GDT #24: Pens @ Flyers

[LeopardLetang]

Graves has zero confidence. He has to be able to be better than this. Last night especially it was so rough when he touched the puck

[Gaucho]

It is the PP. It is killing them.

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

the stats for this team are so intriguing because we 19th in the league in points but are still +10 in goal differential


It’s the PP. if we were even just middle of the league in PP% (~20%) we would have 6 more goals scored which is likely at least 3 more wins, possibly more. I almost feel bad saying things like “our bottom 6 is trash” or “Graves is bad” because they’re not nearly as much of an issue as our PP


we’re not a bad team…we’re actually pretty good. Other than the PP, that is

[Gaucho]

Yes.

[Gaucho]

On the other hand, the goaltending has been excellent and maybe good enough to offset the atrocious PP. Maybe we are indeed a mediocre team, defined by two extremes, one good, one bad.

[mikey]

Problems:
1. Power play
...
4. Graves
5. Third line w/o O'Connor
6. Ensuring leads/coming from behind*
7. Bottom six w/O'Connor

* - Tough to sit on one goal leads in this league. Our counter-punch game below the top line is weak, leaving us exposed to odd man chances against. But without a really good roster that can capitalize (whether that's finishing or generating, but it's mostly finishing), it's diminishing returns...

[willeyeam]

What are 2&3?

[Rx6687]

Graves really isn't very good.

[MR25]

What are 2&3?

Also the Power Play

[mikey]

Yes ^

[Morkle]

I'm interested to see what changes Dubas makes, if any through the season.

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

the most frustrating thing about yesterday is the lack of mental and physical effort on both the PP and in OT. it looked like a shitty beer league game with all the odd man rushes we gave up in both.

sadly, it's starting to feel like late-era Byslma. I like Sully but if the team doesn't start to look more engaged my body is ready to move on. Something has got to change

[Gaucho]

I'm not getting any Bylsma era vibes tbh. I do get some MJ era vibes, though. I don't think engagement and effort are an issue.

To me, the most frustrating thing about yesterday is that they wasted yet another brilliant goaltending effort. The Penguins are getting spectacular goaltending right now.

[Rylan]

I think theres a skill suffering right now. Effort and engagement is there. They just can't finish. You can coach a horse to water....

[Rx6687]

I am looking at that second line, and then at the power play, and thinking one move could help both. They need more movement, plus another shooter, and then to create more pucks that the goalie can't see clearly. It takes so much more than just some big guy standing in front of the net. Timing and shot selection are two critical elements, and right now it's all cattywampus. I've never seen a power play with so little movement have so little structure.

Management should do all they can to fix the power play, because with the level of goaltending this team is getting, they have a shot in a best of seven if they can get that figured out. The way they played last night though, the only thing they'll have a shot at is the draft lottery. If they aren't willing to even replace an assistant coach, then the next obvious solution is a trade.

[nocera]

They should add somebody like Rickard Rakell.

[willeyeam]

They should add somebody like Rickard Rakell.

ha I was going to post just this. A normal Rakell is exactly what they need

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

I think theres a skill suffering right now. Effort and engagement is there. They just can't finish. You can coach a horse to water....

did we watch the same game? the PP couldn’t even set up in the offensive zone and OT was a ****


the first two PPs of the game and the Flyers somehow had breakaways coming the other way

does Karlsson even know he has a “D” next to his name in the lineup?

[MR25]

The post you're quoting is referring to overall body of work, not last night.

[mikey]

Karlsson has had his best defensive season in several years this year believe it or not...it was like, Housley level the last few years...this performance might be better than prime Coffey even...

[Beveridge]

Rakell getting going and a PP that can actually convert at a 20-25% clip would do wonders for the way this team is playing right now outside of that.

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

have we tried putting Jarry on the power play?

[mikey]

He is on the power play...one could argue that he's been our best power play player this year...he has certainly skated the most distance while on the power play this year #NextGenStats

[shafnutz05]

They should add somebody like Rickard Rakell.

Instead we got Rickard Rakell on Wish

[Gaucho]