If you could see my face right now you may be reminded of the movie “Miracle on 34th Street”. I am pretty sure the look on my face is similar to that of the look on the face of John Payne at the end of the movie. If you recall the final scene, Payne, Maureen O’Hara, and a very young Natalie Wood are driving home from just having saved the old man who called himself Kris Kringle from wrongfully being involuntarily committed to an asylum. Wood screams in her little girl voice to stop the car and runs into a house with a For Sale sign on it. O’Hara and Payne followed closely on her heels. By by the time the adults get into the house, Wood had raced through most of the house and was heading out the back door, yelling that Santa had fulfilled her wish for her dream house. Standing in what may have been the living room, in front of a fire place, O’Hara and Payne discuss the idea of buying the house for the little girl; after all Payne was such a great lawyer the got Kris off of the hook. It was then that Payne noticed a cane leaning near the fireplace that looked strangely like the cane that Kris carried throughout the movie. That look, right there, as Payne begins to suspect Kris was the real Kris Kringle is the face I am making right now.
Just a few short days ago, I posted a short wish list to Santa for our “Boys of Winter”. Um…. Well…. It’s kind of looking like that Jolly Old Elf must read Penguin Poop. It is just a bit coincidental at the very least, that several of my wishes are getting filled already.
Among the wishes I made for our favorite flightless fowl was that Santa would keep the mojo flowing through Bryan Rust. As if on cue, Rust has delivered 3 goals in 2 games. The Penguins’ speedy, gritty Winger turned 2 Wild turnovers into goals last night. The night before he topped the Caps game with the winning goal (WG). Rust’s mojo not only netted that WG but the WG from last night as well.
Another wish I made for our tuxedo clad sphenisciform seabirds was for the goaltending. I am not sure if Santa brought the Penguins’ goalie coach, Mike Buckley, some of Mike Bales magic, but the Goalies sure have looked like it. Matt Murray and Casey DeSmith have rejected 71 of 73 shots, 0.973% save percentage (sv%) against during these 2 games.
I closed out asking for 6 more points before Christmas. So far our locals have collected 4 of those 6 points, the 4 points that would have seemed the more difficult 4 – so don’t let down boys.
Granted, Rust was hot before these last 2 games, so was the Goaltending. In the last 5 games, the Penguin Goalies have faced 201 shots on goal (SOG), giving up only 12 goals for a sv% of 0.940%. Maybe ole Kris Kringle has started his trip early, maybe it is just coincidence.
Hopefully, there is Christmas magic out there. Hopefully, Santa will be bringing defensive adroitness in his bag. Although Penguin goalies have been equal to the task and Marcus Pettersson and Riley Sheahan helped there Goalies out with some goal line heroics, 40 SOG per game (that is what 201 shots comes to in 5 games) is a recipe for disaster.
I must confess that I have also considered that it may not be the defensive ability of the players but the defensive schemes that the team uses or perhaps it is the offense that really is at fault. A recent post by Ryan Wilson on hockeybuzz to which our friend Dee referred me would seem to infer a disturbing trend.
“The things that Sullivan probably gets upset at Kessel for aren’t nearly as important as the things Cullen does well. The ‘play the right way” mantra rings hollow when you don’t hold all players accountable. Players aren’t stupid. They can see special treatment if it exists. Also, “play the right way” usually means over commit to defense at the expense of pushing the play offensively. Not exactly playing to the strengths of this particular roster.”
Perhaps the real defensive problem is a lack of sustainable offense because of over emphasis on defense. I am not saying that defense, particularly team defense can be over emphasized. What this article has me ruminating on is has our organization passed over or thrown away too many players with offensive upside for feel good players who NEED to over commit to defense to make an NHL roster.
A win is a win is a win, and 4 points out of 4 points is as good as it gets from an out come stand point. Style points may count in College Football but not in the NHL standings. However, only scoring 4 goals in these last 2 games in 67 SOG is not a good sign. I wouldn’t be that concerned if not for the fact that not just one, but all of the Penguins’ big guns; Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Phil Kessel are struggling and have been for the entire month.
