They say confession is good for the soul. Well, truth be told, I thought Washington was going to crush our Penguins yesterday afternoon at PPG Paints Arena. Honestly, I was thinking 8-2. So when our guys rallied twice from one-goal deficits to send the game into overtime and then outlasted the potent Capitals in a long, grinding shootout? Cause for a celebration to say the least.
Frankly, I was stunned when the Pens grabbed a quick lead 19 seconds in…and that Evan Rodrigues of all players did the honors. But when the Caps rallied on goals by Nick Dowd and Alex Ovechkin to snatch a 2-1 lead? Here we go again.
Then newcomer Colton Sceviour scored on a busted play early in the second period, courtesy of a hustling effort by Teddy Blueger, to knot the score at 2-2 and set the tone for a call-and-respond performance by our guys. The Caps would strike and we’d strike back.
Such was the case following a power-play tally by Nicklas Backstrom midway through the second period. The Pens replied just minutes later on a goal by Marcus Pettersson, who gathered in a pretty feed from Jason Zucker and rifled the puck home from the high slot.
The contest remained knotted at 3-all through the third period and overtime. During the shootout, Casey DeSmith…solid if unspectacular…shut down the Caps four biggest guns, including the “Great Eight.” Setting the stage for Jake Guentzel’s feel-good game winner.
Hot Stuff
Mike Sullivan—The Pens’ skipper doesn’t draw many kudos from this blog. But he deserved some yesterday. Richly. Following two shaky starts, he gave DeSmith the starting nod over struggling Tristan Jarry. Casey stopped 20 of 23 shots in a workmanlike effort.
“Sully” also parked high profile off-season acquisition Cody Ceci in the press box for a second straight game. Takes some kahunas for a coach to do that.
He was rewarded with typically solid play from Chad Ruhwedel (plus-two).
The only negative in my book? Sullivan chained Sam Lafferty (two hits in 3:08 of ice time) to the bench for basically setting up the first Caps goal.
The Supporting Cast—Of the eight goals the Pens have scored this season, five have come from non-core players. Six if you count the “look ma, no hands” tally by Rodrigues, who’s been moonlighting on the first line with Kasperi Kapanen bound in bureaucratic red tape. Which leads me to…
Not-So Hot Stuff
The Top Six—When, oh when, is the top six going to score? Aside from Sidney Crosby’s two power-play markers, they’ve got nada, zip, nothing through three games. There are signs of life from Guentzel, Zucker and Bryan Rust. But Evgeni Malkin’s been mostly comatose. At age 34, let’s hope this isn’t the start of an inevitable erosion of “Geno’s” once-exquisite skills.
The Matheson Conundrum—Not to kick a guy when he’s hurt and on IR. But you go out and acquire a high-priced defenseman (Matheson) who isn’t nearly as effective as one you already had on hand (Riikola…plus-one, four hits yesterday). Something the metrics should have told you. What’s a GM to do? After JR finishes wiping the egg off his face, it’ll be interesting to see how this situation plays out when Matheson returns.
Tom, Dick and Jarry—Through two miserable starts, talented Tristan has born scant resemblance to the netminder who earned an All-Star berth while virtually chasing two-time Cup winner Matt Murray out of town. At some point, the Pens are going to have to ride Jarry. Pray goaltending coach Mike Buckley (himself a question mark?) can fix what’s ailing the B.C. native.
Rick
The biggest problem facing Mike Sullivan is the play of Malkin and Letang. Two
of your “Core” players?? I know Malkin will snap out of it and pick up points
here and there but his overall play at both ends is concerning. I hate the fly by’s
Letang – same old, same old. IMO the only way to semi fix this team is by having
the b_ _ ls to make a major trade.
One other thing and I’ll wait for everyone’s response – For a “skilled” team why
can’t we score in the shootout and why won’t Sully give some other guys a
chance?
Over the last 3 years and for their career.
Letang 0-5 31% “career”
Crosby 1-5 43% “career”
Malkin 0-6 38% “career”
Guentzel 3-5 60% “career”
Rust 2-2 100% “career”
Letang & Malkin haven’t scored a shootout goal in 3yrs. Crosby has 1.
“Just saying”
Hey Mike,
Great stuff. I confess, I’m worried about Geno. He just looks somnambulant. Perhaps that’s why the Pens are showing so much interest in Winnipeg center Jack Roslovic, a former first-round pick who supposedly has an upside beyond what he’s shown with the Jets.
I confess I’ve kind of overlooked Letang so far. (Probably because I wanted to shield my eyes.) I’ve only watched Game 2 on TV…listened to the others…but his defensive play seems typically spotty (or dreadful). He hasn’t exactly shone on the power play, either. Seems to be having trouble handling the biscuit (at both ends of the ice). Not exactly what you want from your stud defenseman.
I’ve always marveled that his numbers are as good as they are, based on the eye test.
Here ya about the shootout. I’d be loathe to pull Sid out of the rotation…still think he has something to offer. But Letang and Malkin…definitely. I don’t think Letang’s tried a new move in 10 years and Geno never seems to have a plan.
Rick
Hey Rick,
See below for my thoughts on the SO.
