Recurring themes. When you write about a team on a consistent basis, you’re bound to get caught up in them. When all is said and done, they often tell the tale of a team and its season.
In reading some of my blog articles from last season, the consistent theme seemed to be the Penguins’ sluggishness and lack of urgency, along with an appalling failure to pay attention to details. Add a dash of chaos to the proceedings for the way coach Mike Sullivan constantly juggled his lines.
This season? A totally different story. The recurring theme is about this group’s enormous resilience and character in the face of withering adversity.
A tale of two seasons, to borrow from Charles Dickens.
Our present Pens have been kicked in the teeth more times than you can shake a hockey stick at. Consider for a moment the guys who’ve missed large chunks of time. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel, Brian Dumoulin, Bryan Rust, Patric Hornqvist, Justin Schultz, Dominik Kahun, Nick Bjugstad and now John Marino have combined for 191 man-games lost and counting due to injury.
Indeed, the injuries have occurred almost exclusively to key personnel. Each loss a dagger, aimed at the Pens’ Cup hopes.
And yet this group keeps responding. And they keep displaying their collective heart for all to see.
Just like last night.
No, the 3-2 edging of Florida to snap a six-game winless streak in the Sunshine State wasn’t a thing of beauty. Not by a long shot. Speaking of shots, the home standing Panthers rang up a whopping 35-22 advantage in shots on goal, 25-14 over the final 40 minutes. They enjoyed a pronounced edge in shot attempts (64-42) and dominated the faceoff circle as well, winning 41 of 69 draws.
Yet our Peskies found a way. Our leaders led. Kris Letang opened the scoring on a breakaway with his signature forehand-to-backhand move to beat Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. For the night the fiery defender had five shots on goal, four hits and three blocked shots, as well as a second assist on Teddy Blueger’s tally, while logging a team-high 25:41 of ice time.
“Tanger” was the second star behind Crosby, who potted the game-deciding goal early in the second period on a power-play deflection. Evgeni Malkin picked up the second assist while pacing all black-and-gold forwards in ice time (20:08).
Talk about rising to the occasion. Has there ever been a better core group than these guys?
Although he didn’t earn a star, Tristan Jarry was superb. With the ice tilted in his direction, the cucumber cool netminder made six saves in the final 3:35, including huge stops on sharpshooters Mike Hoffman, Aleksander Barkov and Evgenii Dadonov in the final minute to seal the victory.
Back to my original point. I don’t know if the Pens will win a Stanley Cup. Not with all these injuries. They’ve been out shot, 194-147, over their past six games (which dovetails with Kahun’s concussion). A worrisome trend. They’re starting to lose puck battles on a consistent basis. They’re yielding more odd-man breaks, too.
I personally think it’s the sign of a tired hockey team, exacerbated by the constant pressure to cover for the injured and the fact that Sullivan now seems reluctant to play the fourth line.
I’ve gotten some pushback, most notably from my esteemed colleague Other Rick, but I feel we need to add a player or two…a forward who can make an impact and a depth defenseman if possible. Whether we do so remains to be seen. Much hinges on the severity of Marino’s injury and how long he’ll be out.
One thing I do know. If our guys fall short in their quest for a Cup, it won’t be for a lack of heart.
Riikola Returns
After being a healthy scratch for the past four games, Juuso Riikola returned to the lineup last night. Statistically speaking he had a quiet game, logging a holding penalty in 12:16 of ice time…the lowest among black-and-gold defenders.
I wish someone would explain to me in clear, concise English, what Sullivan and the coaching staff find lacking in this kid’s game. To my eye, he’s mobile and alert, makes good passes and sound reads and has a physical bent to boot. Advanced stats seem to back my perception.
The only thing that makes sense? Perhaps the Finnish defender is being viewed as a bargaining chip for a potential trade and the Pens are trying to keep him healthy.
If that’s not the case? Then Sullivan’s lack of trust seems groundless.
