Here a kap, there a kap Everywhere a kap kap (Penguins)

Penguins

Here a kap, there a kap Everywhere a kap kap

By Ryan Wilson

Nov 6, 2021 • 10:24 pm

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The Penguins had a victory lined up, until they didn’t. Kasperi Kapanen’s hat trick was tracking towards a Penguins win until Ryan Hartman and the Minnesota Wild tied the game up with about a second left in regulation.

They then went on to win the shootout via Nick Bjugstad’s game winning goal, because why not?

It was a Kap kind of night as the Penguins Kapanen and Minnesota’s Karill Kaprizov each did their part to try and help their teams win. Ultimately, it was Kaprizov with the last laugh.

Karill Kaprizov is one of the more exciting players in the league and he did not disappoint in what will likely be his only visit to Pittsburgh this season. He scored the opening goal of the game and then had an absolutely beautiful shootout goal which oozed skill and confidence.

Both broadcasts said identical things about it "boy did he make that look easy".

There’s no debating his skill. He is must see.

The big story from the Penguins side of things is Kasperi Kapanen finally broke out and unleashed all of his untapped shooting regression by registering a hat trick in the Penguins victory over the Minnesota Wild. The Penguins winger has had a better xGF% season so far than at any point as a Penguins, but his shooting percentage completely evaporated, until tonight.

He did it with a smooth deke

And his big shot

He then scored a goal that was shooting regression personified.

He started the game with a 0% shooting percentage and ended it being 10.7. A normal career average shooting percentage combined with Kapanen’s current xGF% would be a nice thing for Malkin to come back to.

Sometimes in the NHL even when you leave the evidence behind there’s no penalty on the play.

That was really Dumba there. Honestly, it was a real dick move to yank the stick out of there like that. I think that deserved a penalty probably even more so than the other obvious missed infraction. There was a lot of potential to scrape somebody’s eye there.

Jake Guentzel has his second goal in as many games. He assertively sniped his goal with a huge assist to Jeff Carter’s frame totally blocking Cam Talbot’s vision. I have to think scoring against Minnesota feels pretty good for Guentzel.

Jake is a natural goal scorer. He’s going to go on a heater at some point this season to make up for the cold stretch to start. The odds are way better with Crosby and/or Malkin in the lineup, but he’s capable of doing it without them as well.

Cam Talbot was terrific in overtime of this game. He stopped multiple breakaways from former Wild Jason Zucker and then John Marino. He then outplayed Jarry in the shootout, which has been the norm for most goalies this year.

He might flash some of Fleury’s athleticism, but he’s got a long way to go to match him in shootout ability.

Jarry’s had a nice start to the year and this shouldn’t overshadow his strong start. Fortunately, there are no shootouts in the playoffs.

In non-shootout play the goaltending was pretty even in this one

On to the next

Thanks for reading!

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