Rick
I did see where the Jets are looking for a
Defenseman – I began to wonder if they
were showcasing Riikola.
As for the shootouts I agree Crosby would
remain in my Top 3.
Hey Mike,
100% agree about Letang – wish JR had that “set” several years back when he could have realized something significant for Letang. Now his value is rather low.
Malkin? I said it before and I’ll say it again, Right now Malkin’s problem is Zucker. They have never had chemistry and don’t show any signs of developing it. And Zucker would benefit as well from a move off Geno’s line. For a man who used to change his line combinations more than he changed his socks, he seems determined to die on this hill (Line Combinations).
SOs? 100% right, the Pens stink in SOs. I have privately complained about this many, many times, and have right or wrong, attributed it to Sullivan’s refusal to play any other player but his big 3 during the late stages of the regulation and OT so that come SO time, they are too tired to really be effective. When the come in they are moving soooooo slooooooow that I think even I could stuff them.
While I agree, I would like to see Guentzel and maybe even Rust used more in SOs, I would also love to see Sullivan stop abusing these aging stars during the later stages of the game, emptying their gas tanks. Sullivan has to start letting other players sink or swim in those situations. He can’t say he doesn’t trust them anymore. Now in his 6th season as the Coach, this is his team. If he can’t trust the players, then he is the problem.
Rick
I did see where the Jets are looking for a
Defenseman – I began to wonder if they
were showcasing Riikola.
As for the shootouts I agree Crosby would
remain in my Top 3.
The Other Rick
I respectfully disagree with your assessment of Zucker – IMO Malkin
is the problem. He’s sleepwalking and almost appears to be playing
hurt which would slightly ease my pain. It’s tough to watch him at
both ends of the rink and continues his horrible habit of gambling and
skating past the puck.
I know this is drastic and probably not a reality but I think Sully needs
to sit him for a game so he can get his mind right. If he plays lethargic
again tonight sitting him should be a consideration.
GO PEN’S
Hey MIke,
Sorry, for what ever reason (serial dain bramage maybe?) I missed this.
Understand I am not blaming Zucker for the the lack of production, just noting that Zucker – Malkin is a bad combination and should be ended. For Sully to keep trying to pound that square peg into a round hole is insane – it doesn’t fit already.
I don’t know if Malkin is hurt – Maybe, but I you told me he was either frustrated with playing with Zucker (never being on the same page) I wouldn’t argue with you.
Neither Malkin nor Crosby has a 5 on 5 point over the 1st 4 games, that is disastrous and a sign of bad coaching for Sully to have not changed those top 2 lines up yet.
In fact, the only 5 on 5 goal scored while Crosby was on the ice really wasn’t a goal, it was a kick in by Rodrigues. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll take it and the win, but I wouldn’t have complained if Washington would have challenged and the goal got over turned.
For all its sound and fury has signified pretty much nothing. At least the second line has actually scored a real goal when Pettersson converted work by Zucker and Rust.
In the end, I would not sit Malkin, at least not yet. From what I have seen nothing yet to indicate that I was wrong when I agreed with Kingarski’s assessment that the 1st line should be
Zucker – Crosby – Kapanen
and the 2nd line should be
Guentzel – Malkin – Rust
Since neither Crosby nor Malkin can seem to get it going 5-on-5 makes me want to change line combinations before passing the buck, blaming the players and vindictively sitting them for something that might be my fault for not playing the right combos.
Sorry typo,
“I don’t know if Malkin is hurt – Maybe, but I you told me he was either frustrated with playing with Zucker (never being on the same page) I wouldn’t argue with you.”
should read;
I don’t know if Malkin is hurt – Maybe, but if you told me he was frustrated with playing with Zucker (never being on the same page) I wouldn’t argue with you.
Hey Rick,
The sad part is our Penguins have fallen into the take what you can get level of play.
With all of the rule changes recently, I may have missed the wording of kick-in goals, but Rodrigues’s goal definitely wouldn’t have counted not so long ago, he clearly was kicking the puck, not really to kick it into the net but to get it to his stick. The puck never touched his stick but went into the net. Check the replay.
DeSmith was solid in the SO but didn’t play all that well in regulation. He only stopped 20 of 22 shots (23 if add in the OT). He and Jarry are still occupying the cellar of the league in Sv%.
Sully didn’t sit Matheson, Matheson is injured. Had Sully had his way, Matheson probably would have played and our Pens may have lost.
Often times a stolen game like this one can be a confidence builder – I may dream of it but I ain’t puttin’ money on it.
Hey Other Rick,
Thanks for correcting me on Matheson. Maybe I’m the one who should be wiping egg off his face…lol
Seriously, I like to write my game summaries in a “vacuum” so I’m not influenced by what others write. But obviously I missed the boat on Matheson’s injury.
I adjusted my article accordingly. Thanks again for having my back.
Rick
Rick did you see that Kapanen is skating?
However, Sully 1st tried him on Malkin’s line moving Rust to Crosby, then put him up with Crosby and Guentzel.
Rodrigues was dropped down to 4th and will in all likelyhood (is my pessimism showing?) bump Lafferty out of the lineup.
No worries about Matheson,
Never like saying this but that injury may be serendipitous.