Pens just traded Galchenyuk, 2020 first round pick, and D prospect Calen Addison to Minny for Jason Zucker. Interesting. I think he has 3 years left at 5.5 mil a year.
Marino is out 3-6 weeks.
Hey all,
Interesting article on the Trib by Seth Rorabaugh about the Pens morphing into a three-line team…and how that’s not sustainable if a team hopes to win a Cup.
When questioned about it after the Florida game, Sullivan snapped, “I’m trying to make decisions behind the bench that I think are going to give us the best chance to win.”
Again, if he’s not going to play these guys, then call up Blandisi and Adam Johnson. At least you know you’ll get speed, energy and a little sand.
My two cents, for what it’s worth…
Rick
Hey Rick,
I don’t understand why Sullivan is worried about his 4th line when he only has 1 top 6 line and a 3rd line. Long before he fixes the 4th line, he needs to fix Crosby’s line.
Simon’s 5 on 5 Corsi last game 23.53
Crosby’s 5 on 5 Corsi 28.57
Compare that to
Angello’s 5 on 5 Corsi 25.00
Lafferty’s 5 on 5 Corsi 25.00
The only difference maker is McCann (56.00) or Hornqvist (46.15) skates with Crosby and Simon.
And Galchenyuk (20.00) Skated with Angello and Lafferty
McCann and Hornqvist also skated with Malkin and Rust Buoying their numbers up from the graveyard that is Simon.
These Penguins are really only a 2 effective line team but those 2 lines and their Goaltending has them 4th in the league.
Can they get better? Yes of Course they can, but Fixing Crosby’s line will have a bigger impact than doing anything with the 4th line. Lafferty and Angello only represented about 1/10 of the 5 on 5 TOI, while Crosby and Simon represented between 25% and 30% of the 5 on 5 TOI.
Moving either Lafferty or Angello up to Crosby’s line and moving Simon and Galchenyuk off of the team and replace them with Blandisi and Johnson.
But again, stop panicking, the Pens are 4th in the league!!!!
All you have to do is get to the dance, then anything can happen.
I know this has been discussed before..but Tristan Jarri is getting the shaft. Murray allows 3 goals a game on a good night and frankly its all the Pens can do to score 3 goals. I watched Jarri stand on his head to keep them in the game against the Florida Panthers, and the announcers literally talked more about Matt Murray every time Jarri did something positive.
Murray’s stats were better when big pads and big jerseys were allowed. He’s since become a mediocre goalie.
Jarri may not be the answer forever, but he clearly gives them the best shot of winning on any given night.
The difference between allowing 2 goals and 3 goals or more is enormous.
Hello PensFanBoy17 and welcome to PenguinPoop.
I was critical of Murray earlier this season for his penchant for allowing back-breaking goals at crucial times. A trend that actually started down the homestretch last season and continued through the playoffs. And he went through a truly horrid stretch in November and December where he seemed to have lost his confidence.
However, giving credit where credit is due, Murray has played better over the past month or so, mirroring his pattern from last season. Starting with a 44-save effort against Vancouver on December 28, he’ gone 6-1 with a .919 save percentage and 2.68 goals against. Not earth-shattering, but better.
Having said that, I’m a Tristan Jarry guy. I think he’s better at crunch time with the game on the line, last night being a prime example. I like the way he stands up and makes himself big in the net, as opposed to Murray who tends to drop into his butterfly very quickly. And he handles the puck so much better.
For the record, I agree with your assessment of Murray. I think he’s above average, but hardly a star. And you’re not the only one who thinks his effectiveness waned when they shrunk the size of the pads. PenguinPoop founder and occasional writer Phil Krundle predicted it back in 2018.
My concern…and it sounds like it you may share it…is that Sullivan has a bias toward Murray. While I think it may be true, I also think this is one instance where Sullivan has reined in his urge to play favorites and has done what’s best for the team, i.e., play the goalie with hot hand.
