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Matt Vensel's Penguins chat: 08.07.20
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Matt Vensel
10:13
Good morning, Pens fans. As Geno said yesterday, "It's not over." He was actually referring to these PG morning skate chats. Happy to talk hockey with you guys at least one more time. Go ahead and leave your questions or your hot lineup takes now. We'll start at 11.
10:32
Hold off on your goalie questions. Mike Sullivan says it's Tristan.
10:56
Gonna get this party started a few minutes early. Fire away, folks.
Mike
10:57
Morning Matt.  I don't see any reason not to start Jarry.  Better stick handling goalie who can get to dump in and clear it.  Also doesnt let up the loose juicy rebounds as much as Murray.  This game will determine this year and the future team moving forward.  Depending what happens this could be last year for a lot of this team.  Malkin saying it not over.  OK put the puck in the net then.  Quit looking for the pretty goal.
Matt Vensel
10:59
Mike, Tristan's stickhandling is a helpful tool but I think its impact has became exaggerated over time. The main thing for a goalie will always be stopping the puck. We'll see how Jarry fares. His last start was March 8. Sullivan just raved about how Jarry's practice habits "drastically improved" this year, which is one reason why he had confidence in putting the 25-year-old in this spot.
GSMP
11:00
I'm firm believer that you win with your stars and a player like Malkin needs to be better for the Penguins to win. With that said, Jack Johnson and Patrick Marleau should not be in the lineup. It's not their fault the Penguins are facing elimination but the team needs better production out of those roster spots.
Matt Vensel
11:01
This is a reasonable take. In my eyes, Evgeni Malkin and his speedy linemates, Jason Zucker and Bryan Rust, were really dangerous in Games 1 and 2. I still can't believe they didn't get multiple pucks past Carey Price. They were not great at 5-on-5 in Game 3, though Malkin did have that sweet assist and Zucker scored on the power play. As for Marleau and Johnson, I'd guess at least one will sit today.
Mark
11:02
Hi Matt:  The Pens have lost the initiative--as they did last year, as they did when Giroux hit Crosby in the first minute in 2012, and as they have again in this series.  So what the heck--I'll make a bold prediction.  The x-factor here is Tanev.  If he can channel his inner Max Talbot, there's a chance the team will follow.  If not, I just don't see how this rudderless team straightens its prow...
Matt Vensel
11:03
Mark, that's a great call. Brandon Tanev is definitely not dogging it out there, but the Penguins need him to be in full-on "Turbo" mode today. He doesn't need to be throwing punches or face-washing dudes. Just drive everyone nuts with his hustle and wheels.
chrisv
11:04
What say you to reuniting the Pens' best line this season: Guentzel-Malkin-Rust? And skating Zucker and Hornqvist with Crosby? Or does this kind of tinkering not really matter at this point?
Matt Vensel
11:06
That's an idea that Mike DeFabo and I kicked around on the North Shore Drive podcast. Mike was the one who brought that up, noting how awesome Guentzel, Malkin and Rust were for the six weeks or so before Guentzel went down. That would be a massive overhaul to the lineup, though. I'm sure Sullivan and his staff talked about it. We'll see just how much they feel they need to shake things up.
Sunner in the sunshine
11:06
Hi Matt! Along with Jarry starting, I would scratch Marleau and put McCann back in and scratch Johnson for Ruhwedel,and move Hornqvist to Crosby's line and move Sheary to the 3rd line. What say you?
Matt Vensel
11:08
We could very well see this if Sullivan wants to rock the boat but not tip it over. I do think it's more likely we see Chad Ruhwedel play over Juuso Riikola, even if it means that Ruhwedel, a righty, would have to play on his off side. I also wouldn't rule out the Penguins swapping out both members of the bottom pair. As for McCann, get him back in. I'm curious to see what Evan Rodrigues can do, too.
Zach Smith
11:08
If we win today, what time do we play tomorrow?
Matt Vensel
11:09
Zach, that has not been announced yet. But I'm guessing they'd want Sidney Crosby playing a winner-take-all game on primetime.
pozone
11:09
Sheary has been laying on the ice way to much for me. He may bring speed but it has been useless. Marleau has brought nothing. Schultz is outa here after this season. I see Murray gone also. What say you?
