GDT #79: Pens vs Wings

[Gaucho]

EK and Tanger both played like sh't. The difference is EK knows it.

[Trip McNeely]

I did say ITT right before puck drop that EK was going to have a monster game. I guess I was right in the sense that it was scary AF

[meecrofilm]

EK and Tanger both played like sh't. The difference is EK knows it.

Petts wasn't able to make up for EK's gaffs either. A night to forget for the pairing in general.

Has this been....a recent string of relative competency for POJ?

[Gaucho]

key word being relative

[meecrofilm]

I'll take what I can get.

[nocera]

I’m just happy that this team is somehow in a position where we have a 15 page GDT for game 79.

[King Colby]

I thought shea played a nice game and st ivany played like dogsht

[JC2]

Just about the whole defense played like drunken 5 year olds... mistakes everywhere.

[nocera]

“- I never do stuff like that, but it was worth it tonight. My biggest goal this year? Easily. More than that. It's one of the most relieving goals I've ever scored, says Erik when we meet him an hour after the game. - But if I hadn't done that, I don’t know if I’d even play my 1,000th game on Saturday. I got some kind of brain virus in the third period and made two mistakes that meant we lost a 5-3 lead. I really needed to score that goal.”

https://www.reddit.com/r/penguins/s/uJtyGg2wEn

He knows.

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

St. Ivany didn't play well but he didn't play that poorly either

[mikey]

The thing that'll be interesting to me - and it's happening very graphically in front of us - is the progression of JSI...

His first handful of games, he was timid...scared to skate even very obvious routes into the NZ.
Then some comfort, skating the routes, but doesn't really want the puck.
Now, he's trying to make the first guy miss a couple times and make a play, he's committing to hits outside the dots a bit, etc.

Naturally, he's trying some stuff and it's not always working. But that's the nature of it. You have to try and fail in order to get better.

"Well, maybe he shouldn't be doing that with three games left in the season!"

Well, maybe he doesn't ever get another chance. He'll be 25 this offseason, he's an RFA. He has 24 points in 127 pro games. If he can show that he's more than just a glass and out guy, he'll get another contract. It's a bit of a ride, but if he can find his game and get comfortable...he can be a third pairing guy in this league. He's right handed, he has good size.

When someone says, "bring up the kids*, let's see what they can do." Well, this is exactly that...except, our "kids" are basically Marcus Pettersson's age, but still...it's all house money right now anyhow.

(This isn't in response to anybody, by the way, this is just me musing)

[mikey]

“- I never do stuff like that, but it was worth it tonight. My biggest goal this year? Easily. More than that. It's one of the most relieving goals I've ever scored, says Erik when we meet him an hour after the game. - But if I hadn't done that, I don’t know if I’d even play my 1,000th game on Saturday. I got some kind of brain virus in the third period and made two mistakes that meant we lost a 5-3 lead. I really needed to score that goal.”

https://www.reddit.com/r/penguins/s/uJtyGg2wEn

He knows.

I really like EK...

[mac5155]

He always seems loose. Which is good for most guys but looks horrible when you have a brain virus in the third period of an essential elimination game.

[MR25]

I thought shea played a nice game and st ivany played like dogsht

St Ivany made some real... interesting decisions both on and off the puck that luckily didn't end up in our net.

The biggest thing I noticed about Shea is that he looks like an absolute stiff out there on skates. Like, 10:30 PM beer league-looking skater who somehow manages to make it work despite looking like they generate no power in their stride.

[mikey]

Shea - good on his edges, below average everywhere else skating-wise.

[MR25]

That sort of tracks. Just looked like he had minimal hip mobility out there. Never seen a guy's lower body do less while skating.

[nocera]

This sucks, right? From the goal call to the analysis to the "we just got a 360 cam!" editing. "Unbelievable... The way he just dragged it, lined it up, shot it."

Yeesh.

[dodint]

I enjoy EKs self-wareness and candor.

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

the goal call/“analysis” is not great but the camera work is nauseating

[mikey]

Yeah, that whole thing is rubbish...and it actually gave me one half of one second of dizziness...

[Rx6687]

I agree with the assessment of JSI. While he doesn't have a high ceiling, he could become a solid bottom pair defenseman. Ruhwedel carved out a niche for himself in a similar fashion. Maybe JSI can become the new Chad.

[LeopardLetang]

I'm thinking even better

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

really with a defenseman the only thing I ask is competency in their own end. Don't need to be a magician; just gotta know how to use your body to maintain positioning and be able to clear/break out. Maatta wasn't sexy but he did his job really well

[mikey]

"Just" "only"

Maatta is "just" that and he was just about a top 20 pick in the draft and made, what, $20 or $30 schmillion before he turned 30...? You're asking a lot more than you think sometimes...

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

lol I just mean in terms of what the defender does. doesn't need to be sexy, just consistent