On a night when champagne corks were popping all over the world in frenzied celebration, the Penguins provided the 18,633 fans in attendance at PPG Paints Arena with a special New Year’s Eve treat of their own.
Indeed, the Pens closed out 2016 with a bang, clipping Atlantic Division leader Montreal, 4-3, courtesy of a sparkling 37-save effort by Marc-Andre Fleury and a little late magic by Conor Sheary and Evgeni Malkin. The overtime triumph capped a 12-1-2 month—the finest December in the team’s 50-year history.
Still, our boys must feel a little like the greyhound at the dog track that can’t quite catch that darn mechanical rabbit, no matter how fast it runs. That’s because Metro Division front-runner Columbus reeled off its 15th-straight win last night—tying the ’81-82 Islanders and the ’12-13 Pens for the second-longest winning streak in NHL history.
If the defending Cup champs are the least bit discouraged, they aren’t letting on.
Take last night, for example. After snatching a 2-1 lead early in the second period on a brilliant backhand goal by Phil Kessel, the Habs knotted the score on Paul Byron’s late-period marker. Followed in short order by a fluke go-ahead goal (credited to Canadien Brian Flynn) that trickled in off defenseman Chad Ruhwedel’s skate two minutes into the final frame.
With Carey Price flashing the form that earned him the Hart Trophy two seasons ago, it looked as though the locals would finish the year on a sour note. However, with 55 ticks left in regulation play and Fleury pulled for an extra attacker, Justin Schultz ripped off a shot from center point. The puck smacked the chest of the ubiquitous Sheary—dutifully stationed to the right of the Montreal net—and deflected in.
Then, working on a 4-on-3 power play in overtime, Kris Letang chipped the puck off the sideboards to Kessel, who circled high in the Canadiens’ zone. Spotting Malkin all alone at the top of the right-wing circle, No. 81 dished a perfect pass to Geno, who beat Price with a blistering one-timer high to the glove side.
The goal not only gave the Pens a hard-earned comeback win and sent the faithful home happy, it vaulted the rangy Russian into a tie for the NHL scoring lead with Edmonton phenom Connor McDavid. A lone point ahead of teammate and top goal-getter, Sidney Crosby.
Not a bad First Night’s work.
Tanger Returns
After missing the past seven games with a lower-body injury, Letang returned to the lineup. The Montreal native logged 25:40 of ice time and picked up second assists on the game-tying and winning goals.
Olli Maatta, likewise, dressed after missing the past two games due to illness. The 22-year-old Finn picked up his third assist of the season on Kessel’s goal.
To make room, the Pens scratched veteran Steve Oleksy, who played in each of the previous four games. Ruhwedel filled in for the injured Brian Dumoulin.
Flower Power
Following a rocky stretch in November, Fleury quietly has rounded into top form. Over his past nine games dating back to a 6-2 victory over Dallas on December 1, the willowy netminder’s posted a .924 save percentage, to go with a 2.59 goals against average and a 6-0-1 record.
In his past four outings? Flower’s been outstanding, boasting a 1.79 goals against average and .943 save percentage. Not to mention a 4-0 record.
Hagelin Hot
Fleury’s not the only Penguin to enjoy a resurgence of late. Following a sluggish first half, Carl Hagelin’s heating up. Traditionally a streaky scorer, the speedy winger’s tallied two goals and five points over the past three games, including a pair of assists on Saturday night.
Fellow Swede and best friend Patric Hornqvist has three goals in his past six.
Overall, Malkin (7 goals, 21 points) and Crosby (11 goals, 20 points) paced the black-and-gold attack in December. Slightly ahead of Schultz (6 goals, 18 points) and Kessel (6 goals, 17 points).
Hi Rick,
It is hard to believe that the season is half over. We have been playing hockey for 3+ months and in just 3 more months and a few days the real show begins.Hard to believe it.
Some of my hockey buddies are saying how the Pen’s are in better shape than last year, while others adamantly disagree. I am somewhere in the middle in my assessment.
