tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59512027681152438052024-03-05T20:37:49.451-05:00The Relentless ForecheckPassionate Penguins Hockey... period.Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951202768115243805.post-17737459108777566842011-11-21T23:39:00.001-05:002011-11-21T23:40:22.953-05:00This about sums it up...Kudos to <a href="http://matt24cooke.tumblr.com/post/13145782692/sidney-crosby-is-back-bitches-sids-first-goal" target="_blank">Matt24Cooke</a> for this one...<br />
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<br />Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951202768115243805.post-57097871455620352011-11-21T22:48:00.001-05:002011-11-21T23:29:21.523-05:0011/21/11: St. Crosby's DaySo much for a tempered expectations; it's safe to say that Sidney Crosby exceeded them all. The scoresheet will read 2G, 2A, +3, 8 shots on goal, 14 for 21 on faceoffs, and 15:54 playing time over 21 shifts. Impressive stats for any player, for sure, let alone for one who has not played in the NHL for over 10 months. Still, the stats only tell part of the story.<br />
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Sidney Crosby was a dominant force every time he stepped onto the ice. Whether it be the man-advantage or full-strength, with Dupuis and Kunitz or with Malkin, it just didn't matter: Sid was flying and there was little the Islanders could do to slow him down (stopping him was unfathomable). Sid protected the puck, drove to the net, cycled, displayed game-breaking speed and acceleration, shot, deflected, took hits, gave hits, established a net-front-presence, and, oh yes, displayed what he'd clearly been working on during his time off: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">his absolutely lethal backhand. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The way Sid uses his body to shield the puck, it is almost impossible to defend against his backhand. Both of Sid's goals came on the backhand tonight. Just when you thought that Sid couldn't add another dimension to his game, The Kid goes off, studies, and comes back with something you haven't seen. Other players may be able to add new words to their vocabulary, but Sidney Crosby is adding entirely new languages. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the end, Sid could have easily had much more than four points. The chances were there. Off the blade of his stick and off the vision of his passing, opportunities seemed to follow Sidney Crosby all night. Yes, this was against an Islanders team that has been struggling, but this was also an Islanders team desperate not to let the Comeback Kid use them as a step stool to climb back upon his pedestal. In the end, Sidney Crosby was not to be denied his return to the throne. He was far and away the best player on the ice. In fact, he was probably the best player on any ice this evening. Welcome back, Sidney. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One side note: I can't, in good conscience, mention tonight's game without an Honorable Mention to Marc-Andre Fleury. It was surely Sid's night, but the shut-out came by way of a tremendous individual effort by The Flower. There were stretches where the Islanders pressed and had the Penguins pinned deep in their own end chasing (especially early). Had Fleury not stood tall and kept his composure, the Penguins could have easily found themselves trailing. I dare say the Pens would have still found a way to win, but this could have been a lot closer had it not been for Fleury's heroics.</span>Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951202768115243805.post-63182484060048818382011-11-21T19:49:00.001-05:002011-11-21T20:01:53.128-05:00Are you kidding me?It took 3 shifts and about 90 seconds on the ice for Sidney Crosby to remind the hockey world what it's like when he is in the lineup... <div>
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Forget that the Pens didn't look all that great in the first, this is all about Sidney Crosby. Sid accomplished nearly everything he could in the first:</div>
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Goal? Check. A perfect display of Sid's presence, power, speed, and skill.</div>
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Assist? Check. Great sequence ending with a perfect saucer pass to Brooks Orpik at the blueline. Orpik picked the top corner with a sizzling slapshot.</div>
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Hard check? Yup. Travis Hamonic knocked Sid on his tail behind the net. Sid, looking a bit surprised and a bit relieved to get that out of the way.</div>
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Power play time? Yessir. Sid didn't look a shade out of place on the top unit, cycling the puck well, generating chances, and looking hungry as ever.</div>
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Long shift? 7:10 of ice time. Those discussions of 12 minutes of ice time? Perhaps in the first period.</div>
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Whatever the case, Sidney Crosby is back. From the player who exceeds all superlatives, a comeback that surpassed all expectations... and we've got two more periods ahead. Wow.</div>Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951202768115243805.post-27058951707041767442011-11-21T16:47:00.001-05:002011-11-21T16:48:59.509-05:00Welcome Back, Sid!From Pittsburgh's own <a href="https://www.compressmerch.com/merch/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=176" target="_blank">Commonwealth Press</a>, too good not to share.<br />
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<br />Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951202768115243805.post-5699869548405140312011-11-20T17:22:00.001-05:002011-11-20T18:01:03.817-05:00Out of the tunnel and into the light: Sidney Crosby to return tomorrow night!It's been nearly one full year since Sidney Crosby was last in the lineup. It has been nearly one full year of uncertainty over the future of one of Pittsburgh's, the NHL's, and the sport's brightest stars. It has been nearly one full year of asking the same question with no answer: when will Sidney Crosby return? Well, the question is rhetorical no more: Sidney Crosby will play tomorrow night against the New York Islanders.<br />
