Panthers at Pens Grades
Mike Adams | Report Cards
Jan 6, 12:20 PM | Hype this story!
We reach the halfway point.
Offense: A
They scored only two even-strength goals, but this was an excellent offensive performance. They generated lots of quality chances against Tomas Vokoun. The key was they came out and scored two early, before Vokoun got into a groove. The first one resulted from a great forecheck by Malone, who skated hard behind the net to retrieve the puck, then whipped a semi-blind pass out front to Tyler Kennedy, who whipped it past a stunned Vokoun. That was it for even-strength production until late in the game. After Colby muffed a breakaway, they retained the puck, and eventually Malkin found a wide-open Sid in the high slot. Bang, 3-0. The Pens had a very good transition game in this one, generating numerous odd-man rushes. They got the lead early, then played a very smart game the rest of the way.
Defense: B
The defense was again good, though it did allow a fair number of quality chances. It seemed like Conklin had to make a few more key saves than he had in previous games. Especially in the second period, the Pens seemed to fall asleep at times, and Florida had some good transition chances of their own. They allowed lots of shots, but most of them were from the outside and not of real high quality. They did a good job minimizing second chances on those rare occasions when Conklin allowed a rebound. The defensemen as a whole are playing very sound hockey right now. But they are also getting lots of help form the forwards. On numerous occasions yesterday, a forward made a good play in his own end to prevent a scoring chance. They are getting in lanes, blocking shots, and coming back for the puck, making life much easier on the defensemen.
Power play: C
The power play was once again not very good. It is really heartening to see them on a winning streak with the power play struggling. Last year, there was no way this would have happened. They lived and died by the power play. This year, not so much. They did again put one in on the power play, but they also once again spent most of the rest of the power plays unable to gain the zone, unable to retrieve loose pucks, and passing way too much. The one goal they did get was very nice, as Geno once again went to the front of the net to deposit a rebound. He has that knack, when he wants to.
Penalty kill: A
They killed the only power play they gave the Panthers, allowing only one shot. This should probably be an incomplete.
Goaltending: A
He just keeps rolling right along. It is amazing to watch this. It certainly is reminiscent of Lalime or Hedberg. He most certainly is not this good, or he would have stuck in the league long ago. But you ride the wave as long as you can and hope it gets you at least to Fleury’s return. He played better than he did the previous game in this one. There were no goalposts, no near goals. Just a lot of big saves when the Pens needed them. This team has total confidence in him right now. The Fleury injury has forced them to tighten up overall. That will serve them well come playoff time.
Pens goaltending since Fleury went down: 10-4-0, 2.52 GAA, .918 save percentage (Conklin is 7-0, 1.67, .948 in his starts).
Overall: B
Another solid game. The offense clicked, though they generated only two even-strength goals. The defense was good, despite allowing a few good chances. The power play struggled most of the day. But the goaltending bailed them out again. This is the type of game where you say they played well, but they are capable of more.
And now, the rest of the story…
Jarkko Ruutu: A
He just keeps playing well. He is playing by far his best hockey as a Penguin. He is staying disciplined and playing good tough hockey. And because of that, he’s getting more ice time than he has since his arrival.
Don Cherry: F
Okay, I gave him his chance. I knew he wouldn’t retract his statements about Ruutu not fighting after he smeared the ice with Grapes’ hero Darcy Tucker, but I figured I would wait and see. Sure enough, not one mention of this fight on Coach’s Corner last night. He proved once again that he is nothing more that a blubbering xenophobic jackass.
Evgeni Malkin: A
Maybe he should play left wing all the time.
Tyler Kennedy: A
Once again, right place, right time. He just seems to get it.
Colby Armstrong: A
As bad as he sucked early in the year, that’s how well he’s playing now. He is a perfect complement to a line with two scorers on it.
Darryl Sydor: A
Amazing how good he looks when you have a goalie that can move the puck.
Pittsburgh Steelers: F
As in F-R-A-U-D-S. I hate nothing more than a bunch of big-mouthed jackasses like they have on defense who then can’t back it up with their play. Boy, does this team have a lot oh holes to fill.
“Pretty” uniforms: F
Yes, Paul Steigerwald actually called the Panthers’ new unis “pretty.” What is this, a fashion show?
Striped Buffoon Huh? Call of the Game
The only huh? in this one is why even had refs for this game. These two clowns spent the whole game pretending it was 2000 or something. Did they lose their whistles? I lost count of how many infractions (on both teams) went uncalled. It made the game into the typical snoozefest we saw earlier this decade. How Stephen Walkom can watch butchery like this, then look into a camera and say with a straight face that enforcement standards have not loosened is just laughable. If standards were the same as two years ago, these two buffoons would not be paid for yesterday. Oh, and we won’t mention the three times that refs got in the way of Penguins entering the zone. That’s what happens when you have two blind guys out there for an afternoon skate.
