Holy crap PSP, you're really just starting to sound like the head cheerleader of this team. You defend every game and every player to the hilt. Buffalo has been shut out four times and scored only once fives times so far, and Vanek has been in the line-up for about all of those games. In shootouts, Vanek is not a threat, not even an average threat.

Lalime played very well, but could have been scored on several times more if not for the Pens missing open nets. Buffalo didn't generate many good scoring chances, and the PP stunk again. This is the usual so far, and there is no reason to think Vanek would have made things different.

Gee wiz, can you just call it as it is once in a while?

I agree Adam. People don't understand how important Vanek is.

I know a lot of people would exchange Vanek for Kovalchuk.

Who is going to backcheck?
Not Kovalchuk.

Who is going to be defensively responsible?
Not Kovalchuck

Who has ONE plus season?
Not Kovalchuk

Who is more useful on the pp than Vanek?
Not Kovalchuk

Who is going to be an immovable object in front of the net?
Not Kovalchuk

I agree Adam. People don't understand how important Vanek is.

I know a lot of people would exchange Vanek for Kovalchuk.

Who is going to backcheck?
Not Kovalchuk.

Who is going to be defensively responsible?
Not Kovalchuck

Who has ONE plus season?
Not Kovalchuk

Who is more useful on the pp than Vanek?
Not Kovalchuk

Who is going to be an immovable object in front of the net?
Not Kovalchuk

I'm sorry who ever says this needs to get checked out by a doctor...

Vanek is a lazy piece of shit who doesn't back check, gives the puck away, doesn't skate, makes bad passes, can't hit the net, can't score on the pp, and he can't play defense...

uhhh vanek got like 20pp goals last season. are you high er something?

I'm not even bashing Vanek, I think he does some things very well. He's good in front of the net on the PP, but he hasn't made any difference to the PPs overall effectiveness.

The PP has struggled all season, and it has to do with puck movement. Whether at the point or on the half wall, there is not enough quick movement and decision making. The only good plays I've seen them set up is the half wall-down low-slot shot, and the half wall-slot tip in. The major problem is the point men not moving and creating shot lanes. The one-timers are not getting through. As Ice points out they don't resort to the wrist shot enough (ever?). The PK forwards can tighten up down low and get away with it because it's so easy to defend the point shots. The half wall and low guy have to move more because nothing gets accomplished from the blue line. So far they are stuggling with this idea, and the whole thing looks like a mess.

Vanek doesn't have anything to do with it, because he hasn't been getting garbage rebound opportunities in front all season. If there is one move that Darcy could pull off, it should be a great PP point man. People want to see a scorer up front, but a slick puck moving d-man at the point would do wonders.

I'm sorry who ever says this needs to get checked out by a doctor...

Vanek is a lazy piece of shit who doesn't back check, gives the puck away, doesn't skate, makes bad passes, can't hit the net, can't score on the pp, and he can't play defense...

Does Vanek ever score in the shootout?

ya know... why cant people take last nights game, and simply put it this way:

the sabres played well last night, but fleury fuckin stood on his head.

dont knit-pick, and call it what it is; a goalie stealing one for his team. because thats what it was.

So people complain about Vanek and suddenly the people who AREN'T take it as a bash to the whole team? Vanek isn't producing, his goals are not important most of the time. He scores when it doesn't matter... And he ISN'T scoring as much as he should. He is being lazy and wont shoot the puck, and when he does he misses the net. THE REST OF THE TEAM EXCEPT FOR POMINVILLE IS FINE! Vanek needs to wake up.