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Thursday, 31 March 2011 19:03

Written by Seth Rorabaugh

PREGAME

-Hey, guess where we are:

-No, not quite:

-Greetings on the eve of a world without FSN Pittsburgh. This will be the final Penguins broadcast on the network with it's current name. When Prime Sports became FSN Pittsburgh in 1996, we were 17 and didn't have a drivers license. Today, we're 31 and have a mortgage. Sobering.

-Rest in peace FSN Pittsburgh:

-EN reader @pamcakes101 is on site and spotted a few Penguins fans:

-This is an interesting game. The Lightning must have a win if it has any hopes of passing the Penguins for fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings. The Penguins don't need it as badly, but getting a win here will go a long way in terms of establishing confidence against a team they'll probably face in the first round.

-If you ask us, the Penguins need to beat the heck out of the Lightning's blue line with the forecheck. Tampa Bay has a couple older, injury-prone guys like Eric Brewer, Mattias Ohlund and Pavel Kubina logging big minutes. Wear those guys out and the Penguins can force some mistakes in the offensive zone.

-The Penguins' starters are Chris Conner, Pascal Dupuis, Maxime Talbot, Paul Martin, Zbynek Michalek and Marc-Andre Fleury.

-Their scratches are Arron Asham, Matt Cooke, Deryk Engelland, Eric Godard, Dustin Jeffrey and Eric Tangradi.

-The Flyers' starter are Steve Downie, Simon Gagne, Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, Pavel Kubina and Dwayne Roloson.

-Their scratches are Marc-Andre Bergeron, Randy Jones and Matt Smaby.

-Mike Comrie is back in the lineup for the Penguins. He will center a fourth line with Mike Rupp and Craig Adams.

FIRST PERIOD

19:21: That didn't take long. The Penguins take a penalty. Paul Martin is called for interference against Downie on the right wing wall of the Penguins' zone. Craig Adams, Jordan Staal, Zbynek Michalek and Brooks Orpik take the ice.

18:35: Dupuis steals a puck and races up the left wing. He gains the blue line and cracks a slapper high on Roloson who fights it off.

17:23: Former Penguin Adam Hall attempts a wraparound form the left of the cage. he can't quite tge tthe puck to turn and loses control of it as the Martin penalty expires.

16:42: Chris Kunitz steals a puck off Eric Brewer at the right point and creates a two-on-one with Tyler Kennedy against Mike Lundin. From the left wing, Kennedy deals to Kennedy in the right circle. Kennedy rips a wrister which is no where near the cage. Yeesh.

16:35: Martin fires a slapper on net from the left point. Roloson knocks it down and covers.

15:09: The Lightning goes to the net, gets dirty and gets a lead. Stamkos and Orpik race after a puck behind the Penguins' net. Stamkos wins the battle and even manages to knock Orpik to the ice. Gagne ends up with the puck to the right of the net. Gagne and Downie each get a crack at it. Downie is able to punch it by a scrambling Fleury. It bounces out of the cage really quickly but an official immeiately points at the cage and rules a good goal. Surprising, no review is held. Gagne and Stamkos get assists. Lightning 1-0.

13:03: Kennedy snaps off a wrister from the right circle. Roloson kicks it away.

12:42: Kris Letang snaps off  wrister from the left point. It hits a stick and deflects wide.

9:47: After a stagnant three minutes, Martin St. Louis puts ona dazzling display. After Vincent Lecavalier gets away with a hold/tackle on Letang just inside the blue line, St. Louis recovers a loose puck puck on the right wing. He sneaks towards the net and snaps off a nice little wrister by Fleury's on the glove side.What a shot. That was created by the non-call against Lecavalier. Lecavalier and Hedman get assists. Lightning 2-0.

8:39: Talbot get tripped up by Pavel Kubina at the Tampa Bay blue line. Talbot and Kubina exchange pleasantries. Kubina is sent off for tripping. The Penguins need to respond here.  Kris Letang, Paul Martin Mark Letestu, James Neal and Chris Kunitz.

8:14: Ohlund gets away with a punch to the face of Kunitz in the right wing corner of the Lightning's zone.