Even more concerning about the lack of offense is that both of the goals the Penguins scored last night were gifts. Both Penguins’ goals came off of mindless Wild turnovers. Last night’s game could have easily been a Minnesota shutout. It was great that the Penguins converted (or at least Rust converted) the turnovers, but those types of goals cannot be counted on going forward.
Perhaps once Santa puts at least 1 more top 6 Winger (2 preferable) in the Penguins’ stocking, the shot totals will start coming down. Perhaps when Crosby and Malkin have the right Wingers (and capable Defensemen), they will be able to sustain pressure in the offensive zone, get goals, and reduce the number of shots and scoring chances the Penguins’ Goalies must face.
Of course, even if Santa delivers 2 top 6 forwards, coach Mike Sullivan will still need to deploy them and deploy them to best advantage. So, Santa, don’t forget to tweak our coach as well.
Go Pens! Let’s get those other 2 points.
Hey guys,
I will disagree on Johnson. Johnson is ugly brutal hockey player. He been little ok . I’m spent on him. Bad, Bad Signing. He does well on the Pk , that’s it. He’s getting shelter and quite frankly he’s spending g to much time with Malkin and Crosby’s lines . He’s getting to much time with the Stars . He doesn’t bring nothing offensively nor defensively good for the Penguins style hockey. His stats is getting inflated with stars and Pettersson. Pettersson is carrying him and for crying out lying Pettersson is covering his butt to much . I would like to see him without him and with Rudwedel or Maybe Oleskiak
Penguins get continuously outshot on the ice with him. He doesn’t effectively shot the puck. Doesn’t help sustain offensive pressure. Slow and ugly skater.
Very slow to react and to do something right with Head on swivel. .
100% of the time , Stars are hemmed in their zone with him. they are constantly defend to get to offensive to create something by time that happens they are too tired and changed. If they do constantly defend then score a goal then he will get plus minus rating..
His passing doesn’t connect. Transition suck.To worry about hiting players and not the puck. Patterson numbers are draining with him.
Sometimes stars are throwing their hands up with him on the ice. His passing not pinching is good. Regardless the stats and eye test. He doesn’t fit this team . He sucks..
I already gave the stats and some video to back it up. He drags players down. Rudwedel should be playing over him. Sullivan is using on the second pairing while give Määttä the short end of the stick..
Johnson has been adequate and inflated to look better with Stars..(Sullivan)
Yes, it’s great that Dumoulin is improving ever season and he has been really for Crosby. Dumoulin is still carrying Letang..He’s very underrated.. At the end of day some will only pump up and give to much credit to Letang.
Honestly, Penguins getting points and stringing games are good. They are not passing the eye test. They going through motions without having a chance to give the hard emotions out on the ice. Sullivan holding them back.
Rick Tocchet is missed!!!
Major obstacles and to many passengers. Some small key pieces and spark is needed. Consistency and Chemistry needs to build more. Big guns needs to be top priority all this team. Utilize players better where they belong.
Big guns needs consistency and better wingers ( except for Guentzel and Phil Kessel)They need consistency four lines and secondary scoring. They need they guns to have more goals and better powerplay without Letang quarterbacking it..
Until Penguins win 4-6 wins in row. It would be nice to say they are fully back to themselves with whole new consistent identity .
Hello TOr,
Thank you, I love you!!!
Great articles all time!!
I have been trying make this point over and over again.. probably come out wrong and too long. Both you guys get it( Wilson)
Crosby,Kessel and Malkin come first. Guentzel too. Imho. Foundation come first and great surroundings pieces fall in line..
This isn’t Sullivan team.. Crosby and Malkin’s team..
That ‘play the right way’ and favoritism is bs. Accommodating non factor players.. BS. To many great players are leaving or getting push out of town..
Take Kessel , Malkin and Crosby away . Along with Guentzel and Hornqvist. This team won’t be nothing, but Sullivan guys on this team barely winning games..