Matt Vensel
11:11
I've touched on some of this above but will chime in on Conor Sheary and Justin Schultz. I agree that Sheary needs to do more with this opportunity. Yeah, he is fast, but it's not as impactful when he stays to the outside on the rush. Unless they blow everything up, the only real alternative in my eyes is Patric Hornqvist. Think that's worth a shot because it could improve two lines at once. Stick Sheary on the third line and maybe that line does a little more with him as their primary puck-lugger. As for Schultz, he's been just as bad as Jack Johnson or pretty close. Barring a huge turnaround from both the team and Schultz here, it's hard to envision him being back.
Sunner in the sunshine
11:14
How about Rodrigues getting a shot on the 3rd line in place of Marleau? Something needs to spark that line.
Matt Vensel
11:16
I would like to see Rodrigues get a chance but it kind of depends on the other moves Sullivan wants to make. If he wants to keep the Crosby, Malkin and Teddy Blueger lines as is, I say make the third line McCann-Rodrigues-Hornqvist. If they do promote Hornqvist, maybe you go Sheary-McCann-Rodrigues on that line. Marleau is not helping right now and Sam Lafferty can't be trusted. Great story. Can still improve. But it's clear playing him in Game 3 was a mistake.
Rick
11:16
Matt
Matt Vensel
11:16
Rick!
Rick
11:16
Nice Move by Coach Sullivan putting Jarry in net.  However quite risky at this stage. Should he have replaced Murray in net after the third goal in game three just to change up the momentum?
Matt Vensel
11:18
I'd think changing goalies during that game would be far riskier than making a switch now. Yanking the starter when it's 3-3 with 25 minutes left in a huge game would scream "panic" to me. There's a fine line between sparking the team and making them squeeze their sticks harder. Making the change now is certainly defensible.
Guest
11:19
With Jarry getting the start today. Do you see Murray playing elsewhere next season ?
Matt Vensel
11:21
I wrote at length about the long-term goalie situation during the pause and everything that's in there remains relevant today. I'd encourage you to give it a read if you haven't. https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2020/04/13/pittsburgh-pen...
11:22
To answer your question directly here, I'd say it's definitely on the table. If Jarry doesn't come through either and the Pens suffer this embarrassing series loss, whether Murray is back next season will probably depend on money. He is a restricted free agent this fall.
chrisv
11:23
Bench Johnson for Riikola? Bench Schultz for Ruhwedel? Or stay with one or both vets and hope they wake up?
Matt Vensel
11:25
It's an interesting decision, Chris. I think we can all agree that something needs to change with the third pair. I defended Jack Johnson a little bit after Game 3 by pointing out that other guys screwed up on those goals, too. But Jack sure does seem to be standing there every time the goalie pulls the puck of the net, doesn't he? As I noted above, I'd guess they go with Ruhwedel over Riikola if they remove Johnson. But I'm curious to see if they swap out the whole pair. Keep in mind that Riikola and Ruhwedel have been together a ton in practice all season and presumably up in the Toronto hub. That familiarity could factor into Sullivan's decision.
Guest
11:27
Hi Matt, do pens win today or do they roll over like they did against the Islanders ?  They seem to have no fire in them
Matt Vensel
11:27
Well, I thought the Pens would blow the doors off the Canadiens in Game 3. So I'd probably look elsewhere for a prediction!
Ln
11:28
If the pens loose this series is there playoff streak officially over?
Matt Vensel
11:29
No. The NHL ruled that the qualifying round is considered playoffs.
66fan
11:29
good morning Matt— doubt this will happen but if it’s me, I’m overhauling the lines. put Guentzel back with Malkin and Rust. Zucker and Hornqvist should play with Sid. scratch Marleau... Guentzel was actually having a better year (points per game) with Geno than he has with Sid, maybe this gets Malkin going + it puts Hornqvist in a position to make him more effective. what say you?
Matt Vensel
11:29
You're not the only one to suggest this. Check out my answer above.
Rick
11:29
matt,
Matt Vensel
11:29
Rick!
C Price
11:29
So I’m hearing crickets from all the geniuses who opined that I was overrated, including some scribes from the city of 3 rivers.
Matt Vensel
11:30
I would absolutely love it if Carey Price's regular gameday routine was logging online and chirping fans and media from other cities.
Zach Smith
11:30
Rodrigues-Lafferty-Hornqvist on the 3rd line?
Matt Vensel
11:31
Zach, I say this as nicely as possible: Did you watch Game 3? Lafferty got benched for a while and that line got buried on the ice.
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