How would the Pittsburgh Penguins follow up blowing a 3-0 lead against the Maple Leafs on Monday? By blowing another 3-0 lead, of course. This time, however, the Penguins were able to overcome their loose defensive work to beat the Capitals by a score of 5-3.
The thing about the back to back blown 3-0 leads is that this is who the Penguins are. This was happening earlier in the season, too. The big difference earlier in the year was that both of their starters were saving a lot of goals above expected to start the year. Both goaltenders were among the league leaders in goals saved above expected.
If you bleed scoring chances and your goaltending isn’t way above average the goals are going to start to go in.
It’s the reality of being the 29th best in the league in expected goals against.
Familiar league leaders
At the time of this writing, the Penguins have both the leading goal scorer in the league and the league assist leader.
Sidney Crosby scored twice on the power play and now has 11 goals on the season. He is currently tied with Cutter Gauthier. Crosby’s first goal was a gorgeous passing play with Ben Kindel picking up the primary assist with a superb pass
Kindel to Crosby just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?
The power play has been really good this year. Pittsburgh has been using the entire zone while getting players moving around. The spacing has been much better than in recent seasons. When you get the spacing right and have talented players those players are going to be able to create those great east/west lanes we see here.
Then there’s your classic walk the blue line and shoot through the traffic in front kind of power play goals. These are necessary, too. This keeps the PK honest and allows for the type of goals you saw on the first goal.
After going 3 for 5 tonight the Penguins power play is now the #1 ranked power play in the league at 35.9%. They’ve gone 14 for 39. The Oilers boast the second best power play at 35.0%.
On the game winning goal it was Evgeni Malkin’s quick and precise pass that found Bryan Rust on the back door. Malkin knew exactly what he wanted to do with the puck once it got to his stick and he did not waste any time at all. He zipped it over with gumption
With that assist Evgeni Malkin is tied with Connor McDavid for most assists in the NHL with 17.
So how about that? Crosby with the lead in goals and Malkin in assists. The year is 2025, amazing.
Signs of progress for Koivunen
Ville Koivunen did not have the start to the season he wanted. After two games he was demoted to the AHL and brought back up after the Rickard Rakell injury. He wasn’t looking like the player we saw in the final stretch of the NHL regular season last year despite having the tools.
Tonight, I think you started to see some confidence growing. On one sequence he flashed a nice curl and drag for a quality shot and when the puck came back to him he was able to zip a nice cross ice pass through the seam to an open Penguin.
So, I’m not worried about Ville Koivunen’s start to the year. He’s has quality puck skills and sees the ice really well. It will all click at some point this season.
The Great 8 with 900
Lastly, Alexander Ovechkin came to town already earning his 900th career goal. Obviously, he is the only player ever to do this. It has been a remarkable 20 years for this rivalry and it wouldn’t have been that way if not for Ovechkin being who he is, an absolute goal scoring machine.
Despite still being one of the biggest villains for Penguins, the Pittsburgh faithful have an immense amount of respect for him. They gave him a standing ovation for his 900 goals. Ultimately, there is no bigger honor than getting a standing ovation from visiting fans while also getting booed when you touch the puck. Ovechkin, much like Crosby has more than earned the honor.
The Penguins elder players certainly respect Ovechkin. Here is a really cool moment between Ovechkin, Crosby, and Karlsson.
With a 9-4-2 record the Penguins head into their game with the Devils on Saturday tied with them in standings points with 20.
I made it to Stockholm, boys. Who’s coming?