Sunday, March 31, 2013

Cookein Up Another Shutout. Pens WIN

2 
0

The Isles were back in Consol Energy Center for the first time since getting smacked 6-1.  The score wasn't the same but the Pens pulled out another win.  Another win but at what cost?  Before the game we learned that Paul Martin would be out for 6 weeks with a broken bone that needs surgery.  And during the game well...you probably know.


The first period can be summed up like this: 
Yawn city.

The only thing that happened in this period was Best In The World getting hit in the mouth with a puck.  A Brooks Orpik shot was deflected and hit Best In The World in the mouth.  He lost a couple teeth and apparently had to have some dental work done or something.  Guarantee he plays Tuesday.


The second period was pretty meh too.  Both teams had a few power plays but nothing was doing.  The with under 5 minutes to play Chris Kunitz bumped Josh Bailey and Bailey went flying into the boards face first.  Kunitz got a 5 minute penalty and a game misconduct.  Horrible call if you ask us.  Then Brooks Orpik tripped up Kyle Okposo who dove in our opinion.  So the Pens had to kill off a 5 on 3 with one of those penalties being a major penalty.  The Pens killed off what was left in the 2nd period and headed to the 3rd.  Still tied 0-0.


The 3rd period kicked off and the Pens were still down 2 men.  Then Matt Cooke went to work.  He helped the Pens kill of both penalties.  He played the penalty kill of his life.  The rest of the Pens PK did their job too.  They were in the Islanders mouth.  The Pens killed off both penalties.  Consol was rocking.  When you see the work that Matt Cooke put it you want to see a player get rewarded for it.  And he did.  He corralled a puck and ripped it by Nabokov for a 1-0 Pens lead.  That goal woke the Pens up.  The shift after scoring Matt Cooke wrecked Matt Martin's life.  The Craig Adams destroyed someone.  Even Evgeni Malkin got into it.  He destroyed Matt Moulson.  Consol was going nuts.  It got even crazier when James Neal rifled a laser upstairs to make it 2-0 Pens.  The Isles pulled Nabokov with like 3 minutes left.  They couldn't do anything.  The Pens held on to win 2-0.


1. Tomas Vokoun
2. Matt Cooke
3. Jarome Iginla

Stuff:
  • Iginla played 17:30, had 3 shots, 2 hits and was a plus 1.  The chemistry with him Neal and Malkin developed as the game went on.
  • No word on Crosby yet.  It's know that he lost some teeth.  There is a rumor he had to have some surgery.  No word on his status for Tuesday.  We bet he plays.
  • Matt Cooke played like his life was on the line especially during the big time penalty kill in the late 2nd and early 3rd.  He got rewarded with a goal.  His first in 14.
  • James Neal finally got a goal.  His first in 9.
  • Tomas Vokoun is in a zone.  
  • The Pens have a shutout streak of over 200 minutes dating back to the middle of the Philadelphia game.
  • Douglas Murray is already winning us over.

Buffalo Tuesday at 7:30

Go Pens

Friday, March 29, 2013

Buckle Up. Pens WIN

 4
0

The Penguins have won 14 straight.  The Flyers have won 13 games all season.  Most of the streak has been without the services of Evgeni Malkin and recently Kris Letang and Marc Andre Fleury.  So enter Brenden Morrow and Douglas Murray.  Ok sweet this team is pretty solid now.  Then Evgeni Malkin comes back last night.  Alright this is awesome.  And waiting in the wings somewhere between Pittsburgh and Calgary is Jarome Iginla.  Holy.  Shit.  Also Kris Letang and Marc Andre Fleury are waiting to come back from injuries too.  Dear God.  Oh.  There was a hockey game last night.  The Jets were in town.  They didn't have a chance.


