Sunday evening thoughts..
by Hooks Orpik on Oct 4, 2009 6:57 PM EDT
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Some random thoughts about the Penguins and the league so far in the early season...Feel free to comment on anything you're thinking...
--Two games, two "First Star of the Game" awards for Sidney Crosby. Enough said.
--Not to be a part of the "Pascal Dupuis sux" crowd but he is not meshing on the second line. At all.
--Crosby's taken 46 of the team's 121 faceoffs, winning 65.2% of them. Crosby's improved his faceoff numbers every year and is off to a great start.
--This stat is a little skewed (thanks to covering for Jay McKee's misconduct penalty) but Sergei Gonchar has played an average of 25:57 in the first two games, good for 5th in the league in the very young season.
--The 2-0 teams in the East are pretty close to exactly who you'd think they'd be a week ago: Pittsburgh, Washington, Philadelphia and Montreal.
--The biggest surprise in the East, to this point, may be Carolina stumbling out of the gate. Besides being 0-2, they've only scored 2 goals and have allowed 9. They know these ones are counting, right?
--John Tavares looked good last night and he's already showing good chemistry with Kyle Okposo. It'll be interesting to see how Tavares plays out in the NHL when, for the first time, he's not always going to be the #1 player out on the ice at times.
--For an old building, the Nassau Coliseum sure is a nice place to check a game. At least with the atmosphere last night, very lively crowd. But then at least 2 fights broke out in the upper decks and I can tell you first hand another very nearly happened. Can't hockey fans enjoy a game amongst each other, especially in October? I guess Jamie Foxx had it right, blame it on the alcohol.
--When's the last time (if ever) that Detroit was in clear 5th place in the Central division? As Penguin fans know, the European games have a very weird feel -- almost as if they should be exhibitions -- so of course we shouldn't put too much stock in these results, it's just odd to see the Red Wings at the bottom of the standings.
--Early season bizzaro stat: Goalie A: 2-0, .973 save percentage, 1.00 GAA, 1 shutout. Goalie B: 0-2, .857 save %, 3.53 GAA....Goalie A is Craig Anderson, Goalie B is Roberto Luongo.
--Early season bizzaro stat part II: Matt Cooke is on pace for 328 shots on goal (and a 0% shooting percentage). Cooke's career high is 133 shots.
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I was at the Isles game, as i live in westbury, i saw 1 fight, and the pens meetup group section appeared to have 2 people ejected. Was the fight that almost happened at the end of the shootout, by the Isles entryway?
by biggoron on Oct 4, 2009 7:49 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
some guy was beaking me down there but nothing serious.
i noticed a couple fights in the upper deck that was about 5 sections over from the pens meetup group, they were directly behind me so if there were ejections there i wouldnt have seen it.
Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*
*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night
by Hooks Orpik on Oct 5, 2009 8:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was in Section 328. What section were you in? The meetup group was like 4-5 sections from me, but I definitely saw 2 people get walked out toward the middle of the game when it was 2-1 Isles
by biggoron on Oct 5, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i was in 122 behind the goalie. keep your eyes open, the pensblog boys are doing something with a video that i’m in…..
Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*
*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night
by Hooks Orpik on Oct 5, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hooks, I might’ve seen you! I believe we were in either 223 or 225, looking at the seating chart. (As I’ve mentioned, I’m numeric-dyslexic—it was hard enough for me trying to keep track of the Pens’ numbers.)
I think because our group had children in it, and nobody really wanted to drink too much, we got a bit less abuse than others did. But boy, some people wanted to chirp at us in the parking lot after. (It was actually more funny to us than anything else—one comment in particular will be a joke between Beloved and I forever.) And there was this one knuckle-dragger at the concession area who told the little Isles-fan girl with us that she needed to “find a better class of friends” because she was laughing over something with her best friend in her Pens jersey. The Pens-fan girl fired back with, “You need to find a better class of team!” Move along, sweetie, he’s just a jerk…
"Darling, you say Brooks Orpik 'checked' that guy. He did not 'get under him and put him into the wall'."--Beloved to me, Winter 2007
"Don't beat yourself!"--Darrell Waltrip
by GreenEyedLilo on Oct 5, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
—Not to be a part of the “Pascal Dupuis sux” crowd but he is not meshing on the second line. At all.
It’s only two games in but I have to agree. His speed gets him on the line but his hands should be the reason for a quick demotion.
