Post-Game Player Reports

Game 6, Sunday October 14, 2017

Penguins 4 – Panthers 3

Game Summary: Sidney Crosby scored 2 goals and Matt Murray made 43 saves to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins (3-2-1) to a 4-3 win over the Florida Panthers. Patric Hornqvist (2) and Greg McKegg (1) also scored in the win. Florida outshot Pittsburgh 46-33, including 19-8 in the second period

(Grade Scale: 0.00 – 5.0)

Centers

Sidney Crosby| Grade: 4.4

Crosby scored twice with both goals coming from in front of the net for his first multi-goal game of the season and was active offensively with 4 shots on goal and 6 attempts. Crosby has 10 shots on goal over his last two games.

The 2 goal night (also had a goal disallowed) vs the Panthers gives Crosby 3 goals and 5 assists on the season as things are back to normal with him leading the team in scoring along with Bryan Rust (1 Goal, 7 Assists).

Another underrated aspect of Crosby’s game vs the Panthers was offensive zone draws where he won of 6 of 9, including a won draw from the right circle that led to his second goal of the game early  third period.

“I think he’s the best in the game in around net and in close,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said of Crosby.

Evgeni Malkin | 2.8

Malkin was critical of his performance vs Tampa Bay and did not come back with a good one vs the Panthers. Malkin was pointless and held to just 1 shot on goal. His d-zone play has taken a step back the last two games and he had a poor effort on the Panthers first goal of the game with a turnover near the blueline and then being too passive in front as the last line of defense. Malkin is a team-worst minus-5 on the season.

Greg McKegg | Grade: 3.8

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McKegg scored his first goal as a Penguin shorthanded with a beautiful backhand goal in the second period. It gives McKegg points in back-to-back games. He was a +2 in the win and had 3 shots on goal. McKegg had a poor night winning draws, winning 2 of 9 (22%)

 

Carter Rowney| Grade 3.5

Rowney again played heavy minutes on the penalty kill, playing 5:02 as he’s emerged as the Penguins top dog on the PK among the forwards. Rowney has also emerged as a player coaches trust in defensive situations. He played 4:49 at even strength during the third period with Pittsburgh holding a lead. Evgeni Malkin by comparison played 3:14 at even strength during the third.

Wingers

Jake Guentzel | Grade: 3.7

Guentzel was pointless in 17:31 with 2 shots on goal. When Guentzel was on the ice, though, Pittsburgh drove possession as he was on the ice for a team-high 23 shot attempts during 5 vs 5 play.

Conor Sheary | Grade: 3.8

Sheary had an assist on Crosby’s third period marker with an instinctive play to keep the puck in on attempted clear by Florida. Sheary had 3 shots on goal and tied for a team-high 7 shot attempts.

Bryan Rust | 3.7

Rust earned his 8th point of the season, picking up a secondary assist on Patric Hornqvist’s second period goal. Rust was second among forwards in being on the ice for 21 shot attempts (53 CF%) during 5 vs 5 play. Another all around consistent game.

Phil Kessel | Grade: 3.4

Kessel connected with Sidney Crosby for a primary assist on Crosby’s first period goal with what’s becoming a signature play for Kessel on the power play in giving that shot/pass look off the left wall and getting a hard crisp pass to Crosby for a one-timer or deflection. What’s still lacking from Kessel, though, is even strength production and that continued in Game 6 of the season.

Carl Hagelin | 3.2

Big minutes on the PK for Hagelin, playing 4:40, No points and poor possession numbers (6/10, 38 Cf%)but continues to use his speed well and drew an offensive zone penalty in a high danger area during the first period that led to Crosby’s goal.

Tom Kuhnhackl Grade: 3.5

Played just 6:01 at even strength but continues to make his mark on the PK with great instincts. Forced a turnover and setup Gregg McKegg for a shorthanded goal, picking up the primary assist.

Patric Hornqvist | Grade: 4.0

2 Goals in 3 games, Hornqvist was in his office in netting a second period goal in the crease area. Playing away from Crosby and Malkin and in a third line role, Hornqvist posted a 57 CF%.

Ryan Reaves | 2.6

After playing just 3:25 vs the Lightning, Reaves ice time doubled in playing 7:06. He had 3 shots and 2 PIM. Reaves would see just 3 shifts in the third period during a tight game, up from one shift he saw in the third vs the Lightning.

Defensemen

Kris Letang | 4.4

2 Assist night for Letang and a +2 rating. Letang had 5 shots on goal and 7 attempts. He played 28:20, including 11:42 in the third period.

 

Brian Dumoulin | Grade: 3.7

With the Penguins on the PK 5 times in the win, Dumouliun saw 5:08 of ice time on the PK and played 22:17 total.

 

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Olli Maatta | Grade 3.7

Maatta picked up his 4th assist and 6th point of the season in the win. He leads all Penguin defensemen with 6 points. While he got favorable zone starts all game, Maatta led all players with a 66 CF% (19/9). Maatta had the 5th most ice time among d-men (16:56) and significantly less minutes at even strength than Dumoulin/Letang and Hunwick/Schultz. As Maatta struggled a bit with the speed game of Lightning Thursday night, maybe less is better for him.

Justin Schultz | Grade 3.6

Pittsburgh was 1 for 3 on the power play in the win but they still need to find more time for Schultz with the top unit. Schultz had 0:00 power play minutes through two periods until the third period where he had 2:51 of power play time as the Penguins went with two D to protect from shorthanded opportunities.

 

Chad Ruhwedel | Grade 2.9

Ruhwedel can easily be exposed defensively due to a lack of size and strength and was beat off a puck in the neutral zone that led to a turnover on the Panthers first goal of the game and then had a poor read on the leadup to the goal as Olli Maatta shifted over to right D and Ruhwedel still chased the play instead of staying in the net-front area as the left D.

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Ruhwedel, though, did have some good moments in moving the puck like he did Thursday night, flashing a good first pass vs the Panthers. Ruhwedel posted very good possession numbers, on the ice for 20 shot attempts and 12 against

Matt Hunwick | Grade 3.7

Yes, there’s some limitations with Hunwick but you’re seeing a player who’s getting more comfortable in the system and the coaches are gaining confidence in him. Hunwick played 16:03 (3rd among d-man) at even strength, seeing heavy minutes as the No. 2 pair, while Olli Maatta for example played just 12:42 at even strength.

 

Goaltenders

 

Matt Murray | Grade 4.2

Matt Murray (3-0-1, 3.29 GAA, .899 SV%) made 43 saves on 46 shots for his 3rd win of the season. In four starts this season, Pittsburgh has recorded points in all four games Murray has started. Minus, the second goal against, Murray was very composed with his positioning for the third straight start.

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