The goal total wasn’t as high as predicted for either team, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. The Pittsburgh Penguins ended up defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-0. The game was closer than the score. In those three goals there were two empty net goals. Toronto had heavy pressure at times throughout the game.
Here’s an example of skill not leading to a goal
The game’s #1 star was Matt Murray.
Matt Murray returned from injury and played his best game of the year. He was terrific. There were a number of high danger saves which could have really turned the game if he didn’t step up. Murray’s season to date has been terrible. This was the first time he looked to be in his playoff form. Pittsburgh desperately needs this to happen. They are not a good defensive team and their offensive push is not making up the deficit.
For the 2016-17 script to work the goaltending can be no less than excellent.
The game was weird in that most of it was played at even-strength yet none of the goals were
The game only had three penalties total and on one of the power plays Evgeni Malkin scored six seconds into it. A Toronto player was high sticked by Jake Guentzel and there was no call. He was bleeding. The missed call doesn’t guarantee a Maple Leafs goal, but on a night that only saw the Leafs have a single power play it is hard to say that wasn’t an important moment in the game. Who knows what would have happened.
Kris Letang and Brian Dumoulin continue to be the Penguins only competent pair. They are more than competent, they’ve been great. The other two pairings are always playing out of their own end. The Justin Schultz injury is a real problem.
Mike Sullivan used his best pairing along with the Crosby line to shutdown Auston Matthews. Matthews was given a healthy serving of that quintet and it was his quietest game of the year. You can see that his impact was minimal
Patric Hornqvist was demoted to the fourth line which was certainly earned. It did have a positive effect on the fourth line’s production. It should, considering Hornqvist is a 5M player. The Hornqvist situation is something to monitor. He can’t be a passenger at 5v5 at that price range. Right now he’s been a power play specialist and even then he has yet to register a point on the power play.
Daniel Sprong needs more time with not Matt Cullen before we can get an honest assessment of him. Cullen is shot. Don’t expect a magic rebound from his terrible 2017-18 season in Minnesota. Speaking of Cullen it is his signing that could have potentially kept the Penguins from acquiring Anthony Duclair (rumors at the time of Penguins interest in Duclair)
Going the four scoring lines route would look way better with Duclair’s legs than “Dad’s”.
At the end of the period Mike Sullivan put out Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Phil Kessel with six seconds left. This should be a thing for a full shift at least once a game at the end of a period. With Derick Brassard on the roster you can load him up with some wingers to take the penultimate shift of the period and then have the ability to completely load up for the final shift. Not only would it be fun to watch, but effective as well.
Pittsburgh has another extended break before they are in action again. They don’t play again until they visit the Edmonton Connor McDavid’s on Tuesday.
Thanks for reading!
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