Pens vs. Isles, Game Two

[Ice]

Starting this one bright and early from my desk at school before the Zoom Room gets jumpin'. No Malkin again, but 5,000 more fans in the stands at the Paint Bucket, and hopefully a little less ring rust on Jarry and the D. I'll post lines, etc. when they become officially available. And for God's sake, guys, SHOOT THE PUCK!

LGP!!!

[fractalsteel]

Thanks for the early start Ice

I'm hearing and Sully said yesterday that Malkin is a game time decision. Dumo didn't practice but Sully said it was a maintenance day. DeSmith didn't practice either.

Here are yesterdays lines from practice:
Guentzel-Crosby-Rust

McCann-Carter-Kapanen

Zucker-Gaudreau-Rodrigues

Aston-Reese-Blueger-Tanev

PP1) Letang, Crosby, McCann, Guentzel, Rust

PP2) Different combinations of Marino, Matheson, Carter, Kapanen, Zucker and Rodrigues were the lines from yesterday:


Interesting note:

The Islanders had 72 hits in Sunday's game.
Komerov had 14 hits in 18 minutes. If I had the time I would go back and see if he was out there trying to hit any Penguin in sight or was he targeting a particular player. Keep an eye on him tonight.

[Ice]

Thanks! Forgot to include the Dumo "maintenance day." That was a bit of a nasty foot shot, so hope he's good to go. He's Letang's conscience.

[Orangesteel]

Rather important contest this evening.

[fractalsteel]

Nice pre game look at how the Islanders did a great job of not letting the Pens get to the net for second and third chances. It was a focus for them and the Pens have to battle harder around the net.
Even on that great Crosby goal, Green did a great job of moving SId away from the net but Crosby will be Crosby.

Dumo is a game time decision as well as Malkin

[fractalsteel]

In:
Dumo
Count V for the Isles

Out:
Malkin

[fractalsteel]

Rust
1-0

[Orangesteel]

Rusty!!!

[El Kabong]

Good start.

[fractalsteel]

Two trips no call,OK

ZAR and Crosby have both collided with the Count in the first 5 minutes. Not by accident.

[Orangesteel]

CARTER!

[Orangesteel]

Let’s go!

[fractalsteel]

Great to see fans in seats, better yet to hear them roar.

[El Kabong]

Boo

[El Kabong]

Huh. The network must have switched to MMA.

[El Kabong]

Rust, why????

[Orangesteel]

What the FUCK rust????

[Orangesteel]

That was all-time stupid.

[El Kabong]

Nice! 1-1 looks better than 0-1 and certainly better than 0-2.

[Orangesteel]

Nail biter. Holy shit.

[Jobu]

What a game!

[Orangesteel]

I hate this goddamn Islander team.

[Ice]

Can nothing in Pittsburgh sports ever be easy? I'll take it, but sheesh. Now let's hope Dumo's good and go see what we can do on the Island. Gonna need an adjustment to Trotz's adjustments, that's for sure. I'm gonna go try and regenerate some fingernails for Thursday. Let's go Pens!

[Ice]

I hate this goddamn Islander team.

[DP39]

Nice win last night! The Pens played a complete game in that they fought hard to keep the lead towards the end. The fourth line gave us the tilt; let's hope they continue to bring it every shift from here on out.

Hopefully with Geno out there (doing good Geno things) it take us to a level that the NYI can't match, no matter how hard they try. I'll admit, when 71 does come back I'll hate to see E-Rod go (assuming, if it's him). He's been a nice little mini-Tanev when he's gotten minutes. I really like the energy he brings, all while lifting his line.

Man, playoff hockey is so f'n fun to watch! Throughout my life the Steelers have always been my first love, but as I get older the Pens have become a damn fine mistress -- one that might even be an upgrade over the past decade plus.

[fractalsteel]

They crowded the count last night and they must continue to do so. The periphery game is what NY wants us to do.

One question, why the fuck does Sully always roll with the top line when NY trots out the identity line? It is a bad matchup and it plays to NY's strength and not ours. Home ice advantage negated to a degree.
I'd roll with the Carter line instead.

[Orangesteel]

We need Jason Zucker to start bringing it around the net. He’s skating well but my eyes see what looks like zero scoring chances.

The Carter acquisition was brilliant. He’s a force out there.

[SteelWIll]

Tanev was a beast when i saw him on the ice...4th line was gr8!

[MWS71]

If we get through this series we might get *one* comfortable win, otherwise they're all going to be like this. Trotz is trying to put me in an early grave!

So far there's not much to separate these two teams - both games were determined by a goalie letting in a real stinker (or two). The difference I think is when the Islanders are carrying the play the Penguins struggle to get past the red line. When the Penguins seem to be on top, the Islanders can't get out of their own zone. If the Guins stay patient against the Islanders defensive posture and Jarry plays 3 more games at average or above, I really like our chances.

I haven't seen any of the underlying numbers from last night, but I thought Zucker was really good. Playing 4th line minutes with Gaudreau and Rodrigues probably isn't what he was hoping for when he was traded, but I thought he was noticeably fast and aggressive on the forecheck and made a couple handsy plays to win puck battles throughout. If he turns in that kind of performance next to a healthy-ish Malkin and Kapanen I'd expect him to get rewarded on the score sheet.

Brian Dumoulin, what a player.

[fractalsteel]

I thought Zucker played well for the most part last night. His efforts in the first period were outstanding and he was very effective with possession in the OZ.

Matheson looks like he is a different player. Haven't seen his skating ability in the series which is weird because he missed all that time with a facial injury and not his lower body.
If he isn't making magic in the OZ he shouldn't be playing 20 minutes like he did last night.

Guentzel had 7 SOG and 5 hits, not a bad nights work.

Word is that Malkin should be ready tomorrow night. I'd sit ZAR before I would sit Rodriques.