Penguins Preseason: A Performance Worth Cheering

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.