NHL Season 2018-19

[dwm74]

Matt Murray is cleared to return to action following his concussion, and will likely start tonight in Toronto.

As a Pens fan, that is a recipe for disaster. A shaky goalie, freshly back from a head injury, squaring up against the hottest team in the league, and playing with a depleted defensive corps to boot. Got a feeling I won't be watching the entire game.

Think the Leafs will hit double digits? Wouldn't be shocked to see a final score of 10-3 Toronto.

 

[MJ5150]

Nailed it again @dwm74.
I'm about done with Sullivan.

-Mike

 

[FunkySpoo]

Wow, you Pens fans wouldn’t last as a Caps fan. You guys didn’t win the cup one out of three years and are having a rough go here at the start and you’re ready to blow the whole thing up. It’s a long season and the Pens usually make some great moves at the trade deadline and more often than not steamroll through the playoffs. You guys will be fine. I mean, I hope not but you all probably will be.

 

[GoLeafsGo]

Matt Murray is cleared to return to action following his concussion, and will likely start tonight in Toronto.

As a Pens fan, that is a recipe for disaster. A shaky goalie, freshly back from a head injury, squaring up against the hottest team in the league, and playing with a depleted defensive corps to boot. Got a feeling I won't be watching the entire game.

Think the Leafs will hit double digits? Wouldn't be shocked to see a final score of 10-3 Toronto.

 

[GoLeafsGo]

Matt Murray is cleared to return to action following his concussion, and will likely start tonight in Toronto.

As a Pens fan, that is a recipe for disaster. A shaky goalie, freshly back from a head injury, squaring up against the hottest team in the league, and playing with a depleted defensive corps to boot. Got a feeling I won't be watching the entire game.

Think the Leafs will hit double digits? Wouldn't be shocked to see a final score of 10-3 Toronto.

I don't know, I am thinking it might be fun to watch two exciting high octane teams. Just wish the Leafs didn't insist on making every game an exciting adventure...

 

[dwm74]

Wow, you Pens fans wouldn’t last as a Caps fan. You guys didn’t win the cup one out of three years and are having a rough go here at the start and you’re ready to blow the whole thing up. It’s a long season and the Pens usually make some great moves at the trade deadline and more often then not steamroll through the playoffs. You guys will be fine. I mean, I hope not but you all probably will be.

I gotta give you credit for your honest perspective. Yeah, we might come across as doom and gloom, but look at it this way...
Minus a couple of 2nd & 3rd liners, we have basically the same roster that won the Cup in '16 and again in '17, so you'd think there'd be more familiarity than what we're seeing now. Players look like they've never played Sullivan's system before, and they have trouble making consistent rushes when not on the power play. (Admittedly, their PP often looks like a clinic, with 87, 71, 58, and 81 passing the biscuit around like a grown-up version of keep-away at times.) But five-on-five, they are an average team. Games that they would almost always come back and win those past few years, well, there's just not that swagger anymore. (Perhaps Rick Tocchet's influence was more than we realized?)

And let's face it, it all comes down to your backstop. Right now, none of ours on the roster are playing with any consistency and don't inspire much confidence, and the weak defense is even weaker without Schultz. It's OK to give up five goals when you know you're gonna score six, but at the moment, our offense is alseep.

As far as Rutherford making those deadline deals, sure he's made some great moves but they don't always work out. Last year's Brassard deal certainly didn't help in the playoffs, and still hasn't shown any benefits to speak of.

When your Caps don't repeat you'll understand why we feel like we do. But props for the reality check!

 

[MJ5150]

The Pens problems are obvious to all, and have been now. What did Rutherford do to fix it? Make a desperate deal for a defender who used to be good. Not gonna cut it for a team of this caliber.
Rutherford has made some good moves in the past, but the last few makes me wonder if he's lost his touch.
The way they treated Fleury was unacceptable.

-Mike

 

[FunkySpoo]

I gotta give you credit for your honest perspective. Yeah, we might come across as doom and gloom, but look at it this way...
Minus a couple of 2nd & 3rd liners, we have basically the same roster that won the Cup in '16 and again in '17, so you'd think there'd be more familiarity than what we're seeing now. Players look like they've never played Sullivan's system before, and they have trouble making consistent rushes when not on the power play. (Admittedly, their PP often looks like a clinic, with 87, 71, 58, and 81 passing the biscuit around like a grown-up version of keep-away at times.) But five-on-five, they are an average team. Games that they would almost always come back and win those past few years, well, there's just not that swagger anymore. (Perhaps Rick Tocchet's influence was more than we realized?)

And let's face it, it all comes down to your backstop. Right now, none of ours on the roster are playing with any consistency and don't inspire much confidence, and the weak defense is even weaker without Schultz. It's OK to give up five goals when you know you're gonna score six, but at the moment, our offense is alseep.

As far as Rutherford making those deadline deals, sure he's made some great moves but they don't always work out. Last year's Brassard deal certainly didn't help in the playoffs, and still hasn't shown any benefits to speak of.

