Blackhawks 2, Penguins 1, SO

If you're arguing that the first two weeks of the baseball season are more relevant somehow than the first four months of the NHL season, good luck with that. It isn't 1975 anymore. Baseball takes 162 games to whittle down to 10 playoff teams. The NHL takes 82 to whittle down to 16.

Actually I was just saying it's a long time between now and then.

I'm with Milo when you let in half the league regular season isn't that important. 33.3% is still much less than 53.3%, plus in baseball win the division and you avoid a coin flip game.

Let's count how many times he a) screws up an easy pass to clear the zone or b) turns it over

#sixyearsneverhealthyscratched

Not when the Malkin line is out there. They've been terrific.

Maybe better if Horny would shoot.

The Malkin line is as good a second line as the Pens have had since '08. Can't say the same for lines 3 and 4, or probably 1.

Yup. Line 2 is the only one I have some high hopes for in playoffs, and that still depends on Comeau producing and Horny developing some more chemistry with Geno.

That was bad, really bad, but last five games I think I can recall a terrible centering pass by every D-man outside Martin.

The book on Scuds is to press the force hcl cos of his poor puck handling. Leads to turnovers.
He is poor at making and receiving passes,

The point being that Scuderi has been playing ok, and after one mistake, I expected a deluge of comments calling him out.

Last time I checked, hockey players are human and make mistakes. To crucify a guy for *every* mistake he makes strikes me as over the top.

Yeah Scuderi isn't good, better than last season. Wasn't even pressured there.

It's more that he has a ridiculous contract and is unable to provide the worth. If he was a #7-8 D at 500K and played 6-10 mins every 3rd game, it would be one thing.
But it isn't. He costs a LOT and provides LITTLE. Especially in a puck-moving/possession system.

I would guess No.

LOl Skille tossed him like a rag doll. Kunitz is what he is.
A top 6, not.

Exactly. It's always the Pens player failing to do something with no competition trying to stop them. Never the fact that there is another team out there doing their best to win the game.

...to something as if there were no competition...

Yeah I don't get the Kunitz hate, scoring and points rates look like 10-11, and 11-12 and are only a shade below Hornqvist.

How long can you keep giving the other team credit for Kunitz having 1 even strength goal in his past 18 games. Eventually it has to be that the player isn't very good anymore.

Please make an argument why Kunitz deserves Top 6.
Nobody said there was no competition. What was implied was that Kunitz WAS NOT UP TO IT.

Please make your argument why Kunitz deserves Top 6.

Weren't they discussing Hossa's scoring drought to start the the season? Don't Pen's fans debate Crosby's decline when he has 4 goals in 20 games. There are roughly 5 goals in a hockey not a lot to go around. Kunitz doesn't go from the Olympics and top 10 goals in 12-13, 13-14 to some bum. Parse the sample enough and you can draw whatever conclusion you want.

Don't judge Kunitz in his goals alone. He gets his points. You have to watch/judge the whole package.
Ex) on that goal, there was only a D-zone faceoff cos Kuni screwed up an easy dump in, allowed a turnover, and then came the Faceoff deep.

It's that kinda stuff, not so easily seen in stats, that is why he is a problem, and has been IMO since way before the Olympics, but especially so since. DK is rare in the PGh media to call him out. Heaven help Kunitz if he winds up in TO or MTL.

Bad things usually happen just prior to goals, but I got it you don't like Kunitz and he was a problem in a season when he was 8th in the NHL in goals and possibly in the season prior when he was 8th.

You're right!

"How much longer ?"
Ask Dodkong!

That is completely unacceptable when playing on Crosby's wing. Kunitz is single-handedly sabotaging the top line.

Brad is willing to tee it up today

Tocchet must have been reading blogs and comment sections.

Love the guy, wish we'd managed to keep him....

Takes two to tango. They offered him a contract and he declined. Don't understand how the onus for keeping Hossa could be placed on the Pens.

agree - Shero's legacy becoming more about the bad deals handed out to keep an aging supporting cast as well as the inability to close the deal with high profile FA's: Hossa, Parise, Suter, Jagr, Hamhuis, etc.

Er - who said the onus was on the Pens??

It is much more acceptable for this team to have Scuderi in his role (the 6th Dman) than it is to have Kunitz in his (top line W). For Pens to be taken seriously as a contender, Pens need to get Kunitz down on the 3rd line and find another Perron-type player for Sid's other wing.