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What can we expect? Well, according to Coach Bylsma, Sid will center a line with Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis. Although Sid is returning to what is effectively the Pens top line, his ice time will be closely monitored. Sid indicated to Bylsma he feels he can handle 12 minutes of ice time for the game. Personally, I'd be more than happy if Sid stayed below 10 minutes. Sidney Crosby has tremendous personal drive and has been practicing vigorously for some time, but a year layoff is still a year layoff. Tomorrow night should be another small step in the slow, methodical approach the Pens and Crosby have taken since his treatment began.<br />
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Returning to live action is an important milestone in the recovery process, but we would be wise to remember it's not the end of the recovery. It is going to take time for Sid to fully re-acclimate to the tempo and the physical and mental toll a regular playing schedule demands. Even with his ice time closely metered, Sid may still need to take a night off (especially on back-to-back evenings) just to make sure he can fully recover between games. The most important thing for Sid right now is making sure he's physically and mentally 100% every time he steps on the ice; Sid cannot afford to have either compromised.<br />
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In reality, it may take a few months before Sid is fully adjusted back to daily life in the NHL. It may take considerably longer for him to return to the dominant form he displayed before he was injured in January. If anything, we've learned two things since then: First, be patient. Second, never count Sid "The Kid" out. Right now, we'll just have to take it one step at a time. Right now, we're just thrilled to welcome Number 87 back to the ice where he belongs...<br />
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<br />Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951202768115243805.post-25449228662855034632011-11-17T22:33:00.001-05:002011-11-17T22:37:15.467-05:00It's like the Euro, only worth more...Sherobucks! <div>
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If winning cool prizes and earning tons of Pens street cred sounds too good to be true, check out the <a href="http://highheelsandhockey.com/contests/shero-dollars-twitter-contest/" target="_blank">Sherobucks Twitter Contest</a>!</div>
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Conversely, the Pens PK gave up not one, but two goals to the Lightning with the man-advantage; I don't know that the Pens have given up two PP goals all season. Again, the Lightning seemed to be right there to capitalize on every Pens miscue and bad bounce. </div>
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A goalie who has their number and a team that finds a way to get all the bounces makes for a long night, and it certainly was for the Pens. For whatever reason, the Lightning have the whammy on the Pens.</div>
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Honorable Mention goes to Matt Niskanen who not only played an exceptional game, but dropped the gloves late with Stamkos. That kind of effort doesn't go un-noticed, Matt.</div>Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951202768115243805.post-63421127875625854042011-11-17T21:05:00.001-05:002011-11-17T21:11:11.958-05:00Pens 0 - Lightning 2: 2nd Intermission Quick HitsThe Pens continue the strong play, but the Lightning continue to make the most of their limited opportunities. This time on the PP, Connolly drives hard to the net from the corner and Engelland fails to pick him up. Moore unloads a quick shot from the slot that Connolly manages to deflect behind Fleury. The Pens PP looked very strong this period, getting a number of excellent chances on net from all over the offensive zone.<br />
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The difference so far has clearly been Dwayne Roloson. Somehow, playing the Penguins rejuvenates the aging goaltender, who has been plagued by some poor starts of late. Not tonight. Roloson is playing every bit as dominant as he ever was when the Pens met him back in the playoffs last season. The Pens need to keep the pressure on and try to find a way to beat the Tampa defense to the rebounds and lose pucks in front.<br />
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Third period upcoming. The Pens still very much in this, but they need to solve Roloson early...Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951202768115243805.post-74597486376322499802011-11-17T20:15:00.001-05:002011-11-17T20:24:56.118-05:00Pens 0 - Lightning 1: 1st Intermission Quick HitsGood period by the Pens. Strong forecheck, getting pucks behind the 1-3-1, and generating sustained zone pressure and chances. The Pens have been pressing hard defensively for quick turnovers and immediately starting the rush the other way, which has made it very difficult for Tampa to setup in their trap. The Pens have done a great job defensively as a team, negating most of what Tampa has been able to throw at them. Tampa had relatively few sustained chances in the Pens end, with Pittsburgh managing to diffuse the offensive charge quickly and efficiently by aggressive attack of the puck carrier. The times that Fleury has been called on, he's been strong.<br />
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The lone goal was attributed to a miscue by Jordan Staal deep in the Pens own end. Jordan looked up ice before fully controlling the puck and allowed Vinny Lecavalier to pick his pocket and skate in on Fleury uncontested. That was the only real blemish by the Pens this period. A much better start here as compared to Tuesday night against the Avalanche.Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951202768115243805.post-53228282691924482062011-11-11T21:46:00.001-05:002011-11-11T21:58:57.857-05:00Pens 3 - Stars 1: Post-Game Quick HitsWell, the Pens came out strong in the third and established the tempo right from the start. The Pens PP just terrorized the Stars tonight: great puck movement, great net-front presence by Kunitz, and Malkin/Neal both shooting on net. Again in the third, the Pens had a goal disallowed on the PP, but this time Kunitz got a bit too aggressive in attempting a redirect in the crease, knocking into Lehtonen. Still, the Pens again find a PP goal a few moments later that started with a great keep-in by Sullivan at the left point, cross to Letang, down to Malkin in the RW slot, over to Neal in the LW slot, before the pass over to Kunitz all alone at the right of the crease is redirected by a defenseman behind Lehtonen. Brilliant puck movement and excellent determination paid dividends.<br />
