Apologies For The Lack Of Articles
Matt Bodenschatz | Faceoff Factor News
Jun 8, 12:42 PM | Hype this story!
On behalf of the FF staff, I would like to apologize for the lack of articles in recent days. As most know, FF is purely a hobby for everyone involved, and oftentimes life intervenes. Things should pick up later today and throughout the week.
Thanks for your patience!
Comments
Jon
Jun 8, 01:26 PM
No need for apologize. You and the staff keep the rest of us entertained.
Besides… I’m sure many are still too depressed from Game 5 to talk about the Pens. ;) I know I’m still recovering.
Mike Adams
Jun 8, 01:28 PM
@ Jon,
That’s me. I just couldn’t bring myself to write about that debacle. Besides, I turned it off when it got to 5-0, so I wasn’t even qualified to write about the game.
TheOneAndOnlySurge
Jun 8, 01:33 PM
I watched the whole thing just hopping they would try to take something positive from the game but instead everyone got frustrated and just gave up. Not the team I hold to such high morals. All well I just hope game 6 will be a different result. I also hope the Pens get some quality officiating because that was what got them frustrated in the first place. One sided calls don’t belong in the Stanley Cup Final.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 8, 01:44 PM
@Jon, thanks!
I was unable to watch Saturday’s game, as I was in a wedding. In fact, I was surprised I had time to write Saturday morning.
@Surge, let’s just hope the Pens can take it to seven. Losing two years in a row to Detroit would be bad enough. Doing it both times at home would be worse. No matter how you slice it, though, a loss this year would be significantly more disappointing than the one a year ago. And that’s why the Penguins won’t lose!
TheOneAndOnlySurge
Jun 8, 04:28 PM
I actually like the idea of altering this lineup but not with Sykora. I would Gill could be scratched in favor of Gogo. Yes it is a risk in the defensive zone but he will put in an offensive push that should take off some weight from Gonchar, Letang, Crosby and Malkin. This isn’t the best answer but it the only option for a change of players.
Groove
Jun 8, 05:34 PM
If I were to sit Gill, which I am not entirely against, the obvious replacement to me is Boucher. He can play and play well. We need leadership now more than ever, if something doesn’t go the Pens way in game 6, well, the Pens can’t afford to let it snowball, which seems like a tendency nowadays. Boucher can apply the same pressure as Gogo and be a more vocal leader. How about letting both Gogo and Boucher play to shift for Gonch every other shift to keep Sarge fresher for the PP and sit Satan. After that spurt, he hasn’t done much at all to warrant playing. Sykora is not the answer at all. That would also let Sid and Malkin double shift on the fourth line with Dupuis and Adams. Dupuis can still kill penalties and is an energy guy, Satan is not. Just my 2 cents, but with your backs against the wall, give me 3 of 4 lines that Sid and/or Geno are on the ice. Let me go down with my best out there.
Albert
Jun 8, 10:03 PM
@Tom – like your line of thinking. Cut Letang loose. Have the D attacking more.
“If the defensemen are Gill and Scuderi it matters little.” Eggzactly.
Get GoGo in for Gill.
If they want to keep Gill for the PK (i get it, even though i cringe every time he’s out there), then sit Satan — he was a good story for his 1st couple/three games back, but he’s done nothing since.
Do it for game 6 in Pittsburgh, but ESPECIALLY for game 7 in Detroit where Sid will consistently draw MAX-COVERAGE in the form of Zetterberg’s line + Lidstrom’s pairing.
To counter Babcock’s MAX-D package, Bylsma is pairing Scuderi-Gill w/ Sid’s line (Kunitz-Crosby-Guerin).
That leaves Sid w/ almost ZERO help setting up the attack. Stick GoGo in there instead of Gill and we have a whole different dynamic.
Plus, GoGo can actually SKATE, and has make-up speed should he get caught a bit out of position. When Gill jumps up on the play, he’s DONE-ski if the play reverses direction.
NOT big changes.
Take one guy out (Satan) and put one guy in (GoGo) then employ the D slightly differently.
Let’s Go PENGUINS!!!
Albert
Jun 8, 10:11 PM
Maybe even show Letang some video of Orr slicing through D’s and snapping off shots that, you know, are actually ON net.
DaBich
Jun 9, 06:32 AM
Anything would be better than Saturday night’s game.
Can’t blame all on officiating, the guys looked terrible.
Hopefully after an extra day off we have more energy!
Albert
Jun 9, 10:06 AM
Just read Molinari piece saying Bylsma is considering re-inserting Sykora.
IF Sykora is healthy and ready to go, get him in there—for Satan. Put Sykora on the 2nd line, Talbot down on the 4th (on the wing, w/ Crosby and Malkin double shifting to center).
And I’d just sit Gill for Goligoski straight up. We need more scoring punch. And, facing elimination, it is no time to be conservative.
Just my three cents.
TheOneAndOnlySurge
Jun 9, 10:08 AM
Dabich the game didn’t start out that bad. But some bad calls early and the Wings capatilized. Then Pittsburgh got frustrated and took the stupid penalties. You can still put that on bad officiating because nothing the Pens did was any worse than what the Wings were doing. The difference was only the score and the refs will always favor the team with the lead when it comes to cheap shots. Either way no excuse for the poor play to the point of a five nothing score and nothing positive to take from the game.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 9, 10:39 AM
I didn’t see a second of the game — not even any highlights — so I’m not at liberty to make any specific comments.
What I can say is that adjustments must be made. Sykora, however, is not the answer, in my opinion. He hasn’t been playing for weeks, maybe even a month. I just don’t see how he will be effective after such a layoff, and I just don’t see why people think he will be clutch when he has done zippo since Bylsma took over.
If it’s me, I go with seven defenders, replacing Gill with Goligoski and replacing Satan or Dupuis with Boucher. This will allow Crosby and Malkin to double shift with the fourth line and will give the Penguins plenty of speed and offense on the blueline.
I think bumping Talbot off of Malkin’s line is a mistake. He plays the defensive role on the line, leaving the other two to concentrate on offense. Put another offensive player on that line and someone will not be effective, and I fear that someone becomes Malkin.
One loss doesn’t call for drastic changes, just adjustments. Hopefully that’s all Bylsma will do.
Groove
Jun 9, 02:39 PM
Agree 100% with Matt. If I’m going down again, I’m going down with Geno and sid on the ice 75% of the time, not 50%. besides, Gogo and boucher can move the puck, something the Pens desparately need right now.
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