Canadiens 2 – Penguins 1 (SO) | Preseason Opener Buzz

Best Forward on the Ice: Tristan Broz

Best Defenseman on the Ice: Harrison Brunicke

Best Goaltender on the Ice: Sergei Murashov

Going up against a Canadiens lineup that features several notable regulars, Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, Brendan Gallagher, Josh Anderson, Jake Evans upfront, Noah Dobson, Mike Matheson on the backend, the Penguins with a watered down lineup played really well.

And great sign was their best players on the ice were some of their top prospects.

-Day after day Tristan Broz is showing how close he is to knocking on the NHL door and checking every box of being ready for a third line center role. If he had gotten a little trial run last season, he’d be a stronger candidate to open the season in Pittsburgh. Many in the organization, though, believe he’s ready. I like his upside as a third line level player better than the likes of Filip Hallander.

-Second straight preseason top prospect Harrison Brunicke is turning heads. Assist, team-high six shots on goal, you could argue he was the best player on the ice for both teams. Some evaluators outside of Pittsburgh have tried to temper down expectations on Brunicke long-term, but there are members of the Penguins organization who believe he is a star in the making.

– Sergei Murashov 20 saves on 21 shots, turning aside 16 of 16 shots @ even strength. No one is buying Kyle Dubas statement ‘the two best goaltenders’ in camp are making the roster but five days into camp, Murashov is outperforming the entire group.

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–For Pittsburgh’s goaltending group to produce some drama closer to opening night would have to be for Tristan Jarry to completely meltdown in the preseason similar to his start last season.

–The organization has been very pleased with how well Anthony Mantha is skating and performed in fitness sessions coming off a torn ACL. There has been little drop with the acceleration in his first couple steps.

–You know who fit really well with the style the Penguins want to play under Dan Muse? Michael Bunting who was never a favorite of Mike Sullivan’s…….It’s early, Tommy Novak has had a really underwhelming To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

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