The New York Islanders are a solid team again and they put that on display against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins took a quick 1-0 lead and then before they knew it found themselves down 3-1.
At the end of the day the Penguins were fortunate to storm back and earn one point in the standings.
Simon Despres was a healthy scratch and regardless or the reason or tactic for doing so it took one of the Penguins five best NHL defenseman out of the lineup voluntarily.
Robert Bortuzzo and Rob Scuderi had a woeful game together. If Johnston was looking to check out certain things by changing the lineup that is fine, just learn from them. This pairing can't happen on a regular basis.
Brandon Sutter and Beau Bennett continue to do really good things together. With the news of Jayson Megna's call-up I would do something outside of the box in the short term with the forward lines.
Kunitz-Crosby-Hornqvist
Bennett-Malkin-Sutter
Comeau-Goc-Downie
Megna-Spaling-Adams
This isn't a long term kind of thing but I think it gives Malkin and Crosby legitimate guys on each side while still having a more than serviceable third line. Spaling is in a more appropriate role and Megna is a clear cut upgrade over Sill.
Sutter is really the only guy playing out of his normal role in this setup and with the way he has been playing I think he would find success on the wing. If you really wanted to you could flip flop him and Malkin.
Johnny Boychuk should be suspended. He won't be. There was only one intent that he had when he engaged with Malkin with the puck nowhere to be found. He was completely coherent when he actively made the choice to engage. This stuff has no place in hockey. It has a place because the league doesn't do anything to deter it.
Cameron Walsh wrote up a suspension report on Johnny Boychuk
here
****
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