Ryan Wilson: It takes two... to ruin a solid team performance It takes two... to ruin a solid team performance

Anyways, faceoffs are obviously not the only issue with Carter. The three goals against Carter was out for were in only 4:48 of ice time. He was on pace for ~15 minutes, but Sullivan finally pulled back and Carter only played 3:40ish for the rest of the game. It was still long enough for him to be on the ice for a fourth goal against. Some of those limited minutes came with about two minutes left and the Penguins trailing by a goal. It is insane he keeps getting put in high leverage situations. You might feel like this is me nitpicking him. It is not. His level of play is such that it can’t be ignored. He is performing at a historically low level right now. Very few players have “accomplished” what Carter did last night in recent memory.

Can't say Carter was really at fault for 3 of the 4 goals he was on the ice for, while it eventually evens out in the wash, this game wasn't it.

Anyways, faceoffs are obviously not the only issue with Carter. The three goals against Carter was out for were in only 4:48 of ice time. He was on pace for ~15 minutes, but Sullivan finally pulled back and Carter only played 3:40ish for the rest of the game. It was still long enough for him to be on the ice for a fourth goal against. Some of those limited minutes came with about two minutes left and the Penguins trailing by a goal. It is insane he keeps getting put in high leverage situations. You might feel like this is me nitpicking him. It is not. His level of play is such that it can’t be ignored. He is performing at a historically low level right now. Very few players have “accomplished” what Carter did last night in recent memory.

Can't say Carter was really at fault for 3 of the 4 goals he was on the ice for, while it eventually evens out in the wash, this game wasn't it.
- j.boyd919

Yeah and there were other guys playing terrible on the ice the same time as Carter for some of those as well...such as Petry

I do think that ridiculously low ice time is a good sign with Poehling soon to return. Its signifies that Sully does indeed realize that Carter is a problem and Poehling, with his great effort levels, great 50/50 battle and boards work plus fastest in-game-on-ice-speed across the league this season, will be an upgrade to 4C.

I do think that ridiculously low ice time is a good sign with Poehling soon to return. Its signifies that Sully does indeed realize that Carter is a problem and Poehling, with his great effort levels, great 50/50 battle and boards work plus fastest in-game-on-ice-speed across the league this season, will be an upgrade to 4C.
- MattStrat

I was pretty shocked to see that he was that fast. I wish he was that fast WITH the puck lol

Carter is washed, agreed, but faulting him for all 4 goal is just ridiculous. As for the faceoffs, even the best in the business lose them sometimes; he happened to lose that. That's more an indictment of Sullivan putting him out there, not on Carter.

The net is the biggest concern right now. Even if you bench Carter, you won't go far without AT LEAST league average goaltending.

Carter is washed, agreed, but faulting him for all 4 goal is just ridiculous. As for the faceoffs, even the best in the business lose them sometimes; he happened to lose that. That's more an indictment of Sullivan putting him out there, not on Carter.

The net is the biggest concern right now. Even if you bench Carter, you won't go far without AT LEAST league average goaltending.
- jmatchett383

Agreed. Last night was Jarry. Carter sucks but it’s really hard for a forward to single handily lose a game the way we saw Jack Johnson do it on multiple occasions. Carter should be benched but it probably doesn’t matter if this is what our goal tending looks like.

I do think that ridiculously low ice time is a good sign with Poehling soon to return. Its signifies that Sully does indeed realize that Carter is a problem and Poehling, with his great effort levels, great 50/50 battle and boards work plus fastest in-game-on-ice-speed across the league this season, will be an upgrade to 4C.
- MattStrat

Bonino will be our 4C when everyone’s healthy but Poehling is definitely intriguing as a 4LW replacement for Heinen, who’s had just an awful season and doesn’t bring anything to the table in a 4th line role if he’s not scoring the odd goal. Poehling’s speed and tenacity could blend really well Bonino’s defensive acumen to create a new look shutdown 4th line.

If that works, combine that with how our new look third line has been clicking offensively and all of a sudden we have a useful bottom 6. Maybe not a great one but one that can actually contribute if the top 6 continues to chug along on their good season.

Bonino will be our 4C when everyone’s healthy but Poehling is definitely intriguing as a 4LW replacement for Heinen, who’s had just an awful season and doesn’t bring anything to the table in 4th line role if he’s not scoring the off goal. Poehling’s speed and tenacity could blend really well Bonino’s defensive acumen to create a new look shutdown 4th line.

If that works, combine that with how our new look third line has been clicking offensively and all of a sudden we have a useful bottom 6. Maybe not a great one but one that can actually contribute if the top 6 continues to chug along on their good season.
- Victoro311

Yes to all of that. Man, how in the F did I space out on Bonino being in the equation, with him even being on the Pens? hahaha I guess the only 3 games played is a factor haha.

I was pretty shocked to see that he was that fast. I wish he was that fast WITH the puck lol
- j.boyd919

He has wheels with the puck, too.

He has wheels with the puck, too.
- MattStrat

Speed isn't everything, just ask Luis Mendoza



He made that old man stack several thousands of empty soda cans for him because he couldn't stop.

