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Jason Mackey's Penguins chat: 5.3.18
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Jason Mackey
1:07
Hi folks. Welcome to my Thursday chat. We're going until around 2. I'd go longer, but we generally need to be out of the media room by 2 or so. Let's do this.
Guest
1:07
Jason, you've said since the playoffs began not to worry about Murray...Are you now officially worried about Murray?  He's looked shaky and as inconsistent as he was during the season.  He may be injured, it may be mental, but he's not the same playoff performer he was the last two years
Jason Mackey
1:08
We're nine games into the postseason. I'm not going to levy an entire opinion on Murray's 2018 playoff performance right now. He hasn't been good enough this series. Should they bench him? No. You stick with him good or bad. I think Murray is capable of turning it around tonight, easily.
Guest
1:08
The Caps look like a better playoff "team" this year and are playing stronger defense than they have the last two years, even though they have less skill.  I'm a Pens fan, but with all of their injuries and the underperformance of many players, is this year the Caps finally beat them?
Jason Mackey
1:09
I certainly think it's possible. And they are playing better defensively, you're right. Kempny has been very good for them. I like Carlson. If the Penguins stay a one-time team with a mediocre goaltender and get nothing from Kessel, Brassard and others, absolutely the Capitals can win.
Guest
1:09
Phil's injury must be pretty bad for him to be this ineffective. Do you know anything about it?  Looks like some type of core injury.  Should Sullivan have been resting him before the playoffs?
Jason Mackey
1:10
If he doesn't start producing, I think that's fair to wonder. Listen, Kessel isn't the only player who's banged up right now. But he's not even close to the player he was during much of the regular season. I think there are wrist/arm and lower-body issues at play, but it's not the first time he's had to suck it up.
OHIO412FAN
1:10
Jason, what do the Penguins need to do adjustment wise? What needs to improve? I believe they will show their true resilience again as well.
Jason Mackey
1:10
They need SOMETHING from their middle six. Anything. That would go a long way. Also to manage the puck better. Conservative is better. Nothing stupid.
OHIO412FAN
1:10
If you had to guess, does Hags play or no? How beneficial will it be to have him back in the lineup?
Jason Mackey
1:10
Yes. And very. I think we've undersold his importance.
OHIO412FAN
1:10
After a shaky game, what does Murray have to do in order to get back to his good old ways? Can we expect him to rebound?
Jason Mackey
1:11
I would think stopping the puck qualifies as a good starting point. ... No leaky goals from distance. No early ones, either. Get back to playing quiet with better rebound control.
HB
1:11
I liked the line up you would go with but may I add put Sprong in, and to go further if Sprong plays tonight I guarantee a hat trick for him.
Jason Mackey
1:11
Sprong isn't playing tonight. He skated for 43 minutes. Sorry.
HB
1:12
On tv I didn’t notice it as much but actually being at the game Tuesday Kessel really just doesn’t look like himself. Do you think it was a mistake not resting him at the end of the year?
Jason Mackey
1:13
It depends on the injury. It's fair to wonder. But if three games wouldn't have done anything?
HB
1:13
Can Wilson appeal like they do in the nfl or is he out til game 7 if necessary?
Jason Mackey
1:13
Not sure, but it's moot. He's out, serving it.
scott
1:13
Looking good on the nhl network, did a great job during the sound and light check...any idea/opinion on why the ref officials are so inconsistent? Even Pierre made a comment in the last pen game.
Jason Mackey
1:14
The game is fast. I'm worried if (a) There's not enough or (b) They're not training well or extensively enough. There's also just way too much inconsistency. I'd like to see that improve.
OHIO412FAN
1:14
We’ve been here before, where the Pens are faced with advisedly. How does their brilliant resilience come into play?
Jason Mackey
1:14
They're not panicked. At all. This isn't anything different than they're accustomed to. Not saying they'll win, but that's how experience plays.
OHIO412FAN
1:15
I’ve been hearing people lobbying for Simon to be dropped in place of Sprong, etc. Do you think the Pens need to adjust the lines in some way? If so, which lines?
Jason Mackey
1:15
I think they'll go: 59-87-72 ... 62-71-81 ... 43-19-17 ... 12-15-34.
Rob
1:15
Jason, I know the Pens are a puck possession team, but I feel like a lot of the time when they're in their own end they try to force plays that aren't there, and then they turn the puck over.  Don't you think that least some of the time they'd be better off banging it off the glass and getting it out?
Jason Mackey
1:16
I think they should make the play that's there. So, yes, in a sense you're right. But it's not always the glass. And it's not always breakouts. A lot of times it's been the neutral zone. There are many aspects to the puck management stuff, but it can sort of be distilled this way: Don't be a bonehead.
guest
1:16
I am trying not to be a downer, but I don't see how they win this series with only the first line producing.  Too many guys needs to turn it on and that seems like a huge hill to climb.
Jason Mackey
1:16
That's not being a downer. That's being realistic.
Pens4Life
1:16
So is ZAR finished for the season? Can’t imagine him coming back from that too soon.
Jason Mackey
1:16
Yes, his season is over.
Pens4Life
1:16
As has been noted from some of your colleagues, I agree something is clearly wrong with Phil. I’m sure he’s injured in some capacity, but we won’t know until after the season, but would you surmise that very well could be the issue too?
Jason Mackey
1:17
Yeah, he's definitely banged up. But he has played through things before. And if he's well enough to play, then he should be well enough to produce, right?
Pens4Life
1:17
You’ve been one of Murray’s biggest cheerleaders of late, but even you have to admit he doesn’t look all there either. That Niskanen goal was just one example of a shot that needs to be stopped, and there have been a couple others that he never should have let in (the short-side Laughton goal against Philly, and his glove side is a glaring weakness). Even some that sneaked through that didn’t cross the red line, he is definitely not playing particularly well at this point.
Jason Mackey
1:18
He has not had a great series, no. I agree with you, and I won't defend Matt to the point of sounding like an idiot. Do I think he can turn it around in a hurry? Yeah. But let's chill with the glove stuff. It ain't great, I get it. But everyone around the league targets goalies' gloves. When the goalies struggle, it's, "Ah, man. His glove stinks." Murray needs to play better, though, I'll agree with that.
Pens4Life
1:18
Players in any sport will never publicly admit they don’t have confidence in a certain player, but behind-the-scenes, if someone is stinking up the joint and not playing well, are there discussions about them and frustrations expressed that are never disclosed to the media?
Jason Mackey
1:19
Honestly, with this team, that doesn't happen a ton. But you do hear things about coaches' perceptions of players or who likes to play with whom, that sort of thing.
Pens4Life
1:19
Why does the coaching staff continue allowing Simon to put on a uniform and play? Are there no better options? The guy is a huge liability every time he steps on the ice.
Jason Mackey
1:19
His game has been very up and down. I'd give Sprong a shot, but I'm not the coach. Sullivan likes Simon. Obviously more than Sprong.
Pens4Life
1:19
How much, especially in a series like this, are we missing guys like Kunitz and Cullen? Seems their roles transcended just their play on the ice, and I have a feeling their absence is very evident.
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