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Kudos to Matt Cooke for a great pressure play on Sheldon Souray (who he had words with earlier in the third) at the Pens blueline to force a turnover and create a breakaway. A Dallas defender trips Cooke on his way to the net resulting in a penalty shot. Cooke, on his first penalty shot, coolly takes the puck wide left towards the net, fakes backhand, gets Lehtonen to go down, and goes back forehand to elevate the puck to the roof of the net over Lehtonen's outstretched pads. Cooke provides the only insurance the Pens needed in this one.<br />
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Neal, who had a monster game scoring two, nearly gets his third pressuring deep with Lehtonen pulled. Malkin, with some great work deep on the forecheck, tries to get Neal the puck cross-crease, but it was picked off by the Dallas defense. No matter, the message was already received. Not surprisingly, Matt Niskanen also had a solid game including a number of solid shots on net.<br />
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Great win off some great work. The Pens simply outworked the Stars and made Dallas pay for taking penalties with some excellent work with the man advantage. How nice is it that opposing teams have to think twice about taking penalties against the Pens?Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951202768115243805.post-71126561984698950732011-11-11T20:48:00.001-05:002011-11-11T20:55:33.408-05:00Pens 1 - Stars 1: 2nd Intermission Quick HitsWhat a difference an intermission makes. The Dallas Stars coaching staff must have passed out the smelling salts in the dressing room, because the Stars immediately came out and established a physical presence in the second. After killing the Pens PP, the Stars managed to get some good chances early against Fleury. The Pens were caught on their heels a bit as they adapted to a newly assertive opponent.<br />
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The Pens eventually managed to re calibrate and match the Stars toe-to-toe. The chances were a bit harder to come by in the second for both sides, but when they did it usually involved second and third chances around the net. The Pens late PP produced the tying goal, first on a Kunitz redirect on a Malkin shot that was called off and then off a great shot by Neal from the LW slot that Lehtonen couldn't get all of.<br />
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The third period should be an interesting one. Can the Pens come out quick and catch the Stars on their heels or will the Stars jump out and try to take command? Whatever the case, this should be an exciting finish...Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951202768115243805.post-48611012731439483202011-11-11T19:48:00.001-05:002011-11-11T19:57:17.895-05:00Pens 0 - Dallas 1: 1st Intermission Quick HitsThe Pens came out flying, pressuring Dallas right away and generating chances. James Neal came out with something to prove, getting a number of good opportunities and playing aggressively from the second his skate hit the ice on the first shift. His line, along with Malkin and Sullivan, has looked very strong through one.<br />
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Only one defensive lapse allowed Dallas to pull ahead on this one. Dvorak got behind the Pens D and into the corner. He threw a pass cross-crease from the corner and hit a streaking Nystrom for a redirect up and over Fleury. Fleury clearly wasn't expecting Nystrom, he was deep in his net and the pass surprised him. Clearly a broken play and bad communication by the Pens, but it was enough for the Stars to jump out ahead.<br />
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Despite being down on the scoreboard, the Pens looked exceptional in the first. The Pens are imposing their will physically against the Stars, beating their opponents to every loose puck, forcing turnovers, and completely controlling the tempo of the game. The Stars, on the other hand, just don't seem willing to pay the price against the Pens. Although the Stars are using a four-man defensive front, their lack of physical engagement against the Pens forwards is effectively nullifying their advantage in man-power defensively. As a result, Keri Lehtonen has had to be exceptionally sharp for the Stars, especially at controlling his rebounds.<br />
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If the Pens can continue their strong physical presence and avoid any further defensive lapses, I like their chances to come back and end the Stars' streak at four wins...Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951202768115243805.post-58948846489115807652011-11-08T21:23:00.001-05:002011-11-08T21:23:29.330-05:00Pens Trade Mark Letestu to ColumbusThe Pens traded C Mark Letestu to Columbus today in exchange for a fourth-round pick in next year's entry draft. The move should not come as much of a surprise to Pens fans, who have witnessed Letestu's nosedive this season from top pivot to healthy scratch in the span of scarcely over a month. With Sidney Crosby expected to return at some point and given the standout play of centers Richard Park and Joe Vitale, Letestu had precious few opportunities of late to earn a spot back in the lineup. Unfortunately for Mark, he wasn't able to impress the coaching staff enough to warrant more ice time.<br />