During this streak the Pens have played 2 types of games.  One is the hold your breath, sphincter clenching game.  The others are the lol thanks for trying game.  This was an lol thanks for trying game.  The Jets were solid early though.  They went back and forth with the Pens and got some chances but Vokoun was locked in.  Pens had multiple chances to score early but couldn't cash in.  Then they finally broke through.  Kunitz, Best In The World, and Evgeni Malkin got a shift together and the cash in.  Best In The World threw a sick behind the back, no look pass to Chris Kunitz who launched a laser past Al Montoya to make it 1-0 Pens.
Jesus

Pens almost added another but Pascal Dupuis hit the post.  The goal horn went off but it was clearly not a goal.  The Pens would end up scoring anyways.  James Neal rifled a pass cross crease to Malkin.  The puck hit Malkin's skates and went in.  They took a second look at it in Toronto.
Goal city.

Pens would finish the 1st up 2-0.



The next goal in this game was huge.  If the Jets get it it's a brand new hockey game.  If the Pens get it then it could break the Jets.  The Pens got it.  The Kunitz, Best In The World, Dupuis line were at the end of their shift but still had the energy to out skate the Jets defense.  Best In The World found Kunitz.  Kunitz hit Dupuis with a sick saucer pass.  Dupuis put it home.  3-0.  Jets had a chance to get back into it when Craig Adams tripped someone.  Pens killed it.  Jets maybe had 1 shot.  Maybe.  Paul Martin gave the Jets another chance to get back in it but instead of getting back into it the flopped on their face.  Pascal Dupuis and Tanner Glass were in 2 on 1.  Dupuis went upstairs on Montoya.  4-0.  


No goals were scored in the 3rd.  But there was still a little bit of shit happening.  Pens had to kill a 5 on 3 for like a minutes and 45 seconds.  The PK was everywhere.  Killed.  Then two other things happened worth mentioning this period.  Evander Kane shot the puck at a ref.  The Pensblog had a gif of it if you would like to see it.  And the other thing....Eric Tangradi completely missed the net on a breakaway.  Insert your uncontrollable laughter here.  Game.


1. Pascal Dupuis
2. Chris Kunitz
3. Tomas Vokoun

Stuff:
  • Tomas Vokoun is locked in.  If he keeps playing the way he is and MAF keeps playing the way he did before getting hit in the head the Pens have the best goalie tandem in the league.
  • Already love Douglas Murray.  He had a couple nice hits and got a lot of his shots on net and almost scored.  He played 18:20
  • 23:53 of icetime for the Paul Martin Redemption Tour.  He added an assist and was a plus 2
  • 2 more points for Best In The World.
  • 2 more points for Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis
  • Brenden Morrow played a great game.  He fit in well with Malkin and Neal.
  • Jarome Iginla

Pens next game is Saturday against the Isles at 1.

Go Pens


Thursday, March 28, 2013

TRADE - Pens acquire Jarome Iginla

This is not April Fool's Day, this is real life.  Early Thursday Morning, the Penguins acquire Jarome Iginla from the Calgary Flames for Kenneth Agostino, Ben Hanowski, and a 2013 1st Round Pick.

The 1st Round Pick is not a conditional pick, so no matter what happens, Cup or Iginla doesn't re-sign, the Flames still get a 1st.  Iginla will be addressing the press in Calgary tomorrow morning at 10:30 AM Calgary time (12:30 PM Pittsburgh).  Iginla is 35 years old and a UFA at the end of this season.  He has scored 525 career goals and 1095 career points.

Iginla and Crosby have also played together in the Olympics, you might remember this goal.
Chills.

My God. Ray Shero is > everyone.

ALL IN.

Go Pens!

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Brian Gionta Sucks. Pens WIN

 1
0

The Montreal Canadiens were in town last night for their first visit to Consol Energy Center this season.  It was also Michel Therrien's first game back in Pittsburgh since being fired in 2009.  Yes he got a tribute video as he should have.  This game was pretty meh throughout.  Fleury and Price had to make some saves.  Best In The World added a goal to his growing total in the 2nd to make it 1-0 Pens.  That scored held up all game.  There was one really big moment in this game other than the Pens goal.  Brian Gionta shoved TK into MAF.  TK fell in to MAF's head.  Vokoun had to finish the game.  Yikes.  There is no update on Fleury yet.

