Penguins 23-24

[Djfan]

Couple of things standing out to me down the stretch:

1) St. Ivany + Shea are much better than Ruhwedel + Graves. Especially St. Ivany -- he's infinitely greater than Graves. It's hard to believe one is in his second year of professional hockey, and the other is a six-year NHL veteran. Their games are like night and day.
2) Malkin is playing better with a guy willing to go to the front of the net, and Bunting provides that. And when Geno plays with passion, he is still elite and incredibly entertaining.
3) O'Connor has enough speed, skill, and tenacity to be a very good top-6 forward in the very near future, if not right now.

I was out of town for 10 days, just got caught up with all of the Penguins' recent wins. It was totally unexpected...and it's been fun to watch. I said earlier in the season that I thought Ned was better than Jarry. There's no denying that anymore. I hope they make the playoffs, and the Flyers stay home.

1) Our defense has really stepped up with these two. St. Ivany is the real deal. Very excited going forward.

2) Malkin is very good in flashes. I can not call him elite. He shows up and is a real force, winning games. Then he is the turn-over, spectator Geno, who is a waste of a 2nd line guy. Unless his parents are there, you just don't know who you will get. If he is gone this year, no huge loss, IMO.

3) DOC is amazing. If he had a shot, picking where to shoot it, and being good at it, he would be all-star level. He has more hustle and want-to than most players anywhere in the league. He just has no shot. The greats know which hole to hit. Not DOC. I hope he gets this, because his skills and unprecedented work ethic in the game would make him so legit.

Welcome home

 

[topseed]

1) Our defense has really stepped up with these two. St. Ivany is the real deal. Very excited going forward.

2) Malkin is very good in flashes. I can not call him elite. He shows up and is a real force, winning games. Then he is the turn-over, spectator Geno, who is a waste of a 2nd line guy. Unless his parents are there, you just don't know who you will get. If he is gone this year, no huge loss, IMO.

3) DOC is amazing. If he had a shot, picking where to shoot it, and being good at it, he would be all-star level. He has more hustle and want-to than most players anywhere in the league. He just has no shot. The greats know which hole to hit. Not DOC. I hope he gets this, because his skills and unprecedented work ethic in the game would make him so legit.

Welcome home

OK, "elite" might not be the correct word, but Malkin has looked like a different player over the past few weeks. More determination, less fly-bys, fewer bad turnovers. Three two-goal games in his last five -- with real scores, no gift empty-netters. He was saying during one of the post-game shows that he'd like to have his parents here full time next season. I'm all for it.

I took my son on a bunch of spring visits to SEC country -- Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, and Florida, plus Florida State (who'll be in the Big Ten next year). He has scholarship offers from all 5 of those schools, along with 24 others. Two weeks ago we were at Pitt, Ohio State, and Michigan. Friday we fly out for Miami's spring game. It's been a hell of a ride so far.

 

[Djfan]

OK, "elite" might not be the correct word, but Malkin has looked like a different player over the past few weeks. More determination, less fly-bys, fewer bad turnovers. Three two-goal games in his last five -- with real scores, no gift empty-netters. He was saying during one of the post-game shows that he'd like to have his parents here full time next season. I'm all for it.

I took my son on a bunch of spring visits to SEC country -- Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, and Florida, plus Florida State (who'll be in the Big Ten next year). He has scholarship offers from all 5 of those schools, along with 24 others. Two weeks ago we were at Pitt, Ohio State, and Michigan. Friday we fly out for Miami's spring game. It's been a hell of a ride so far.

Very cool on the son. I bet your pride there is overwhelming. Congrats.

I'll agree with this post on Malkin. I still think his best years are behind him. Sharp contrast to Sid.

 

[topseed]

Very cool on the son. I bet your pride there is overwhelming. Congrats.

I'll agree with this post on Malkin. I still think his best years are behind him. Sharp contrast to Sid.

Thanks. I'm actually living every football dad's dream. It's surreal when you're sitting in the offices of some of the premier college football coaches in the country, and they tell you that your son has the potential to play in the NFL. Hard to explain what that feels like, exactly.

 

[Djfan]

Thanks. I'm actually living every football dad's dream. It's surreal when you're sitting in the offices of some of the premier college football coaches in the country, and they tell you that your son has the potential to play in the NFL. Hard to explain what that feels like, exactly.

