Showing posts with label Penguins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Penguins. Show all posts
Friday, November 1, 2013
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Its Time for "Geno" To Earn His Money
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| Ahh the Good Ol' Days when Malkin Scored Goals... |
Malkin has, is, and always will be a very streaky hockey player. He isn't the Sidney Crosby type that will garner around a point or two a game and consistently be on the score sheet. Should he be? Yes, but is he? No. After 12 games this season Malkin has been extremely underwhelming. Geno apologists will point to his lack of wingers. Beau Bennett is injured, James Neal is injured, and even Chuck Kobasew is now injured. Malkin seems to mesh with Jussi Jokinen, but that other side remains a vacant position. Other Geno apologists will say that he is getting his chances, and eventually they will start to come. I see that as something similar to saying "Marc Andre Fleury was close to stopping that puck, but he just missed it. He will start making those saves eventually!" This is a "what have you done for me lately" industry now, and Malkin hasn't been doing much.
Just in 12 games Evgeni Malkin's stat line reads like this: 3 Goals, 7 Assists - 10 points. Plus/Minus = -3. His average time on ice is second amongst forwards, only to Sidney Crosby. Malkin does lead the team in a category...penalty minutes. I know that 10 points is not necessarily bad, but this Russian born superstar was born to put the puck in the net...and it simply isn't happening. 3 goals thus far of a player of his caliber is almost inexcusable. Malkin's 3 goals have him tied for 87th in the NHL in goals scored. His 10 points are tied for 45th in the NHL for points scored. Is that the play of a man who just got a hefty extension to his contract? The simple and straight answer is NO.
Malkin doesn't have to be "the man" all the time, but it would be nice if he was "the man" some of the time. Malkin is a polarizing figure in my opinion, and he looks like he is pressing too much on the ice. Malkin will benefit when Bennett and Neal return from injury, but until then, he needs to duplicate what Sidney Crosby does. Show the ability to score regardless of linemates. Time to earn your keep Geno.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Monday, October 28, 2013
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Friday, October 25, 2013
The Pittsburgh Sports Notebook (10/25)
STEELERS
- Ben Roethlisberger's last trip to Oakland (last year) resulted in one of his best games ever. He tallied 384 yards and 4 TDs in a 34-31 loss to the Raiders.
- Emmanuel Sanders wants to return more kicks and after last Sunday has proven that he can be a threat to take one back to "the house".
- Injury Update:
- Markus Wheaton remains OUT for this Sunday's game with a broken finger.
- Practiced Fully:
- LT - Kelvin Beachum - Ribs
- WR - Jerricho Cotchery - Abdomen
- RT - Marcus Gilbert - Quad
- DE - Cam Heyward - Illness
- OLB - Jarvis Jones - Concussion
- DE - Brett Keisel - Ribs
- ILB - Lawrence Timmons - Hand
- OLB - Lamarr Woodley - Knee
PENGUINS
- The Penguins are not only getting Olli Maatta for the remainder of the season, but Kris Letang is returning to the lineup tonight against the NY Islanders.
- Marc Andre Fleury has been given the night off (even though the last game was Monday) and Zatkoff will be in between the pipes for his 2nd career NHL start. His first start was less than desirable in the Penguins only other loss of the regular season thus far.
- The Penguins made some WBS Baby Pens transactions as they add Jayson Megna from the Baby Pens. Megna will make his NHL debut tonight.
- The Penguins are far to familiar with the threat that is the NY Islanders. A game 6 OT winner last playoffs pushed the Penguins to the brink. Hopefully they make a statement tonight.
- Penguins Lines at morning skate:
- Dupuis / Crosby / Kunitz
- Jokinen / Malkin / Kobasew
- Glass / Sutter / Megna
- Adams / Vitale / Engelland (playing as a Forward)
- Orpik & Martin
- Scuderi & Letang
- Maatta & Niskanen
PIRATES
- A "Thank You" from the Pirates to the Fans for a magical season...
