Faceoff Factor

Comments

1. bag o' pucks

   Mar 5, 10:45 PM

   Pens won’t catch Jersey, but the 4th seed is in reach. A Pitt-Philly match in the first round? Sending the Flyers home in the first round would be most excellent.

2. Matt Bodenschatz

   Mar 5, 10:48 PM

   The fourth seed certainly is within reach, but don’t let the standings points deceive you. The Flyers have three games in hand, which could increase their lead from four points over the Pens to 10 points.

   I predicted sixth, and I’ll stick to that.

3. Eric

   Mar 5, 11:07 PM

   It’s not over yet, they need to continue this. I thought tonight was one of their best games all year, system wise.

   When was the last time they won 2 games in Florida in a row? Seems like it’s been a while.

4. TheOneAndOnlySurge

   Mar 6, 12:35 AM

   Definetly a good game but it did start a little shaky. As the new guys got more comfortable they seemed to help the team roll all four lines. Hopefully they will continue on this streak and get a little breathing room. Gonch was missed but Gogo played great and it would be hard to watch him get demoted. Fleury had an excellent game and stoped shots he didn’t even see. Adams seems to be a great addition and its about time Godard got scrached. We don’t need the big guy in every game, just the ones against Philly and other games with heavyweights. Another big congrats to Gonch. Don’t hurry back, just enjoy the moment. It’s amazing how fast time goes by when you have a little one in the house. Ofcourse he knows this as he already has one.

5. bag o' pucks

   Mar 6, 12:54 AM

   Interesting take on that odd Toronto-Tampa deal that was made just before the deadline.

   http://www.fromtherink.com/2009/3/5/782101/the-450-000-fourth-round-p

6. DaBich

   Mar 6, 05:46 AM

   I thought this was a great game, and showed that the new additions to the team WILL contribute. Letangs goal was sweet, and two for TK – Awesome stuff.
   Sunday will be interesting indeed.

   Oh and Matt, you just make me miss Mile Lang more!

7. Pens1967

   Mar 6, 07:24 AM

   No doubt the wide open hockey is entertaining for the fans and fun for the players, but giving up 32 shots is not going to get it done in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Let’s face it, Florida isn’t very scary offensively and the Pens could get away with it. But against other teams who have legitimate scorers, the Pens will be hard-pressed not to spend long stretches of time in their own end.

8. Matt Bodenschatz

   Mar 6, 08:52 AM

   @Eric, without a doubt, this must continue. The last time the Pens put together an extended stretch of wins, they went downhill real quickly. Let’s not repeat history.

   @Surge, I’m anxious to see what Guerin and Kunitz can do in front of the net on the power play with Gonchar firing at every opportunity. But I agree with you, Gonchar should take a bit of time off — like until they return home Tuesday — though I suspect he’ll be back for Sunday’s game against Washington. And, on that note, I’m anxious to see Ovechkin take his runs at Crosby or Malkin with the additions of Guerin, Kunitz and Adams. Something tells me he won’t skate away with that big smile…

   @Bag, I saw that. I like Mirtle’s take that Burke did it to prove he can. I suppose with all rules there are loopholes.

   @Dabich, whose “Mile” Lang? ;) Ahh, I can’t talk, considering I was the one who didn’t change my template from the Flyers to Panthers at the top of the page.

   @Pens1967, valid points. Of course, they are still learning Bylsma’s aggressive style of play and are playing significantly better defense, despite the relatively high shot total. As long as the continue to improve — which they are doing — I’ll be happy.

9. RelentlessForecheck

   Mar 6, 09:46 AM

   The one word that kept coming to mind when I watched the game last night was “balanced.” The Pens were rolling four lines consistently and while no line was necessarily dazzling, each line managed to put pressure on offensively and create chances. I still think the Pens need a legit 30-goal trigger man to compete for the Cup, but wearing down opponents with four lines can get them pretty far.

   As for specific impressions, I’ll start with Bill Guerin. I’ll grant him a little latitude since this was his first game in a new approach, but he looked like he couldn’t keep up. He wasn’t skating nearly enough, was trailing behind Crosby and Kunitz on every breakout, and really never established himself physically. In the uptempo game the Pens play, and especially against a like-minded team in Florida, Guerin seemed more like an added weight than an inspiring presence. In the plus column, he did go to the net and he did shoot the puck every chance he got. Unless he’s got more in the tank, I think he is going to be a PP specialist and used sparingly alongside Crosby.

   Adams, on the other hand, looked very impressive. Much more skill than Godard, much more presence than any WBS call-up that could sub in the fourth line. He found good chemistry with Talbot and Dupuis, and the three did exceptional together. I would be shocked if Adams doesn’t see PK time. Sleeper pick by Shero, but a damn fine one.

   TK: That slapshot from the slot was pure money. He played with passion and aggression, he was on a mission from God last night. Tremendous game from him; it was good to see him rewarded for the effort.

   Fleury: He’s seeing the puck exceptionally well, his positioning is perfect, and his confidence is soaring. What a great time for him to start peaking…

   Crosby: What can I say but man is it good to get him back in the lineup. There was no instant magic between him and either Kunitz or Guerin, but hopefully that will develop. If he was suffering at all from the groin injury, he certainly wasn’t showing it.

   Letang: Mark my words, this guy will someday win the Norris.

   Keep up the good mojo, Washington hasn’t been great at home.

10. TheOneAndOnlySurge

    Mar 6, 09:51 AM

    32 shots in a game is not bad. What is bad is where those shots came from. They need to limit or eliminate chances from inside the slot. They need to force guys to shoot from bad angles, outside the faceoff dots and from well above the top of the faceoff circles. The problem they are having is they are giving teams the slot area. Allow guys to shoot from close in on Fleury and get to those juicy rebounds when they happen.

    Offensively I think the Pens were and are going to be solid. They just need to keep these lines and let chemistry build. A little over a dozen games till playoffs, so if these lines continue to play we should build up chemistry and be able to make an assault.

11. Pens1967

    Mar 6, 10:46 AM

    Surge, that was my point, although I didn’t make it well, that the wide open style not only generates good chances for you, but also against you. Don’t get me wrong, I like the aggressive style, but I think last year when they worked Therrien’s system to perfection, once they got a lead they were able to clog the neutral zone, limit the point blank chances and make the attacking team continually retreat into their own end. I’m not sure this team is capable of holding a lead in a close game.

    I was thinking last night what would the score have been in the game if the Pens had been playing, say Detroit with their scorers or NJ with their counter punchers, rather than Florida.

    I agree about the 4th line and felt that a key part of the Pens’ poor play until now was not having a viable 4th line that Therrien, and now Bylsma, could trust. Godard, IMHO, has been a hinderance to a 4th line all year. I think Talbot, Dupuis and Adams are a line Bylsma won’t be afraid to roll out in any situation now.

12. DaBich

    Mar 9, 04:32 AM

    “whose “Mile” Lang? “
    Pffft..It’s who’s…
    LOL!

13. DaBich

    Mar 9, 04:34 AM

    Relentlessforecheck:
    “Letang: Mark my words, this guy will someday win the Norris.”

    I was pretty much saying that last season, and he’s improving all the time.

    I’ll be happy to mark your words :)

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