Pens At Sharks Grades
Mike Adams | Report Cards
Nov 8, 12:04 PM | Hype this story!
I stayed up for this?
For the mans against the boys?
Boy, was that ugly!
Offense: F
They had zero forecheck, zero transition, and about as many good scoring chances.
Defense: D
Skoula got schooled by Boyle. They left Heatley all alone in front for a tap-in rebound goal. They let the Sharks pretty much roam at will.
Yeo Play: F
YEO MUST GO!!!
Penalty Kill: F
Two power play goals against. The one plus was the first or second PK where they controlled the puck better than they usually do on the power play.
Goaltending: F
It’s time to sit Fleury for a couple games so he can try to get his head back together. He has certainly fallen out of the zone he was in earlier in the year. He just better hope no Team Canada scouts watched him out west, because he was pretty much putrid the whole trip. Last night just capped it off. He got beat from behind the goal line to get the Sharks off and running. How many times has it happened lately where he gives up a softy early? Way too many, that’s for sure.
Overall: F
It was a stinker, plain and simple. The less said, the better.
And now, the rest of the story…
Sid: F
Four in a row without a point.
John-Mark LeRecchi
Sid keeps setting him up and he keeps hitting the goalie right in the logo. This sure is looking like a wasteful signing by Shero.
Hockey Hall of Fame: F
It’s an absolute disgrace that they are inducting someone (Lou the Devil) who has done his best at every turn to ruin the game of hockey. Il diavolo has ruined hockey in New Jersey by ensuring his teams play the most boring defensive style they can come up with. But he’s elected to the Hall of Fame for this? What parallel universe am I living in?
Striped Buffoon Huh? Call of the Game
I simply must stop complaining about penalties not called that would have given the Pens a power play, but…
How in the heck did Tom Kowal not see Mike Rupp get tripped just as he was about to have that great chance early on?. As Bibsy said, “the referees are sleeping already.” Later on, Kris Letang was tripped in a similar situation, again, no call. And he got hurt on the play and never returned.
Monk Moment
The puck going through Fleury from behind the goal line.
A guide to the game grades can be found here.
Comments
Moq
Nov 8, 12:21 PM
This was an obvious zero point game as I predicted in another thread. Why they didn’t start Johnson, give Engelland his debut, and rest everyone with minor discomfort is a riddle to me.
Since I didn’t stay up for this one, I don’t know how Conner and Bourque faired in this game. But I think it’s time to consider replacing Conner with a different player, preferably a different type than small and speedy. Giving the opportunity to one of the youngsters isn’t going to ruin things further.
All in all, we’re in for a rough ride where I don’t think we’re capable of competing against the best teams. Especially if there are more injuries to handle after this game. Now we’re apt to collapse in the third period or earlier as opposed to the situation of a healthy roster.
Ray aka WildcatRay
Nov 8, 01:48 PM
BTW-Who is John-Mark LeRecchi?
bag o' pucks
Nov 8, 02:21 PM
Give Engelland his debut? He’s been awful in WB/S, running away with the worst +/- on the club. Fleury should have sat against LA, after his subpar performance against Anaheim. The whole team was pitiful tonight, but a horrid gift by Fleury early set the tone against Pittsburgh. He didn’t come out ready to play and put the team behind the 8-ball from the get-go.
Mike Adams
Nov 8, 02:49 PM
@MOQ: Conner and Bourque are awful. Neither is an NHL-quality winger.
@Ray: Bill Guerin. Aging winger unable to take advantage of Sid’s passes.
@Bag: He’s done that a lot lately, hasn’t he?
Pens1967
Nov 8, 04:08 PM
I don’t mind Chris Connor. He’s fine for a 4th line, energy guy type. Signing Chris Borque was a mistake, though. He really has brought nothing to the table or the team. Shero should probably bring up Bayda who can play respectably on either the 3rd or 4th line.
If Letang is going to be out, then Guenin should be called up.
Maybe the reason neither of these guys has been recalled to date is that with all the injuries many teams are also having, he thinks one or both might be claimed on re-entry waivers.
Moq
Nov 8, 05:27 PM
No, Pucks, Fleury shouldn’t have sat in LA. You play your premier goalie against opponents where there’s a good chance of getting points. (The only exception being apparent pushovers.) Both Anaheim and Los Angeles qualify according to that simple rule of thumb. San Jose seemed like a longshot for point(s), so you use the backup.