3 STARS
1.  Best In The World
2. Brooks Orpik
3. Carey Price

Stuff:
  • Brenden Morrow was in the lineup last night.  Saw 12:55 of icetime.  He threw some nice hits and drew a penalty.
  • Kris Letang apparently has a broken toe.  He said he didn't feel 100% after the first and it came out today that he reportedly has a broken toe.
  • No word on MAF yet.
  • PK Subban and Brian Gionta are still dicks.
  • Another point for Best In The World.  Kunitz had an assist on the play so he added to hi total as well.
  • Paul Martin for Norris.

Pens next game is Thursday at 7 against the Jets.

Go Pens

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Game 34 - Habs at Pens

1900

Other than the big trades and Despres being sent to WBS as a procedural move until after the trade deadline, not much going on in Penguinland.  Habs come to town tonight for a top of the standings battle.  Important game in the quest for the #1 overall seed in the East.
 
Also worth noting that the Pens could pass the Blackhawks in standings points tonight.
 
Morrow will play, Murray will not.
 
Go Pens.

Monday, March 25, 2013

TRADE. Pens Get Douglas Murray


Earlier today it was announced that the Penguins have acquired Douglas Murray from the San Jose Sharks.  Murray is 6'3" 245 pound stay at home, physical defenseman that the Pens needed.  We don't know much about Murray so we asked Sharks fan @chrissampang on twitter for a little info on him.

2003 draft pick, 2005 debut - same night as Joe Thornton's first
Sharks game! - Doug (well, now Douglas) Murray has always maintained a
reputation for being a battering ram on the ice.  Didn't exactly earn
his nickname "Crankshaft" for nothing, as this highlight video shows:


At one point, he was poised to be the top defenseman on the team, when
the Sharks led the Pacific Division midway through 2011-12.  Then this
happened:


Since then, two noticeable weaknesses have crept up in his game:

- His speed, which was never great to begin with, has been reduced to
a precipitous degree.  This shouldn't be a problem if Murray is given
selective minutes, but with the Sharks he had only moved down to the
2nd pairing...the extended time on ice contributed to fatigue and
declined effectiveness.  Not the type of player you can expect to win
races to the puck...ever.

- On rushes against (one example last year immediately after his
injury was a game vs. Edmonton where he misplayed a 2 on 2 and helped
provided a screen for Ryan Whitney), he basically freezes up and
becomes a moving pylon.  Not as bad as Colin White was, but certainly
not quite as sharp positionally as in the past.

As long as he is placed in games specifically as a hitting
machine...he's golden.  And with the Pens roster pretty set even
before the deal, it's easy to see how Murray as a 5th defenseman has
already earned his comparisons to Hal Gill.


So Murray definitely has a couple of weaknesses in his game.  But so does every player.  There aren't many defensemen in the league quite like Murray and he should fit in quite nicely with the Pens.

Go Pens

Bears in the Woods. Pens Win

Thankfully the Consol Bears didn't show up last night.  The Pens won their 12th in a row, coming from behind late against the Flyers and winning in overtime.  Just a huge contrast to the last few Flyers game

1st Period

The first period was unremarkable.  Both teams traded chances but nothing got past either goalie.  Kate Smith ate 3 cheeseburgers.

2nd Period

Flyers got on the board on a Claude Giroux powerplay goal after a Paul Martin penalty.  Just a really weird bounce off Tanner Glass on an attempted pass that went right back to Giroux.  Things started to get a bit chippy towards the end, but it was a boring.

3rd Period

Pens were gonna have to come out to play in the 3rd.  They got a few good chances early, but finally got a powerplay with about 7 minutes left when Simmonds slashed Orpik.  Then on the powerplay, Emo Timonen took a hooking penalty on Kunitz.  Should have been a penalty shot, IMO, but either way, 5 on 3 for the Pens.  Crosby cashed in on a one timer from the right hand side.

