It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. Not with our Two-Headed Monster, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin (and now Bryan Rust) in mothballs to start the season. Rather, much like an old ‘49er panning for an occasional nugget of gold at Sutter’s Mill, our Penguins were supposed to scratch and claw for goals. Oh, and Marc-Andre Fleury was supposed to return like a conquering hero with his new team, the Blackhawks, who always seem to beat us, and pitch a shutout.
Fortunately for the team and Steel City fans, our boys tossed the script out the window and have been doing some serious improvising…to the tune of a resounding 5-2 triumph over Fleury and the ‘Hawks at PPG Paints Arena last night.
For those keeping track, that makes a league-best 15 goals (!!!) for the good guys in three games.
Did anyone remotely see this coming? I confess, I sure didn’t. No, three games do not a season make. But thus far? Our Pens are jumpin.’ Indeed, they look quick, decisive and remarkably well-oiled, especially in light of the injuries and what most pundits (including yours truly) considered a lackluster offseason.
Coach Mike Sullivan deserves a TON of credit. He’s pushing all the right buttons. Whatever he’s sellin’ the boys seem to be buyin’…hook, line and sinker. Let’s hope it continues.
Speaking of the offseason. Deal Jared McCann, who scored at a 60-point pace last season? No worries. Danton Heinen’s on a goal-per-game tear. He’s fast, opportunistic and at this early stage, every bit McCann’s equal. Lose Brandon Tanev? Okay, “Turbo’s” impossible to replace. But Brock McGinn (a goal and two helpers on the season, five hits) is making his own mark. And…never thought I’d write this…Dominik Simon (a goal and two helpers as well) is making me forget all about Frederick Gaudreau.
Back to the action. It didn’t take long for our boys to spoil Fleury’s return. Fifteen seconds in, Teddy Blueger blew past Jonathan Toews in the neutral zone and beat “Flower” with a backhander. It was all downhill for No. 29 from there. Minutes later he misplayed the puck behind his cage. Simon pounced and shoved the puck toward the front of the net, where Drew O’Connor cashed in for his first NHL goal.
Next up…McGinn. Flying down the off-wing on a 2-on-1, he gathered in a perfect pass from O’Connor and toasted Fleury from the right circle at 10:59. Followed in short order by Heinen, who beat Fleury high stick side on an opportunistic play through a screen to make it 4-0 Pens.
At this stage, last season’s Vezina winner exited in ill-humor with only six saves on 10 shots. The wilted Flower took out his considerable frustration on his big goaltender’s blade and the runway walls as he withdrew to the dressing room.
From that point on it was pretty much academic. The Blackhawks broke through five minutes into the second period on a power-play marker by Penguin-killer Patrick Kane and showed some life, outshooting the Pens 15-8 during the period. But the locals restored their four-goal edge late in the frame on a handsy backhander by Jason Zucker off Connor Murphy’s skate.
The ‘Hawks counterpunched one last time at 15:57 of a quiet third period (only seven shots on goal combined) to close out the scoring.
Puckpourri
Sullivan established a new club record with 253 regular-season victories, eclipsing Dan Bylsma’s mark. In addition to a game puck awarded by Crosby, he was presented with the team’s Viking-esque game helmet by Tristan Jarry.
Again embracing a total-team effort, 12 different skaters…including 10 forwards…tallied at least a point for the black and gold. O’Connor and McGinn paced the club with two points apiece.
Not counting the goalies, 17 of the 20 skaters who’ve dressed for the Pens have tallied at least one point on the campaign.
The Pens outshot the ‘Hawks, 26-20, including a 13-3 margin in the opening frame. While Fleury faltered, Jarry stopped 18 shots (.900 save percentage) in a workmanlike performance.
Marcus Pettersson thwarted a breakaway attempt by Dominik Kubalik just prior to Heinen’s goal and finished a plus-four on the evening with two takeaways. He’s presently tied for the top mark on the club with John Marino at plus-five on the season.
Zach Aston-Reese suited up in place of Rust, who was placed on IR with an undisclosed ailment. ZAR dished out a game-high six hits in 16:33 of action. O’Connor (1+1) replaced Sam Lafferty, who was a healthy scratch.
For those keeping track, Tanev (three) and McCann (two) have combined for five goals in three games for Seattle. They’re 1-2 on the list of Kraken scorers.
Next up…the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night at the “Paint Can.”
