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Jason Mackey's Penguins chat: 3.21.19
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Jason Mackey
2:36
I've liked his game a lot. Remember, too, that he's technically a rookie. He's going to make mistakes. That doesn't mean he should be shipped to the ECHL. Has a little bit of bite to his game. Moved the puck and skates well. Smart on the power play. Used his stick well. If I was Sullivan, he would be firmly in my top-six.
Spring
2:36
Do you think the Pens are going to make the play-offs?  If they make the play-offs, do the Pens have any shot of making it out of the first round? Can we count on the likes of Simon, Cullen, Wilson, and Blueger contributing by getting goals?
Jason Mackey
2:37
I think they will make the playoffs. Making it around of the first round will depend on depth scoring -- at least in part. More than anything, they need to get Malkin healthy, get Kessel and Hornqvist productive and ensure they're getting the right version of Matt Murray. Beyond that would be worrying about the guys you mentioned.
Larry in KY
2:37
Malkin's injury, coupled with the questionable hits on Dumoulin and Rust, and the wrestling match with Letang, seem to point out that we "are not tough to play against".  Just hit us and we won't respond.
Jason Mackey
2:38
Wasn't Letang doing what he did a response? And Gudbranson has been good. I have no qualms about the Penguins' ability to respond at this point.
guest
2:38
are all Pens fans debbie downers, or just the ones on your chats :)
Jason Mackey
2:38
It's bad this week. A lot of "sky is falling" sort of stuff.
FloridaSteelers
2:38
It seems Malkin has been hurt frequently this year opposed to years past.  Is this age conditioning or just bad luck?
Jason Mackey
2:39
He's been hurt twice. I don't think that's a huge deal.
guest
2:39
Do you think Letang's injury has hurt his Norris chances?
Jason Mackey
2:40
Yeah, I think they probably took a hit. Unfortunately I don't think his chances were that great beforehand. For whatever reason, he wasn't generating a ton of buzz for the award outside of Pittsburgh. It's a shame because he's having a tremendous year.
Donny
2:40
Why do the Penguins struggle so much in overtime?   If they were 11-6 instead of 6-11, they'd be tied for 1st right now.   Even though OT is typically a crapshoot, a team with their talent should be winning OT games more than just 35% of the time.
Jason Mackey
2:41
Agreed, Donny. It's been a combination of things, none of which involve talent. Could be staying out too long. Or sloppy changes. Or poor/lazy defense. Or dumb penalties. The Penguins have done all four. Oh, and some below-average goaltending. The Penguins have gone 5 for 5 in those categories at various points.
pauldia
2:41
More a comment,but here goes; Laast night Tampa vs Washington , Kucherov passed up passing to Johnson for a sure open net goal in his selfish, IMO, attempt to score an H.T.  I have never seen that from Crosby or many others. Kucherov really dropped in my est after that as a Team guy. Early on Ovi was a selfish player but has really matured into a leader.
Jason Mackey
2:41
Thanks for your comment, but given what Kucherov and Tampa have done this year, I don't think any of us should be pretending we know better. We don't.
pauldia
2:41
sorry entered early. Will Tampa have a hard time winning a Cup with a selfish superstar?
Jason Mackey
2:42
I don't think Kucherov is a selfish superstar at all.
PensFan
2:50
Saying Hornqvist and Kessel need to get out of their funk and score is one thing and if we see it surely HCMS sees it - so with that being said - what is your opinion on what else can/should be done to make that happen and get them going again?
Jason Mackey
2:51
They need to get the power play figured out. And they can figure out the power play by adjusting their breakouts -- stop with the drop pass to Kessel crap, maybe have someone else carry the puck through the neutral zone -- and simplifying their approach. If those two guys can boost their confidence from the power play, or get feeling good again that way, I think it'll help.
Jerry
2:51
The last time a team from Canada won the Cup, it was a year just like this one.   The Pens were heavy favorites to win the Cup in 1993, got upset in the 2nd round, and Montreal skated off with the Cup.   Given that the Lightning are heavy favorites to win the Cup this year, could that bode well for Calgary or Winnipeg or even Toronto to get the Cup to Canada again?
Jason Mackey
2:52
Sure. I think Tampa is tremendous. But I also think it could hurt the Lightning that they've experienced basically no adversity this season. I think you need that.f
Just Me
2:52
Jason- What is the probability of a member of the coaching staff being relieved of duties if the Pens don't have a deep playoff run (and I'm not meaning Sullivan)
Jason Mackey
2:52
It depends on how things go, but this isn't the NFL. They're not gonna look for a fall guy. I mean, it's possible, but I wouldn't say it's terribly likely.
guest
2:52
you think they win tonight?  we need a good Mackey prediction!
Jason Mackey
2:52
I actually think they will win, yes. Don't have a feel on a score, though.
Ryan
2:53
hey Jason do you think the penguins will have their eyes on any college hockey free agent defensemen and do you think Kasper Bjorkqvist turns pro this summer
Jason Mackey
2:53
They do have their eyes on a few. Talked to Scott Young about that this week. Haven't been able to find out who. But they are still shopping. And tough to say. I know he's real happy at Providence and has been playing well. Not sure there's an itch to leave, but I also wouldn't cop to having a super close relationship with Kasper Bjorkqvist either.
Subtlety
2:54
Sorry, I think we ran out of things to complain about. :o)
Jason Mackey
2:54
I have a hard time believing that.
PensFan
2:54
Who do you like better with Crosby and Guentzel - McCann or Rust?
Jason Mackey
2:55
I like McCann better. But I see what Sullivan's doing. He may be trying to use McCann's work rate and two-way game to help Blueger and free up Kessel. While he can play the left side, Rust has also been better on his right.
Eh?
2:55
Pretty amazing the no Leafs games this season have gone to a shootout, eh?
Jason Mackey
2:55
If that's the case -- this is a Penguins chat; I don't cover the Leafs -- that is pretty random.
JB
2:55
Not sure if this has been asked or not (either today or otherwise), but do you have a sense for how much the Pens practice 3-on-3 play in comparison to other teams?  I don't know that anyone is going to give huge minutes to that in practice, but the Pens often look like they're just really uncomfortable with the whole thing in overtime, more so than other teams generally do.
Jason Mackey
2:56
I don't, honestly. I don't get to watch a lot of other teams practice. Usually all we see are morning skates, and nobody practices three-on-three then. I will say this: Their struggles are not due to a lack of practice time. It's a lack of execution ... or, in some cases, common sense.
Eric
2:56
What's your prediction for Pens playoff position?  M1, M2, M3, WC1, or WC2?
Jason Mackey
2:56
M2 or M3.
Guest
2:56
Do you think it was a mistake to sign Hornqvist for five years at $5.3 mil a year, especially if he’s not playing with Sid or Geno? He’s doing everything but getting shots on net and goals, but to me his best use is not on the third line
Jason Mackey
2:57
I don't think it's right to call it a "mistake," especially not because we're ultimately going to make judgements based on the playoffs. His line has also been good. Do I think it's curious? Yes, I do. That much money, you need to play him with good people. I think Hornqvist also brings a lot of off-ice leadership to the room, although I realize that's a tough sell whenever things are as up-and-down as they've been.
PensFan
2:57
Just wanted to say thank you for answering my questions - I appreciate it!  Have a great afternoon and thanks for the great work covering the Pens!
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