Penguins’ Blast Canucks 8 – 6

What was that I watched last night?

I had to check to see what channel I had on. I thought I was watching Netfilx or some movie channel showing “Tombstone” or some other rendition of the Gunfight at the OK Corral. I was expecting to see Val Kilmer skate out on to the ice and say “I’m your huckleberry”.

On the plus side Pittsburgh Penguins won, thanks to an offensive barrage from its top line. On the minus side, goaltending was an afterthought.

Let’s start with the bad and savor the good at the end;

For 2 years I have lambasted our hometown team’s defense or lack of commitment to protecting their goal. Last season, Matt Murray and Casey DeSmith stole many a game with 30+ and 40+ save shutouts. This season the defense has held opponents to under 30 in the majority of games. Last night, the Vancouver Canucks only managed 22 shots but scored 6 goals.

Murray started the game and gave up 4 goals on 14 shots. Of the 14 shots only 5 of them were High Danger (HD) shots; 3 of them went in. If you think that was bad, Tristan Jarry came in to relieve Murray and let in the only 2 HD shots (a 0% Save % on HD shots), the only 2 real scoring chances he faced get by him. Unfortunately for Jarry, Vancouver is a far better offensive team than the Calgary Flames (Jarry’s last opponent), they score almost a full goal more per game and have a team Shooting Percentage (S%) over 2% higher.

At some point someone must start looking closely at the Goaltending Coach, Mike Buckley. All Penguin’s goalies get beat way too frequently on the short side. Someone needs to get Penguin’s Goalies back on their angles.

On Thanksgiving, that is enough of the bad. Let’s get to the part of being thankful, thankful for Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel, and Bryan Rust. Malkin had 2 Goals (G) and 3 Assists (A), Guentzel had 2 G and 2 A, while Rust had 1 G and 3 A. Let’s be thankful that GM Jim Rutherford didn’t get his way and trade Malkin (as if he could, without Malkn’s permission) and Rust, like he postured this past summer.

I did find it interesting that Steve Mears and Bob Errey marveled at how well Guentzel has seamlessly fit in with Malkin. Apparently, they have forgotten that “Jake the Snake” broke into the league patrolling the Big Russian’s port side, scoring 2 goals in his inaugural game against the New York Rangers on Nov 21, 2016.

Let’s also be thankful that Rutherford did trade for John Marino. The young Right-Handed Defenseman (RHD) only picked up 2 A last night and was a +2, but that is only half of the story. Marino took command of the puck on several occasions, skating with an authority belying his 22 years of age. He has shown a poise well beyond his years all season and it has been getting better with each game.

Although Kris Letang had 3 more Give Aways (GV), 6 in his 2 games back, the Penguin’s Assistant Captain ripped the game winner past Canuck Goalie Thatcher Demko. Letang also added an A.

Dominik Kahun and Jared McCann stayed hot with McCann setting up his wing man. (Speaking of trades to be thankful for, Olli Määttä for Kahun). It took Kahun a little while but he has been playing like I had hoped when they traded for him.

Zach Aston-Reese added the Penguins other G, the G that tied the game up, giving Letang the opportunity for heroics.

Happy Thanksgiving to all our U.S. readers!!

Next up the Columbus Blue Jackets, tomorrow night at 7pm

Go Pens!!!