Penguins earn record setting victory over Montreal (Penguins)

Penguins

Penguins earn record setting victory over Montreal

By Ryan Wilson

Dec 14, 2023 • 9:46 am

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For the first time in a month the Pittsburgh Penguins have won back to back games. They were able to earn a 4-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in a highly riveting shootout. It went 11 rounds, which was a Penguins record.

There times the Penguins answered a Canadiens goal immediately with Lars Eller’s coming in the 7th round to keep things going. Jansen Harkins eventually ended things in the 11th round and put a cap on what had to be a terrific game for the Dad’s watching up in the box.

Alex Nedeljkovic turned in a gutsy performance considering how the game started. He stopped eight out of the eleven attempts in the shootout. He also kept the game tied late in the third period and overtime when the Montreal Canadiens were on the power play. He finished with 39 saves on 42 shots for a .929 save percentage. A tremendous bounce back for what could have been a lost cause.

It’s a good thing Sidney Crosby doesn’t look his age because once again the captain stepped up and produced for this team. He finished the game with two goals as well as the one he scored in the shootout. And how about that shootout goal. The ever rare deke by Crosby in a shootout. It’s about time. I’ve had my fill of his quick release five-hole move over the years. He’s too good to be so one dimensional in the shootout.

The power play has a little bit of life. I would say it is regression, but regression happens when extreme results balance out over time when there’s average caliber play. The Penguins power play so far this year has been outright terrible and deserved the results they were getting. Lately, they’re acting like they actually have some organization to things.

Win a puck battle, move it low to high, get the killers moving, and find soft spots for a quality shooter to take advantage.

They got the killers moving again on the tying goal

Penguins set up a double screen and because they scored from the bumper spot on the first goal the Canadiens players respected that and it gave the top of the umbrella way more space than they’ve been getting. Crosby had a clear shooting lane and Jake Guentzel executed a textbook screen.

Having a functional power play, getting Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell back in the lineup, and having the level of goaltending the Penguins are getting would be quite a recipe for success moving forward.

Out of all the call ups the Penguins have made Valtteri Puustinen’s skill set is the one with the most potential to actually help this team where it is needed. For now, he’s stepped into the first power play and has done a decent enough job to the point the Penguins are actually scoring on it multiple times a game. We’ll see if he hangs on to the power play gig if the team is fully healthy. Right now his small sample of 46 minutes at 5v5 has him at 57.55 xGF%. He has puck skills and can create zone entries. The other guys are very north south basic players who aren’t going to create a whole lot. Puustinen figuring out a way to make it work in the NHL would be a great development in this season. I have more faith in what he brings to the table will help the Penguins than the others coming from WB/S.

Penguins will have a few days to refocus before they find their way to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs on Saturday night.

Thanks for reading!

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