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The return of a fourth-round pick is honestly a good return for the Pens. It was a foregone conclusion that Mark Letestu would been eventually sent down to Wilkes-Barre Scranton at some point in the near future. Doing so would require Letestu to clear waivers, allowing other NHL clubs to claim him. My own viewpoint is that Mark probably would have cleared waivers unclaimed, but trading him outright certainly was the better option for the Pens. That they found a suitor in Columbus in dire need of someone with Mark's resume was exceptionally fortuitous.<br />
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As for the future, I think Columbus provides Mark Letestu an important opportunity to prove he can contribute regularly at the NHL level. The bar for centers is set extremely high here in Pittsburgh. When all the Penguin forwards are healthy, there really is only one spot open for contention amongst centers: on the fourth line. This year, that competition is exceptionally fierce. That, more than anything else, sealed Mark Letestu's fate in Pittsburgh.<br />
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Thanks for all your efforts as a Penguin, Mark. Wish you all the best in Columbus!<br />
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<br />Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951202768115243805.post-47138223019337199462011-11-03T23:32:00.000-04:002011-11-03T23:32:14.712-04:00Pens 2 - Sharks 0: First Period AnalysisThe Pens, coming off their first extended break after a brutal start to the season, could have easily come out flat against a San Jose team that's only lost one in their last six games. Instead, the Pens immediately jumped on the aggressive forecheck, forced a turnover, and put a quick one by Niemi from Deryk Engelland pinching in from the point. Pens weren't content to sit back and let the Sharks back in this one, quickly finding the net again a short time later on a shot from Malkin that found its way past Niemi with Neal battling a Sharks defenseman in the crease. Shortly thereafter, the Sharks pulled Niemi in favor of backup goaltender Geiss. Niemi didn't look very sharp, but this was more about a coach trying to wake up his team than sending a message to his goaltender.<br />
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The Pens continued to control most of the play throughout the period, but the Sharks did manage to wake up part-way through the period. The Sharks were able to gain some momentum by getting pucks deep behind the Pens defense and establishing their own aggressive forecheck. The Sharks were disciplined in finishing every check and pressing enough to force some turnovers by the Pens and create a few chances of their own. The Sharks tried a bit too much to make plays rather than put pucks on net, to which the Pens did a good job of team defense to keep the zone coverage tight.<br />
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For the second, the Pens need to continue to establish the tempo of the game and keep pressure on the Sharks. The Sharks aggressive pressure does force the Pens into errors and low percentage passes out of the defensive zone, so the Pens would do well to try and shorten their passes and avoid the stretch plays. The Pens defense was especially active on offense, with one defender leading the rush across the opposing blueline on quite a few occasions. On a team as offensively talented and quick as SJ, this is a risky approach.<br />
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The Pens would do well to try to simplify their game a bit and be a bit more conservative on defense to avoid allowing SJ to find a way back in this one.Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951202768115243805.post-87663654684062938092011-10-26T17:27:00.000-04:002011-10-26T17:27:23.073-04:00Pens 3 - Islanders 0: AnalysisIf you just looked at the final score, you'd assume the Penguins handed the Islanders a sound defeat. You wouldn't have to look much further to realize that was far from the case. In truth, the Islanders were never really out of this contest until Jordan Staal put one into the vacated 4x6 from long range. Marc-Andre Fleury earned his 20th career shutout, but he truly had to work to earn the shutout (and the First Star award).<br />
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The Islanders came out with more energy than the Pens and were able to establish an uptempo game from the start. The Penguins, on the other hand, came out sluggish and looked sloppy. Fleury was called upon early and often, as the Islanders continued to get chances on net. The Islanders offense provided plenty of spark, but they simply lacked enough to get a fire going. The Islanders never really established a presence in front of Fleury, so the few rebound opportunities that the Pens goaltender gave up really weren't heavily contested. The Islanders did manage to drive to the outside and utilize the weak side wing on occasion, but couldn't make the most of the opportunities these tactics generated. The Pens defense did a reasonable job without Milan Michalek (broken finger) out of the lineup, managing to keep the Islanders mostly to the outside of the high-percentage slot areas and limiting second-chance opportunities. On a team with limited offensive weapons like the Islanders, the Pens defense should have been able to do a much more convincing job at shutting them down.</div>
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High-pressure defense by the Pens at the blueline forced a turnover and a good outlet pass by Orpik to a streaking Dupuis gave Pascal a one-on-one with Nabakov. In the game of chicken, the Islanders goaltender flinched first and dropped to his pads giving Pascal an easy forehand for the goal. Dupuis had an exceptional evening offensively, showing great awareness in feeding a number of good offensive chances. This in addition to his typically solid defensive play. </div>
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Evgeni Malkin made an immediate impact in the lineup, picking right where he left off with Sullivan and Neal. With Malkin leading the way, the trio were able to move the puck exceptionally well and generate some good opportunities off the rush. Malkin also provided some of what has become his trademark backchecking tenacity in stripping the puck from Islanders forwards and turning the rush the other way. The line also managed some good sustained zone time through good cycling and pressure on the Islanders in-zone defense.<br />