6:51: Letang take a pas on the right point and cracks a slapper on net. Roloson fiths it off.

6:39: Kubina's penalty expires. The Penguins did very little in that two minutes.

5:40: Lecavalier is called for hooking Dupuis. Staal, Kennedy, Alex Kovalev, Martin and Letang take the ice.

5:14: Adam Hall gets loose on the right wing and pushes the puck up ice shorthanded. As he attempts a shot, Jordan Staal chases him down and blocks the puck out of play.

4:26: After Letang forces a terrible pass at the top of the slot and allows a turnover. Dominic Moore races up ice and has a chance from the left wing but his backhander is wide to the near side.

3:44: Kunitz jabs a quick shot from a bad angle on the goal loine along the right win. Roloson fights it off.

3:03: St. Louins snaps off a wrister from the left wing. Fleury fights it off.

2:49: Chris Conner makes a nifty move along Hedman on the right wing and attacks the net. Before he can get a shot off, the puck is knocked away.

1:41: Downie pushes a  puck up the left wing, pulls up and moves a pass to Brett Clark trailing in the slot. Clark takes the pass and chucks a wrister on net. Fleury knocks it down and covers.

1:37: Off a faceoff win in thelef circle, Mike Lundin snaps off a wrister. Fleury is able to kic it out with his left leg despite traffic. Tough save.

0:37: Orpik winds up and fires a slapper from the left point which hits a stick and deflects high of the cage.

0:00: End of period. Lightning 2, Penguins 0.

FIRST INTERMISSION

-What a pretty rotten period for the Penguins. The Lightning was much more aggressive. It maintained pressure quite a bit in the Penguins' zone and just jumped on more loose puck. Tampa Bay earned its lead.

-The Penguins' power play continues to be awful. That is all.

-Fleury probably should have made a save on St. Louis' goal.

-The Lightning have an 8-6 lead in shots.

-Kennedy and St. Louis each lead the game with two shots.

-Letang leads the game with 8:49 of ice time.

-Hedman leads the Lightning with 8:03.

-The Lightning has an 11-9 lead in faceoffs (55 percent).

-Hall is 3 for 3 (100 percent).

-Talbot is 4 for 7 (57 percent).

-Brewer leads the game with two blocked shots.

SECOND PERIOD

18:46: Letang controls a bouncing puck at the right point and lobs it on net. Roloson eats it up.

18:40: Off the ensuing faceoff in the right circle, Matt Niskanen gets a slapper on net. Roloson fights it off.

18:01: The Penguins get another power play as Hedman is called for hooking Conner off a faceoff in the left circle of the Tampa Bay zone. It's a really weak call. Letang, Kovalev, Kunitz, Kennedy and Staal take the ice. Kovalev mans the left point.

16:53: Dana Tyrell steals a puck off Kovalev at the left point. Moore takes it and races up the right wing. He spins off a hit by Kunitz and whips a wrister out of play.

16:27: Off a pass by Kunitz in the right wing corner of the Tampa Bay zone, Neal lifts a wrister from the right circle. Roloson hugs it against his chest.

16:01: Here's a shocker. The Penguins' didn't score. Another waste of two minutes.

13:19: Talbot races up the left wing and chops a slapper on net. Roloson steers it to the corner.

12:04: Letestu shuffles a quick shot on net from the right circle. Roloson kicks it out of play.

11:09: Craig Adams controls a puck in the right corner and flips a pass to Letang at the right point. Letang chops it on net. Roloson eats it up.

10:54: Neal gets denied twice in tight by Roloson. Once on the forehand. The other on a backhand.

9:54: Off a turnover by the Lightning it its own zone, Kennedy blasts a slapper from the right circle. It gets deflected wide on the far side. The Penguins have really turned up the heat with their forecheck.

8:32: Downie clocks Jordan Staal in the neutral zone from behind. Downie left his feet to deliver the hit. No call.

8:20: Downie smacks Orpik with a rough clean hit behind the Penguins' net.

8:15: Fleury covers a loose puck. Downie kind of jabs at him with his stick. Orpik crosschecks him. Orpik gets a crosschecking minor. Downie is sent off for slashing. Four on four.

