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nashvillepreds
PickupHockey Veteran
Canada
1053 Posts |
 Posted - 11/05/2007 : 15:38:54
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Does anybody think the pens will actually get it done in the playoffs? They have a young, fast team that got destroyed by Ottawa last year. This is the question though, if the pens make the playoffs this year, is their young, unexperienced team ready to handle playoff pressure?
GO PREDATORS GO
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pensfan17
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
330 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2007 : 15:51:21
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I think they will do well but maybe not go all the way.
The young players got their first playoff experience out of the way and now know what to expect.
Also this year they shouldnt play ottawa in the first which is tough |
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fly4apuckguy
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
834 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2007 : 22:09:44
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It won't go well unless they make major changes/improvements. They have no depth. Tonight was the first time this season they've had any second or third line production away from Crosby or Malkin. Problems like that get exposed during the playoffs even more than in the regular season.
Plus, their veterans look like they are done (Roberts and Recchi). There isn't much left in those old hands. They both stickhandle the puck like it's a hand grenade and they are using chopsticks.
Not only that, but it's tough to say what the goaltending situation will be like. Right now Sabourin is the main guy, and Fleury is out. So basically, they have a career back-up goalie starting and a young goalie with no confidence as a back-up (who thought he was the guy). I know it's a long season, and a lot can happen, but it doesn't bode well. |
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PainTrain
PickupHockey Veteran
Canada
1393 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2007 : 15:24:40
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| Well perhaps once the trade deadline comes the Pens can get some 2nd 3rd line players. But if you can get some of there younger players going without the help of Sidney Crosby , this team will do fine. |
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pensfan17
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
330 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2007 : 16:19:54
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staal, sykora, and recchi is not a bad second line
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fly4apuckguy
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
834 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2007 : 16:35:20
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quote:
Originally posted by pensfan17
staal, sykora, and recchi is not a bad second line
As a Pens fan myself, I will admit that they have not been very good this year - at least not yet. Recchi without Crosby is like a fish without water. Sykora is flashy at times, but pretty soft, and Staal has been a shadow of his former self (sophmore jinx, me thinks). |
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Greg Smith
Rookie
Canada
158 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2007 : 13:54:20
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The pens really need a quality second liner. You'll be surprised, guys like Prospal, Horcoff and Zubrus may start to come into the picture.
After playing in the NHL, it's hard to watch hockey games. |
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PainTrain
PickupHockey Veteran
Canada
1393 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2007 : 21:12:14
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| Well Greg you can throw Zubrus out because he signed a contract with the NJD more than a year. I heard talk of Marian Hossa getting traded. Wouldn't that be cool Crosby and Hossa on the same line. I doubt it will happen but still... |
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fly4apuckguy
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
834 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2007 : 21:37:09
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| To prove I'm not just a biased fool, Crosby had a brutal game tonight. Maybe the worst I've seen him play in the NHL. He was still skating hard, but everything he did seemed to go wrong. |
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fly4apuckguy
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
834 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2007 : 17:14:06
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Right now, the Pens will be lucky to make the playoffs. I wonder if there is more than meets the eye going on with this team. Aside from Malkin and Crosby, every one else has given up. They look terrible.
Gonchar is so bad I actually feel physical pain watching him play. He puts so little effort into the game, you want to reach out, grab him by the neck, and strangle him (not that I would, of course).
Tonight, the puck was lying in the crease, so Gonchar swoops in (in slow motion of course) and just kind of slides it away with about a 10% effort.. Unfortunately, a Flyer was standing right there and easily stopped it, then shot it into the net. Gonchar just stands there with that stupid look on his face. They should trade his dumb a** for a bag of pucks, but nobody is dumb enough to get rid of a good bag of pucks for that gutless loser.
In case you were not sure...not a fan of Gonchar. |
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LeafsFan4Life
Top Prospect
Canada
65 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2007 : 23:38:42
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Well if its based upon the Pens past couple of games no chance they are gonna make the playoffs and if they do by some miracle make they playoffs my bet is they would be out first round, I guess all i can say is if Crosby gets injured at all this year the pens can kiss their season goodbye, and as you can tell im not a huge Crosby fan, the rest of the team is great though good young talent, will probably be a number 1 team in their divisions within the next couple of years. Glad they have some grit on their team with Roberts, kinda nice to see an experienced player still playing well, Gotta love those gritty players hehehe...
drunk 24/7 |
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fly4apuckguy
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
834 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2007 : 07:25:31
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Roberts look like crap right now, though. One goal in 17 games, and 10 penalty minutes? Weak.
Even worse, Jordan Staal. 1 goal and 1 assist for 2 points in 17 games. Ouch. Recchi - 6 points. Christensen - 3 points. Colby Armstrong - 1 point. Malone - playing on a line with the best player in the world and at 7 points. These were guys who were contributing last year but are now MIA. Then there is Crosby with 25 and Malkin with 23.
They have two players (Crosby and Malkin), and a lot of passengers right now.
Like I said before, something is going on here that we don't yet know about. It looks like the team has given up on their coach, is what it looks like.
Crosby looks incredibly frustrated right now. Like in his first season, when the Pens were so awful, he looks like he's trying to do too much at times.
Guys who don't know what it's like to play in important games will say he is whining again. I, on the other hand, know what it is like to be giving your all and have no support from the guys around you. You feel like punching someone in the face, yelling at the ref, and acting stupid. As a young player, who is maybe a bit immature on the ice (I'll grant that), when you are giving 120% and the guys around you are barely chugging along at 50%, the frustartion level becomes unreal. I'm feeling it right now, and I'm not even on the ice. Although I was never in the NHL, I played at a decent enough level on a crappy team to know exactly how he feels right now. It's painful.
Try to understand this, guys. It'll be easier for the guys who have played and been the best players on their team. |
Edited by - fly4apuckguy on 11/11/2007 07:26:29 |
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leafsfan_101
PickupHockey Veteran
Canada
1530 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2007 : 07:34:32
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The role players on the Pens are definitely taking a back seat this year. Roberts and Recchi are invisible throughout the game, Staal is suffering from a sophomore jinx and Gonchar is horrible on the line.
If the veteran guys don't start setting an example, the young guys play horribly and the defense doesn't pick up quick the Pens won't make the playoffs. |
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Greg Smith
Rookie
Canada
158 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2007 : 07:38:15
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not to be a downer, but Whitney is injured as well.
After playing in the NHL, it's hard to watch hockey games. |
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pensfan17
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
330 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2007 : 18:53:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Greg Smith
not to be a downer, but Whitney is injured as well.
After playing in the NHL, it's hard to watch hockey games.
Whitney isnt injured he got two points last night
I think that if Pittsburgh wants to go far in the playoffs fleury must plat better or they need a consistent goalie |
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fly4apuckguy
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
834 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2007 : 21:23:02
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Not only are the role players taking a back seat, they are in the trunk.
The dropoff after the top four guys is ridiculous. Crosby, Malkin, Gonchar and Sykora have a combined 75 points right now. The next 17 players have a combined total of 59. That is horrific.
The goal differential is even more awful. The top four have 26, the rest of the team (that's 17 players) have 21.
They need to address this and address it fast. |
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pens in the playoffs 
