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Satan replaces Sykora for tonight’s Game Five; Letang game-time decision
by Tony on 04/23/09 at 11:48 AM ET
Comments (8)
In a decision that can’t be described as surprising, IHCDB has inserted Miro Satan into the lineup, replacing Petr Sykora, who has gone absolutely stone cold. Not the best thing for a sniper.
In addition, the Penguins also announced that Kris Letang will be a game-time decision whether he will be in the lineup or not. Although Letang was dinged up late in Game 4, IHCDB said after the morning skate that “the decisions that we made today were not based on injuries.” If Letang is not in the lineup, he’ll be replaced by veteran defenseman Philippe Boucher.
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Tags: NHL-Hockey, Philadelphia+Flyers, Pittsburgh+Penguins,
Comments
Because Boucher hasn’t been playing for the Penguins, I just assumed he was injured (he does have a history of injuries). Is he really the seventh best defenseman the Penguins have? I haven’t watched the Penguins much this year, or Boucher a lot during his career, but his numbers look like a top-four D-man’s. And if I were a coach, I would only dress Letang as a 4th-line forward/powerplay specialist/shootout specialist.
Posted by Muero from Ohio on 04/23/09 at 01:31 PM ET
Yeah, that shootout specialist is very important.
Boucher was injured, but he came back to play that last two games of the season, just to get some playing time in. He’s near the tail-end of his career, so his skills have levelled off a bit, but he performed admirably in those games.
Letang is an extremely important piece to the defensive unit. He makes the little plays with the puck you see elite defensemen making, he hits, his defensive coverage is continually improving, and his offensive instincts are through the roof. Though his confidence seems to hinder him sometimes, not allowing him to let the play unfold for him, and he’ll sometimes make the difficult play as opposed to the easy one.
So your point is taken, and Boucher SHOULD play instead of Letang because you heard about hockey being played this season, and you looked at stats.
Posted by nrbreitkreuz on 04/23/09 at 02:05 PM ET
Boucher is not the same player he was several years ago….
Letang has improved his defensive play quite a bit this year, but he’s had flashes of inexperience as well…. Don’t forget that he was scratched for most of the Finals against the Wings last year…. My gut feeling, if he’s not injured, is that IHCDB is giving him a wake up call…
Posted by Tony F from Virginia Beach, VA on 04/23/09 at 02:11 PM ET
I admitted my ignorance on a subject and asked for the opinions of the more well-informed, and nrbreitkreuz decides to just make fun of me. This is why I hate the Internet.
Posted by Muero from Ohio on 04/23/09 at 02:27 PM ET
I didn’t just make fun of you, I only started and finished with making fun of you. I had plenty of valuable information in between.
Though I do apologize, and agree that people have too-short fuses on the internet. This isn’t the place to make fun of each other, but that will never stop. I figured my little jab was exonerated by my middle paragraphs.
Posted by nrbreitkreuz on 04/23/09 at 02:58 PM ET
Lentang is Scared crapless to make a Mistake on the PP, So he fumbles the puck like a Hot Potato
Satan CAN’T be any worse than Sykora has been since Lt. Dan has taken over
He doesn’t fit the new style of play the Pens play skating, North/South game & Physical
Sykora avoids contact like a Vampire avoids sunlight & Holy Water
Posted by Evilpens on 04/23/09 at 04:08 PM ET
All I have to say is go Penquins! They are by far one of my most favorite teams ever next to the Red Wings.
Posted by Erik from Detroit on 05/01/09 at 10:57 PM ET
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I love the headlines that are coming out about this.
From NHL Fanhouse: “Penguins Turn to Satan In Game 5”
From WXPI: “Satan Will Play In Game 5 Vs. Flyers”
(I know, I know, it’s SHA-TAN. But it still makes for some damn funny headlines. And I will never give up hope that before he retires, Satan gets traded to the Devils.)
Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 04/23/09 at 12:16 PM ET