The Pens makeshift defense gave up only 14 shots tonight.........that is good enough for a win almost every night right? No, not when the Marc Andre Fleury circa 2010-2011 "protects" your net. When you give up 4 goals on 14 shots, you have no chance......and I know the Fleury apologists will correctly say that a couple of those goals were set up by big breakdowns, but I will simplify the argument between the Fleury haters and Fleury lovers........in the three losses, the other team's goaltender played better than Fleury, period. We can argue back and forth about if the goals are all his fault, or if the losses are his fault, but the fact is this team is 1-3 and in all three losses their goaltender was inferior to the other team's. It is very early in the season, but this team is like a MASH unit already......Their best defensive forward, Staal skated for the first time in practice today and probably remains out for several weeks.....their best defenseman Orpik is missing games with a recurring groin injury..........their big free agent signing and shut down defenseman Michalek is likely out for months with a shoulder injury...this guy played in all 82 games the past two years for Phoenix, but will likely miss at least half of this season...he was the most coveted shut down defenseman on the market this season....and Arron Asham who was to make the Pens third line miserable to play against has yet to play at all.......
The Pens lost again due to turnovers, sloppy play in their zone, and poor goaltending.......however there were some positives to take away again;
Ben Lovejoy, Derek Engellend and Andrew Hutchinson all are now forced to step up and show what they have. I have been impressed with what I have seen thus far. Engellend the "banger" in the group not only played a very solid, stay at home physical game tonite, he knocked heavyweight Colton Orr of the Leafs on his ass with a solid right hand! I really like having that edge on the blue line........Ben Lovejoy has played very solid workmanlike hockey, as did Hutchinson tonight.
I know he only has one assist, but I still like what I see from Eric Tangradi and Mark Letestu.....
There were signs of life from Talbot, and Crosby finally got a goal...............I am not at all happy being 1-3, and really good teams face injury and find ways to win, and the Pens thus far have not done so. That said, I like a lot of individual components of what I am watching, and fully expect a chemistry to develop, mistakes to be corrected, and winning to occur.
Ben Lovejoy, Derek Engellend and Andrew Hutchinson all are now forced to step up and show what they have. I have been impressed with what I have seen thus far. Engellend the "banger" in the group not only played a very solid, stay at home physical game tonite, he knocked heavyweight Colton Orr of the Leafs on his ass with a solid right hand! I really like having that edge on the blue line........Ben Lovejoy has played very solid workmanlike hockey, as did Hutchinson tonight.
I know he only has one assist, but I still like what I see from Eric Tangradi and Mark Letestu.....
There were signs of life from Talbot, and Crosby finally got a goal...............I am not at all happy being 1-3, and really good teams face injury and find ways to win, and the Pens thus far have not done so. That said, I like a lot of individual components of what I am watching, and fully expect a chemistry to develop, mistakes to be corrected, and winning to occur.
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