10/24/09-Devils vs. Penguins: 4-1 L

God. It is so frustrating playing the Devils. For a few years there they played it pretty straight up with various coaches, but now Jacques Lemaire is back so we get the same old trapping Devils again.

New Jersey played their system to perfection for the most part. They clogged the neutral zone as well as the slot. The Penguins couldn’t overcome taking poor quality shots that almost never resulted in a rebound.

As usual when the Devils play their system well, they entered the third period by a score of 2-0. After that it was a typical snooze fest with the Devils playing it safe and taking advantage of one chance they had to add a fourth goal.

Goligoski scored, however the offense in general struggled. Malkin is making a lot of errant (sp) passes lately and Staal’s line has been virtually invisible for the last couple games.

It’s only one game, however you have to wonder if the last couple games are a sign that the adrenaline the Penguins had to start the year is wearing off. Obviously Gonchar being hurt doesn’t help either.

10/23/09-Panthers vs. Penguins: W 3-2 SO

Woops, just noticed I didn’t post about the Blues game, sorry about that. They kicked the Blues’ asses and won 5-1, there ya go.

This game is one of those “a win, is a win” type of deals. The Penguins didn’t play very well at all for the first two periods, and even in the third when desperation elevated their play a bit, still looked like they were fighting the puck. Credit should go to the Panthers though, they played fast and frustrated the Penguins by ALWAYS being in the way. Vokoun also played very well, although the Penguins shot total of 43 was inflated by a lot of junky shots from beyond the circles with little to not traffic.

Brent Johnson played well yet again. So far I really have no complaints about his game. He probably deserved a win against Phoenix even though the other Penguins had no chance to give him one, and in this game he was solid and hung tough on a lot of chances in close.

Martin Skoula looked pretty stiff in his debut, but I’ll reserve judgment until I see one or two more games and see if he gets comfortable. The defense as a whole didn’t have their best game, allowing the Panthers to swarm and often take shots in very close proximity to the net.

In summary none of it matters since the Penguins squeaked out a win regardless. The Panthers probably aren’t a playoff team and they seem to be one of those teams the Penguins have problems with, so with it being the first game without Sergei Gonchar against a pesky opponent (for Pittsburgh at least) it’s best to take the two points and move on.

10/20/09-Blues vs. Penguins: W 4-1

Is it time to get a little overconfident? The Penguins yet again dismantled their opponent and did it to a greater extent than in other recent games. The Penguins outshot the Blues 20-3 after the first period and generally were all over them for most of the game. The bad part is that Sergei Gonchar will be out for about six weeks after taking a hit from David Backes and injuring his hand/wrist.

Without Gonchar, we’ll see if the Penguins can keep the momentum going. If they can however, I’m thinking they haven’t played too many rough opponents so far. The Rangers are off to a good start but we all know they’re not in the same class as Pittsburgh. The Blues are a possible playoff team, but they’re very raw and young so they’re going to have ups and downs. I’m most interested in this Saturday versus the Devils, and early November matchups against the Ducks, Sharks, Bruins (2), and Devils again.

When Will the Flyers Learn?

by Dan Lienemann

My bad everyone, didn’t see this e-mail til now but it’s a good read  -Mike

It’s not 1974. Really it’s not. This isn’t the movie Slapshot either the last time I checked. Just moments after I said to myself, “Wow the Flyers haven’t played like no skill goons” they proved me wrong and showed hockey fans everywhere that it’s just the same old Flyers.

First after MAF makes a save with only seconds remaining Richards takes a run at him that included a weak clothesline attempt. Then Super Douche Hartnell attacks Kris Letang and turned his finger into a post game snack. Finally you see Pronger with his hand wrapped around Kunitz’s neck pulling him away from the pile. So much for me trying to give them some credit.

Stellar goaltending from MAF was the main reason for the Penguins first round victory over the Flyers last season. To me a close second place goes to the Flyers game 1 goonery. Had they showed up to play hockey in game 1 instead of coming out to fight and “intimidate” then perhaps they could have won the series. Instead the easily handed the Penguins game 1 by taking multiple stupid penalties. I would think they would have learned their lesson from that game and the Penguins dominance of them during the last few years but apparently not. The Penguins just aren’t scared. It’s good to be tough and intimidating but you simply can’t win just playing “old time hockey.”

I understand that all teams are guilty of losing their cool at the end of a game or that all teams “try to send a message.” But the Flyers seem to do it way too often and at times like last night take it way too far, especially against the Penguins. Just for once can’t they just accept defeat and skate away? The only thing more pathetic is the chant of “Crosby Sucks” given by their fans even as the Flyers lose again.

10/14/09-Penguins vs. Hurricanes: W 3-2 SO

This one was a little rockier, but the Penguins pulled out a shootout win. Again, myself and others think they’re playing really solid hockey. Also, as previously stated no one is lighting up the score sheet on a consistent basis yet the last few games have looked really good as far as team play is concerned.

Fleury is still playing well. Ray Whitney’s first goal looked worse than it was. It was a nice improvised one-timer off of an angled pass, and it took Fleury by surprise but it’s one of those ones where if a Penguin scored it I don’t think anyone would recognize it as a bad goal by the opposing goalie. Crosby seems kind of quiet, but I’ve long given up worrying about him. He’ll be fine.

