It didn’t take long for the Penguins to reap the rewards of having Brian Dumoulin and John Marino back in the lineup. The team scored two goals right away in the first period and both players had a direct impact on those goals. John Marino scored on his first shift
ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 4, 2020
John Marino picks up right where he left off. pic.twitter.com/c4og8WWlZe
Brian Dumoulin facilitated a good pass to free up Conor Sheary and that led to the Penguins getting a bounce in front.
OH SHEARY! 💪
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 4, 2020
Just like back in the day! pic.twitter.com/vozKgUonz9
Ottawa isn’t a good team. Even so, you can see just how important it is having players who are competent on the back end. The Penguins have very good forward depth. The kind of depth they have isn’t the kind that can facilitate on their own (minus Crosby/Malkin). They aren’t bad players, they just need help. The help comes from the work the defensemen do to put them in good spots. This wasn’t happening for months. This is why I wasn’t bent out of shape from the losing streak. This is why I still think the Penguins will be a tough out in the playoffs. It was refreshing to see both players give an immediate impact after the team struggled for so long.
Individual, on-ice, forward lines & defensive pairs at the end of the game (via @NatStatTrick).#OTTvsPIT pic.twitter.com/dalk9YRrih
— PenguinsGameBot (@bot_penguins) March 4, 2020
I wonder if Sidney Crosby will have a good game tonight https://t.co/Ur9p6ENxjb
— Ryan Wilson (@GunnerStaal) March 3, 2020
He did! Sidney Crosby had himself a game. Yes, it was related to the paragraph above. Even Sidney Crosby needs some help. He finished with a goal and two assists. Look for more consistency offensively from Crosby now that Johnson won’t be on the ice with him. Also, Conor Sheary is going to be fine.
Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, and Brian Dumoulin leading the way in xGF% and CF% is not a coincidence. Obvious reasons are obvious.
We're not worthy 🙌 pic.twitter.com/QZma7LS3hY
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 4, 2020
Crosby: 1G-2A
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 4, 2020
Sheary: 2A
Zucker: 1G-2A
Not too shabby. pic.twitter.com/kkWmhhbYc0
There was always going to be an overreaction by some about Sheary coming back. He’s a solid depth player and gives Pittsburgh the ability to spread their offense throughout the lineup because he can fit in and look the part with Crosby. His goal really should have been a nice assist to Crosby. It was good vision and was rewarded with a lucky bounce off a Senator.
It’s not often the hat trick guy gets ignored this long in a game recap. Bryan Rust scored three times and now has 27 goals on the year. Logic points to him being a 30 goal scorer this year. I didn’t have him pegged him for a 30 goal year (neither did you) and I’m not sure how confident I am doing so moving forward. That doesn’t matter right now. He’s having a wonderful season and his emergence in the goal scoring department has been a huge bonus for the team. He’s playing good hockey and has been a steady presence for Evgeni Malkin who isn’t always the beneficiary of something like this.
I really liked his patience on the power play goal. He waited just a split second for the Ottawa player to move out of his shooting lane. His second goal was Hockey 101 in going hard to the net and cleaning up the trash. His third goal was something I noticed him trying earlier in the game. Rust had a prior opportunity coming down the right side and a lot of times he will try to go bar down on the glove side. He tried it in a recent game and put the puck in the stands. I think he is trying to differentiate his approach and mixed in a few low shots with his third goal being one of them.
Jason Zucker is on a 45 goal pace since joining the Penguins. Calen Addison currently at a zero goal pace in the NHL this year.
Was two goals enough in the 1st period? AS IF! pic.twitter.com/uCU9tUAQ1l
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 4, 2020
The Penguins can build on their success last night when they take on the Sabres in Buffalo on Thursday. If nothing else at least the games are watchable again.
Good luck and best wishes to the Johnson family. Jack Johnson left the game early because his wife was in labor.
Thanks for reading!