Players noticed and get very humanly to see that a coach can do that. He needs let great players be great players that move this bus. Sullivan ‘s Guys don’t do that. They don’t bring nothing. Defense game and transition game sucks . They are not offensively e wearing down opposition.. Good that Wilds gift them ( Jake great vision/Crosby’s line with a pulse)and Caps didn’t get lucky bounces ..
Great 4 points to add ..
There’s still to much problems with shots and so call defensive schemes..( agree with you)
Crosby,Kessel and Malkin deserves better.. Let them play their game and make them priority.
Simon , Rust, Zar don’t cut it .. Please Santa give them better wingers and reliable 3C
I don’t like it.
Trust me. Crosby, Kessel and Malkin noticed this every game. Sadly, Sullivan is deploying Johnson with them to much. .. Several times you see throwing the hands up or head down playing with Johnson.
Hey Dee,
I am not really an ESPN fan per se. However, sometimes it is on in the background. I think it was yesterday, maybe the day before, but on one of their shows they were interviewing Saban the head coach of U of A football. Saban told a story about his first lesson in coaching. He said that he was the QB for his HS team. In the championship game, with the game on the line, he called a time out and went over to his coach.
Like most players of his era, he actually called his own plays, not like today when everything has been distilled down to a computer algorithm.
Saban although entrusted with the responsibility of play calling really didn’t want to take that responsibility on what was the biggest play of his nascent career; he wanted his coach to make the call.
According to Saban, the coach threw the ball back in his court, telling Saban that it was his team and he needed to make the call. Saban asked for advice. His coach told him, you have an all state RB and a lightning fast all state WR. I don’t care what play you call, but put the ball into one of their hands. Put the ball into the hands of your best players. Put the ball in the hands of the players that give you the best chance of winning the championship.
I hope Sullivan heard that interview.
Hey ToR,
Absolutely.
I hear that interview.. He need to see it. Someone needs to reell him back.
That why Penguins won the cup B2b with Big Guns and Rick Tocchet.
‘’Behind every fearless player is a fearless coach who refused to let them be anything but the best they can be’’
Coach don’t make a player, Player don’t make a coach. They Make each other better.
‘A great coach make players see what they can be rather what they are’ -ARA P.
Absolutely . Read my mind all the time. Rust didn’t deserve promotion there .
Simon is in the same boat as Simon . Riding Cocktails. Both players can easily be replaced. I can see Angello and Johnson doing that.
I would like to see players who don’t do that and bring something more to table. Rust is Sully’s Guy. It is what it is. I like Rust. But I don’t like some parts of his game and unwarranted promotions.. I suspected he will not be consistent and bring down Jake&Sid . It never work long term, anyway.
It’s good he’s scoring andvon a streak. I’m not buying it. I don’t see it effectively helping Crosby’s line.
I wouldn’t be surprised Sully shuffling again to demoted Guentzel after a small mistake to promote his guys with Crosby. Simon and Rust.
Crosby’s line is 2/3 line.
Side note: I don’t think you know that Malkin and Crosby didn’t want to play with Sprong either.
I still believe Penguins will come first or second out the weak metro division .. I don’t think other Metro teams will hold up their end. I just want them to better than either. I want the big guns to be happy and have consistency that let do what they needs to drive the bus without poor flawed system, passengers and deadweight that ailing them..
Hey ToR,
Absolutely.
I hear that interview.. He need to see it. Someone needs to reell him back.
That why Penguins won the cup B2b with Big Guns and Rick Tocchet.
‘’Behind every fearless player is a fearless coach who refused to let them be anything but the best they can be’’
Coach don’t make a player, Player don’t make a coach. They Make each other better.
‘A great coach make players see what they can be rather what they are’ -ARA P.
Absolutely . Read my mind all the time. Rust didn’t deserve promotion there .
Simon is in the same boat as Simon . Riding Cocktails. Both players can easily be replaced. I can see Angello and Johnson doing that.