As for Engelland, he was called up for a reason. The reason was – I later discovered – a flue concern regarding Goligoski, so a debut would have been unnecessary. Arguing his +/- in WBS makes no sense as he’s recalled. I assume they don’t go out of their way to recall the most incompetent players just to help WBS.
Bourque could be claimed off waivers like we originally did. I’m not sure about Conner, but I think they should find out.
bag o' pucks
Nov 8, 06:07 PM
Moq, what an awful theory. You play your starter 70% of the time, and when he starts letting in softies. when he needs a break, you give him a game to watch from the bench. Fleury was bad against Anaheim, they won despite him. He needed a break, he didn’t get it, and he collapsed in the third period against LA. Starting your backup only in games where it looks like points are unlikely? That’s a white flag the club will eventually pick up on. Oh, he’s starting Johnson tonight, that means we can lose. Wrong in every sense, Moq.
As for Engelland, the point is he’s been the worst d-man in WB/S this season, period. +/- is an imperfect stat, but it’s an indication that his play has been very poor. When a guy who’s played that badly this season is the first call-up, that prized depth on the blue-line is gone. That was the point you missed.
67, Bourque wasn’t a signing, he was claimed on waivers from the Caps. If the Pens waive him, the Caps can/will simply claim him and assign him to Hershey.
Alex Kirshner
Nov 8, 06:10 PM
Mike, I really can’t believe you don’t agree with Lamoriello being inducted into the HHOF.
The guy is one of the greatest front office executives in the history of the game. It would be blasphemy for him not to make it in.
Absolute blasphemy.
Pens1967
Nov 8, 06:13 PM
Signing or claiming, it’s the same thing. In any rate, Borque hasn’t shown anything to be considered an NHL caliber player. If he goes on waivers, Wash is welcome to reclaim him and send him to the A.
Ray aka WildcatRay
Nov 8, 08:51 PM
Jean-Marc Le’Clarecchi?
(John-Mark LeRecchi)
Whadda ya think?
DaBich
Nov 8, 08:53 PM
I’m with Pens, Bourque is a waste of time and space. Bring someone else up.
I was so upset about this game, after I stayed up to watch it.
Can’t wait till the guys come back east, hopefully play a bit better.
Any word on Letang????
Jane
Nov 8, 09:01 PM
It was just reported on the Penguins website that Letang is going to be evaluated by the team doctors tomorrow morning in Pittsburgh. He flew to Boston with the team, then flew on to Pittsburgh. I’m hoping this isn’t a bad sign. I’m sure the team wants him looked at by their own doctors, but they haven’t said what the injury is. It looked most likely to be shoulder as he landed on his right shoulder. Those injuries can range from minor to requiring surgery. Let’s hope for the best.
DaBich
Nov 9, 08:29 AM
Thanks Jane.
Moq
Nov 9, 01:58 PM
No, Pucks, you’re not correct about Fleury nor the usual distribution of games between premier goalie and backup. Fleury wasn’t that “bence-heading” awful against Anaheim by any means, I can recall one semi-soft goal at the most. Certainly not sufficient to bench against an opponent where there’s a decent chance for points, and insufficient to throw in your backup thereby negating the plan (I assume there was a goalie plan). Throwing Johnson in against San Jose would be far less serious because of the presumed outcome. It’s simple probability, really.
Most teams start their backup in (one of) back-to-back games, against soft opponents, bad form of the premier goalie, and sometimes in games when you’re not expecting (or overly concerned about) a positive outcome. White flag, perhaps, but also a sensible approach to the game. Especially in this case where Fleury’s performances were declining. After LA there was an established downward trend, not after Anaheim.
Furthermore, I believe Johnson’s past performances haven’t given reason for the team to associate his games with inability to win and throwing the game. And, again, resting Fleury after LA wouldn’t be that peculiar to anyone. Perhaps it might have served as motivation.