The rest of the period was teams trading chances and Coburn trying to kill Dupuis.

Should be a suspension, IMO

Overtime

Fleury made some big saves, Pens came down the ice, Niskanen to TK, GAME.

Byeeeeee

Thoughts:
  • Despres has been unreal lately.  Shouldn't be scratched again.
  • Flyers are not a very good team
  • Did Talbot even play?
  • Beau Bennett with another assist.  Kid is the real deal.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Game 33. Pens vs Flyers

Consol Energy Center.  7:30.  Root

The Philadelphia Flyers come to town today for the 1st time since they won 6-5 in dramatic fashion and the 1st time since the Pens 3 goal comeback win in Philadelphia.  They Flyers are at the bottom of the conference and division and are fighting for their lives.  They'll be all system's go tonight.

LINES
 Chris Kunitz-Best In The World-Pascal Dupuis
Beau Bennett-Dustin Jeffrey-James Neal
Matt Cooke-Brandon Sutter-Tyler Kennedy
Tanner Glass-Joe Vitale-Craig Adams

Brooks Orpik-The Paul Martin Redemption Tour
Mark Eaton-Matt Niskanen
Simon Despres-Deryk Engelland

Marc Andre Fleury
Read-Giroux-Vorachek
Gagne-Schenn-Simmonds
Hartnell-Talbot-Brierre
Fedotenko-Coturier-Rinaldo

Timonen-Schenn
Grossman-Cobourn
Gervais-Mezaros

Bryzgalov

Go Pens

TRADE. Pens Land Brenden Morrow


The Pens have acquired Dallas forward Brenden Morrow.  Morrow is 34 and will be a UFA in the summer. Morrow has 6 goals and 5 assist so far this season.  All the details of this trade haven't been released yet.  Morrow gives the Pens a little more grit and veteran leadership that has been lacking the past few years.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

HF Boards - Value of Geno

Well the trade deadline is in two weeks, but this was the best thread on HF Boards.  There were a couple stupid threads like Marty St. Louis to Pittsburgh. And another one with Serge I QUIT Koststisyn and USS Hal Gill to Pittsburgh, but the Value of Evgeni Malkin takes the cake.
So early on in the thread, I think the best trade proposal I have ever seen came up.
Old
03-18-2013, 11:00 AM
  #3
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God and a 2nd round pick
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Yep, seems about right.

The first realistic trade offer comes from the Vancouver Canucks:



Evgeni Malkin



Ryan Kesler, Jake Ballard, Jordan Scroeder, pick





And they started this thread because it would be "fun" and because Malkin is injury prone, uhhhh isn't Ryan Kesler injured every other week?

Not an unfair trade but stupid trade.  Can't see Malkin playing somewhere they burn the city down just because they lose.

Then the Blues come in with an offer.




David Perron, Patrick Berglund, TJ Oshie




Evgeni Malkin, Tyler Kennedy





If the Blues want Tyler Kennedy, especially for Perron, Berglund, or Oshie, take him.  But not even close value to Geno, IMO.  But I don't really hate the Blues so whatever.

Then we have our typical Toronto trade offer.



Evgeni Malkin








Mikael Grabovski, Jake Gardiner, Matt Frattin, Joe Colborne, 2013 1st, 2014 1st





All the LOLs.  Leafs fans are idiots. No comment, but Leafs fans are still living in 1967 without a salary cap I guess.  Seeing Malkin's name next to the Leafs logo is vomit cityyyyyy.
Then some Predators fan says if Geno signs long term in Nashville, then whatever you want, but offered this:

Evgeni Malkin







Shea Weber, Roman Josi, and Colin Wilson





First off, Shea Weber can't be traded until July bro, Malkin probably will re-signed by that date.  Second, no way on that cap hit.  Plus Josi is a Defenseman, Pens don't really need those, and the fact to add two is just stupid.

