Penguins – Red Wings What We Learned: Blomqvist has Young Matt Murray Feel to him

Penguins – Red Wings What We Learned:

Blomqvist Real Deal?: It’s not a stretch to say Joel Blomqvist might have saved the Penguins season just four periods into an 82 game season. The first period was nothing other than a replay of the home opener. Detroit scores 3:46 into the game and as the period kept progressing it felt like the Penguins were destined to get run of out of the building. Pittsburgh was a train wreck defensively; bleeding shots and it was opportunities galore in allowing 27 scoring chances in the first period. Blomqvist, though, was able to calm the storm unlike Tristan Jarry the night before. Where the tide turned was Pittsburgh down 1-0 killing off a Lars Eller high sticking penalty 8:24 into the first. Blomqvist turned aside 4 shots on the PK, including a sprawling save, and he really locked in from there. “Joel made some saves early that gave us a chance to stay in it,” Mike Sullivan said. “He let us settle into the game and get the tying goal.” Overall Blomqvist made 8 saves on the PK.

What’s becoming so intriguing with Blomqvist is how every time out he reminds the organization of a young Matt Murray. Blomqvist plays big, makes shooters have a false sense they have to To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

If that first period went like it looked like it was going too and with Toronto on deck, I’m not sure this team would have had a chance to recover less than a week into the season.

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Impact Performances

~ Erik Karlsson was dogged for his play in the opener, and he responded in a big way. Power Play goal, added an assist and he was great in the transition game. On Karlsson’s power play marker, was that the best puck movement from the power play in two years? It might have been…… 5 vs 5, Karlsson was aggressive with quick stretch passes in exiting the zone. The Penguins have to play a smart low risk brand of hockey due to the lack of gifted goal scorers, but not when Karlsson is on the ice. The coaches did a good job of pairing Karlsson with the Crosby line. Karlsson posted a ’75 Goals For %’ and a 68 Scoring Chance For % in the victory.

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~ Milestone night for Evgeni Malkin. A two-assist night for Malkin who become the 34th player in NHL history with 800 career assists. the hunt is on for Malkin to catch Wayne Gretzky’s career mark of 1,963…… Malkin has looked very good through two games in being able to create some signs of individual offense. Like most of the team it was also a big bounce back game for Drew O’Connor. Pittsburgh’s net front game was non-existent against the Rangers, O’Connor was great in that role with a goal and a second goal that was disallowed. He caused havoc.

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~It wasn’t pretty, but Anthony Beauvillier netted two goals in the win, marking his first multi-goal game since November of 2023. Beauvillier meshes well with Sidney Crosby in that he can read and react very well, especially on the wall to push the play in transition through the neutral zone. As mentioned after the opener, whether he can stay on the top line in a longer-term situation will come down to putting the puck in the net.

~Everything from Kevin Hayes dating back to training camp continues to be encouraging the Penguins can get something out of him this season. Hayes drew a penalty on a zone entry leading to the Karlsson power play goal and then put the game out of reach with a goal himself on a snipe from the right dot at the 12:21 mark of the third period. On the ice for 15 shot attempts to just 6 against, Hayes posted a team-high 71 CF% 5 vs 5 as the 4th line was in significant positive territory in the game. Hayes surely doesn’t play with pace the coaching staff admires but using Hayes in more offensive situations than being stuck with Cody Glass and Noel Acciari will need to be something that’s explored by the staff. To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

~Who starts vs Toronto? I’d lean Tristan Jarry for this reason only. In Toronto can be a different animal for Blomqvist and I’d come back to Blomqvist Monday in Montreal (regardless of how Jarry would play) and until he has a few more games under his belt, stick with the lower pressure games to keep building things up with him. Let the veteran get rocked not the rookie. To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!