7:12: Neal make a mad rush off the left wing and lifts a wrister from the left circle. Roloson fights it off.

6:45: After he rushes to the net off the right wing, Neal has a little backhander in the slot kicked out by Roloson.

6:43: After Mike Comrie wins a faceoff in the right circle, Zbynek Michalek cranks a one-timer from the top of the slot. Roloson fights it off and out of play.

6:23: After Sean Bergenhim forces his way to the net off the right wing, Nate Thompson has a few chances in tight but Fleury's left leg says no.

6:15: Orpik and Downie return to play.

3:37: After nearly three minute of stagnant play, Teddy Purcell undresses Talbot in the right wing corner of the Penguins' zone and snaps off a wrister. Fleury eats it ups.

2:17: On a delay penalty, Hedman and Kennedy almost get into a fight. Hedman doesn't seem to interested and waits for an official to step in. Downie is sent off for boarding Kennedy in the left wing corner of the Lightning's zone. A pretty stupid play. Hedman and Kennedy get roughing minors. Was Kennedy trying to get some revenge for Hedman's hit on Sidney Crosby Jan. 5? The Penguins get another power play. Comrie, Staal, Martin Letang and Kovalev take the ice.

0:31: And there goes that power play. Neal is called for holding Moore. Four on four for 14 seconds.

0:00.1: Brewer rips a wrister from the top of the slot. Fleury is well out of his crease and gets run over accidently by Stamkos. Back to four on four for 1:29.

0:00: With a faceoff in the right circle of he Lightning' zone. Letestu manages to actually get it on net. Roloson punches it away. Lightning 2-0.

SECOND INTERMISION

-Well... the Penguins were a little better that period. They took the attack to the Lightning. They kept play in the offensive zone for the most part. They also were strong on the forecheck.

-That's all swell and everything, but the Lightning still has a 2-0 lead.

-Roloson has been sharp. There haven't been too many situations where he's been out of position. And his rebound control has been strong.

-The power play is a joke.

-The Penguins have a 20-14 lead in shots.

-Neal leads the game with four.

-Malone, Bergenheim, St. Louis, Lundin and Thompson each lead the Lightning with two.

-Martin leads the game with 18:15 of ice time.

-Brewer leads the Lightning with 15:57.

-The Penguins have a 24-23 edge in faceoffs (51 percent).

-Talbot is 7 for 13 (54 percent).

-Moore is 7 for 8 (88 percent).

-Fire Ray Shero.

-Brewer and Kubina each lead the game with three blocked shots.

-Ben Lovejoy leads the Penguins with two.

THIRD PERIOD

18:27: Just as Neal's penalty retires, Kennedy snaps off a wrister from right wing. Roloson makes the save. Knennedy jabs at the rebound but no dice.

18:19: Kennedy sn aps off a another wrister from the left circle. Roloson right sit off.

18:01: Stamkos returns to play. Not a lot going on there for the Penguins.

16:50:  Michalek chops a slapper from the right point. Roloson kicks it out.

16:46: Niskane fires a slapper on net from the left point. Roloson eats it up.

15:54: Letang has a nice chance in the slot. He snaps off  wrister which Roloson appears to get a piec eof.

15:29: Huh? What was that? Kovalev keeps a puck in the offensive zone at the left. Rupp controls the puck on the left wall and lobs a seemingly innocent little wrister at the cage. Mike Lundin screens Roloson who is totally fooled by the shot and allows the puck to float by him on the far side. Ouch. Bad goal to give up. The Penguins will take it. Kovalev gets the only assist. Lightning 2-1.

13:48: After a poor turnover by the Penguins in their own zone, St. Louis one-time a loose puck in the left circle on net. Fleury snags it with a dazzling glove save. Someone owes Fleury a beer there. Wow.

13:01: Letang floats a wrister from the right point. Roloson eats it up.

12:33: Conner chucks a wrister on net from the right half wall. Roloson fights it off.

11:29: After a turnover by the Penguins in the neutral zone, Malone has a chance on breakaway. He gets tripped up by Rupp en route to the net. Malone still is able to shuffle a backhander on net. Fleury fights it off.  Staal, Adams, Michalek and Orpik take the ice.

