2013 NHL Season thread

Pens second in the east.


Crosby and Malkin not too far behind in the points race.

What a weekend for Kunitz...4 goals in the caps game, NHL gave him credit for the 1st goal yesterday that originally went to Martin.

Bortuzzo and Despres been looking great, Be interesting to see what happens when Niskanen comes back As both are waiver eligible...Maybe trade a D prospect for a Crosby winger as Boychuk looks good with Geno and Neal.

Rangers trade Michael Rupp to the Wild for a 4th liner and some AHL guy. I'm not sure how this helps the Rangers though

---

Posted by Bubbles

Rangers trade Michael Rupp to the Wild for a 4th liner and some AHL guy. I'm not sure how this helps the Rangers though

---

JT Miller, A Pittsburgh area native they called up...

Good Luck to him.

Mike Rupp sucks ass anyway, I hated him when he was a devil and i hate him now. i mean the guy isnt even a good fighter, what does he do to justify his existence except skate around like an idiot, punch goalies, and lose fights while piling up the pms

tonight is the night of blown 3rd period leads:

My Rangers blew a 3-0 lead, allowed 2 goals in the final 2 minutes to send it to OT. Thankfully they won in the shootout and improve to 4-1 in February

Montreal also blew a 3-0 lead in the 3rd period only to win in a shootout. Tampa has lost 5 straight (0-4-1) after a sizzling start.

Florida was up 5-3 in the 3rd before losing in OT to Washington. Hopefully this sparks something in Washington...it's not normal for them to be at the bottom of the standings without Pittsburgh there with them

speaking of which, the Pens lost back to back 3-1 games to New Jersey

edit: Chicago also blew a 3rd period lead, but it was only a 2-1 lead...and then lost in shootout

---

Posted by Bubbles

tonight is the night of blown 3rd period leads:

My Rangers blew a 3-0 lead, allowed 2 goals in the final 2 minutes to send it to OT. Thankfully they won in the shootout and improve to 4-1 in February

Montreal also blew a 3-0 lead in the 3rd period only to win in a shootout. Tampa has lost 5 straight (0-4-1) after a sizzling start.

Florida was up 5-3 in the 3rd before losing in OT to Washington. Hopefully this sparks something in Washington...it's not normal for them to be at the bottom of the standings without Pittsburgh there with them

speaking of which, the Pens lost back to back 3-1 games to New Jersey

edit: Chicago also blew a 3rd period lead, but it was only a 2-1 lead...and then lost in shootout

---

I know, too bad the Pens can't play the Rangers every game.

You consider Malkin better than Crosby but yet the majority of Malkin and Neals Points have come on the PP.Having a hard time finding a guy till fill the 3rd spot on that line.

I'm wondering what they'll do when Letang and Niskanen come back. Despres has looked great and so has Bortuzzo, Bortuzzo has to clear waivers so i'm fairly certain he'll be a scratch because he won't make waivers, Possibly the same with Dylan Reese.Or if things don't get better maybe they make a play for Iginla,Even though 7M and the asking price for him is steep..but him and Sid at the olympics looked fucking great together.

---

Posted by iwannabesedated
I know, too bad the Pens can't play the Rangers every game.

You consider Malkin better than Crosby but yet the majority of Malkin and Neals Points have come on the PP.Having a hard time finding a guy till fill the 3rd spot on that line.

I'm wondering what they'll do when Letang and Niskanen come back. Despres has looked great and so has Bortuzzo, Bortuzzo has to clear waivers so i'm fairly certain he'll be a scratch because he won't make waivers, Possibly the same with Dylan Reese.Or if things don't get better maybe they make a play for Iginla,Even though 7M and the asking price for him is steep..but him and Sid at the olympics looked fucking great together.

---

meh you won the early battles of a patchwork of a season...but at least we can beat the Laughs (er Leafs)

generally speaking, effective PP = wins. Somehow the Rangers are winning with a PP of 10% though

Iginla made Sid look good in 2010. Sid was a ghost on the ice from the first game vs the US up until the "golden goal"...which btw was all because of Iggy doing the dirty work while Sid cherry picked in front of the net

---

Posted by Bubbles

---

Posted by iwannabesedated
I know, too bad the Pens can't play the Rangers every game.

You consider Malkin better than Crosby but yet the majority of Malkin and Neals Points have come on the PP.Having a hard time finding a guy till fill the 3rd spot on that line.

I'm wondering what they'll do when Letang and Niskanen come back. Despres has looked great and so has Bortuzzo, Bortuzzo has to clear waivers so i'm fairly certain he'll be a scratch because he won't make waivers, Possibly the same with Dylan Reese.Or if things don't get better maybe they make a play for Iginla,Even though 7M and the asking price for him is steep..but him and Sid at the olympics looked fucking great together.

