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Matt Vensel's Penguins chat: 05.13.22
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Matt Vensel
12:47
Good afternoon, Penguins fans. Excited to talk hockey with you today. A lot to discuss for sure. We'll get started here shortly.
12:49
Before I get going, some injury updates in case you missed them:
  1. Sidney Crosby is OUT tonight. But he did skate on his own this morning, so that suggests Game 7 is a possibility.
  2. Tristan Jarry is OUT. But he was out there for the morning skate today and could be an option if this goes seven.
  3. Rickard Rakell is a game-time decision. His status really seems uncertain. He has not played since Game 1.
  4. Brian Dumoulin will miss his fifth straight game.
Sunner in Orlando
12:50
Hi Matt thanks for the chats! Heard Crosby is out for tonight. Can't believe Trouba was not penalized and at least fined! What are your thoughts?
Matt Vensel
12:53
From the overhead view in the press box, I saw the hit in real time and didn't think much of it, especially because Crosby hopped right back up to his skates. Then I saw the elbow come up on replays. Jacob Trouba definitely should have penalized. I'm not sure about a suspension, though. I get the frustration with the lack of consistency on the enforcement on supplemental discipline on plays like this. It's a big issue for the NHL right now.
Joe
12:53
Why is taking so long for Rakell to play? He keeps skating but is not medically cleared. I don’t understand the process, do you?
Matt Vensel
12:55
Joe, the belief is that he got a concussion in Game 1. Brain injuries are unique. And you definitely don't want a guy to rush back before he is ready and suffer long-term effects. Rakell slowly but surely has been trending in the right direction. Based on the line rushes at the morning skate, it doesn't look like Rakell will play tonight. But he could be good to go for a potential Game 7.
Adele
12:56
What is Harry’s status for tonight?
Matt Vensel
12:57
Does anyone in here know what the deal is with Harry?
Sunner in Orlando
12:57
Love Domingue but the Pens can't win this series unless Jarry comes back tonight or game 7. Domingue's glove hand is weak and his angle are terrible. How do you see it?
Matt Vensel
1:00
I don't really deal in absolutes. There's a non-zero chance that Louis Domingue plays a really strong game or the Penguins blow out Igor Shesterkin again and it doesn't matter who was in goal. But to your point, yes, Louis has been a liability. This series might have ended Wednesday if another goalie was between the pipes. If Domingue and the Penguins aren't able to get it done tonight, we could see Jarry (or Harry) make his return Game 7 in New York. Talk about stepping into a pressure cooker for a guy who did not handle the pressure well last postseason...
Guest
1:00
When will the players follow suit and sue the NHL for head and brain injuries like the NFL players? The officials have called the most tik-tak penalties, on both saids of the ice yet when there are two dangerous head shots they are ignored. Disgusting
Matt Vensel
1:01
Maybe. But today's players know what they are signing up for when they lace up the skates and step on the ice.
Sam
1:02
I've been getting 2011 Tampa Bay vibes this series when the Pens got up 3-1 without Crosby and Malkin.  3-1 in this series didn't seem as secure as it normally would considering the goaltending situation, but now with Crosby out, it would be such a shame to see the potential last go around for this core derailed by this.  Hopefully they can draw some energy from the crowd and get it done tonight because I'm not loving the prospect of a road game 7
Matt Vensel
1:03
I agree that it would behoove them to find a way to get it done tonight. Yeah, they might get Crosby back for Game 7. But I'd worry about allowing Igor Shesterkin and the Rangers to build confidence and momentum and take it back to Madison Square Garden for a winner-take-all game. With Crosby and Tristan Jarry back, the Penguins would still have a decent shot. But the Rangers would be tough to beat there, I assume.
GPT
1:07
Any chance Rakell could draw in without taking part in line rushes?
Matt Vensel
1:07
Don't see that often but stranger things have happened.
Mercury
1:08
Can Harry play center?
Matt Vensel
1:11
This season has been a blur, but I vaguely remember Harry playing a few games there back in November when the Pens had 48 players in the COVID protocol.
Mercury
1:12
If the Pens should lose tonight and Domingue plays as adequately as he has been, do you risk replacing him with a Jarry who hasn’t seen live action (let alone playoff action) in several weeks?
