Comments on: Penguins PP… Who turned the lights out?

By: Reg Dunlop

Reg Dunlop — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:56:11 +0000

I just say Letang because they love to throw the cross-ice pass from the right side. Only a right-handed shooter can one time that pass. As good as I think Go-go is and can be, he cannot one time a pass from the right side….effectively. I certainly agree that the work ethic has to be there regardless of what strategy they use.

By: MS FORECZECH

MS FORECZECH — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:13:32 +0000

Does anyone have the stats on the PP after they made the change. I was keeping track of it for a while and at the the end of last month it was around 22%. Last night 25% – that’s at Montreal’s rate.

By: DR Hook

DR Hook — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:59:19 +0000

(IMHO) While Letang on the left is a good idea Goligoski looks better on the left side than on the right side leaving Letang the only other option to play that right side (besides Gonchar)… that’s why Letang has been on the 2nd PP unit and not the first for most of the season unless gonchar is not playing.

Personally, I don’t think it’s where they line up at all. It’s more the design. There’s like zero movement most of the time and I also question if there is a zone-entry plan of any kind as the enter the zone and then appear to do a (now what?) and figure it out from there.
A player in front of the net is hard work and in general floating the puck around the perimeter with long passes looking for cute spot-on passes (if successful)replaces the hard work.
You can move all the pieces all over the place but if you have the general lack of hard work on the PP it won’t make one smack of difference. Note that last night it was the 2nd PP unit that got it and I’m sticking with that (right now)as being the best fix to the problem.

By: Reg Dunlop

Reg Dunlop — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 04:36:35 +0000

I am thinking that you put Gonchar/Goligoski on the right point to “quarterback” the PP, put Letang on the left point (right handed shot so he can one time the cross ice passes that Malkin and Crosby love), let Malkin play the half wall (it is where he is happy, he can shoot real well from there & he is not right for the left point), put Guerin, Rupp, Cooke, Staal….whomever in front (and they must play in front) and let Crosby play the goal line/behind/in front of the net (I think Crosby will not complain about being moved from his spot and he is awesome at digging the puck out of the boards and getting open space). Allow the defensmen to move the puck the full width of the ice and get the goalie moving side to side.

By: Jean Pronovost

Jean Pronovost — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:18:51 +0000

Caputi won’t end up on the first PP unit, but don’t be surprised to see him on Malkin’s line. He showed some chemistry with Geno during his earlier appearance with the Pens.

By: MS FORECZECH

MS FORECZECH — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:06:12 +0000

Any bets on Cuputi immediately going to the first PP unit?

By: Ron Malore

Ron Malore — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:46:52 +0000

It isn’t panic-ville but Mario attended a long practice that wasn’t scheduled. One thing about the Pens is they don’t screw around and not do something if it calls for it. I like the EJ and Robbie Brown as PP advisors!

By: KULT SKATER

KULT SKATER — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:13:29 +0000

Cuputi is called up to replace Kunitz. He has no problem going to the net. Kunitz has a abdominal muscle tear. That explains his play. Gutsy to play with an injury like that.

By: Boombastic

Boombastic — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:49:13 +0000

Plan B is to figure out — what would Macgyver do? BOOM-BOOM-BOOM