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Matt Vensel's Penguins chat: 08.05.20
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Matt Vensel
10:23
Morning, hockey fans. It's another hockey night in Pittsburgh. We'll get our morning skate chat started at 11. Already see a few questions in the queue. If you've got one, too, go ahead and send it now.
And if anyone wants to bring me an iced coffee, that would rock.
chrisv
11:02
Rutherford noted the lack of chemistry on the 3rd line. Marleau seems like the straw that's not stirring the drink. Speed and intensity seems lacking there, and they have guys on the roster who do that. Do you still preach patience, or do you make changes there (Lafferty?) in game 3?
Matt Vensel
11:05
Chris, I don't think you can pin the lack of chemistry on one player. That said, yeah, Patrick Marleau or Jared McCann are the top options to be removed from the lineup. There has been a lot of Lafferty love, at least among fans I've spoken to, and I'm a little puzzled by it. Yeah, he's a local kid who did some good things in camp scrimmages, albeit against AHLers and a 19-year-old in Sam Poulin. But he was often a non-factor during the season and he's not a left winger by nature and the Pens don't trust him at center. I think it's more likely we see Evan Rodrigues, who can play center, if there is a lineup change.
Randy Butternubs
11:06
Hello Matthew. The advanced stat champs that are the fourth line seem to be struggling this series. Same with Jared McCann. Why do you think that is?
Matt Vensel
11:08
Randy, not sure whom you are referring to. From an "advanced" stats standpoint, the Blueger line has fared well. They were, of course, on the ice for two goals Saturday, though.  McCann and the third line, on the other hand, had a rocky Game 1 and was OK in Game 2.
cm
11:09
In your opinion, what ails the power play at this point? We are 1 for 12 on the series!
Matt Vensel
11:12
Before Game 1, I wrote an analysis piece about what I thought they should do. To sum it up, stop using Schultz and McCann, get Rust involved and just let the guys go out there and play. Well, they tried a million different combinations and looks in Game 1 other than the most obvious one. That was parking Patric Hornqvist in front. They did that in Game 2 and it made a difference. The Penguins had glorious chances on their first and third power plays but Carey Price kept it out. That was a step in the right direction. Then, inexplicably, the Penguins put Schultz out there with Letang on the disjointed 5-on-3. Anyway, I think there was some good stuff there in the first three power plays. There was definitely progress.
Hey Bwent
11:13
Murray played a little better in game 2, but do you think the Pens would be up 2 games to none of Jarry played both games.  Murray should have saved 2 of those goals in game one, with one being his weakness glove side.
Matt Vensel
11:13
A little better? Sorry, but I can't take this question seriously. Matt was excellent in Game 2, just as good as Carey Price.
Ln
11:14
Hi Matt , more a comment but wanted to say how happy I was for Murray that he had such a great game , was pulling for him to get that shut out .
Matt Vensel
11:15
Noted. I agree with you. Murray was much, much sharper Monday. That save he made at the start of the third should not go overlooked. And the only goal that got by him was simply bad puck luck.
Guest
11:15
I am really routing for McCann but do you think he is putting too much pressure on himself and overthinking ?  Or maybe he is better as a winger ?
Matt Vensel
11:17
Yes and yes, IMO. He said in the postseason training camp that he had put that long scoring drought out of his mind. But how could he? His last goal was Jan. 14, the night Crosby came back from sports hernia surgery. I think he is pressing and also think that if he buries one, look out. And, yeah, I'm of the belief that he should play left wing but the Pens say he played his best hockey this season at center.
Ln
11:17
When you are on the zoom calls are you limited to one question ?  And how great was it to hear Letang speak French 🤗
Matt Vensel
11:19
Because so many people are on the Zoom calls now, we are usually only able to get one question in. Sometimes, we get a second shot. No one cares about journalist problems, especially not in a pandemic, but it's very stressful as a stay-at-home dad. My son jumped on a Kris Letang call last week and demanded a snack. Kris definitely heard it, I'm told. Yesterday, my computer shut down midway through another Zoom call and I missed most of Teddy Blueger. Not ideal, but I'm so happy we have playoff hockey right now.
Wicky
11:19
How do you think Guentz has been in the first 2 games?  I think he is improving and played better in Game 2.
Matt Vensel
11:21
I think he has been fine. Now, he's taken a beating, especially when they had him parked in front for all those power plays in Game 1. But at 5-on-5, he has been solid. Great play by him Monday to set up Sid's goal. He was probably looking to dump it in as he skated in 1-on-2 but the Canadiens gave him space, so he pulled up, spotted Sid and got it across to him. Huge, huge goal there.
Guest
11:21
has anyone checked to see if there is an invisible shield around price because I don’t know how some of these pucks have not gone in?  He has certainly lived up to his billing
Matt Vensel
11:23
It certainly has felt that way at times, right? Like on that third power play Monday when Letang got three whacks in front. Speaking of pucks inexplicably staying out, did anyone catch the Hurricanes and Rangers game last night? There was a crazy sequence where a defenseman made a sprawling save on the goal line then their goalie robbed someone with his paddle. Worth looking for it if you missed it.
