We won. Our team defense is looking pretty good. But we're not generating a whole lot of speed through the neutral zone. And the Caps had more long shifts in the offensive zone than we did.
I'm not a fan of this quick up offense. We don't generate enough time in the offensive zone aside from our 4th line and when Sid/Geno do it on their own.
We won. Our team defense is looking pretty good. But we're not generating a whole lot of speed through the neutral zone. And the Caps had more long shifts in the offensive zone than we did.
I'm not a fan of this quick up offense. We don't generate enough time in the offensive zone aside from our 4th line and when Sid/Geno do it on their own.
Nope, which is strange because in 2009, the Bylsma Pens were a puck possession team.
I wrote yesterday that, while I'm not sure that Boychuk 'solves' the L2 LW issue, his presence does make TK's role on the team expendable. He had a really incredible shift with Sutter and Cooke, where the line had a few chances and Boychuk was robbed on the doorstep. TK's neutral zone decision making was brutal today.
Right there with you . . .
While I like Boychuk so far, I think what got him in trouble with the Canes was that he was starting to float. Maybe Disco's in motion game won't let him do that here but I would wait at least 10 games before throwing TK out the door.
Unless TK just plays bad. Like he has the past 2 games.
- Neal's not playing like a goal scorer anymore. He's not playing that bad but he's not getting open like he used to and he might be overpassing a little bit.
- Malkin... I have no clue why he lets up when Crosby is in the line up??? He still turns it up every once in a while but he's not driving the net and plays way to la dee dah.
+ Kunitz... Guess he's feeling better. The goals are great but I like how he's supporting Sid.
+ Martin... Played very well against a big group of F's on the Caps.
+ Sid... Good week stats wise for Sid. Everyone and their mother knew that was coming but I like seeing him mixing it up and go into tarffic like he used to.
+ Orpik... He had a tough start to the year but he's rounding back into forn nicely.
Boychuk is playing like he wants that spot. Lots of fight in this kid. May not be the biggest but he plays like he's 6'2 220lbs. Can create some offensive chances and you can see his IQ on the ice when Malkin or Neal (or Crosby) have the puck. He knows where he needs to be to get that scoring chance. He is pretty much the exact opposite of Tangradi. The kid is earning it.
Despres was an even this game. Lots of great play but also some mistakes. They happen.
Engo/Bort...this pairing can stay. This is a tremendous value 3rd pairing for us.
Orpik/Martin, both of these guys have picked up their game this year. Hope it continues.
Kunitz played well again. Amazing hatty but this doesn't excuse his horrendous play to start the season. A few more games like this and I'll remove the skepticism.
Sid played well but I can definitely tell he's 80%. Just doesn't have the no holds barred speed and grit he once did but given his situation, understandable.
Geno and Neal were quiet today. Both played well but just quiet.
I thought the Cooke-Sutter-TK line was unnoticeable today like last night.
That brings me to Glass-Vitale-Adams...and well...well you guys know No words.
Vokoun with a solid performance against his old team. That one bounce...it happens. What can ya do?
The only minus I have was Dupuis. Rough game for him.
Again, I would love to ship TK and Tangradi off for a winger to put with Sid. Then build:
+ The "single hat": Crosby has done a lot in 2 games to show he wants this team together. Forced pucks to Koon for the hatty. Giving Sutter the goal. Cooke giving Engo the goal. This is ****ing awesome.
It just needed to be quoted. Crosby needs more love for being an amazing captain, everyone knows he is an amazing hockey player.
+ Boychuk seems like a nice enough addition.
+ Rallying for Vokoun.
- Still the PP. They are getting a lot more out of the half a minute following a PK than they do the PP.
Boychuk is playing like he wants that spot. Lots of fight in this kid. May not be the biggest but he plays like he's 6'2 220lbs. Can create some offensive chances and you can see his IQ on the ice when Malkin or Neal (or Crosby) have the puck. He knows where he needs to be to get that scoring chance. He is pretty much the exact opposite of Tangradi. The kid is earning it.
Despres was an even this game. Lots of great play but also some mistakes. They happen.
Engo/Bort...this pairing can stay. This is a tremendous value 3rd pairing for us.
Orpik/Martin, both of these guys have picked up their game this year. Hope it continues.
Kunitz played well again. Amazing hatty but this doesn't excuse his horrendous play to start the season. A few more games like this and I'll remove the skepticism.
Sid played well but I can definitely tell he's 80%. Just doesn't have the no holds barred speed and grit he once did but given his situation, understandable.
Geno and Neal were quiet today. Both played well but just quiet.
I thought the Cooke-Sutter-TK line was unnoticeable today like last night.
