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Shelly Anderson's Penguins chat transcript: 3.15.2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
James_Taiwan: Should the Penguins be concerned about a possible playoff match up with the Devils?
Shelly Anderson: The Penguins are 0-5 against New Jersey going into the teams' final regular-season matchup Wednesday in Newark. If they meet in the playoffs, it's not likely to be in the first round. I don't get the sense the Penguins will be shaking in their boots against any playoff opponent, the Devils included. Goaltender Martin Brodeur has been a major factor in New Jersey's success against the Penguins, but he's not perfect. The Penguins would have to find a way to dump-and-chase their way around New Jersey's stifling trap. Don't forget that last season Washington was 3-1 in the regular season against the Penguins, and the Penguins still won a seven-game playoff series against the Capitals.
James_Taiwan: Which line will Alexei Ponikarovsky be playing on this Wednesday?
Shelly Anderson: It's impossible to know that because the Penguins did not practice today and we don't know the status of center Evgeni Malkin. X-rays of Malkin's right foot today showed he did not break any bones when he got hit by a Kris Letang shot at the end of the second period Sunday, but he still might miss some games if there is, for instance, a bad bone bruise. Without him in the lineup, the top three lines might be juggled. Winger Alexei Ponikarovsky looked good in limited time with center Sidney Crosby Sunday, especially on the power play.
SDWC: Why does Evgeni Malkin take so many penalties, and what should he do to work on reducing the penalty box time?
Shelly Anderson: Good point. Evgeni Malkin leads the Penguins with 88 penalty minutes. He's not a fighter, of course, so that's a lot of minor penalties. There is little question that he is having an off season by his standards, and so instead of dominating play, he's sometimes caught behind it or gives the puck away. At those times, he sometimes will get caught hooking or being guilty of some other infraction. It seems better concentration and avoiding the temptation to make up for mistakes by taking a penalty would help.
Guest: Is Max Talbot still hurting or is he just trying to play himself back into shape? And what do coaches think is wrong with Tyler Kennedy? He doesn't look to be the same player either
Shelly Anderson: There is no indication that either forward is injured. Max Talbot seemed to be at his healthiest all season recently. But with 13 healthy forwards with the acquisition of Alexei Ponikarovsky and the return to the lineup of Bill Guerin, someone has to sit every night. There will be 14 healthy forwards with Eric Godard returns from a serious groin injury, likely later this month.
pensfande: With the Pens having a few days off before returning to NJ, will they try so say anything to the head office about the officiating from Friday Night? It seems that there were a few questionable calls.
Shelly Anderson: There's not a lot of recourse, and not a lot of reason for clubs to think that bellyaching gets them anywhere. The officiating in all games is reviewed by the NHL on a regular basis.
jeff: When i compare this team to last year's, i worry that our defense lacks a shut down pair, and that we have less size and snarl to clear the net, what are your thoughts
Shelly Anderson: Losing the "shutdown pairing" of Rob Scuderi and Hal Gill from last year's Stanley Cup team was the type of sacrifice that happens in the salary cap era. Obviously, general manager Ray Shero couldn't find a replacement on the free-agent market or the trade market that fit under the cap. That doesn't mean the Penguins lack defensemen who can play well in their own end. Start with Mark Eaton and Sergei Gonchar. And their younger, offensive defensemen are getting better in their own end, too. In addition, it will be up to the Penguins to play well defensively as a team, with help from the forwards, to keep the puck out of their opponents' end as much as possible.
King Moonracer: How do you see the game at Boston playing out - does Cooke take the bullet early and get into a fight? And does that appease Jack Edwards and his vigilante followers?
Shelly Anderson: First of all, it's not the Penguins' job or any sort of priority to appease the Bruins fans or broadcasters. It's hard to say what will happen when the Penguins play Thursday night in Boston, less than two weeks after Matt Cooke's hit left Marc Savard with a Grade 2 concussion. There has been a lot of reaction since the NHL declined to suspend Cooke. It's doubtful he will initiate a fight. Many times, when there is this much hype going into a game, it actually does not live up to the worries or expectations of many.
Tyrone: What'd you think of Ovechkin's cheapshot?
Shelly Anderson: Alex Ovechkin is a big man, and he hit Brian Campbell pretty much from behind into the boards Sunday in Washington's game at Chicago. I understand Ovechkin had a hearing with the NHL today. This was not a head shot, but could be judged as a dangerous hit from behind -- something the league cracked down on before head shots became the focal point -- that resulted in a major boarding penalty and a game misconduct. It's certainly possible Ovechkin will be fined or receive a short suspension.
Mike: Has Dan Bylsma had anything to say about Malkin's penalty minutes?
Shelly Anderson: Not that I can recall. But when Sidney Crosby was at or near the team lead in penalty minutes earlier this season, I seem to recall coach Dan Bylsma saying it was a matter of circumstance more than a flaw in Crosby's game.
clark: how come it's only been this yr that I've heard the term slew foot?
Shelly Anderson: That's been around a while. In the 2008 playoffs, I remember Evgeni Malkin slew-footing a Rangers player. It goes back a lot further than that, though.
723gopens: Back to the shutdown defensemen question - haven't Bylsma been using Orpik/Letang as the shutdown pairing since February?
Shelly Anderson: The pairings have changed some here and there. Brooks Orpik is the club's only real punishing, physical defenseman and so draws some of the big assignments. Sergei Gonchar also is someone who has spent most of his career matched against opponents' top forwards. The thing that made the Rob Scuderi-Hal Gill pairing stand out is that both were defensive defensemen. The way the Penguins are now built, and the way Dan Bylsma's system relies on puck movement, you often see a mix in the pairings with offensive and defensive defensemen.
clark: are these chats just 30 mins b/c there isn't the interest as on steeler/pirates chats?
Shelly Anderson: That depends on you guys. Lately, there have been plenty of questions to last 30 minutes, but not a lot of leftovers. There have been times, though, when there are lulls and not enough questions to fill 30 minutes.
Mike: Is Gologoski in Dan Bylsma's doghouse?
Shelly Anderson: As with the 13 or 14 forwards, the Penguins are carrying seven NHL-caliber defensemen with the addition of Jordan Leopold. So someone has to sit each night. At first, it was Jay McKee. Last game, it was Alex Goligoski. It's probably not so much a doghouse situation, but after a loss, it's not suprising to see a change. Expect these guys to push each other.
Guest: Seems like Malkins parents need to be signed to a long term deal to stay in the burg
Shelly Anderson: From what I understand, Evgeni Malkin's parents could be visiting soon.
clark: I think the great 8 is a bit of a thug but it seems the other player was more off balanced than anything....he really wasn't up against the boards..
Shelly Anderson: True, but that still put Campbell in what might be viewed as a vulnerable situation near the boards, and that was the hot topic before head shots.
Shelly Anderson: Thanks, everyone. Until next week....
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First published on March 16, 2010 at 1:09 pm