BUFFALO, N.Y. — And the rookies shall lead them.
The Pittsburgh Penguins‘ inauspicious start became an energetic attack. Avery Hayes, who was recalled Thursday afternoon, scored a pair of first-period goals that both elated and recharged teammates, resurrecting a game that was headed in the wrong direction.
The Penguins rallied from a 1-0 deficit and a bad start to beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 at Key Bank Center.
The win kept the Penguins in second place in the Metro Division, one point with one game in hand over the New York Islanders. The victory also kept the Penguins five points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are the first team out of the playoffs, and who have won 10 of 11.
In the first period, Hayes provided the heavy-duty jumper cables and electric charge for his team’s sputtering engine. His first goal was purely an individual effort as he chased a loose puck like he needed it, then snapped a breakaway wrister past Buffalo goalie Alex Lyon.
The energy lift for the Penguins was immediately palpable. The kid who began Thursday with nary a thought that playing in the NHL was a possibility ended the evening with a game neither he nor fans will forget.
“You know, the day that he’s had–he woke up this morning not a thought of playing a game in the NHL,” said coach Dan Muse. “And then the day that he had, to travel, jump right in and score the way he did the first one. (Then the) second one, another beautiful goal. Throughout the whole game, like he was, he was awesome.”
If not for Noel Acciari’s illness, Rickard Rakell’s lower-body injury, and Blake Lizotte being back in Pittsburgh for the birth of his first child, Hayes would not have played. IN fact, he didn’t get the call until after noon Thursday, and didn’t get to the arena until after 5 p.m.
It was then he found out that today was the big day.
“Honestly, I blacked out a bit (after the first period), but it was a ton of fun, and it was a great win for the team,” said Hayes.
“I can’t really put it into words. I’m just excited to see my family after they were able to make the trip, so I have no words right now, which is a ton of fun.”
And the kid squeezed every last drop from his big moment. His first two shots were goals. Hayes became just the seventh NHL player in history to score two goals in his first period (on two shots), and the first since Auston Matthews did it in 2016 (H/T Penguins historian Bob Grove for the research).
“Yeah, I know it’s not that easy. It’s the hardest thing in the world for a reason,” Hayes said as reporters had some fun with his 100% shooting percentage in the first period. “So I was just able to get a couple of lucky bounces early.”
The Penguins went from fumbling pucks and fighting their own game to snapping passes up ice, controlling play down low, and putting pressure on the previously strident Sabres.
“I mean, you’ve got that rookie coming in too–like driving a long way and scoring two big goals for us. It’s like you don’t see that every day, yeah?” said goalie Arturs Silovs. “I’m just so pumped for those guys, for him. So happy for him. I think he had two shots, two goals. Like, 100% shooting percentage. I mean, that’s amazing.”
For the record, Hayes finished with six shots, but “only” two goals.
Hayes’s goals were special individual efforts as he raced past defensemen to get to loose pucks that he chipped into the offensive zone. And took to the net.
“I mean, everybody (was energized). It kind of just brought a spark to our bench,” said Ben Kindel, who also had two goals. “I mean, we were also happy for him, so it was great to see as well as a big day for him.”
Fellow rookie Ben Kindel had two goals, and lest anyone forget, goalie Arturs Silovs is also a rookie. He stopped 27 of 29 for the win.
The Refs
Muse could never publicly admit his team has been getting a raw deal this season, but each goaltender interference call and subsequent review has gone against the Penguins, and they have a penalty deficit despite significant puck possession metrics in their favor.
Teams that control play generally get more calls. The Penguins very obviously do not.
It would seem the refs are putting the rookie coach through his paces. On several occasions, Penguins players confronted referees Mike Sullivan and Jake Brenk.
In fairness, the Penguins players, including Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust, and Tommy Novak, had legitimate gripes about non-calls. Crosby was ridden to the ice in the slot during the first period without a call, for which he engaged in an extended discussion during the play with the stripes.
Rust was knocked to the ice in the offensive low zone without a whistle late in the second period, and again felt he was fouled early in the third. He was the first to give the dismissive wave as he skated away.
In the period, Evgeni Malkin and Justin Brazeau also complained about calls–Brazeau wanting Beck Malenstyn called for running over goalie Arturs Silovs (which he did), and Malkin for receiving a tripping penalty.
In the second period, Novak skated off the ice with both arms extended, palms up, wondering why Malenstyn wasn’t called for holding him down at center ice.
The Penguins were clearly distracted by the calls, which gave Buffalo a 4-1 power play advantage that finished 5-3. Muse bit his tongue but admitted, through a knowing smile, that yes, his players were a little perturbed. And yes, his team has not been getting calls, and was not getting them Thursday.
Muse smiled and could have said more, but he chose the smart answer.
“I mean, there were some things that I think for a moment (they were distracted), but I thought they did a pretty good job of eventually parking it and just control what you control,” Muse said. “And so it’s it’s an emotional game. For these guys–emotions run high sometimes, but I thought overall, they did a good job of just settling back in. Just control what we can control. You can’t control the refs; these things are outside of our control.”
