Looking to build off of their overtime win on Tuesday the Penguins will look to defeat the Senators this evening to keep their winning ways going.
This will be the first time the Penguins will get a look at the Senators with their new center, Matt Duchene. The Senators spent a good number of assets (led by Kyle Turris) to acquire Duchene in what is only a mild upgrade at the center position. The Senators are in a tough spot. They are a win now team because of Erik Karlsson and his contract coming to an end after next year. The problem is they really aren’t one of the more talented teams in the Eastern Conference despite their run to the conference finals last year. They will more than likely have to go through both Toronto and Tampa Bay before they take on the Metropolitan team that makes it through to round three. I think Ottawa gained the least out of the Duchene trade even though Duchene is a really good player. The cost to acquire when compared to the gain made by Ottawa wasn’t great value.
I do want to take the time to appreciate a soon to be former Senator and former NHL player, Clarke MacArthur. There are rumors that he is on the cusp of retiring and that is too bad. He’s an underrated player and his career will be cut short from injuries, mainly concussions.
I have been privy to MacArthur’s career from the very beginning. He got his start when he was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres. He spent the first part of his professional career here in Rochester. He married a girl from the next town over from me that I share some mutual friends with. I have only heard great things about him and I have always been a fan. I’m fairly certain I saw he and Phil Kessel on their boat in our local pond back in the Maple Leafs days.
Best wishes in retirement, Clarke.
Checking in on a former Penguin
Derrick Pouliot has been the most pleasant surprise of the Canucks season https://t.co/Pa43oJSjyW #Canucks pic.twitter.com/JXRclFpU3q
— Daniel Wagner (@passittobulis) November 15, 2017
Vancouver has given him ice time in a sheltered role on a regular basis and he has been productive. That role was always available in Pittsburgh.
In Vancouver he has a 57.49% possession rate and has a 0.98 points per 60 at 5v5. Only Olli Maatta has a better points per 60 among Penguins defensemen and nobody has a better raw possession number. Pouliot is in a sheltered role. He is performing in that role. It’s only 14 games, but it’s 14 more games than the Penguins were willing to give. Pittsburgh’s loss has been Vancouver’s gain to this point.
Thanks for reading!