Penguins Stave Off Rangers, 4-2

There’s a popular old saying…make hay while the sun shines. Well, last night the Penguins did just that. Our boys dumped the Rangers, 4-2, at PPG Paints Arena to take four out of five on our recent home stand…with all of the victories coming in regulation. Not a bad week’s work.

Lest you’re tempted to think as I am that we should’ve won all five? The trimming of the Rangers more or less balances out the come-from-in-front loss to Philly last Thursday. You see, we only played 40 minutes out of 60 and still won the game. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

The Rangers took the lead midway through the first period on a goal by expatriate defenseman Jack Johnson, whose blast from the point deflected in off John Marino. For the record, the second-year Pens defender would have a hand (or shin) in both Rangers goals.

Still, the Pens dominated play in the opening stanza, outshooting the Rangers 16-7. With 66 tics remaining they evened the score on a beautiful top-corner snipe by Jake Guentzel from the high slot, courtesy of a nifty feed off the wall by Sidney Crosby.

Our guys made it 2-1 early in the second period on a pretty shorthanded goal by Teddy Blueger. After gathering in a pass from Brandon Tanev, Blueger swung around the Rangers’ defense, cut in front of the net and slipped a backhander between Keith Kinkaid’s pads.

The Pens closed out the frame with an incredible 21-touch sequence in the final minute, culminating in Kasperi Kapanen’s filthy goal from the slot…his fourth tally of the home stand.

Then we just stopped. Literally.

New York struck for a power-play goal by Ryan Strome (Marino) early in the final period to close the gap to 3-2. The Rangers proceeded to take the game over, attacking in wave after wave. At times the action resembled a 20-minute power play for the visitors. The Pens could do little but batten down the hatches and play “Katy bar the door” hockey, something they’re not really built to do.

It showed. Boy, did it show.

Fortunately, Tristan Jarry rose to the occasion and bailed us out with a stunning series of saves. None more important or impressive than a pair of pad stops…one with the left and one with the right…on Pavel Buchnevich in the waning moments.

How bad were our Pens? We didn’t register a shot on goal until Crosby split an empty net with 33 seconds left to play.

There’s another old saying. A win is a win. And while this one wasn’t pretty, especially at the end, we’ll take it and gladly.

Puckpourri

The Rangers dominated in most statistical categories: shots on goal (35-27), faceoffs (55 percent) and hits (58-37). They outshot the Pens 15-1 in the final period.

Crosby paced the black and gold with two points (a goal and an assist) to earn top star honors. Jarry (33 saves, .943 save percentage) was named No. 2 star, Blueger No. 3. Brian Dumoulin led the way with a plus-three and six hits. Anthony Angello also had six hits in 8:12 of ice time. Eight Pens recorded at least one point.

Colton Sceviour cleared waivers and skated on the fourth line with Angello and Mark Jankowski. Jared McCann was placed on IR; Juuso Riikola was activated but did not play.

Evan Rodrigues has two assists in three games since returning to the lineup.

The Pens are 11-2 at PPG Paints Arena and 4-7-1 on the road. They’re presently in third place in the MassMutual East with 31 points, one point ahead of Boston and two points ahead of Philadelphia. The Bruins and Flyers each have two games in hand on our Pens.

Sid the Great

At the risk of sounding like Captain Obvious, my word is Crosby a great player. I’ve been watching him more closely of late. The details in his game are incredible, with and without the puck, and his vision is extraordinary. There are no discernable weaknesses except maybe a reluctance to shoot.

On the Guentzel goal, he was facing in the other direction and had a split second to make a play. Yet he somehow saw Jake coming out of the corner of his eye and laid a perfect cross-ice pass (backhand no less) right onto his linemate’s stick. Oh, did I mention Sid forced the turnover that led to the play?

Amazing.

At this stage of his career Crosby may not win any more scoring titles, although I wouldn’t put it past him. But he still gets my vote as the best all-around player in the game.

Would love to see him win another Cup.