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Richard Park had some memorable moments in the game, including in a good wrist shot that beat Nabakov low to the glove side. Arron Asham created the turnover with some great pressure on the forecheck as the Islanders tried to clear the zone. Park was able to recover the puck and patiently wait out his options in the LW slot before Nabokov, partially screened, dropped to his pads and provided an opening for Park's shot. The combination of Park and Asham hounded the Isles for much of the night.<br />
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The Pens Power Play didn't see much work in this one, and neither did the Pens PK. The PP had a double-minor to work with late in the game which could have easily sealed the Islanders fate, but failed to manage much more than passing around the perimeter. I am not a fan of the umbrella PP formation that the coaching staff is enamored with, mostly because it doesn't provide for much pressure down low. Instead, the Pens got plenty of time and space to pass between the high point and the two half-boards as the Islanders collapsed the box down low. The high shooting position and half-boards never really had much of a clear lane to shoot as a result and, with less pressure around the net, little chance to contend for any rebounds. The PK stayed spotless against an Isles PP that really couldn't get anything going. The high pressure the PK applied was too much and the Isles couldn't muster a shot.<br />
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Ultimately, though, the game came down to Fleury. The Pens got just enough out of their offense to put them ahead by two, but defensively the Pens gave the Islanders way too many chances. The Pens have yet to really dominate an opponent defensively, and the Islanders presented a perfect opportunity to do just that. Instead, the Pens again relied heavily on strong goaltending to keep the game just out of reach. </div>Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951202768115243805.post-28779006992951304622011-10-20T21:48:00.000-04:002011-10-20T21:48:38.144-04:00Pens 3 - Habs 1: FinalPens close this one out in the third, with the Habs never really threatening to contest the outcome. Pens continue to get scoring and chances from all over the lineup, with Arron Asham batting a rebound out of mid-air past Price for the third and final goal. The Pens let up a bit in the third, but still managed to remain in control. The Habs had a few good chances, including a few shorthanded, but the Habs offense really couldn't sustain much of an attack against the Pens. The Pens PK continued to do marvelous work, and the Pens continue to do very well in the faceoff circle. Fleury stood tall when asked, seeing the puck very well and controlling rebounds without any problems. The lone goal against was a broken play off the faceoff and a shot from the point through a screen that was redirected to the high blocker; Fleury didn't have much of a chance. Still, Fleury is playing as good as he ever has.<br />
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Dustin Jeffrey had a solid game for a last-minute entry into the lineup, putting some great shots and some solid chances on net. His play was clearly noticed by the coaching staff, who gave him time on the PP at the end of the game. With the Pens suffering quite a few injuries at forward and Letestu struggling, Jeffrey has a great opportunity to see more time in the lineup.<br />
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All in all, a good, if unspectacular, win for the Pens. The Habs came in struggling and never really took control of this one, but the Pens never gave it up either. Winnable game? For sure. But getting Vitale and Asham on the board, Engelland putting up his first multi-point game, and Neal continuing his tear is more than enough to come away from this one feeling great. Well deserved win.Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951202768115243805.post-17213827535495743462011-10-20T20:54:00.000-04:002011-10-20T20:54:52.632-04:00Pens 2 - Habs 0 After TwoDespite some awful officiating, the Pens manage to extend their lead over the Habs in the second. Joe "The Situation" Vitale got the party started early in the second with his first goal of the season on a deflection from Deryk Engelland's shot at the point. Joe's played some great, hard-working hockey to date and was clearly energized as a result of this goal. The Habs would get back-to-back PP opportunities shortly thereafter, but couldn't capitalize on either. The Pens PK is just playing tremendous hockey in pressuring the puck carriers, forcing the already anemic Habs to take unscreened shots from the point or difficult angle shots from the side of the net. Still, thanks to a number of questionable calls, the Habs had the chance to put a lot of rubber on Fleury. Fleury has continued to stand tall.<br />
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A couple of other notes:<br />
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- Brooks Orpik has adjusted back into the game very quickly. He's had a lot of short shifts with different linemates, but he's gained confidence noticeably each time he steps on the ice. The Pens quickly remember why he's such a stabling influence on the blueline.<br />
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- Jordan Staal is quietly having a great game. When he's not counted on to generate offense, he can play his game to great effect. He's been hounding the Habs forwards, generating turnovers, and making smart decisions with the puck.<br />
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- Chris Kunitz is really struggling without Evgeni Malkin in the lineup. Kunitz developed some great chemistry with Geno: cycling the puck well, making some nifty passes, opening up the ice for each other, and generating some quality chances. Lining up with Jordan Staal clearly doesn't benefit Kunitz.<br />
