Pens v. Leafs

[Louis Lipps Service]

The one flaw in Sid's game. His choice of skates. Doesn't use what the rest of the league uses. Likes old school skates.

I might be off base here but Sully doesn't like to push the envelope in OT. Plays it safe.

Definitely not off base. It’s weird though.

I remember at the beginning of the season in OT, they’d actually double shift Letang and Karlsson so that one would or the either was on the ice almost the entire OT, giving them a great puck mover and offensive threat at the D spot for the entire OT.

And maybe it made sense to get away from that as the season wore on to mitigate fatigue on those two.

But in the spot they’re in now, they need that aggressive thinking. But there’s still examples like this one where it’s missing.

[fractalsteel]

Pens are 3-9 in OT this year. Oddly Crosby has been on the ice for 5 of those losses. Supposedly they don't practice it very often. Not enough speed on the roster to shine 3 on 3.

[fractalsteel]

Rooting for which teams tonight?

Certainly the Rangers over the Islanders but no idea about Washington/Detroit. A tie after regulation is the worst case scenario, right?

[Pabst]

Rooting for which teams tonight?

Certainly the Rangers over the Islanders but no idea about Washington/Detroit. A tie after regulation is the worst case scenario, right?

I think the Caps winning in regulation was the best case scenario. Taking a gander at each team's remaining schedule:

Washington: @Buf, Tampa, Boston, @Philly
Detroit: @Pit, @Toronto, Home & Home with Montreal
Islanders: Montreal, @NYR, @NJD, Pit

Washington definitely has the tougher road with 3 of their remaining opponents still being in the hunt/playoffs, and Buffalo is no slouch.
NYI is 0-2-1 vs New Jersey this year. Hopefully that trend continues (knocks on wood)


The Caps goal differential is 27th in the league. How they're tied for a playoff spot is mystifying.

[swissvale72]

Rooting for which teams tonight?

Certainly the Rangers over the Islanders but no idea about Washington/Detroit. A tie after regulation is the worst case scenario, right?

I think the Caps winning in regulation was the best case scenario. Taking a gander at each team's remaining schedule:

Washington: @Buf, Tampa, Boston, @Philly
Detroit: @Pit, @Toronto, Home & Home with Montreal
Islanders: Montreal, @NYR, @NJD, Pit

Washington definitely has the tougher road with 3 of their remaining opponents still being in the hunt/playoffs, and Buffalo is no slouch.
NYI is 0-2-1 vs New Jersey this year. Hopefully that trend continues (knocks on wood)


The Caps goal differential is 27th in the league. How they're tied for a playoff spot is mystifying.

Only thing is, pens no longer control their own destiny…need caps or isles to lose even if pens sweep their last 4. Had wings won, pens sweep put them in playoffs w no help

[Pabst]

Only thing is, pens no longer control their own destiny…need caps or isles to lose even if pens sweep their last 4. Had wings won, pens sweep put them in playoffs w no help

I hear that, but have to ask how likely it is that each team would win out.

[swissvale72]

Only thing is, pens no longer control their own destiny…need caps or isles to lose even if pens sweep their last 4. Had wings won, pens sweep put them in playoffs w no help

I hear that, but have to ask how likely it is that each team would win out.

Hopefully, not very. Hopefully lsles lose at MSG on Saturday. Otherwise, their other two are very winnable. And caps toughest two are at home. And…that’s assuming pens win out, or at least go 3-0-1.

[Pabst]

Hopefully, not very. Hopefully lsles lose at MSG on Saturday. Otherwise, their other two are very winnable. And caps toughest two are at home. And…that’s assuming pens win out, or at least go 3-0-1.

I have a bone to pick with Washington.

There are 5 teams still in contention: Pittsburgh, NYI, Philly, Detroit, and Washington (NJ might technically be still alive, but they'd need a miracle).

