Penguins Update: Perron a Plus

It sure was great to see the Penguins’ offense bust loose in San Jose on Tuesday night. Indeed, the five-goal outburst represented the high-water mark for a team that has struggled to light the lamp all season long.

Pacing the attack was the line of Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel, and David Perron. The trio combined for a whopping four goals and seven points.

We’ve come to expect big things from Geno. And Kessel’s a bona fide scorer. But Perron? The feisty winger’s been a pleasant surprise of late.

Employing a style reminiscent of former black-and-gold great Joey Mullen, Perron’s constantly in motion. Twisting, turning and driving through traffic. Prying pucks loose. Setting screens. Firing off shots. Battling opposing defenders. Anything he can do to help the team.

Number 57 (formerly No. 39) possesses some pedigree, too. Since breaking in as a 19-year-old rookie with St. Louis back in 2007-08, he’s reached the 20-goal plateau three times. Including a career-best 28 with Edmonton in ‘13-14.

Perron’s production caught the eye of Pens GM Jim Rutherford, who was seeking a scoring winger to flesh out his top six. The price was steep—a 2015 first-round pick and grinder Rob Klinkhammer. But Perron thrived following his arrival in January. Manning his customary spot on the off-wing, the slippery 6’0” 198-pounder scored nine goals in his first 16 games with the Pens.

Then he virtually disappeared.

A total non-factor down the stretch, Perron collected a lone assist (to go with a minus-8) during his last dozen regular-season games. He fizzled in the playoffs as well.

Due, in part, to his Jeykll-and-Hyde performance Perron’s stock plummeted. With the arrival of Kessel and projected second-liner Sergei Plotnikov, the Sherbrooke, Quebec native was bumped to the fourth line to start 2015-16 and rumored to be on the trading block.

Give Perron credit. Instead of pouting, he kept plugging. Despite an ugly eight-game pointless skein to open the season, his determined play earned him a cameo on the second line. Almost immediately his dormant offensive skills sprang to life.

Since breaking through with an assist against Washington on October 28, Perron’s found his groove. Over his past 16 games he’s tallied four goals and 10 points. Not exactly Ross Trophy numbers. But a respectable 20-goal, 50-point pace over a full season. Perfectly in stride with his typical output.

And while the former first-rounder possesses a sneaky shot and quick release, his signature goal may well be the one that bounced in off his derrière against the Wild on November 17.

Not that Perron’s complaining. He’ll take ‘em any way he can get ‘em.