With the status of injured forwards Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell still very much in the air, the Penguins recalled Radim Zohorna from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton yesterday.
In Zorro-esque fashion, “Big Z” has been leaving his mark on the Calder Cup playoffs. Following a solid regular season with the Baby Pens (a dozen goals and 21 points in 39 games), the hulking 6’6” 220-pounder’s tallied two goals and three assists in four postseason contests.
Zohorna also skated in 17 regular-season games for the Pens and scored a pair of goals and four assists. He was plus-12, tied for third-best among black-and-gold forwards with Teddy Blueger, behind only Crosby and Jake Guentzel.
For his NHL career spread over two seasons Zohorna’s amassed four goals and 10 points in 25 games.
Personally, I’ve always been intrigued by the 26-year-old. There’s that size, for one. Also the fact that he skates pretty well for a big man. Soft hands, vision and smarts, too.
Drew O’Connor’s another option. “DOC” also provides much-needed size (6’3” 200) and good wheels for a bigger man. He’s averaged nearly a point per game spread over two seasons for the offensively-challenged Baby Pens. No easy feat. The 23-year-old cut his playoff teeth in Game 2, although with a minus-2 in just 6:33 of ice time he may not have earned Mike Sullivan’s trust.
How’s Sid?
The Pens are, understandably, mum about Crosby’s status. He’s being evaluated for an “upper-body” injury. While I hate to speculate, given the force of the hit (cheap shot) and point of contact, not to mention Sid’s history, a concussion seems a strong possibility. So, too, would be a neck injury, a contributing factor to his concussion woes a decade ago.
An encouraging tweet made the rounds yesterday, claiming Crosby looked no worse for the wear after Game 5, but obviously that’s nothing to hang our hat (or hopes) on. Here’s wishing him a speedy recovery…for his sake, ours and the team’s.
If Sid can’t go? Look for Evgeni Malkin to step between Guentzel and Bryan Rust on the top line. A combo that my esteemed colleague, Other Rick, feels could be deadly according to advanced metrics.
No Punishment for Trouba
The oxymoron that is the NHL Department of Player Safety declined to mete out any punishment to Jacob Trouba for his blatant, dangerous and down-right dirty elbow-smash to Sid’s head. From the sounds of it, not so much as a slap on the wrist.
Way to go DOPS. (Perhaps DOPES would be a better acronym.)
Of course, this being the Stanley Cup playoffs, you pretty much have to commit manslaughter to draw a sentence. Sid’s still breathing.
However, you could argue we dodged a bullet as well. Malkin’s gloves-and-stick to the chops of Rangers forward Kevin Rooney during a line-change scrum could easily have drawn some sort of reprimand, especially in light of Geno’s recent four-game suspension for a similar infraction.
While I love Geno’s feistiness and willingness to mix it up, I hope he can channel that emotion and passion into a monster performance tonight. We could sure use one.
The Cart(s) Before the Horse
Center Jeff Carter has had an uneven series to say the least. On the plus side, “Carts” has three goals, second-most on the team. He’s been dominant in the faceoff circle as well (63.6 percent).
However, the big guy’s also a team-worst minus-three and has the third worst Corsi (42.17). He was on the ice for four of the Rangers’ goals on Wednesday night.
His defensive-play in general has been lagging for a while (minus-10 over his last 17 regular-season games). Perhaps due, at least in part, to his advanced age (37) and heavy usage early on.
Unfortunately, with Sid out, Carter will once again need to shoulder a heavy workload, likely seeing second-line duty. Let’s hope the former Kings Cup-winner’s up to the task.
Around the League
The Blues eliminated the Wild last night, setting up what should be an epic second-round matchup with the Avalanche. The Bruins, Lightning and Oilers evened their respective series against the Hurricanes, Maple Leafs and Kings to set up winner-take-all Game 7’s.
Following a Game 5 loss when they held a 3-1 series lead? The Pens are 6-3 in Game 6.
He Jim,
Agreed, several 7 game series in every round goes a long way to financial recovery for the NHL.
