Ray Blehar

@IronCity999 @kelsey_surmacz4 @hockey_ref Competition in March was tougher. Every game against playoff contenders except WPG. 3 v CAR, 2 v COL, 2 v BOS, 2 v VGK, DAL, BUF, OTT, PHI, DET, UTA.

@kelsey_surmacz4 @hockey_ref Thanks for sharing! Very interesting and Pens in March…well below avg.

With all stats courtesy of @hockey_ref, here is a little preview thread of a piece I'm working on: 🧵 League-average save percentage right now is .896. This is the first season it's been below .900 since 1995-96 (.898). Teams are also allowing the lowest average number... (1/3)

@nhlpens Just win baby

After the Pens b2b wins on Monday/Tuesday and NYI/CBJ's losing all sorts, the Penguins have officially put themselves in a position where it's their playoff spot to lose. They 100% control their own destiny and can afford to not be perfect in the remaining games.

@PenguinsJesus The PP turnover was a bad bounce off the boards. Usually the Pens execute that entry very well. Not cleaning up the garbage in front killed us.

Some bright spots of last night’s Penguins loss: -They now have more video footage and evidence of their PP turnover issues, and PK breakdowns to learn from -Sidney Crosby can now pass Yzerman for 7th all-time at home -Evgeni Malkin can get his 1400th point at home

@HunterHodies @PenguinsJesus Need a regulation win from PHI tonight

@PenguinsJesus - playoff odds hardly went down - three good games from Girard-Letang

@PenguinsJesus Was hoping we could get at least 1 point tonight…but Tampa is probably the best team in the East and best goalie in Vaisilesky

On the bright side, Sid can pass Yzerman at home now. No one really expected any points in Tampa, did they?

@nhlpens CBJ, BOS, PHI, & WSH all lost too. Get ready to play lights out on Saturday.

CBJ has completely folded once they got to their hard part of their schedule. Yet another loss for them. For those who were upset with the Penguins outcomes vs. CAR. It could've been worse as CBJ is showing us.

@Matt_B_Walton @RichardC11977 @kelsey_surmacz4 Usually that play works. Bad bounce off the boards and Rust & Karlsson are going wrong direction. Easy race to win for TB

@RichardC11977 @kelsey_surmacz4 65 87 17 equal guilt. Dump it the F in

Not sure what Rust was thinking there. Or if he just fumbled the puck. But it's 2-2 Lightning on a SHG by Cirelli in the opening moments of the second period. Second goal of the game for him. #LetsGoPens

@kelsey_surmacz4 Listening to Tampa broadcast crew is brutal.

@kelsey_surmacz4 Bad bounce off the boards. Nothing Rust could do about it.

@kelsey_surmacz4 Keep the faith. Pens will push back

Again, folks, don't go anywhere.

@PenguinsJesus CBJ, WSH, PHI, & BOS all trailing right now.

“Florida is tanking, Boston should definitely win tonight unless they beat themselves” Boston right now:

@SyryloChad @bobgrove91 All of the goals were off bad bounces. Puck bounced over Rusts stick on SHG. Other two were bounces in front of the crease, but Pens have to clean up that garbage

@bobgrove91 They can't be east-west or careless against this team. They will make you pay. Tampa Bay is very good but not unbeatable. It requires simplification.

Three of Tampa’s 9 shots in the second period found the net. Forgettable period for Pens.

@bobgrove91 Bad bounce over Rust’s stick.

Since March 1, Pens have allowed 5 SHG — most in the league (18 games).

@HunterHodies Kindl is playing out of his mind on both sides of the puck. He’s fearless. Superstar in the making.

Hell of a period from every skater. You have a desperate team pinned down on the mat. Now you need to go for the kill shot

@HunterHodies 2 big wins against 2 teams who are competing hard to get in the playoffs. Pens played excellent hockey especially in both 3rd periods. Keep up this level of play and they’ll win their way in.

4/4 points to start the most important week of the season. I think they probably need 3-4 more wins to get in but the odds should be around 92% after tonight. Excellent game from all the skaters tonight

@nhlpens There are no easy wins. Ever. Imagine what our opponents were thinking when Sid & Geno were out of the lineup. Probably didn’t go the way they thought

The Penguins have made it where CBJ and NYI need to be very close to perfect to catch them. Considering CBJ/NYI schedules get way harder meanwhile PIT's gets easier. You're exactly where you want to be with 7 games left in the season. Perfect back-to-back. Good shit.

@gopensgo87 @AGretz What a difference from DECEMBER! Muse has pressed the right buttons after the Christmas break.

@AGretz What a difference from the last couple seasons

The Pittsburgh Penguins two biggest games of the season against two teams directly competing with them for playoff spots and they kicked the absolute shit out of both of them.

@AGretz A Letang season ending injury would help. Letang was out when Pens won Cup in 2017. He makes more bad passes than anyone else on the team.

The Penguins defense and goaltending has too many flaws to go on a really deep run. The forwards, though, are absolutely capable of it. That group is so deep. So balanced.

@BradInvestment @jennabeee22 Former NHL official commented during last night’s CAR-CBJ game that the league instructed officials NOT TO OVERTURN the call on the ice unless it’s egregiously wrong. Unfortunately, “egregiously wrong” doesn’t fit for overturning Brazeau’s goal.

@RayBlehar @jennabeee22 IMO it should be no goal. But as far as the rules go it should be a goal. Contact is initiated outside the crease. It affects his ability to make the save on the first shot. Not the 2nd shot though.

I’ll just leave this right here. I deeply, honestly and sincerely wish the worst inconveniences on the NHL sit room every day for the rest of their lives. Lego. Step on it. Socks in dryer. Lose one. Miss every flight. Forget every password. All of the worst for you. Daily.

@AGretz Leaky goal to Lee on PP. Not glued to post on that shot??? Too far back in crease on 2-1 with EK65 defending pass. 3rd goal - ok. Seeing eye puck.

The Penguins as a team had a 72 percent expected goal share during 5-on-5 play. The Islanders only had six high-danger chances. Seeing that actually only makes me more concerned about Silovs because how did he allow three goals.