The Penguins will be looking to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season when they face off against the Los Angeles Kings this evening.
New look lineup
Much like the game in Anaheim, Pittsburgh will be going with a lineup not yet used in the young season. Against the Ducks it was Harrison Brunicke who was held out of the lineup, but not for performance reasons. Tonight, it will be Ben Kindel’s turn to have the night off, also not for performance reasons
I can’t say I have a problem with how they are handling Harrison Brunick and Ben Kindel at this point. It hurts the entertainment value of watching the game when either of them are out, at least for me. However, if they are taking a big picture approach I like the managing of their workloads.
I assume them managing their minutes now isn’t for a nine-game sample, either. You have to think by sitting them out of non back to back games that the overall plan for them will be to stick with the team for 82 minutes. At least that is how I’m currently reading the situation, especially for Brunicke.
Arturs Silovs will get the start tonight as he looks to rebound from the shellacking he took against the Rangers on Saturday.
The aforementioned Harrison Brunicke will also return to the lineup after having the Ducks game off.
Time to step up
With Kindel out this gives the third line an opportunity to show what its got. To this point Tommy Novak has underwhelmed me. I was expecting more from him based on what I saw earlier in camp. His skating and hands seem to be of decent quality, but it hasn’t yielded the results you want to see. With Kindel out he can return to the center position against the Kings. He needs to assert himself more in the middle of plays to take advantage of his assets as a player.
Philip Tomasino is another player who hasn’t done much this year and also has good skating and decent hands. Both players suffer from playing on the perimeter. Both players were dart throws by Kyle Dubas with the hopes they can turn into regular quality depth players on the team.
The logic was sound in acquiring each of these players, but that doesn’t mean things always work out. There is still some runway for these guys to get some traction. Things will only get more crowded as this rebuild/retool continues.
Tonight, provides a nice opportunity for them to start righting the ship.
Get well soon
Penguins play by play broadcaster Josh Getzoff had a medical scare in-between the second and third period of the Anaheim Ducks game. He fainted and was given medical care.
Things appear to be good for the big picture, fortunately.
Here is to Josh making a full recovery and getting back to calling games real soon. I think he has done a really nice job since becoming one of the Penguins main voices.