---

meh you won the early battles of a patchwork of a season...but at least we can beat the Laughs (er Leafs)

generally speaking, effective PP = wins. Somehow the Rangers are winning with a PP of 10% though

Iginla made Sid look good in 2010. Sid was a ghost on the ice from the first game vs the US up until the "golden goal"...which btw was all because of Iggy doing the dirty work while Sid cherry picked in front of the net

---

We'll see come playoff time and who wins the scoring title.NJD always tough to come back on if they get up by 2 you're fucked.They've always been great at shutting down the neutral zone and trapping...Boring but effective.

I do believe the Pens are like 8-2 in their last 10 at MSG against the Rags..So much for the patchwork.

scoring title doesn't mean a whole lot...look at the Lightning last year. Crosby has shown many times over the years he has trouble producing when the games really matter (Olympics elimination games, playoff games after round 1). Malkin shows up and is the only reason why Pitts has a Cup since Mario.

Yeah the Devils are good at holding leads, they are a very disciplined team. I think last year was more of a fluke based on matchups and rest period...they won't escape the 2nd round this year.

I didnt realize it was that bad lol I think Pittsburgh thinks MSG is a home game...no other way to explain that but it is the regular season. Come playoff time it would be much different and could be a great series if they ever match up

---

Posted by Bubbles

meh you won the early battles of a patchwork of a season...but at least we can beat the Laughs (er Leafs)

---

So how does it feel to be behind ottawa, toronto, and montreal in the standings?

You mad?

---

Posted by Franklinfan47

---

Posted by Bubbles

meh you won the early battles of a patchwork of a season...but at least we can beat the Laughs (er Leafs)

---

So how does it feel to be behind ottawa, toronto, and montreal in the standings?

You mad?

---

nope. We had to play Pittsburgh twice and Boston 3x in 12 games. Ottawa is still a good team riding a super hot goalie. Toronto has played a soft schedule. Both teams have also played 1 more game so it means nothing. Winning 6 of 7 kind of helps your place in standings (ie Montreal).

This season sounds a bit like Toronto's season last 2 years: start hot for ~15 games, play .500 for a couple months, then absolutely tank. Pro rate it to hit a stupid 48 game sched and we will see where Toronto lies at the end of March

Nice wins for the Pens last night, Matt Cooke becomes the first winger to get a point on the Neal,Malkin line. Cookie is my favorite Penguin.Lot of flack on the Karlsson injury but as you can see Cooke had his head and eyes on the puck i don't think it was intentional, Giving Cooke's past rep though a lot are saying it was on purpose. Either way it's another huge blow to Ottawa.

cooke is a dirty dude idk man either way that must not be a easy injury


nothing against you but i kinda hope matt cooke gets a beating everynight

---

Posted by the-king

cooke is a dirty dude idk man either way that must not be a easy injury


nothing against you but i kinda hope matt cooke gets a beating everynight

---

No fines or suspensions so it's ruled an accident.

Cooke cleaned up his game a good bit starting last season.Chris Neil went all goon on him last night.Even Anderson from Ottawa tweeted it looked like an accident.

I wont defend all of his actions...But i truly see last night as a mishap.

Pens recalled top AHL guy Beau Mother fucking Bennett, Smaller dude and has been somewhat injury prone...But we'll see how it goes.

---

Posted by iwannabesedated

---

Posted by the-king

cooke is a dirty dude idk man either way that must not be a easy injury


nothing against you but i kinda hope matt cooke gets a beating everynight

---

No fines or suspensions so it's ruled an accident.

Cooke cleaned up his game a good bit starting last season.Chris Neil went all goon on him last night.Even Anderson from Ottawa tweeted it looked like an accident.

I wont defend all of his actions...But i truly see last night as a mishap.

Pens recalled top AHL guy Beau Mother fucking Bennett, Smaller dude and has been somewhat injury prone...But we'll see how it goes.

---

ya i havent seen as much from him but ill never be able to respect him neil can handle his buisness so im not suprised

my bruins are still playing well they didnt play a complete game the other night but hey salvage a point when ya can i guess

So if the Sabres beat the Pens this afternoon, they might be able to ride this momentum swing into a nice little streak, after the nice come from behind against Boston on Fri. night.

Thankfully Miller is standing on his head right now, or else this team would be in serious trouble.

---

Posted by BuffaloDave

So if the Sabres beat the Pens this afternoon, they might be able to ride this momentum swing into a nice little streak, after the nice come from behind against Boston on Fri. night.

Thankfully Miller is standing on his head right now, or else this team would be in serious trouble.

---

Man both Goalies were amazing..Nice to see Crosby and Neal just smile and laugh at the Miller save..it was a beauty.


Seems like a lot Pens fans there today ??

Another 3 point day for the best player in the NHL

Pens first place at the moment.