Matt Vensel
1:15
Just reading the tea leaves, it looks like we are at the point now where it's not a question about whether Jarry is medically cleared, but whether his game is back to where it needs to be to play. The position is so much about muscle memory and the spacial awareness needed to read plays and track pucks. I can't imagine Tristan will feel 100% back to speed in terms of his game by Sunday. But does 70% or 80% of that give the Penguins better odds than playing Domingue? That's the calculus the Penguins hope they won't need an answer for by Sunday...
Jakedog
1:16
Any particular issue with Carter, he does seem in quick sand lately?
Matt Vensel
1:17
Jeff Carter just hasn't been the same guy since signing his new extension in January, which is obviously a long-term concern as well as a short-term one. You wonder if having to play so many minutes early in the season took a bit of a toll on him in the second half. That said, he's the type of player who historically has stepped up in big games like the Penguins will play tonight.
Tar Heel Penguin
1:18
I greatly prefer the skill game over the goon game, but it is what it is. Any chance Mike Sullivan will relent and have someone on the roster next year who can protect the star players?
Matt Vensel
1:20
No offense, but what did you want to happen in that situation? Someone to start a fight with someone and put the Rangers, who at that point looked dead to rights, on the power play? It's fair to wonder if they need to find one of those rare dudes who can hit hard and fight but also skate and, you know, actually play hockey. But I don't know if Trouba does anything differently there if Ryan Reaves is wearing black and gold, not blue and red.
Dan the Man
1:21
Do you think the Pen's try to lock it down and play patient defense or do they try the run-and-gun that seems to get them in trouble? And can we get the 1st power play to try shooting the puck more please?!?
Matt Vensel
1:23
Dan, this to me is the biggest worry about not having Sidney Crosby. Set aside his tremendous production in the series if you can. He is also the tone-setter for this team and his line was driving the bus for the Penguins by establishing the grind game. Does that change with Malkin in the middle of the top line? If Malkin remains dedicated to the cycle game, which he showed in Game 5 that he is capable of doing, and the Penguins take a patient approach overall, I do like their chances tonight. But if they decide to play run and gun with the Rangers, this series is going back to New York, I bet.
CJ
1:24
Did the ESPN announcer really say that the hit on Crosby wasn’t bad?
Matt Vensel
1:24
I have no idea. I was watching live from the press box.
Brah
1:25
NHL looking like a garbage league again....so let's get this straight, two of our top 6 forwards out with deliberate head shots and one after a coach repeatedly called his team soft prior to game 5...trash league and trash franchise. The Rangers owners should be embarrassed and ashamed of themselves.
Matt Vensel
1:28
I understand the frustration. The Penguins have certainly had bad luck in regards to a couple of borderline hits. But they still have the horses to escape this series and rest up before the second round. The key for the players, but maybe not our chatters, is to put those plays behind them and just get back to playing their game tonight.
Mark in Ct
1:28
We need a Mario speech before the game tonight!
Matt Vensel
1:30
See above. The current situation is not great but the Pens spanked the Rangers twice at PPG Paints Arena earlier in this series. Obviously, Sid is their best player. But they have enough talent and the right formula to knock out the Rangers tonight. It's not all doom and gloom.
PghFNinCALI
1:31
Hi Matt
Do you see the Pens closing out the Rangers? or do you see another up 3-1 playoff loss?
Matt Vensel
1:35
This feels like an overtime kind of game to me, with the winning score being 4-3 or something like that. I think the Pens will give a good effort, even if it is imperfect. And I think the Rangers and Shesterkin will stand up better to the crowd and the pressure in Pittsburgh. Who wins it in overtime? [Shrugs] Gotta love playoff hockey. Anyone can emerge as a hero is a game like tonight's.
Mark in Ct
1:36
Will I need a 6 or 12 pack for tonights game?
Matt Vensel
1:37
Definitely a 12-pack in case Harry comes over to watch, too.
1:38
And that will do it for today's chat. Fun times. Thank you for all of the questions and comments. Enjoy tonight's game and, win or lose, be sure to read all of our stuff at Post-Gazette.com.
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