The obvious short shrifts by the orange armbands are as consistent as they are inexplicable. Considering the overbearing treatment the refs used to receive from a former Penguins coach, one might think Muse’s firm and intelligible arguments would gain traction.
After Thursday, the Penguins have 147 power plays this season and have had to kill 163 penalties.
That would seem unusual for a team with a 51% Corsi (ranked 12th), a 53% xGF (8th), and the ninth-best scoring chance rate (51.66%).
Muse has picked up the intensity of arguing over recent games. Not every call against the Penguins on Thursday was a clear-cut penalty, and that’s where the discussion will end, for now.
Penguins Analysis
Removing the first five or seven minutes of the game, once the Penguins settled into the game, they were better than Buffalo. Red-hot Buffalo, which was 20-3-1 in their last 24 games were chasing the Penguins for most of the second period and the second half of the first.
The Penguins’ penalty kill was outstanding on four of the five chances. Absolutely outstanding. The Penguins’ PK created pressure on the zone entries, and Buffalo had significant trouble simply entering the zone. The Penguins confronted them and collapsed around the puck.
At 5v5, Buffalo was sending two forecheckers, and the Penguins’ defensemen did an adequate job of moving the puck forward, but there were issues. Ryan Shea is struggling on the left side with Brett Kulak.
Perhaps now that we’ve seen Shea’s best on the left side, his shortcomings on the right are more noticeable, but he had several puck misplays, usually on his backhand, on Thursday. The third pairing is Ilya Solovyov and Connor Clifton, who are also defensemen more suited to defending than puck movement, so the Buffalo forecheck was able to create issues and forced the Penguins to work harder for zone exits.
Also, as a result, the Penguins’ rush game wasn’t nearly as effective as it has been.
A puck-moving righty who is OK with lower minutes but able to play top four when called should be at the top of general manager Kyle Dubas’s shopping list, if there is such a player.
The Penguins’ attack was unique against Buffalo. The team likes to cycle high, but they went to that play often with diminishing returns. Buffalo merely backed off and took the center of the offensive zone, which left the Penguins figure skating on the perimeter.
Overall, it was a winning effort against a very good opponent, and the second time in two games in which the Penguins outplayed a playoff-worthy opponent. This time, they put the game away with stout defending and a lack of mistakes.
“(Defending with the lead) was definitely better. I think we never want to totally get away from just playing the game, though. You want to keep attacking when it’s the right time, but I think you have to read it,” Muse said. “I think we’re playing things differently than we did a while back. You know, there’s not a panic, we stay with it. You know, just get back to what works.”
Penguins Report Card
Team: B+
I liked their effort, even if it was spotty and a bit disjointed. They controlled the second period, even if the statistics didn’t show it. More specifically, the Penguins kept the crease cleaner than expected, even as Buffalo was intent on contacting Silovs.
Arturs Silovs: B
He played well, but both goals were stoppable. In fact, Jason Zucker’s rip early in the game should have been stopped. However, he, too, got his feet beneath him and was unfazed by the frequent contact.
Actually, Silovs and PHN have discussed his desire for a goalie fight. If he started throwing Thursday, he would have been justified. Instead, Connor Clifton wailed on Peyton Krebs for him.
Penalty Kill: A+
The Penguins had six shots on goal in three power play chances. Buffalo had six shots on five chances. Yes, Tage Thomson netted a power play goal to close the Penguins’ lead to 3-2, but the PK was swarming.
Avery Hayes: Have a Day, Kid.
Muse was beaming. Hayes was beaming. Rutger McGroarty, who is tight with Hayes, sat in the next locker stall, enjoying the postgame media blitz that Hayes was enduring.
Hayes very well might have earned himself a roster spot, or at least another chance after the Olympic break. He did what others have not and made an impact. No matter what happens next, no one will ever take away Hayes’s ebullient NHL debut.
Ben Kindel: A
He’s flying. He’s distributing well, but looking to score, not pass. His confidence is growing. Enough said.
Connor Clifton: Stick Taps
Buffalo was trying to rattle Silovs. Clifton cooled the temperature by pummeling Krebs. For a guy who may not be 6-foot and is under 200 pounds, and who is such a nice guy and good talker, Clifton can really throw.
There were some rough performances–Evgeni Malkin took a pair of minor penalties but also didn’t create much. Shea was caught on his backhand all night, and it showed. Kevin Hayes wasn’t moving well, even by his standards, and that’s something that Dubas may have to evaluate.
That’s the last game before the Olympic break. Most of the Penguins get three weeks off to watch with the rest of us. The Penguins hit the break in second place in the Metro Division and firmly hold a playoff spot. They beat the hottest team in the NHL and did so both physically and with talent.
Who woulda thunk it?
Categorized:Penguins Analysis