No 'Maatta" What You Say, Olli Belongs with the Penguins
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| Olli Maatta Is Ready To Improve This Penguins Team... |
That Olli kid (19 years old) sure can play some hockey can't he? Thursday it was released from Penguins' GM Ray Shero that Olli Maatta will be retained by the Penguins this season and will not be returning to his Junior Club team this season. Please, spare me the financials. I could care less. What I do care about is the Penguins putting the best club on the ice as possible, and it couldn't be more obvious that Olli Maatta is a top 6 defensemen on this time right now, at age 19. The way he moves the puck, his offensive prowess, and how he plays his angles defensively stand out as a player that deserves to be in the NHL now, not later. Please, spare me the "he is too young" argument too. Did people say that when Sidney Crosby played in the NHL as an 18 year old? Nope, so why say that now? If a player is ready...let them at it, and its pretty obvious that Maatta is ready.
Will there be growing pains? There is a good chance that there will be, but that shouldn't deter anyone from thinking that he is NHL ready. Why would Dan Bylsma and Ray Shero keep him on the roster if there was even an inclination that he wasn't ready? No, he is ready to go and don't be surprised if you see him play better now that the decision has been made. Don't think for a second that this decision hasn't weighed on the young defenseman. Maatta even said in an interview that he was more nervous after the game Monday than he was before the game. Don't think it was on his mind? Yeah it was. With the decision over, I have a feeling we might see a new Olli on the back end. A better Olli that can play the way he was born to play...without the pressure of an NHL contract weighing on his mind. Either way, there is no question in my mind that Maatta does belong in the NHL, and I'm glad he belongs with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
NHL Metropolitan Division Update
Nonetheless, the Pittsburgh Penguins remain on top of the standings at 14 points, and that point total is tied for best in the Eastern Conference with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Metro division isn't going to be won or lost in the month of October, and the Carolina Hurricanes are keeping pace with the Penguins with 11 points. The New York Islanders are in 3rd with 9 points and are preparing for a Friday night tilt with the 1st place Penguins. If the Islanders were to win that game in Pittsburgh it would propel them at least into a tie of 2nd place in the division, and would make the division race a lot tighter. The Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals continue to be dangerous teams in my opinion. The Blue Jackets have the defense and goaltending to be able to hang around in the division, and the Capitals and their offensive capabilities can never be counted out.
The bottom half of the division is the "head scratcher". Teams that were expected to be in the discussion for winning the Metropolitan division have gotten off to near historic horrid starts. The NY Rangers would be atop that list. With goaltending like Lundquist you are always expected to be in every game. However, with a 2-5 start, the Rangers have dug themselves a 10pt hole in the division. The Flyers were a team that people (not me) thought would be a playoff caliber team, and that certainly hasn't happened yet this season. After 8 games they have 2 points to show for their efforts. At this rate, if things don't change, they will be out of the playoff picture by mid-February.
I realize that this division is not won or lost anytime soon, but a hot start can propel you to the playoffs just as a cold start can dig you a hole that might be impossible to climb out of. Until next time...keep your eye on the Metro Division (goodness that sounds stupid) as things will only get tighter in the next few weeks with division play kicking into full gear!
| METROPOLITAN | GP | W | L | OT | PTS | ROW | GF | GA | HOME | AWAY | L10 | |
| PITTSBURGH | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 6 | 31 | 20 | 5-1-0 | 2-1-0 | 7-2-0 | |
| CAROLINA | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 4 | 22 | 26 | 1-1-3 | 3-1-0 | 4-2-3 | |
| NY ISLANDERS | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 29 | 28 | 2-1-3 | 1-2-0 | 3-3-3 | |
| COLUMBUS | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 23 | 23 | 2-2-0 | 2-3-0 | 4-5-0 | |
| WASHINGTON | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 26 | 29 | 3-3-0 | 1-2-0 | 4-5-0 | |
| NEW JERSEY | 9 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 18 | 30 | 1-0-1 | 0-5-2 | 1-5-3 | |
| NY RANGERS | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 29 | 0-0-0 | 2-5-0 | 2-5-0 | |
| PHILADELPHIA | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 24 | 1-4-0 | 0-3-0 | 1-7-0 | |
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
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