Icehole of the game
None. Florida didn’t show enough interest to have someone win this coveted award.
Comments
Jesse Marshall
Jan 6, 01:32 PM
I definitely think the Panthers uniforms looked nice, but “Pretty” most certainly isn’t the word I would have used.
Hannibal Lecter
Jan 6, 03:38 PM
Yea MCM I was waiting for Con Cherry to say something about Tucker too. If you seen his interview before HNIC, he wore a baseball cap very low to cover his face and during the game I rarely saw him after the 1st period. He probably had some concussion like symptoms as he rushed to the penalty box. Cherry is a jerk. He played ONE game in the NHL and thinks his crap doesn’t stink. He referred to Mario as the biggest floater in the NHL and tried the same crap with Crosby. This coming from a guy that complained to the refs for a too many men on the ice penalty back in the 70’s! Toronto/CBC pays him to pretend he’s a Leaf fan, when he’s really a Bruins fan! Sad thing is, Bourque couldn’t stop Lemieux on his BEST DAY, nor could Neely recover from Samuelsson.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jan 6, 05:48 PM
Hannibal, I am going to ask one more time. Keep your comments clean. This site is designed for people of all ages.
Hannibal Lecter
Jan 6, 06:44 PM
Bodenschatz, you’re too soff for message boards. And to think you people think you live in countries where your speech is “free.” LOL. Brainwashed.
Ashley Gallant
Jan 6, 07:05 PM
Okay, I’m not the biggest Don Cherry fan out there, and I was really, really angry at him when he made his Simon/Ruutu comments. I don’t agree with everything he says, and I didn’t care for his anti-French Canadian comments a few years back.
That being said, I respect him for speaking his mind regardless of what others say or write. I think of him as a colourful character of sorts, a person that some people just love to hate but still watch. He’s like the Simon Cowell of hockey…but he has a really, really good bar and grill restaurant.
Hannibal, just because we don’t swear on here doesn’t mean that we’re brainwashed. And I may be a little hyper-sensitive here, but I don’t care for the ‘soff’ comments – I am assuming that you’re alluding to Therrien’s speech to the media when he said that his players were soft.
Hannibal Lecter
Jan 6, 07:48 PM
Very good Ash. The only “swear” word I used was the s word. Now, if Matt can’t handle that word, then he’s obviously worried about his kids coming on the boards… As for myself, I elect not to breed, therefore words like s do not effect me in the least. I am for free speech. McDonald’s has a good restaurant as well…
I watch Con Cherry every weekend and he knows about the game but he wants to keep the game in the stone age. He doesn’t like Pittsburgh because they ruined his beloved Neely and Bourque couldn’t stop Lemieux.
Now Ash, you don’t even like the “soff” comments? How much “softer” do you want the ******* comments? I put stars in it – but I’m sure your kid can figure out what’s behind the stars. Stop whining about a swear word.
Go ahead, ban me. You will just prove that your cowards like on the other boards! Just because of a few little swear words. Wah. Keep your kid off the computer then.
Peace
Lecter Is Dumb
Jan 6, 09:02 PM
“nor could Neely recover from Samuelsson.”
Typical ignorant Hannibal Lecter post. He knows 0 about hockey yet constantly opens his mouth to spew nonsense. Samuelsson’s knee hit had nothing to do with ending Neely’s career-ending injury, which was pre-existing hip problem to the other leg. Lecter, you moron, even Neely admits that Ulfie had nothing to with it.
Jesse Marshall
Jan 6, 09:13 PM
Lecter, none of us have kids.
At least to our knowledge.
Anyway, just keep them clean. Free speech is one thing, but you’ve shown you have enough sense and good enough vocabulary to kindly avoid using that stuff around here. And I have no idea what “other boards” you are referring to.
Hannibal Lecter
Jan 6, 09:23 PM
You think Neely is going to come out and say “Yea, Ulfie ended my career?” He wanted to get into the HOF and he wasn’t going to burn any bridges. Not many pro athletes come out and say who exactly put the nail in their coffin. Did Scott Stevens end Lindros’ career? The answer is YES. Why is the answer “yes?” The answer is YES because he was never the SAME AFTER THAT HIT. Go to your little hockeydb.com and check Lindros’ stats AFTER the hit. Kasparaitis corked Lindros too but like I just said the final nail in the coffin was SCOTT STEVENS hit. You go take a knee on knee hit and see how it feels. You people come on these boards and gang up because that’s the only way you know how to fight, even when I’m making blatantly obvious points. I haven’t missed a Pens’ game in 15 years.
