Can we get on Staal's lack of production now? Been like 6 games without a point, he needs more Malkin.
As we've now seen over and over again, Staal produces when the team needs him most. Both superstars got out of the gate a little slowly this season, and the third line carried the mail. I wouldn't worry too much about Staal. This is something we worry about every season, but in the spring guess who is there when we need him most?
This game was fun and all, but it was one game against one of the worst defenses in the league. Kunitz and Guerin need to continue to put up solid performances for the next few games for this concern to truly die down.
This game was fun and all, but it was one game against one of the worst defenses in the league. Kunitz and Guerin need to continue to put up solid performances for the next few games for this concern to truly die down.
But for Kunitz especially, I think getting that first one will help his confidence a ton. His grip will loosen up a bit on his stick, etc... (shut up pervs)
This game was fun and all, but it was one game against one of the worst defenses in the league. Kunitz and Guerin need to continue to put up solid performances for the next few games for this concern to truly die down.
I was thinking the same thing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by invictus
But for Kunitz especially, I think getting that first one will help his confidence a ton. His grip will loosen up a bit on his stick, etc... (shut up pervs)
Yes, this could really be what he needed but until he backs this up with some more good showings, not as much as this one but respectable ones (goal and a assist or just a goal) every two or three games is not out of his reach.
I think the team is alright, we are really nitpicking now when a team is 10-2. It's regular season, the team as a whole is producing, slow down. Kunitz and Guerin aren't going to be all-star caliber players; they are going to have droughts and streaks. They aren't holding the team back, and it's nice that whenever they are struggling, we can just throw Malkin on his wing and see production.
Hard to get a powerplay point when you basically either arent even out there for a powerplay, or if you are you're on the 2nd unit with grinders during the garbage time of a PP.
That is an extremely misleading statistic.
Thats like saying Malkin has gone x amount of games without a short handed goal.
Does anyone else think Sid is playing a little differently this season? He seems to defer the puck to his wingers a little more, in anticipation of getting in goal-scoring position. Maybe it's the time he's spent playing with Geno, but Sid isn't strictly playmaking out there this season. It's the sign of a player still hungry to get better...and better.
I think the team is alright, we are really nitpicking now when a team is 10-2. It's regular season, the team as a whole is producing, slow down. Kunitz and Guerin aren't going to be all-star caliber players; they are going to have droughts and streaks. They aren't holding the team back, and it's nice that whenever they are struggling, we can just throw Malkin on his wing and see production.
Blasphemy they are 20 goal scorers, they should consistently score every 4th game, and they better learn to stagger that so one of them scores every other game!
Hard to get a powerplay point when you basically either arent even out there for a powerplay, or if you are you're on the 2nd unit with grinders during the garbage time of a PP.
That is an extremely misleading statistic.
Thats like saying Malkin has gone x amount of games without a short handed goal.
Per NHL.com he averages 1:54 a game so far this year.
Face it he just isn't very good at the powerplay at this stage of his career. Kunitz and Fedotenko have still managed powerplay points and they average the same amount of time as Staal on the powerplay.
Per NHL.com he averages 1:54 a game so far this year.
Face it he just isn't very good at the powerplay at this stage of his career. Kunitz and Fedotenko have still managed powerplay points and they average the same amount of time as Staal on the powerplay.
You shouldnt need to go to NHL.com to know when and how much PP Staal plays. I think you know full well it's Crosby, Malkin, Gonchar, Letang/Goligoski and one of Kunitz/Guerin as the main PP unit. The 2nd unit that comes out during garbage time is not really expected to score and usually rarely even make it into the offensive zone. PP2 time does not equal PP1 time.
Per NHL.com he averages 1:54 a game so far this year.
Face it he just isn't very good at the powerplay at this stage of his career. Kunitz and Fedotenko have still managed powerplay points and they average the same amount of time as Staal on the powerplay.
They get time with the big boys, though. Staal replaces Sid after about 1:30 of PP time. As Gooch put it, it's power-play garbage time.
This debate will actually have more merit now, because without Geno for a couple of weeks Staal should see time on the first unit.
Does anyone else think Sid is playing a little differently this season? He seems to defer the puck to his wingers a little more, in anticipation of getting in goal-scoring position. Maybe it's the time he's spent playing with Geno, but Sid isn't strictly playmaking out there this season. It's the sign of a player still hungry to get better...and better.
I love it.
Well, 9 goals and 5 assists would definitely support your theory
If anything, Kunitz is starting to become the playmaker of this team considering his current assist tally.
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