The script was decidedly different from the norm for our Penguins last night at the Prudential Center in beautiful downtown Newark. For starters, contrary to our usual high-flying ways, our guys seemed to be skating in slush for portions of the game. Second, we handed New Jersey five power plays in what was a surprisingly edgy affair, which also served to suppress our usually burgeoning shot totals.
No matter. We overcame both our sluggishness and lack of discipline…not to mention the Devils…to grind out a 3-2 victory, our seventh win in a row.
Our boys grabbed the lead midway through the first period with Sidney Crosby cooling his heels in the sin bin. Teddy Blueger picked off an ill-advised point-to-point pass from Jack Hughes, flew in on a breakaway and snapped the puck under goalie Jon Gillies’ right pad following some nifty shake-and-bake.
The Pens opened up a two-goal lead 63 ticks into the second frame. Jeff Carter rambled to the net as he is wont to do, taking Devils defenseman Kevin Bahl with him and clearing out space behind the play. Marcus Pettersson hit Danton Heinen in the right circle with a pretty cross-ice pass and No. 43 did the rest, lasering the puck in off the far post for his ninth goal of the season.
However, any thoughts of an easy victory were quickly dispelled. Following a neutral zone turnover moments later the Devils countered, with Janne Kuokkanen deflecting home a center-point rocket from Ty Smith. At 7:01 Tristan Jarry drew a double-minor for butt-ending Devils tough guy Mason Geertsen during a TV timeout, setting the stage for more chippy play.
The score remained 2-1, Pens, until the 9:31 mark of the final period. With Sam Lafferty providing an almost perfect screen in the paint, Mike Matheson took a pretty setup from Dominik Simon in full stride and beat Gillies with a long-range blast from the left point.
Again the Devils countered, again on a deflection in front, this time by hulking forward Nathan Bastian. This time on the power play, snapping our streak of 39 consecutive kills over 15 games. It made for some tense moments down the stretch, but the Pens hung tough and pocketed the win.
“It wasn’t pretty,” Blueger said afterward. “I don’t think we had our best. We were pretty good at times but it just seemed like there wasn’t a whole lot of rhythm, especially offensively for us. It was just kind of digging in deep and finding a way to get it done.”
Puckpourri
In many ways it was a tale of two games. The Pens dominated 5v5, with 38 shot attempts to the Devils’ 24 and a 20-7 edge in shots on goal. However, in all other situations the Devils ruled, with a whopping 23-4 advantage in shot attempts and a 12-2 edge in shots on goal. We managed just four shots on goal during a somnambulant first period.
Jason Zucker assisted on Heinen’s goal, only his second point (both assists) since he last tickled the twine against Winnipeg on November 22. Pettersson, Simon and Chad Ruhwedel also picked up assists. With his helper, Simon snapped an 18-game pointless drought dating back to October 23. Despite his scoring struggles, the Czech Republic native continues to drive possession. He’s tied with Evan Rodrigues for the club lead in Corsi (60.9).
Blueger’s shorty was the fifth of his career and first of the campaign. With seven goals, he’s tied his output from last season. I’ve written this before but it bears repeating. Heinen possesses some serious skill, not to mention excellent anticipation and hockey smarts.
The fourth-place Pens (17-8-5, 39 points) have opened up a 10-point bulge over Columbus and Philadelphia in the Metro. We’re six points up on Detroit in the race for the top wild card spot.
Next up, a return match with the Devils at the Paint Can on Tuesday night.
BULLETIN
The NHL has postponed Tuesday night’s game with the Devils due to Covid concerns.
Rick
The Other Rick has been silent of late!! We probably need to poke him a little to get the blood flowing. I always look forward to his analogy of why Sully isn’t the reason the Pen’s are winning but when their losing it’s all his fault. LMAO. He’s waiting on a losing streak to say I told you so!! LOL
This suspension of games by the NHL is a bad break for the Pen’s. I think we were in position to win at least a couple more before we play Boston, and Toronto on the road. Oh well, all good things must end.
GO PENS
No Mike,
My silence is a product of 70+ hour work weeks. In the little spare time I have, I don’t want to keep throwing good breath away when everyone is drinking Kool-Aid. The only win over the past 7 that game span came against a team of note was the win against the Caps. In fact, last game they did their darnedest to snatch defeat from the jaws of a team on its 6th Goalie of the season on the back-end of a back-to-back series. I am neither sorry nor impressed. The only thing this win streak is doing is costing the team a chance at a top 10 pick.