GoPens
11:24
It seems that the Pens’ defensemen rarely hit the net with shots from the blue line.  Is that kind of stat kept?  Seems like the PP would be better if they could get shots actually on the goal.
Matt Vensel
11:25
They do keep that stat and the Penguins in general have missed the net a lot. But a little context is key. The Canadiens are putting a lot of bodies in front and that is probably altering some of those shots because the Penguins don't want an odd-man the other way so they're trying to avoid hitting shin guards.
chrisv
11:25
In in NC, people here are freaking out about that sequence. Also about how Aho is a god, which seems true.
Matt Vensel
11:26
I was cackling loudly watching it, so loud my wife made me change the channel to HGTV. "Good Bones" was far less entertaining.
Mr. Blutarsky 0.0
11:26
Sully always says he puts the players out to give them the best chance to win but the 3rd line as composed won’t do if they survive this series. Fix it now.
Matt Vensel
11:29
If you read my write-up of my conversation with GMJR from yesterday, he certainly made it seem like they have discussed breaking that line up. I wouldn't mess with the Malkin line or the Blueger line. And I would be hesitant to take Sheary off the top line because those three have done good things. So that whittles down the options since the third line is essentially the leftover line. For me, as I noted earlier in the chat, they can either give that third line one more shot or take Marleau or McCann out. In that case, I would like to see them take Marleau out, move McCann to left wing and slot Evan Rodrigues in at center. Sorry, Lafferty lovers.
chrisv
11:29
What's more likely: a) low-scoring, one-goal games the rest of the way, or b) Pens break through and hang 5 or 6 on Price? Maybe it's wishful thinking, but I feel a 7-3 game coming.
Matt Vensel
11:32
I'm going to sound like a homer here (again?), but they are bound to break through in a big way against Carey Price and I think it might be tonight. It all comes down to that Malkin line. They were the most dangerous line, at least in my eyes, the first two games. If Geno doesn't start pressing and just keeps playing the same way, they are going to get multiple goals one of these games.
11:35
While I wait for a few more questions to come in, I wanted to give you guys the heads-up that we are doing another in-game chat tonight for Game 3. Come chat with other fans and the PG will be pumping in Twitter analysis from Mike DeFabo and me. Hope to pop into the chat during one of the intermissions to answer questions, too. BYOB.
Ryan
11:36
Good morning Matt game three tonight what do you think about our chances tonight and hopefully our power play gets a goal
Matt Vensel
11:37
Hey, Ryan. The Pens were the better team in both games and I see no reason that won't continue tonight given the talent gap between the two teams. For the Habs to win, it may come down to goaltending, whether that's Price standing on his head or Murray struggling.
GoPens
11:42
Thanks, Matt!  Your insight is sensical and great for a Pens fan that admittedly doesn’t know a ton about the intricacies of hockey.
Matt Vensel
11:43
No sweat. I try to be patient and not overreact too much. Thanks for chatting and reading along. Really appreciate it.
chrisv
11:43
What countermoves do you anticipate from the Habs tonight after losing game 2?
Matt Vensel
11:45
I really don't know what the Canadiens can do other than maybe ratchet up the forecheck a bit. They are a younger team without much top talent and Claude Julian understandably has them playing a pretty buttoned-up style. That's all they can do in a short series like this. Play it safe, pray Carey Price can keep this up and try to make the Pens pay whenever they get careless.
Doug
11:48
Hey Matt, I wanted to catch you before the games started but can you provide some insight has to how they are changing the advertising on the boards at the arena in Toronto?  Also where can we find a roster of the non-players in the bubble for the Pens?  Did they send scouts? video replay done onsite or remotely?
Matt Vensel
11:52
Good questions, Doug. Not sure I'm going to have good answers. I think most if not all NHL arenas have those video boards now, so it's easy for them to shuffle ads in and out. As for the second part, the Pens are only allowed to send a traveling party of 52 people. So that's 31 players, their primary members of the coaching staff, three equipment staffers, a couple of team media folks, at least one athletic trainer and I'm guessing their team doctor. That doesn't leave much for anyone else. Jim Rutherford has remained back in Pittsburgh, perhaps partially because he is at a higher risk at his age. He told me yesterday that he isn't sure if/when he will join the team. He's pretty superstitious as a former goalie, so he might have been trying to avoid a jinx by telling me that. Anyway, hope that helped.
chrisv
11:54
Thanks, Matt, as usual, for chatting! Always appreciate your POV. Go Pens!
Matt Vensel
11:55
Thanks, Chris. Awesome questions from everyone today, including you. We'll do this again Friday before Game 4. I'd also encourage everyone to pop into our gameday chat tonight on the Post-Gazette website and give us some sizzling takes.
Sunner in the sunshine
11:55
It seems that any team that plays physical against the Pens has success throwing them off their game. Sid was getting whacked a bunch in the first 2 games. I still wish they had an enforcer type to protect Sid Geno and Jake. If the Pens get by the Habs, I fear Flyers Caps and Bruins will push the Pens around a little too much and cause the Pens into taking silly penalties..
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