Pens vs Music City....

[COOL MAN]

Is Dumo RFA after this year CM? If so I try to sign him in the neighbouhood of 3 to 3.5 per anum over 3-4 years and leave Olli unprotected...any more than 3.5 and I think I would protect Maatta.... although at 4 mil for 6 years his injuries and health concern me....right now Dumo is at roughly 800 g's I think? No matter his deficiencies a bargain...

Dumo is an RFA (as is Schultz), meaning Vegas can draft (or else sign) him if he's not protected. I think the general consensus is the Pens will only be able to protect two (2) of the following four: Cole, Dumoulin, Maatta, and Schultz. My opinion is they'll protect Schultz and Dumoulin (and hope Cole gets passed on).

Maatta is probably a fairly decent candidate to be picked from the Penguins.....especially if he has 2 Cup rings.......though the Hockey Writers actually thought the other day Derrick Pouliot might be of interest to Vegas. I seriously doubt McPhee is going to do the Pens a favor quite that big.

 

[torontoeers]

Dumo is an RFA (as is Schultz), meaning Vegas can draft (or else sign) him if he's not protected. I think the general consensus is the Pens will only be able to protect two (2) of the following four: Cole, Dumoulin, Maatta, and Schultz. My opinion is they'll protect Schultz and Dumoulin (and hope Cole gets passed on).

Maatta is probably a fairly decent candidate to be picked from the Penguins.....especially if he has 2 Cup rings.......though the Hockey Writers actually thought the other day Derrick Pouliot might be of interest to Vegas. I seriously doubt McPhee is going to do the Pens a favor quite that big.

The Hockey Writers actually said that? Re: Pouliot??? I wish we all had a picture/gif/ video of them doing so and laughing uncontrollably....seriously? They said this lol???? Wow....

 

[torontoeers]

Dumo is an RFA (as is Schultz), meaning Vegas can draft (or else sign) him if he's not protected. I think the general consensus is the Pens will only be able to protect two (2) of the following four: Cole, Dumoulin, Maatta, and Schultz. My opinion is they'll protect Schultz and Dumoulin (and hope Cole gets passed on).

Maatta is probably a fairly decent candidate to be picked from the Penguins.....especially if he has 2 Cup rings.......though the Hockey Writers actually thought the other day Derrick Pouliot might be of interest to Vegas. I seriously doubt McPhee is going to do the Pens a favor quite that big.

2 mil for Cole as well is imo quite the bargain, although Vegas will at least need to get to the cap floor... this offseason will be incredibly interesting....and isn't it something that the 2 fellas under contract could be exposed , while the front office does their level best to get the 2 FA's at a fair price and protect them....as I said months back, although Vegas has paid massive coin to get in, this is by far and away the MOST lopsided expansion draft in history for the newcomer....I guess thats what 500 mil gets ya, a crack at some seriously significant contributors...I honestly hope they crash and burn first few years with a never before seen advantage of this magnatude expansion wise for legit talent....money talks but then once the rubber hits the road?.......well......

 

[COOL MAN]

The Hockey Writers actually said that? Re: Pouliot??? I wish we all had a picture/gif/ video of them doing so and laughing uncontrollably....seriously? They said this lol???? Wow....

I found the piece; there's another name on the list you and your pals from Port Perry might recognize.....

http://thehockeywriters.com/4-penguins-vegas-fans-should-know/

Speaking of the Expansion Draft.....and protected players.....I have a feeling Flower has already quietly agreed to waive his NTC, and GMJR will try seriously (this time) to trade him in advance of the Draft

 

[torontoeers]

I found the piece; there's another name on the list you and your pals from Port Perry might recognize.....

http://thehockeywriters.com/4-penguins-vegas-fans-should-know/

Speaking of the Expansion Draft.....and protected players.....I have a feeling Flower has already quietly agreed to waive his NTC, and GMJR will try seriously (this time) to trade him in advance of the Draft

And they are Trumping up Frank Corrado??? Frank WHO? I particularly loved the underlined link of 'a player the Pens would hate to lose' !!!!???!!! Do we all feel comfortable here in gauranteeing the Pens are not in the least concerned about 'losing' Pouliot? Cause that statement is just laughable...gsus...something else...

 

[COOL MAN]

I didn't read any pre-Game 3 coverage at all yesterday, so I just learned that Nicky B (not surprisingly) was seen on crutches and in a boot yesterday......making his availability tonight HIGHLY questionable. If he doesn't play, Cullen will presumably move to the 3rd line; but who centers the 4th unit ??

