The Pittsburgh Penguins avoided a season series sweep with the Washington Capitals defeating them by a score of 4-3.
The Penguins outplayed the Capitals at even strength (when the game was actually played at even strength).
5v5 shots, Penguins +8% at Capitals. pic.twitter.com/34jcijdXd3
— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) February 26, 2015
Some notes from the game:
There were tons of penalties called in the game. I’m OK with it, I just don’t believe that it will be the standard moving forward even though I wish it was. Over time players would adjust to the standard or continue the march to the penalty box. The result would be more wide open and interesting hockey.
I researched the frequency of power plays in the NHL since the 2005-06 lockout and its negative impact on the overall goal totals in the NHL. You can find that here
Christian Ehrhoff played in his first game back since suffering from concussion like symptoms. Tom Wilson had no reservations about taking very aggressive runs at him, sometimes near the head area. This once again highlights that the concept of having “deterrents… on your roster is a myth. If this was an actual thing Wilson would not have taken the runs he did at Ehrhoff.
Brandon Sutter had an above average game by his standards and that isn’t even including his goal.
If you showed a non-hockey fan a highlight reel that only had Sutter’s goals on it they would come away thinking he is one of the Penguins better players. Alas, this isn’t the truth. Games like last night are either going to entrench Sutter further in the Penguins organization (likely) or it will raise his trade value (unlikely).
The Penguins coaching staff has Bennett so worried about making meaningless body checks that he doesn't attempt for the puck anymore. Bennett with the puck is an asset for the team. Bennett trying to appease the coaching staff with pseudo toughness takes away from what he can do. You can be physical and still have the puck as your main goal, in fact that is the most ideal approach. Don’t turn players into robots. Bennett looks like a robot right now, not ideal. Bennett did however lead the Penguins with a CF% of 70% against Washington.
Fleury played well but he can’t be the guy who takes silly retaliatory penalties. In a game that saw the Penguins wisely play on after Ovechkin obliterated Despres with a clean body check, the goalie can’t do what he did. The punishment was an Ovechkin bomb on the power play that made the game closer than it needed to be.
The Penguins needs to choose one of Hornqvist/Kunitz to be on the #1 power play unit. Having both is overkill. They should leave Hornqvist up there and replace Kunitz with David Perron.
If Perron does end up getting promoted back to the #1 unit having Bennett on the #2 unit running the half wall will make things run a lot smoother than using Sutter, Comeau or Downie in that role.
Do the Penguins needs a depth defenseman?
I would argue they do not. They need to sink or swim with their #1 prospect Derrick Pouliot. So far the early returns are promising, especially after his first two career games. Here is his work on the possession front so far in his young career:
Lots of positive games and the ones where he finds himself in the negative are not severe and around the 50% mark.
a good friend of mine once said that players like Pouliot possess all the skills you can’t teach, and the ones they lack, they learn.
— Mike Darnay (@MikeDarnay) February 26, 2015
I agree with Mike. Pouliot has excellent gap control and last night against a team that plays as heavy as Washington does he did not wilt, he met the challenge.
Don’t trade for depth, play Pouliot. He’ll be just fine.
Looking for some cool Sidney Crosby footage? He has you covered. His GoPro video released yesterday is amazing.
And then there are the cool under the radar plays he makes
just seeing this, unreal awareness by Crosby here http://t.co/GLCAYrf6eT
— Rich Miller (@pensbender) February 26, 2015
The Patrick Kane news stinks. He is likely out for the next 3 months. He was also the current leader in points on the season.
Don’t look now but Sid and Geno could have a nice friendly competition the rest of the way as they both chase the Art Ross Trophy. But remember, they both need to do more for the Penguins.
Thanks for reading!
Follow me on twitter Follow @GunnerStaal