Pens D Needs to Tighten Up LIKE NOW

Ok Pens fans, so we lost game 1 of 82.  No Big Deal.  While I agree the sky is not falling, I will say the BIG DEAL is THE WAY THEY LOST THE GAME.

Any Penguins fan who paid attention last year, saw the team could not hold a lead, they could not win in overtime, nor did they play with enough passion, desire, or a sense of urgency on a nightly basis.

Chicago won because they wanted to.  Like really wanted to. (FYI, so did NYR, NJ and the Canes)

Can you really say the same for the Penguins?  Was it only me or did the game feel very, meh.

More so can you say…Uh-Oh…here we go again…?

I wrote about this Last Year, Sept 14.2022

I Suspect the Penguins D will be Suspect.

Insanity is …doing the same things and expecting different results.

Fun Facts:

No doubt, the Penguin snipers had their chances in that game vs Chicago and missed.  Guentzel alone had many opportunities and missed amongst others as well.

However, we all know that Pittsburgh Wins Championships based on Team D.  And they are not there yet, Period.

The Penguins need to Play better overall Team D.

Here is a clue for the Penguin Coaching staff. Play the players who are willing to do all the little things that make a big difference in a game.  Chip n Chase the puck out of your own zone.  Take a hit to get it out…etc.  Stay in your defensive position and do not get sucked into leaving coverage.  Field position is so important, sit the floaters who do not care.

The Penguins D-pairings need to be sorted out.

Here is a clue for the Penguin Coaching staff. Pair up an Offense Defensemen with a stay-at-home Defender.  If it sounds so simple, then why don’t they do it?

The Penguins overall Defensive system

Here is a clue for the Penguin Coaching staff.  If the opposition has the puck below the Penguin’s goal line, in the corner, and you, the Penguins outnumber the puck carrier, meaning you have better defensive position and more numbers than they have, then why would you go chase the puck carrier.  (See Chicago’s second goal, Game Tying 2-2 goal, Penguins vs Chicago).

What? Why? How? NO…Just NO.

For Game Video click below

Blackhawks Top Penguins in Opener, 4-2 | NHL.com

It’s called Zone D, instead of man-to-man Defense.  It works ask Vegas.

The Penguins Need All-World Jarry to Reappear

For the Pens to go where they want to go, they desperately need Jarry to regain his All-World kinda goaltending from 2022.  With this type of Defense, he needs to become a Top 5 G-Man.  He did not lose the game.  However, he did not save the game either.

My View from the Cheap Seats

Section: TV     Row: PVR     Seat: Couch

Hockey is pretty simple really.  At its core its all about…

More Passion

More Energy

More Footwork

It’s time to fix this Defensive issue…LIKE NOW.

Quote of the Day:

I have never seen a bunch of guys look so down when something bad happens.

So Stuff’s not working for ya right now, so go OUT WORK the opposition.

If you want it, don’t just go out there and think you want it, go out there and Really Want it.

Bruce Boudreau – Washington Capital Head Coach-2010 (google it…lol)