Penguins/NHL
21-3-2 vs Blue Jackets since February 2017
Until the Penguins are mathematically out of things, from actions with the lineup on a nightly basis to everything you hear out of the organization is going to continue to be about trying to claw back in the wildcard race. Even the lure of securing a Top-10 pick and holding onto their 2024 First-Rounder hasn’t seen management ready to embrace losing as Kyle Dubas on radio and on his weekly GM show was touting a big week ahead with the home and home series and into next week where the Penguins could get back into the race.
Following a 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets Thursday night and losses by the Flyers (82 pts), Capitals (81 pts) and Red Wings (79 pts) Thursday night, the Penguins are an insane 21-3-2 vs the Blue Jackets since February 2017 and the schedule makers have gifted the Penguins with the Blue Jackets again on the schedule in Columbus Saturday night………………
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Power Play Storyline Out of 3-2 Win
— Struggling mightily through the first periods in defending the Blue Jackets rush attack offense, two Evgeni Malkin power play goals help propel Pittsburgh to a needed victory as Malkin hit the 20 goal plateau for the 15th time in his career. Are we now locked in again to one clear No. 1 unit? Pittsburgh never figuring things out with Erik Karlsson running the power play is a great travesty of the season. Clinging for their lives, though, the Penguins have gone back to one unit getting bulk of power play time and taking the likes of Sidney Crosby off after 50 seconds or a minute was never going to be justified long-term and was becoming a frustrating point of emphasis for some. It was obviously just Columbus but desperate for two points, Sullivan clearly went to players he trusts with Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust & Kris Letang running the point. The top unit of Rust-Bunting-Crosby-Malkin-Letang had over five minutes of power play time, while the second unit saw just over two minutes. Kris Letang 5:02, Erik Karlsson 2:23. Previous four games power play ice time was close to even between the two. Expect staff to continue in direction of one clear top unit over the other…….
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More Buzz
When the San Jose Sharks traded Erik Karlsson to Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh didn’t even have to give up someone like a Drew O’Connor or P.O. Joseph, the vibe around the league ‘was every organization has a Drew O’Connor and you can find 3-4 of them in the AHL who could do what he does, why would San Jose want him? Months later maybe not exactly. O’Connor is becoming a really interesting role player and a success story for an undrafted college free agent. O’Connor has one cheap season left on the books and will be interesting if Pittsburgh weighs trying to extend him this season if they believe he has another offensive jump in him and he could become more costly if they wait.
—Anyone surprised Jeff Carter immediately going back into the lineup when healthy wasn’t paying attention to how the coaching staff is still operating or how Carter was playing pretty well prior to getting injured vs the Red Wings. Carter logged 14:12 of ice time vs CBJ after missing the previous four games and was 6-0 in the faceoff circle. Pittsburgh controlled 57% of their shot attempts when the 4th line of Puljujarvi – Poulin – Carter was on the ice together and the line created 4 scoring chances. I’ll say it again, don’t be surprised Carter is back next season at or near the league minimum. There’s a belief he plans to play next season and the interest is To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
— Kris Letang had himself a night: Assists, 31:15 of Ice Time in just 27 shifts as the Penguins were down to five defenseman for much of the game.
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Goaltending Buzz, Pens brass ‘extremely’ confident of Koivunen starting season in Pittsburgh & More Chatter
— Fascinating storyline rest of the way for the Penguins with Alex Nedeljkovic taking starts away from Tristan Jarry. The backup bloom always wears off but what if the rest of the way goes Nedeljkovic’s direction? It brings an interesting summer as multiple league sources say Penguins GM Kyle Dubas thinks very highly of To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”! The Ned camp, led by agent Rich Evans reached out to the Penguins about an extension To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
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— The Penguins brass contended from the start that pundits, so called prospect experts, and even some actual amateur scouts around the league have been way off base with their evaluations of Ville Koivunen and as I stated on the morning after the Guentzel trade, the organization is ecstatic about Koivunen long-term prospects. They see Koivunen clearly in the light of a high-ceiling prospect and the team is definitely looking forward to getting Koivunen in Pittsburgh this summer to get acclimated to the organization and this is not PR spin, the organization starting with the man in charge, Kyle Dubas, is said to be ‘extremely’ To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
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— “Great Years” ahead for Ryan Graves? To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
