponent with our number one line having to spend lots of energy changing direction and skating like hell to get back.

By: Bumr50

Bumr50 — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 16:14:08 +0000

@Dave G @Dave G I would have liked to have seen them both in, rather than an “either/or” situation. Pens D is sorely lacking in size IMHO. They have a lot of the same type D-man – relatively small, smooth skating, puck handling ilk. I think Ehrhoff is a better Paul Martin (many disagree), but those two and Kris Letang (who seems to have gotten noticeably slower) all fall under the same category more or less. Add to that Maatta’s recent tentative play and you’re lacking size and physicality. I think both Despres and Bortuzzo play more physical than any of the guys I mentioned previously.

By: bucsfan2118

bucsfan2118 — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 12:27:43 +0000

Sid looked tonight and the last couple of games the way he looked in the Playoffs last year.

By: cdeardo

cdeardo — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 11:22:27 +0000

In games decided in regulation, Pens are 1-3 vs Isles, Rangers & Flyers with a goal differential of -7. Against the rest of the league they are 12-1 with a +32.

Seems like teams that they are most familiar with and/or emotionally involved give Pens the most trouble which isn’t a good harbinger of playoff success.

By: Dave G

Dave G — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 06:16:52 +0000

There you have it. Despres in, Bortuzzo out… and the Pens get hammered.
.
I just kinda feel that Bortuzzo would have brought more grit and spark to this situation—a road game, physical play,etc.

By: chethejet

chethejet — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 03:25:24 +0000

iles are a bad match up for the Pens. Pens can;t match thier physical play and the forwards just hammer the Pens PMD. Dupuis is a big loss. His speed, checking and penalty killing are missed. Pens need to unload Martin now.

By: fklanduch

fklanduch — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 03:08:59 +0000

Wow, this was depressing