The Penguins picked up another point in the standings although the other one was certainly there for the taking. The point was lost on an overtime howitzer from Brent Burns after Kris Letang took a careless tripping penalty in the 3v3 overtime. It wasn’t a great sequence and even though the Sharks power play hasn’t been statistically good this year I want no part of them 4v3 with Burns being able to let shots go from up top.
The Sharks goaltending has apparently found some footing since the coaching change.
One thing that hasn't been a problem with #SJSharks since coaching change is goaltending: .922 Save % at 5v5 is 13th in league.
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 3, 2020
Dell .925, Jones .918. These aren't phenomenal numbers, but a far cry from .878 under DeBoer
Aaron Dell certainly stayed true to this trend last night making multiple big saves.
In some other news the Penguins have a certain somebody back at practice today
Sidney Crosby just took the ice for #Pens practice wearing a gray no-contact jersey. -MC
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) January 3, 2020
This is a good step, obviously. Although, he’s going to need some contact at these practices before they return him to game action. It looks like my prediction for a Saturday return will be incorrect. The team also plays Sunday it looks like that will be another game missed. They visit Marc-Andre Fleury and the Golden Knights on Tuesday. That looks like a logical return date at the moment. But wait!
Sidney Crosby took off the gray jersey and swapped it out for a regular black jersey
— Taylor Haase (@TaylorHaasePGH) January 3, 2020
Crosby is working with the top power play.
— Taylor Haase (@TaylorHaasePGH) January 3, 2020
It's Crosby, McCann, Hornqvist, Malkin, and Letang.
Sid might actually make his return tomorrow and that would be a great thing.
Edit 1:30 PM: But now...
Crosby said he’s not sure if he’s making the trip out west. He’ll skate here on his own while team goes to Montreal. Said he’s not ready for contact yet.
— Taylor Haase (@TaylorHaasePGH) January 3, 2020
Sidney Crosby said his status has not changed. He joined the practice session because it was the only available ice time for him to skate. He has not yet been cleared for contact (the jersey switch didn’t mean anything). -MC
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) January 3, 2020
womp womp
Bob McKenzie was right (of course he was). The Penguins had no interest in Ilya Kovlachuk. They couldn’t have possibly had any interest considering the contract Kovalchuk just signed with the Montreal Canadiens.
The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way contract with free agent forward Ilya Kovalchuk. The deal will pay Kovalchuk $700,000 at the NHL level and $70,000 in the AHL.#GoHabsGo https://t.co/VdpyijRjNh
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) January 3, 2020
That is as low risk as it gets. Pittsburgh didn’t see a fit for his services and I can see the argument for taking this path. Kovalchuk’s underlying numbers haven’t been great in Los Angeles and the Penguins have had success in those areas this year. The one area I think he could have helped was the left side of the power play, but perhaps not worth the risk of the 5v5 play. I very much dislike PK specialists and do think power play specialists are a better bet to waste a roster spot on. I don’t think the Penguins have a need for either. They need to stick to being able to role four lines with the ability to skate.
Another newsworthy item from yesterday
We have acquired a fourth-round pick from @CanadiensMTL (originally owned by the @SanJoseSharks) in the 2020 NHL Draft in exchange for defenseman Marco Scandella.
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) January 2, 2020
Details: https://t.co/4WmViFOyOj pic.twitter.com/mgDInsEKiv
The Sabres may have had interest in Alex Galchenyuk and the Penguins might have had interest in Marco Scandella. I can’t say the Sabres went in the wrong direction. They cleared Scandella’s money to make room for Mikael Frolik who I think is a better player than Alex Galchenyuk. He is more well-rounded and is also an unrestricted free agent.
Tyler Toffoli remains an option. Brandon Saad’s name appears to be out there. Still options to be had. Cap space is a non-issue for the Penguins with the clearing of Gudbranson’s contract and the LTIR space Guentzel creates.
NEW PODCAST Jake Guentzel injury, Winter Classic, and IIHF standards https://t.co/3xSESFDzSF
— Ryan Wilson (@GunnerStaal) January 2, 2020
Thanks for reading!