Since I wasn’t able to watch the Penguins’ matinee dustup with Detroit yesterday afternoon, this won’t be much of a summary. Still, our thoroughly convincing 5-1 victory over an improved Red Wings team that’s more than held its own in prior contests deserves a shout out.
The highlights, and there were a lot of ‘em:
- Jeff Carter picked up right where he left off, notching a goal a shade under four minutes into his first preseason game. The big guy finished with two points;
- Kasperi Kapanen potted a pair of goals and at times looked dominant. There’s no denying “Kappy’s” star potential;
- Danton Heinen tallied an improbable short side goal and assisted on two others. Perhaps there’s hope he’ll do a passable Jared McCann imitation while slotting up and down the lineup;
- Tristan Jarry stopped 25 of 26 shots in a solid performance. Getting him back on track is a must if we’re to have any success;
- The defense was sound. Kris Letang struck on a breakaway goal and blocked three shots. After faltering as a pair last season, Mike Matheson and John Marino seem to be meshing. Each was a plus-three yesterday. Marino garnered two assists. Matheson and resurgent Juuso Riikola registered four shots on goal apiece;
- Newcomer Brock McGinn was physical as advertised, pacing the black and gold with five hits. Chad Ruhwedel, who appears to be emerging as the front runner for the third right defense slot, recorded four;
- Speaking of physical play, for the second game in a row the Pens were involved in a scrap. Brian Dumoulin tangled with Turner Elson after the big defender bumped Jontan Berggren off the puck;
- Bryan Rust (two) and Jason Zucker (one) combined for three assists in their first game action;
- In stark contrast to our first exhibition game, our shots heat map between the circles and in the prime scoring areas was molten;
- Eight Pens tallied at least a point. We’ll need to embrace a score by committee approach until twin linchpins Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin return.
About the only negative? Jake Guentzel joined Zach Aston-Reese in COVID protocol and could be out for as long as 14 days.
Still, an encouraging performance worth cheering. Despite what feels like a shortfall offseason, maybe there’s hope for the coming campaign after all. With the Steelers and Buccos in the tank, ‘Burgh sports fans could sure use a reason to believe.
Perhaps we found one yesterday.
Hey Rick,
I did see the game or at least most of it. It was live streamed. I hate live streaming, for me it is too distracting.
* Anyhow, I still am not that big on Heinen, but he was very noticeable yesterday. Granted Detroit didn’t play any of their top 4 D-men, but Heinen can’t help that. He did what he had to do, he tried to and did exploit the situation.
* Rust was flying and took the puck straight to the net fearlessly.
* Kapanen was flying too and very confident. His face seems fixed and intent like he doesn’t want a repeat of last season.
* Jarry was very solid. In the later half of the game, Letang had one of his all to often defensive lapses and Wing slipped in behind him for a partial break and Jarry stoned him with his right leg pad.
* I am thinking for my money Boyle may be earning himself a real Contract and not just a PTO.
* Simon? Where was he? Yesterday’s game wasn’t the pillow fight of the Sabre game and Simon only had 1 O-Zone start so he was rather invisible. His overall CORSI was a rather pedestrian 50%, his Shot Diff was down at 46.67. Simon can only play against France the UK and Buffalo, any other team in any other league will eat him alive.
* The Defense? Sorry, they didn’t seem all that tested playing only against 4 Wings’ Forwards that will likely be on their NHL roster opening night. Oh, they did do their job, they limited the Wings to no 5 on 5 goals but nearly half of the 23 5-on-5 SCA were HDCA (9).
* It was a game worth Cheering but not a game foreshadowing a playoff ticket.
Hey Other Rick,
Thanks for sharing your comments and observations. Good to hear from someone who watched the game. Like I said, I didn’t see it and was mostly cherry-picking positives from the box score. I’m glad to hear Boyle is asserting himself and playing well. We could sure use a guy with his size and overall attributes.
And thank you for keeping the record straight on Simon…lol
Rick
PS–You know he’s making the team, don’t you????
Hey Rick,
You know who the Penguins needed to hire to kick off this season, Rod Serling. We’ve just crossed over into…….the Twilight Zone. I feel like William Shattner looking out the window of his airplane, only I am seeing a bunch of little Simons ripping the wings/flippers off the Penguins dynasty. I saw him hand Sullivan a Book titled how to serve Penguins – I though it was only a nightmare and I would wake in a cold sweat…….please, please, please, Burke, Hextall, someone stop this insanity.
Sorry, that was a bit redundant, after all little and Simon mean the same thing.
Rick
A lot of positive signs but we can’t get too high or too low about the exhibition season as you know. I
do like the way Kappy is approaching the season he seems like he’s all business. He has all the
tools to become an elite, Right-winger. Sully needs to give him a shot on our #1 Power Play unit.
Hey Mike,
I hear ya about it being one game (and an exhibition one at that). But given that there have been so many negatives and far fewer positives over the past several months, it was nice to have a little something to get excited about. Agree about Kapanen…man is he skilled. I feel like every pass and shot he makes is so crisp and sure.
I still think we’re going to be in a dogfight in terms of making the playoffs. But, again, it was nice to see some positive signs.
Rick