How about your first place Pittsburgh Penguins? The Penguins are currently holding down the top spot in the East Division based on the strength of their 8-1-1 record in their last ten games. They are taking care of business and forcing all the other teams to keep pace.
The Capitals are one point behind the Penguins with a game in hand. The two teams have an upcoming back to back.
As for this weekend the Penguins did what they had to do against the New Jersey Devils to sweep the three game series. After giving up six goals in the first game the Devils were only able to score three more times in the final two games.
The most impressive game was yesterday. The Penguins dominated the Boston Bruins despite only winning by a score of 1-0.
The Penguins did not have a single player with a 5v5 expected goals share below 50% today.
— Danny (@shireyirving) April 25, 2021
I think myself, and others, believe Boston is a tough matchup for Pittsburgh. Yesterday’s performance does help with perception, but the Bruins are still really good and the Penguins did only score once even if they controlled the game flow. The Penguins finished yesterday’s game with a xGF% of 61.03 which is super impressive against Boston.
A big key was keeping the Bruins away from the net front. Boston was unable to generate anything of significance close to Tristan Jarry who made 30 saves for the shutout
Pittsburgh owned the high danger chance battle 11-2.
The only part of the game that didn’t completely go the Penguins way is something I’ve discussed before. Matching Sidney Crosby up against the Bergeron line. Sid was CF 5 CA 9 against the Bruins top line. Crosby’s line did score the game winning goal, but it came against Ritchie, Kuraly, and Wagner. In over ten minutes of 5v5 time against Bergeron Crosby only had the five shot attempts for. In less than two minutes against Ritchie he was on the ice for six shot attempts for including the Guentzel game winning goal
Where do we play? Pittsburgh, GUENTZELvania!
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 25, 2021
Did you know Pittsburgh one of just four teams this season with two 50-point players? pic.twitter.com/GOFiWV39bh
Over the weekend Sidney Crosby joined Wayne Gretzky as the only other player to accomplish the following feat
With that point, Sidney Crosby has cliched a point per game average in each of his first 16 NHL seasons, the second player in NHL history to do so. Wayne Gretzky was the other.
— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) April 24, 2021
If you are on a list with just Wayne Gretzky for a long term career accomplishment it speaks for itself.
The Penguins and Bruins will meet for… maybe the last time this year tomorrow. It would be really impressive if the Penguins could have repeat performance from Sunday.
Thanks for reading!