Pens Vs Thrashers Grades
Mike Adams | Report Cards
Mar 18, 09:38 AM | Hype this story!
Geno is ba-ack
What a performance
The flu gone, Geno erupts
And the Yeo play too
Offense: A
They seemed to have one good chance after another against old friend Moose. They only had 20 even-strength shots, but most were of high quality. The low total is also the result of spending 12 minutes shorthanded and 6 minutes on the power play.
Defense: A-
They got scored on right out of the gate when Scuderi (who was otherwise excellent) failed to take the stick or the body on Bryan Little, allowing him to punch in a rebound. The other goal was a total fluke. They rarely allowed the Thrashers any good scoring chances.
Yeo play: A
Wow, they exploded. This new alignment seems to be working. I must say, the first two power plays were very frustrating. At least until they scored on the second one. They had done little with the two-man advantage until Sarge blasted a screened slapper by Hedberg. After that, the power play was impressive, with Kunitz getting his usual dirty goal and Geno blistering a slapper past a helpless Moose. The puck movement was much better, and there is now always traffic in front.
Penalty kill: A
Another tremendous job on the PK! The Thrashers rarely threatened in seven chances. The Pens blocked 18 shots on the night, many of them on the PK. Kudos to Hal Gill for some great clears up the middle. They are high risk, but they sure worked last night.
Goaltending: A-
Fleury was fighting the puck a bit early, and allowed the opening goal. But he shut the door after that, as he was rarely tested. The second goal was a total fluke bounce off of Eaton where Fleury had no chance.
Overall: A-
I’m not sure the passion meter was pegged, but it was at about 90 percent. And that is plenty enough to beat a team going nowhere that had played the night before and had to travel. Getting scored on early was probably just the wakeup call they needed. The power play clicked. The PK was awesome. And they played very well at even strength. Can’t ask for much more than that.
And now, the rest of the story…
Sid: A
That is the best I’ve seen him skate in ages. He was just accelerating past and through people.
Geno: A
That’s A as in awesome. A as in amazing. He started a bit slow, but then he just exploded. It seemed like every pass he made went to the exact right spot. He was simply incredible.
Sarge: A
One goal, three assists, plus four. Those are Norris numbers. Other than last weekend, he has been tremendous since he came back.
Kris Letang: A
He’s still learning how to play on the power play. But he brings that great speed and right-handed shot that is so desperately needed.
Jordan Staal: A
Man, what has gotten into him? He is playing like the beast that some (like Ray Shero) thought he’d become, and not the soft invisible player that some (that would be me) thought he was.
Steigy: F
It’s bad enough when he uses a stupid nickname for a Penguin and runs it into the ground. But last night, for some reason, Slava Kozlov became “Kozzie.” I cannot tell you how annoying it was to keep hearing that.
Moose: A
Say what you will about Colby, Moose was the most popular former Penguin out there last night. It almost hurt me to see the Pens score like that on him. But nothing can take away from the memories of 2001 for me, as well as the knowledge that, as Bibsy said, there isn’t a better guy in the game right now. Mooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose.
Striped Buffoon Huh? Call of the Game
Justin St. Pierre had an extremely quick whistle for Hedberg, one where the puck was nowhere near covered.
Icehole of the Game
Eric Boulton. He basically sucker punched Talbot in the scrum at the end of the game. Gee, I didn’t see the big, brave Boulton do that to Godard, eh?
Monk Moment
When they scored their first power play goal after a miserable start to that man advantage.
Free Cookie
He nailed Toby Enstrom and Kozlov and was hitting anything that moved.
Free Candy
He railroaded Rich Peverley.
A Guide to the Grades can be found here
Comments
bag o' pucks
Mar 18, 10:14 AM
Boulton…what a jackass. Godard had him in the headlock and was whispering sweet nothings into Boulton’s ear, dropped a glove, getting ready to back out and go. What does Boulton do? He “bolts” away to go sucker punch 185lb Max Talbot in the face. Ah well, worked out, I suppose, because Godard sent Valabik to the dressing room with an injured chicken wing.
Zach Boslett
Mar 18, 10:21 AM
That chicken wing was a grade three separated shoulder according to the X morning show. Valabik now hates the Penguins more than any team he will ever play haha
Jesse Marshall
Mar 18, 10:24 AM
I commented to a few of my friends how great Sidney Crosby looked, even in the warm-up. His skating was unreal last night.
bag o' pucks
Mar 18, 11:40 AM
Grade three, eh? It was pretty clear he really over-extended. Happens once in a while with guys who don’t know how to throw a punch and just swing looking for the hay-maker.
Zach Boslett
Mar 18, 01:12 PM
I’m pretty sure as soon as Valabik realized he was fighting Godard he used his reach to try to keep him as far away as possible. When that didn’t work he was just swinging like crazy like Bag O’ Pucks said.
Ben Schmidt
Mar 18, 01:30 PM
I think the Monk Moment for me was when Gonchar and Eaton scored a goal off of a 2-on-1 breakaway. I never thought I’d see two defensemen lead the rush like that, and there’s a good chance I never will again. I’m so glad I had tickets to this game :)
Tim
Mar 18, 03:39 PM
Mike, while I agree with your grade on Fleury’s goaltending, considering the impact his puck handling/decision making (or lack thereof) has played throughout the season, I would like to suggest a grade for that aspect of his game.
He makes grading it very easy…either F for failure or Incomplete for lack of decision.
I don’t understand why Meloche doesn’t just say “make a decision, play the puck and get your arse back in the goal ASAP.” Really though, 29 shouldn’t need to have someone say that.
Jonathan Farzalo
Mar 18, 06:48 PM
@Tim, while I agree with your general assessment of MAF’s puck skills, I have to point out that last night’s “almost goal” after he played the puck was not his fault. I can’t not remember who it was but one of his own players ran into him while he was going back into the net, replays showed that this was the reason he was not in position to simply glove that down. As I said though, generally you are correct, he doesn’t have the quick thinking with the puck down just yet. But he IS light years from where he was 2 or 3 years ago.
DaBich
Mar 19, 05:47 AM
You’ll have to rename the power play again. It can’t be a Yeo Play if it works.
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