Penguins Belt Bolts, 6-2

When our Penguins throttled the hapless Coyotes on opening night, my esteemed colleague Other Rick observed that it was akin to beating up on hockey’s version of the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Fair enough.

However, in the wake of last night’s 6-2 bashing of perennial power Tampa Bay? We just may have something here.

Yes, it was the Lightning’s second game in two nights (and third in five days). And, no, all-world puck stopper Andrei Vasilevskiy wasn’t between the pipes. (For the record, Brian Elliott was.) But it doesn’t taint or tarnish what our guys accomplished against a very tough foe.

The game didn’t start out too well. Jeff Petry took an early tripping penalty and the Lightning power play wasted little time in cashing in. Victor Hedman set up super sniper Steven Stamkos for an open look from the top of the left circle and…well…

One-zip Bolts.

It took our guys about 10 minutes to find their sea legs. But once they did, we gradually took control.

With an even three minutes left in the opening period, Jake Guentzel and Sidney Crosby burst up ice on a 2-on-1. Jake snaked a beautiful saucer pass over the stick of Erik Cernak and Sid did the rest, slicing past Elliott to score on the backhand.

The Pens snatched the lead on a power-play marker 4:11 into the second frame. Danton Heinen made a hustling play to corral a loose puck and slip a pass through the box to Jason Zucker. “Zucks” returned the favor and Heinen converted on an impossible sharp-angle snipe from below the right circle.

There were some tense moments late in the period. With Tampa Bay working on the power play, Petry blasted a Lightning forward into Tristan Jarry, who was sent sprawling to the ice. Following the whistle, the Pens’ netminder spent a few moments flexing his knee before mercifully continuing. (Whew!)

We opened up a little breathing space 2:28 into the third period when Guentzel, flashing that magic wand of a stick, deflected home a seeing-eye shot-pass from Kris Letang to make it 3-1. (Man, does this kid have soft hands.)

Cernak immediately countered for Tampa Bay, racing up ice and ringing a shot off the post. Responding to the warning bell, Jeff Carter finished off a pretty pass from Kasperi Kapanen on the ensuing sequence to give us a three-goal cushion.

From that point it was March of the Penguins. While working on a power play, Crosby arced across the top of the Lightning zone in a fashion reminiscent of point-man extraordinaire Sergei Gonchar. Bryan Rust deflected Sid’s long-range shot past Elliott to put us up 5-1.

Ever dangerous Brayden Point countered for the Lightning off the rush just 32 seconds later. But Rickard Rakell roofed an empty-netter to seal a 6-2 victory.

As Darth Vader once remarked while complimenting Luke Skywalker on his Jedi skills…”Impressive, most impressive.”

Puckpourri

Once again, the Pens dominated statistically. We outshot the Bolts, 45-36, outhit them, 41-21, and won a whopping 62 percent of the draws.

Speaking of hits, the usually mild-mannered Marcus Pettersson dished out a game-high 10!

Crosby once again paced the attack with three points (1+2). Sizzlin’ Sid has six points in two games. Guentzel and Carter tallied two points apiece (1+1). Heinen, Rakell and Rust (goals) and Kapanen, Letang, Malkin, Zucker, Brian Dumoulin and Pierre-Olivier Joseph (assists) garnered a point apiece.

Despite the score, it wasn’t exactly a leisurely night for Jarry, who made 34 saves. Is it me, or does our favorite goalie seem to possess a combative streak? Thursday night he jawed with Nick Ritchie. Last night, he engaged the equally imposing Pat Maroon. And, of course, there was last season’s set-to with Brad Marchand.

He doesn’t pick his spots, does he?

The power-play went 2-for-4. The penalty kill, better but still watery, killed 3-of-4. Oh, ex-Pen Sam Lafferty struck for two shorties within a span of 2:08 for Chicago last night. Just thought I’d mention it…

Opinyinz

I know it’s way early, but I really like the feel of this team. Our top three lines appear strong and in sync and the fourth line’s doing what a fourth line does. I’m sure even more so when Teddy Blueger returns.

Defensively, Joseph…the potential weak link…played a solid game and appeared much more comfortable. It’s important to remember POJ saw precious little ice time skating next to Jan Rutta during preseason, so he’s experiencing what amounts to on-the-job training.

Overall, I just like the way we’re constructed. Well-balanced, with the right blend of skill, speed, size, sand and tenacity. Everyone seems to be filling his proper slot or role.

Credit GM Ron Hextall for doing a marvelous job, really ever since he arrived. This team is light years better than the one he inherited from Jim Rutherford 18 months ago. Too, credit coach Mike Sullivan for deploying his troops properly and for getting them to buy-in to his system. Everyone seems to be on the same page.

Better still, I sense an intangible “something” about this bunch that’s been missing from previous versions. Call it a resolve…a sense of purpose and character…like we have something to prove. Even a touch of swagger. Fueled no doubt by the veteran leaders in the locker room. It’s as if messrs. Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Carter and Petry realize this is their last best shot at a Cup. By all appearances, they’re determined to seize the opportunity.

If we can just avoid critical injuries…