With both set to become restricted free agents at the end of the season, it’ll be interesting to see what Jim Rutherford does. I would not…repeat…NOT sign Murray for any kind of long-term deal for big money. I think JR will be able to sign Jarry for less, and ultimately, that could be the deciding factor.
For now, having two goalies with starting pedigree is a nice problem to have, kind of like when we had Murray and Fleury a couple of seasons back. Without them both, I don’t think we win our second of back-to-back Cups in 2017.
Rick
Rick,
Thanks for the reply. Much more cogent than mine.
Telling that Jarry wasn’t even one of the three stars on a night where the Pens only generated an anemic 22 shots on offense yet the Panthers generated 35 shots of which many were key one on one or two on one plays against Jarry (Heck, think about the direct shot on Jarry with one second left).
My opinion is that Pens have no choice many nights but to pinch more with the Defenders or they’ll end up playing 58 minutes in their own end.
I agree that Murray is playing better. His game against the Caps was solid as was the effort of the entire team. But if the Pens are going to have any chance of going deep in the playoffs, we need a goalie that can steal a few of those games and Matt “my glove side high is always weak” Murray ‘aint it.
Lastly, I hate the open net silliness. The Pens play 5 v 5 better than their power plays and Jarry is good with the puck pass with his stick. Leave Jarry in in those circumstances, and give him the green light to be active with it in dumping it back down the ice.
OK, back to my Lithium meds….
Hey all,
A few add-on thoughts.
I just read a really good article by Dan Kingerski on PittsburghHockeyNow. He’s of the opinion that the Pens’ needs…scoring forward, depth defenseman and bottom-six help might be too great to fill without bankrupting the team’s future. Kind of what Other Rick’s been saying.
Hooks Orpik on Pensburgh touched on the fourth-line woes, saying Sullivan doesn’t like any of his options while pleading for Rutherford to move Galchenyuk for something…anything.
I agree that we’ve got to get the fourth line back to the point where we can at least count on them for energy and 7-10 minutes a game, or the other guys are going to wear out.
My short-term remedy? Send Agozzino and Angello (he appears to be too slow) back to the Baby Pens and call up Joe Blandisi and Adam Johnson. I know Sullivan’s not wild about them, either. But they’d at least bring speed and energy, as they did early in the season when they skated with Lafferty. Who, perhaps not coincidentally, went on a little hot streak with those guys.
Anything’s better than what we’ve got at this point.
I’d also call up Zach Trotman to replace Ruhwedel, who seems to have hit his shelf life. Although I think they flashed an instagram photo last night of Zach sporting a badly cut mouth (and maybe missing teeth?).
Man, we just can’t catch a break!
Rick
Hey Rick,
Let me ask you something, do you think that Angello is looking slow or that a player that is -7 (Galchenyuk) is weighing his line down. I am not saying that he hasn’t shown some weaknesses; on the Cat’s 2nd goal he wasn’t all that aggressive with his back check. Pettersson and Ruhwedel were the ones that were the ones that were out of position on that play but Angello was on the wrong side of his man as well.
Considering Angello has no Offensive Zone starts and has been on a line with a veteran that hasn’t done anything all season and is only fractionally better than Simon, I am not ready to write him off. If the team did pick up a reasonably priced Sam Bennett, then fine send him down to get more TOI and get him away from a failed veteran. But before I send him down, I do my level best to shed Galchenyuk and Simon; those 2 are the millstones on this team.
Hey Other Rick,
I don’t have time for a full-blown response. But I like the idea of getting Sam Bennett. Feisty, aggressive, reasonably skilled (about a 10-15 goal guy). Can play left wing or center.
Not too pricey at $2.55 mil. Signed through next season.
I’d really like if at all possible to add a little bite back into our lineup. When it comes to dropping the mitts, he seems fearless. And if he doesn’t quite stack up against a Tom Wilson, it least he’d give us some shove-back.