I would like to see players who don’t do that and bring something more to table. Rust is Sully’s Guy. It is what it is. I like Rust. But I don’t like some parts of his game and unwarranted promotions.. I suspected he will not be consistent and bring down Jake&Sid . It never work long term, anyway.
It’s good he’s scoring andvon a streak. I’m not buying it. I don’t see it effectively helping Crosby’s line.
I wouldn’t be surprised Sully shuffling again to demoted Guentzel after a small mistake to promote his guys with Crosby. Simon and Rust.
Crosby’s line is 2/3 line.
Side note: I don’t think you know that Malkin and Crosby didn’t want to play with Sprong either.
I still believe Penguins will come first or second out the weak metro division .. I don’t think other Metro teams will hold up their end. I just want them to better than either. I want the big guns to be happy and have consistency that let do what they needs to drive the bus without poor flawed system, passengers and deadweight that ailing them..
2 points on Saturday.. LGP!
How about some love for Guentzel! His relentless fore-checking was the main reason for both goals. The CGR line is looking good with Rust and Guentzel being able to generate goals with or without Crosby.
Casey DeSmith is rocking it in the top 5 goalies in save percentage.
Pens have won 7 of 10 since December 3rd. Three Points out of first.
Guentzel is unbelievable. Great all season.. He keeps getting better and better. Great top line winger for Crosby.
Guentzel is hitting on all cylinders and deserves all that he is getting. I like Rust and hope he can keep up with Crosby and Guentzel, but I fear we are talking about a Warren Young type player who may get inflated stats riding the coat tails of his line mates. When I say Warren Young, I know Rust is a speed demon and you could time Young with a sundial. However, effectively, goals and points wise, neither drives/drove their line but Young was able to get himself in position to take advantage of Lemieux’s talent, just as Rust did last night to avail himself of Guentzel’s play.
Hey Phil,
Agreed, Guentzel is ratcheting it up a notch. I mentioned that in a reply to Dee on the old post. He has great hockey IQ and gets ahead of the puck so that is always seems to come to him.
When all were down on DeSmith and Murray, I was not among them. I believe in them. Murray may need a little more time to get back to being Murray instead of trying to MAF but DeSmith has been solid almost all season, with only a couple of hiccups.
Again the good news for the Pens is that their division is rather weak. Even NJD and Phil aren’t that far out. Thankfully NYI dropped a couple to allow the Pens to nudge their way back into the Cup race.
There is still 2 points on the table before Christmas, let’s keep a good thought.
I’m with you, Phil.
I’m not predicting a Stanley Cup, mind you. But I think there are signs that this team is beginning to jell. They’re 7-2-1 in their past 10…10-4-2 since a third-period meltdown led to an overtime loss against Buffalo on November 19.
No, the bottom-six aren’t lighting it up. But they are contributing more than they were. And I really like the look of the Guentzel-Crosby-Rust combo. Both wingers play a dirty game…and of course Sid’s a master in traffic. Speaking of, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen him play better all-around hockey.
The defense seems to be playing better, too, especially since the arrival of Marcus Pettersson. Hopefully we’ll get Schultz back in the not-too-distant future…we need him to run the power play.
DeSmith’s done a really commendable job…he gets my vote for Unsung Hero. And if Murray can even approach his Cup-winning form, we’ll be in good shape between the pipes.
Yes, the play of the second line is a concern. Kessel is…well…Kessel. He’s streaky. Always has been, always will be. “Geno’s” a bit more of a worry. He’s been prone to funks before, but he’s been in a downward groove for a while now (minus-18 in his past 26 games; minus-13 in his past 13). In fact, as the team’s gotten better, he seems to have gotten worse.
Perhaps he misses Hagelin as some suggest. “Hags” was able to create space and time for Geno with his speed. Although he’s a center by trade, perhaps you call up Adam Johnson and stick him on Malkin’s left flank and turn him loose.
I dunno.
Are the Pens are a perfect team? No. Do I think the improvement’s real? Yes. The key is to bring it for a full 60 minutes in all phases of the game…something they’ve done a better job of lately.