My guess is that HCMS goes with 7 defense......meaning hello again to Chad Ruhwedel...... because the only other guy I know on the team with a background at center is Guentzel, and he's obviously pretty dug into his current spot at the top of the roster.

 

[torontoeers]

I didn't read any pre-Game 3 coverage at all yesterday, so I just learned that Nicky B (not surprisingly) was seen on crutches and in a boot yesterday......making his availability tonight HIGHLY questionable. If he doesn't play, Cullen will presumably move to the 3rd line; but who centers the 4th unit ??

My guess is that HCMS goes with 7 defense......meaning hello again to Chad Ruhwedel...... because the only other guy I know on the team with a background at center is Guentzel, and he's obviously pretty dug into his current spot at the top of the roster.

Oh boy....that is a fairly significant loss...they'll just have to suck it up and get it done...not that they aren't used to that already!

 

[WVRON]

I didn't read any pre-Game 3 coverage at all yesterday, so I just learned that Nicky B (not surprisingly) was seen on crutches and in a boot yesterday......making his availability tonight HIGHLY questionable. If he doesn't play, Cullen will presumably move to the 3rd line; but who centers the 4th unit ??

My guess is that HCMS goes with 7 defense......meaning hello again to Chad Ruhwedel...... because the only other guy I know on the team with a background at center is Guentzel, and he's obviously pretty dug into his current spot at the top of the roster.

Cullen was centering the 3rd line in practice yesterday and Rowney the 4th. Looks like Hags is back in tonight.

 

[COOL MAN]

Obviously, the Pens priority is to survive the early play and then leave the 1st no worse than tied. Let's be honest, this team has gotten blitzed virtually every game this playoff season, and there's frankly no reason to believe tonight will be different. Let's hope MM remains strong.

The guy I'll be watching is Roman Josi; he's been OK but hardly all-world so far. Also, PA Parenteau has historically given the Pens trouble, and I was glad Laviolette didn't dress him in the first two. He's the kind of guy who could hurt them off the 3rd or 4th line.

Meanwhile, it would be nice to see Kessel open fire tonight rather than double clutch everything. Finally, I'm hoping the stripes resist calling everything on the Pens tonight to keep from goosing the crowd too much.

 

[COOL MAN]

I'm surprised this game is on NBCSN rather than the NBC mothership on a Saturday night, especially with reruns running on the network.

 

[COOL MAN]

Meanwhile, win or lose, I'm just glad this game is finally ready to go.....because I'm just sick to death of hearing EVERYONE over the last 3 days tell me this is going to be the greatest crowd in League history.

 

[torontoeers]

Well...I just teared up at a story HNIC just ran on Trudy Lee Daley , Trevors Mom passing away just after he won the cup last year...I remember hearing how she was sick last year but did not know she passed away the week after he won. And so young at 51. I've always liked Mr. Daley...I like him even more now after watching that...class act to pass him the Cup first last year. Lets hope he has the opportunity to lift it again!

Lets Go!!!

 

[torontoeers]

Meanwhile, win or lose, I'm just glad this game is finally ready to go.....because I'm just sick to death of hearing EVERYONE over the last 3 days tell me this is going to be the greatest crowd in League history.

It's like they have never been to Pittsburgh before...I'm sure they'll be loud, but I've been in plenty of NHL buildings. Reg season or playoffs I'm not sure that PPG or the old Igloo werent anong the very loudest imo...

 

[torontoeers]

Obviously, the Pens priority is to survive the early play and then leave the 1st no worse than tied. Let's be honest, this team has gotten blitzed virtually every game this playoff season, and there's frankly no reason to believe tonight will be different. Let's hope MM remains strong.

The guy I'll be watching is Roman Josi; he's been OK but hardly all-world so far. Also, PA Parenteau has historically given the Pens trouble, and I was glad Laviolette didn't dress him in the first two. He's the kind of guy who could hurt them off the 3rd or 4th line.

Meanwhile, it would be nice to see Kessel open fire tonight rather than double clutch everything. Finally, I'm hoping the stripes resist calling everything on the Pens tonight to keep from goosing the crowd too much.

Agreed...PA is the type of guy that can crank it up a bit, and lets hope he's not that guy tonight...