When your Caps don't repeat you'll understand why we feel like we do. But props for the reality check!

All that's true but again you guys have a pretty long history of getting it going at the right time. Like in '16 I think it was. It looked like the Pens were struggling to even make the playoff then you all got Haglin and Bonino if I remember right. And bang all was good. It's a long tough season so I wouldn't be pressing the detonate button just yet.

 

[FunkySpoo]

The Pens problems are obvious to all, and have been now. What did Rutherford do to fix it? Make a desperate deal for a defender who used to be good. Not gonna cut it for a team of this caliber.
Rutherford has made some good moves in the past, but the last few makes me wonder if he's lost his touch.
The way they treated Fleury was unacceptable.

-Mike

That's for sure.

 

[dwm74]

All that's true but again you guys have a pretty long history of getting it going at the right time. Like in '16 I think it was. It looked like the Pens were struggling to even make the playoff then you all got Haglin and Bonino if I remember right. And bang all was good. It's a long tough season so I wouldn't be pressing the detonate button just yet.

Sheesh... I'd completely forgotten about Bonino. He was a huge part of those Cups, and he's not been replaced adequately. Good point.

On your team, I'd always felt Jay Beagle was a heck of a lot more important than he got credit for. Sure, his offensive numbers were nothing to get excited about, but it is all the little things he did on every shift that made him so effective. Bonino was a similar figure for us... blocking shots, winning important face-offs etc, all those intangible things that don't always show up in the box score. I think come playoff time, the Caps will be missing his presence.

 

[FunkySpoo]

Sheesh... I'd completely forgotten about Bonino. He was a huge part of those Cups, and he's not been replaced adequately. Good point.

On your team, I'd always felt Jay Beagle was a heck of a lot more important than he got credit for. Sure, his offensive numbers were nothing to get excited about, but it is all the little things he did on every shift that made him so effective. Bonino was a similar figure for us... blocking shots, winning important face-offs etc, all those intangible things that don't always show up in the box score. I think come playoff time, the Caps will be missing his presence.

Yeah, Beagle was one of those "heart and soul" type guys. And great on face-offs. You could always count on him to do the dirty, hard work. We're going to miss him.

 

[GoLeafsGo]

Okay, not sure what DWM and Mike have against Murray. Don't get to see him that often, but he looks pretty good tonight. And any team with Crosby, Malkin and Kessel is VERY dangerous....

 

[GoLeafsGo]

So we have two of the best scoring teams in the league, and after 2 periods we have...1-0. Did not see that coming...but nice to see Cullen back where he belongs.

 

[MJ5150]

Riikola dropped down to the third line with Johnson tonight, ugh.
How in the world did Malkin know that goal would go in? Crazy.

-Mike

 

[GoLeafsGo]

Well, nice to see Kadri get his first goal. Too bad it was in the wrong net....well played Penguins.

 

[MJ5150]

There you go. I wouldn't call it a statement game from the Pens, just a friendly reminder of who's who in the Eastern conference.

-Mike

 

[dwm74]

OK, I'm man enough to admit when I was wrong. Well, half wrong. I predicted Toronto would win 10-3. At least I was right on the '3' from Pittsburgh!

Unfortunately I got home from work late and then had some things to deal with and never even thought about the game until later. Checked my sports app and saw a shocking 1-0 halfway through the third, so I didn't want to jinx it by tuning in. Looks like I missed a good one.

 

[GoLeafsGo]

OK, I'm man enough to admit when I was wrong. Well, half wrong. I predicted Toronto would win 10-3. At least I was right on the '3' from Pittsburgh!

Unfortunately I got home from work late and then had some things to deal with and never even thought about the game until later. Checked my sports app and saw a shocking 1-0 halfway through the third, so I didn't want to jinx it by tuning in. Looks like I missed a good one.

Bit sloppy, not a lot of outstanding defense on either side. Murray outduelled Freddie, the win is on him. Still don't see what you guys don't like about him....

 

[GoLeafsGo]

OK, I'm man enough to admit when I was wrong. Well, half wrong. I predicted Toronto would win 10-3. At least I was right on the '3' from Pittsburgh!

Unfortunately I got home from work late and then had some things to deal with and never even thought about the game until later. Checked my sports app and saw a shocking 1-0 halfway through the third, so I didn't want to jinx it by tuning in. Looks like I missed a good one.

Yeah, you got the '3' right, but Kadri scored your second one...which is a shame, I thought he was just about the best Leaf player throughout the game.

 

[dwm74]

Bit sloppy, not a lot of outstanding defense on either side. Murray outduelled Freddie, the win is on him. Still don't see what you guys don't like about him....

I didn't see last night 's game, but he evidently played well enough to shut out the potent Leafs' offense. Speaking for myself, my biggest beef with him is his inconsistency. Last night he must have played well...but the season opener against Washington he let in 6, next game against Montreal he gave up 5, and didn't look solid at all in either game. Now you see why I half expected the Leafs to potentially hit 10. I don't think anybody would have predicted a goose-egg coming from him last night. But, as they say...that's why they play the games.