And as for the Anderson/Luongo stat I can honestly say I’m not surprised. I mean, Luongo will improve, no question there, but Anderson really is a great goalie. He was peppered with 40+ shots a game on Florida last year. The Panthers actually led all teams in shots against and yet he still managed some nice numbers. You get that much NHL practice and finally land on a team that can clear the crease a bit and the goalie’s true ability starts to shine.
I just feel bad for Vokoun. The Panthers don’t look like they’ve improved in that shots against department much at all. He had to make 52 saves in the season opener.
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by FrankD on Oct 4, 2009 8:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Bourque is fast and has hands. Just sayin’
by PensFan024 on Oct 5, 2009 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was just about to suggest the same thing:)) he(Bourque) might be small but they really need to try someone with more skill up on the second line… I also think the Cooke-Stall-Kennedy line should stay untouched… so other options… Tangradi??
You have to see it for yourself...
by Bla Razor on Oct 5, 2009 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tangradi needs to be in the AHL.
I think Bourque would be a decent try, but he’s played 12 NHL games, it’s not like he’s gonna be a surefire answer. Could work though.
Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*
*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night
by Hooks Orpik on Oct 5, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s early enough in the season that I think it is worth a try. Plus, it’s only temporary until Mad Max comes back.
by PensFan024 on Oct 5, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree. That Cooke-Staal-Kennedy line is good the way it is. Those guys can really cycle the puck well.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
by FrankD on Oct 5, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, Kennedy has really earned the opportunity, but Danny doesn’t want to break up the line for good reason.
by PensFan024 on Oct 5, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
But who do you want to play there?
Don’t move Kennedy up — he, Staal, and Cooke are playing great together. Craig Adams? He’s a nice, versatile player, but he’s more woeful offensively than Dupuis. Rupp? Goddard?
And you want to have Dupuis out there to kill penalties, where he is very good.
by RCheli on Oct 5, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good question. I think Dupuis belongs in the lineup; he can be a good part of the team and add some stuff (like hustle, speed and PK’ing that you mentioned).
But Dupuis creates absolutely nothing offensively, every time he touches the puck it’s seemingly misplayed, turned over or shot wide. Not much goes right for Dupuis in the offensive zone, which is kind of a big deal when he’s on Malkin’s line.
I would bump TK up to Malkin’s line and use Dupuis on the 3rd or 4th line. Dress Bourque for a game or two letting him play 3rd/4th line to get into the swing of things. Probably sit Godard in the press box. With guys like Rupp and McKee sticking up for teammates I think you could get away with not having an enforcer on some nights.
Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*
*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night
by Hooks Orpik on Oct 5, 2009 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would love to see that — Godard isn’t needed on this team any more — but I don’t see it happening. Coaches love having the enforcer, even if he’s only playing 4 or 5 minutes a game.
But I’d put Bourque on Malkin’s line — I just don’t want to move Kennedy off of playing with Staal and sit Rupp or Goddard each game.
by RCheli on Oct 5, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sounds good to me. Wish Bylsma was reading this!
I can tell you the reason for Godard in seven letters—P-r-o-n-g-e-r. A place for everyone, and everyone in their place. So far, not everyone has been placed right yet.
"Darling, you say Brooks Orpik 'checked' that guy. He did not 'get under him and put him into the wall'."--Beloved to me, Winter 2007
"Don't beat yourself!"--Darrell Waltrip
by GreenEyedLilo on Oct 5, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You have to catch Pronger to fight him and there’s no way Pronger throws with Godard even if Godard could skate well enough. Godard and Cote? I could totally see that. But what’s the real point of that?
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 5, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think Dupuis belongs on the 4th line, where he’s the one with best hands and speed… and also play the PK. Haven’t been overly impressed with Rupp in the first 2 games, so I wouldn’t mind seeing him also(not only Godard) sit out some games and see Bourque play…
You have to see it for yourself...
by Bla Razor on Oct 5, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Geno + Sid
More points please. Can’t have this Ovechkin character winning the Richard/ Hart/ MVP/ Cup?
by BDON911 on Oct 5, 2009 1:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
let ovie have the hart richard and mvp
He still wont win the cup.
by Repperson29 on Oct 5, 2009 6:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’ll gladly leave AO take all Richard and Hart trophies for the next 5 years as long as Sid shows him every spring that Hockey is still a team first sport! (and we win the Cup;)))
You have to see it for yourself...
by Bla Razor on Oct 5, 2009 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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