After their triumphant four-game Western swing and several days of rest, the Penguins were sluggish in the first period of last night’s tilt with the Blackhawks at PPG Paints Arena. Perhaps understandable.
When Connor Murphy hit for Chicago from the high slot of the rush midway through the frame? I had something of a flashback to that fateful night in April 2023 when a downtrodden Hawks team dashed our playoff hopes.
That was then and this is now.
The Pens pulled themselves up by the proverbial boots and managed to determine the score a few minutes later after a great goal by our fourth line, with Connor Dewar do the honors. Disappointed with their efforts, the Pens wanted to be better during the first break.
Boy, were they ever.
With the precision of a thresher, they hit four pucks along the arms Arvid Soderblom during the second period, including two goals in a span of 31 seconds.
Rookie Ben Kindel kicked off the attack at 5:53 of the period, sending the puck through Soderblom’s wickets on a beautiful pass from Anthony Mantha.
Next, Egor Chinachov. “Chinny” pulled a spin-o-rama backhand feed from the sideboards Evgeni Malkindanced down Main Street and past the Hawks defenseman Artyom Levshunov and buried the cookie.
Half a minute later, Kindel Mantha jumped on a breakaway. Big Mo beat Soderblom with the backhand to make it 4-1, guys.
Ryan Shea capped the scoring at 7:30 with a bomb of a one-timer from the top of the right circle, courtesy of a perfect table-setting feed from newcomer Ilya Soloviev.
Dewar struck for his second of the night at 13:59 of the third, followed shortly after by one Connor Bedard adding to make the final count 6-2.
Puckpourri
How dramatic was the Pens’ turnaround? In the first period we attempted 10 shots on the Hawks 21, according Natural statistical trick. The rest of the way? We outsmarted the visitors, 74-24, and defeated them 36-11!
Mantha had a goal (his 17e) and two helpers to earn top star billing. With his two goals, Dewar took the second star. “Kid Kinde” (1+1) was named third star.
Did you know that Mantha is the second cousin of former Pens Great Jean Pronovost?
Like the way the team compensated for this Bryan Rust absence. Justin Brazeau was elevated to the top line. Instead of plugging in a slow-footed vet Kevin Hayeswe remembered Rutger McGroarty van Wilkes to fill the open spot. While Rutger wreaked havoc around the Hawks’ net, the third line didn’t miss a beat.
Solovyov made his black and gold debut, manning the port side on the third pair, while Shea slid to his outside (right) side. The rugged newcomer was a plus-three that night with the aforementioned assist in 16:51 of ice time, not to mention a booming goal on Frank Nazar. Also two competitions.
My personal opinion? I thought he looked a little slow at times and was behind the play. Completely understandable, considering it was his first game in a Pens jersey. PP colleague Caleb DiNatalewho attended the match was impressed, as were most other observers. I should add that I am a Connor Clifton fan, so maybe I’m a bit biased.
Yet Soloviev may have delivered the quote of the season during a post-match interview. When asked about his style, Ilya replied: “Kill the play along the wall.”
Shades of By Ivan Drago ‘You will lose’, in Rocky IV.
I digress.
Almost silent, Arthur Silov has posted a .925 save percentage over his past five starts.
Want to guess how many points Sidney Crosby and his linemates have scored in the past two games? If you answered “zero,” you are correct. Yet we still scored nine goals together.
That spells shouts TEAM.
Don’t look now, but Dewar has 13 goals (tied with Geno in fifth place) and has an outside chance of 20. For God’s sake, extend that man! (Geno too!)
Standings-wise, the Pens (27-14-11, 65 points) are tied with the Islanders for second place in the Metro… with two games remaining.
The most important number? Our six points clear of fourth-placed Caps, with three games in hand.
Then we are hosts Mike Sullivan’s plummeting Rangers on Saturday afternoon.
#Red #Hot #Penguins #scorch #Blackhawks