5 questions for the Pittsburgh Penguins season
by Hooks Orpik on Feb 25, 2010 8:00 AM EST
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PrintIt's been a long while since we've focused on the Pittsburgh Penguins' season instead of the Olympics, but with just three meaningful games left in the tournament, and practice back in session for the non-Olympians, let's take a look at five questions whose answers may just define the Penguins season from March to (hopefully) mid-June.
What's the Olympic fallout going to be?
--Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar return to the Penguins bitterly disappointed and without a medal. Will they sulk through the rest of the season or be determined to redeem themselves for a better finish in the Stanley Cup playoffs? Brooks Orpik and Sidney Crosby have now advanced deep into Olympic play, will they be tired down the stretch or reinvigorated by their success? And how will have lengthy vacations for veterans like Bill Guerin, Chris Kunitz, Max Talbot and Jay McKee? They've all been a little nicked up, will the break have done them a wonder of good.
See the other four keys to what's left of the season behind the jump....
Will the defense hold?
--Early in the season the Penguins had a lot of injuries, a natural reason for some defensive inconsistencies. But lately everyone's been healthy, yet they haven't played well. McKee isn't blocking as many shots, Alex Goligoski hasn't scored a goal since November 3rd, Mark Eaton's showing characteristic lapses in his coverages, and the Penguins are bouncing around Orpik between Sergei Gonchar and Kris Letang as the Pens try to find a partner. Which might tie in to...
Can Ray Shero add a touch to the team at the trade deadline?
--It's not going to be easy; the Penguins are right snug against the salary cap and there aren't too many sellers, which is going to make the price high. Plus the trading deadline is about 48 hours after business re-opens, it's going to be a mad shuffle.at the market. Ray Shero's worked his magic for two years in a row at the trading deadline, can he do it again? And if he can't work a reasonable deal.
Will the wingers bounce back?
--If Shero adds a top 6 winger this would help, but injuries have made Kunitz and Talbot shells of themselves this season. Ruslan Fedotenko has also had a mainly down season production wise and Guerin has shown signs of his age (though he is 3rd on the team in goals). Obviously the Pens will take their strength down the middle with Crosby-Malkin-Jordan Staal as the unmatched top center trio in the league, but last season's playoff success was greatly fueled by contributions from wingers in the playoffs. The big dogs can only do so much in a team sport during a seven game series.
How will the Pens jockey for playoff positioning end?
--It's looking like the Penguins have only a few possibilities to enter the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs: they surpass the New Jersey Devils and win the Atlantic Division, and probably earn the #3 seed or the #2 seed if they stay above the Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres (the top one figures to win the Northeastern Division). In that case the Pens will face a #6 or #7 team which could be basically any number of the second tier contenders in the mad chase for the playoffs.
If Pittsburgh can't beat New Jersey down the stretch for the Atlantic, they'll like be in the #4 or #5 hole, depending on if they finish above the loser of the Buffalo/Ottawa race. In this scenario, Pittsburgh would likely play the loser of that NE race in the first round, and then they'd see the #1 seed Washington in the second round (assuming the Pens and all other top seeds advance).
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I posted this on the last story, but I think it is more relevant here:
As for firing Gonch and Malkin up….
I am more worried that Malkin will have no confidence the rest of the year. He had a horrible turnover, missed a bunch of quality chances, and just looked like he was beaten down. He has already been having an inconsistent season, and I don’t think this will help.
Like I said below too, I’m worried that could happen.
But Malkin used a lot of criticism from his ’08 SC run to be a lot better in ’09. Hopefully he can flip the switch very quickly and do it again.
Gary Roberts was born in a log cabin in North York, Ontario that he built with his own hands weeks in advance.
For Malkin and Gonchar, I see them throwing themselves into their work to forget about what happened on their “vacation”. I think they will play inspired hockey the rest o the way.
I doubt Shero makes much, if anything happen. I think the team we have is the team we will have. For a championship team, it is always a little dangerous trying to judge how they will perform in the playoffs based on how they’ve played in the regular season. These guys know what it takes to when, and just as important, they know when the winning is really important.
As for potential playoff seeds, I don’t think it matters much. If they go in as 4/5 and get through the first round, it is almost guaranteed one of the higher seeds will be out (probably New Jersey), meaning the big Caps-Pens rematch will be on hold until the Conference Final.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Feb 25, 2010 8:45 AM EST reply actions
They know what it takes to WIN, not to WHEN
too early in the morning after another late night of hockey viewing, I guess.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Feb 25, 2010 8:46 AM EST up reply actions
Gonchar looked like the only Russian who wanted to play hockey last night in the third. He will be fine.