\

---

Posted by iwannabesedated

Another 3 point day for the best player in the NHL

---

Pascal Dupuis?

---

Posted by Bubbles

---

Posted by iwannabesedated

Another 3 point day for the best player in the NHL

---

Pascal Dupuis?

---

No, lol but he does have 5 goals in his last 7 games, Amazing that he's bascially a 3rd liner on 90% of NHL teams, But can produce like a top 6 when on a line with 87.Like i said before Crosby makes players better, Malkin is better when he is surrounded by talented guys...Last year he hadKunitz and Neal for the most part with Sid hurt, This year he doesn't have a second winger like Kunitz and his even strength game and numbers aren't spectacular.

has anyone heard of the Chicago Blackhawks? They are pretty good.

---

Posted by ChrisSabal

has anyone heard of the Chicago Blackhawks? They are pretty good.

---

They are certainly the class of the NHL this season by far but from a Wings fan whose seen it happen to his team many times, sometimes winning this much this early can be a curse.

You end up clinching the presidents trophy early and as a result players have a tendency to play out the last of the season without the same level of effort they used to be so dominant in the first place.

Then the playoffs come around and you're matched up with a team that just slipped into the playoffs by playing their best hockey for the last month of the season. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain, the #1 seed has all the pressure and it often leads to upsets.

---

Posted by FlashyG

---

Posted by ChrisSabal

has anyone heard of the Chicago Blackhawks? They are pretty good.

---

They are certainly the class of the NHL this season by far but from a Wings fan whose seen it happen to his team many times, sometimes winning this much this early can be a curse.

You end up clinching the presidents trophy early and as a result players have a tendency to play out the last of the season without the same level of effort they used to be so dominant in the first place.

Then the playoffs come around and you're matched up with a team that just slipped into the playoffs by playing their best hockey for the last month of the season. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain, the #1 seed has all the pressure and it often leads to upsets.

---

I agree but this being a short season, Who knows.But as you said said a team gets hot late and possibly riding a hot goalie could go a long ways.

I'm like a week behind so here's a quick breakdown of my thoughts this week:

- I don't know why the Rangers are having a tough time holding leads lately. This was not a problem last year.

- Matt Cooke deserved to be suspended a few games. Having his skate up that high is completely careless and reckless, there is no reason for it to be that high. I don't think it was intentional, although it is Matt Cooke we are talking about, but it was a dirty play that easily could have been avoided.

- the refs are to blame for this too as the play should have been whistled dead when the puck hit the netting.

- speaking of bad reffing, how the hell was Duchene not called for being offside? The NHL already reviews questionable goals, why wasn't this looked at? They need to expand instant replay and allow for a coach's challenge.

- LOL at Shittsburgh getting pushed around and allowing Philly to score at will. A 6 minute powerplay, 4 of which was a 5 on 3, and only 1 goal scored? Cindy was no where to be found that night, and his only point was a 2nd assist (like most of his assists are) in which Malkin actually set up the PP goal. He was also a -3

- I cannot understand how the Leafs continue to win. Is James Van Riemsdyk MVP? This is virtually the same roster as last year's joke, and they played like shit under Carslile in the final month and a half.

- Lindy Ruff has finally been fired. Much like Andy Reid his time was up and the team needed a change. He'll find work very soon.

- Why didn't Boudreau coach this way in his final couple years in Washington?

- I still can't get over seeing Montreal at the top of the East, nor Chicago undefeated in regulation.

- Jimmy Howard is exactly what "experts" said he was a few years ago: an average goalie on a good team. He's been below average this year and Detroit is on the outside looking in. If we could revote for previous season Hart Trophy winners, Lindstrom should have a few to his name

---

Posted by Bubbles

- Jimmy Howard is exactly what "experts" said he was a few years ago: an average goalie on a good team. He's been below average this year and Detroit is on the outside looking in. If we could revote for previous season Hart Trophy winners, Lindstrom should have a few to his name

---

Howard hasn't been very good this year, but he did steal a game vs LA and hasn't had much help defensively at all.

Also who is this Lindstrom person you speak of?

extra n, my bad

---

Posted by Bubbles
.


- Lindy Ruff has finally been fired. Much like Andy Reid his time was up and the team needed a change. He'll find work very soon.

---

yea but Lindy would kick Andy Reids ass

well Malkin has concussion...Now i guess you'll see the BEST player in the NHL do his thang.

Hate on Bubs.

Considering he leads the league in points, well tied at 25 and the leader in assists..

1st or 2ndary a point is a point ho ho homeboy.

I don't think you watch a lot of Pens games,, He def gets a lot of Primaries.

Shittsburgh i LOL at,, It's been voted most liveable city in the US multiple times...so its not really shitty.

I don't hate the city, just its sports teams

No Malkin and a 3 point game for Sid now sits atop the nhl scoring leaders.