Let's Face It - 3/27/2009

Jonathan Farzalo | Pittsburgh Penguins

Mar 27, 12:52 PM | Hype this story!

Let’s Face It...The powder blue uniforms are just terrible. Sure, I will admit that for the Winter Classic I was onboard; the idea of throwbacks was a good one that I hope continues as it did with Detroit and Chicago this past year. However, let’s ditch these for normal game days…

Let’s Face It...Even though the stat sheet said neither Crosby nor Malkin had a shot against Biron and the Flyers, anyone who watched the game knows Sid was robbed blind by Biron and should have been given a shot on goal for that. It doesn’t really matter, but I am tired of hearing how Crosby and Malkin were held without a shot in the same game for the second….blah blah blah.

Let’s Face It...For the past few years all people have talked about is how Sidney Crosby has no wingers, Sidney Crosby needs wingers. The Penguins go out and get 2 wingers to play with him. What has gone almost unnoticed is the fact that the two wingers playing with the leagues leading scorer, that Malkin guy, have been producing almost nothing over the past 2 or 3 weeks. A goal here or assist there, but together Ruslan Fedotenko and Petr Sykora have not been playing well (aside from a game winner by Petr). Somehow though, Geno finds a way to interject himself onto the score sheet.

Let’s Face It...Sidney Crosby is the poster boy for the NHL, he may be moving a little past the “100% good guy” persona, but in reality he isn’t going to morph into a beastly cave man who swings sticks at people and talks down about others on a regular basis. Perhaps, just perhaps he is a genuinely nice guy who has been taught to keep his mouth shut and let his play speak for him.

Let’s Face It...The fact that the Penguins scored two goals against Calgary and both were by a defenseman (Letang, Gill) simply shows how much more freedom they have and how much they have been instructed to join the rush and the play.

Let’s Face It...The Penguins have transformed into a punishing team to play against. It’s like Brooks Orpik decided to get a larger van and let the rest of the team on board to hand out free candy along side him. Kunitz, Orpik, Cooke, these three are guys no team wants to get into a crash and bang style of play with.

Comments

  1. btumpak

    Mar 27, 02:08 PM

    Let’s Face It… Another solid article with valid points.

    Go Pens.

  2. pensIN09

    Mar 27, 02:37 PM

    Good stuff. And yes the powder blue jerseys are about as cool as aids. Few games a year, any more than that and i get nauseous.

  3. Tim

    Mar 27, 04:19 PM

    Glad you pointed out the Crosby shot against Philly. Not much consolation, but when announcers are going to call attention to it, the stats should be corrected.

    Agreed, Cooke, Kunitz & Orpik bring that intensity that I have been longing for. Punish by finishing all your checks…not running around out of position.

  4. Ray

    Mar 27, 04:24 PM

    Deep six the powder blues. The REAL, the ONLY throw-backs are the unis the Pens wore when they won their 2 Stanley Cups!

    It is interesting that Malkin does find a way to get his points regardless of how his wingers are or are not playing. Could it be Sid getting matched up against the other team’s top defensive units? Could it be Gino’s extra duty on the Power Play unit? (We don’t see Sykora or Fedotenko on the PP nearly as much as the main unit guys.)

    The Pens should know they will need a strong physical presence if they have any hope of going deep in the playoffs. Makes the acquisitions of Kunitz and Guerin important.

  5. Chris

    Mar 27, 04:26 PM

    Great article. I am reading between the lines here, so maybe I’m off base but Crosby had no problem getting on the stat sheet before he had Kunitz and Guerin.

    Plus let’s face it, Sykora and Feds are better than what Sid had before the trades, they’re just playing like crap right now.

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