I have been to the first three games of the season and through my drunken haze i’d like to share a few thoughts with you of what i saw. First off Consol Energy Center is amazing. As they said there really isn’t a bad seat there. Jumbotron is amazing, sound is amazing. The ice seemed to have some sort of microphone amplification which put the ice sounds through the speakers. I thought it was kind of neat. You could really hear all the action including skates, sticks, and puck on the ice. Great selection of food and beer. Nachos are legendary!
Now on to hockey our first line did not feel like our “best” line. Not sure if the Crosby is still not 100% but first line simply didn’t deliver. Still not sure how i feel about Crosby getting paired up wtih Kunitz and Dupuis. I mean Dupuis has 0 points in 3 games and only 1 shot on goal! I saw that Dan Bylsma was shuffling lines a bit and Dupuis was demoted from the first to the 4th line. I am sure Dupuis will bounce back later but i didn’t see the same Dupes we all saw last season. Another thing about Crosby is that i saw him get pummeled left and right especially in the Canadiens game. No one was willing to drop gloves for him on our team. I was a bit disappointed. Team mates gotta step up for your Capitan. I am sure things would have been different that game if Godard was dressed up. MouthFullOfTang suggested that if Asham was playing he’d definitely stick up for Sid. Remains to be seen.
For the second line Malkin was everywhere trying to make things happen. Aside from his single goal he really didn’t accomplish much on paper. However, Geno i saw was playing his heart out especially in the first 2 games. Every time he touched the puck he tried to make stuff happen. He is leading the team with most shots on goal this season so far, 14 shots. Talking about playing your heart out, Mark Letestu was insane to watch. This kid got a few tricks up his sleeve. Him and Malkin on the same line would be deadly.
Tangradi while his presence on the ice was visible his overall performance compared to the pre-season was simply not there yet. He is definitely shooting just not having much luck finding back of the net yet. Probably still adjusting to NHL, expecting big things out of this guy.
Goligoski looked like a lost wondering child on power-play. Honestly if our powerplay gets any better this season it will start with him if he is to remain on the first powerplay unit. Once again he is struggling to find his shot. Other than powerplay Gogo isn’t doing that bad with 3 points – 2 goals and 1 assist.
I liked what i saw in Orpik – Michalek pairing but on paper they aren’t looking that well Orpik -2 while Michalek -3. Are they playing against best opponent lines? You bet!
Paul Martin is leading the team with most four points: 3 assists and 1 empty net goals.
Loved seeing Rupp play especially on PK. He is one tough mother.
I enjoyed watching Comrie during the Montreal game. I am calling this the “Hilary Duff Effect” – trademark pending. He was the only one willing to drop his gloves that night. Was he trying to put on a show for his wife in the stands that night? Play a little tough guy. Well apparently he got 9 min in penatlies that night enough to put him as leader in PIM. To contrast, other nights he got 0 min in penalties. Very curious.
TK is definitely feeling the competition for the roster spots this season you can tell by the way he plays he wants to stand out.
Talbot so far has been silent.
Enjoying watching Lovejoy and Engelland playing D. Haven’t seen them make any major mistakes. They look NHL ready to me.
Massive Johnson was solid … rock hard!
For the third line you can definitely feel that Jordan Staal is missing. In fact Penguin are quickly becoming infested with injuries. Soon half the team will be recalled from WBS Pens. Unfortunately things are more likely to get worse before they get better:
Staal is out with his foot injury. Was seen skating today.
Asham out. (shoulder)
Orpik out. (groin)
Michalek out. (shoulder)
Now Comrie out. (undisclosed)
Oy Vey!!!
Top this off with Fleury being less than stellar so far this season, times might get real tough real soon for the Pens. Tonights game vs Leafs will be no easy walk in the park. Stand by your Pens.
Might be hard to believe but the following video was shot at the rock …
Lets Go Pens!
Tags: Alex Goligoski, Arron Asham, Ben Lovejoy, Brent Johnson, Brooks Orpik, Chris Kunitz, Dan Bylsma, Deryk Engelland, Eric Tangradi, Evgeni Malkin, Hilary Duff Effect, Jordan Staal, Marc Andre Fleury, Mark Letestu, Maxime Talbot, Mike Comrie, Mike Rupp, Pascal Dupuis, Paul Martin, Tyler Kennedy, Zbynek Michalek