Rick
Hey Rick,
I wish I had your bright outlook. I am tired of seeing the dark side. Unfortunately I still see major obstacles.
As secondary scoring has gone up, primary scoring has gone down. Malkin and Kessel aren’t the only ones in a funk, Crosby is too. Kessel only has 4 goals this month, Crosby 3, and Malkin 2; that is only 9 goals in 11 games from your top guns.
On the other hand Rust has 8 goals by him self. He also has 3 assists for 11 points, while the rest of our new found Guentzel – Crosby – Rust line, Jake Guentzel is tied with Rust for the team lead in points with 2 goals and 9 assists. So one could make the argument that right now, Crosby is being buoyed up by his line mates not the other way around.
Perhaps the loss of Hagelin has hurt Malkin’s line. Hagelin not only contributed speed in the O-zone, but he cold be counted on as the designated d-man to allow Malkin and Kessel to flourish.
On the other hand, with the way Sullivan has been flipping line combos, particularly Malkin’s line mates (even Kessel has played elsewhere quite often lately) Malkin’s funk may be more of a question of exhaustion from having to carry bottom 6 Wingers all the time.
Furthermore, as Dee has pointed out, the one good thing Sullivan has done is that he has given Crosby a solid D-man most of the time. Dumoulin has been getting tons of ice time with Crosby. Meanwhile Johnson and whoever his next victim (D-partner) quite often gets to torment Malkin’s line. I really haven’t had the time to look at those with or without you stats that Dee brought to my attention, lately. Maybe Johnson isn’t as horrible as he had been before this 4 – 1 – 0 stretch. However, in every single combination he was on the ice with before, he was the Mill Stone dragging everyone down.
I do agree with you though, A. Johnson could be a quick, on hand, at least temporary fix for Malkin. Although Johnson came up as a Center, as you noted and like Guentzel, Simon, Aston-Reese, and Angello did, the team has moved him to Wing like those four players. He has been getting lots of ice time at Wing in WBS. I think he may have softer hands than Hagelin and could contribute more on the score sheet as well, compared to Hagelin.
Perhaps my biggest concern right now is that it seems that Mike Sullivan hockey (offensively) is devolving into Mike Johnston hockey. It may not have reach down quite that far yet the average shots for per game for the team is the lowest it has been since Johnston’s first year.
On the flip side, the Penguins shots against average for the team is at a 5 year high 33.1. Furthermore this is the first year in 5 years that the team’s SA average is higher than its SF average. For me it comes as no surprise that the team GAA average is at a 5 year high as well.
Part of my biggest worry is the $$$ of hockey, with all of these trends, team value has to be taking a hit. I will have trouble believing that 2 – 1 victories when giving up 40 shots a game can do anything but drop value.
Hey Other Rick,
I’m not saying the Pens are a perfect team or that everything’s rosy, Lord knows. Malkin’s protracted funk certainly is a concern, and the third line simply must begin to produce.
I’m still shaking my head as to how Brassard…traditionally about a 17-20 goal guy…could dry up as completely as he has. He’s seemed quicker to me lately and more on the puck…a sign that he may finally be adjusting to our system. But he’s got to start producing. Ditto Pearson, who’s cooled after a nice start.
I guess I’m banking on the fact that these guys will eventually get it together. In the meantime…we are finding ways to win. And that’s the bottom line.
Rick
PS–Re: Johnson…I won’t argue that he was shaky early on. But since Pettersson’s arrival? In the 10 games they’ve played together (coincidentally the Pens are 7-2-1) Johnson’s a plus-4. Over the past 7 games, JJ’s registered 27 hits and 21 blocked shots.
I don’t think it’s a mirage. I think he’s been very effective.
Regarding Malkin being saddled with him, maybe it’s the other way around. When Geno gets into a funk, he tries too hard and the unforced errors (drop passes to no one) increase. He has 42 giveaways…tied for fifth among NHL forwards.
By comparison, Crosby has 20.
Who’s saddled with who?