Pens lose the Flyers to the shock of no one
There are some things in the world that just go together. Gin and Tonic, Strawberry's and Cream and lately the Pens losing to the Flyers is one thing. This despite a dominant start against a team that outside of their top line has nothing much going for it. The Penguins entered this game on the back of two horrid games against the Islanders and Rangers which saw a pair of losses with a combined scored of 5-11. Thankfully, for this game at least, Greiss was given the start. It was his first start since the 3rd January contest against the Lightning.
Greiss played a great game on his way to a .925 SV% game off of the 40 shots the Flyers put on the goal. It is quite a surprise that the Flyers actually managed to put up that many shots when you consider that they ended the first behind in the shot count 17-3. Yet, they led 1-0 after a suicide no look pass by Bennett gifted Schenn the puck in no-mans land. Something was clearly said as the Flyers dominated the next two periods on the shot clock 31-18.
The biggest talking point was the Zac Rinaldo hit on Kris Letang that led to a 5 minute major for boarding and a subsequent hearing with the Department of Player Safety from the NHL for Rinaldo. It was a dangerous hit and based on his history of suspensions you would think that due to the nature of the hit (Late, left feet, didn't slow despite the puck not being available and Letang being injured) would carry at least a 5 game suspension. However, these days you can't really tell what they'll do as they seem to make it up as a they go along. Letang is having a concussion test today ahead of the game against the Blackhawks. Even if he passes I wouldn't play him, let him have a week off. In the actual game itself the 5 minute power play that the Penguins were given was pitiful and serious questions need to be ask about it as it has been poor for too long.
One of the worrying things that came about after the Rinaldo hit was that despite having Sill, Downie and Farnham on the ice none of them made their presence known afterwards in a hockey legal way. Sure, there were scuffles but they needed to have more of an impact in actual live play. Farnham has since been sent down after he played in place of Goc, how Sill wasn't sent down ages ago is a mystery. I would say that Sill is a young Craig Adams but even Adams is able to get points on the board and is a fairly adequate PK'er. Sill doesn't bring anything.
I think that in Sill there is an essence of a pet project by Johnston which has now gone on too long. Sill has played 50 games in the NHL now and put up a grand total of 1 point. Now, I know 4th liners aren't noted for their productive skills but that is atrocious. Most players can probably luck themselves into more points than that in a similar span. Going back to the "pet project". Look at the TOI in OT. We we're on the PK sure, but Crosby saw just 7 seconds! whilst Bennet and Perron had nothing. It was no wonder we lost if we're going to limit our star-players ice time like that. I'm not saying that we should always role out 87-71 on the PK, but they should be given more time as they are some of the best offensive defensive players out there.
It is worrying that we seem to not only struggle against the Flyers but also allow them to get into our head. It is also worrying how bad our record against the division is this year which currently stands at 6-8-4, especially when you consider that we have to go through the division if we want to go far in the play-offs. After the game Pouliot was called up which presumably means Letang won't play tonight but I think the Pens on a whole need this break as they looked mentally fried last night. Tonight's game against Chicago is the last until next week, end it on a win.
0 comments:
Post a Comment