Following the Utah loss the Penguins looked close to 100% finished with the season. Talent, coaching issues, core showing sign after sign they don’t want to be coached anymore, it’s been quite the turnaround this week. Things were truly getting close to being unwatchable and it wasn’t even Thanksgiving yet.

At least for a week there’s been one vital system change with less risk taking with Pittsburgh’s D-men in pinching along the wall. It took years for this to happen, but I’m told the team had a lengthy film session prior to Tuesday’s game of changes in this area.

“I don’t think it’s by coincidence we’re able to string three in a row here. I think the style of game that we’re playing is conducive to winning, and it gives us a chance,” head coach Mike Sullivan said after Saturday Night’s 6-2 win over the Calgary Flames.

Was this week a fluke or something to build on? We will find out quickly with Florida, New York Rangers, Toronto and Colorado looming on the schedule over the next four games.

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Key Takeaways/Rumblings

Tomasino 2 Goals in 3 Games: I am always cautious with these change of scenery players to give a good 15-20 games before we draw any long-term conclusions. The adrenaline rush more often than not rubs off and what so-so players have been for their career will often play out. However, the Penguins have given Philip Tomasino a chance from the start in putting him involved right away in a second line and second power play role. Maybe they’re finally learning on the fly here for once. The Malkin/Tomasino line was severely underwater for the second time in three games together (17 CF% vs VAN, 33 CF% vs CGY) so that’s something to still keep an eye on and we’ll see if he can hold up in a 2nd line role long-term, but on the second power play unit alone Tomasino has given the Penguins a better skilled option on the left side.

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Lizotte/Beauvillier finding key role together? | The Penguins coaching staff always looks for pairs of two’s with their forward group and they might have something with the Blake Lizotte/Anthony Beauvillier. Beauvillier now up to 7 goals is over matched in a top-line role but is much better suited in a speed/skill role as a bottom-6 forward. There’s a nice mesh developing with Beauvillier’s creativity and Lizotte’s speed/energy game. Lizotte in averaging just 10 minutes a game, is up to 4 goals in 10 games and similar trend to his play in Los Angeles, he’s posting positive underlying numbers with a 60 Scoring Chance For Percentage thus far.

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Pickering Continues to Look the Part | 2022 1st round pick Owen Pickering returned to the lineup and game after game the 20-year-old looks the part. The Penguins didn’t expect him to be NHL-ready this soon but he has certainly arrived. The Pickering/Ryah Shea pairing had a team-best 67 CF%, on the ice together for 14 shot attempts and just 7 against. 5 vs 5 the pairings was on the ice for 2 Goals For and 0 Against, including 0 High Danger Chances Against. The pairing was +70% in Scoring Chance Percentage.

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Rumblings: The price Minnesota gave up for defenseman David Jiricek has certainly taken some aback, especially among pundits, but not really in league circles where the view from the Wild’s end is that’s a risk you take when you’re in their position. Quite a few NHL executives that love the move for Minnesota long-term as the Wild brass & others view Jiricek’s ceiling as a top-2 pairing defenseman for years to come……. ………The Penguins and Ryan Graves agent Allain Roy To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

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