The month of March is no stranger to wild swings in weather and the Penguins were no stranger to wild swings in their fortune. They had many injuries to navigate on top of playing a packed schedule. All in all they did a great job. They are in a great position heading forward to make the playoffs. They bought their executives time in order to not make a panic trade. Outside of injuries which can’t be controlled the Penguins did about as well as you can.
Pittsburgh plays its final game during the calendar month of March tonight. The team enters tonight’s game with an NHL-best (tied) 11 wins and 23 points over that span.
— Penguins PR (@PenguinsPR) March 29, 2021
PIT vs. NYI Game Notes: https://t.co/vZz5dbm42l pic.twitter.com/ShUCvhpzal
This was before the game. They now have 11 wins and 25 points.
The @penguins concluded March with 12 wins – their second-highest total in a single calendar month – and entered tonight tied with Colorado for the most points since March 1 (23). #NHLStats: https://t.co/K9drTGRQ1Y pic.twitter.com/ikcoR4yEae
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 30, 2021
This while having nine of their remaining 20 games against the Devils and the now tied for longest winless streak in league history Buffalo Sabres.
After going 6-2 against the Islanders this year the Penguins are now tied with them in second place with 48 points each. Both have played the same number of games. The Islanders hold the tie breaker with regulation wins, but they also have a chunk of games against the Capitals and Bruins and none against the Sabres. They will have to do so without Anders Lee who is now out for the year.
Notable happenings from yesterday:
Jason Zucker returned. He was out for quite a while, I think 18 games, but I do think this is ahead of schedule which is nice. It might take him some time to get his sea legs again. That’s OK he has plenty of time to do so.
Here are the injury updates
Coach Sullivan: "Teddy and Tans skated with Ty Hennes this morning. Their statuses are the same. Friedman skated with the taxi squad and is making continued progress. His status is the same. Geno has not skated yet. He's continuing his rehab off the ice."
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) March 28, 2021
Going to have to add Tristan Jarry to the list. He mysteriously exited the game in-between the first and second period for what was called an upper body injury. Casey DeSmith did a great job jumping into the game with no notice. He didn’t start, and he didn’t earn the victory, but he did earn the #1 star of the game. He has been playing great. And would you look who found their way onto this list
Goals Saved Above Expected Leaderboard (All Situations) - March 29 pic.twitter.com/n0OvsFmlCj
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) March 29, 2021
Impressive season so far for DeSmith.
Jared McCann is also putting up an impressive campaign. McCann scored yet again last night and it was the game winning goal. His March has been superb. These numbers were before last night
Let's talk about Jared McCann's month of March via @NatStatTrick :
— Jesse Marshall (@jmarshfof) March 29, 2021
57% control of 5v5 shot share
64% control of 5v5 expected goals
89% control of 5v5 goals scored
It's one thing to score goals, it's another to have a rock solid process underneath that.
John Marino had a strong game with two primary assists. The only reservation I have about trading Pettersson’s 4M contract is the idea of playing of Marino being sunk by Mike Matheson. With Matheson Marino has an xGF% of 41.97 and without him it is 50.45. Mike Matheson’s shortcomings have been exactly as advertised. He did have two secondary assists last night so he deserves a mention there. Overall, his offensive footprint has been minimal as his defensive contributions
Keep him away from Marino.
Anthony Angello AND Matt Martin had a PP goal last night. Probably better odds of hitting the mega millions than that happening again in the same game, or on the same night, or ever.
Congratulations to the 2003-04 Penguins. You are no longer sitting alone by yourself at the top of the losing heap. The 2020-21 Buffalo Sabres are at a minimum going to sit at the table with you. The Sabres joined you in incredible fashion last night. Buffalo entered the third period with a 3-0 lead. They exited with a tie game after the Flyers knotted things up at 3 with their goalie pulled. The Flyers won in overtime and the collapse was complete. Hockey Heaven will go for the record tomorrow night.
No confirmation if the rumors are true about Konstantin Koltsov sprinting to get the champagne bottle but then fumbling it and having it break on the ground while Dick Tarnstrom looks in disgust while Ramzi Abid and Matt Murley clean it up.
Thanks for reading!