That brings me to Glass-Vitale-Adams...and well...well you guys know No words.
Vokoun with a solid performance against his old team. That one bounce...it happens. What can ya do?
The only minus I have was Dupuis. Rough game for him.
Again, I would love to ship TK and Tangradi off for a winger to put with Sid. Then build:
I didn't see that. But shortly after that point, I jumped ahead in the game, because I was so far behind the game in real time. Glad someone got in Ribeiro's face. As others have Bortuzzo is a great teammate. He is going to have your back.
Around that time in the game, this post made me
Quote:
Originally Posted by td_ice
Mike Ribiero looks like one of those kids in a 3rd world country you can sponsor.
I watched the 2nd and 3rd period today. I just dont understand the love for Boychuk. I think a lot of it has to do with who we are comparing him to; Tangradi, Jeffrey, Kennedy, Glass and whoever else has stunk it up with Neal and Geno. The guy is small and can be knocked down if someone breathes on him. He does try to be physical despite his size which is nice. He is not a liability, so he will get more time on the line. He is quick and aggressive. I have no problem giving him more time because he does not make the line worse and if the pens continue winning. I just hope he is not a long-term solution, yet.
I watched the 2nd and 3rd period today. I just dont understand the love for Boychuk. I think a lot of it has to do with who we are comparing him to; Tangradi, Jeffrey, Kennedy, Glass and whoever else has stunk it up with Neal and Geno. The guy is small and can be knocked down if someone breathes on him. He does try to be physical despite his size which is nice. He is not a liability, so he will get more time on the line. He is quick and aggressive. I have no problem giving him more time because he does not make the line worse and if the pens continue winning. I just hope he is not a long-term solution, yet.
I don't think many of us disagree. But compared to what we have had in that spot he's a breath of fresh air imo
Just another terrible game to add to the Pens' perpetual downward spiral.
The coach has clearly lost the room. Crosby and Malkin aren't buying what DB's selling. There's no structure or discipline. This team has no passion and no compete level either - they're just going through the motions out there.
Just another terrible game to add to the Pens' perpetual downward spiral.
The coach has clearly lost the room. Crosby and Malkin aren't buying what DB's selling. There's no structure or discipline. This team has no passion and no compete level either - they're just going through the motions out there.
Just another terrible game to add to the Pens' perpetual downward spiral.
The coach has clearly lost the room. Crosby and Malkin aren't buying what DB's selling. There's no structure or discipline. This team has no passion and no compete level either - they're just going through the motions out there.
Bylsma delenda est!
Don't go there, RRP. That's a cop out post that you usually do not do. Don't make me get into a 3 hour debate about stretch passes!
Just another terrible game to add to the Pens' perpetual downward spiral.
The coach has clearly lost the room. Crosby and Malkin aren't buying what DB's selling. There's no structure or discipline. This team has no passion and no compete level either - they're just going through the motions out there.
Bylsma delenda est!
You forgot to mention the incredible breakouts and how the Pens totally skunked the Caps with the stretch passing when they had the audacity to fall back to a passive 1-2-2 to open the third.
What a game. Love the fact that once the Caps got the cheap goal they didn't get deflated. Came right back and lit them up. So much for them sucking in the 2nd.
So many +'s tonight and really no -"s ecept for maybe TK. Wasn't his best effort.
Don't go there, RRP. That's a cop out post that you usually do not do. Don't make me get into a 3 hour debate about stretch passes!
Don't bother. All is well. And, you know perfectly well (a) that the regular season is a 100% indicator of how the playoffs will go and (b) that nobody will specifically game plan for the Pens when the playoffs come. There's nothing like a false sense of security . . . again.
What a game. Love the fact that once the Caps got the cheap goal they didn't get deflated. Came right back and lit them up. So much for them sucking in the 2nd.
So many +'s tonight and really no -"s ecept for maybe TK. Wasn't his best effort.
This was the biggest plus to me. They could have really flat-lined after the flukey goal, but they just put their foots down. Sure, Holtby was bad, but the Pens had to give him the opportunity to be bad.
I don't think many of us disagree. But compared to what we have had in that spot he's a breath of fresh air imo
How about a breath of less stale air, then?
Boychuk definitely is busting his ***. But, I don't see how any reasonable (non kool-aid) drinker doesn't have doubts that he's anything but a stop gap for the L2 LW situation.
You forgot to mention the incredible breakouts and how the Pens totally skunked the Caps with the stretch passing when they had the audacity to fall back to a passive 1-2-2 to open the third.
KIRK, can you please just change your username to "STRETCH PASS BAD" so I can save some time when looking for your postgame comments after a huge win?
No words. 