Regarding Engelland, you might be right, I don’t follow WBS that eagerly. Then to reiterate, there has to be a reason why he’s preferred over Guenin and Lovejoy presuming that they’re both healthy. By itself, the +/- statistic is almost useless.
will
Nov 9, 04:38 PM
facepalm
Take a breath everyone, it’s freaking the first week of Nov and we have 12 wins. 2 weeks ago everyone was on cloud 9 as the pens were just rolling and winning games where they did not necessarily outplay the competition. Now the injuries bug has taken a bite and we’re not getting the breaks (self created) that we were a few weeks ago. Again, it’s Nov. and we’re still in first in the division, and we have 5 MAJOR parts of the team that will be coming back in the next 4 weeks… easy does it. Of course that’s just me, I rather enjoy seeing people throw players under the bus during these kind of stretches. Makes it that much more enjoyable when that player does good and the same people bashing them are on their nuts again. Bill Guerin for example ;)
bag o' pucks
Nov 9, 05:03 PM
Moq, we’ll have to agree to disagree. Your logic is very ill-conceived and you’re contradicting yourself. First, you say you play the #1 in instances “where there’s a good chance of getting points.” There’s so much wrong with that statement, I think I’ll go with a numbering system to keep track of it all.
Firstly, with the Stanley Cup Champions, that’s every game. But let’s set that aside for now. Secondly, that statement directly implies that you play your backup in games wherein points are unlikely. Then, you follow that up in your most recent post indicating that playing the backup is prudent, “against soft opponents.” Shouldn’t points be most likely against soft opponents? The short answer is yes. By the logic of your first post, that’s when they should play the #1. The smart money says that you looked at your first post, realized you were dead wrong, looked up when Johnson started and saw Phoenix (perrenial dogs, who knew they’d be good?), NYI, and Columbus. Not exactly situations where points were unlikely. So, you changed your story.
And, ideally, 55-60 starts would be perfect for a #1, and the Pens have a backup in Johnson to pull that off. That’s why they signed him, who would be comforatble with John Curry getting 20-25 starts? I wouldn’t. Will Fleury start 65 games? Probably. But you point out one thing that is pertinent, I should have typed “at least 70%.” That’s the one thing you’ve gotten right, so far.
Back to your incorrect points. Fleury’s slide did not begin with LA. It began with New Jersey two weeks ago when he gave up four on 26 shots. He rebounded, giving up only one goal while being untested against Montreal. Then Johnson played, then Fleury gave up two goals on the first four shots from Minnesota. The Wild only threw 11 more at him for the rest of the game. He was suspect again against Anaheim. That’s three questionable performances in four outings. The wheels came completely off in the third against LA, and stayed off against SJ.
I completely reject your assertion that a team, a Stanley Cup Champion, has any games whereing it’s not “overly concerned” about the outcome. But, I’ll play along, a game against LA is worth a little less than one against, say Boston, right? Well, now the club has a choice. Start Fleury, whose play is in the toilet, against an Eastern club who figures to be a part of the playoff picture, or play the backup, who should have been playing on the western swing so Fleury could have had a mental health day. Maybe it would have helped, maybe not.
I like what you bring to the table in terms of discussions about the CBA, Moq, you’ve got that stuff down. But as far as the hockey ops matters, you’ve not been remotely accurate.
Though, for the record Will, I’m not throwing Fleury under the bus. The guy just won the Cup. I’m actually indicating he needed a break he didn’t get, and the club paid for it with zero points over the last two games, and have given up the last nine goals scored in games they’ve played.
DaBich
Nov 10, 12:55 PM
OK Bags, can I rest my eyes now? lol, J/K
YOu make great points, and I agree with most of them. In saying you’re not throwing Fleury under the bus, I agree. That goes for just about the entire team. They all still show signs of life (most of them anyway). It’s a matter of getting some healthy players back and getting things gelled again. They’ll be fine, I’m sure.
bag o' pucks
Nov 10, 01:16 PM
Thanks, Dabs. Hahaha, I haven’t had that much fun here since LeTom left. =D
DaBich
Nov 10, 01:23 PM
I wonder how ol’ Tom is, now that you mention him. lol
Matt Bodenschatz
Nov 10, 01:31 PM
LeTom didn’t leave…
DaBich
Nov 10, 01:55 PM
Oh, he’s a lurker then?
Matt Bodenschatz
Nov 10, 02:14 PM
Well, that, I am unsure of. But his absence isn’t voluntary is what I’m getting at.
DaBich
Nov 10, 02:20 PM
Oooohhhhh got ya…
bag o' pucks
Nov 10, 06:30 PM
LeTom sleeps with da fishes…
DaBich
Nov 11, 11:29 AM
Smelly stuff…
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