Speed isn't everything, just ask Luis Mendoza



He made that old man stack several thousands of empty soda cans for him because he couldn't stop.
- jmatchett383

Yes, I agree. I also mentioned his tenacity and board battles as other great characteristics. Also, as someone who gets most of his zone starts in the defensive (2nd highest % of this among all Pens players this season) and neutral zone, he is 9th in points/60 mins amongst all forwards that have played for the Pens this season. He is also an excellent PKer, has had a lot of chances and odd man breaks on the PK and has had 2 short handed goals this season. The league lead is 4 and by guys who've played almost double the games he has.

No, I do not think Poehling is a super star, I just think he's very solid for the bottom 6 and PK...and a definite upgrade over some that are there now.


EDIT: whats really crazy, to me anyway, about him being the 2nd highest defensive zone start % on the team....is....he's second to Carter hahaha...Sully has a lot of blame with some of the game results this season.

More concerning to me is the amount of time the Pens offensive players can play with the puck in the O zone and not score. Step up and do your job when it counts.

More concerning to me is the amount of time the Pens offensive players can play with the puck in the O zone and not score. Step up and do your job when it counts.
- Grinder47

You should pretty much always win when you score 4 or 5 goals in a game. So, so many games this year they did that and lost...with the main culprit in the loss being goaltending.

You should pretty much always win when you score 4 or 5 goals in a game. So, so many games this year they did that and lost...with the main culprit in the loss being goaltending.
- MattStrat

Not untrue, still when you have a period and a half to have your way with a team (frank)ing step up. Not every goalie becomes unbeatable in the 3rd.

I would also like to point out that it wasn’t Sids fault for loosing a face off against the Islanders and the same people that claim +- is a useless stat are now using it to serve some wildly weird obsession they gave with a certain player. Thanks for reading!

I would also like to point out that it wasn’t Sids fault for loosing a face off against the Islanders and the same people that claim +- is a useless stat are now using it to serve some wildly weird obsession they gave with a certain player. Thanks for reading!
- Grinder47

I don't see anyone other than Ryan Wilson blaming anything on Carter. I don't really find Carter at fault for any of those goals. The only one someone can probably argue is that he lost a faceoff on his strong side that led directly to a goal, but I don't really give a poop about that.

I don't see anyone other than Ryan Wilson blaming anything on Carter. I don't really find Carter at fault for any of those goals. The only one someone can probably argue is that he lost a faceoff on his strong side that led directly to a goal, but I don't really give a poop about that.
- j.boyd919

The face offs are definitely a coaching thing. It’s not a “mistake” to lose a face off. Coach has to know that sometimes guys are just going to lose face offs no matter how good you are and decide if a face off specialist deployed at a key moment is worth the possibility of still losing the draw

I don't see anyone other than Ryan Wilson blaming anything on Carter. I don't really find Carter at fault for any of those goals. The only one someone can probably argue is that he lost a faceoff on his strong side that led directly to a goal, but I don't really give a poop about that.
- j.boyd919

Well I was directing that comment towards Ryan Wilson. The guy that complained about Tom Kuhnhackl routinely in the midst of a dominant Stanley cup run.

Speed isn't everything, just ask Luis Mendoza



He made that old man stack several thousands of empty soda cans for him because he couldn't stop.
- jmatchett383

😂

For those local, the latest rumor surrounding AT&T Sports Pittsburgh is that FSG could choose to merge their current boston TV station, NESN, with AT&T Sports Pittsburgh. That would essentially put the Red Sox, Bruins, Penguins, and Pirates all under the same NESN umbrella.

That would be unique given the crossover between the teams in the same league but with different owners. The good news is that would really solidify the Penguins/Pirates given NESN is a successful channel that turns a profit. The downside is the cost of streaming. I'd worry as a Pittsburgh fan I'd be paying for the Boston sports content which i dont care for and Im guessing Boston fans feel the same. Hopefully they can split the two so each city pays for the teams they want.

I feel bad for Fleury. He’s always wanted to get a fight under his belt and he had a legit reason to sock Binnington tonight. Refs killed the buzz hard there. Gotta let that one happen.

For those local, the latest rumor surrounding AT&T Sports Pittsburgh is that FSG could choose to merge their current boston TV station, NESN, with AT&T Sports Pittsburgh. That would essentially put the Red Sox, Bruins, Penguins, and Pirates all under the same NESN umbrella.

That would be unique given the crossover between the teams in the same league but with different owners. The good news is that would really solidify the Penguins/Pirates given NESN is a successful channel that turns a profit. The downside is the cost of streaming. I'd worry as a Pittsburgh fan I'd be paying for the Boston sports content which i dont care for and Im guessing Boston fans feel the same. Hopefully they can split the two so each city pays for the teams they want.
- SuperHenderson13

Thanks for this. Cost wise I doubt it's as bad as paying for cable so I'd probably happily make the swap.

I feel bad for Fleury. He’s always wanted to get a fight under his belt and he had a legit reason to sock Binnington tonight. Refs killed the buzz hard there. Gotta let that one happen.
- Victoro311

Yeah. The league had nothing to gain by stopping that.

I feel bad for Fleury. He’s always wanted to get a fight under his belt and he had a legit reason to sock Binnington tonight. Refs killed the buzz hard there. Gotta let that one happen.
- Victoro311

Yeah I woke up to friends messaging me about it. Brutal they didn't let that go/happen. Binnington is such a fn douche.