Fifth Avenue Forum

The turning point in the game was when Friedman got boarded. The Pens stood around like a bunch of pu$$ies. And then they wasted all momentum on powerplay.

Team is soft. Soft physically and soft mentally

We just get crushed in front of our net.

we miss Jack Johnson there

This isn’t just a net front thing. It’s a team philosophy. The focus in both creases and during board battles is the opponents stick. Taking or playing the body seems to be discouraged.

They should be sellers at the deadline no question.

I hope not.

Saw that loss coming a mile away

This team is average at best. Making the playoffs is not likely.

The turning point in the game was when Friedman got boarded. The Pens stood around like a bunch of pu$$ies. And then they wasted all momentum on powerplay.

Team is soft. Soft physically and soft mentally

Every other team in the league responds there with some sort of facewash, scrum, pushing and shoving. Not us. That should have been a 5min PP though, maybe if it’s called correctly we score and go up 4-0? Doubtful but you never know.

Dey soff?

This team is average at best. Making the playoffs is not likely.

Right. Everyone is counting on beating up the sabres and devils all second half (16 games remain against those two teams) so I assume that the BOS PHI WSH NYI have played them a ton? Either way oens have overall more GP than teams above them in standings. It’s starting to look ugly.

The turning point in the game was when Friedman got boarded. The Pens stood around like a bunch of pu$$ies. And then they wasted all momentum on powerplay.

Team is soft. Soft physically and soft mentally

I couldn't believe that. What, you think your PP is gonna do something? Yeesh. That was a sad immediate response.

This team is average at best. Making the playoffs is not likely.

Right. Everyone is counting on beating up the sabres and devils all second half (16 games remain against those two teams) so I assume that the BOS PHI WSH NYI have played them a ton? Either way oens have overall more GP than teams above them in standings. It’s starting to look ugly.

Not I. I said we'd be fortunate to get .550 hockey out of that run...we're just not that good of a team...

I stand by my "6th place with the margin being made up by loser points distributed" prediction.

I’d hate to be a buyer at the deadline and still miss the playoffs. Selling would really help restock but I don’t see that happening. Maybe we do if we lose a bunch of our BUF/NYR/NJ games over the next 2+ weeks.

Re: The 3-2 goal by Giroux



Right before this, Braun has the puck on the right half boards, and Pettersson addresses him physically. Braun is forced to wrap it behind the net. Marino is in front of the net on the far post. Pretty good shape overall. Giroux gets it behind and Marino swaps sides of the net to address him. Now, you never want two d-men behind the net. So Pettersson should have started making his way to the near side post.

But he sees Malkin there instead (it's possible out of the corner of his eye, he mistook that for a d-man), and quickly the puck is wrapped back up Pettersson's side. Which he clearly gestures for. Now it's back up Pettersson's side, he's engaged with the puck and its future puck carrier. The onus returns back to Marino to hurry back to the front of the net, or if you have a really strong defensive center and a lot of trust, you can have your center work the front and let two d-men go behind...I think that's for the birds.

Malkin is below the icing line as well. The communication should have been (if necessary at all, but it never hurts to talk) for Malkin to handle the low player Giroux, and Marino to return to the front at the near side post.

Instead, Malkin chases the puck to Aube-Kubel back on the half boards...the net front is wide open (I'm at 0:05 of the video I link below, by the way). Giroux slinks away out the back door from Marino...so even if you want to pretend that Marino is doing the right thing because he's engaged with someone, he's not...he's wrong, and he doesn't feel his man leave him...it's a on a 2 on 0 with Jarry, who steals one of them...Marino gets there just in time to kick Jarry in the head...

Re: The 3-2 goal by Giroux

thanks, mikey
good stuff
appreciate the effort you put into this

They got goals from unlikely sources, but once again, the big guns were silent.

Yup, and it's not looking like a fluke either. Mario wants them all to retire Penguins so I guess the organization's commitment to winning is second to player loyalty. Sounds lovely, but I don't think that translates to winning more Cups.

It's unfortunate that Jarry's force field only works on his own mates.

This team is average at best. Making the playoffs is not likely.

Right. Everyone is counting on beating up the sabres and devils all second half (16 games remain against those two teams) so I assume that the BOS PHI WSH NYI have played them a ton? Either way oens have overall more GP than teams above them in standings. It’s starting to look ugly.

Not I. I said we'd be fortunate to get .550 hockey out of that run...we're just not that good of a team...

At this point even if they get into the playoffs as a 4 seed, the only benefit I see if we've eliminated the potential for Minnesota to get a sweet pick on our behalf. Theres no chance in hell of doing any damage unless 87/71/58 turn back that clock 4-5 years.

Oh well. Sorry to be all doom and gloom everyone but that one hurt last night.

They got goals from unlikely sources, but once again, the big guns were silent.

Yup, and it's not looking like a fluke either. Mario wants them all to retire Penguins so I guess the organization's commitment to winning is second to player loyalty. Sounds lovely, but I don't think that translates to winning more Cups.

Mario knows better than most that you gotta get really bad to get really good in the NHL..

I would bet very very heavy that all 3 do not finish their careers as penguins. Would probably put decent money that only 1 of the 3 does, if I could get decent odds.

I think Sid definitely finishes his career here. I'd put it almost 100%. Malkin/Letang I could see eventually going to another team.

I think Sid definitely finishes his career here. I'd put it almost 100%. Malkin/Letang I could see eventually going to another team.

I say again

Yikes

I just don't know how they expect to win with this team as structured. I don't even think firing the coach really changes anything, as Sid and Malkin are now playing like older stars, there's no consistent support to help scoring, save for maybe Kapanen right now, the defense is just all over the place and you don't know what you're getting shift to shift.

It's just a team that's aging out, and I think only Sid finishes his career here, unless he really wants to go to Canada, I just don't see him leaving. Malkin/Letang could get traded tomorrow and I think it's the right call based on how it's gone so far.

I’m not handing out a free parking space here, but playing with 5 D for 60% of the game is a tough assignment.

Any loss confirms everything, any win nothing.