Penguins Flatten Flyers

After hitting a 3 game skid at the trade dead line, our favorite flightless fowl may be ready to take it on the wing a gain. They are now on a 3 game win streak. This streak started out modestly, eking out victories over the Islanders and Flames, but last night they flattened the Flyers. The win may have proved costly however, as the Flyers Robert Hagg drilled Bryan Rust into the boards. Rust immediately left the game, under his own power, but did not return.

Before I go any further, since I have been lambasting Conor Sheary, I should give him a shout out. Conor Sheary slammed home a rebound on a Sidney Crosby initiated 2-on-1 rebound shot (It turned out to be the game winner). The diminutive winger also converted a Jake Guentzel center-point shot that kicked off of a Flyer skate and onto his stick. With Petr Mrazek up challenging Guentzel’s shot, he was once again helpless to stop Sheary’s shot.

Although, the bulk of the work on both goals was performed by others, the shots Sheary converted were in no way easy. On the first goal, Sheary had to show great skating ability to stop his momentum that would have taken him out of the play and then reach back across his body, on the back hand to tap the rebound into the open net. On the second goal, Sheary had an open net, but was on a bad angle and falling down when he released the puck.

My wife laughed at me, suggesting that I would have to eat crow today. I couldn’t help but remember a discussion I had on these boards yesterday with one of our frequent readers, involving Grace Slick. I suggested that Ms. Slick could find the one pill that would make Sheary 10’ tall. Hmm

Mind you, I am not going to retract any statements I have made, but for now, I am extremely willing to celebrate Sheary breaking his slump.

Crosby, Guentzel, Evgeni Malkin, and Phil Kessel kept on rolling last night. Crosby had 3 assists, one on the opening goal of the game and one on the game winner. Guentzel notched 2 assists, including his 20th assist of the season. Malkin notched a goal and an assist and Kessel picked up another assist.

Tristan Jarry also had a big game turning away 26 of 28 shots in the victory. Many people (not me) were ready to write the rookie goalie off after a bad game, easily forgetting some of the big games he had earlier this year. Maybe I would rather have more veteran goalie to back up Matt Murray, since the team defense is at best Jekyll and Hyde, but the kid is a good goalie.

Jamie Oleksiak also stood tall with a goal, an assist, and a scrum with Brandon Manning. I sort of wished they would have handed out fighting majors so the “Big Rig” could have converted his Gordie Howe Hat Trick.

Unfortunately, the injury to Rust could prove Pyrrhic, if the spark plug is out for any length of time. The kid’s speed and tenacity will be hard to replace. Sheary doesn’t bring any physical edge to his game. Although Rust isn’t all that big, he plays big and Fearless. Sheary really can’t replace Rust. As for Rowney, his lack of scoring touch really could harm the offense.

One thing about these Penguins though is that they have tons of character and injuries really bring out the best in this team.