The Pittsburgh Penguins win again. Erik Karlsson looked Norris caliber. Evgeni Malkin is tied for the league lead in assists. Sidney Crosby is leading the league in goals. The power-play is nearly automatic. The penalty kills ferocious. The team is receiving goaltending. When they’re on their game they are suffocating and use their offense to cover up their defensive issues. All of these factors combined might remind any Penguins fan of what this team has been for most of the past two decades.
The Penguins jumped out to a three-goal lead in the second period but a Tomasino turnover, a Graves missed assignment, and a Kindel turnover (plus Crosby haphazardly throwing the puck around the boards) later and it was tied. Things seemed dark heading into the third, especially considering what happened in Toronto just a couple of nights prior. Yet, this team showed their resolve and regrouped, got back to their game and won 5-3 in regulation against the Washington Capitals. Crosby finished with two power-play goals, Ovechkin finished with two assists, again what year is it?
I’ll be honest I thought this team was cooked after Toronto. After being accustomed to blowing leads (and missing the playoffs) the last few seasons, I didn’t necessarily expect them to have the mental fortitude to win this game. I certainly didn’t anticipate them having the mental fortitude to win this game after once again squandering a three-goal lead. However, credit to the penalty killers, especially Connor Dewar, for giving this team life in the third period and allowing them to find their game again.
Line By Line Analysis:
Ben Kindel- Sidney Crosby- Bryan Rust
Superb. They were responsible for the third goal against, a coffin goal no less. However, I thought this line was exceptional all night. As a Penguins fan, we basically expect that performance from any Crosby line, but Sid doesn’t always mesh with new wingers so props to Kindel for fitting right in. Kindel sprung Sid for half a breakaway in the first period. Rust had one of his better, if not his best, game of the season and it’s certainly plausible that he is getting back towards 100% after the injury he sustained at the beginning of the year. Their passing as a unit was great and the speed they were playing at was noticeable.
Anthony Mantha- Evgeni Malkin- Tommy Novak
Middling. I didn’t think they had much gone for most of the evening. They were still rewarded with a goal off a horrible rebound in the second period. I’d like to give Novak some credit though; he got an assist and looked engaged in the offensive zone. A lot of talk is going on about the Penguins PDO and their shooting percentage being unsustainable, but I look at Mantha’s goal in particular and question why they can’t continue to churn out goals. Go to the net. It’s engrained into every hockey player mind before they even know how to skate. Mantha goes right towards the blue paint and parks his enormous frame there constantly and he gets rewarded. If you continue to do this, you will continue to score. The team as a whole is doing the opposite of what the Hurricanes do; they are methodically looking for high quality chances rather than a barrage of shots from everywhere… due to this it’s certainly conceivable to keep this up. Geno was quiet at even strength but his vision and skating still look like it’s 2010/
Phil Tomasino- Danton Heinen- Ville Koivunen
Gross. I wrote the other day to not expect anything out of this line. They created a line bit of offense at times, as Koivunen put his stick over his knees in the third period after failing once again to score his first NHL goal. However, to see him flourish he needs to play with someone who can more regularly generate offense. Phil Tomasino ain’t that guy. He needs off of this roster. There is absolutely no reason Tristan Broz should be stuck in Wilkes behind a guy like Tomasino. When this guy isn’t scoring, he is useless and guess what? He isn’t scoring. It may have been inevitable given the teams play in the second, but it was Tomasino stupidly throwing the puck up the wall to no one that was the catalyst to Washinton’s first goal and their comeback effort. Heinen was perfectly fine, as expected, but he’s just boring. Coach Dan Muse did break this line up in the third period and deployed Tomasino/Koivunen as forth liners with career AHLer Joona Koppanen and it was the correct call.
Connor Dewar- Blake Lizotte- Joona Koppanen
Fuck yeah. Lizotte was a honey badger all night. If he could hang onto pucks with more regularity, he’d be a first line player but goddamn was he good in this game. Connor Dewar was absolutely incredible, especially on the penalty kill. He looked like Mario dancing around Tom Wilson for a shorthanded chance in the third period and later got another shorthanded chance where he hit the post. The fourth line has been so dependable all season, and they just continue to thrive. They are currently this team’s best calming presence but last night not only were they calming, but they also gave the team a jolt of electricity with their tenaciousness. Koppanen was whatever but he wouldn’t be in the lineup if Hallander was healthy so no reason to complain about him.
Parker Wotherspoon- Erik Karlsson
Majestic. EK65 is back. Maybe it was Sullivan’s system. Maybe it was some injuries that held Karl out of camp last year. Maybe he really wants to play in the Olympics that badly. Who knows but honestly who cares? He has been absolutely phenomenal in every game except in Philly last week. He was the best player on the ice last night. He was disturbingly fast and making correct reads on both ends of the ice. Parker Wotherspoon is the perfect complement to Karlsson. He is dependable and knows to get the puck off his stick and onto 65’s whenever he possibly can. If this pairing continues this all season the Pittsburgh Penguins will go back to the playoffs, Karlsson’s play is truly that important to this team.
Ryan Shea- Kris Letang
Solid. Nothing too flashy. No offense to speak of but they had good jump and were solid in their own end. Letang has found his legs over the past two weeks and that’s a big deal for this team. Much like Karlsson, the team will flounder if he doesn’t perform.
Ryan Graves- Connor Clifton
Sure? Graves wasn’t a complete catastrophic disaster, so I guess that’s all that really matters. Clifton took another dumb penalty but at least he is willing to throw the body (4 hits last night). Graves got blown by a couple of times when guys took him wide. His mental lapse did allow the Capitals to score their second goal of the game. However, if you’ve watched Graves for the past three years you already knew he would be responsible for at least one goal against, but I guess we can give him props for holding it to only one goal and again was not a complete shitshow.
Special Teams
They were fucking incredible. Holy shit. The penalty kill was orgasmic, limited Ovi to only one look. The power-play was 3-5 and looked dangerous all night. I honest to God had a wet dream thinking about the special team’s performance last night. Just fucking incredible. Syndey Sweeney’s dress from last week doesn’t have anything on what the Penguins power play is doing right now. Enjoy the goals below:
Arturs Silovs
Winner. I didn’t like the third goal.
However, other than that I think he played well. He made a huge pad save in the first. Was there to stop any puck that the penalty killers actually let get to the net. The save percentage was just below league average for the game but a win is a win and he certainly a factor into why the team was able to win this game.
Also, for all the fans who chanted “Crosby’s Better” all night. Uhhhh duh, calling attention to it makes me feel like we have fans who entertain any moron who honestly believes Ovechkin is a better hockey player than Sidney Crosby. The more appropriate situation to invoke a “Crosby’s Better” chant would be if Wayne Gretzky was still lacing them up (Crosby is better and I will scream that into the void for the rest of my days).
GGs, Let’s Go Pens, and I’ll be back Monday to discuss the Penguins weekend results. Devils on Saturday, Kings on Sunday.
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