Predictions? I honestly didn’t think Gallant could be as dumb as he has shown himself to be, thus far in the series. I know the Rangers are the better team, but Gallant screwed up and psyched out his team. Shesterkin has been anything but focused and their skaters are too busy worrying about simply hitting Penguins to think situational (a time and place to hit). At the start of the playoffs, I wouldn’t have bet a penny on the Penguins chances. Now I think it is their series to lose.
If it goes 7, I do think the Rangers can win it, but I would say it is better than even money we win tonight. Whenever injuries to key players force Sullivan outside his preferred line combos, history shows the team wins. However, when Sullivan gets his preferences, the team loses. He has no idea how to balance lines.
I hope your right in your prediction Coach.
I thought we would lose tonight ,5-3 maybe but on Sunday Crosby, Jarry ,Rakel would all be back and we would win in MSG.
That would be some TV ratings especially in America.
I too am surprised at Gallant’s actions,especially in game 4.
Cheers
JIM
Hey Coach,
Looks like we are going to the Big Apple for Sunday after all.
Poor Louie..The life of a AHL/NHL marginal player.
One week you are the HERO and now your the GOAT.
Fans need to realize that the Cupboards are BARE in Pittsburgh in their Farm System and that should NEVER been allowed to happen.
It will be Jarry’s game to lose on Sunday.
As you said in one of your previous posts, that the Pen’s on the last 10 to 15 regular season games were terrible and Jarry was there for some of those losses.
Let’s Go Pen’s..!
Hey Jim
Good thing I didn’t bet, I did think we had a better than even chance to close out last night.
Louie was never an NHL calibre Goalie so I hate to blame him. He gave his all. He just doesn’t have NHL level talent.
Furthermore, he had some help in yesterdays debacle.
E-Rod was one of the bigger problems in yesterday’s game. That is the problem when you have a “soff” team, they pick the wrong times to get tough. His retaliatory penalty more than anything else set the table for the Rangers. Mike has got to be beside himself, with E-Rod. And that is why I wanted that Smurf Center traded before the deadline. He is not cutout to contend for the Cup. He has enough talent to be a 2nd line Center on bottom 1/3 team but not on a Cup contender.
JRs Legacy also helped to facilitate this loss, as you alluded too, the cupboard is bare from all of his wheeling and dealing.
And let’s not forget our Coach, if it were up tp him, Simon and ZAR would still be here and we would already be eliminated. GMRH has fixed our forwards to some extent but the “D” and “G” is still weak.
Hey Rick,
I like big Z and DOC and they are bigger bodies but they really do not strike fear into anyone. The Trouba s of the world aren’t going to be slowed down by their presence. Any player that shows that level of physicality (to punish transgressors when the league turns a blind eye) only gets press box time and bruised knuckles for their troubles, courtesy of our resident Coach and Papa Smurf.
Not going to say much, few people like facts, they prefer feelings, so I don’t like to confuse them with the truth, but all the with-or-without you stats say the Guentzel-Malkin-Rust combo is the most lethal combo on this roster.
Carter, not going to get down on him for his +/-. First, the 2 Defensemen he has played with the most are Letang and Matheson, th e2 players with the most 5-on-5 team goals against (8 each)
Hey Coach,
What happens tonight ? Any predictions ??
I think it goes Seven games myself. Speaking of which, the NHL is having a fabulous First Round of NHL Play Offs with many series going 7 games. This is exactly what the League needs to help offset the disastrous past 2 seasons of Covid restrictions and failing revenues. Toronto/Tampa, Boston/Carolina,Washington/ Florida, LA/ Oilers, Dallas/ Calgary….Even Pens and Rangers are all money makers for the NHL.
Great to see…..We need to get that Salary Cap number up !!!
Cheers
JIM
Sorry Jim,
was talking about Rick B to someone as I was typing and just realized I typed his name rather than yours.
Let’s hope our Pens are more observant and less easily distracted as I just was. tonight.
Go Pens!!!