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- Steve Sullivan still is scoreless. He had a great breakaway chance from Neal, but couldn't elevate the puck over Price's pads on the forehand.<br />
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Third period is next. Can the Pens keep the Habs offense off the board?Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951202768115243805.post-47215733824582768922011-10-20T19:57:00.000-04:002011-10-20T19:57:33.516-04:00Pens 1 - Habs 0 After OneThe Pens came out shooting early... and kept firing all through the first. The Pens had a number of quality chances that demanded some acrobatics from Habs goaltender Carey Price. The Pens were not without their chances against, however, with Montreal getting a few great chances that Fleury stole in his favor. James Neal continued his frenetic pace, and reaped the benefits again for his hard work. He didn't get a whole lot on the wrister that got by Price (and Price misplayed it by dropping way too early), but it managed to ring off the post and in for his league-leading seventh goal.<br />
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Other notables were Richard Park, Matt Cooke, and Dustin Jeffrey; all three had strong appearances in the first. Park continued his excellent work between Neal and Sullivan, showing tenacity on the forecheck and creating a number of chances. Matt Cooke had a great opportunity on Price, while setting up a fantastic chance for Jeffrey and Letestu in the slot.<br />
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Steve Sullivan had a great chance on an open 4x6 that Price somehow dove to keep out. Sullivan is still searching for his first as a Penguin. Keep putting them on net, Sully, that first will come soon. Just ask James Neal...<br /><br />
Tune in for the second!Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951202768115243805.post-55371194975199348822011-10-20T17:52:00.000-04:002011-10-20T17:52:15.227-04:00Orpik in, Tyler Kennedy still outAs always with the Pens, we have to take the good with the bad when it comes to injuries. Brooks Orpik will make his first appearance of the season tonight against the Habs. While Deryk Engelland has done well in his absence, the Pens no doubt welcome Orpik's physical presence and defensive stability back to the lineup. Expect his minutes to be administered carefully by the Pens coaching staff as Brooks will no doubt have some rust to work off, especially against Montreal's quick forwards.<br />
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And, on the bad news, Tyler Kennedy remains out of the lineup with concussion symptoms. As Pens fans know all too well, concussions are notoriously difficult to predict in terms of recovery. All we can do is monitor reports and hope TK is able to return to action soon.Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951202768115243805.post-69127566158237967422011-10-20T17:28:00.000-04:002011-10-20T17:28:55.341-04:00Live Tweeting Pens vs. Montreal!After a few games absence, The Relentless Forecheck will return to live-tweet the Pens vs. Canadiens tonight at 7:00 pm. Follow <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/Relentless4chk">The Relentless Forecheck</a> on Twitter to get all the latest commentary, quips, and analysis as the game progresses!Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951202768115243805.post-33722028572280442712011-10-11T22:59:00.000-04:002011-10-11T22:59:28.840-04:00Matt Cooke: Riding the Fire Truck. All around. Circle. All good things.A standing ovation in front of a sellout crowd in the home opener... Moving.<br />
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Scoring his 3rd goal in four games to tie the league lead in goals scored... Impressive.<br />
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Getting to ride the fire truck... Priceless.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC605VT-UvEKy9bqIy1tJSuaZgkwwovhikEPLAOTnMu3c8o41seut3GTtN_EDpguzpuI0bZSSs98TAqluJ-zOqDB0URvS_ZZD6IUuzxZriXtcGvU2XSQvXCvNe1LeC0wrijghobEzzsTI/s1600/Cooke-Firetruck.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC605VT-UvEKy9bqIy1tJSuaZgkwwovhikEPLAOTnMu3c8o41seut3GTtN_EDpguzpuI0bZSSs98TAqluJ-zOqDB0URvS_ZZD6IUuzxZriXtcGvU2XSQvXCvNe1LeC0wrijghobEzzsTI/s400/Cooke-Firetruck.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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There's plenty of reasons for the rest of the league to hate him. I don't care who you are, you have to give the man credit. It's not easy to turn it around when there are so many people waiting for you to fail. I admit I was one of the skeptics. Slowly, Matt Cooke is making me a believer. If he can pull it off (scoring consistently and staying away from controversy), he's my vote for the Bill Masterton Award. It would take a monumental amount of perseverance and dedication to the sport to accomplish that kind of turn around.<br />
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Good luck, Cookie.<br />
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(Image thanks to <a href="http://twitter.com/sabrinasinbin">Sabrina Sin Bin on Twitter</a>)Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951202768115243805.post-90403578507578015492011-10-11T22:38:00.000-04:002011-10-11T22:38:17.902-04:00Pens-Panthers Post-Game ReactionPens come away with a 4-2 win without Malkin, Crosby, and Orpik. Pens got some great contributions from their 3rd and 4th lines, with Dupuis, Cooke, Vitale, and Park all having exceptionally strong games. The PK again showed great tenacity and discipline, with Adams creating a great opportunity for Park to drill one home shorthanded. The Power Play was blanked again, again showing good pressure, puck movement, and zone time, but coming short on the finish. Niskanen continued his strong play on the PP providing a number of key shots and a knack for keeping the puck in play offensively.<br />