9:59: Kubina rifles a wrister from the top of the slot wide on the right to of the cage.

9:29: Rupp's minor is killed. The Penguins dind't allow much to the Lightning there.

8:34: Kunitz air mails a slapper from the neutral zone. Roloson fights it off.

8:08: Bergenheim flies in off the right wing, cuts towards the slot and rips a wrister. Michalek flops down and blocks it.

7:02: St. Louis has a chance in tight denied by Fleury.

6:40: Kunitz gains the offensive zone on the left wing and chops a slapper. Lundin blocks it out of play.

5:58: Lovejoy get clubbed from behind by Nate Thompson from behind in the left wing corner of the Penguins' zone. No call.

5:45: Nate Thompson has a prime chance in the slot but can't beat Fleury on the forehand. He actually fans on the shot.

4:24: On a delayed penalty, Prucell whips a wrister from the right circle. Flery eats it up. Kovalev is sent off for cross checking Bergenheim in front of the Lightning bench. Not a good penalty to take. This is do or die for the Penguins here. The Lightning call a time out to get orgainzed. Orpik, Staal, Dupuis and Letang take the ice.

3:26: Off a turnover by the Lightning in the offensive zone, Talbot pushe the puck up the right wing. As Kunitz drives towards the cage, Talbot lifts a wrister. Roloson eats it up.

2:23: Kovalev's penalty is killed. A big kill for the Penguins.

1:38: Kovalev gets tripped up in the slot of the Tampa Bay zone. No call. He may have tried to sell that a bit

1:16: Downie chucks a long-distance wrister fro the neutral zone on net. Fleury kicks it out.

1:05: Fleury is pulled for an extra attacker.

0:56: Niskanen snaps off a wrister from the left point. It hits a skate in front.

0:44: Lovejoy cranks a slapper rform the left point wide on the near side

0:29: Neal snaps off a wrister from the left circl but his stick breaks.

0:16: Martin chucks a slapper on net form the left point. Roloson kicks it out. There's a rebound but no one in a white jersey is around to cash it in.

0:00: End of game. Lightning 2, Penguins 1.

POSTGAME

-Two thing really stood out in that game to us: The Penguins' incomplete effort and Dwayne Roloson.

-First, Roloson. Give him credit. He played an awesome game. He was rarely out of position. He rarely allowed rebounds. He was just on tonight. He earned this win.

-Second, the Penguins. They pretty much played 35 minutes tonight. They had an absolutely dreadful effort in the first period and waited until midway through the second period to get it going. They dominated this game at points, but by then, it was too late.

-Remember how this power play was supposed to be corrected when Mike Yeo left town? Boy, was that false optimism. Regardless of the coaching and regardless of the personnel, this team just can't find a way to turn its power play into an actual weapon.

-We know he played with two really good playmaking centers in Dallas with Mike Richards and Mike Ribeiro. And we know he's had a revolving door here in Pittsburgh at center with Mark Letestu, Dustin Jeffrey, Jordan Staal and others. But at some point James Neal needs to produce on his own. He has the skill but he just hasn't done it. Neal actually played a solid game, but this team needs him to produce goals. Period.

-Kris Letang looked spent. He had several sloppy plays tonight. His shot wasn't all that sharp. He looks like a guy who has played way too many minutes.

-The Penguins had a 37-24 lead in shots.

-Letang led the game with seven shots.

-St. Louis led the Lightning with four.

-Paul Martin led the game with 27:16 of ice time.

-Brewer led the Lightning with 23:29.

-The Lightning had a 33-31 edge in faceoffs (52 percent).

-Moore was 8 for 9 (89 percent).

-Talbot was 9 for 17 (53 percent).

-Kubina led the game with five blocked shots.

-Michalek, Lovejoy and Dupuis led the Penguins with two each.

-Rupp scored his 20th career goal for the Penguins.

-Game summary.

-Event summary.

Comments (54)

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written by bastage42, March 31, 2011 - 08:25 PM

I'd like to see a victory for us with no bulletin board material for them.

And remember Penguins, if it goes to a shootout, no hotdogging. Marty won't be amused.

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written by Mqseries, March 31, 2011 - 08:36 PM

Let's send these guys a message!

