Penguins defensive play must improve to get back to the playoffs

The Penguins dropped consecutive games to the Carolina Hurricanes and Winnipeg Jets and there's a similar theme between those losses. Patrick and Hunter begin the episode talking about the slog that was the loss to the Hurricanes and how a combination of poor defensive play and a lack of patience led to an uninspired loss. Then, they began the Western Canada swing in Winnipeg where the team played extremely well in the offensive zone but was a disaster in the defensive zone. They discuss what has to change in their system and how without competent defensive play, this team won't go very far. Finally, the vaunted swing through Western Canada continues this week with matchups against the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and Vancouver Canucks.
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[@PENS68]

Two things that you have to have if you want to not only make the playoffs, but go on a long run: Team defense and goaltending. You have to be able to defend. The Penguin teams that won cups in this Crosby/Malkin/Letang era not only won because of skill, goaltending, and depth scoring, but they knew how to defend when they had a lead or when they were in their own zone. Your goalies can only do so much and if you have an elite goalie, it can mask a lot of issues that your team may have defensively. Perfect example is the 2022 playoffs. Igor Shesterkin masked a lot of defensive issues the Rangers had during the 21-22 regular season with his elite goaltending, The Penguins exposed those flaws in that first round series and it really showed when Shesterkin struggled, but no one really noticed it in the regular, because of outstanding goaltending from Shesterkin. The Penguins don't have an elite goaltender, so it doesn't take much to see their defensive flaws. Right now , it doesn't matter who your goalie is. You could have Martin Brodeur or Patrick Roy in their primes, but it wouldn't make a difference because of how poor the defensive play is in their own zone. Unless it changes, they will continuously be frustrated on a nightly basis.

[@earlviney5212]

The D corps stinks weakest bunch of lightweights I've ever seen.

[@cwfutureboy]

Way to quote Therrien, Hunter. It's so damned fitting, too. Everybody on this team (save for Eller, O'Connor, Hayes, Pool Party) looks like they're just there to collect a paycheck.

[@mikecrow8444]

Funny true story, Hunter ... I actually watched that Michel Therrien press conference this morning. It's actually more relevant now than it was then ... and it was right then.

[@KevinNeverly]

Mike Crow… how right you are.Therrien was NOT afraid to point out the lazy a/:es on his roster. He was right.

[@earlviney5212]

Why did this team get rid of gudbranson and oleksiak? Oh wait their just to big and strong for sully. Ya know we need more puck moving defensemen.

[@1pbdecoded1pb]

Bunting--Crosby--Rust Crosby carried the Pens down the stretch last year. Bunting brought Geno back to life last year with instant chemistry. Healthy scratching Bunting is a John Tortorella move by Sullivan. Bunting was traded for Guentzel and Guentzel's spot is still open on 87's wing. Why would punish Bunting for this year instead of rewarding him for last year. Put Bunting with Sid and Rust on the 1st line.

[@williammiller-fs6cm]

What exacerbates the poor defensive play, is the high number of turnovers and giveaways. You need team speed to compensate for those turnovers, and the Penguins don't have it. The Pens need to be more precise in their decision making, and their passing in getting out of the zone, and into the zone.

[@alexjackovich9961]

Comping Hurricanes to a Gunther sleeper is nasty work, thats a perfect 1 for 1

[@earlviney5212]

Heavy forecheck. Stand them up at the blueline. Sadly we don't have these types of players

[@Northern_swamp_rats]

We definitely need some work on the blue line no matter what goalie is in net no help from the D we will always have the same outcome Ned played good if that was jarry it would have been a blowout so Ned and blom definitely help

[@willie9397]

The part I really cant believe is the fact they keep leaving people unattended in front of the net, have the coaches not shown them the videos4 of the top 6 D have at least 7 years in the league. I have no idea about Petterson maybe he is trying not to be traded lol. Now a simple solution on playing defense, always keep yourself on the defensive side of the puck. It all starts with effort.

[@Ando2k10]

I'd like to see them try DOC and Puljujarvi with Sid. Rusty hasn't been doing much, since his return. Maybe bumping down in the lineup will light his fire.

[@gavindamstrom8206]

In comparison to last year, let’s look at the positives. It’s obvious right now that our team defence is Weighing this team down. But let’s look at some positives -our offense is wayyy better than last year. We have 4 lines who can put the puck into the net -special teams. Our pk was good last year, but it still is very good. Now our pp isn’t great on paper but compared to last year we actually create momentum -I think Blomqvist and Ned are a solid tandem that can get the job done -Malkin and Karlson are having way better years. Karlsson still isn’t great defensively yet but creates so much offensively, last year he made the same d mistakes but created no offense Our biggest problem for d is we don’t have one pairing that is a solid shutdown d pairing. And another big problem right now is our first line needs to start going. Our bottom six and Geno have carried our offense right now, and our team can be even better offensively if Sid can get back to what he was doing last year. Overall I think there are a lot of positives with this team if we start to clean up defensively, and key contributors like Crosby, Petterson and bunting pick up their game a bit.

[@LockedOnPenguins]

Yup I agree with all of these points. I think they’d have a semblance of a good team if they played better defensively. They’re getting the depth scoring, they’re getting the timely saves from the other two goalies, the power play is better, Geno is on fire, but if they can clean up these defensive issues, they can win some of these games

[@damingomes2369]

Doc should have started the season the 1st line. He and eller have been two of our best players and jesse p too. I just do t get how the coaching staff can continue to allow the team defensive structure to be so bad. And dubi never addressed not having defensive defensemen. Same old story. Why not try hayes malkin rust.