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Honestly, the Pens probably played a little bit to the level of their opponents tonight. Florida stretched the Pens defense a few times with speed to the outside and managed to get the puck in deep, but couldn't really do too much with it once they got there. Most of Florida's chances were fairly benign, with the most trouble coming from the traffic the Panthers put on Fleury. The Panthers tried to come back in the third, but the Pens were able to counter and put the game out of reach when they needed to. The nail in the coffin was Jordan Staal taking a good feed on an aggressive forecheck from Kunitz, defending the puck well and driving on a power-move to the net to put a weak backhand on Theodore that eluded the goaltender. James Neal, streaking in at-speed off the bench, punched in the loose puck for the 4-2 lead.<br />
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Fleury again stood tall when called upon, continuing the great vision, discipline, and positioning he's showed in every game thus far. Fleury is really seeing the puck well right now, even through tons of traffic in front.<br />
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The big test will come Thursday night when the Washington Capitals come into town. With any luck, Evgeni Malkin will be able to go for that contest, as the Pens top scoring lines could certainly use the boost.Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951202768115243805.post-51852229811826810752011-10-11T17:27:00.000-04:002011-10-11T17:27:23.516-04:00Pens-Panthers: Pre-game Injury UpdateA couple of injury updates of note. First, the news on Sidney Crosby is that there is... no news. Despite reports, Crosby did not meet with his doctor to get cleared for contact. Crosby plans to meet with his doctor this week, but insists it's a routine visit and nothing more. Sid indicates he's still feeling great and closer to returning, but wouldn't speculate when that return would be.<br />
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<i>Relentless Analysis: Reports are even his return to contact will be tiered in multiple levels. Sid must be symptom free at each level before progressing. Even once he is cleared for contact, it's going to still take a bit of time before he dresses for a game. Sit tight, folks. Sid's close, but Sid's not that close.</i><br />
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In other news, Evgeni Malkin is not going to play tonight according to Dan Bylsma. Bylsma reported that Geno is still encountering "soreness" that has plagued him since partway through Saturday's contest in Calgary. Malkin apparently did skate this morning, but did not participate fully. Bylsma identified Malkin as "day-to-day."<br />
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<i>Relentless Analysis: While it is still early in the season and it is against a significantly weaker opponent, you can't help but agree with at least one local reporter that Malkin desperately wanted to be on the ice for the home opener. Having already sat out in Edmonton on Sunday evening, sitting out another game two nights later makes it a good three nights since Geno's "soreness" prevented him from playing. If there was a single incident you could point to as the culprit it would be easier to interpret what exactly happened, but no event stands out. Last we saw Geno on the ice he was favoring his leg/knee/ankle, but Bylsma insists that this has nothing to do with his season-ending surgery last year. </i><br />
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<i>Whatever the case, I can't remember the last time I heard of a hockey player missing two games for "soreness"...</i>Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951202768115243805.post-55169474689569094702011-10-10T11:21:00.000-04:002011-10-10T11:21:20.279-04:00Pens - Oilers: The HangoverAfter sleeping (somewhat) on it, the two things that stuck out in my mind after last night's game are:<br />
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<ol>
<li>The Penguins still lack a legitimate scoring threat outside of Malkin and Crosby</li>
<li>The Penguins defense is exposed by teams that can carry speed across the blueline</li>
</ol>
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First, the scoring. The chances were there offensively for the Penguins. Even on the PP, the Pens generated a number of good opportunities. When the Pens establish their aggressive forecheck, they have forwards who can cycle the puck very well and they show good creativity on both top two scoring lines. Players like Kunitz and Sullivan have shown good playmaking ability and have been great set-up men through three games, but the problem is there is no one who can really finish. What that has come down to in the first three games is James Neal and Tyler Kennedy. </div>
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Neal and Kennedy both have a goal and an assist so far, but each has had issues in burying chances. James Neal has been exceptional in every other aspect of his game, showing great physical presence, tremendous speed, and excellent awareness on the ice. He's even shown tenacity on the back-check. Through his play he has created a lot of room for himself on the ice and he goes to the right areas to score, but his shooting just doesn't do him justice. His shots are either high and wide right or a foot off the ice and right down the center. He appears to lack the command of his shots to pick the corners effectively or to elevate the puck without missing the net entirely. This has to change. Whether he changes his shot selection (he's often using a slap shot), adjusts the blade loft, or just practices through it, he needs to be able to put his shots consistently on the open part of the net. If he can do that, James Neal is an absolute lock for 30 goals per season.</div>
