The Penguins division record has been give and take all year to this point. Heading into last night’s game against the Flyers they were 5-4-2 against the Metropolitan Division. They’ve been middling outside of the playoffs and making small gains even with their recent stretch of good results. To make up real ground they have to start taking more divisional games. Last night in a spirited contest they won handily over the Flyers 4-1. With the victory the Penguins are in striking distance of a playoff spot. The Metropolitan Division is crammed.
This is a great situation for a Penguins team who started the season erratically. They are in the thick of the playoff race and should be able to stay in it. Whether they can pace themselves to come out on the other side successfully is anyone’s guess. Before the Flyers game The Athletic had the Penguins at 74% to make it. I assume that number will rise after last night’s victory.
As for the game the Penguins had three goals from sources you would have thought before the season start. A power play goal, an Erik Karlsson goal, and an Evgeni Malkin goal. They also received a Chad Ruhwedel goal as a nice bonus.
Starting with the power play goal it was a Penguins team that looked like it had more intention on where they were moving the puck. They moved the puck decisively and used the entire zone to spread out the killers which ultimately led to an unsavable goal.
FOUR STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A POWER-PLAY GOAL! 🙌
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 9, 2024
Rakell now has a four-game point streak (3G-2A) and has points in eight of his last nine games. pic.twitter.com/Zvr6r9p6D7
The power play still lacks consistency as a whole. They are showing way more signs of life. I still believe this can and should be a strength of the team even if it is taking way longer than acceptable to get there.
As mentioned above this game was spicy and the Penguins big three were all caught up in it. Scott Laughton tried his dime store version of the David Steckel play on Sidney Crosby
Laughton and Crosby collide at centre ice. pic.twitter.com/ErqgxoI4eD
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 9, 2024
It of course led to tensions rising
“YEAH??? What is score f@cking a$$h*le!?!? #LetsGoPens#GoodLipReading pic.twitter.com/oz5NiYPIkp
— McPgh (@BobMcPgh) January 9, 2024
This was nothing compared to the fireworks off the ice for the Flyers. Their fifth overall selection flat out told the team he did not want to play for them anymore. Whatever the reason(s) it isn’t great for the Flyers. Even less so considering the return. Jamie Drysdale, a former sixth overall pick, has been underwhelming to this point in his career. There have been injuries which have impacted the start to his career, but his sample hasn’t been that of trading away your recent fifth overall selection for. Between this trade and the loss to the Penguins at home, not a great day for the orange and black.
Tomorrow, the Penguins will host Jim Rutheford’s Vancouver Canucks.
Thanks for reading!