Shea-ved Ice: 5 Observations As Pens Look To Continue Winning Ways
Despite an 0-3 start to the season, the Penguins have rallied to go 5-1 over their past six games. However, it's still too early to say everything is fine with the team.
On Thursday, the Penguins saw their three-game winning streak snapped by the Dallas Stars.
It was a game the Penguins came out flying to start and controlled most of the early play. However, they just couldn't beat Antti Niemi. Dallas eventually found a couple of goals and the Penguins never recovered.
That's hockey. You can dominate play and not get rewarded for it. If Evgeni Malkin scores on a breakaway early in the first period, maybe things are different. Who knows?
That's not a dig at Malkin – scoring on a breakaway is not a guarantee. If it was, shootouts would quite literally go on forever.
Regardless, the Penguins responded and scratched and clawed their way to consecutive wins against good opponents (Nashville & Washington) this week.
They'll look to keep the momentum going against a young Buffalo Sabres team tonight.
It will mark the first back-to-back situation the Penguins will face this season. It also marks Dan Bylsma's return to Pittsburgh as the coach of the Sabres.
Bylsma's tenure with the Penguins came to a close after the 2013-14 season, following a second-round playoff exit to the New York Rangers – a series the Penguins led 3-1.
Despite recent playoff failures, he will always be remembered around here for leading the Penguins to the Stanley Cup in 2009.
Now, things like this don't happen often, but we've obtained the tribute video the Penguins will be sure to show during tonight's game.
LEAKED: #Pens welcome back Bylsma jumbotron video. pic.twitter.com/zK951iO3dv
— Casey Shea (@SheaVedIce) June 25, 2015
…that was a fun day in the newsroom this summer.
Anyway, here are some observations about the Penguins over the past week.
Thank You, Marc-Andre Fleury
While his record is only 5-4, the true numbers by which you measure a goaltender speak for themselves.
Marc-Andre Fleury holds a 1.90 GAA and .937 save percentage, which are phenomenal. The main reason this team is 5-1 in their last six games is because of Fleury.
Period.
He was under siege for parts of Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Capitals and stood strong throughout. Like he has all season, he kept the Penguins in the game.
The lone blemish last night was a weird deflection off Olli Maatta's stick and Rob Scuderi's skate.
I think it's safe to say that this team's record would mirror that of the Anaheim Ducks without Fleury.
For comparison's sake, Frederick Andersen is 0-4-2 with a 2.05 GAA and a .931 save percentage for Anaheim.
Fleury's numbers are just slightly better. That small difference can be the difference between winning and losing in the NHL.
Kessel "Dropped" To Malkin Line
Phil Kessel started the season on Sidney Crosby's wing and the two didn't generate much together. Both seemed to be deferring to the other at times as they tried to figure things out.
Prior to the Nashville game on Saturday, Mike Johnston jumbled the lines to try and find more chemistry and offense.
This involved moving Kessel from the "top line" to the "second line" with Evgeni Malkin. It's not like this is a demotion, hence the sarcastic quotations.
The Penguins only scored two goals in the game. However, Malkin and Kessel were on the ice in overtime and combined to score the winning goal.
Last night, Malkin and Kessel hooked up again for the eventual game-winning goal.
Many felt Kessel would be a better fit with Malkin when the Penguins acquired him this summer. That appears to be the case so far.
Power Play Zone Entries Are Still Sub-Par
To date, the Penguins are a mere 2-for-31 on the power play this season. That equates out to a 6.8 percent conversion rate, which is good enough for 30th in the NHL.
For those new to the league, there are 30 teams in the NHL.
The Penguins are dead last in the NHL with a power play boasting the likes of Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, Kris Letang, etc.
The zone entries continue to be a major problem. If the Penguins don't win the initial offensive zone faceoff on the power play, it takes entirely too long for them to gain the zone and get set up again.
For example, the Penguins were handed a five-minute power play in the first period against Nashville.
It took them 2:30 to get set up one time and their second offensive zone faceoff came with just seven seconds left on the advantage.
That means lots of clears by the Predators and being beaten to loose pucks in the offensive zone.
Shortly after the major penalty expired, the Predators got a two-minute power play of their own.
They were able to set up three times in the Penguins' zone...in two minutes.
I'll end it on this:
The Pens used their top two even strength lines as power play units in the third period.
Beau Bennett Injured Celebrating Goal
Yes, Beau Bennett has an injury history, but he's been pretty good for the Penguins this season.
He returned to the lineup last night after missing five games because of an injury.
What was the injury?
Apparently, he hurt himself celebrating his goal against the Canadiens on Oct. 13.
Watch the goal:
The celebration doesn't look like much, which either helps or hurts his case.
I mean, Daniel Sprong launched himself into the glass in a similar fashion and skated away fine. Alex Ovechkin does the same thing after most goals and I can't recall a freak injury. I'm convinced he's trying to leap over the glass every time he does it.
Regardless, the NFL throws flags for excessive celebrations. Maybe the NHL should look into something similar to end this celebration injury pandemic. (I'm kidding.)
In the grand scheme of things, it was unfortunate. It happened and he triumphantly returned to the lineup and scored against Washington.
All is forgiven.
It's not like he went full-on Bill Gramatica or anything.
Penguins (Finally) Hit Empty Net
The Pittsburgh Penguins have had a frustratingly and even comically hard time scoring goals on an empty net.
Last year, the Penguins had a total of six empty net goals. Only Colorado (5), Arizona (4) and Buffalo (4) had less.
It's mind-boggling at times. You almost expect them to leave the "freebie" goal out there.
The Penguins have failed on two occasions to hit an empty net already this season.
Alas, Nick Bonino lobbed a puck from his own zone into the empty cage last night to seal the victory over the Capitals.
Three goals!! An empty netter!! What is this sorcery?! #Pens
— Casey Shea (@SheaVedIce) October 29, 2015
Bennett had a chance to score an unprecedented second empty netter in one game, but hit the post in the dying seconds.
For the record, the Penguins have only scored more than two goals on two occasions this season. They have not scored more than three.
That said, I haven't been that excited for an empty netter in a long while. Judging by the immediate reaction on Twitter, most people were in the same boat.
Some were simply left puzzled by what had happened.
Wait? That's legal? @SheaVedIce#emptynetter
— Jordan White (@JWhite1025) October 29, 2015
Moving on.
As for tonight against Buffalo, Jeff Zatkoff is expected to make his season debut between the pipes. Will the Penguins score four (or more!) goals, will an empty net goal be in the cards? Time will tell.
That's it for this week, check back every Thursday for more observations on the Penguins. You can follow me on Twitter here!
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