Pens At Predators Grades

Mike Adams | Report Cards

Jan 9, 10:55 AM | Hype this story!

the Pens sing the blues
in country’s hot spot
as their coach loses his grip
wake up, Ray Shero

Offense: C

Well, it certainly was productive in the first two periods, with 3 goals on 10 shots. But then they followed it up with an 0/15 in the third period. Same old, same old.

Defense: D

It was a shooting gallery for two periods.

Power Play: F

Not only didn’t they score on the power play, they allowed a momentum-changing shorthanded goal to boot. Ryan Whitney was miserable on the point.

Penalty Kill: D

They allowed their nightly power play goal, and it was the game-winner. The good news was it looked like Eaton might have exploded a finger on the winner.

Goaltending: B

As usual, Fleury kept them in it for awhile before collapsing. But he botched the first goal that let Nashville think they had a chance.

Overall: D

Another unique way to lose. This team is finished, kaput. Anyone who thinks otherwise hasn’t been watching them swirl down the toilet drain the past month. They are not a good tam. They have quit on the coach. They find new ways to lose almost every night. In short, they are actually not even fun to watch anymore. I dozed off in the third period last night because I knew they had no chance once they fell behind.

And now, the rest of the story…

Me: F

I jinxed them. When they went up 3-0, I said, “this one’s over.” Little did I know that the Predators have slightly more testicular fortitude than the Pens. But I knew it was really over once the Preds went up 4-3, and then I got it right.

Ryan Whitney: F

Gawd, was he terrible running the power play. He couldn’t keep a puck in the zone, and that led to a shorthanded goal. There’s your future power play quarterback, folks.

Jordan Stalled: A

He’s the luckiest guy on the face of the earth. He got a nice fat contract because somebody thinks he might develop into a real hockey player. I thought it was laughable when Bibsy or Steigy said that now he can relax and maybe his hands will soften up a bit. Ha! Same stone hands as always. But as for lucky, he even scored a goal when his usual weak shot was eventually directed in by a Predator.

Mark Eaton: F

I never root for an injury, but let’s just say I hope he’s out for awhile.

Max Talbot: A

Nice to see the smile back on his face. The goal has been a long time coming.

Martin Erat: A

Wouldn’t he look great alongside Sid?

Walt Stagger: A

He was the highlight of the game.

Boring Hockey: F

That first period was the worst period of hockey I’ve seen all year. I wonder how many faceoffs there were.

Striped Buffoon Huh? Call of the Game

Kerry Hairspray again??? That’s like three times in ten days. What did they do to deserve this. It just proves, when things go bad, they go really bad. But in fairness, I can’t even point out a call they botched last night.

Monk Moment

The Genius appearing behind the bench after a “prominent” Pittsburgh talk show host said his firing was “imminent.” Why, how can that be?

A guide to the game grades can be found here.

Comments

  1. bob

    Jan 9, 12:33 PM

    no doubt about any of your assessments from this quarter. I, too, was lulled into a strangely unfamiliar comfort zone by the three goal lead.

    One glaring reality from last night, and I believe both Steigy and Errey commented on, was the fact that Nashville was running “set plays”.

    The Pens got beat by a 14th place TEAM, one that runs actual PLAYS, while the Pens seem content just to run around.

  2. Shlim

    Jan 9, 12:50 PM

    I’d have to say that Whitney’s attempt at trying to hold those pucks that came RIGHT AT HIM in the zone was pathetic. Happened waaay too many times.

    I did like when Steiggy said what we were all thinking;
    When Satan had the puck in front of the net, skated around the scoring perimeter, then went behind the net and passed it… “Shoot the darn puck, Satan!”

  3. Dave

    Jan 9, 01:12 PM

    Though Whitney and Eaton are both deserving, I think Boucher should have the first star in the Awful Defensemen Award last night (number 43 in your program, number 999 in your hearts). He failed to break up the cross ice pass on the shorthanded 2 on 1 that made it 3-2 (the puck went under his stick) and he got beaten out of the corner for the next goal (that made it 3-3). He made several passes to nowhere on the breakout, was awful on the point on the powerplay both in terms of controlling the puck and getting a shot anywhere near the net. He doesn’t play hard in the corners, he isn’t physical at all in front of the net, his offensive contributions are close to zero.

    If there is one thing that Therrien is doing that baffles me right now it is playing him (on defense) instead of Goligoski. Not that Goligoski isn’t making mistakes, but at least he brings some effort and hitting and offense to the ice.

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