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written by Bones, March 31, 2011 - 08:36 PM

Ugh, stuck with TB announcers tonight.

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written by bastage42, March 31, 2011 - 08:39 PM

Well, try and look at it this way ... it could be Pierre McGuire.

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written by bastage42, March 31, 2011 - 08:40 PM

Not a smart penalty by Martin.

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written by Bones, March 31, 2011 - 08:42 PM

Way to find the silver lining there bastage! Nothing is worse than Pierre.

The discipline problems continue.

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written by Bones, March 31, 2011 - 08:45 PM

Saw that coming.

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written by bastage42, March 31, 2011 - 08:46 PM

We gotta get smart soon, I'm really not thrilled with the prospect of seeing Stamkos get 1000 PP shots in the first round.

Rupp can't get shoved around in the crease by Downie like that. Soff.

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written by KRC, March 31, 2011 - 08:53 PM

I just have to wonder what the scores would have been in games we lost this year if we had more than one player that could actually put the puck in the net.

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written by Louder_Is_Best, March 31, 2011 - 08:57 PM

What a horrid response to the Philadelphia debacle.

And it's always nice to see those wonderful garage-league NHL refs not having a friggin' clue as to what they're supposed to be doing. Maybe the Pens need to crosscheck St. Louis or Stamkos in the teeth, since penalties aren't being called anyway.

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written by Bones, March 31, 2011 - 09:00 PM

Man, what is up with our team right now?

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written by bastage42, March 31, 2011 - 09:05 PM

If I'm the coach of the Lightning, I'm telling them to take liberties. If a penalty actually gets called -- and it'll be even less likely in the playoffs -- it's not like we have a dangerous PP.

C'mon boys, pick it up a bit. Need to have at least some intensity here.

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written by Bones, March 31, 2011 - 09:09 PM

Agreed. The Penguins are less dangerous on the man advantage right now than they are 5-on-5. Clutch, grab, hold, trip, spear, etc.

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written by Purple Moose, March 31, 2011 - 09:13 PM

*t is more than obvious that Letang has nothing left in the gas tank. He really needs a couple games off to recharge and maybe get some confidence back.

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written by bastage42, March 31, 2011 - 09:15 PM

@Moose -- yeah he could use a day off, maybe once we clinch 4th they'll give him a maintenance day or two, same with some of the other horses.

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written by Purple Moose, March 31, 2011 - 09:16 PM

*t continues to amaze me how excuse after excuse is made for Staal who has only had a couple good games since the big guys went out. He doesn't even win faceoffs anymore.

He is a SECOND OVERALL DRAFT PICK but continues to play like a 6th round draft pick 3rd line center which people seem to be fine with.

I dont know but call me dumb for expecting a 2nd overall pick to be more than a penalty killer.

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written by leahbackus, March 31, 2011 - 09:16 PM

Louder_is_best, you can bet if the Pens *did* crosscheck Stamkos, it *would* be called. We seem to be the only ones who get called for such things these days. I'm sick to death of the terrible officiating in this league. It goes all the way to the top and it seriously needs to change.

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written by MichelPlasseFan, March 31, 2011 - 09:22 PM

Agree re Tanger and think he is as mentally fatigued as physically right now. His ongoing refusal to shoot on the PP isn't helping either.

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written by bastage42, March 31, 2011 - 09:23 PM

@Moose ... essentially the expectation is that he'll be a power forward. He's 22 ... way younger than when powers tend to flourish. He's done pretty good so far, and I'd be surprised if he himself considers this to be a great year for him.

I'm hoping he can brush off the "just okay" season and bring it up a notch for the playoffs.

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written by jameshutton, March 31, 2011 - 09:34 PM

I think I'd rather go back and have the medica test where they send electrical shocks through my legs and then stick needles in my muscles than have to watch another power play.

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written by bastage42, March 31, 2011 - 09:36 PM

@James -- LOL ....

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written by Bones, March 31, 2011 - 09:41 PM

I don't think Staal had a reputation as a goal-scorer when he was drafted. With two elite offensive centers already on the team Shero took the guy who had the most potential to fill the role of two-way defensive center. Guys like that are needed to win championships.

