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All year long the narrative has been how much better the Western Conference is than the East, but don’t tell the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Penguins soundly defeated the LA Kings last night by a score of 4-1. The victory was powered by a deadly power play in the first period. The Kings found themselves down 5 on 3 and left that situation with two power play goals against and were never able to recover.
The Pittsburgh Penguins hold an 11-3-1 record against the Western Conference this year including an impressive 8-0-1 record against the Pacific Division. As a whole the Eastern Conference is weaker than the West but that doesn’t mean anything if you are a top contender in the East like the Penguins are.
Penguins now 48-16-10 against Western Conference teams under Bylsma.
— Pens Radio Network (@PensRadioNet) January 31, 2014Here are the game highlights:
Here is the possession c hart:
The spike in possession at the end of the game for the Kings is meaningless, it is clearly a case of a team that has a huge lead sitting back and riding things out.
I wrote yesterday about how the Kings are currently in a stretch of bad “luck…, most of which has been the result of extremely low team shooting percentage, that did not change last night.
The Kings were only able to score 1 goal. In the last 5 games the Los Angeles Kings have scored a total of 3 goals. There has been criticism of the Penguins bottom 6 forwards for not contributing offensively, but LA is taking it to a whole different level.
The Kings top 6 forwards have not played at a level good enough to win, regardless of possession. Anze Kopitar is the only Kings player to score a goal in the past 5 games; he has the Kings 3 goals.
Anze Kopitar is a special player and is a guy I wish I watched play more often. He has the ability to take a game over with his incredible hockey mind and skill. His goal on the power play showed his raw skill as he pounded the puck through Jeff Zatkoff for the King’s lone goal. There aren't many players who I have a higher regard for than Kopitar, he is a true asset to the league and the Kings.
The Penguins actually received another goal from their bottom 6 last night! Tanner Glass was the man with the goal after an amazing backhand shot on the rush.
I mean who does he think he is with a backhand like that, Sidney Crosby?
Malkin has been held off the scoresheet in each of his last 2 GP. The last time he was blanked in 3 straight was Dec. 26-29, 2010.
— Pens Radio Network (@PensRadioNet) January 31, 2014Evgeni Malkin didn’t waste any time making sure he wouldn’t go pointless in 3 games. Malkin was the beneficiary of a wide open back door pass from Jussi Jokinen to put the Penguins up 1-0.
Malkin wasn’t done in the 1st period as he also added a power play assist. The play he made at the offensive blue line is one that only a handful of players on the planet can make:
The man on the other end of the Malkin pass is in a great situation moving forward. Ju$$i Jokinen has been an incredible fit with the Penguins and he is set to make a healthy paycheck when he reaches free agency this summer.
How high do you go if you are Ray Shero to keep Jokinen?
Jokinen is a jack of all trades and can seamlessly fit into any role in the top 9. He plays extremely well with top end talent and is able to contribute on either the #1 power play or the #2 unit. Losing Jokinen will hurt the Penguins if he does choose to move on. Jokinen might be the Penguins #1 priority in free agency, not Niskanen or Orpik.
With another assist Matt Niskanen now has 15 points in his last 14 games.
Sidney Crosby's assist pushes his NHL point total lead over John Tavares to 11 points.
Jeff Zatkoff is now 9-0-1 in his last 10 decisions. Zatkoff has done exactly what the Penguins have needed out of their backup goalie this season. Although, last night's game was the first time he has allowed less than 3 goals in the past 4 games.
The Penguins will take their 8-0-1 record against the Pacific Division to Phoenix tomorrow night in a battle with the Coyotes
Thanks for reading!
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