Pittsburgh, NYI, Detroit, and Philly all make sense for why they're here. They all do at least one thing well, but have critical flaws:
Pittsburgh's special teams have been garbage all year, and situational goaltending is killing them.
NY is being carried by goaltending.
Detroit can score and has a solid PP, but they are absolutely allergic to team defense.
Philly plays with great structure but their goaltending has fallen off a cliff since January.


Washington does nothing well. Their PP has picked up in the latter half of the season, but even then it's still in the bottom half of the league. Ditto the PK. 5-on-5 they are one of the worst teams in the league.

This stat is mindblowing: Since the league re-aligned in 2013, there have been 88 total playoff teams. Only 12 have had a negative goal differential on the season, with the 2015-16 Red Wings being the worst at a -13. The Caps currently sit at -40. How in the hell is this team still in contention?

[fractalsteel]

Hopefully, not very. Hopefully lsles lose at MSG on Saturday. Otherwise, their other two are very winnable. And caps toughest two are at home. And…that’s assuming pens win out, or at least go 3-0-1.

I have a bone to pick with Washington.

There are 5 teams still in contention: Pittsburgh, NYI, Philly, Detroit, and Washington (NJ might technically be still alive, but they'd need a miracle).

Pittsburgh, NYI, Detroit, and Philly all make sense for why they're here. They all do at least one thing well, but have critical flaws:
Pittsburgh's special teams have been garbage all year, and situational goaltending is killing them.
NY is being carried by goaltending.
Detroit can score and has a solid PP, but they are absolutely allergic to team defense.
Philly plays with great structure but their goaltending has fallen off a cliff since January.


Washington does nothing well. Their PP has picked up in the latter half of the season, but even then it's still in the bottom half of the league. Ditto the PK. 5-on-5 they are one of the worst teams in the league.

This stat is mindblowing: Since the league re-aligned in 2013, there have been 88 total playoff teams. Only 12 have had a negative goal differential on the season, with the 2015-16 Red Wings being the worst at a -13. The Caps currently sit at -40. How in the hell is this team still in contention?

I can't wrap my head around the Washington metrics. They should be eliminated by now.

The end to this season is opposite to last years.
Last year Malkin/Crosby both faded the last ten games and the team blew their chance to slip in. This year they got hot pretty much at the right time but still might not make it.
3-9 in OT is going to come back and bite this team in the ass. A part of the game they don't really practice.

[bradshaw2ben]

Hopefully, not very. Hopefully lsles lose at MSG on Saturday. Otherwise, their other two are very winnable. And caps toughest two are at home. And…that’s assuming pens win out, or at least go 3-0-1.

I have a bone to pick with Washington.

There are 5 teams still in contention: Pittsburgh, NYI, Philly, Detroit, and Washington (NJ might technically be still alive, but they'd need a miracle).

Pittsburgh, NYI, Detroit, and Philly all make sense for why they're here. They all do at least one thing well, but have critical flaws:
Pittsburgh's special teams have been garbage all year, and situational goaltending is killing them.
NY is being carried by goaltending.
Detroit can score and has a solid PP, but they are absolutely allergic to team defense.
Philly plays with great structure but their goaltending has fallen off a cliff since January.


Washington does nothing well. Their PP has picked up in the latter half of the season, but even then it's still in the bottom half of the league. Ditto the PK. 5-on-5 they are one of the worst teams in the league.

This stat is mindblowing: Since the league re-aligned in 2013, there have been 88 total playoff teams. Only 12 have had a negative goal differential on the season, with the 2015-16 Red Wings being the worst at a -13. The Caps currently sit at -40. How in the hell is this team still in contention?

I can't wrap my head around the Washington metrics. They should be eliminated by now.

The end to this season is opposite to last years.
Last year Malkin/Crosby both faded the last ten games and the team blew their chance to slip in. This year they got hot pretty much at the right time but still might not make it.
3-9 in OT is going to come back and bite this team in the ass. A part of the game they don't really practice.

As will not feeding Malkin's one-timer on the PP like they have in previous seasons. Or letting the Detroits of the world get a an extra point by giving up late leads on bonehead plays.