NHL.com's Top 2 Articles: Wings and Pens have problems

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Right now on NHL.com, the top 2 articles are both about the Red Wings and Penguins. And not in a good way. Both articles discuss the Pens mediocrity - which has been noted by their place in the standings - but the articles also point out how average the Wings goaltending has been this season.

It seems like a lot of time, people like to think that Wings fans are the only ones who really know whats going on with the Wings, but folks around the league are spot on about the Wings issues. And our opponents in the playoffs are going to have a simple game plan if we don't fix some things by the deadline.

And my apologies for the redundancy of the threads. Just thought it was interesting that these were voices not affiliated with the Red Wings that we're speaking out about the Wings issues.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=407959

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=407962

[Yzerman191 37]

I've noticed on various message boards that fans of different teams all over the league have been noting our goaltending issues. Also, other fans have seemed to notice Lidstrom slipping a step from last season, and our team defense struggles.

The Pens' struggles have been a dream come true to me. I cannot stand that team, especially after last year's playoffs. Unfortunately, I think they'll get their s*** together and grab a playoff spot, but I think they underestimated (or misunderestimated) their losses over the last year. Malone, Hossa, Roberts, Armstrong, and Conklin all played a huge part in their success last year, and for some reason Shero thought that he could just replace them with guys like Fedo and Satan. Also, they were hit hard with injuries towards the beginning of the season, which was the only time they seemed to play well. They've also got quite the dilemma, as Crosby, Malkin, and Staal, their three centers, make almost 22M combined. Anything can happen in the playoffs, but I'll be very surprised if we see another Detroit vs. Pittsburgh Stanley Cup final this year.

[dat's sick 1,002]

I've noticed on various message boards that fans of different teams all over the league have been noting our goaltending issues. Also, other fans have seemed to notice Lidstrom slipping a step from last season, and our team defense struggles.

The Pens' struggles have been a dream come true to me. I cannot stand that team, especially after last year's playoffs. Unfortunately, I think they'll get their s*** together and grab a playoff spot, but I think they underestimated (or misunderestimated) their losses over the last year. Malone, Hossa, Roberts, Armstrong, and Conklin all played a huge part in their success last year, and for some reason Shero thought that he could just replace them with guys like Fedo and Satan. Also, they were hit hard with injuries towards the beginning of the season, which was the only time they seemed to play well. They've also got quite the dilemma, as Crosby, Malkin, and Staal, their three centers, make almost 22M combined. Anything can happen in the playoffs, but I'll be very surprised if we see another Detroit vs. Pittsburgh Stanley Cup final this year.

The Pens are way too dependant on Malkin right now. He is having an unbelievable season, but the rest of the team just looks flat. Even Crosby, despite being 2nd in scoring.

An injury on Malkin and the Pens don't even reach the playoffs.

[I Red Wings I 40]

I'm not going to get my hopes up but, hopefully this game will give Detroit an opportunity for better things to come. Maybe a bigger game for Pittsburgh, as they are sitting on tenth spot in the east, three points out of the playof picture. Here we are in February, I think it'll be a big game for both Pittsburgh and Detroit as I expect for the two teams to play with great enthusiasm.

[C-TownWing 0]

Big game to me...that game in Detroit where we blew the huge lead was really the point where I became convinced that something is off, so it'd be nice to demonstrate that we've somehow improved since then, although I'm not seeing it. But here's hoping that a revenge-seeking and still-talented team playing in a tough place to play in front of loud fans flips the "challenge" switch that got us going against SJ in December and Chicago in the 12/30 and 1/1 games.

BTW, anyone who thought there wouldn't be a dropoff from Hossa and Malone to Satan and Fedotenko is probably on drugs. No Gonchar is a huge problem too, even with all that firepower up front, the Pens' PP ranks 23rd this year. But yeah, Malkin's been carrying them (and my fantasy team) all year, no doubt.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

The Pens are way too dependant on Malkin right now. He is having an unbelievable season, but the rest of the team just looks flat. Even Crosby, despite being 2nd in scoring.

An injury on Malkin and the Pens don't even reach the playoffs.

I've caught some Pens games this year, and in all the games I've seen, Malkin has been noticeably better than Crosby, in some cases significantly better. Its funny - Crosby is still considered the best in the game, yet Ovechkin and Malkin are really doing more for their teams right now. Crosby is trying too hard right now.