[@earlviney5212]

Like Michael therrien said "the defensemen are so soff i really think their trying to be the worst defense in the league ".

[@Cityofchamps94]

I think it's really been a showing of what the Penguins really are... not all that good, and barely enough sometimes.

[@NESADDICT]

I think you nailed it.

[@davidknight1973]

How about letang and Karlsson not playing defense. Scratch them or even sullivan.. won’t win with him anymore. Hope I’m wrong…. Sad to watch

[@LockedOnPenguins]

Karlsson has never been good defensively, what you see is mainly what you get but I have been frustrated with how Letang’s game has rotted away a little even though I know he’s a bit older. - Hunter

[@davidknight1973]

@@LockedOnPenguins sooo frustrating 2-0 lead and blow it again… Sullivan gotta change. Look Tomlin did it and I thought he was wrong for doing it.

[@earlviney5212]

Why don't they have the personnel to do it? Isn't that an indictment of management and the coaching staff?

[@LockedOnPenguins]

It’s both but the core players are also a bit older and the league has gotten faster

[@earlviney5212]

I wonder if mike Sullivan is old enough to remember the best defensive defensemen that ever played in Pittsburgh. No not brian dumilon not paul coffey not kris letang not ulf samuelsson . That would be Dave Burrows. Man the team that gets these type of defensemen will win the Stanley cup.

[@pmccue30]

They don’t have the speed that’s the problem. They can’t forecheck and back check in the same shift bc they are too slow to break out

[@rodbelding9523]

I'm starting to think it probably doesn't matter who the goalie is if they keep playing so loose defensively. And honestly Bunting earned that healthy scratch, he's been invisible. He only has one insist so far despite playing alongside Geno and he hasn't even been playing his pest game that he's known for, he's just been kind of coasting.

[@Ando2k10]

Changes need to be made. We know that ownership won't allow the trade of Letang or Karlsson. They've both been pathetic, in their own end. Pettersson and Graves have, basically, been pylons for skating drills, Gryz and defenseman #6 (whoever that happens to be) are "meh" and look lost. The best move, in my opinion, would be trading Pettersson and Graves for some solid, stay at home, defensemen, to offset Letang and Karlsson. Or, trade them for picks and give Pickering and Aho a call up. As I've been saying for the last couple seasons...it wouldn't matter if the Pens have Vasilievskiy in net, the defense is so bad that the results wouldn't change.

[@Northern_swamp_rats]

The defence let the other team just walk in we definitely look like we are lost out there

[@earlviney5212]

You're right I've never seen a d corps worse one on one.

[@KevinNeverly]

Earl Indy.. Sully sometimes would not play them. Or they be watching the game from the press box. And Ryan Reeves. I would have loved to seen him play on Sid or Genos line. Jim Rutherford made those moves to toughen up the flightless birds. But nooooo. Sully would rather play Ivy League hockey. Yea and crumpets anyone?

[@RDPq]

for me if pens keep playing t6his bad before American thanksgiving like that time you let6 sully go

[@earlviney5212]

It's more the defensemen than team defense that is the problem they are weak.

[@LennyL95]

You can’t convince me Noel Acciari is better for this team than Bunting. Sorry but Sullivan’s gotta be shown the door and they need to slam it right in his face

[@rodbelding9523]

Acciari isn't better than Bunting, but the whole point of scratching Bunting was to send him a message.

[@LennyL95]

@@rodbelding9523 you can send messages other ways. Pittsburgh doesn’t have the team to be scratching top 6 talent. Most of their bottom 6 forwards shouldn’t be promoted to the top 6. Is what it is. Sullivan’s a clown

[@nielsonlars]

I am going to start with $20 and bet $5 every game against the Penguins, hoping I lose the bet. We will see how long that $20 lasts.

[@LockedOnPenguins]

😂😂😂😂

[@earlviney5212]

If they fire sully you say david Quinn? Really he's been a loser were ever he's been

[@ssmith87]

58 & 65 are definitely not helping

[@LockedOnPenguins]

Karlsson has been mostly good this year (outside of the Buffalo game) but Letang has been subpar. Not getting enough out of him.

[@davidknight1973]

Scratch them… and Sullivan gotta goooo

[@earlviney5212]

Trade Peterson and graves. Bring up pickering and get brunicke back from the minors.

[@earlviney5212]

This team lacks physical play all over the ice. They don't hit anyone. HIT SOMEONE FOR CHRIST'S SAKE!!

[@earlviney5212]

I did not like this D corps coming out of training camp. Too offensive minded. Their defense are a bunch of lightweights they don't hit they constantly get beat man on man. Can't move people out from in front of the net . Peterson couldn't move a midget from in front. Graves stinks letang and Karlsson don't know how to stop a guy one on one. Small weak not tough were done.

[@GreekboyyD]

Can barely beat teams as bad as them and can’t beat the good teams. This team is 🗑️🗑️🗑️

[@hlpsnow1105]

Absolutely no one is talking about this. They are 0-4 against playoff teams from last year and 3-0 against other cellar dwellers. They’re a 500 team. When are they going to stop fooling themselves? Trade Eller and MP28. Let’s get some on the job training for our futures.

[@LockedOnPenguins]

I mentioned that in the first segment! They have been crushed by the playoff teams to start the year and it hasn’t been pretty. If this keeps up, you’ll prob get your wish with the trades. - Hunter

[@hlpsnow1105]

@@LockedOnPenguins I commented right when i started the video. I’m starting the second segment now.

[@earlviney5212]

If thay lose five in row fire sullivan