Hey Mike,
I think the bear’s been poked … lol. See TOR’s response … 🙂
Yeah, wish we could keep this streak a rollin’. Lord, I hope things don’t get shut down for any length of time. Seems like the league hopes that postponing the games through the holidays will serve as a preventive measure and help salvage the rest of the season. Me, too.
Have a great Christmas. And thanks, as always, for reading and commenting.
Rick
PS–This isn’t really meant to squirt gasoline on an incipient fire. But Other Rick took a look at points per 60 at 5v5 over the past three seasons and the results were eye-opening. Malkin had the third-best mark in the league…Sid was 54th! Kind of puts a different twist on the perception that Geno’s comparatively weak 5v5 and Sid’s an even-strength pillar.
Merry Christmas to you too, Jim,
A win is a win is a win. There are no style points given. Beating a decimated Devils team, on their 6th Goalie of the season, 3 – 2 certainly should inspire any but an ostrich with any confidence, but it is still a win.
My concern is that we will win many battles and lose the war once again. We will win just enough games to get to playoffs and 1st round loss. Everyone will dance with joy that our aging team made the playoffs but fail to understand that all they did was screw themselves out of a good draft pick. There are 6 kids right now, in this coming draft, I would love to have an opportunity to get, but as it stands now, our delusions may be condemning the team to a very long rebuild.
The problem with the lunch pail crew is that they are all playing above their skill level and that won’t last. Without true top 6 5-on-5 players this team is doomed. Our team is 5th in the league in 5-on-5 TOI/60 and 24th in the league in Penalties Drawn. That tells me we are either too soft to drive the net to get a penalty or not talented enough to cause other teams enough fear to haul us down.
We cannot sustain these wins unless Crosby starts playing better 5-on-5, he currently is tied for 97th in the league in 5-on-5 points/60 among forwards with more than 200 min played.
So true Coach..Very shortsighted in the big picture of things.
I saw a report out of Quebec Saying that the Pens we’re not interested in giving LeTang a long term extension.. I hope that is an accurate assessment. I also read last week one of the writers below from your area saying that they should sign LeTang to a long-term contract in the $8 million range immediately.
I want to know what the man was drinking because you would be crazy to do so. Have you heard anything regarding LeTang and a possible contract extension? Just wondering…
All the best to you and your family this holiday season.
Jim
Hey Jim,
I can’t remember where I read this, but some pundit was suggesting that Edmonton will make a move, as the trade deadline approaches, to bring in MAF and Letang, thinking that those 2 could push them over the top – good luck with that.
I haven’t written anything on that yet, not sure if the time is right, but I have started thinking about who or what price I might ask.
The problem is, as long as management deludes itself into thinking they are a legitimate contender they won’t trade him. 7734, even if I was intending on resigning him at the end of the year, I would still consider trading him at the deadline to try and rebuild the JR obliterated pipeline.
I keep hoping that Santa Brings the Penguins 3 picks in the top 10 this off season. If not, maybe position us for when Bedard comes out. From what I hear he can’t do it on his own yet, like Crosby and Malkin could – in their prime – but for a 16 year to make the national roster, he will certainly be exciting to watch.
PS
I am doing Strength and Conditioning for a 16yr old down here in the States who isn’t a Bedard but is getting attention from the scouts. Here is to hoping he stays on his trajectory.
Hi Rick,
Great writing my friend.Congrats on the Pen’s winning streak. It is the lunch pail brigade that is carrying the day.
I just noticed the league is shutting down until December 26 th/27th due to the Covid crisis… Hopefully this will not extend thru to January 2022. Here in my province there are serious calls to limit all sporting events until the health authorities can get a handle on how severe the new out break will be. That could stop all sporting events until early spring !!!
Lets hope not. I am not sure the NHL could stand another long term shut down. It would certainly screw up the salary cap for next year as league revenues fell..
Merry Christmas to you , Coach, Phil and all the rest of the gang.
Cheers
Jim
Hello, my friend.
I don’t know if the writing’s great (probably a few rungs down the literary ladder … lol). But thank you for saying so … 🙂
I was so hoping the whole Covid thing would pass and we could get back to “normal.” But this just doesn’t seem like it’s going to pass…at least not without some serious disruptions.
Having had Covid (and have since been vaccinated) I’m well aware that it can pack a wallop.
Lord, I hope things don’t get shut down until spring. As you noted, I can’t imagine how this would affect ownership and the league in general. We’re very blessed and fortunate to have the Fenway Sports Group backing us…I’m sure other teams (Arizona for one) aren’t nearly as fortunate.
Anyway…blah, blah, blah. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, my friend. Keep the home fires burning north of the border … 🙂
Rick
Will do👍