Two Points Well-Deserved: Penguins Topple Islanders in Shootout

We deserve better.

That’s what I was thinking after Matt Barzal dipsy-doodled around Pierre-Olivier Joseph to score the go-ahead goal at 13:35 of the third period during last night’s Penguins-Islanders tilt.

My next thought? The big guys have to step up. Sid…Geno…we need ya.’ I don’t claim to be clairvoyant. But on this night, it seems like my plea got through.

With 18 seconds remaining in regulation and goalie Casey DeSmith pulled for an extra attacker, Kris Letang placed a picture-perfect pass into Evgeni Malkin’s wheelhouse. Number 71 made no mistake, blasting a wicked one-timer through traffic and into the upper left-hand corner of the net to even the score at 3-apiece.

Vintage Geno.

Following a tense overtime in which each team had its chances, it was Sidney Crosby’s time to shine in the shootout. Displaying the patience of a saint, No. 87 waited until Semyon Varlamov was splayed and immobilized. Then Sid coolly slipped a backhander into the wide-open corner of the net to earn his team two points. Richly deserved.

It capped what I felt was our most “normal” game of the season. Aside from an occasional isolated mishap, there were no egregious breakdowns and or extended stretches of ineptitude. A dozen games in, I thought we finally played like the team we’re supposed to be.

Back to the beginning. The Pens looked a little sluggish at the outset, chasing the puck rather than controlling it. It didn’t take long for the Islanders to capitalize, as Casey Cizikas stripped the puck from John Marino in the slot and beat DeSmith while tumbling to the ice.

True to form, the Pens showed their mettle. Midway through the frame Crosby found Jake Guentzel below the left circle with a beautiful diagonal pass through traffic. Jake wasted little time, zipping a sharp shot-pass onto the stick of Bryan Rust in the blue paint. The “Rusty Razor” directed it home for his third goal of the season.

However, our guys shot themselves in the foot when Cody Ceci cleared the puck over the glass, marking our third-straight game with a delay of game penalty. Zach Aston-Reese nearly scored a shorty on a 2-on-1 break, thanks to a nice feed from Mark Jankowski. But the Isles cashed in moments later when Jean-Gabriel Pageau, alone and unfettered in front of DeSmith, tipped home a Nick Leddy bullet.

Again, the Pens clawed back, courtesy of a great individual effort by Aston-Reese. Playing in his first game following off-season shoulder surgery, ZAR won a puck battle behind the net, barged out in front and beat Varlamov with a second-effort backhander at 7:02 of the second period to knot the score at 2-2. Precisely the type of gritty, dirty goal we’ve been lacking.

The Pens dominated the frame, outshooting their hosts, 14-6, and controlling the play. But both goalies came up large. DeSmith stoned Pageau on a breakaway midway through the period and Barzal early in the third. Varlamov robbed Rust on the doorstep with eight minutes remaining in regulation, setting the stage for some late black-and-gold heroics and a delicious come-from-behind victory.

Puckpourri

The Pens outshot the Islanders, 35-29 and outhit them, 29-23. New York controlled the faceoff circle (56 percent).

DeSmith stopped 26 of 29 shots (.897 save percentage) in another workmanlike performance. Say what you will about Casey, he battles and makes the big saves when it counts. “He gives his team a chance to win every night,” studio analyst Jay Caufield noted.

Indeed, the plucky netminder made huge stops on Anders Lee and Barzal in overtime and shut down the Islanders in the shootout.

The ZAR-Teddy Blueger–Brandon Tanev combo picked up right where they left off. The trio accounted for eight shots on goal, eleven hits and was a thorn in the side of the Islanders all night long.

The Crosby line also played a strong game. They accumulated seven shots on goal, a team-high six by Rust. Malkin’s unit collected seven shots as well, including five by Kasperi Kapanen, who continues to impress with his skill.

If only we could cobble together a fourth line we’d be in business.

Opinyinz

I thought Mike Matheson played a strong game, by far his best in a Penguins jersey. He stayed within himself and was effective at both ends of the rink. Defensively, his positioning was sound and he used his excellent speed and mobility to control gaps, displaying an educated stick in the process. In the offensive zone, he did a good job of distributing the puck and keeping plays alive.

For the record, Matheson logged three shots on goal, three hits and a blocked shot in 23:36 of ice time. Maybe better days are ahead for the much-maligned defender.

Along those lines, I thought he and Marino (23:33 of ice time) looked more comfortable together. It’s good to see Marino playing on his natural side again. It can only aid in his development.