 

[torontoeers]

Oh two more things...Dickhead Cherry has guaranteed a Preds victory tonight. Perfect! Pens win! ....and I am sick and tired of seeing who is famous in the crowd already...I'm tuned in to watch the freakin game!

 

[torontoeers]

Anyone else notice the distinct look of PRESSURE on the Preds faces during intro?

 

[COOL MAN]

Man, Dumoulin getting hurt on the first friggin' shift is NOT a good sign....

 

[COOL MAN]

Well, THAT'S a nice start

 

[torontoeers]

Hello Jake!!!

 

[torontoeers]

Get one here on this pp!!!

 

[COOL MAN]

I'm figuring some extra shots from Ekholm, Neal, Josi, and (especially) Subban assuming the stripes won't call the next on on the Preds.

 

[torontoeers]

Another chance here...lets go pot one!

 

[COOL MAN]

Pens PP is getting smoked by the Preds' uber-aggressive PK. Why they don't just start firing rubber at Rinne (rather than their tired around the perimeter stuff) and looking for rebounds is something I don't understand.

 

[torontoeers]

Assuming the good guys can keep the pressure on...and this first has looked pretty good imo MM seems zoned in, and I'm seeing a lot of jam out of our guys...JG simply can't be ignored in Conn Smythe consideration if he pots one or 2 more...plenty of hockey to play but he has been an absolute assasin

 

[torontoeers]

Pens PP is getting smoked by the Preds' uber-aggressive PK. Why they don't just start firing rubber at Rinne (rather than their tired around the perimeter stuff) and looking for rebounds is something I don't understand.

They should just get it in to Horney any way possible...I give the Preds credit for all the sticks in the way...

 

[COOL MAN]

All things considered, not a bad start......though the miserable PP really hurts. Meanwhile, anyone seen Sid, Geno, and Kessel tonight ?? I honestly don't think a single Guin forward aside Guentzel (though I do think Hags is skating pretty well tonight) played a good period. But the defense, considering how aggressive the Preds started bringing it, played pretty solid as a unit.

Maatta is still turning over pucks though, and does NOT look very confident to me at all. But Rinne certainly seems ripe to be beaten again.....and again.

 

[COOL MAN]

They should just get it in to Horney any way possible...I give the Preds credit for all the sticks in the way...

I was watching Horndog, and he spent WAY too little time in the crease on the 2nd PP...... if he's skating around with the man advantage, that's a huge advantage for anyone killing penalties against the Pens, let alone a team as good defensively as Nashville.

 

[COOL MAN]

It's like they have never been to Pittsburgh before...I'm sure they'll be loud, but I've been in plenty of NHL buildings. Reg season or playoffs I'm not sure that PPG or the old Igloo werent anong the very loudest imo...

I realize there are a lot of people milling around outside, but Bridgestone itself seats less than 18,000.....Chicago and Montreal arenas each seat 4,000 more themselves, and there are plenty of other loud crowds (and buildings that seat 2,000+ more, including Toronto) in the League,

 

[torontoeers]

They really seem intent on taking Sid away from his home at side of net....he will need to push through down low somehow...

 

[COOL MAN]

They really seem intent on taking Sid away from his home at side of net....he will need to push through down low somehow...

If so, then he's gotta start skating and find some open ice.....

 

[torontoeers]

I realize there are a lot of people milling around outside, but Bridgestone itself seats less than 18,000.....Chicago and Montreal arenas each seat 4,000 more themselves, and there are plenty of other loud crowds (and buildings that seat 2,000+ more, including Toronto) in the League,

The old Spectrum I found quite loud ....especially just before we decided (wisely) to get the hell outta there early 3rd...

 

[torontoeers]

Well...we knew that penalty was comin...KILL IT!

 

[torontoeers]

Ah damn....too much time and space...and tipped...

 

[torontoeers]

And....yikes...MM wants that one back...WEAK!

 

[COOL MAN]

Oh oh.....

 

[torontoeers]

Quell this rebellion! Oh Kunitz! ....here we go boys!!!

 

[torontoeers]

Quell this rebellion! Oh Kunitz! ....here we go boys!!!

 

[torontoeers]

Quell this rebellion! Oh Kunitz! ....here we go boys!!!

 

[torontoeers]

Nice bounce back MM on that 3 on 1...

 

[COOL MAN]

I wondering if Rinne is starting to regain some of his confidence after a 1st period where the Pens just didn't get enough rubber on the net when he seemed ripe to be beaten more than once.