Penguins Make St. Louie Blue

Hey all. Sorry for the delay in getting this posted. Server issues.

Count me among those who thought the very best thing for the team and player was for the Penguins to trade, waive or otherwise part ways with star-crossed forward Kasperi Kapanen.

If ever a player appeared to need a change of scenery it was Kapanen. Prior to his reinsertion into the lineup on Tuesday night against Carolina, he’d tallied three goals and 13 points in his previous 51 regular-season games. Totals that were as pitiable as they were pitiful given his frequent deployment on a scoring line. His signature move, stopping short of the faceoff circle and curling away to comparative safety of the hall-wall seemed a metaphor for his promise unfulfilled.

Since he returned to the lineup? Kappy’s been a different player. He’s been physical. He’s used his world-class speed to drive to the net and has been amply rewarded. In short, he’s looked very much like the player Jim Rutherford thought he’d acquired when he parted with a first-round pick to procure the flying Finn. The one who produced at a 20-goal, 60-point pace his first season with the black and gold.

Thanks in no small part to Kapanen’s sudden and stunning rise from the grave (not to mention hat trick), the Pens made mincemeat out of talented but troubled St. Louis by a 6-2 count at PPG Paints Arena last night.

Kappy wasn’t the only feel-good story. Snakebitten Bryan Rust exploded for a goal and four points to bust a six-game pointless skein. Jason Zucker likewise snapped a six-game dry spell with a goal and two helpers. Evgeni Malkin racked up three assists for his first multi-point game since November 11.

The dormant power play sprang to life with two man-advantage goals (and narrowly missed a third), albeit both by the second unit. Once trade bait, Pierre-Olivier Joseph continues to emerge as a bona fide NHL defenseman (an assist, a plus-2 and five hits in 17:53 of ice time). The defensive corps as a whole has performed admirably during Kris Letang’s absence.

As for the team itself? Following Thursday night’s pulsating triumph over Vegas, I opined this group may have finally found its identity. Nothing happened last night to dissuade my thinking.

Up front we boast admirable depth and striking power. While not as flush, the defense and goaltending…Tristan Jarry in particular…seem to be holding their own. We’re one of the better teams in the league 5v5. No longer on the outside looking in thanks to a 9-2-2 run, we’re in thick of the playoff hunt with the fourth-best regulation win percentage (.583) in the Eastern Conference.

You might say things are looking up.

Puckpourri

The Pens dominated statistically. According to Natural Stat Trick, we held the edge in shot attempts (68-49), shots on goal (38-28), scoring chances (41-27) and high-danger chances (16-11).

Eschewing our traditional sluggish start, we pounced on the Blues early, piling up a 3-1 lead and 15-8 advantage in first-period shots on goal. We outshot the visitors 28-15 over the first 40 minutes, in the process driving Blues goalie Jordan Binnington from his cage (and batty to boot). The frazzled netminder had some choice words for the Pens’ bench and Zucker in particular as he exited. Loved Zucks “Who me?” reaction.

Fueled by Kapanen’s resurgence, the third line was a possession monster (Corsi 77.78). The Crosby (68.57) and Malkin (60) lines also dictated play. Geno’s unit combined for 10 points. Sid notched an empty-netter to round out the scoring.

If Kapanen’s tallies didn’t exactly evoke memories of Guy Lafleur flying down the wing and lasering tracer bullets past opposing goalies (his goals travelled roughly five feet combined) they had the same effect. Thank the Lord GM Ron Hextall didn’t pull the trigger on that oft-suggested Kapanen-for-Jesse Puljujarvi trade, eh? In this case, patience is most definitely a virtue.

Following a decidedly rocky stretch, Jarry’s posted a sterling .950 save percentage over his past six games.

Perhaps Mike Sullivan should show the No. 1 power play video of the No. 2 unit to see how it’s done.

Letang has begun light workouts.

Down on the Farm

Following an absolutely abysmal start to the season with the Baby Pens (a lone goal in 17 games), Nathan Legare has tickled the twine in two-straight games. Perhaps the feisty forward prospect is channeling his inner-Kappy. I’m pulling for him.

On Tap

The Pens (13-8-4, 30 points) host Columbus (8-12-2, 18 points) on Tuesday night. Despite the presence of Johnny (Hockey) Gaudreau, the Blue Jackets are dead-last in the Metro.