After dispatching of the Flyers in 6 games (like I said), the Pens are waiting to see who their second round opponent will be. While being idle for a few days, the team stayed in the news today by removing the interim label on head coach Dan Bylsma. Was this the right move ? Absolutely. Is the timing right? Absolutely.
All Bylsma has done is take a team that was dead in the water and lead them to the second round of the playoffs. If the coaching change wasn't made, the Pens very well could have missed the playoffs all together. His very impressive record of 22-5-4 (including playoffs) should be all the convincing the Pens needed to offer him the full-time job.
However, what if the Pens blew the 3-1 series lead to the Flyers? It's very odd to see a coach make lineup changes with a commanding series lead. If everything backfired and the Pens would have dropped the series, do you think the Pens would have given him the job?
Other Notes
- Defensemen Sergei Gonchar is second among all players in the playoff in ice time per game. His injury may have been a blessing as his legs should be very fresh.
- Don't overlook the job that Sidney Crosby did in the face off circle against the Flyers. Winning nearly 64% of his draws, Crosby has shown just how much he has worked on every aspect of his already dominant game.
- Evgeni Malkin leads the team in scoring with 9pts, followed by Crosby with 8 and Gonchar with 5.
- One guy that won't get talked about enough is Tyler Kennedy. I thought he played much better than the 3 pts he accumulated. Kennedy also had 2 game winning goals in the series.
-Finally, talk all the trash on him that you want, but the reason the Pens are advancing is the play of Marc-Andre Fluery. Outside of game 5 he was tremendous. After the 3 goals in game 6, if Fluery doesn't shut the door, the Pens probably lose the game.
Showing posts with label Dan Bylsma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dan Bylsma. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Penguins Playoff Notes- Petr Sykora, Where Have You Been?
Relax. Don't jump off a bridge just yet. The Penguins weren't going to win every playoff game. After winning the first two of the series, the Pens were dominated on Sunday by the Flyers. What went wrong? A lot, but it's all correctable.
As I noted before, the team that wins the special teams battle, will win the series. The Penguins must fix the power play. I know they have scored a power play goal every game, but they need more.The Pens have converted on 4 of 20 attempts in the series so far. Now 20% isn't terrible, but the Pens power play unit can be better. Three times so far, the Guins have taken penalties while on the power play and the killer was a short handed goal allowed. Your not gonna win many road games like that,.
On the other hand, the Penguins penalty kill has done fine. The Flyers have also scored a power play goal in each game, but are only converting at a 3 for 14 rate. The PK Unit must continue to play well, because the Flyers power play is very good and will score goals.
Matchups were a bit of a problem in game 3. The home team gets the last change, so Dan Bylsma will have to find creative ways to get Crosby and Malkin freed up from Richards and Carter. Also Bylsma shouldn't change much. The physical play has been there, but the Pens have to be careful not to burn all their emotion too early in the game. After the first ten minutes of play, the Pens were chasing the play, the rest of the game. When the Pens win, they dictate the play, they don't chase it.
Goaltending is not an issue, but the play in front of him is. For one of the first times in the Bylsma era, the pens made it very hard for Marc-Andre Fluery. Could he have made a couple of saves to prevent goals? Probably, but the Flyers were camped in the crease for most of the game. Their scoring opportunities came very easy. At the other end of the ice, just the opposite has been true. Games tow and three, the pens didn't make Biron work nearly enough. No traffic in front of him, no second chances. If the Pens up the intensity in front of the net at both ends, then they will be playing for a while.
The final piece that needs to get going is Petr Sykora. Now I love Petr, but the fact is that if he isn't scoring goals, then he isn't giving the team much. Now i know Sykora has been banged up, but he has to put up numbers. The second line wingers have not been producing, so in game 4 Petr Sykora will step up and score a big gaol and send the Pens home with a 3-1 series lead.
Like I said, no worries. Don't jump off that bridge just yet.
As I noted before, the team that wins the special teams battle, will win the series. The Penguins must fix the power play. I know they have scored a power play goal every game, but they need more.The Pens have converted on 4 of 20 attempts in the series so far. Now 20% isn't terrible, but the Pens power play unit can be better. Three times so far, the Guins have taken penalties while on the power play and the killer was a short handed goal allowed. Your not gonna win many road games like that,.
On the other hand, the Penguins penalty kill has done fine. The Flyers have also scored a power play goal in each game, but are only converting at a 3 for 14 rate. The PK Unit must continue to play well, because the Flyers power play is very good and will score goals.
