The Penguins accomplished something last night in Columbus they haven’t managed in quite some time. They played a full, 60-minute game, with very few discernable lulls. Their reward? A hard-earned 3-2 victory over the pesky Columbus Blue Jackets, in comeback fashion to boot. In the process, avoiding a letdown following their big victory over the Rangers on Saturday.
For the record, beating the improving young Blue Jackets is no easy feat these days. Riding a hot streak by super scorer Patrik Laine and a career season by their bruising captain Boone Jenner, they entered the game on a 9-3 run, including recent victories over Toronto and Florida.
Indeed, the Jackets grabbed the lead on a tally by Oliver Bjorkstrand at 4:43 of the opening period to put us in an early hole. Despite dogged work by our Pens, not to mention several dinged posts, it appeared the lead would stand up approaching the first intermission. But with less than a minute to go in the frame, Kasperi Kapanen won a race to a loose puck following a good scoring opportunity and nudged it to Evgeni Malkin along the left wing boards. Geno launched the puck into the open far corner, where it ricocheted up the wall to a pinching Chad Ruhwedel. The Pens’ defender uncorked an innocuous-looking one-timer that glanced off defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and past netminder Elvis Merzlikins.
The Jackets regained the lead midway through the second period thanks to a freakish play. Brian Dumoulin’s attempted clear along the glass hit a stanchion and landed smack dab at the skates of former black-and-gold trade target Jack Roslovic. Before the flat-footed Pens could react, the Jackets’ center scooted through the right circle and beat Casey DeSmith with a wicked wrister over the left shoulder.
With little room to make plays and stymied by the rangy Merzlikins, it looked as though the Jackets’ 2-1 lead might stand up. Cue the “Two-Headed Monster.”
Midway through the final period, Sean Kuraly dumped Malkin with a vicious slew foot to draw a penalty. On the ensuing power play, Kris Letang drifted down the left side of the Columbus zone before snapping a cross-ice feed to Sidney Crosby in the right circle. Sid coolly surveyed the scene, freezing the CBJ penalty killers, before slipping a pass to Jake Guentzel to the right of the cage. Jake immediately moved the puck to Bryan Rust in the slot, who fed Malkin approaching from the left. Geno banged the puck home to knot the score at 2-2 and gain a measure of revenge in one delicious swoop.
The stage was set for Crosby’s game winner. In a heart-and-soul play that typifies his extraordinary work ethic and lead-by-example style, Sid outworked Roslovic and defenseman Andrew Peete for a loose puck along the end boards and dished the rubber to Rust, who into turn fed Letang at the right point. As Tanger teed up a long-range blast, Sid bulled his way past Roslovic to the front of the net. Merzlikins aggressively moved out of the blue paint to play the shot. They collided, Merzlikins fell, and Sid swept the rubber into an open net.
Columbus coach Brad Larsen challenged, claiming goalie interference. But Merzlikins had clearly initiated the contact and the goal stood. At the opposite end of the rink DeSmith stopped Jakub Voracek with 10 seconds remaining to secure the two points and a well-deserved victory for our boys.
Puckpourri
The Pens held a 71-49 edge in shot attempts and a 40-34 advantage in shots on goal. High-danger chances favored the black and gold as well (13-11). Malkin (two points on the night) was named first star.
DeSmith played a strong game in net, stopping 32 shots to earn third-star honors. Continuing to rebound from a rocky start, he’s 6-0-1 in his past seven decisions. However, the most important save of the game may well have been made by Mark Friedman. Subbing for the injured Mike Matheson, the feisty defender swept the puck…mere inches from crossing the goal line…from harm’s way at 9:12 of the third period to prevent the Blue Jackets from taking a two-goal lead.
Friedman was also noticeable for his wheels and penchant for joining the rush. He had two shots on goal and nearly scored in the first period when a shot rang off the pipe.
Kapanen played his most effective game in some time. His hustle led directly to our first goal and an assist for Kappy, snapping a dreadful 13-game pointless streak.
With two of our three goals and eight of our 10 points, big guns (Crosby, Guentzel, Letang, Malkin and Rust) continue to shoulder the offensive load. However, our once-vaunted secondary scoring remains on life support. Among the most prominent slumpers, Kapanen (no goals in 14 games), Brock McGinn (0 in 13), Jeff Carter (1 in 14), Evan Rodrigues (1 in 22) and Danton Heinen (2 in 19). The grand-daddy of the MIA set? Zach Aston-Reese (0 in 30).
With the victory, the Pens (33-14-8, 74 points) solidified their hold on second place in the Metro, three up on the Rangers and four behind front-running Carolina. We don’t play again till Thursday night, when we visit the Lightning.
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The other Rick,
OK. I'm convinced.
I do remember that the Crosby-Rust-Guentzel line only generated 4 goals in the 6 game series.
I try and forget that series. One of my son's still gets angry at Jarry for that series.