We got a lucky break in that Tampa has lost Steve Stamkos for the rest of the season.That weakens Tampa a bit, and that is good for us. But what if they had to play Columbus,Ranger’s or even Montreal and were able to eliminate one of them, but now with Stamkos gone they can not. Maybe we end up with a match up in the second round that is not favorable to the make up of our team? That is what makes Hockey exciting. You never know.
As you point out Rick, we just finished with the best record for the month of December in club history. 50 years is a long time ! That is something to be proud of. No small achievement when you consider Mario L., Jamir J,Paul C. Kevin S. Rick T, and many others stars played together previously.
But now the real season begins. Forget about the last 3 month’s. Now it’s time to play. As we said often in the past month that the league, and our division is very competitive, so it will be a real battle for sure.
A couple little concerns I noticed to date, that moving forward may become an issue.( Coach mentioned a couple as well). 1. Face offs. Against good teams we hardly ever win the face off battle for an entire game. That could become a problem in play off style Hockey come April. 2. Turn overs and take aways. Simply put I think last year we did better. Sometimes they try to be to “cute” with their passes. 3. We could use some wings ! I know Penguins do not fly, but with a good PAIR of big, new wings you never know what will happen.
4. Finally, injuries. We all know the team has had a history of being one of the teams with the most injuries, and just like Tampa, I pray nothing happens to Sid or Geno. There still is a lot of hockey to play and there are many true Cup contenders this year, so the road to repeat will not be easy.
Lets Go Pen’s …2017 !
Hey Jim,
Some really good observations.
As you noted, the Pens definitely have had their troubles in the faceoff circle this season (48.1% vs. a respectable 50.2% in ’15-16). Malkin’s a disaster (42%) and Crosby and Bonino are below 50% as well.
Not to keep harping on it, but they won only 39% of the draws in the 7-1 loss to Columbus on December 22. In the 7-1 loss to the Caps a month earlier…44%.
We certainly can’t afford to give good teams an advantage like that and expect to control play. Especially good teams that enjoy a physical edge. They’ll have us pinned in our own end all night. Which is basically what happened in those lopsided losses to the Jackets and Caps.
Part of the reason I’m worried about meeting either of those teams in the playoffs.
And yet, I really like this Penguins team. While it’s my perpetual wish that we had a bit more size and snarl, I’m hard pressed to think of anyone I don’t like. Maybe you pull Chris Kunitz in favor of Jake Guenztel (18 goals and counting at Wilkes-Barre) to add scoring punch on the wing. But Kunitz still brings a lot of valuable intangibles.
Oskar Sundqvist (14 goals) looks like he’s ready, too, and he’s a bigger guy. But you’re talking about bumping aside Eric Fehr or Scott Wilson or Tom Kuhnhackl (currently injured) to make room. I especially like the latter two…I think Kuhnhackl has some underrated instincts and skills. You’re surely not going to pull Matt Cullen from the mix.
I just don’t know where to make changes.
About the only guy I wouldn’t mind upgrading is Olli Maatta. And this isn’t to knock him or to say that he isn’t doing a solid job. Just personal preference…I’d rather have a bigger, more abrasive guy in the stay-at-home role.
I also sense the Pens are a really tightly knit team. Something GM Jim Rutherford certainly will need to consider when contemplating any changes.
In the meantime…GO PENS!
Rick
Hey Phil and Rick,
I think I heard someone say that the Chinese added a new zodiac and that 2016 was that year, the year of the Penguin! Thanks so much for adding to the stellar ride of last year, giving all of us a great site to revel in that special year.
Thanks to you to Jim for a lot of great insight!
Here’s to continuing that ride through 2017
Hey Coach,
What is that old saying….” ALL for one and one for ALL ” !
Pretty well describes the uniqueness of this Pens Poop site that Phil,
Rick, and a few of their friends started so long ago.
I am totally amazed how it continues and that the dedication
to the Pen’s is so evident by their excellent work.
My New Year’s wish for 2017 is that others,( like you ) will join in and
we can expand this wonderful group of contributors.
May 2017 be as interesting and rewarding as last year !