Matchups were a bit of a problem in game 3. The home team gets the last change, so Dan Bylsma will have to find creative ways to get Crosby and Malkin freed up from Richards and Carter. Also Bylsma shouldn't change much. The physical play has been there, but the Pens have to be careful not to burn all their emotion too early in the game. After the first ten minutes of play, the Pens were chasing the play, the rest of the game. When the Pens win, they dictate the play, they don't chase it.
Goaltending is not an issue, but the play in front of him is. For one of the first times in the Bylsma era, the pens made it very hard for Marc-Andre Fluery. Could he have made a couple of saves to prevent goals? Probably, but the Flyers were camped in the crease for most of the game. Their scoring opportunities came very easy. At the other end of the ice, just the opposite has been true. Games tow and three, the pens didn't make Biron work nearly enough. No traffic in front of him, no second chances. If the Pens up the intensity in front of the net at both ends, then they will be playing for a while.
The final piece that needs to get going is Petr Sykora. Now I love Petr, but the fact is that if he isn't scoring goals, then he isn't giving the team much. Now i know Sykora has been banged up, but he has to put up numbers. The second line wingers have not been producing, so in game 4 Petr Sykora will step up and score a big gaol and send the Pens home with a 3-1 series lead.
Like I said, no worries. Don't jump off that bridge just yet.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Penguins Making a run
Well it's about time. The Penguins, over the last month have started playing like the way most fans expected all year long. Who gets all the credit here and what was the problem? He took his shots early on after the Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko signings and after losing Ryan Malone and Marian Hossa in the off-season, but give Ray Shero some credit here.
First the Chris Kunitz and Bill Guerin acquistions have been great. Sidney Crosby finally has some wingers to play with this year and the results have been positive. Both guys are averaging over a point a game since they came aboard and Crosby's play has been even better because of it.
Next is the coaching change. Replacing Terrien with Bylsma has worked. The team has responded to the up tempo style of play and is playing their way into the playoffs. The team under Bylsma is 10-1-3. That is fantastic hockey. Not only has Bylsma gotten this team on the verge of the playoffs, but he may get that interim label removed soon.
Third is goaltending. Marc-Andre Fluery is healthy and playing like the elite net minder that he is. He has carried this team and will continue to do so. Fluery probably won't get a day off the rest of the season, nor should he. Good move by Bylsma by riding your horse til he drops. After watching Garon on Sunday, here is to hoping that Fluery plays every game the rest of the year.
Finally is health. The team has been ravaged by injuries, dating all the way back to the first preseason game when they lost Gonchar for most of the regular season. The Pens have had a line of guys coming up from Wilkes-Barre and none of them were capable of doing the job.
One thing that needs to get better for the Pens to make a run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is the power play. It has not been good, even with the new additions and a healthy Gonchar. Yes, I do realize they scored 3 pp goals yesterday, but this unit is nowhere near where it needs to be.
The Rangers have improved as well so I look at the Rangers and Pens flip-flopping between the 5 and 6 seeds for the rest of the year. A good powerplay can keep the Pens away from the Devils or Caps in the first round.
First the Chris Kunitz and Bill Guerin acquistions have been great. Sidney Crosby finally has some wingers to play with this year and the results have been positive. Both guys are averaging over a point a game since they came aboard and Crosby's play has been even better because of it.
Next is the coaching change. Replacing Terrien with Bylsma has worked. The team has responded to the up tempo style of play and is playing their way into the playoffs. The team under Bylsma is 10-1-3. That is fantastic hockey. Not only has Bylsma gotten this team on the verge of the playoffs, but he may get that interim label removed soon.
Third is goaltending. Marc-Andre Fluery is healthy and playing like the elite net minder that he is. He has carried this team and will continue to do so. Fluery probably won't get a day off the rest of the season, nor should he. Good move by Bylsma by riding your horse til he drops. After watching Garon on Sunday, here is to hoping that Fluery plays every game the rest of the year.
Finally is health. The team has been ravaged by injuries, dating all the way back to the first preseason game when they lost Gonchar for most of the regular season. The Pens have had a line of guys coming up from Wilkes-Barre and none of them were capable of doing the job.
One thing that needs to get better for the Pens to make a run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is the power play. It has not been good, even with the new additions and a healthy Gonchar. Yes, I do realize they scored 3 pp goals yesterday, but this unit is nowhere near where it needs to be.
The Rangers have improved as well so I look at the Rangers and Pens flip-flopping between the 5 and 6 seeds for the rest of the year. A good powerplay can keep the Pens away from the Devils or Caps in the first round.
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