‘Everybody’s Losing’

In a four-point game where a regulation loss would have sunk the Penguins nine-points behind the floundering Detroit Red Wings who entered the night 1-7 in their previous eight games, Pittsburgh controlled the game from start to finish with an impressive 6-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday night at PPG Paints Arena. Pittsburgh will now enter the week in the same position they were in entering the weekend — five points out of a wildcard spot as the once surging New York Islanders had quite the rough week going 0-3-1 following a six-game winning streak. —

Penguins – Red Wings Fallout

What the Penguins did in their win over Detroit was put their foot on the pedal all game. Detroit was chasing the game from the opening minutes as Pittsburgh never trailed and held a multi-goal lead for the final forty minutes of play. Any push from Detroit, Pittsburgh pushed right back in continued to show a resemblance of creating offense below the dots with improved wall play and net-front presence from lines 1-4.

Pittsburgh outshot Detroit 38-28 in the win and had a 15-3 edge at one point. This wasn’t a classic Penguins high shot total where 3/4 of shots were from the perimeter and no one in the sight lines. We’re seeing the team actually get into the sight lines of opposing goaltenders, making defenders have to actually defend and forwards are showing a pulse of trying to work for dirty goals. It was one of the Penguins most complete wins of the season.

Despite just their third win in twelve games Pittsburgh’s playoff odds have moved up to around 11%………

“We gotta go a game at a time and get points,” Sidney Crosby said. “I think we’re all pushing, we’re trying to do what we can to put ourselves in that position and we’ve got to just worry about going out there and getting the next one.”

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Storylines/Takeaways from Penguins – Red Wings

Sidney Crosby prefers linemates who not only push the pace but play and think fast through the neutral zone. That is not Michael Bunting’s game by any means so it’s not shocking Crosby and the coaches for now have moved Bunting away from Crosby since the third period of the Sharks game. Drew O’Connor is showing flashes but long-term you want him on a third line and Pittsburgh knows they’re one winger short that can realistically play with Sidney Crosby that has Pittsburgh already formulating a list for an aggressive summer. Multiple league sources believe Pittsburgh’s plan a significant run at To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

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— The Michael Bunting Effect has been in full swing in how the 28 year old winger has added a different and necessary element to the lineup. He’s might not be an ideal top-line winger for Sidney Crosby per se, but his impact in the blue paint and along the wall has opened some eyes with the organization.

“He’s a semblance of Patric Hornqvist, just his ability to get to the blue paint, make the goalies lift difficulty, “Head Coach Mike Sullivan said with high praise Bunting. “He gets a lot of those goals that are blue paint goals, a foot from the net. It’s a really important aspect of creating offense. He certainly brings that to our team.” The ‘it’s a really important aspect of creating offense’ is an interesting quote from Sullivan as for several seasons he has seemed to not think the lack of net-front presence and being a perimeter team has been a reason for the Penguins ‘lack of finish numbers’.

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Lines 2-4 have strong #’s vs Red Wings

Which Penguins line created the highest amount of high danger chances in the win vs the Red Wings? It wasn’t top line of O’Connor – Crosby – Rust, created 3 high danger chances (2nd)………

Pittsburgh’s To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

A major positive for the Penguins was the impact of the second and third line.

The Bunting – Malkin – Rakell line-controlled possession at a 66% clip vs the Red Wings and again the Michael Bunting effect, the Malkin unit had a game-high 3 rebound To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

Meanwhile, Smith – Eller – Puustinen Line had an impressive night. They were a team-best 75% in possession, on the ice for 12 shot attempts to four against, while Puustinen scored a beautiful 5 vs 5 goal late in the first period to put the Penguins up 3-1. — A stunner Reilly Smith showed a pulse vs the Red Wings. On the ice for 2 Goals @ Even Strength, Smith scored the opening goal off a lucky bounce in going to the net and is there something to build on in giving Smith more sheltered minutes in a third line role? He can’t play a top-6 role effectively anymore but maybe the Penguins can get something out of him with third line minutes/situations…… —To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!