Thanks for the edumacation
Hey Rick,
Regarding "our once-vaunted secondary scoring remains on life support", occam's razor. There are always 2 teams on the ice. The number of Goals scored is a function the ability of one team to score and the other team to defend. I know we don't want to hear it but it is true, earlier in the season, our Pens played the vast majority of games against the weakest teams, so they scored. We are now playing teams that know how to defend, so scoring is titrated through an eye dropper. The Pens still have a game against Az and Buf, Phi, and 2 Games apiece against Det and NYI - there are 7 more times that we may see significant secondary scoring. ZAR may yet double his G total and Simon may still net another G.
Rick,
Great write up of the game. You are a gifted writer.
Great to see DeSmith play well. We need him on his game going into the playoffs.
The slew foot you wrote about should be looked at by the league office. It was pretty obvious and needs a fine.
The secret with Geno appears to be....get the big man mad enough to play hard but not so mad he commits the dumb penalties. He seems like a man on a mission this past few games . He has been the object of criticism (by me and others) at times but he's stepped it up. Now it needs to translate to 5 v 5 on his line. Even when they generate a shot on goal and get a juicy kickout, there's almost never a trailing Penguin ready for a second shot. Watching TV, I can't see the whole ice but theres many ties there isn't even a second penguin i the picture.
There was one play last night where Rodriguez gave a great pass that generated a quality shot with a rebound. Had he positioned himself for the rebound, it would have likely been an easy goal.
Lastly, the Pens forecheck was spotty and they need to get used to a harder hitting rest of season, especially on lines 2 and 3. Line 4 seems to still holding their own, even with Blueger out. They aren't scoring much but they are keeping the puck in the offensive zone, putting pressure on the goalie and eating into the opposing teams first line time.
Hey Lightning and Rick,
I keep reading a lot of people saying Geno needs to pick up his 5 on 5 play, why is no one asking Sid, or E-Rod, or Carter to pick up their 5 on 5 play. Geno has the best 5 on 5 point/60 of the Penguins of all Penguins forwards (100min TOI) since his return (1/11/2022)
Malkin 1.94
Carter 1.76
Boyle 1.70
Crosby 1.31
E-Rod 0.64
(Stats copied from Natural Stat Trick)
All of the numbers that Jake, Rusty, and Sid put up early in the season against the cellar dwellers aren’t helping now against the top tier teams. Geno is doing the heavy lifting, yet getting all the vitriol, while the rest of the team is getting a free pass.
I don’t care what opinions are being expressed by talking heads on all of the other media outlets trying to create an illusion to drive their narrative, the facts are Malkin is the best offensive force the team has right now.
The other Rick,
I would agree with you on an individual basis but on a line basis, not so much.
The Crosby-Rust-Guentzel line has consistently put up points (3 goals and 8 assists in the last five games) and all three players have contributed (albeit to lower levels than earlier in the season to your point).
The Malkin-Heinen-Kapanen line has 4 goals and 4 assists over the last 5 games but it's almost all Malkin ( 4 goals and 3 Assists).
Obviously, line 1 plays more minutes so that's to their advantage but they are playing against tougher competition too.
My point on 5 v 5 was that I'd like to see the productivity of the whole line rise. Thats why I praised Malkin as an individual contributor on offense but made the 5 v 5 comment. As the center, he has a great deal to do with helping to create that situation. Heinen in particular should be scoring more, he's got scoring ability.
As Mark Twain said "Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are pliable.”
...but your points are well made.
Hey Lighting,
I appreciate that you are not singling Malkin out but his line.
So, looking at Malkin with his most common line mates since he has come back;
Malkin-Heinen-Kapanen
TGF/60 (5 on 5): 2.47
TGA/60 (5 on 5): 0.00
Vs
Crosby-Guentzel-Rust (Since Malkin has come back - same opponents same games)
TGF/60 (5 on 5): 2.26
TGA/60 (5 on 5): 2.01
Malkin - Heinen - Kapanen have been better offensively and far, far better defensively compared to Crosby-Guentzel-Rust in the same games, yet no one is asking the first line to play better, despite the 2nd line beating them both offensively and defensively.
It is eye opening when you look at the with or without you stats.
Bottom line for me here is that the Penguins have been playing way better opponents since Malkin came back. Comparing what Crosby-Guentzel-Rust (or E-Rod, or Carter or MCGinn, or whoever) did during that run against non-playoff teams to what Malkin's line has been doing against playoff teams is hardly fair. Since Malkin has come back, his line, even with less talented wingers has been producing better offensively and defensively than any other line, 5 on 5.
Hello Lightning,
I don't know if I'm a gifted writer, but thank you. I try ... :)
Liked your observations about Geno. We just him to be medium ticked off ... lol.
Anyway, great comments as always. Yeah, someone on another site mentioned that Geno's line always seems to be playing a man short. Frankly, Kapanen for whatever reasons just hasn't been very involved, although he played a lot better yesterday. I don't know if Geno's hard to read and that maybe contributes to it.
Hopefully we can find a couple of guys who fit with him. He does seem to be hitting his stride and given the severity of his injury is playing remarkably well.
Rick