So the Penguins started their preseason with a 3-0 defeat. I went back and forth on even making a post about the game because there is no point in overreacting or making sweeping assessments on such a small and meaningless sample.
The one thing I want to keep seeing is Sam Poulin, Nate Legare, and Filip Lindberg continue to see quality playing time. Everything else is kind of whatever. If they continue to be put into the preseason lineup there is a better chance to get a more accurate assessment, or at least the best you can do with a training camp sample. This is priority #1 for me in these games other than for nobody to get hurt.
Some other quick thoughts on what was mostly a dull and uninteresting game.
Brian Boyle is almost definitely going to play for the team. He has size and it is something the brass wanted more of. He laid a big hit last night which will play well with the added toughness intentions and he isn’t doing anything else to knock him off track to making the team.
A half game sample isn’t meaningful so I take it for what it’s worth, Tristan Jarry let in a shot from range while the Penguins were out shooting their competition by a decent margin. It feels like Déjà vu from the spring, but it is also a meaningless preseason game. Jarry is going to have to regain trust by performing in the regular season over a larger sample.
Filip Lindberg finished with a .923 save percentage in his first professional outing. I would like to see him in a full game in the near future.
Lindberg: "From a goalie perspective, everything happens a little quicker. The guys move faster, shoot faster. I felt like it was a good first game for me. I'm excited for the next opportunity, and I'm going to be ready for it." pic.twitter.com/PoiucTNAji
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 28, 2021
Those helmet stickers sure are BOLD. Most teams sticker helmets are just kind of there and not all that noticeable, which is fine. The Penguins are an exception. Their helmet stickers are an eye sore and among the worst in the league. I guess you gotta do what you gotta do when you can’t 100% rely on playoff revenue anymore.
Next up for the Penguins are the Buffalo Sabres this Friday.
Thanks for reading!