With what cap space are you bringing in another player that would be better than Kunitz?

The contracts of Kunitz and Scuderi are really hampering the team at this point. And there's no way to get them off the books outside of trading them.

I think Zico is on the money, the Pens are stuck with Scuderi and Kunitz until the contracts expire, unless they are traded for next to no return. In which case, the team is weakened by their departure as there is no legitimate replacement for them.

If Ehrhoff can't come back, you get space from LTIR. If he does come back, I'd trade P Martin. Pens do not need both players.

I like to imagine (if I were GMJR), that the goal is to bring in new talent by freeing cap space via moving outdated talent. The issue being the outdated talent(Kun/Scuds) is wanted by no one. Finding a salary dump mid-season is near impossible. I still dream of finding a way to get Justin Williams for one of the two mentioned in a straight up deal, and then the cap space freeing in the off-season thanks to William's contract expiring (if I recall correctly).

The Pens can't afford to trade any D-men unless another is coming back in return. The loss of Maatta hurt our depth as the rookies aren't looking ready for prime time yet (Pouliot showing glimpses, but do you trust him in playoffs?).

If Pens trade Martin, they would have a Dman coming back, C Ehrhoff. He's pretty much the same type of guy as P Martin. My point is, the Pens are not really a serious threat to win the Cup this year. That said, if you were going to write the script for how they COULD win it, it would read something like this......Crosby and Malkin played out of their minds, the PP was elite, and HCMJ defensive/puck possession system worked in a manner where the sum was greater than its parts. In order for Crosby to have the chance to dominate this postseason, he needs someone better than Kunitz on his line. As for Pouliot, YES, I absolutely am willing to depend on him the way the Bruins counted on their rookie Dmen, Krug and Bartkowski in their last Cup run.

Don't forget trading Sutter.
Kunitz Sutter Scuderi Martin lots of cap space.

I almost forgot Sutter, thanks Sarah. I'm not opposed to watching him be moved for some pieces either. I saw Toronto was open to trading Bozak. I had to wipe drool off my chin as I fantasized over Sutter+pieces for Bozak as our 3rd line C.

Hawks 1-0 after two

you can listen to this or any game on your cell (smart) phone by downloading the Penguins app. if you're in front of a computer you can listen to the game on 105.9 (the X).

If they are forced to keep Kunitz, I'd much rather see the Pens give B Bennett the next 18 games on Sid's wing. I'll bet he produces more than the 1 goal that Kunitz has. Put Kunitz on the 3rd line and just tell him to be defensively responsible and hit people. He has completely gotten away from that part of his game, and is usually floating around the perimeter of the ice nowadays.

I share the sentiments from Sarah above. It's not a "how much is he scoring" issue with Kunitz. It's all the little things that he no longer does. He seems to be adverse to doing the simple things, the safe plays. I get the sense that because he's playing with Sid he can get away from his game and try fancier things. It doesn't work. And he's slowing down. I liked Kunitz as a player, but it's time to move him down a couple lines or to move him out of town if you can.

Again, it's not that I'm saying Kunitz is owed being on the top line, I'm asking what other options are there if you move him out?

As for Bennett, sure he could go there. As long as he plays how the coaches want him and isn't benched again. As long as he continues to stay healthy. And will he perform better seeing top Dman pairs and best checking lines night in and night out?

Should they try Bennett there? I would for a game or two just to see, but I do not think he'll succeed at that spot and he's already having issues with his game as it is. Keeping him there for the balance of the season is setting Bennett up to fail.

Zico nailed it! Let me add on..........for the last 4 years you could argue that Sid elevated Kunitz' game to the point that the two had chemistry. Now, Kunitz' skills have diminished to the point where his game can no longer be elevated enough to justify the trade-off, which is just how much Kunitz' game hurts Crosby's game/performance. This is what we are now witnessing.

What other options if you move him out?

As has been said a zillion times before, the other options are MUCH BETTER to wit:
Perron Crosby Horny, Perron on his good wing and Horny with chemistry with Sid.
Comeau Makin Bennett, both of whom show chemistry with Malkin.
Kunitz on then third line, and while he may not elevate Sutter ( not even Malkin could do that ) at least he is facing lower pairings on D and not top lines on O. Which should make a big difference, cos he still has some hands and a good shot, he just needs more time and space, which he will get on a lower line.

