Well, they're being outscored at this point 27-17. It was downright comical listening to the Pens annoucers equivocate as the Flyers were pouring it one early Friday night. The excuse was along the lines of "well, they were dead last and the worst team in 2003-2004. It will take some time for the new players to adjust. Yadda, yadda, yadda."

Now I am the first to admit that it is early. We're just over 10 days into the season so nobody should hit the panic button yet. But Friday night the Pens blueline just simply wasn't moving the puck well. And nobody on the blueline seems to have the talent to do that on a consistent basis. As we've seen in our games so far, it doesn't matter what forwards you have on the ice if the defensemen can consistently get the puck to them. As any longtime Caps fan know, Gonchar's strongest asset is his shot from the point on the Power Play. His puck moving skills aren't much stronger than his defensive game. (1 assist, 14 PIMS, and a -5 through 6 games, he's in mid-season form already......)

Pittsburgh will start winning some games, but with their blueline and goaltending (I've never been impressed with T-Bo and M-A.F. was getting paned by the Pens broadcasters on Friday night) will keep them from ever being a serious contender. Alot of the hype around this team had to with St. Syndey joining Mary-Oh! and all the old-timers that Mary-Oh! spent money on. The problem for the Pens right now is that the game is played on the ice, not on paper and on the ice right now, they don't have a very good team.

-------------------------
Everybody Wang Chung......

Please load brain before shooting off mouth.™

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That's it, climb the ladder Monty...

Quote

---

Besides the fact that all their players seem to be either under 22 or over 38, have you looked at their defense. Here is who is on their roster as of today (with career NHL games):

Sergei Gonchar -- 669 games
Ric Jackman -- 136 games (over 6 seasons)
Josef Melichar -- 168 games
Brooks Orpik -- 85 games
Steve Poapst -- 245 games (he is 36 years old)
Martin Strbak -- 49 games
Dick Tarnstrom -- 203 games

---

We have fairly inexperienced defense with players past their prime or yet to be in their prime. That explains the Pens struggles.

--------------------------

We dumped him. What does bleep does that tell you?

-------------------------
Everybody Wang Chung......

Please load brain before shooting off mouth.™

--------------------------