Training Camp Day 2: Black-White Scrimmage

DePaoli’s Inside Report on the Penguins Black – White Scrimmage is posted.

Dupuis – Crosby – Satan

Fedotenko – Talbot – Cooke

Stone – Beech – Godard

Minard – Jeffrey – Wallace

Gonchar – Orpik

Sydor – Goligoski

Lovejoy – Richmond

Staal – Malkin – Sykora

Pesonen – Taffe – Kennedy

James – Henrich – Thomas

Bissonnette – Gove – Filewich

Eaton – Letang

Scuderi – Gill

Mormina – Engellend

Black Team Goal – Jordan Staal (Assists to Evgeni Malkin and Petr Sykora)

White Team Goal – Miroslav Satan (Assists to Sidney Crosby)

White Team Goal – Miroslav Satan (Assists to Ryan Stone and Alex Goligoski)

White Team Goal – Max Talbot (assists to Ben Lovejoy)

Inside Analysis

Today’s scrimmage was very intense. From the start of the scrimmage Jordan Staal – Evgeni Malkin – Petr Sykora showed great chemistry. Staal did some special work in the off-season to get ready for the transistion to wing and it paid off in the early goings. Staal was driving the net and winning battles on the side boards. Staal got the black team on the board with a tap in goal from the left side. Assists went to Evgeni Malkin and Petr Sykora.

Pascal Dupuis got the first chance to play alongside Sidney Crosby. Dupuis lacks the goal scoring ability that the Penguins need on the left side but he has the speed to keep up with Crosby. Miroslav Satan had some issues keeping up with Sidney Crosby but the hands are still there. Satan scored two goals in the teams scrimmage. Both goals were right around the net. It’s going to take some time for that line to find some chemistry.

Crosby goes 100% in all situations. That‚Äôs the difference between him and the rest. Crosby worked all summer on improving his shot and it was noticeable during the team’s practice that his shot has some more velocity to it. His skating was also exceptional

The third line of Ruslan Fedotenko – Max Talbot – Matt Cooke played off of each other very well today. Fedotenko brings a lot of speed to that line. Matt Cooke was playing physical and showed some flashes that he could put in 10-14 goals this year. Fans are going to like him a lot. Talbot scored a goal and had a breakaway chance but was stopped by Marc Andre Fleury

Jeff Taffe was solid. He played a strong two way game and went 4-for-5 on face offs. Taffe has a strong chance to center the 4th line this year. During the teams scrimmage Taffe centered Janne Pesonen and Tyler Kennedy. Kennedy played well and was all over the ice. The Penguins envision him in an energy role this year.

The jury isn’t out on Janne Pesonen. He lacks the ideal size and strength of a typical NHL player. He is not physical at all but he did show some flashes of his offensive talent. Pesonen is a shifty player and made a great move on defenseman Ben Lovejoy for a breakaway that was stopped by Danny Sabourin. Pesonen did have a solid practice and blew by Kris Letang on a 1-0n-1

Paul Bissonnette and Connor James played exceptionally well today. Bissonnette finished the scrimmage with 6 hits and skated very well. His game is forechecking and causing havoc on defenseman trying to breakout the puck. His performance today had to catch the eye of the coaching staff. Connor James also helped his cause to make the team today. The Penguins really like his speed and he was effective cycling the puck with his line mates.

Jonathan Filewich and Ryan Stone were okay. Stone had an assist on one of Satan’s goals but neither player did anything that stood out to me. Filewich struggled catching the puck off the boards.Filewich is an above average skater and did show some scoring touch around the net but he needs to improve other facets of his game.

Forward Adam Henrich played well centering Connor James and Bill Thomas. There was one shift where that line had the puck in the offensive zone for over 30 seconds against the Penguins top pairing of Sergei Gonchar and Brooks Orpik. Henrich (6-4) uses his size very well

Bill Thomas struggled today.

Today’s scrimmage gave us a good idea of what the Penguins top 6 will look like. (Gonchar – Orpik) (Scuderi – Gill) (Eaton – Letang). Eaton will be in a perfect role as the Penguins 5th or 6th defenseman. Eaton will also be a great mentor for Kris Letang. Those two had instant chemistry on the ice today. The numbers are against Alex Goligoski making the team

Defenseman Danny Richmond and Joey Mormina are two sleepers I’m going to be keeping an close eye on the rest of training camp. Neither will make the team but if one of those defenseman show they can be a serviceable 7th or 8th defenseman, Shero will then look to move Sydor. Mormina lacks NHL speed but his positioning is solid and uses his size well. Richmond was efficient on breaking out the puck. He hit Crosby with a cross ice pass that led to a two-on-one.

Fleury and Sabourin played well. John Curry was a bit shaky at first but settled down and played fine.

Dustin Jeffrey will not make this team. He’s just not ready. His line mate Tim Wallace did do some nice things. He showed some speed and wasn’t scared to throw the body around.

Following the scrimmage the White Team which practiced beforehand went through ten minutes of skating.

Players such as Aaron Boogaard, Nick Johnson, Kevin Veilleux practiced but did not play in the teams scrimmage.

Full Practice reports to be posted soon

10:38 a.m. Depaoli has updates from the scrimmage and is reporting that the Penguins initial lines at training camp are as follows:

Dupuis <> Crosby <> Satan

Fedotenko <> Talbot <> Cooke

Minard<> Wallace <> Jeffery

Beech <> Godard <> Stone

Gonchar <> Orpik

Sydor <> Goligoski

Staal <> Malkin <> Sykora

Pesonen <> Taffe <> Kennedy

James <> Henrich <> Thomas

Bissonnette <> Gove <> Filewich

Eaton <> Letang

Scuderi <> Gill

The first scrimmage is tied at one after the second.  Staal scored assisted by Sykora and Malkin.  Satan scored with assists to Stone and Goligoski.  Staal looking very good on wing.  He is driving to the net winning battles on the boards.  Very intense physical game.  James is playing very well while Bissonnette is one of the best players on the ice and is making his presence felt physically.

Update: Satan from Crosby makes it 2-1 White and Talbot from Lovejoy and Fedotenko makes it a 3-1 final for the White team

Full report will be posted later today.