So really if that's your argument - I.e what else could we do? - then, there's PLENTY we could do, which a lot of people see, arguably even the coaching staff, for quite some time, if DKs notes are accurate...it's just that the haven't had the gumption to demote Kunitz or hold him to the same standard that for example they hold Bennett, or Downie.

Time for some hidden vigorish.

There's the first - beau working hard today

I agree! Is there a better message that HCMJ could send than to move him to Sid's wing right now?

Sadly, nagahappa...

LOL post of the day!!!

Dream on darling....

Liked pairing of Letang and Pouliot on PP.

Would give it a few games for comfort level.

GMJR needs to Billy Beane it up, and move Kunitz just so he can't be played peroid, ala Carlos Pena. (yeah, Moneyball reference)

Believe it when I see it. He is Crosby's BFF.

Believe it when I see it. He is Crosby's BFF.

Disgusting move.

Yah I'd like to check that! It might be!
Anyway this was a just result IMO.

Actually it showcases where we are weak. Much of that is due to roster/lineup choices IMO. But that's another discussion.

A few good moves out there.

Including Kane's where he'd probably score 110% of time . . . maybe slightly higher.

Wow MAF is God awful on shootouts now? Wh knew?
Thanks for then update!!

Fleury was clueless my behind. Toews is one of the best ever in SO's and made a brilliant move and Kane is just sick with his deking ability. The only one he had a chance on was Sharp's, and that shot was just blown by him. You may well be right that MAF hasn't been as effective in SO's this year, but I say that's irrelevant since there are no SO's in the playoffs.

Fleury's notable poke check would have worked well against Kane. He's just not that comfortable in shootouts against the Hawks and that was apparent looking in his eyes before it ever started.

bwp: Had same thought on Kane's goal. Then again, Kane may have been just far enough out of reach to avoid a poke check. Or once Fleury counters with poke, Kane flips it up softly to same side.

Ridiculously crazy hands on Kane.

Fleury is first even after today

Thanks, I knew it was between those two.

Crosby needs to calm down and hang on to the puck a little longer. He needs to shoot when the shot is there. Great players want the puck on their stick with the game on the line. Not so with Crosby.

OT is about rewards?

Don't want to give him an opportunity to dangle, dirty goals are worth more.

OT MIGHT be about playing the guys who are playing well. Call that what you want. Kunitz had 4 shifts with Crosby, and Perron none. What do you call that? I call it placating a star at the expense of the best possible result.

"I call it placating a star at the expense of the best possible result." Sounds like logic of a 5 yr. old.

I hate ties!!

I like the shootouts in regular season.
I just don't like it when Marc Andre Fleury get beat.

Shootouts don't change a great hockey game: each team got a point for the regular game. One team gets an extra point for winning the skills competition.

Shootouts have no effect on whether you witnessed a great hockey game!

Love that post. Speaks to most yinzers not as sarcasm though

Very odd - Eddie O can't let it go

My goodness ...

Interesting. I posted this the moment it happened and it doesnt hit the board until after the game ends. Did I get stuck in moderation land? I am using the app so I should have been signed in and it most certainly isnt my first post...

Football and baseball refs/umpires get together to get it right. Hockey does need to adjust to a coaches challenge and allowing two timeouts

Aw, you sound like you worked really hard on those quips. Hockey Whiners Anonymous, I'll have to write that one down for future use...

Why make a comment if you can't withhold any and all insults, whether insinuated or direct? I don't care who you're referring to, whether myself or any other commenters, but please stop with those types of phrases. It benefits no one.

Zico you have got to wither learn to love groat or start ignoring him because he is a jovial eternal optimist who gives everyone a nick name and is an equal opportunity insultist. Its all in good fun for him. Its kind of like in junior high where the more a boy picks on a girl the more he secretly has a crush on her. Just wait til baseball season starts and groat rounds into midseason form!

I found that approach ver interesting. Keep the lines that have chemistry together playing together and load the point with good scoring dmen. Then play the fresher line when a PP comes up. I get it seems so wrong not to have your best scorers on the ice on the top PP because there just isnt a lot of line changes on a PP but when that top PP line seems to be broken and several different coaches dating back to Yoe have tried to fix it maybe just maybe it isnt ever goung to gel right.