Pittsburgh is tied for 2nd in the NHL IN goals for at 3.46 per game only slightly behind 1st place Tampa at 3.48 GF per game, but they are 19th in the NHL in goals against per game at 2.91 GA per game. They are also third in the NHL on the power play converting at 27.8%,but just 18th on the PK at 80.7%! Upper echelon in goals per game and power play goals, bottom half of league in goals against and the penalty kill! If you look at individual rankings in the NHL, the Penguins boast the NHL's leading scorer in Sidney Crosby who has 34 points, with 10 goals and 24 assists, two points ahead of Tampa's Steven Stamkos. They also have the NHL's top scoring defenseman in Kris Letang, with 19 points and its fourth leading scoring defenseman in Paul Martin with 15 points. Add to that, they have James Neal tied for 2nd in the NHL in goal scoring with 13 goals and Chris Kunitz tied for 9th with 11 goals, while leading scorer Sidney Crosby is lurking right behind the leaders with 10 goals. Conversely, Marc Andre Fleury despite playing very well in my opinion is 16th in the NHL in GAA and 18th in save percentage, while Vokoun is buried in the depths of the rankings. Vokoun has played sub par, but Fleury has not. It is tough to have great numbers when opposing forwards are standing in your blue paint looking for rebounds, and getting two or three cracks at pucks in and near the crease!
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Pens win thriller but I'm not thrilled
I have not had the time to post this season as usual, but I thought that given an exciting win last night in overtime against Montreal 7-6, and the fact that we are two games shy of midseason, and the trade deadline is a month away it might be a good time to check in again. Hey, getting two points last night was big for Pittsburgh, and I like the way that they hung in and kept coming back on the road, but on a road trip that was 1-2 with 18 goals against, forgive me if I am not planning on being in the Consol in June this season. Hey, yes, the Pens have the third most points in the Eastern conference, so it is tough to be too hard on them, BUT, and that is BUT larger than Kim Kardashian's, they do not seem to have learned their lessons from their early departure from last season's playoffs! This next part will also tie in to the percieved trade deadline needs for Pittsburgh, which seem to always center around a top six winger for either Malkin or Crosby.......Hello folks, scoring is not the issue AGAIN for Pittsburgh, stopping other people from scoring, killing penalties and not taking penalties is the ISSUE just like last season. Like last season the glass half full people want to point to the standings to say it is okay, but folks this team is not built for a long playoff run without a MAJOR attitude adjustment and or a couple of trades. Some evidence to support my thoughts are as follows:
Pittsburgh is tied for 2nd in the NHL IN goals for at 3.46 per game only slightly behind 1st place Tampa at 3.48 GF per game, but they are 19th in the NHL in goals against per game at 2.91 GA per game. They are also third in the NHL on the power play converting at 27.8%,but just 18th on the PK at 80.7%! Upper echelon in goals per game and power play goals, bottom half of league in goals against and the penalty kill! If you look at individual rankings in the NHL, the Penguins boast the NHL's leading scorer in Sidney Crosby who has 34 points, with 10 goals and 24 assists, two points ahead of Tampa's Steven Stamkos. They also have the NHL's top scoring defenseman in Kris Letang, with 19 points and its fourth leading scoring defenseman in Paul Martin with 15 points. Add to that, they have James Neal tied for 2nd in the NHL in goal scoring with 13 goals and Chris Kunitz tied for 9th with 11 goals, while leading scorer Sidney Crosby is lurking right behind the leaders with 10 goals. Conversely, Marc Andre Fleury despite playing very well in my opinion is 16th in the NHL in GAA and 18th in save percentage, while Vokoun is buried in the depths of the rankings. Vokoun has played sub par, but Fleury has not. It is tough to have great numbers when opposing forwards are standing in your blue paint looking for rebounds, and getting two or three cracks at pucks in and near the crease!
To me, the numbers do not lie! The Penguins existing personnel HAS to take playing a defensive system FAR more seriously than they have, from the star forwards to the depth defensemen, and though I would love the chance to add a legitimate top six winger, I would rather add some two way players who play a sound game and take care of their own end and a veteran defenseman who does not like to see opposing forwards standing in his crease without making them pay a steep price. With the shortened season there are too many potential ways to look at who may be available, and I sure won't turn away a guy who has skills, but they better also play with some edge, play in all three zones, and have some size to wear down the opposition. Getting goals does not seem to be the issue, stopping the opponent from getting them clearly is.
Pittsburgh is tied for 2nd in the NHL IN goals for at 3.46 per game only slightly behind 1st place Tampa at 3.48 GF per game, but they are 19th in the NHL in goals against per game at 2.91 GA per game. They are also third in the NHL on the power play converting at 27.8%,but just 18th on the PK at 80.7%! Upper echelon in goals per game and power play goals, bottom half of league in goals against and the penalty kill! If you look at individual rankings in the NHL, the Penguins boast the NHL's leading scorer in Sidney Crosby who has 34 points, with 10 goals and 24 assists, two points ahead of Tampa's Steven Stamkos. They also have the NHL's top scoring defenseman in Kris Letang, with 19 points and its fourth leading scoring defenseman in Paul Martin with 15 points. Add to that, they have James Neal tied for 2nd in the NHL in goal scoring with 13 goals and Chris Kunitz tied for 9th with 11 goals, while leading scorer Sidney Crosby is lurking right behind the leaders with 10 goals. Conversely, Marc Andre Fleury despite playing very well in my opinion is 16th in the NHL in GAA and 18th in save percentage, while Vokoun is buried in the depths of the rankings. Vokoun has played sub par, but Fleury has not. It is tough to have great numbers when opposing forwards are standing in your blue paint looking for rebounds, and getting two or three cracks at pucks in and near the crease!
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