The Penguins showed some signs of life against the Philadelphia Flyers. The process didn’t look all that different, but the results did. Funny how this sports works. Funny in the sense that you have to laugh at how random things are. The win was big. It was over a divisional foe and on the same night that the Islanders earned zero points against the Bruins. Pittsburgh’s playoff chances jumped from 43% to 49% per Hockeyviz with the win. These divisional games are going to be high leverage and swing probabilities in a violent fashion.
So how did Pittsburgh pull off their 5-1 victory? It wasn’t even the stars that contributed the most offense. It was the fourth line and a bottom pairing defenseman scoring three of the five goals.
Ryan Reaves upped his season goal projection from two to four goals. He was competent on this evening, even added an assist for a multi-point game. Tom Kuhnhackl is also now on pace for four goals. Guess who else is on pace for four goals? Jamie Oleksiak. This was a reminder of how the team used to be able to win games, having depth players contribute offensively. Instead of these goals cementing Reaves and Kuhnhackl in the lineup it should highlight the need for replacing them more. There is nothing in either players’ history that shows you can count on them offensively. I’m not talking about Matt Cullen 1.75 points per 60 kind of stuff either. Both players are under 1.00 cumulatively since 2014. It was a nice night from those two and helped get two points the team desperately needed. Neither are a part of the solution.
As for the team “turning a corner…. That kind of terminology deserves a place next to momentum talk. It’s stuff you talk about and assign in hindsight. There was nothing in the process last night that would point to turning a corner. This isn’t being negative about the team, it’s dismissing useless rhetoric. The Penguins split shot attempts last night and didn’t shoot 2%. That’s something that could have feasibly happened during many games this year. They deserve to have a game like last night. Quite frankly they deserve multiple games like last night. Instead of Pittsburgh nailing the post on their attempts it was the Flyers last night. It was a much needed two points.
The Penguins did a good job at giving the Flyers their opportunities from wider angles
Instead of focusing on the big picture and if a corner was indeed turned we should all take a page out of Bill Belichick’s boring yet effective approach of “on to the next…. Each game is its own and what happened two days ago is in the past. Keep focusing on the process. It’s all you can do. At worst split the shot attempts and eventually the goalie will make some saves and pucks will go in (even from 4th liners!).
Speaking of goaltending Tristan Jarry had to leave the game with an injury to the wrist/hand area. He looked to have a cut/abrasion near his thumb and wrist. Whatever it was it took him out of action. Matt Murray entered the game and was treated to a Flyers power play immediately. Murray did not allow a single goal on the 11 shots he faced. We’ll have to see what is up with Jarry’s hand/wrist. He’s played well for the team this year and losing him as a backup for an extended period of time isn’t ideal with how Murray’s season has gone.
Kris Letang had a Kris Letang kind of game.
Most players are bunched together indicating that they split shot attempts with the opponent. Letang is on an island in a good way. Vintage Letang. Let’s see if it becomes a pattern.
Riley Sheahan had a two assist night and was on the ice for a season high of 18:56. Carter Rowney had to leave the game injured and it left Pittsburgh with only three centers. It was his first multi-point game since the season finale in Detroit last year when he scored his first two goals of the season in game 82. The sooner the team can get him in a fourth line role the sooner they will be able to approach success in similar ways to the last few years. The later we get into the year the more the idea of Jake Guentzel as a center should be considered. Something in the general mold of this
Sheary-Crosby-Hornqvist Hagelin(ugh)-Malkin-Kessel Rust-Guentzel-Sprong Simon-Sheahan-Rowney
Issues with this lineup are Carl Hagelin’s inability to look like a fringe top six forward. Bryan Rust more than likely would prefer to play right wing, but has played some left wing. Neither Carter Rowney or Ryan Reaves is on my preferred list. If Jim Rutherford can’t find a third line center he can find a (couple) competent fourth liners to fill out the depth at a cost that won’t kill the team. Daniel Sprong allows Conor Sheary to fill a left wing spot which allows the Guentzel move. This isn’t an ideal setup because I think Jake Guentzel has shown how dangerous he can be on the wing with the big dogs, but that third line center trade may never come and you have to work with what you have.
I’ve seen and heard the name Evander Kane brought up seeing as though I reside in Sabres territory. While I think there is definitely an on-ice fit for him in Pittsburgh I don’t want any part of a high priced rental and I also don’t want to be the team to give him his next contract. Given that I think it would be prudent to look elsewhere. The cost of acquisition won’t be cheap. He is one of the prime UFA trade targets in the league and Buffalo will want to cash in on that if they don’t give him an extension themselves.
Pittsburgh gets Carolina again on Thursday. On to the next!
Thanks for reading!