Penguins

STOCK UP FROM PENGUINS 4-2 LOSS TO BLUE JACKETS

Daniel Sprong | Playing much together competition than Tuesday night, putting Sprong in the lineup to face a physical Blue Jackets’ team was a great chance to evaluate him for the Penguins coaching staff. Sprong did not disappoint and he was one of the Penguins leaders in creating scoring chances and had 5 shots on goal, all coming at even strength.

“I think it was a huge step for me,” Sprong said of his performance against the Blue Jackets. “If you look at that Columbus lineup, it was almost their whole NHL team. Matching up with Foligno and (Brandon) Saad or Johansen’s line, it was a pretty good taste for me of what NHL quality is.”

Mike Johnston was gushing afterwards about how good Sprong looked against the Blue Jackets.

“Sprong for me has been a pleasant surprise because he’s a difference maker in games,” Johnston said. “He goes out on the ice to make a difference. Some guys play the game, he makes a difference…..Almost every game, every practice, I see him getting better,” Johnston said. “As an 18-year-old kid, you look at him and say, ‘Boy’, how much can he improve over the next little while and how much can he improve through this season? He’s a bright light for us on the wing. I just like when he hits the ice he tries to make a difference.”

A key quote from Johnston was this:

“He just has to give myself and coaching staff confidence that he’s not going to be a defensive liability like a lot of young players,” Johnston said of Sprong.

Solution to that — Put him on the third line to start the season with Nick Bonino and Pascal Dupuis, two forwards who play their own end well and see where it goes. —

There is nothing to lose with a nine game tryout for Sprong and as written a few days ago, some in the know believe it will be great for his development.


Adam Clendening | Readers of the site can’t be surprised that Clendening is making some noise in camp. Four games into the preseason, others are starting to realize the Penguins have a player here. [hide]

Clendening had another strong showing vs Blue Jackets and what continues to stand out with him as a Penguins source said yesterday, “he makes the simple play.”

Right now it’s not a stretch to say he’s their fourth best defenseman and bonus is he’s 22 years old with upside.

After being paired with Ian Cole on Tuesday, Clendening was paired with Olli Maatta on Saturday. If the Penguins want to put him on waivers to keep someone like Sergei Gonchar around, then good luck to them.


Sidney Crosby/Phil Kessel Chemistry | Any concerns about these two struggling to develop chemistry need to be put to rest. The main reason it’s been such a smooth transition for Crosby and Kessel playing together is because of the pace both play at. Such a natural fit.

Kessel 6 shots, 7 shot attempts vs Blue Jackets. Sidney Crosby 6 shots, 10 shot attempts.


Sergei Plotnikov | Expectations need to be lowered for Sergei Plotnikov, at least when it comes to putting the puck in the net for those thinking he’s going to be a 20 goal scorer. A 15 goal season might be a stretch. However, Plotnikov’s third preseason game gave a glimpse of what he can bring to the table and what he does well.

Put him on the fourth line and let him go out and crash, be a force down low on the cycle. That should be the Penguins plan with him to start to start the season and he’s someone where you give him spot shifts throughout a game with one of the top two lines but his main role needs to be in the bottom-6. That’s where the biggest impact will be.

Plotnikov is type of bottom-6 player the Penguins have needed for years. Looks like a nice parting gift from Tom Fitzgerald who spotted Plotnikov at the World Championships.


J.S. Dea | No player might be rising the organizational depth chart more than J.S. Dea. “I think we might have something here,” a Penguins source said of Dea. Dea see’s the ice at an NHL level and that’s helped him off-set a size issue. Did a nice job against the Blue Jackets at creating offense and where the Penguins are very high on his game is offensive zone entries. He’s getting the attention of the staff.


Tom Sestito | Sestito has no business earning a one-way contract with the Penguins but with the coaching staff and management team wanting to have a hard nosed/tough player as the extra forward, Sestito remains in the mix.

After Olli Maatta was ran by Brett Gallant in the first period on a delayed whistle, during the next face-off Sestito gave Cam Atkinson a few whacks and then the next stoppage Sestito had some words with Brandon Dubinsky in the face-off circle that led to Dubinsky slashing Sestito and Sestito immediately dropped the gloves, delivering a round of punches as Dubinsky turtled.

The incident put the Penguins behind and Columbus would score twice on the power play but Sestito earned a lot of respect from his teammates in that room for initiating contact with the Columbus’ top players.

Most importantly for Sestito’s prospects of sticking around, Johnston didn’t have a problem with it.

“He can’t take the extra penalties, but you need guys that are going to stand up for their teammates,” Johnston said of Sestito. ”

“I like that he went out and took charge of it anyway”[/hide]