I bet. Keep us posted!!

 

[Badcat]

Thanks. I'm actually living every football dad's dream. It's surreal when you're sitting in the offices of some of the premier college football coaches in the country, and they tell you that your son has the potential to play in the NFL. Hard to explain what that feels like, exactly.

That is freaking cool! Best of luck to your son and enjoy the ride.

 

[steel dino]

Thanks. I'm actually living every football dad's dream. It's surreal when you're sitting in the offices of some of the premier college football coaches in the country, and they tell you that your son has the potential to play in the NFL. Hard to explain what that feels like, exactly.

Congratulations top seed and son!
Let’s us know when he makes All American!

 

[JMM]

Pens looking strong again. Up 1-0 on a nice goal by Rakell off an excellent feed by Geno, with Bunting at home at the top of the crease taking away the goalie's sightlines. With a little puck luck the Pens could easily be up 2 or 3-0. They really tilted the ice for most of the period.

 

[Djfan]

Pens looking strong again. Up 1-0 on a nice goal by Rakell off an excellent feed by Geno, with Bunting at home at the top of the crease taking away the goalie's sightlines. With a little puck luck the Pens could easily be up 2 or 3-0. They really tilted the ice for most of the period.

Yes. Let's hope that they are the 60 minute men today, and not the 40 minute men this time. This team has arrived. I hope that they can take this to the playoffs.

 

[JMM]

Toronto has woken up and we're tied at 1. Pens have their work cut out for them tonight

 

[Djfan]

It's beat Sid up day.

 

[JMM]

2-1 Toronto...They really need this game to stay in the hunt. Not looking good.

 

[JMM]

There's life here Jim....2-2 on a goal by DOC

 

[JMM]

That point was critical, but let's get 2!

 

[Djfan]

They absolutely out played us in OT.

We got one point. Take it and keep on the gas. We're still OK.

 

[JMM]

Pens have to figure out how to make a quick change in OT. Even one fresh player at the end would have helped.

 

[MTC]

Interesting lineup for OT. Surprised he didn’t start with Sid and Rust and Letang/Karlsson.

Pens battled despite the Sid abuse in the 2nd

 

[MTC]

Pens have to figure out how to make a quick change in OT. Even one fresh player at the end would have helped.

They get pinned back easily. Whether it’s OT or 5 on 5. Their defensive game is horrible when they get pinned back. I get they’re trying to help the netminder, but they gotta be more aggressive in that area.


The Pens are still alive. Gotta regroup and smack Detroit silly

 

[steel dino]

They played well enough to win...

They went for the kill early in OT and that cost them...

Big point on th e road against a serious contender for the Cup...

Their still alive and battling...

 

[JMM]

The game against Detroit is going to be huge..Win and they might make it in,,lose and they have to win out and hope for help. Sure would have been easier if they woke up a little earlier in the season.

 

[SanDiegoSteeler]

The game against Detroit is going to be huge..Win and they might make it in,,

Make it so, Power that be,

 

[topseed]

They absolutely out played us in OT.

We got one point. Take it and keep on the gas. We're still OK.

Any idea why Sid and Rusty weren't out there to start OT? I put those guys out there immediately -- I like Sully, but you can't mess around with a huge point on the line.

It really is amazing how well the Pens have been playing against the top competition in the league over the last few weeks. Wins against Carolina, the Rangers, and Tampa. Taking Colorado and Toronto to overtime on the road. Who could have thought this was possible a month ago? If they somehow make it into the playoffs, it's going to be an interesting first round.

 

[Djfan]

Any idea why Sid and Rusty weren't out there to start OT? I put those guys out there immediately -- I like Sully, but you can't mess around with a huge point on the line.

It really is amazing how well the Pens have been playing against the top competition in the league over the last few weeks. Wins against Carolina, the Rangers, and Tampa. Taking Colorado and Toronto to overtime on the road. Who could have thought this was possible a month ago? If they somehow make it into the playoffs, it's going to be an interesting first round.

I read today that Sids skate was broken, so he wasn't put out there.

 

[Sarge]

Pens are on Hulu tonight. If you have a subscription, there are broadcasts from both PGH and DET.

 

[Steelersreign]

I just turned the game on.
Must win game.
I think we have to win our last 3 games and I am not sure if that will get us in