Pens at Islanders Grades
Mike Adams | Report Cards
Nov 27, 12:29 PM | Hype this story!
Which game should I grade?
Offense: A
They had some chances the first two periods, then dominated the third.
Defense: A-
Only one even-strength goal allowed, and that was on a bouncing puck.
Power play: C-
It’s results that matter, but I must say I like the way they played while up a man last night. They were shooting the puck at almost every opportunity, and it led to some quality chances. Unfortunately, Joey MacDonald was Patrick Roy reincarnated for two periods, and they couldn’t dent him with the man advantage. But the effort was there. They were actually winning loose pucks. For now, putting Kennedy and Cooke on the power play looks like a good idea. They were also moving a lot, kind of rotating the top of the umbrella, and that created confusion. Keep this up, and they will be just fine.
Penalty kill: F
The PK took a step backwards. They gave up two, although one was on Sabourin. The first was basically a 5-on-3 goal, but both Scuderi and Staal let them keep whacking away at it. No matter, though, as Sabourin kicked it in. The second one was a blueline knuckleball that floated over Sabu’s glove and sent him to the showers.
Goaltending: D
Sabourin was absolutely terrible and demonstrated once again why he’ll never be a starting goalie in the NHL. Every time you give him a few games in a row, he ends the run with a stinker. That was the case last night. Two of the three goals were terrible. Had they left him in, no way do they come back. I classify goalie pulls into two categories: suck pull (the goalie sucks) and mercy pull (the team sucks). This one was about 50/50. Sabourin was horrible, but so was the team in front of him. You knew it was coming before they even said it.
Overall: B
Play 21 minutes of hockey and earn a B. Not bad for a short night’s work.
And now, the rest of the story…
Evgeni Malkin: A
Wow. He has really struggled against the Isles, but not last night. He just took this game over in the third period. I guess he must have gotten wind that Ovechkin had put up a hat trick. The plays he was making were just unbelievable.
Sidney Crosby: A
While not quite as dominant as Geno, he was every bit as effective. He got them going in the final minute of the second, on Orpik’s goal, then skated with Geno in the third and created magic. Tremendous effort by him.
Kris Letang: F
He needs to eat nachos for a few games. He is suddenly struggling.
Hal Gill: F
The USS Hal Gill was apparently torpedoed over the summer. He is back to being a slow, clumsy oaf who is of no use. Sounds like he’d be a good fit in Ottawa.
Ice: F
Ice is great in mixed drinks, bad on the roads. But it is especially bad in Nassau Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum. Pucks were bouncing like superballs last night.
Caring: A
Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for all we have. And yes we do have a lot. It’s also a good time to show we care about others. But last night was a time for the Pens to show they didn’t care about each other for two periods. Their minds and hearts were not in this game at all. Guess they were worried about today’s turkey dinner. Leave it to a Russian who probably knows nothing about Thanksgiving turkey to wake them from their slumber.
Max Talbot: A
I hope he’s okay, but it didn’t look good.
Monk Moment:
The entire Geno and Sid show in the third period. That was as dominant as you will see two linemates be. It was off Broadway, but it was a show worthy of the bright lights.
Striped Buffoon Huh? Call of the Game
I got nothing. I thought the disallowed goal was a good call. The player cannot do a Loney and push the puck and the goalie into the net.
Icehole of the Game:
Charles Wang and all the previous owners of this once-proud franchise who have allowed it to deteriorate to the point that nobody on the Island even cares about them anymore. They are a candidate to be moved if you ask me. Move them across the Sound to Hartford.
A guide to the game grades can be found here.
Comments
DS
Nov 27, 01:51 PM
Why nothing for the NHL debut of John Curry?
Alex Kirshner
Nov 27, 03:41 PM
John Curry:
A.
But I totally agree with all the grades you gave today with the exception of Letang.
He looked pretty good to me.
TK Penguin
Nov 27, 03:46 PM
Wow Tom, pretty strong words. I don’t really see how they’ve been treated “badly”. They’re the #1 defensive pairing, and they get the highest minutes of any other defensemen. Why is it wrong to say Letang hasn’t played great the last couple games? He hasn’t. He was the lone reason for the one goal. Calling a spade a spade is alright by me. He’s still a kid though, so why would we trade him?
TheOneandOnlySurge
Nov 28, 02:23 AM
Mike, since when does a goal get dissallowed because the defensive player knocked the offensive player into the goalie. If you don’t think thats what happened maybe you need to watch it again. Sid clearly tries to stop when the defensive player slides into his legs. Sid tried to go to the side but too much speed from the falling defensman sent Sid into the net. Another opportunity for the Stripped Buffoon Huh? Call of the Game, could be when Ziggomanis was called during a similiar play. He was rode into the net by the defensman but apparently that no longer matters.
Chuck
Nov 28, 10:52 AM
I disagree on the Letang grade as well. Yes he had that one bad play that led to a goal, but he was solid the rest of the game. One play doesn’t mean you had a bad game.
THEONEANDONLYSURGE
Nov 28, 04:16 PM
Tom your crazy.
True he was sent back to juniors but this had more to do with finances than his play. Sort of like how Gogo will most likely return to the AHL when Whitney and Gonchar are back. Not saying he is playing horrible but that a better player is available. Then last year he showed up at camp and dindn’t show that he should be in the NHL. Thus he was demoted. As for being benched in the AHL, I can’t comment because I don’t follow them. When he did come up he played inspired hockey. The kind of hockey everyone knows he is capable of playing. Then as for the finals, he did struggle against Detroit and his replacement, Sydor didn’t. That makes that the correct move. With all of that being addressed, he is a good defensman and will be a great defensman but he is still growing. His grade after this game isn’t just, he did have one bad play but the rest of the game he was solid.
Basically the Pens have not mistreated Letang but instead have forced him to earn everything he gets. This is how a player should be treated, no red carpet should be put out.
daismog
Nov 29, 02:11 AM
Letang was “benched” in the finals last season for personal reasons. He left the team to attend Luc Bourdon’s funeral, and when he returned, there was no other defenseman whose play made him deserve to sit instead.
Beav
Nov 29, 04:44 PM
God forbid a player in the NHL works to keep his spot. When a team has as many NHL caliber defensemen as the Pens do right now, playing poorly should get you taken out of the lineup. Perhaps you should tell your boyfriend Kris that everything will be okay and stop telling him to demand a trade because of how unfair the world is. What a joke.
boyfromtheburgh
Dec 2, 01:56 PM
I think I would stand behind HCM’s judgement on sitting Letang or not. Kris has played exceptional hockey the past two years, but he is in a little bit of a slump. HCM’s tactics have worked in the past to energize players (Orpik’s stint at wing) and get them back on their game. Kris, I believe, is looked upon to be a key defenseman for the future Penguins and they need to know in the next 18 months if he can fill that role.
But to call for him to be traded because the coach sat him a few games would be delusional. If we went by those standards, half the team would have been traded away by now.
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