And then oh looky here, another Leafs proposal. *Facepalm*



Evgeni Malkin







Jake Gardiner, Mikael Grabovski, Clarke MacArthur, 2 1sts.




The only good thing about that trade would be Clarke couldn't score against the Pens, although he probably would find a way to do it anyways.

Old
03-18-2013, 11:43 AM
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To pens: Kessel, benn
to stars: Malkin, kulemin
to leafs: Eriksson


benn - crosby - kessel

eriksson - kadri - lupul

kulemin - malkin - morrow
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Not sure how this came about, Jamie Benn would be cool with Crosby, but uhh not for the price of Malkin.  Toronto got fleeced by their own fan though LOL.

Old
03-18-2013, 12:11 PM
  #20
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HAHA

Old
03-18-2013, 12:36 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by insomniac34 View Post
just for fun 

What would you give to the Pens to get Malkin, injury history/inconsistency and all.
The question should be, what can you offer the Penguins that would give them a better shot at winning the cup this year than a healthy Evgeni Malkin?

So far nothing comes close to that in this thread
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About time someone gets it.  Props to this dude.

And if Leafs fans are bad, then Habs fans might be just as bad and always get every player, so here's a Habs trade.  The thought of Geno in Montreal is already making me want to jump in front of a bus.




Evgeni Malkin



Alex Galchenyuk, Rene Bourque, Nathan Beaulieu, 1st




Galchenyuk is really the only intriguing part about this deal, and he's a rookie so no idea how he progresses.  Be right back going to light myself on fire.

Old
03-18-2013, 01:30 PM
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I would like to see Malkin go to a team out west - I hate seeing the two best players in the NHL on one team. I mean if Kobe and Lebron played on the same team in the NBA it would be just weird... and it would be fun seeing them actually battle against each other. If the Pens got two young top players they consider it. It would be good for the NHL. And then we can see if Crosby can win a cup with out Malkin  in all seriousness he likely doesn't though.
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Agree with the last part, Malkin probably doesn't go anywhere but stupid logic.

Then this.




Evgeni Malkin









Sam Gagner, Ales Hemsky, 1st





Gagner and Hemsky are great players, but not Evgeni Malkin caliber.  So not quite enough bro

I'll let you guys dissect the next part because I have no clue what the hell happened.
Old
03-18-2013, 01:34 PM
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Ovechkin+Backstrom+Johansson/Perreault+1st for Malkin+Letang+Pouliot/Maatta
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Old
03-18-2013, 02:12 PM
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To Van: Malkin AND Crosby AND Chunky Mario

To Pitts: Henrik, Daniel, Kesler, Burrows, Jansen, Jensen, Schneider, Kassian, Higgins,
Raymond and The Aqualini brothers plus The Roxy and their entire staff as well as Vancouver Island and commission from the BC Ferries
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Evgeni Malkin







Corey Perry, Peter Holland, 1st, and Average Prospect





Sorry bro, but Malkin > Perry for virtually same cap hit.  Cute try though, throw in Charlie Conway, Guy Germaine, and Lester Averman and maybe.


Last trade I'm going to dissect and then I'll link you guys to the rest of this because it truly is just ridiculous and stupid.



Evgeni Malkin









Anze Kopitar, Mike Richards, Dustin Brown, Jonathan Bernier, 1st




Uh, yeah, I would probably do that if the Cap was at like $100 million.  Sure take everyone who just won a cup and put it with this Pens team, great idea.  Just like everyone in Hollywood.
If only this was included in that trade.
Reunited with Dry Island

Here is the link to continue reading this if you're drinking and need something to help you drink more.
Value of Evgeni Malkin

Enjoy reading and try not to jump off any bridges reading this.
Whatever, going for 12 straight tomorrow.

Trade Deadline April 3rd

Go Pens.