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written by Purple Moose, March 31, 2011 - 09:45 PM

Bastage, good points and I generally agree but being young is one of the excuses for him that make me laugh.
Stamkos, 21 yrs old with 88 points
Toews, 22 yrs old with 75 points
Giroux, 23 yrs old with 71 points
Lucic, power forward and 22 yrs old with 59 points and leading the Bruins

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written by Bones, March 31, 2011 - 09:52 PM

Neal is frustrating me way more than Staal.

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written by bastage42, March 31, 2011 - 09:53 PM

One of those guys has a ring, and none have a Selke nomination. I think I said on another thread, if they wanted Toews, they could have drafted him. They wanted a solid two-way center.

Keith Primeau never had 30 goals until he was 23 ... then not again until he was 29 years old. And he had 57 his last year in major junior; Staal never came close to that. I have yet to hear anyone from the Penguins say they had different expectations from him.

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written by leahbackus, March 31, 2011 - 09:53 PM

Can we just do like in football and start declining power plays? :-(

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written by bastage42, March 31, 2011 - 09:56 PM

Yeah, I'm wondering when Neal's going to break out. I know Letestu and Kovalev aren't Crosby or Malkin but they can dish the puck, and he's been standing over a goalie frustrated more than a handful of times after big chances.

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written by bastage42, March 31, 2011 - 09:56 PM

I'm with @leah.

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written by bastage42, March 31, 2011 - 09:59 PM

Downie was a little overzealous going after the puck, but that was pretty weak for a slashing penalty. Maybe the ref thought he'd even it up so we wouldn't have to have a power play, thus doing the Pens actual justice?

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written by Purple Moose, March 31, 2011 - 09:59 PM

Bones and Bastage all good points and my beef probably doesn't lie with Staal as much as it should with Shero. You cannot use the 2nd overall pick on a defensive forward. A low first round pick or high second rounder yes but not the number two pick. A scoring winger chosen in that spot sure would have looked good these past couple years.

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written by bastage42, March 31, 2011 - 10:01 PM

I dunno, Moose ... it's hard to second guess a Stanley Cup. But to each their own.

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written by jameshutton, March 31, 2011 - 10:06 PM

Not to digress too much, but I'd rather have Toews as my 2nd or 3rd center than Staal as my third center. Backstrom was also available, but although he's pretty slick, his numbers are a bit inflated by playing with 8. Just MHO.

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written by Bones, March 31, 2011 - 10:13 PM

Player personalities also are a factor. Toews is a natural leader, how long would he be willing to play third fiddle to Malkin and Crosby? And I believe Backstrom makes double what Staal does.

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written by bastage42, March 31, 2011 - 10:15 PM

@James ... I get that, but we already had Malkin and Crosby ... and at that point I doubt they were thinking that both would suffer season-ending injuries in the same season. Toews wouldn't play 3rd line, and I'm thinking that wouldn't suit Backstrom (or his agent) either.

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written by bastage42, March 31, 2011 - 10:17 PM

(as an aside, how somber would the dressing room be with Sid *and* Captain Serious in there. They'd have needed Gary Roberts *and* Chuck Norris.)

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written by Purple Moose, March 31, 2011 - 10:18 PM

I think you guys are forgetting that the plan at the beginning of this year with everybody healthy was to make Staal the second line center so they obviously think that he can fill that role.
So with that logic, as a second line center Staal has been a disappointment.

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written by Bones, March 31, 2011 - 10:25 PM

Gotta see him center the 2nd line with Malkin there before we can label it a failure. Although I don't really like Geno as a winger.

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written by bastage42, March 31, 2011 - 10:25 PM

See, I never thought Malkin would be a good winger. I know they were desperate for some offense but I'd rather see Malkin with a pylon and a trash can on his wing then see him forced to play wing. It's a pity he can't take faceoffs well yet, but Malkin as a winger is a waste IMO.

I wouldn't expect Jordan to really flourish as a 2nd line center for another few years, but I think eventually he will.

But I'm not forgetting the fact that there's more than a few reasons I'm not an NHL GM LOL so please don't take my opinions as anything but that.

