Faceoff Factor

WBS Pens Vs Ruiners of Hockey Grades

Mike Adams | Report Cards

Nov 13, 05:19 PM | Hype this story!

Will it ever end?
Injuries, poor play take toll
Please come back, Geno

Offense: D

Once again, not much going on. They tested Uncle Daddy a few times. Well, I should say, Sid tested him. Were there 11 other forwards dressed? I sure didn’t see them. It’s just bad luck that, when they’re struggling offensively, they draw the Devils. You know the scoring slump isn’t going to end against them.

Defense: D

Too many wide open shots and odd-man breaks allowed.

Yeo Play: F

YEO MUST GO!!!

Penalty Kill: D

The winning goal went in off Lovejoy. Need more be said?

Goaltending: B+

Fleury looked very good last night. Were it not for him, this score could have been really ugly.

Overall: D

They just have no firepower right now. As soon as the Devils got that second goal, you just knew it was over. They hung in as long as they could, but the bodies they are putting out there simply aren’t capable. It’s basically Sid, Marc-Andre, Gogo, and an AHL supporting cast.

And now, the rest of the story…

Sid: B+

He looked much more engaged last night. He was shooting and going into dirty areas after pucks. The best he’s played in awhile.

Jordan Staal: F

Best damn third line center in hockey. Too bad he has failed to step up in Geno’s absence. Third line center is all he’ll ever be. Every time he gets the puck in the offensive zone, he either gives it away or takes a weak shot. He did do one smart thing for once, though. He nullified a Pens’ power play by taking an offensive zone penalty. He is to be praised for that. More players should follow his lead.

The Chris Twins: F

Send ‘em both packing. Neither is a competent NHLer. You see, competent NHLers don’t miss an open net from a foot away

Alex Goligoski: A

Another 25-plus minutes of ice time last night.

John-Mark LeRecchi: F

Another in a string of invisible games.

Ben Lovejoy: F

What happened to the Lovejoy we saw last year? He did not look comfortable at all last night.

Jacques Lemaire: R

As in Ruiner of Hockey. Isn’t there some clause in Bettman’s role that allows him to ban coaches “in the best interests if the league?”

Lou Il Diavolo: F

Ditto. Hall of Fame? My ***. This guy’s sole mission in life is to sap every last ounce of fun from the game.

Mellon Arena Goal Horn-Blower: A

He blew the goal horn in the middle of play in the first period. Why do I suspect he did it intentionally because he was afraid he wouldn’t have the opportunity to use it the rest of the night?

Striped Buffoon Huh? Call of the Game

Nothing like changing the outcome of the game with a blatantly bad call. The Pens were trying to get something going in the Devils’ end when they inexplicably called an interference penalty on LeRecchi. He was tied up with a Devil defenseman, yet he got called. The Devils scored a power play goal to essentially win the game. Oh, and they called three penalties on New Jersey, thus ensuring the Pens’ power play would sap whatever momentum they had gained.