By STH35
Friday, March 5, 2010
4:38 pm
With the trade deadline acquisitions, Ray Shero has given Dan Bylsma and staff a good problem — 7 NHL defensemen and 13 NHL forwards. Beyond the obvious increase in talent level, there are other advantages. First, it gives the bottom forwards a little extra motivation to stay on top of their game so they can remain in the lineup. It also gives the team an added flexibility that can be used game by game and also within a game. Depending on the type of team or type of game that the Penguins want to play, this group of players gives Bylsma tremendous leverage and strategic possibilities. How to deal with the problem. It appears as though McKee will be the odd man out on defense – a decision that I don’t think anyone could argue with. It is nice to know that if someone gets banged up, has a bad stretch, or just needs a rest, that McKee will be available. Should the Penguins have to dig any deeper, Lovejoy and Engelland are a short drive away.
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By STH35
Thursday, March 4, 2010
2:05 pm
The final 20. How teams play over the last quarter of the season is usually a solid indicator of how they will play during the playoffs. The Penguins have not played their best hockey thus far this season and they are well aware of it. Going into the playoffs with a head of steam and home ice advantage (at least in the first round) will be very important to their chances.
As I see it, three teams are good enough to win the Eastern Conference – Pittsburgh, Washington, and New Jersey. The team that does not have to go against both of the others will have the best chance for advancement – again, making these last 20 games very important as the playoff seeding is determined. ...
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By STH35
Thursday, February 25, 2010
9:32 pm
I really enjoy watching Olympic hockey. As a hockey fan, I don’t know how you couldn’t. The games are fast-paced, the skill level is awesome, the energy level is incredible. Add the patriotism and you get a tremendous tournament.
Do these games benefit the NHL? Probably not much. Has NBC given hockey maximum exposure? No – but they have their reasons. It would be nice if these games could be played either right before or right after the NHL season, but they can’t be. The Winter Olympics are held in February. Without the backdrop of Olympic competition, these games would not mean as much. So once every four years, accept some of the negatives created by these games and enjoy the hockey. ...
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By STH35
Sunday, February 14, 2010
5:26 pm
The Olympic break is here leaving 20 games in the regular season for the Penguins. Here’s hoping it gives each player plenty of time to look in the mirror and come to the conclusion that ’I must play better’. These last three games before the break have definitely been a microcosm of the season. The players continue to give lip service to effort and detail, and again fail to do either. Getting outshot 15-8 in the second period by Nashville was another of a long string of time in games where the Pens play as if the points aren’t important. Looking at my favorite telltale statistic, giveaways and takeaways, the Pens are once again a big disappointment. 8 giveaways and O takeaways against the Predators – proof of yet another lackluster effort. ...
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By STH35
Saturday, January 23, 2010
8:15 pm
The Penguins are 6-10-0 in their last 16 games. They are giving up goals at an alarming rate. 58 in this span of games for a 3.63 goals against. It seems that the only way they can get a victory lately is to score a handful or more of goals, or get a goaltending performance that is above the call of duty. Against a mediocre New York Islander team this past week they needed both. Against the Capitals they got neither.
There are only two teams in the NHL without a shutout so far this year – Pittsburgh and Carolina. Take a guess how many goalies in the league have at least one shutout this year — go ahead, you won’t come close. ...
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By STH35
Sunday, December 20, 2009
10:15 pm
Even though the powerplay was 0-5 against Buffalo, I like the new setup. The puck movement is much better. I’ve really felt all along that Crosby and Malkin had to be on opposite sides of the ice. Now that is the case. When Gonchar has the puck at center point, he will have three great options, and the penalty killers can only take two of them away. He can pass to Malkin on his left, he can pass to Crosby on his right, or he can shoot a slapshot toward the goal. After Gonchar chooses the best of these options, which he will often do because he has a great ability to read plays, good things will continue to happen. If Gonchar passes to Malkin, Malkin can either shoot, give it back. or make a cross-ice pass to Crosby. A pass to Crosby gives the option for him to shoot, give it back or cr0ss-ice pass to Malkin. A Gonchar shot on goal will be taken with the goalie screened by Guerin, or the puck will be deflected by Guerin, or a rebound will be pounced on by Guerin or the fifth member of the powerplay. This fifth player is the final piece of the puzzle. There are some options.
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By STH35
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
10:05 pm
You have to wonder what made the Flyers think that they could beat the Penguins by intimidating them. Ashem, Cote and Carcillo “three very talented hockey players”, think that they have to fight to keep their jobs in the NHL. Imagine that. They should realize that the Flyers need them to score goals in order for them to win hockey games. Carcillo proved that as he provided their only goal on the powerplay. Daniel Carcillo and powerplay goal — two things that just don’t seem to go together – truly an oxymoron. When your team is in such poor shape that Carcillo gets powerplay minutes, you know that you have some serious depth issues. I do hope that the Flyers turn their fortunes around some. Just enough so that they keep Paul Holmgrem their general manager. We wouldn’t want someone with hockey knowledge taking over that team and identifying their real weaknesses. The Flyer fans will try to help their team recapture some fire Thursday night. Even if they are successful, it will be interesting to see how long they can sustain it. That’s the view from E-11.
Note - I’m glad Thursday’s game is back on Fox Sports so I can listen to Steigerwald. LOL
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