As Barclay Plager once said, “it isn’t the ability to fight as much as the willingness.”
From what I’ve seen Bennett’s ready, willing and able…
Rick
PS–I don’t think Angello’s ready. Granted, he’s not getting much of a shot. But he isn’t doing much with the shot he’s getting…
Challenge accepted Rick B.
Sorry, but what I see is a team led by all the players JR and Sully didn’t want on the team, while the players Sully tends to lean on keeping opponents in games and possibly holding the team back from the Presidents Trophy (Which is okay by me because that seems to be curse rather than blessing)
I do agree Tristan Jarry was the No 1 star last night. He snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. The Panthers out chanced the Penguins at every Level Corsi, Fenwick, Shots, Scoring Chances, High Danger Chances. The Percents were always in the 60%+ range for all data, fortunately for the Penguins, Jarry held the fort and the Pens out paced the Cats in the only stat that counts at the end of the day.
However, most of the usual suspects still tanked; Crosby’s step child Simon bore another -1 out of the game, his 5 on 5 Corsi was -9, Fenwick -10, Shot diff. -7, Scoring Chances (SC) -6, High Danger Chances (HDC) -5 (he wasn’t on the ice for even 1 High Danger Chance for). All of those negatives while starting in his Defensive zone only 1 time.
Because of Sully’s and Crosby’s obstinacy Crosby although even in +/- for the game earned a 5 on 5 of Corsi -9, Fenwick -10, Shot Diff -6, SC -5, HDC -4. And just like his little buddy, Crosby was only on the ice for 1 Defensive Zone Start.
In fact a quick look down the teams season +/- stats (to date) finds Schultz at the bottom at -9, Simon, -8, Galchenyuk -7, and Crosby -5; Crosby a -5 because Simon is constantly being deployed on his Wing.
The problem isn’t with the players on injured reserve but with the veteran players getting TOI without earning it. Simon should be in the AHL and Adam Johnson should be up here. Galchenyuk has been a complete bust. Maybe he has been trying too hard trying to replace Kessel or maybe as I wrote in the off-season he really isn’t all that talented. He is performing even below what I had envisioned. I thought he would at least finish with around 20 Goals but be a -20ish. His Goal production is far below what I thought while his +/- is a little better than I though but that is no doubt due to phenomenal goaltending.
Contrast that with some of the players JR and Sully blamed for last years loss and talked about trading,
Malkin even +/-, +1 in 5 on 5 Corsi and Fenwick last night, even in Shots, even in SC, +1 in HDC. Malkin had 2 Defensive Zone Starts. On the season averaging 1.39 points per game, and +12.
Rust Even in +/-, +2 Corsi, +1 Fenwick, -1 in Shots, Even in SC, +2 in HDC (opposite of Simon, Rust was not on the ice for any HDC against) and like line mate Malkin, Rust was on the ice for 2 defensive zone starts. For the Season Rust is averaging 1.19 Pnts per game and is +17.
Sorry Rick, long before this team needs to look outside the Organization it needs to address the fact that its brain trust keeps trotting out the same failed players. I shudder to think where this team would be in the standings if the team could have played the players it wanted to play this season with.
Dump Simon, Galchenyuk, and Bjugstad when he comes back. Flip Trotman for Ruhwedel until Marino comes back, and either bring Pedan back across the pond or trade for a 3rd pairing Ron Hainseyesque Defenseman.
If Marino comes back in time, consider trading Schultz for picks or prospects. Use Simon, Galchenyuk, and Bjugstad to get that 3rd pairing D-man and maybe a bag of pucks, a couple of broken sticks and a Molson’s (and it doesn’t even have to be cold).
