In a way, it was all-too-fitting that former GM Craig Patrick served as an in-studio TV analyst for Thursday night’s Penguins game.
At the trade deadline some 34 years ago, Patrick engineered what is widely regarded as the finest trade in franchise history, acquiring Hall-of-Famer Ron Francis and backline thumpers Ulf Samuelsson and Grant Jennings from Hartford for John Cullen, Zarley Zalapski and Jeff Parker.
Well, move over Craig. Your handiwork just might have some company. Namely, Kyle Dubas’ extracting a pair of Con(n)ors, Dewar and Timmins, from the Maple Leafs at the recent trade deadline for a lone fifth-round pick.
Kidding, of course. However, at first blush the trade, indeed, looks like a dandy. And not just because the newcomers each scored to help key the Pens’ 5-3 victory over the Blues.
Dewar looks like he could be a useful energy/role player. Kind of a Blake Lizotte lite. And, dare I say, Timmins (plus-3 in 16:57 of ice time) just might be the perfect complement to Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang on the right side of our defense.
Heck, he even helped partner Ryan Graves achieve a rare plus and an even rarer goal, the maligned defender’s first in 47 games this season. Interesting backstory—the duo were paired together when they first came up with the Avalanche, but I digress.
While I’m ticking off the black-and-gold scorers, add Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust to the list. It was RikRak’s 30th goal of the season, the third time in his career he’s reached that mark. Speaking of great deals, how about the one that brought him here for Zach Aston-Reese and Dominik Simon. (Take a bow, Ron Hextall.)
Our real hero? For the third game in a row (all wins), goalie Tristan Jarry. The born-again netminder kept us alive during a defensively porous first period (16 shots against) and blunted 33 of 36 shots on the evening
He was, in a word, superb.
Puckpourri
The R ‘n’ R Boys (Rakell and Rust) paced the Pens’ attack. Each had a goal and an assist. Sidney Crosby and Lizotte each registered two assists. Karlsson, Danton Heinen and Philip Tomasino also picked up helpers.
Boko Imama saw semi-regular duty (8:21 TOI) on the third line. The rugged winger blocked two shots and dished out four hits. The Pens are 7-3-1 with Boko in the lineup.
Can’t believe I’m dusting this off or that it’s even semi-relevant, but the Pens (27-31-10, 64 points) are only six points out of a wild-card spot.
After our recent 1-7-1 stretch, whoda thunk it?
One of the Blues’ goal-getters, Alexey Toropchenko, is the son of Leonid Toropchenko, the first Russian-born player ever drafted by the Pens (260th overall by Patrick in ’93).
How do you like them trivia apples?
Excuse the brevity and general wackiness of this recap. But it was a long day at the gym and, to put it in a friend’s vernacular, I’m whooped.
Final Word
I was expecting my home to be without power this morning, which is why I posted my recap last night. However, the electrician had to cancel the appointment. Since I’ve got juice, I figured I’d add a belated final thought.
I can’t help but think the Pens have largely wasted Lizotte this season by, for the most part, deploying him between veterans Matt Nieto and Noel Acciari. Offensively speaking, the proverbial rock and a hard place.
After lighting it up during a nine-game tour of duty as our third-line center to the tune of five goals and nine points, the peppery forward was unceremoniously shunted to the fourth line when Cody Glass returned from IR.
Lizzo promptly fell stone silent to the tune of two goals and an assist over a 32-game stretch, including an ugly 16-game pointless skein.
While I don’t totally fault coach Mike Sullivan…a ghastly lack of options surely had something to do with it…Blake shouldn’t have been pigeon-holed between two chronic non-producers without any hope of a reprieve (or stay of execution if you prefer).
Anyway, it was refreshing to see what Lizzo can do (two assists last night) with even a little help (Dewar).