Hannibal Lecter
Jan 6, 09:35 PM
“Apparently, many locals have a long memory and have never forgotten what Samuelsson – generally regarded as one of the NHL’s dirtiest players ever – did to beloved Bruin winger Cam Neely’s knee in a 1991 playoff game. That knee-on-knee hit would eventually end Neely’s career prematurely at age 30 – and cement Samuelsson’s legacy as an all-time cheap shot artist.”
How else do you explain a career ending at THIRTY. Even Lemieux eclipsed that with cancer. Use your head. You don’t like my name on here so you flame me. Call a spade a spade. Ulfie blew out Cam’s knee which led to his inability to “play the game at a high level.”
And if you don’t think Con Cherry harbors any bad feelings towards Samuelsson, lol, you gotta nother thing coming.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jan 6, 11:09 PM
Hannibal, as Jesse said, if it’s that difficult to use an expanded vocabulary rather than swear words and/or stars, well, then you’ve come to the wrong place. I have no problem with the language in general, but this is not a message board. This is not a bar room, or even a hockey arena. This is an outlet for myself and other writers to present our material in a professional manner. If that isn’t to your liking, I suggest going elsewhere.
Everyone else here has found it simple enough to get their points across in a courteous manner. That’s all we ask.
Hannibal Lecter
Jan 7, 12:07 AM
Well, if by professional you mean talking the truth, then there should be no worries. I presented material to you that you didn’t agree with. Any adult should be able to handle a few s words. I will do my best to remain nicey nice for you.
DaBich
Jan 7, 06:46 AM
::yawn:: Oh…well, where were we?
Mike..great points all around. Seems as tho Conklin gets better with more pressure. Go figure.
I’m totally enjoying seeing the entire team step it up to cover for injured players. Makes for a more interesing game.
Lector…grow up, dude. You’re acting like a baby who got his fingers smacked. WAH.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jan 7, 09:33 AM
Dabich, it seems as though as key players get hurt, lesser players are always there to step up and make the best of their opportunities. Sydor filled in for Orpik for a while and did great, now Orpik is getting time with Eaton out, and he’s looking better. Taffe is playing well in Talbot’s absence, and Ruutu is making the most of additional ice time with Roberts out. And, of course, the biggie is Conklin making the absolute best of his time while Fleury is injured.
Everything I have just pointed out is the obvious. What is most impressive, however, is that no one is becoming complacent. With no reserves pushing these players and motivating them to be their best game in and game out, complacency easily could set in. Instead, the players have relished the opportunities to play more without the distraction of internal competition.
I’m impressed to say the least, but I can’t say I’m surprised. This team’s makeup is nearly identical to that of last year’s team. Last year they came on hot in January, this year it was a little earlier. In a few minutes I’ll begin a look at the standings, which I hope to have available before lunch. I think it will be an eye-opening look at just how good this team is.
Hannibal, I never disagreed with anything you said other than the fact that you have had trouble keeping the language PG. That’s all I ask. Thank you in advance, as we love having you here — you’re frequent contrasting opinions make for great discussion.
DaBich
Jan 7, 10:19 AM
One more thing, Matt, and I posted this in an earlier article…
Yes, Conklin is on a roll. HOWEVER...
I want to see him play and win against teams like the Rags, Ottawa, and New Jersey. Then we’ll see what is really what!
Hannibal Lecter
Jan 7, 10:22 AM
Cheers!
DaBich
Jan 7, 10:28 AM
LOL!
DaBich
Jan 7, 10:31 AM
Oh, one more comment, then I’m leaving it alone.
One of the reasons FF is so great, is the ability of contributors and posters to disagree and have a great discussion. Keep on disagreeing ( I’m not sure that’s spelled right), but keep the discussions clean ;)
Matt Bodenschatz
Jan 7, 10:57 AM
Dabich, I answered your other comment, but I’ll answer here as well for those who haven’t read it. Conklin is riding high. Playing Ottawa, New Jersey, etc won’t necessarily change his hot streak. What I’m trying to say is, he’s not as good as he is playing right now. So losing to a good team simply would prove that what he is doing is simply riding a hot streak — and I think we all know that.
That’s not to take anything away from Conklin — he’s winning now, and that’s all that matters.
DaBich
Jan 7, 11:36 AM
That’s my point, Matt, dahling. It would prove the point(that this is a fluke)and end speculation.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jan 7, 12:18 PM
Indeed. I don’t necessarily think it is a fluke entirely, though — that’s what I’m getting at. I think this is a capable NHL goalie we are talking about — so even when he cools down, we’re not talking about an Andy Chiodo or Sebastien Caron type goalie who has no right to be in the NHL. When he cools down, he’ll still be NHL-caliber.
Ashley Gallant
Jan 7, 01:15 PM
‘When he cools down’....As long as there are no more “Game 1 Stanley Cup finals blunders that cost the team the game.”
That one still hurts…
DaBich
Jan 7, 03:25 PM
Zactly Ashley!
Commenting is closed for this article.