Geno, I worry about. Although probably Russia’s most consistent player throughout the tournament, the little elbow on Getzlaf makes me think he is going to harbor some negative emotions from this loss. Let’s hope he channels it into positive things, like another Conn Smythe.
Shero is gonna make a move. I am just waiting patiently for news.
Shero is gonna make a move. I am just waiting patiently for news.
He will if he can, but I don’t see him giving up a 1st round pick for a guy like Whitney or Ponikarovsky. I’m trying to temper expectations and prepare everyone for the event that no major trades are swung, can you tell?!
Gary Roberts was born in a log cabin in North York, Ontario that he built with his own hands weeks in advance.
I feel the same way Hooks! Cautiously optimistic that he will work his magic as he has in previous seasons……but with a high price tag on almost every winger / defensive D-man, it may not happen this trade deadline.
by GenoTheGreat on Feb 25, 2010 9:25 AM EST up reply actions
Yea Shero was on the Fan yesterday. I know hes not going to announce over the air what hes going to do. All he kept saying was hes likes his team, and theres not going to be a big deal made. It seems like if he can improve his team with giving up a mid tier prospect or a later round draft pick he will. If not, he likes his team and is confident with what he has. As much as I’d like to see Whitney in a Pens uni, Shero doesnt seem willing to part with much. Certainly not a 1st pick and prospect. I wonder what ATL would want for Maxim Afonaganov. Only makes 800,000k. Can you really ask for a first round pick for him?
by genomachine-O on Feb 25, 2010 11:44 AM EST up reply actions
Problem is that Atlanta is only two points out of the playoffs, and they have some games in hand on teams they’re chasing. I don’t expect they’ll be sellers before the deadline.
Also the problem is Afinogenov is not good when he doesn’t have the puck. I’d pass on him anyways
Wayne Gretzky had it wrong: 100% of the shots Gary Roberts doesn't take DO go in.
by Hooks Orpik on Feb 25, 2010 11:51 AM EST up reply actions
Lets be honest though if the Pens bring in a winger its not going to be for their defensive abilities. Atlanta might not give up on Max, but I doubt he resigns there anyway. Its a stretch, but that might be the price range the Pens would have to go to without dumping salary. To save room for the stretch run in case there are injuries. Its probably not going to happen, but Id like to see another Russian on Genos wing for whatever reason.
by genomachine-O on Feb 25, 2010 2:31 PM EST up reply actions
I bet they’d take their chances on Guerin/Kunitz and Fedotenko/Talbot as the top line wingers before getting a defensive irresponsible guy who may not fit the system and team chemistry like Afinogenov.
It may not be pretty, but it won last time.
Wayne Gretzky had it wrong: 100% of the shots Gary Roberts doesn't take DO go in.
defensive irresponsible guy
Did any of you who want Max Af. watch any Olympic Hockey? He is awful when he doesn’t have the puck, like Hooks said. We already have one Russian who doesn’t like to play defense too much.
like Hooks said
In a typically brutal grammatical fashion, no less!
Wayne Gretzky had it wrong: 100% of the shots Gary Roberts doesn't take DO go in.
Always referring to myself for mistakes, my man.
Wayne Gretzky had it wrong: 100% of the shots Gary Roberts doesn't take DO go in.
by Hooks Orpik on Feb 26, 2010 11:21 AM EST up reply actions
Not to be the pessimist out of it all, but the Flames’ GM said “Phaneuf is going nowhere,” about a week before he was traded. I know that team’s situation obviously played a bigger move in the shuffling of players than anything else, but I think it’s just an example of how you can’t take the public word of a GM or coach to heart. I think he’s keeping his options open right now. In the past he was never willing to part with a guy like Jordan Staal, so I think that may factor into any offers he may be receiving for a guy like Kris Letang or Goligoski. But he may also be considering the possibility that Letang and his agent won’t budge on price and there may be more affordable options available on the market during the offseason. If that’s the case, and he’s cool with potentially grabbing a guy off waivers or promoting from within, then he could be fielding some interesting offers for a team willing to meet Letang’s demands.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
Regarding Geno.....
I think Getzlaf was just running his mouth and Geno stepped up like he always does when someone picks on him.
He was just saying HI!!!! I don’t think it was enough to rattle Geno, but I also hope he turns this negative into an extremely positive end of season / playoff run.
by GenoTheGreat on Feb 25, 2010 9:20 AM EST up reply actions
http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=979&id=60995
I don’t know why my link didn’t post in the previous attempt but here’s Getzlaf on his “conversation” with Geno.
by GenoTheGreat on Feb 25, 2010 9:22 AM EST up reply actions
Getzlaf is a good player, but a VERY cocky player. I have to admire his feisty attitude though, seems like a real competitor.
by GenoTheGreat on Feb 25, 2010 9:28 AM EST up reply actions
I’m very glad that Geno isn’t in this alone, that he had Gonchar at his side for the Olympics. Gonch will help him to get over it and put it in perspective — or at least, he will try — and it’s not like Geno is the only Olympian coming home without a medal.