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written by Bones, March 31, 2011 - 10:28 PM

You've gotta remember that a lot of these preseason plans (like having Staal center Malkin) often flame out pretty quick. I remember back in the day there was one year where the Penguins were convinced that Kovalev would flourish as a center. Once the season started he spent about three games before he was back at wing.

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written by jameshutton, March 31, 2011 - 10:33 PM

I'm not a General Manager, but if I have the second pick in the draft, whether a guy wants to be a 3rd line center is way down on my checklist. In the Olympics, Toews was out of this world as a "checking" center, although of course I realize that was a short term position. If I want a checking center, I'll hope for the best at pick 32.

Don't get me wrong. My big problem with Staal isn't his scoring abilities. It's always been his inconsistency, with and without the puck. I thought last year he came a long way, but this year, he's been really hot and cold. And for someone his size, he's always gotten pushed around alot.

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written by leahbackus, March 31, 2011 - 10:38 PM

Oh my goodness...http://www.pittsburghherald.info/s_727555.html

Best. April. Fools. Ever.

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written by Purple Moose, March 31, 2011 - 10:47 PM

I agree James and what frustrates me most about Staal is that he hasn't stepped up his game a bit with the big guns out. Kennedy, another 3rd liner has stepped up big time and filled the role of 1st or 2nd line winger but Staal just hasn't done the same.

Having said all of this tonight, lets hope Staal can get the game tying goal and the winner.

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written by bastage42, March 31, 2011 - 10:57 PM

Well I can agree that I'd like to see Staal step up a bit more. Whether it's missing the first half of the season, tentativeness because he's fearing another injury, etc. I don't know, but we all know he's got another level that we haven't seen yet this season.

And I can definitely agree I'd love to see him tie this game up.

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written by bastage42, March 31, 2011 - 10:59 PM

In the meantime, MAF is having another stellar game.

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written by Bones, March 31, 2011 - 11:04 PM

Kovy's good for one stupid penalty per game.

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written by bastage42, March 31, 2011 - 11:07 PM

Martin's fortunate he didn't get another interference penalty there, that would have sealed it right there.

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written by Louder_Is_Best, March 31, 2011 - 11:16 PM

Not a good loss at all.

The offense, like the power play, is just indefensibly bad. It would be nice if James Neal scored a goal every now and then, instead of, y'know....never.

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written by bastage42, March 31, 2011 - 11:29 PM

Well, they didn't play that badly (PP aside), but it would have been good to see them find the urgency seen at the end much earlier in the game.

I'd just really hate to see us get into a slide before the playoffs start, so here's hoping they bring their lunch buckets Saturday night.

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written by djbst75, March 31, 2011 - 11:38 PM

arrrrrgh that made my head hurt!!!

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written by leahbackus, March 31, 2011 - 11:40 PM

Louder_Is_Best...it's not for lack of trying. I'm wondering what kind of large animal Neal needs to sacrifice to the hockey gods to appease their wrath at whatever he did to p**s them off.

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written by saneman, March 31, 2011 - 11:43 PM

Shero may have missed slightly on Staal though Staal did progress real fast. He had a great rookie year. But he is clearly not a first line center. Maybe Shero could have traded down a couple of spots that year?

But I have been a long time critic of the overhyping of Staal's talent. For a defensive forward, I would have hoped he would be better at stuff like faceoffs.

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written by djbst75, March 31, 2011 - 11:59 PM

Stall is washed up at 22.......note my sarcasm on that one..

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written by espo33, April 01, 2011 - 09:56 AM

saneman-Shero didn't need to trade down that year he just needed to pick Backstrom or Toews instead. For being picked that high he hasn't preformed enough. His play is more like a 2nd or 3rd rounder or a really late 1st rounder.

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written by Boom Shaka, April 01, 2011 - 10:24 AM

I can't believe people aren't more p****d about the non-call on LeCavalier. St. Louis's goal was the very definition of a game changing goal. That play doesn't happen if LeCavalier doesn't dry hump Letang against the boards.

This is far from a conspiracy against the Pens; NHL officiating is about as consistent as its discipline but good lord it is frustrating that this inconsistency is allowed to really influence the course of a very important game.

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