Depleted Penguins still find a way to win in SO

Beaten, battered, and bruised, our Pittsburgh Penguins have found a way to stay relevant in the 2019-2020 rendition of “the chase for Lord Stanley’s Cup”. Beating the Chicago Blackhawks last night may not seem like much of an accomplishment to some, especially considering that it took a Shoot Out (SO) to do it. After all, the once feared franchise is foundering with only 3 regulation time Wins (W) this year. But this story may not be so black and white. Our hometown hockey heroes early season struggles to stay sound may be forging a formidable force.

Bryan Rust started the season off on the IR. While that may seem unimportant, consider this, the speed merchant has 7 Points (Pnts) in the 6 Games Played (GP). Yes, Rust has been a bit streaky through his career with his scoring, but his contribution in the PK and pressure he puts on opposing Defenses with his speed are always there.

Soon after the season started Evgeni Malkin and Nick Bjugtstad went down with new injuries and Alex Galchenyuk finally succumbed to a nagging preseason injury, leaving a major whole in the Penguins roster.

Kids were summoned from Wilkes Barre – Scranton (WBS); Sam Lafferty, Adam Johnson, and Joseph Blanisi, to hold the fort and they did. Not only did they hold the fort, but they helped Captain Sidney Crosby put up a touchdowns worth of goals in 4 separate games.

Six games ago, the injured started filtering back into the line-up. Unfortunately, that prosperity was short lived. In only a couple of games of a full line-up, Patric Hornqvist was injured. The 2 games ago Kris Letang went down. The team stumbled a little and briefly fell out of the Wild Card hunt. Boston quickly staked themselves to a 3 goal lead, but then our tuxedo wearing water fowl reasserted their character. They climbed back into the fray, even gaining a lead for a brief moment before dropping that game.

Then they did unthinkable, sans Hornqvist and Letang, they came back against an Islander 3 goal 3rd period deficit to win in Over Time (OT).

Last night our aquatic avians wrote another chapter in their story of resilience. A desperate Chicago Blackhawk team, fighting for their very survival came into town on a night the black and gold was celebrating real life leaders and heroes and tried to ruin that celebration.

The visitors grabbed themselves a quick 2 goal lead. Dominik Kubalik drew 1st blood when Justin Schultz made a questionable decision to pinch in to hold the puck in nearing the midpoint of the 2nd period. The Hawks broke back on what became, effectively a 4 on 1. A couple of tic-tac-toe passes later Marcus Pettersson and Matt Murray were hung out to dry; our Penguins were down 1 – 0. That was at 7:09 of the second.

Patrick Kane double that lead about 1 and a ½ minutes later. Kane broke out of his own zone on a 2 on 2 with Brendan Saad. Saad slipped in behind Dominik Simon and Kane used him as a decoy to freeze Murray long enough to rip a wrist shot past our backstop.

(Yes, Phil, I do think that Murray still had a chance to stop that shot. He did have to respect the fact that Saad beat Simon, but it wasn’t an impossible save to make, just a difficult one. However, that was 1 out of the 31 other shots. Only 2 beat him with the other goal closing in on an impossible one to stop. Furthermore, considering that he robbed Alex Debrincat on the Penalty Kill (PK) about the 16 minute mark do you really want to complain?)

Then Malkin and Jake Guentzel took over. Malkin Flew up ice, through the Neutral zone and down the left wing. He took a quick peak over his shoulder and saw Guetzel trailing the play. After that peak, the big Russian Bear drove toward the net, commanding all focus on him. Then without looking he slipped the puck back in front to his sniper trailer. The Hawks Goalie, who was playing really well, was left helpless. Guentzel cruising his off wing whipped a wrist shot to the back of the net and the lead was cut in half.

No one could have completely blamed our locals if they folded, at the 1:02 mark of the 2rd frame, when their Captain Crosby skated off of the ice with a lower body injury. However, this team refused to accept what fate was trying to do. Rust, Malkin, and John Marino worked feverishly to tie the score. At about 9:12 of the 3rd, with all attention once again on him, Malkin slipped a sweet little pass a wide open Rust in the slot. Corey Crawford had an answer for that play but couldn’t control the rebound

Rust followed his own play getting the puck free to Malkin once again, who also followed the play. Malkin circled in the Right Wing (RW) corner and slipped the puck up to Marino, about halfway down the boards. Marino drifted backward for a moment then drove back in.

Between watching Marino with the puck, Malkin and Simon, who was standing in the slot, no Hawk noticed Rust swing back up on the back side. Marino displaying a poise and patience above his tender years found Rust and Rust capped off the play he started, tying the game.

I must confess, without Crosby and Letang, I was very fearful that our Pens would only 1 point last night. I really worried that they would not be able to score, nor maintain enough control of the puck, in the extra frame, without their Captain, to prevent Chicago from scoring. They didn’t score, but they kept Chicago at bay and went to the SO.

Once again I worried, Chicago had Kane and Toews, but we only had Malkin. Two of our three biggest guns were in dry-dock. Mike Sullivan opted to shoot 1st and sent Jake the Snake to try and stake the team to a quick lead and the kid didn’t disappoint. He cut in on Crawford, getting him to open up the wickets and slipped the puck 5-hole.

Murray then Stuffed Toews, but Crawford beared down and stopped Malkin.

Kane used some quick hands and great stick-handling to beat Murray and tie the SO up.

It was Jared McCann’s turn next and he swung in with speed, ripping a wrist shot past Crawford before he could get set. While Murray finished off the comeback with an almost nonchalant blocker pad save on DeBrincat.

With all the true heroes in attendance, our Penguins saluted them. They stood up to be counted

This morning, the morning after, there are things to which we all could point and say needs improvement, but I think most of us will admit, despite the warts, there does seem to be something here. Due to superstition, I won’t go any farther down this path. I think most of you get that to which I am alluding, there is an odd feeling a good feeling here.

Despite injuries, bad luck and a couple of let downs, our boys of winter are back in the top 3 of their division with a bit of breathing room for the Spring.

Next Up the New York Rangers, 7:30 on Tuesday the 12th, up in New York, on the eve of my Birthday; just saying 2 points would be a good lead in.

Go Pens!!!