HitchCOCK choking away..........Like the Jackets, hate HitchCOCK
Back atcha pal. Go play with your "buckeye"
Pens are INDESTRUCTIBLE
Okay, you are missing your defensive leader and Power Play QB, you are missing last years scoring champion and playoff MVP, you are missing two of your best role players, one of whom is blossoming into a real scoring threat, and you fall behind 2-0 on the road.......game over right? Not for this team, trailing 3-1 with less than 3 and a half minutes remaining, missing more firepower from the lineup than some teams HAVE, playing their backup goaltender, the Pens strike quickly with Kunitz and Goose scoring two goals in under a minute to tie it to earn at least one point. After trading good chances in the OT, the Pens win their third of three SO efforts. The heart and depth of this team continues to impress me. They are now 11-1, after two straight LONG playoff runs and the expected Stanley Cup Hangover. Malkin has been playing hurt, Talbot has not played yet, Gonchar is out, as is Tyler Kennedy. The other NHL teams have to really hope that the Pens are not healthy as the playoffs come around this year, as I am not sure how you can bet against the will and skill of this team with all of the marbles on the line. I keep reminding myself how long the season is, how many things can happen, how EVERY team has bad patches, and all of that is true. This team just carries itself in a manner that says champion, and it if fun to watch. If they manage to get another decent top six winger for Malkins line, how do you defend this team? Any line centered by Malkin or Crosby is a threat........Crosbys line has the perfect mix of dynamo who can make plays and score, a physical high energy puck retriever, and a big tough veteran finisher. Malkins line has Malkin, that is enough of a threat, but Fedotenko showed he can finish, and the other wing has been a bit of a revolving door, but when Talbot comes back, ou have your puck retrieval guy. The Penguins third line? Staal is at least a second line center on every other team, and on some a first liner. Cooke provides energy, toughness, puck retrieval as does Kennedy, but Kennedy is now emerging as a real scoring threat. All three have a knack for BIG goals, and they never stop working. This is the matchup that creates huge headaches for anyone we play. Finally, we have so many options on the fourth line, but putting Adams, Rupp, and Godard out there for a physical prescence and energy can never hurt this team......Adams and Rupp in particular are talented lunch pail guys that make this team to tough to play against. Godard is a very good enforcer who does a great job of looking out for his teammates, and he fills his role very well. Add to that the fact the Brookbank and Bayda are both in WBS, both having NHL level experience and both providing grit and toughness and you can see the depth this team has.
On defense, watching Skoula fit right into this unit and not miss a beat makes me feel like we have as good of a 7 man D unit as there is in the NHL. I worry about depth after that, but how many teams can boast three offensive, puck moving D men like Gonchar, Letang, and Goligoski. All three are pretty responsible in their own end as well. The Pens have two hammers in McKee and Orpik. Eaton plays a steady game, and he along with McKee and Orpik block shots like crazy! Skoula has shown he provides more than adequate play if anybody here goes down or needs a rest. Mckee either leads the league in blocked shots or is second, while Eaton and Orpik are up there as well. Goligoski leads the NHL in plus/minus and is up there in scoring for a defenseman.
Goaltending is STRONG-Fleury seems to be playing with the confidence of a Stanley Cup champion, and despite giving up the occasional softie, seems to make the big saves that alter a game more often than not. I think MAF is finally a top 5 goalie in the NHL. With Johnson as a backup, the Pens (unlike last year) can rest MAF for a game in EVERY back to back situation this season if they choose and feel good about their chances to win.
In the era of the salary cap there is not a team in the league that doesnt have an area or two that could use work, but the Pens top to bottom have all of the ingredients of a repeat champion. The emergence of either Tangredi or Caputi during the course of the year OR a moderate deal for a decent top 6 winger will make this team nearly impossible to stop. A minor deal or waiver pick up of a an addtional NHL caliber D man or the emergence late of Lovejoy, Guenin or Engellend who are all borderline ready gives this team DEPTH on the blueline that is tough to match.
On defense, watching Skoula fit right into this unit and not miss a beat makes me feel like we have as good of a 7 man D unit as there is in the NHL. I worry about depth after that, but how many teams can boast three offensive, puck moving D men like Gonchar, Letang, and Goligoski. All three are pretty responsible in their own end as well. The Pens have two hammers in McKee and Orpik. Eaton plays a steady game, and he along with McKee and Orpik block shots like crazy! Skoula has shown he provides more than adequate play if anybody here goes down or needs a rest. Mckee either leads the league in blocked shots or is second, while Eaton and Orpik are up there as well. Goligoski leads the NHL in plus/minus and is up there in scoring for a defenseman.
Goaltending is STRONG-Fleury seems to be playing with the confidence of a Stanley Cup champion, and despite giving up the occasional softie, seems to make the big saves that alter a game more often than not. I think MAF is finally a top 5 goalie in the NHL. With Johnson as a backup, the Pens (unlike last year) can rest MAF for a game in EVERY back to back situation this season if they choose and feel good about their chances to win.
In the era of the salary cap there is not a team in the league that doesnt have an area or two that could use work, but the Pens top to bottom have all of the ingredients of a repeat champion. The emergence of either Tangredi or Caputi during the course of the year OR a moderate deal for a decent top 6 winger will make this team nearly impossible to stop. A minor deal or waiver pick up of a an addtional NHL caliber D man or the emergence late of Lovejoy, Guenin or Engellend who are all borderline ready gives this team DEPTH on the blueline that is tough to match.
Finally, this team has an owner and GM who have proven that they look at the season as an evaluation period for how playoff ready they are, and that they will pull the trigger at the trade deadline to address any percieved needs at that time. Hossa was brought in two years ago, Guerin, Kunitz, and Adams this year. The organization has the depth in the minors (Bayda, Brookbank, Tangredi, Caputi, Connor, Letestu, Lovejoy, Guenin, Engellend) and role players to make any reasonable move necessary to add to this team at the deadline. Do not plan the parade route that is for sure, but I cannot think of a team with a better shot at the ring than this one. Enjoy the ride.
Well said. What's a lunch pail guy?
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