With the stupidity of teams looking to just make the playoffs, any trades for high profile players will be cost prohibitive. The Pens will never get back what they paid and possibly even screw up what they have. And as I wrote yesterday, let’s remember that JR hasn’t intentionally won an impact trade in a long, long time. Marino was a steal but nobody, not even JR knew how well he would play, Kahun has only showed flashes and hasn’t really been an impact player because Sully keeps using Simon, McCann was a throw in, Bjugstad was the player JR wanted. JR hasn’t intentionally brought in a big named impact player since the 1st Cup year when he was partnered with Botterill
The Other Rick
Your off your JR / Sully rant again!! So last year it was Sullivan’s fault
and this year the players get the credit……hmmmmmmmmm “interesting
theory that holds zero weight.
You don’t hold moral and team chemistry together despite all the adversity
the Pen’s have faced without an exceptional coach – one the players have
complete respect and trust in.
I totally disagree with your assessment. I love the way you say JR this and
JR that about trades and FA when you have no idea his thought process
when he makes a move.
Also, theirs not a team in the league that has (4) lines piling up points. As
players everyone has a role not every player can be effective in his own
way. I think that’s a big reason for the tremendous chemistry they have this
year “no ego’s” Can you say Kessel??
This is for Rick – I love Riikola as well but i’ve noticed on many occasion he
gets confused in his own end to the point where he just stands and watches – unlike Marino who’s always composed no matter the situation. I think in time
he’ll be fine. Not a big JJ fan but last night he bailed Letang out several times – Just to give us a gauge on our Defenseman he’s well ahead of Ruhlwedel, Riikola, and with the wayhe’s currently playing Schultz.
The Other Rick
You really need to give Sully and JR there due. This years team chemistry has
everything to do with those two and no one else. They saw the problems we
had last year and corrected them – JR brought in youth, speed and skill along
with a team 1st mentality. It’s been an exceptional transformation.
GO PEN’S
Mike,
Are you saying that Simon is earning his TOI?
Are you saying that Galchenyuk is earning his?
Do you think that being the only 3 regular Fowards on the team in minus is a fluke for Simon, Galchenyuk and even Crosby?
Are you trying to tell me that Malkin, Rust, and Letang were all discussed negatively by Sully and JR in the Media (even though everyone read it) and that all were either linked to trades or overtly or passively/aggressively offered up for teams to come by and kick the tires?
Are you suggesting that someone, somewhere foresaw Marino’s impact?
Are you saying that even though the Media reported the Penguins traded Brassard and Sheahan for Bjugstad and McCann, with Bjugstad as the prime player and McCann as a throw in, they were wrong and McCann was the real target of that trade?
All you wrote was the Other Rick you are wrong. You didn’t counter a single point I raised.
And yes, I agree there is Chemistry here on this team, there is or at least was Morale on this team; Chemistry and Morale that comes from walking through fire together, not from organizationally directed protocols.
Napoleon once was quoted as saying “I would rather have lucky generals than good ones.” JR and Sully have fallen into this year. They are getting lucky. But if JR and Sully start thinking it is them and not luck and start tinkering with their success they will fail and we will once again be bored to tears in May and June.
The Other Rick
Quick response – The key word here is media – you listen way
to much to the media which like “stats” never give you the full
truth.
Again i will say this which I’ve said before unless your at practice
everyday, traveling with the team – in there meetings you have no
idea what they’re planning or what their motives are. Media people
lie for the sake of getting their own opinions out to the public.
Numbers don’t mean anything to me – I’ve mentioned before i dealt
with them for many years with three different teams. To criticize
both Sullivan and JR is just utterly ridiculous. Everyone around
the League is praising Sullivan for the Coaching job he is doing
for a team that’s been devastated by injuries.
If they don’t make a move that you suggest you take it personally – its almost comical. It’s so easy to flip a situation when your not
directly involved to fit you argument – just like the numbers – that’s why people that never coached or played try to make them much more important than they are.
Go Pens
Mike,
No matter what excuse any manager (GM or Coach gives for running to the media and complaining about a player never flies, it is beyond juvenile and totally unprofessional. It was this that has completely soured me on GM JR and Coach Sully.
