NHL Regular Season 2017-18

[dwm74]

Evander Kane's cross-check to the face of Pierre Edouard Bellemare looked even nastier than the Wilson hit. Wasn't a hockey play. The play was over. Kane skated in and first cross-checked him in the arm. No big deal there, but then he gives him a pretty vicious one right in the face. Kane only got a one game suspension.

Consistency from the NHL Office has never been their strong point. Whether it's handing out suspensions, or deciding what constitutes Goaltender Interference, it's always a cr@pshoot with them.

I don't agree that Kane's cross-check was worse than the Wilson it, but for Kane to get the same 1-game suspension as Drew Doughty's hit in round 1 is a joke.

 

[grrg63]

Pretty good bending-but-not breaking D by Pens tonight (and by Caps too really), but would like to see better puck management in the Caps end.
Guentzel & Sid are kind of carrying the team as far as scoring chances go. The other lines really need to get going.
Kessel got slashed on the hand in the final regular season game. He looks like he cant even "feel" the puck.

Ovie tonight - 0 SOG

 

[dwm74]

Just glad to see the video replay was called correctly this time. It was conclusive from several angles that the puck had crossed the line more than once...up in the air then again as Malkin lunged for it as it sat near the goal line. How the ref never saw the puck was clearly into the net is beyond me. Laughed at Smith-Pelly grabbing the puck with his hand as it was several inches into the net, then looking up at the ref like a kid caught stealing cookies out of the cookie jar!

Pleased with the effort overall, but yes, more players need to step up besides 87, 59, and 71.

If I'm not mistaken, the Pens made a big trade at the deadline, but darn if I can recall who it is they picked up that was supposed to help them <sarcasm>. A whopping three points in 10 playoff games for Mr. Brassard. Dumoulin and Schultz have twice that amount. Ian Cole, they guy they traded to get him, who has never been considered an offensive contributor, has that same amount of points (3) in a single series.

 

[MJ5150]

Yep, a huge swing and a miss by Rutherford in the Brassard deal. Shame to see a good GM get caught up in the hype of a maybe average player.

-Mike

 

[dangnewt]

The Boston Globe is reporting that the B's are likely to shake up the lineups, at minimum Ryan Donato will be on the ice. The B's need to start faster and that way maybe they will create/catch a few breaks. Tampa has figured out (and is executing) a pretty effective defense (they remind me of the Julien-era B's at times - I'll admit is was more fun to watch my team play that kind of D than watching another team play it against us.) It is up to Boston to figure out how to counter it.

 

[Picton]

The Boston Globe is reporting that the B's are likely to shake up the lineups, at minimum Ryan Donato will be on the ice. The B's need to start faster and that way maybe they will create/catch a few breaks. Tampa has figured out (and is executing) a pretty effective defense (they remind me of the Julien-era B's at times - I'll admit is was more fun to watch my team play that kind of D than watching another team play it against us.) It is up to Boston to figure out how to counter it.

Heinen is the one sitting, right?

They're packed with younger talent; the problem is deciding which has the most disposable skillset for a given set of matchups. Lately, that seems to be Heinen.

 

[Selta]

Last night was an interesting game for the Pens. Once again they had a kind of slow start - that's pretty much their MO. Agree with the other comments that some other players need to step up a bit.

Brassard, just, ugh. I'm also of the mind that it was a bad trade. Pretty sure I said as much in this thread, along with some of the other trades I felt weren't that great for the Pens. Brassard sometimes, like, two shifts per game, has some good movement and makes plays, but otherwise he just isn't doing much positive work.

Malkin - one of my favorites - has been strange too. Sure, he's had moments where he's been on fire, but there's a lot of time where he's just standing still, or worse, free skating around far away from any play.

Hopefully the Pens can finish up the series in the next two games.

Kind of neat - all the series so far that have made it to four games are tied 2-2. If BOS wins tonight, all will be tied up at 2. Pretty neat

 

[DerekW]

Yep, a huge swing and a miss by Rutherford in the Brassard deal. Shame to see a good GM get caught up in the hype of a maybe average player.

-Mike

No doubt Brassard hasn’t clicked in this lineup, but he is basically an average 40 point a year type player, and the Pens needed center depth. Still agree giving up Cole wasn’t the smartest plan. But He’s got another gear... if he can find it though.

 

[Selta]

and the Pens needed center depth.

I must havae a bad understanding of depth, or the Pens have some cache of defensemen somewhere.

 

[MJ5150]

Yeah, I'm going to disagree on the Pens needing center depth heading into the playoffs.

-Mike

 

[DerekW]

I must havae a bad understanding of depth, or the Pens have some cache of defensemen somewhere.

Well, like I said, center depth. Definitely not defense depth which is why I said the Cole trade was curious.

 

[DerekW]

Yeah, I'm going to disagree on the Pens needing center depth heading into the playoffs.

-Mike

Who’d they have after Crosby and Malkin? Sheahan I guess, but he’s no great shakes, did he get to 30 points even this year?
Guentzel is a natural center I believe, but they want him on the wing with Crosby, which has worked out pretty nicely.

I don’t watch a lot of the Pens in the regular season, so I’m not sure if there’s someone I’m not thinking of.

 

[MJ5150]

Yeah, Sheahan was #3. He came to town with all the hype Brassard did. You're right, Sheahan is no great shakes and neither is Brassard.
Carter Rowney plays center as well.
To me, this felt like one of those trade deadlines where the Pens should have been spectators if they weren't going to make a splash move.

-Mike

 

[Picton]

Interesting game in Boston tonight.

 

[arbitrary]

Interesting game in Boston tonight.

The refs have played their role in that

 

[Picton]

The refs have played their role in that

I’m in favor of the Bruins, yes, but I’ve been watching lots of playoff hockey this year. The officiating has been terribly inconsistent in almost every game I’ve seen.

This one’s no exception.

 

[GonePlaid]

I’m in favor of the Bruins, yes, but I’ve been watching lots of playoff hockey this year. The officiating has been terribly inconsistent in almost every game I’ve seen.

This one’s no exception.

Consistently terrible.

 

[arbitrary]

Cest la vie

 

[MJ5150]

I think it's time for Marchand to be excused from the NHL. This licking people business is disgusting.

-Mike

 

[GonePlaid]

I think it's time for Marchand to be excused from the NHL. This licking people business is disgusting.

-Mike

If he won't knock it off, the refs are gonna tell him"we're gonna give a free pass to anyone who kicks the crap outta you for doing that". It IS disgusting And Dumb!