The Penguins are now winners of seven out of their last nine games. It was a much needed stretch of results after a really bad December. As has been the case in the last few years they have received some contributions after calling up players from WB/S. The latest player to do this has been Dominik Simon.
Simon has had the benefit of playing with Sidney Crosby which makes life easier than if you aren’t playing with him, but he’s making the most of the opportunity. He’s getting some points and allowing Mike Sullivan to spread talent throughout the lineup. His emergence has also taken away a roster spot that otherwise would have been available and is now being allotted to functional players. Simon’s last game featured a wrist shot from distance on the rush. His first goal last night featured a well placed one-timer.
He followed that up with yet another goal. He won some time and space courtesy of Sidney Crosby on the half wall and let his shot do the talking again.
How long can he keep this up? No idea. His shot is certainly deceptive and his game leans heavily towards being skill based and those are plusses in my book. Whatever the future holds he’s really helped the team out during this January stretch.
There was this guy wearing #28 for the Penguins last night. Cole something. You’d think after visiting the White House the team would be pro-Cole, but they haven’t been lately. Ian Cole finally made his return to the lineup and it was quite successful. He led the team in possession at 72.73% and even added an assist on the opening goal of the game. He is one of the Penguins six best defenders and should play nightly. I think he’s handled the situation he’s been put in as well as anybody could. It has been such a weird situation.
So the three-headed monster had themselves a night. Sidney Crosby had three helpers and so did Phil Kessel. Evgeni Malkin added two goals and an assist. Some of it was on the power play, but not all of it. The offensive attack is back to having all three players on separate lines and historically that seems to be when the Penguins have been at their best.
Brian Dumoulin extended his career high in goals for a season to… three! It’s another Penguins mystery that I don’t think I’ll ever quite come to grips with. His shot from the point is decent enough to where he should be getting 5+ goals per year and for some reason that just hasn’t been the case. It took some Crosby brilliance to open the ice up, but Dumoulin gets full marks for joining the rush and finishing off the freebie.
So the brilliance by Sid wasn’t just the passing vision. Focus on the breakout. He makes it look so casual that it was easy to miss on the first viewing. He nonchalantly bats the puck out of the air in stride and leads the controlled exit up the ice. No big deal.
Carl Hagelin has eight point in his last eight games.
He doesn’t need to be a point per game player to help the team, but it is nice to have him there and not be a point per 18 game player. It also helps to play with Evgeni Malkin who does wonders for his linemates.
Casey DeSmith picked up another win for the team. It was his fourth consecutive start. The coaching staff is riding the hot hand while Matt Murray gets acclimated back into the swing of things. As a result Tristan Jarry was sent down to WB/S. I wouldn’t read too much into that other than the fact it allows Jarry to actually play during the NHL’s all star break. The Murray/Jarry combo should remain intact for the second half of the season.
No Penguins hockey until January 30th. The hockey world will converge on Tampa Bay for the weekend’s festivities.
Thanks for reading!