Cam Ward made an amazing save on Bill Guerin, and between tonight’s save and the one Ward made in Game 1 of last year’s conference finals Guerin’s gotta be laughing/shaking his head on how Ward has stoned him not once, but twice in the last six months.

Yet again no one seemed to be on a different playing field compared to the rest of the team but there’s a minimal amount of mistakes being made and the Penguins look like they’re in every game. As long as that continues I like the way they’re playing.

10/12/09-Penguins vs. Senators: W 4-1

Didn’t write about the Leafs game because I saw it very late at night and really there wasn’t much to say. They played well.

This game was pretty similar really. Ottawa looked good at times and bad at times. Spezza looked good but needs a little help (Heatley, ahem). The Penguins I thought were more consistent, and played a little above average for much of the game.

The Penguins got a couple bounces and the Senators had a couple not go their way, but essentially I think Pittsburgh deserved the win. Ottawa didn’t look too hot on the power play and didn’t generate much when Spezza wasn’t on the ice.

As long as Staal keeps scoring he’s all right with me, we’ll see how his year goes. I still maintain he doesn’t do much when he’s not putting points up. Is he a good third line center? I think so but playing solid defense isn’t enough, so let’s just temper our expectations.

Two things stuck out at me at this point so far in the season. One is that Fleury has been great since the opening faceoff of opening night. If you ask me he’s picked up right where he left off when he raised the Cup last season. You can tell he’s at his best when he’s calm in net and doesn’t waste any motion. Of course the 4-5 robberies he’s had help make it more obvious too.

The other is that since the Coyotes game the Penguins have just been on an even keel. It’s just interesting to me that the team as a whole has been incredibly steady the last couple games and at the same time Crosby and Malkin have put up good, not great (for them) stats. I’ll just be interested to see if there’s something different they’re doing that might shave a few points off their season-ending totals, but will result in more wins for the team. Of course it could just be that Malkin has poor linemates and Crosby has had some bad luck (only one assist so far this year). I also have to keep in mind they’ve played two teams I picked not to make the playoffs. Just something to think about.

10/08/09-Penguins vs. Flyers: W 5-4

After a dreadful game against Phoenix, it looks like the Penguins are at least headed in the right direction again. Both teams looked like they didn’t have their “A” game yet, but through some luck and taking advantage of opportunities Pittsburgh managed a win.

Fleury was great, as he usually is. He made some nice glove saves and kept the puck out of the net during a couple crazy sequences in front of the net. Malkin was in a groove, drawing penalties and busting through the Flyer defense more than once. Staal and Guerin managed to get their first goals of the year too.

After talking about it with my dad I’m dead set on expecting a combined 50 goals from Kunitz and Guerin. The Penguins only have about $5 million invested in Crosby’s wings, but that’s the least they can get to let me know the organization is taking the fullest advantage of Crosby’s talents. As far as Malkin’s wings……well I just hope he really does enjoy playing with Talbot when he comes back. I’m thinking WAY far ahead here but the Penguins front office always catering to Crosby worries me for when Malkin’s contract is up again.

10/07/09-Coyotes vs. Penguins: L 2-0

I hate to be blunt, but there wasn’t a single Penguin skater that had a good game tonight. I would say Letang was decent enough, he skated the puck well and pinched well, but other than that this was a total disaster beyond the goal line.

Brent Johnson played pretty well. To be honest the Coyotes collapsed and play smart, defensive hockey in the last half other so he didn’t have a whole lot to do at that point but he kept the Penguins in the game. He looked sharp and alert, which I can’t say for anyone else in a black jersey. At one point, he made a save to his left, shuffled to the right and made a save, and back to the left to rob Shane Doan with his glove hand. Little did we all know that it wouldn’t matter.

The Penguins got off to an atrocious start, taking 6 minutes worth of penalties in the first 8 minutes or so. This screwed up their lines and the entire flow (for them). One puck eventually found its way in the net, and we all hoped the Penguins would take a deep breath, get back 5 on 5 and right the ship. Good lord did that NOT happen.

The Penguins passed sloppily, had a hard time getting pucks to the net, and were generally outworked by Phoenix. I will grant the Penguins that being on the penalty kill so often made Phoenix look better than they actually were, but only to a point.

In the third period the Coyotes executed what I would call a perfect defensive period. They were all over the Penguins puck carriers, and if a puck managed to make its way towards another Penguin, they were blanketed and the play was broken up. They also routinely batted pucks out of the air, which seems like a small thing but it when you do it as often as they did it stalls the other team’s offense and can frustrate them a bit.

The Penguins travel to Philadelphia for a game with the Flyers tomorrow night at 7pm, so they don’t have too much time to sulk about this one. However, I would like to think Bylsma will do his best to light a fire under them and/or tweak some things by tomorrow night. You shouldn’t be outworked (dominated?) by a team projected to finish last in the entire league no matter how poorly you play.

I had nightmares of Therrien when I saw the Penguin lines juggled late in the game and defensemen delivering hard passes at a teammates crotch who was standing at the red line. I’m praying I don’t get the same feeling tomorrow.

Pittsburgh Voted Best Sports City for 2009 by Sporting News

Yet another “must buy” for Penguins fans.  Pick up this, the Post-Gazette, and the ones below to complete your Pens/Stanley Cup collection of junk.

Stanley Cup pics!

Almost a 4 hour wait........

...but worth it!