I was watching Russia’s late-game power play, and Geno dished up to Gonch, and he fed it over to Ovie or Kovalchuk, and I’m thinking come on Sarge, the game is over, just pass it back to your real teammate!
by PensAreYourDaddy on Feb 25, 2010 3:25 PM EST up reply actions
Yep
I mean perhaps AO/Semin take it hard and the Caps fall of the map. Or maybe Marty gets flustered by being pulled. I think Geno will be fine.
The Caps in general might hit a skid…All 5 of their guys got the boot yesterday, and with them so far up in their division, I think they naturally might “fall to earth” a little. Of course, they could go on a five game winning streak right out of the gates and not miss a beat, but I think the table is set maybe for them to endure a little mid-season struggle.
Wayne Gretzky had it wrong: 100% of the shots Gary Roberts doesn't take DO go in.
by Hooks Orpik on Feb 25, 2010 11:02 AM EST up reply actions
Five Capitals got beat, and are going home empty handed. What a glorious day it was. I accept Malky and Gonch losing, if it means I don’t have to hear anymore about Alexander Ovechkin for the next few days.
by Hatt the Moople on Feb 25, 2010 11:26 AM EST up reply actions
You are an optimist! It’d be really nice if things shook out that way.
"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
Cocktails With the Penguins, where Pens fans toast victories and drown defeats.
by GreenEyedLilo on Feb 25, 2010 1:54 PM EST up reply actions
i’m so so so sorry to threadjack, but does anyone have recommendations for ticket websites? i’ve usually used stubhub, but if y’all have better ideas, please let me know. thank you so much, you wonderful, wonderful people.
If you are talking Pens tickets....
I check the following:
Ticketmaster: Even for "sold out" games, tickets will sometimes pop up on Ticketmaster. I mean regular, face value tickets, and often very good seats.
Ticket Exchange: This is a great option. Although tickets are generally above face value, fees are very low, usually around $5 for the total purchase. Plus, the actual seat numbers are listed. It’s nice to know exactly what you are buying before you buy it. Usually these are e-tickets, which is convenient because you can print them yourself, but lately I’ve bought a few that I have to pick up at will-call, and you don’t find that out until you’ve bought them.
Stubhub: Safe, reliable, but 10% commission.
Ebay: You can find some good deals here. No additional fees other than shipping. There is always the chance of getting scammed, but it hasn’t happened to me.
Craigslist: You can find some really good deals here. Great option for folks who live in the Pittsburgh area.
There are lots of other sites, such as razorgator, ticketsnow, etc, but I generally find that they list the same tickets that are on stubhub, and the prices are usually about the same.
Also, if you buy tickets from places such as Ebay or Craigslist where you actually have contact with the seller, and you like the seats, it doesn’t hurt to let the seller know you’d be interested in future games. I’ve connected with several season ticket holders who could get more for their tickets on the open market, but they’d rather sell them to someone they’ve dealt with in the past and they know is a Pens fan.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Feb 26, 2010 9:17 AM EST up reply actions
you are wonderful.
i love you. thank you so very much!
by katielynn906 on Feb 26, 2010 11:12 AM EST up reply actions
Craigslist can be a great “last second” way too. Sometimes if something comes up and people get stuck to where they can’t use tickets, they’ll put them on craigslists. it’s hard to get a good deal anywhere, but that’s about the best chance, taking the risk though that it is a last minute deal.
Stubhub’s the way to go for guaranteed reliability, I think, but it will cost an arm and a leg most of the time
Wayne Gretzky had it wrong: 100% of the shots Gary Roberts doesn't take DO go in.
by Hooks Orpik on Feb 26, 2010 11:23 AM EST up reply actions
Hooks makes a great point, and to a lesser extent the same thing can apply to the other services. If your schedule is flexible, then definitely a day or two before the game is a good time to buy. Obviously the Pens are a very hot ticket, so “good deal” is a relative term to be sure.
To know what kind of deal you’re getting, it helps to know gate price:
Igloo $184, Level A $125, Level B $113, Level C $105
I haven’t been in D, E or F in years, so I’m not sure of the prices though I imagine they are available online. I think season ticket holders pay somewhere between 55-70% of gate price per game.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Feb 26, 2010 1:07 PM EST up reply actions
thank you, guys. i really appreciate it! you people are wonderful, never change.
by katielynn906 on Feb 26, 2010 1:37 PM EST up reply actions
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