Please forgive me for propagating that played-out catch-phrase particularly after you had to endure Penguins’ TV announcers not just beat, but pound that horse posthumously throughout the broadcast last night.
Honestly, I didn’t count the number of times I heard one of the announcers make, or allude to that hackneyed saying, nor do I recall the first time it was used as a hype statement pregame but after hearing it over and over again, eventually the iteration evoked images in the muse of my mind. Eventually the banality of it all brought forth the animated Tom Hanks as the train conductor of the “Polar Express” punching the tickets of children on the cusp of losing their belief.
Just like in that movie, the Penguins almost lost their ticket. Detroit opened up the scoring when Matt Puempel converted a Jake Guentzel interference penalty into a goal by redirecting a Filip Hronek point shot while standing in the mid slot. And just like the movie, that ticket seemed to elude their grasp, floating around the frozen wastes as young, lightning quick legs pressured some of the slower more veteran legs of our locals. Even though they weren’t getting a lot of shots, the Red Wings were getting some chances.
Fortunately, the Wings got clipped fairly soon after by none other than the man who gave the upstarts their hopes. Guentzel was Johnny-on-the-spot, slipping into a dead spot in Detroits’ defense as Olli Maatta picked a perfect time to jump into the play, circling into the left corner before slipping the puck back up to an open Guentzel in the face-off circle. Guentzel made short work of that pass, potting it behind Jimmy Howard with a one time shot.
It took a little time (Howard did play well) but before the period was over and after nearly 18 shots, the Penguin machine started to gain traction when Phil “the thrill” Kessel slammed home a power play scramble in front of a beleaguered Howard‘s net. Penguins’ captain Sidney Crosby with power play specialist Patric Hornqvist caused the mayhem, distracting Detroit defenders, allowing Kessel to get open.
Kessel, extended the Flightless Fowl’s lead 15 minutes into the second frame as the Penguins peppered Howard 18 more times. Kessel‘s second goal came off of a clean speed draw win by a returning Evgeni Malkin.
Crosby iced the game in the 3rd period with another power play goal. This time Kessel and Hornqvist were the ones who distracted Detroit‘s PK (Penalty Kill) while Captain Sid snuck in (relative term – one Red Wing did try covering Crosby) to the left of Howard to deposit a lose puck into the net. The goal drew Crosby to within 2 points of the century mark.
Perhaps the real hero to the Penguins’ playoff hopes was and is goalie Matt Murray. After a rocky start to the season Murray has been a wall despite facing a barrage of not only shots, but high quality shots. And once again last night, Murray sparkled, turning back 33 of 34 shots.
This brings us to the question; What did Conductor Hanks punch into the tickets of the Penguins?
Maybe “60 Minutes”?
How about “Play to win, not to not lose”?
Maybe, “At least get in the way of opposing forwards”?
If he punched in “shoot the puck!!”, the team may have been listening, at least last night. They had 46 shots on goal.
If he punched in “Stop alienating your players” on Mike Sullivan‘s ticket, he may already be learning, according to announcer Bob Errey, Sullivan was over heard giving Kessel a pat on the back for some solid defensive play.
Any thoughts, Penguin Poop faithful?
Odds and Sods
With the win last night, the team will make its 13 straight playoff appearance, extending their team record for playoff appearances. The previous best streak was 11 seasons.
Guentzel‘s goal was his 39th goal of the year. He only needs 1 more to eclipse the 40 mark. If he can score one more goal, he will be the first Penguin Winger to hit that mark since James Neal did it in 2011-2012.
Penguins’ prospect Kasper Bjorkqvist and his Providence Friars teammates find themselves in the semi finals of the NCAA’s Frozen Four. Bjorkqvist has 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points, 3 shots, 2 penalty minutes and his plus/minus is even at 0 in the 2 tournament games thus far. Go Friars! Go Bjorkqvist!
Hey Other Rick,
You beat me to the punch in your usual colorful fashion and saved me the embarrassment of giving myself an attaboy…which I’m actually going to do now… 🙂
The big boys, indeed, stepped up as I implored in yesterday’s post. Kessel (two goals and an assist), Crosby (a goal and two assists) and Hornqvist (two assists) all had big games. Guentzel (a goal) and Malkin (an assist) also chipped in.
We’ll need more of that if we’re to have success in the postseason.
I do like the look of our lines with Geno back in the fold. The Guentzel-Crosby-McCann combo shows great chemistry and could be deadly. I like the look of Rust-Malkin-Kessel, too. Rust more or less fills Carl Hagelin’s role, albeit with a little scoring potential.
I kind of like Simon-Bjugstad-Hornqvist…Simon’s actually shown some chemistry with those guys…although he and Hornqvist need to score more (or score…period). I’m fine with Blueger-Cullen-Wilson, too…although I like Adam Johnson’s speed and would like to keep him in there.
Don’t know what to do with Aston-Reese when he comes back, although his return doesn’t appear imminent. I’d image he’ll replace Blueger or Wilson…I think Sullivan’s too enamored of Simon to pull him out.
If everyone’s healthy on ‘d’, who do you go with…Maatta or Pettersson? I’d probably go with the former…I think he’s more solid…although it means he and Gudbranson would have little time before the playoffs to adapt to each other.
Rick
Hey Rick,
Thanks,
We aren’t exactly apart, but we don’t line up quite all the way.
I do think Guentzel – Crosby – McCann seem to have some chemistry, but I don’t like loading one line with all left handed wings and the other with all right handed wings. Maybe it wouldn’t mesh and I would have to go back to the current mix but if it were my decision the top 2 lines would look like this;
Guentzel – Crosby – Rust (That line also showed chemistry)
McCann – Malkin – Kessel (Maybe this one would mix, maybe it wouldn’t but I would balance it this way.
However, with everyone back, I would round out my bottom 6 like this
Aston Reese – Bjugstad – Hornqvist
Johnson – Blueger – Wilson
Sorry, at this point I am no Simon fan. To me, he is, as the immortal bard once said, “much ado about nothing” or “full of sound and fury signifying nothing”. Yes he is still young and maybe still can do something with his career but he looks to me as no more than another Conor Sheary absenting himself for far too long of time periods. Furthermore, his defense doesn’t impress me much. Last year I thought he should be given a chance above the known failure (Sheary), this year he needs to give way to Johnson or Angello.
One of my big hang ups with Sullivan is that he is so afraid to lose anymore that he over plays the experience card. I would play Cullen over Simon, but Johnson, Blueger and ZAR over both.
On D I think the team was playing a lot better without Maatta. When Dumoulin is healthy again I sit Maatta. I still think over-all Pettersson is still at least a season away from really being an NHL defenseman but although Maatta has pretty good hockey sense he is the weak link in the chain.
It is not so much that I don’t like Maatta, I just don’t think he fits the pathetic excuse of a defensive system the team employs. If the team changes up its schemes he could help the team but as it stands I believe;
Johnson – Schultz
Dumoulin – Letang
Pettersson – Gudbranson
Give this team its best chance of advancing to even the second round.
But as you know Sullivan never seems to listen to me, so my guess is that he will follow your concepts.
It will be interesting to see if we last long enough to call up some black aces and if so, who will get the tag.