The Penguins prevailed 6-3 against a crowd of 17,963 loyalists at PPG Paints Arena last night in the most recent installment of the Battle of Pennsylvania. In the process, an incipient 0-2-1 slump was nipped in the bud, not to mention an ending drought that had seen us score just two goals in the previous three games.
The blood rivals entered the match with 52 points each and almost identical records. However, it was the Pens who made the early leap, thanks in no small part to the generosity of the visitors.
Revisiting our six-game winning streak, the Pens struck for two power play goals in the first period. With soft mittens, big (and I mean BIG) Justin Brazeau guided a nifty rookie one-touch pass home Ben Kindel at 2:16. Bryan Rust knocked the puck past Samuel Ersson from the left circle at 12:25 to make it 2-zip, guys.
The Pens made it 3-0 in the second period after only 76 taps thanks to excellent teamwork from our second (third?) line. Tommy Novak fed Evgeni Malkin out and about with a nice stretchy pass from the dressers. Geno hit the brakes at the top of the right circle and kept going Egor Chinachov slipping through the back door unattended. Ersson had no chance.
Soon after, skipper from Philly Rik Tocchet pulled his troubled starter in favor of Alexey Kolosov. In an instant, Rodrigo Abols scored for Philly to close the gap to 3-1.
Suddenly alive and swarming, the Flyers dominated the period with a 34-19 advantage in shot attempts.
Cue the Buzz-Saw line. Less than two minutes before the break, it was busy Blake Lizotte forced a turnover deep in the Philly zone and fed Noel Acciariwho made a bee line for the cage. ‘Cookie’s’ second chance punch shot into the air. Lizotte made the most of Sir Isaac Newton’s Universal Law of Gravity and smashed the cookie past Kolosov on the way down.
Crisis averted. Four-one, Pens, leaves the period.
Any lingering thoughts of a possible collapse were quickly put to rest Sidney Crosby (3:10 on the power play) and Connor Dewar (4:27) brought our lead to 6-1.
Nick Seeler And Matvei Michkov scored late for Philly to make the score more respectable. But in the words of the immortal Gunner: Bob Prince“We totally had them.”
Puckpourri
With six different scorers and 13 skaters racking up points, this was truly a team win for our Pens. Crosby led the distributed attack with a goal and a helper. Malkin and Novak each recorded two assists.
Stuart Skinner stopped 30 of 33 shots in another solid performance. Big Stu was tough when he had to be, especially in the second period. Over his past five starts (four of them wins), he has knocked down 113 of 120 shots for a whopping .942 save percentage.
Moreover, the team looks extremely comfortable and confident with the big man between the legs.
Dare I call the Oilers trade a fleece for Kyle Dubas? Ditto the Chinakhov deal. Not to overstate the point, but Egor’s recording is an absolute pea…a blur. I would like to see him pull the trigger on the top power play. Not to overstate his potential impact, but I see the potential of mini-Ovi.
Speaking of shots, Dewar owns an underrated example. His last two goals were scorers. With nine already packed away in his statistical saddlebag, Connor has a legitimate chance to score 15 this season, which would be incredible for a fourth-liner.
Again, I say: extend it like we did with Lizotte. Who, in addition to his goal, delivered a huge blow to Philly rookie Denver Barkey and engaged Michkov in some fistfights.
Although our defense has held up quite well Erik Karlsson absence, there is no doubt we will miss his superior skating and puck movement. Enemies find it easier to pin us to our own side, as the Flyers did for much of the second period.
Rutger McGroarty (concussion) has returned to practice, albeit in a contactless manner.
ESPN has made a lot of mention of the fact that our three golden oldies, Crosby, Malkin and Letang, have been playing together for 20 seasons. Rightly so.
At the age of 38, Sid is on pace for 45 goals. Amazing.
This also applies to the play of Geno and Tangier. Powerful every night, number 71 truly seems as if he has discovered the fountain of Ponce de León’s youth. He literally gallops across the ice.
The latter? Contrary to his fast and loose reputation, No. 58 has been playing some of the best two-way defense of his career for more than a month now.
We are so lucky to have them. And also at bargain prices.
The Pens (22-14-10, 54 points) are currently in third place in the Metro. A guaranteed play-off spot! Lest we get too comfortable, both Eastern Conference wildcard teams, the Sabers and Bruins, have 56 points.
On tap, the CBJ at home on Saturday evenings. Here’s hoping Chinakhov welcomes his old friends back with a hat-trick.
The sky is falling
To quote Chicken Little, the sky is falling in the Big Apple. Or better said: the bottom is sinking Mike Sullivan’s Rangers.
The Blueshirts were eviscerated by the Sens, 8-4, on Wednesday night. At home. This follows a recent 10-2 destruction by the Bruins.
With a 1-6-2 mark since Christmas, it appears the Rangers have permanently taken up residence in the cellar of the Metro (and Eastern Conference).
Not that I saw this coming, but when Sully took the job, I thought he was put in a very similar situation to what our Pens have faced in recent seasons. That means taking over the helm of a team with an aging core and little young talent.
Either way, to say things aren’t going well for our former coach in Manhattan is a huge understatement, especially with stars Igor Shesterkin And Adam Fox on the shelf.
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