The Pittsburgh Penguins scored four unanswered goals in the second period before they allowed a shot by the Florida Panthers. Six unanswered overall. A tight game became the Penguins flexing their very best and embarrassing Florida.
Not that Florida didn’t show up. Not that Florida is a bad team. They were on a two-game winning streak, beating playoff contenders the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators as they relished their spoiler role after a season of serious injuries wrecked their playoff hopes.
But the Penguins rose to a challenge, playing a game perhaps beyond what even they realized was possible, thumping Florida 9-4 at PPG Paints Arena.
Their magic number is six, and pending the New York Islanders’ result Saturday.
The milestones contained therein were as impressive as the game. Sidney Crosby passed one of his boyhood heroes, Steve Yzerman, for seventh on the all-time scoring list with his 1756th career point. Evgeni Malkin netted a hat trick, surpassing 1400 points (1403).
The game analysis will be colored by some emotions and fears over goaltending. Arturs Silovs served a Chicago deep-dish pizza that temporarily stymied the Penguins’ momentum and trimmed their 2-0 lead to 2-1 in the first period, but the good–even regarding goaltending–far outweighed the bad.
The Penguins shrank their magic number to just six points, with the possibility of it shrinking further pending the results of the New York Islanders game Saturday evening.
Evgeni Malkin
It was a day for Malkin planting his flag in the game’s history and that of the organization on what might be one of his last home games for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The fans showered him with appreciation.
The Penguins have just one more home game in the regular season.
Without cleaning it up for English, Malkin understood the importance of the situation, at least in terms of pushing forward toward a coveted playoff spot.
“I almost cry a little bit, you know? It’s like huge for me. I mean, I’m not score a hat trick like, a long time ago. I didn’t remember when I scored last time, but it’s again, it’s lots of emotion. And I want to say thank you. Thank you. Support myself, team.”
Malkin is limping to the finish line of the season. His body has been betraying him lately, but Saturday, it was a glorious moment in the sun.
Penguins Analysis
Scoring eight goals in 40 minutes, including six in eight minutes, can often be traced to a team collapsing, some soft goaltending, bad calls, or good luck.
Not so Saturday. The fundamental element of the Penguins is breakouts. When they are on point, when they get past a team’s forecheck or have a good plan of attack for a neutral zone forecheck, their game blossoms. Passes become tic-tac-toe moves through the neutral zone into the offensive zone with control, speed and ill-intent.
“I thought we were doing a pretty good job there, just working, getting folks behind (their defense), setting up the offensive zone (attack) in the first period,” coach Dan Muse said. “I felt like we were spending more time on the offensive side of the ice … that’s what we wanted to do. That’s how we want to play, whether it’s against these guys or anybody else.”
When teams can disrupt them, the Penguins can get impatient, and they make mistakes. They are not good at grinding their way up the ice, but when they get speed up the ice, they are one of the best in the league.
Leading that attack–as he has done so often this season–defenseman Erik Karlsson set the tone against Florida. Just 20 seconds into the game, he scooted past a pair of forecheckers for a breakout pass Elmer Soderblom at center, who compounded Karlsson’s fancy few steps with a deft touch pass to spring linemates Noel Acciari and Connor Dewar on a two-on-one.
Just like that. Steps. Pass onto the tap. Touch pass to a flying Acciari and it was 1-0. Such was emblematic of the game. Good breakouts begot more. And more.
As the Penguins built speed, Florida chased the Penguins up the ice. Much like Thursday, when the Penguins led 2-1 over Tampa Bay Lightning but Tampa Bay was obviously the better team, the score was tied 2-2 after the first period, but it was obviously the Penguins’ game.
They wasted little time in the second period as the hockey gods rewarded them for extended offensive zone possession. Florida defenseman Gus Forsling deflected Anthony Mantha’s shot past Sergei Bobrovsky, and the Penguins heard dinner bells.
More rushes. More pressure in the offensive zone, and more goals. As importantly as their breakouts was also something they were terribly lacking Thursday–hard play down low. By controlling the low zone, the Penguins further pummeled Florida’s defense and kept the puck in the offensive zone.
“Florida (has) lots of injuries right now. They’re not playing great, and we fight (back) two times … we just go (scoring) quickly,” said Malkin. “And the power play worked tonight. We scored three goals. You know, everything works some nights.”
Yes, the Penguins’ power play was an effective weapon to put the game away, but their 5v5 play was the reason they won.
In fact, the fourth line was crucial to pushing that play, and were rewarded with a pair of goals. The second was by Elmer Soderblom, who was a standout in a game of standouts. The big man is forcing Muse to keep him in the lineup regardless of who is healthy for the remainder of the season.
In fact, Muse rewarded his “fourth” line with plenty of ice time, and several minutes more (11:31) than his third line pivoted by Ben Kindel (8:49), one of the few quiet Penguins.
Penguins Report Card
Team: A
As they did to the Detroit Red Wings and the Islanders earlier in the week, the Penguins established dominance and finished their chances with a vengeance. They finished the crucial week 3-1-0.
There were things to clean up, such as getting too loose in the offensive one, allowing Florida to counterattack, but largely, it was a well deserved lopsided victory.
Arturs Silovs: C-
If you watched a 9-4 game and are harping on the goalie, you may need to check your focus. Silovs allowed a bad goal in the first period when he punted an easy shot and Florida’s A.J. Greer got by Ryan Shea to poke the rebound past Silovs. He could have stopped one in the third period, too.
Silovs’s competition, Sergei Bobrovsky, would have liked a couple back. The team isn’t hyper-focused on the goaltending, but fan anxiety is expanding the worries to an extreme.
He was OK.
Standout Performances
Rickard Rakell: He’s really playing well as he adapts to the center position in a more profound way. He’s struggling mightily on faceoffs, but his defensive zone work is sprang linemate Evgeni Malkin, and Rakell’s work in the offensive zone is special as he takes space, applying pressure to the defenders.
Erik Karlsson: The breakouts, by using his feet to open up lanes and options, create Penguins attacks. His work on the blue line, more frequently dancing between defenders to control the top of the zone, is worth the price of a ticket—even at the Penguins’ prices.
Evgeni Malkin: The big Russian sensed this was his day. Once he got the first goal, he was hard on the pucks, swarmed the net, and was looking to shoot at every instance. He had four points with the hat trick.
Fourth Line: They played a prototypical fourth line game. They were physical, pinned Florida deep in the zone, and attacked the net. Acciari and Elmer Soderblom scored, and the line had a 70% Corsi.
Things to Note
Sam Giard-Kris Letang: The pair have settled, and perhaps it’s time to quell fears. They’re playing well. Girard again set up an early goal by taking the puck low in the offensive zone.
Connor Clifton: How does a defenseman finish minus-2 in a 9-4 win and have a good game? He played relatively well. The puck followed Clifton, who had more touches and shot attempts (5) than he’s had all season.
Sidney Crosby: His skating was hard and aggressive Saturday. He set up a couple of plays with hard stops to shed defenders. He didn’t look well against Tampa Bay Thursday, but he looked solid Saturday.
Fourth Line: There is so much to like about their game. Noel Acciari has elevated his play in recent weeks, and Soderblom is a force.
“I always noticed him when we played Detroit,” Rakell said. “He just protects the puck so well.”
Categorized:Penguins Analysis