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Tyler Kennedy needs a bit more work. Kennedy doesn't have the size that James Neal has to generate space for himself physically. What Kennedy does have is decent speed, which he could use more effectively to back defenders off by carrying that speed across the blueline. Kennedy is an effective forechecker and good cycler, but he's pretty one-dimensional when the puck is on his stick: he's going to shoot. That's not such a bad thing as he has a deceptive release and better command of his shot than Neal, but he's often in a position where he doesn't have enough time and space to take advantage of this when he shoots. If Kennedy would work on his passing and setting up plays (give-and-go with Kunitz) he'd open up a bit more ice for himself to get a better shot on net. Having just signed a new contract and trying to legitimize his role as a top-six forward, Kennedy is going to have to work harder than ever to elevate his game to the next tier. Kennedy appears motivated and perfectly able to do so. If he could make the adjustments offensively and work harder on the back-check, Kennedy can really solidify his place in Bylsma's Penguins.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Now, about that defense. The Penguins defense under Bylsma remains very active in the offense. It's clear that everyone from Kris Letang to Deryk Engelland has the green light to join the rush, and they're actively encouraged to do so. The problem with being so aggressive offensively is it leaves the Penguins exposed on the counter-attack. This plagued the Penguins early last season, as the defensive zone coverage suffered mightily as the defensemen were too quick to push play the other way. It's improved a good bit since then, but the Penguins are still exposed by quick forwards and good passing. The Penguins defense likes to defend at the blueline. This high-pressure tactic is designed to generate quick counter-attacks, but it leaves the Penguins defenders susceptible should the forwards carry speed into the offensive zone. The Penguins haven't employed a trap to try and eliminate any speed through the neutral zone, so opposing forwards have been able to find success breaking outside with speed. While the Penguins defenders, for the most part, are good skaters (Deryk Engelland the noted exception), playing that aggressive at the blueline does force them to cut-and-chase too often. When the defense turns towards their goal to chase, they are immediately blind to the play opening up behind them. As the Pens forwards are usually skating back to chase as well, the offense has been able to find an open man skating in late or to the opposite wing with alarming regularity. If the puck carrier is able to successfully gain the goal line, in the time it takes for the Penguins defense and back-checking forwards to turn back up ice and pick up the play the chance has either already developed or the Penguins struggle to play catch-up. </div>
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The solution here may be two-fold. First, back off a bit from the blueline. By playing more of a contain strategy to keep the play in front of them, the defense can still be aggressive when there is necessary support but this gives the defense a bit more time and space to play the angles and ensure they don't get beat by speed to the outside or an effective dump-in. The second piece of this puzzle would be to discipline the defense jumping in offensively. Kris Letang is an exceptional case here as he has proven he can truly join the rush without exposing himself much defensively, but others are not that adept. Reign in the green light into a yellow light and make sure that the defense is able to meet the countering offense head-on and not as they're sprinting back. Again, it's all about keeping the play in front of them. </div>
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<div>
This two-fold solution will surely limit the Penguins offensive contributions from their defensemen, but it will surely save the Penguins goaltenders from exhaustion. Through three games, the Pens have averaged over 30 shots against. Granted, there have been two overtime frames, but in each contest the Pens goalies have had to weather too many high quality chances. In each contest, the Pens goaltenders have had to be their best player. It's just not fair, not to mention practical, to ask your goaltender to carry you each and every night. Especially when the Pens have a defensive core with that much talent...</div>
Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951202768115243805.post-84211547916363646312011-10-10T00:48:00.000-04:002011-10-10T00:48:23.834-04:00Pens 1 - Oilers 2 in ShootoutThe Pens played a strong third period without the hangover that plagued the final frame in each of their previous two contests, but still couldn't prevent the Oilers from getting the equalizer. The Oilers speed and skill, especially from the Hall-RNH-Hemsky line, finally found a way to solve Brent Johnson in the third. Despite a 5 minute major penalty to Ryan Smyth for his vicious defense of a Chris Kunitz check, the Pens PP couldn't find a way past Dubnyk for the go-ahead goal. The OT frame had action at both ends of the ice, but the teams needed a shootout to decide this one. The shootout, heavily favoring the young talent Edmonton has amassed, went in the Oilers favor as Jordan Eberle and Ales Hemsky both waited for Johnson to drop down before shooting high glove. Neal countered with a 5-hole shot that stayed on the ice past Dubnyk, but Sullivan couldn't sneak one through the pads to keep the Pens alive.<br />
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The Pens had their chances offensively, but clearly lacked finishing touch. Too many missed nets and shots off their mark left the Pens wondering what could have been. James Neal had one of his best games as a Pen, showing great physical presence, awareness, and speed, but still lacks the command of his shots to place them effectively on net (if on net at all). Kris Letang was an absolute monster at both ends of the ice, nullifying a number of good scoring chances (including a brilliant diving poke-check to save a 2-on-1 shorthanded) while carrying the puck through the neutral zone with authority and generating a number of good shots and scoring chances.<br />
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All in all, 5 points out of 6 for a tough road swing is not a bad way to start the season. The Pens have a few bumps and bruises to mend, and will surely be anxious to return home for Tuesday night's opener against the Florida Panthers. The Pens have done their job playing the opening act for three straight home openers, it's time they headlined their own.Relentless Forecheckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141055335606216755noreply@blogger.com0