A FEW POST-GAME THOUGHTS
*Defenseman Kris Letang was tremendous tonight and a difference maker in all facets. He logged 24:21 of time, had an assist and was a +3 in the win.
“Kris was a welcomed guy back to our lineup tonight,” head coach Dan Bylsma said. “Made a difference 5 on 5, power play benefited from Kris as well.”
Bylsma cited Letang’s “ability to move across the line and distribute the puck” as being very beneficial for the power play tonight.
*Jarome Iginla’s previous two games he looked out of sorts but tonight he played very well and was involved offensively from getting his shot off to being a net-front presence. There was also a lot more chemistry between Kunitz, Malkin and Iginla tonight.
*It’s believed that the Penguins don’t acquire Jussi Jokinen if Sidney Crosby doesn’t break his jaw and the change of scenery for Jokinen has been big for him.
He’s fit in extremely well in the Penguins system and the line of Brenden Morrow – Jussi Jokinen – Pascal Dupuis has been very effective.”Very good line since they’ve been put together,” Bylsma said tonight.
With how well Morrow, Jokinen and Dupuis have looked, it had me thinking of some intriguing lines (Not that these lines are going to happen as Bylsma isn’t scratching Adams) among the 12 best forwards on the team when this group is healthy:
Kunitz – Crosby – Iginla
Bennett – Malkin – Neal
Morrow – Jokinen – Dupuis
Cooke – Sutter – Kennedy