As for me believing the media when they proffer opinions, just as when you offer opinions with no evidence (like now, still not countering my observations with nothing but opinion) I lend no credence, but when I read actual quotes, and not what the talking head thinks the quote means I can now start deconstructing what is going on.
We tend to agree in several areas but on this. If you want to take me to task, show me where my conclusions do not follow the evidence I present, otherwise you have no hope of swaying my opinion on Sully and JR.
The Other Rick
My response isn’t about facts or stats but the
reality of the situation which I speak from
experience. Not trying to sway you or take you
to task “the proof is in the pudding” We’re in
the top 5 in the league and have yet to be at
full man power.
You have an opinion regarding the Pen’s GM
and Coach but zero experience working in
either of those occupations.
I will make one point – I never heard you bringing
up the plus / minus argument when Kessel and Malkin were both in the top 5 for the worst in the NHL.
Also, I don’t see where Sully has any other choice
but to keep Simon on Crosby’s line. He’s the type
of player that has to be in your top 6 or you can’t
use him – he’s not a 3rd or 4th line player. I’m not
a Simon fan at all but I don’t see any reasonable
options.
Mike,
First Mike, I did address the +/- of Malkin and Kessel last year. At 5 on 5 last year Kessel was on the ice for 54 GF and 44 GA, he was therefore +10 5 on 5. As I have already written elsewhere 13 of the of Kessel’s minuses came on the ill-conceived PP last year (The coaches chose to have 2 forwards bring up the puck – big surprise the team let in a host of SHGs due to coaches folly. Every opposing PK unit had to be licking their chops when they knew they were coming up against our Pens, envisioning odd man breaks against forwards instead of defenseman.
13 more of Kessel’s minuses came with an empty net.
For Malkin, he was a -2 5 on 5, 44 GF to 46 GA. 12 of his minuses came on the same ill fated PP unit, with 13 of them coming against an Empty Net.
Compared to Simon this year, he is -9 5 on 5; Galchenyuk is a -4, and Crosby is -1.
Stats do not lie, they are inanimate. They are moved, not movers. However, many people fail to look through the stats enough to understand them.
I am sorry, I do respect your hunches in many situations (I too would live to have some larger, sandier players – but so long as Sully is here that is a pipe dream) but when I ever an employee, student, or professor of mine told me that I wouldn’t understand something because I wasn’t there, I pretty much tune them out right there and then and remind them that if they were truly that expert in their opinion they could explain to me in terms I would understand with empirical premises.
Also, I have commented quite often that this team is 4th in the league and 27 other teams right now wish they were the Penguins, so all of the hoopla over HAVING to trade for someone is stupid.
Where we differ on this is how the team got to 4th in the league. I have laid out several arguments to support the idea that the Pengjuins are 4th in the league because of their injuries not in spite of their injuries.
Simon is more evidence that the coaches are not optimizing their team. With Simon posting negative stat after negative stat while playing top 6 with all other regular players except Galchenyuk and Crosby posting positive numbers should cause anyone with reason to doubt the coach. Rust, McCann, Hornqvist, Tanev, Aston-Reese, and Lafferty are all players on this team right here that have showed to be better than Simon.
It is far more important for Sullivan to fix Crosby’s line than to fix the 4th line.
Hey Mike,
Thanks for the observations about Riikola. I tend to focus more on the elements in a player’s skill set…and to me Juuso brings everything except size…and sometimes overlook the in-game stuff.
You’d hate to think Sullivan would play Ruhwedel on the off side, where he was woefully ineffective, simply because of a personal bias. He and his staff have probably noticed the same thing about Riikola.
Still, I wish they’d play the kid. It’s hard to learn and develop when you’re parked in the press box.
Rick
Hey Rick
I like Riikola and have liked him from day one. I do think
he’s a year away from cracking the lineup and I’m keeping
my fingers crossed that JR’s not forced to lump him into
a trade in order to address our needs for a Cup run.
GO PENS